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What Makes Sense?

Affordable, High-Performance House as ‘Theater’ and ‘Stage’
Tedd Benson thinks of a house as two distinctly separate entities: permanent “theater” and the transient “stage.”

Looking Backward for the Next American Dream House
A tour through 20th century housing design produced some startling sources of inspiration for today’s architects.

Witold Rybczynski on Modern Home Design, Why We Stick With the Familiar
Author and architect Witold Rybczynski talks with Katherine about the evolution of modern home design, what’s ahead, and why we’re slow to embrace change.

Sizing Up the Idea of Downsizing
Katherine and her husband took a trial run of downsizing, moving temporarily from their house in Michigan to a New York City apartment.

Witold Rybczynski: What It Takes to Build a New Home Community
Author Witold Rybczynski tracks development of New Daleville, Pennsylvania, using it as a springboard to discuss the larger topic of building new residential communities.

'Modern Classicism' — A Style That Makes Sense
Combining classical proportions and modern practicality, “modern classicist” architects take a no-nonsense approach to design of buildings, neighborhoods and towns.

2008 House Plan Trends: What’s Hot, What’s Cooled
Katherine compares popular house plans of 10 years ago with today’s best sellers, finding less demand for glitz, more interest in practicality.

Design for Visitors With Special Needs
Age-denying boomers can make their new house "visit-able" for guests who use a walker or wheelchair.

When There's Too Much Room for Real Togetherness
In big houses, the frequent interactions between family members that help children learn important life skills occur less frequently.

Sizing Up: Big Houses and Happiness
Will a new home purchase make you happy? Economists suggest that when your motivation is to impress others, you won’t be satisfied for long.

Do Dogs Care About House Design?
Though man and dog have cohabitated for 12,000 years, Fido is not interested in design.

Planning Ahead for Wheelchair Accessibility
A wheelchair-bound architect vividly describes what is needed to make a house truly accessible.

Does Your House Make You Crazy?
Many a homeowner has been driven crazy by insufficient storage where it’s needed most.

Divvying Up Family Heirlooms Takes Diplomacy
Dividing cherished family possessions is more about saying goodbye to your past than about furniture.

Getting Started

Book Review: Sarah Susanka’s ‘Not So Big Remodeling’
The latest in Sarah Susanka’s “Not So Big” series helps readers make sensible remodeling decisions.

Couple’s Decision-Making Ability Is Key to Project Success
A couple’s satisfaction with any home project depends on how they make decisions, not the talents of the designers they hire.

Skimping on Basics to Get More Space (Uh-oh)
Architects consider quality building materials essential, but their clients often regard these as expendable luxuries.

You, Your Builder and, Yes, a ‘Real Estate Prenup’
With a prenup or any other contract, the sensible person consults an attorney before signing.

Real-Estate Love Is Blind, Bring Along This Reality Checklist
When I finally found the apartment of my dreams, I failed to notice any shortcomings.

House Love, House Lust, How We Decide to Buy
We think practicality drives our housing choices but neuroscientists say our emotions weigh in first.

Can Land Planning Create a Sense of Community?
Can land planning create that elusive sense of community? Kentlands is a case in point.

Home Stretch: Katherine Remodels Her Back Porch
When a columnist with an architecture degree becomes the homeowner in a renovation project, many truths are learned.

Value Beyond Cost Per Square Foot
For most new home buyers, the gold standard for assessing value is the cost per square foot, but this figure is misleading.

House Planning: How Much Input From Kids?
When planning a new house, should the parents decide everything or can the kids participate?

Bringing Kids to the Design Table
When the kids offer suggestions for the new house, design is often enriched.

Managing the Stress of Home Building
For a happy ending to your new house project, assess your ability to manage stress.

How the Buyers Drive the Builders Crazy
The buyers make the builders as crazy as the buyers claim the builders make them.

Be Realistic About New-House Construction Standards
Buyers should be realistic, not perfectionistic, about the construction quality of their new house.

Room by Room

Kitchen

Joy of Comfortable Cooking: Johnny Grey’s Kitchen Ergonomics
Every designer brings his life experience to his work. But few do it as well British kitchen specialist Johnny Grey. 

Johnny Grey’s Kitchen Design Stirs the Senses
British kitchen designer Johnny Grey has a background in architecture and takes a refreshingly different approach, applying “soft geometry.”

Kitchen Gifts That Keep On… Reducing Stress
The right kitchen gift can make life easier, more pleasant and less stressful.

That Fabulous Kitchen: Is It Functional?
Make sure that fabulous-looking kitchen is functional. Then obsess over countertops and cabinets.

Bath & Laundry

Laundry Lowdown: Front-Loading Washers, Avoiding Oh-Oh Odors
Washing machines can produce vexing odors when laundry is washed in cold water.

Bedroom

Do Children Benefit From Sharing Bedrooms With Siblings?
When siblings share bedrooms, they learn important life skills.

Bedroom Suite for Sisters
When Los Angeles architect Murray Milne designed a house for his growing family, a key concept was flexibility.

Family Room

Kid-Proofing the Family Room
When your kids are young, your family room’s décor should be spare, durable and comfortable.

In Search of the Family-Proof Sofa
A kid-proof sofa has a hardwood frame, lots of cushioning and commercial grade upholstery fabric.

Well-Designed Party Space Works for Everyday Living
A party space that works well for everyday use presents special design challenges.

Garage

Garage Door Design Goes Upscale
New garage door designs can radically change the look of a new house.

Home Office

To Do: Organize Home Office
In a well-organized home office, your work will go more smoothly and productivity will go up.

Kitchen Cabinetry Works in Home Offices Too
Using standard kitchen cabinetry you can design a home office that’s tailored to your needs.

The Home Office Chair: Think Multiple-Adjustment Chair
A multiple-adjustment office chair helps you maintain good posture and avoid stress-related keyboard injuries.

Accessorize

Closet Chaos Theory: Why Clutter Expands to Fill Space
Bigger houses with bigger closets do not by themselves reduce clutter; you need sensible strategies as well.

Moving Day: Box Buying Tips to Send You Packing
Corrugated fiberboard boxes are cheap, green and miracles of engineering.

So You Think You Can Sit! Check Out the Chairs of Peter Opsvik
Peter Opsvik’s novel-looking chairs allow you to move, squirm, fidget, turn, rock, twist and tilt.

Home Wherever You Roam With Art, Familiar Objects
When we display treasured posters or photos, a new house finally feels like home.

Tabled Tradition: Passing Down Family Silver, China, Furniture
Fewer young people are interested in inheriting family heirlooms these days, often to the chagrin of parents and grandparents.

After 30 Years, She Gets Eames of Her Dreams
With its curved and playful profile, the oh-so-comfortable Eames lounge chair is a furniture classic.

Shining Light on Color Options in CFL Bulbs
Compact fluorescent bulbs: Finding ones that deliver pleasing light can be a challenge.

Choose Chairs for Comfort First, Looks Later
When choosing furniture for your new house, consider comfort and ergonomics before focusing on looks.

Stealing Space for Storage
New houses do not have "nooks and crannies," so where do you put books and other things?

Custom House

Beyond McMansions: Fresh Takes on Early American Designs
Architect and author Russell Versaci encourages us to take inspiration from America’s rich cultural heritage in domestic architecture, adapting for 21st century lifestyles.

Architect Fees Made Simple(r)
The fee charged by an architect will be based on a percentage of construction cost, an hourly rate, or a combination of the two.

Coloring Outside the Lines, Designer Stretches, Shrinks Rooms
When home design isn’t delighting the homeowner, designer Paul Hickman shows up to rescue the project with sophisticated painting techniques.

Architects Weigh In: Big House Design Challenges
Four architects from around the country discuss the challenges of designing big houses.

Big Houses Can "Live Small"
When big houses “live small,” owners don’t feel like they live in a museum.

Local Artisans Deliver Custom Touches
Local artisans can add a custom touch for a surprisingly affordable price.

Production House

Prefab Homes: Why We’re Not There Yet
The goal of affordable, factory-built homes remains elusive, but not for lack of effort, as exhibited at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

Turn a Good House Into a Great House
Hire an interior designer to help you select colors and materials to match your lifestyle.

Construction 101

Primer on Paint Picks: Price, Performance and Pigments
Paint varies widely in price. At first, any paint will look fine, but how well it performs over time is determined by what’s in the can.

Durability Is a Big Deal
A home’s durability is attributable to two things: quality materials and fanatical attention to building details.

Going With the Faux in Building Materials
Most homeowners are maintenance averse and want faux materials that require little or no attention.

Green Building

Greening It Up at 2010 International Builders Show
Green is seen as the salvation of the home building industry and new green products abounded at 2010 IBS.

Eco-Friendly Countertops Looking Cooler
Countertops with recycled content have upped the ante in looks and sophistication.

In Search of the Greenest Countertop
No countertop has been declared the greenest, but one of the greener options is plastic laminate.

‘Energy Use Pyramid’: Getting Biggest Bang for Your Energy Bucks
To help homeowners spend their energy-saving dollars wisely, Peter Pfeiffer designed an “Energy Use Pyramid.”

No Impact Suburban Man
A Manhattan family drastically changes their lifestyle to reduce their environmental impact. Had they lived in suburbia, this task would have required no lifestyle changes at all.

Why Replacing Windows Isn’t Always a Good Call
Should you replace or refurbish your old wood windows?

No Place Like Home for an Energy Audit
A home energy audit pinpoints where heating and cooling energy losses occur and recommends improvements.

Older Homes As Energy Hogs? Facts and Fixes
Older houses are energy hogs; plugging air leaks and adding insulation can help solve this problem. 

Shipping Containers as Houses? Yes, They Pack Promise
Shipping containers are easily converted into housing, widely available, inexpensive, and the finished houses look cool!

Building With ‘Deconstruction’ in Mind
Buildings can be designed and constructed to be taken apart more easily at the end of their useful life — with more of the salvage usable for new construction.

Deconstruction: Old House Salvage Builds New Home
Taking apart an old house, instead of smashing it, produces a tidy pile of salvaged framing lumber for building a new house.

Eat Your Way to a Smaller Carbon Footprint
A sobering explanation of why, if everyone in the world lived like most Americans, it would take 5.2 planets to support our needs.

The Incredible Shrinking House (It Can Reduce Greenhouse Gases)
Architect Ed Mazria gets specific on how smaller, smarter-designed homes can help end our reliance on fossil-fuel-based energy.

Connecting Dots Between Home and Climate Change
An expert on public opinion and climate change explains what works — and what doesn’t — in communicating the connection between global warming and daily life.

New Year’s Resolution of the Particleboard Problem: Emission Standard Takes Effect Jan. 1, 2009
Years of wrangling over formaldehyde off-gassing from particleboard have ended in agreement on an emissions standard.

Into the Engineered Woods: ‘Green’ and Outperforming the Real Thing
Engineered wood performs better than the real thing for a wide range of home construction uses. It’s made with tree species previously considered to be worthless and left to rot in the forest.

Stepping Up With a Smaller Eco Footprint
Katherine explains the concept of “ecological footprint” in the context of individual lives and community life as she examines plans for a community in California that would step lightly on the earth.

Generation Gap? Choosing and Using a Backup Power Generator
Tips to help you compare options and costs for backup generators.

Backup Power: Revving Up Eco-Minded Strategies
Planning of an eco-friendly home should include strategies for dealing with power shortages.

Digital Monitor Can Help Cut Electric Bill
Pilot projects show that using a digital monitor can help homeowners reduce their use of electricity, saving energy and money.

Shining Light on Color Options in CFL Bulbs
Compact fluorescent bulbs: Finding ones that deliver pleasing light can be a challenge.

Home Price Versus Lifetime Cost
Using higher quality, costlier materials to build a house increases its sale price, but saves money over time in vastly reduced operating and replacement costs.

Earthly Impact of ‘Heavenly’ Homes
Architects push for massive reductions in building-related green house gas emissions, but the clients who pay the bills will have the final say.

Build Green With Common Sense
Homeowners and home builders have embraced green building, but confusion remains as to what makes a house green.

Backyard Tree Could Be Your New Floor
Homeowners and municipalities cut and trash vast quantities of hardwood that could be recycled into flooring and furniture.

Turn Your Trees Into Floors, Furniture
How to turn your trees into flooring for your new house.

Revising the American Dream for the 21st Century
The American Dream pitched by most home builders today is not sustainable.

Saving the Planet: Sustainable Home Building
Sustainable home building emphasizes the environmental impact of construction today and 100 years from today.

Plant Living History in Your Yard
Planting the seedling of a historic tree gives your home a tangible connection to history.

Houses: A Significant Source of Greenhouse Gases
When energy use in a house is reduced, the greenhouse gases attributed to it are also reduced.

Spotlight Homes

Virtually There: How Helpful Are Virtual-Reality House Tours?
Computer images of houses that exist only as a set of construction drawings are so detailed now, you will think you are looking at a real house.

Wall-to-Wall Woes: Unfinished, Foreclosed Show House at 2010 IBS
The New American Home for the 2010 International Builders Show in Las Vegas was planned to be spectacular but ended up reflecting the state of luxury home building.

‘A’ for Architect: Barry Berkus Designs His Home With Poetry, Surprises
Over a 50-year career, architect Barry Berkus has designed thousands of houses for home builders. Here’s what he designed for himself.

2009 Builder’s Show House: ‘Desert Contemporary’ Influenced by Wright
The New American Home at the 2009 International Builder's Show sounded horrible but was actually a great house.

Looking Through the Glass House, Philip Johnson’s Modernist Icon
Katherine spends time alone inside Philip Johnson’s Glass House and its mirror opposite on the same property, the Brick House.

A Backdrop for Life: The Home of Charles and Ray Eames
The California house that legendary designers Charles and Ray Eames created for themselves in 1949 was a radical departure from conventional residential design.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater: Still Fabulous at 72
Why most architects think the most important house in America is Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater.

Suburban Ranch Is American Original
The ubiquitous ranch house is America’s most important contribution to residential architecture.

Villa Savoye: Still Provocative at 74
Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye is aesthetically provocative, but fails the quotidian test.