Architect and best-selling author Sarah Susanka stopped by WCCO, the CBS affiliate in the Twin Cities, to chat with host Angela Davis about her new book, “Not So Big Remodeling,” and the idea of doing more with the space you have rather than feeling compelled to buy a bigger house or add on to your current house.

Sarah talks about how to take inventory of the rooms and spaces in your home and how to analyze that space to make sure you’re getting the most of it. Many people, Sarah says, have a full one-third of their space that’s not being used well — so why not open that up and make your home feel bigger and more comfortable?

Sarah also explains the importance of energy audits to ensure your home is not just stylish and comfortable but also energy efficient and wallet-friendly.

It is my fervent hope that you’ll discover that the house of your dreams is actually hiding right where you live today.

–Sarah Susanka

Watch the four-minute segment with Sarah here.

When my first book, The Not So Big House, was published just over ten years ago, I could not have predicted the groundswell of support for the book’s message. It almost instantly rose to the top of best-seller lists as readers demonstrated their eagerness to build houses of beauty and quality, designed with the lifestyles of the inhabitants in mind.

Today, “Not So Big” is a mindset that has evolved into an entire lifestyle, showing us how to thoughtfully inhabit our houses by creating better — not bigger — homes. It’s all about the importance of living a balanced existence while maintaining a healthy planet.

By starting with a “Not So Big” home that’s thoughtfully crafted with energy efficiency in mind, people can begin to make noticeable contributions toward solving the current crisis of scale and consumption, while finding respite and regeneration in a home that reflects the values that motivate the rest of their lives.

The first step toward “Not So Big” living is to examine how you use the existing spaces in your home. You may discover that, by making a few changes in how you inhabit each space, you’ll create a home that functions much better for your lifestyle.

Here’s an excerpt, shared with permission from The Not So Big House – 10th Anniversary Edition, Taunton Press, 2008:

Take a look at your existing home. Now make a list of the rooms you have, along with the approximate square footage of each one. Under each room name, list what happens there. Under each activity, list the frequency of each activity and who does it. Finally, reorganize the list of rooms in order of most used to least used.

For most people, this exercise offers some surprises. A room that has significant square footage may not be used very often. This is a clear indication that you should rethink the space to see if there’s another way to accommodate the activities it houses. In many cases, rooms such as the formal living room and formal dining room serve limited purposes.

Some people will discover that the formal living room is in use every day. In that case, the living room works. The point is to identify how you live and then tailor the house to accommodate those needs rather than just assume that every house has to have the same set of rooms.

Sarah Susanka is an architect and author of eight best-selling books including The Not So Big House, Home By Design and The Not So Big Life. Her latest book, Not So Big Remodeling, promises to become as powerful an influence on existing home remodeling as The Not So Big House has been on new home design. Read more at www.notsobig.com.

Welcome to the MLuxe blog, Marvin Windows and Doors’ take on distinctive home style. This blog is inspired by our guiding principle for Marvin Windows and Doors: that each window and door we create is “Built Around You.” As the world’s largest maker of custom wood and clad-wood windows and doors, we look forward to sharing our insights on windows as part of your home scheme.

Our goal is to help you express your personal style through your home. However, MLuxe will discuss far more than windows. Our topics will range from architecture to sustainable living to ways to simplify your life. To ensure our information is the best available, we’ve gathered a group of our friends to share their expertise with you.

• Lou Manfredini - Lou is a regular contributor to NBC’s TODAY Show, hosts a weekly radio call-in show called “Mr. Fix-It,” and is a contributing editor to USA Weekend with his “House Smart” column. Lou’s life-long interest in home improvement began during high school when he worked in a hardware store, gaining knowledge of hardware products and experience in customer service. While attending Millikin University, Lou worked his way through school remodeling homes and learning everything from sewers to shingles. Lou owns his own development company that builds rental properties and manages the construction of custom homes in the Chicago area.

• Sarah Susanka - Bestselling author, architect and cultural visionary, Sarah Susanka is leading a movement that is redefining the American home. Her “build better, not bigger” approach to residential design has been embraced across the country and her “Not So Big” philosophy has sparked international dialogue. Her upcoming book, “Not So Big Remodel,” looks at the remodeling market as more homeowners look to remain in their homes longer.

• P. Allen Smith - Smith is an award-winning garden designer and host of the public television program P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home as well as the syndicated 30-minute show P. Allen Smith Gardens. He has emerged as America’s most recognized and respected garden design expert, providing ideas and inspiration through multiple media venues.

Our topics will vary and we will take our cues from you. What would you like to hear about? Let us know.

Susan Marvin
President, Marvin Windows and Doors