Little House on a Small Planet by Shay Salomon and Nigel Valdez

Little House on a Small Planet by Shay Salomon and Nigel Valdez

Sep 25, 2007

We were immediately drawn to Little House on a Small Planet when we read the back cover: Live in less space but have more room to enjoy it. Does that sound like a contradiction? ...on the contrary, living small can free up your mind, your wallet, and your soul.

For six years Shay Salomon and Nigel Valdez traveled all over North America, trying to answer the question, "How much space does it take to be happy?" They visited over 100 smaller houses and talked to the people who own them. The book is the result of that journey. It includes photographs, floor plans, advice, and anecdotes.

Featured are a 610-square foot cottage built after a woman lost her home in the Oakland fire, a Montreal row house, boats, and a cob cottage, among others.

Our only complaint? Many of the homes are more in keeping with a, well, funky organic-crunchy granola aesthetic than a streamlined modern one. Still, it's great reading about how others have thought outside the box, and realized how little they need to be content.

Read some excerpts here.

List price $19.95. At Amazon and other booksellers.
