Hobbit Houses

In 1970 the typical new home was 1,500 sq. ft. Today the McMansion has pushed the figure to 2,300. A small but growing group of architects and homeowners, however, is rejecting the notion that bigger homes mean better lives and for economic, environmental and aesthetic reasons is embracing mini houses, which are often under 1,000 sq. ft. Books like Alejandro Bahamón's Mini House, Michelle Kodis' Blueprint Small, Azby Brown's The Very Small Home and Ricorico's Mini House Style explore how small spaces can be put to ingenious uses. --By Lisa McLaughlin