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Post by autumnmist on Jun 15, 2019 7:30:09 GMT -8
This is of interest, although somewhat narrowly focused. Apparently the entry or presence of McMansions in neighborhoods affects other neighbors' self image and satisfaction. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3378131. This is just the basic synopsis of the theory/observation. More analysis is found in this article: www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/are-mcmansions-making-everyone-unhappy/ar-AACII3K?ocid=spartandhpApparently one-upmanship applies to houses, but primarily if not only for those in the upper tiers of large houses. I remember years ago when salaries used to be a measure for a person's self esteem. It's not surprising, but to me a bit shallow, to judge oneself and happiness by the size of a house. When we moved from a local city back in the 1950s to a lake community, it was at that time beginning a transition from summer cottages to year-round homes. Some of the houses are less than 900 square feet, but they've been remodeled and adapted beautifully for small families, who cherish the access to the lake as opposed to the size of their living space. But this is not a community of social ladder climbers; most move to that area b/c they want the proximity to the lake. I thought this might be of interest to this community, of people whose values are focused on real issues, on interaction with nature, self accomplishment, and more substantive criteria than how big a house you live in. And to me it's kind of sad that someone's self esteem or self worth might be tied to the size of the house in which someone lives. Another interesting observation is that the larger houses allow for more physical segregation of families and less necessary close interaction. Along with extensive tech use, are large houses contributing to a distancing (and possible eventual breakdown) of family members? One wonders. |
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jun 15, 2019 8:27:49 GMT -8
Interesting. I am in theory in favor of smaller houses, but have to admit I need to have a few private spaces. Come to think of it, it’s not the size of the house, it’s the number of rooms. I would prefer smaller rooms and more of them over the sort of wide open spaces that our new house has, for example, in the master suite (total waste of space, IMO). Ditto the really big generally open living room spaces.
Of course, if it were *really* just the two of us, smaller would work better. :D. Eldest Son swears he’s not moved in for the long term. But I’m not seeing a lot of effort to get the kind of work that would allow him to move out.
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Post by bradmacmt on Jun 16, 2019 5:18:57 GMT -8
I would prefer smaller rooms and more of them over the sort of wide open spaces that our new house has, for example, in the master suite (total waste of space, IMO). Ditto the really big generally open living room spaces. Spot on.
I designed and built our current house with this very philosophy in mind...
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Post by bradmacmt on Jun 16, 2019 5:31:17 GMT -8
Autumnmist, since the late 1980's I've been predicting there will come a generation that will not want baby-boomers "McMansion's." As a baby-boomer I believe that generation has finally arrived, and we will see more rejection of "shock and awe" architecture in the future.
While I'm a firm believer materialism is a shallow grave, there will always be those among us that require intimidation in their struggle to "acquire" fulfillment. Aka, there will always be some sort of market for ostentatious homes.
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driftwoody
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Post by driftwoody on Jun 16, 2019 6:25:31 GMT -8
House designers could learn something from the backpacking ethos -- minimal weight and bulk, multifunctionality, and just enough little personal quirks & luxuries to make the experience special.
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swmtnbackpacker
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Jun 16, 2019 7:31:58 GMT -8
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Jun 16, 2019 8:37:08 GMT -8
I live on a small street that has a mix of small homes and McMansions. I have one of the smallest ones. As a working parent, most of it single, all I see when I look at my neighbors' gargantuan homes is a housekeeping nightmare.  I've had a couple of walls removed though. I like open spaces, fewer walls, fewer distinct rooms. That said, I guess I wouldn't presume to judge those who have huge houses. I'm sure they would shake their heads about my three boats in the garage and a shelf full of tents in a dedicated gear closet... |
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swmtnbackpacker
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Jun 16, 2019 9:03:47 GMT -8
Painting the picture with a very broad brush with my post, of course ... and then there’s the old real estate adage of location, location, location mixing local and national trends . Bucking the national trend, some family I have in the DFW area remind me (constantly) that their areas’ suburban/exburban McMansions keep selling like hotcakes, albeit with more long term Texans striking it rich than retirees now. As jazzmom sez, it’s also about personal preference but OTOH, there’s community building codes which reflect the will of the population too. |
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texasbb
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Post by texasbb on Jun 16, 2019 11:03:31 GMT -8
I would prefer smaller rooms and more of them over the sort of wide open spaces that our new house has Good heavens, not me. A coffin feels like a coffin no matter how many of them you have. Give me fewer, spacious, multi-use rooms.
And NO coffee tables! My shins thank you. |
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jun 16, 2019 13:54:32 GMT -8
I would prefer smaller rooms and more of them over the sort of wide open spaces that our new house has Good heavens, not me. A coffin feels like a coffin no matter how many of them you have. Give me fewer, spacious, multi-use rooms.
And NO coffee tables! My shins thank you. I get you about tiny coffin-like rooms (which is what, IMO, our new house has for the 2nd and 3rd bedrooms). But I don’t need a master suite that takes hiking gear to cross, nor giant expanses of common rooms (I liked our old house, where the kitchen/DR/LR opened into each other, but didn’t dominate the whole house). I also need places where I can go and shut the door. I guess that’s what I meant about smaller spaces but more of them—places to shut the door (on my work, on the mess, on other people). More closets, too. |
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Post by autumnmist on Jun 16, 2019 13:56:10 GMT -8
rebeccad , for me one of the great advantages of not having a McMansion is during intense cold or heat, and when the power fails. Huge rooms are colder in winter unless the heating system has been tailored for that, but they're just uninhabitable during prolonged power outages. I too like functional rooms, well designed, with good natural and artificial lighting, just the right amount of windows that provide good ventilation, and minimal wet walls on the exterior. there will always be those among us that require intimidation in their struggle to "acquire" fulfillment. Interesting philosophy. That sentence infers a lot more than a mere observation on large houses. I do agree that there will always be a market; some people judge their accomplishments and self worth by exterior means. Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby immediately comes to mind. driftwoody , I think we're seeing that in some of these tiny houses that have been featured on tv programs. HGTV with its upscale home remodeling programs is I think going to lose ground to practicality, especially if/when the next recession occurs. swmtnbackpacker , you raise an important factor: the trendsetters. But I think the Millenials aren't all of one mind on housing, and from the few I know, they're not ladder climbers either. Quality of life, especially family, are more important than material things. This has surprised me. Interesting that now some of these massive homes aren't hot items in the real estate market. If (or when?) the next recession occurs, I wonder if people will avoid them or snap them at a reduced price, more or less putting aside the maintenance costs of huge homes. Building codes, especially setbacks, really come into play with the massive houses. My father's house is in a county with multiple lakes. His particular area has seen not just growth but refocusing from what were summer cottages to year round homes, some of which are in the 700 - 900 square foot range. But for these folks, lake access is more important than home space. However, even though many have been upgraded and made more modern, some when sold are McMansionized. Huge 2 story homes fill lots right up to setbacks and loom like giants over quaint little old cottages. The neighborhood has lost a lot of its character. One potential contractor who claimed he was also a builder and landlord wanted to purchase my father's property and build 2 rental homes on it, perhaps even subdividing the 4 lots into 2. I contacted the Assessor's office to find out what I could do to ensure the lots remained consolidated. It was an important insight into interests of landlords; I'll now be adding restrictions to the sale agreement to ensure that the lots aren't chopped up. jazzmom , housekeeping nightmare is an appropriate description. As I age, I want to spend more time doing enjoyable things and less doing housework. Sometimes the house can become the master and the homeowner the servant. I don't want my epitaph to be "she had a clean house". I'd rather it be something to the effect that I lived a full life. "Three boats in a garage".. love it! Mine's full of gardening equipment, wood for projects (no whole limbs curing though, or at least not yet), and "stuff" that I someday will use for my enjoyment. texasbb , you raised another issue of interest: change in furniture trends. I think that "home offices" and work space are more desirable these days than coffee tables. And rooms aren't just for a specific purpose; they're multi-purpose rooms, doing double duty. I've always thought that single use rooms aren't as functional. One trend I really would like to see though is summer kitchens, on exterior walls, with multiple windows and ventilation.
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Post by bradmacmt on Jun 16, 2019 14:52:06 GMT -8
That sentence infers a lot more than a mere observation on large houses. It was meant to... do you really think that a "large house" is just a "large house?" |
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Post by autumnmist on Jun 16, 2019 15:24:53 GMT -8
bradmacmt , no obviously not. Houses convey and/or reflect and provide insight into many aspects of our personalities, whims, desires, characteristics, income level, and more. I don't know that I'd consider them windows into the soul, but they may be. And they are the physical manifestations for a variety of emotions, of family interactions, for good times and bad, and sad times as well. I've also been told by others that a house is just walls, foundation, etc., especially when discussing the aura of a house after a family member has died. These people are able to be more pragmatic about cleaning and disposing of a house; they have no attachments to it.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jun 16, 2019 15:39:04 GMT -8
Meh. As long as the owners enjoy their house I’m in the hyoh lane.
Especially in the beach communities I’m most familiar with I’ve seen truly awful small houses while some of the larger ones were delightful. To my mind they’re a tool like any other. More expensive than most, true, but still a function to provide. And people get to decide which tools are right for them.
Though I now rarely entertain I still like big open spaces, as much as possible spilling into the outside. Easier in some climes than others: but it’s workable most anywhere.
Judging is a fun hobby, but not one I get engaged in: like stamps, or old hammers...
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whistlepunk
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Post by whistlepunk on Jun 16, 2019 15:54:58 GMT -8
We are empty nesters in a two story 5 bedroom house. Obviously way larger than we need, but it is paid for and no desire to move. Weeks go by without my going upstairs. No need. So we just shut off that part of the house. The grandkids stay over occasionally, then the upstairs get used.
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I've had a couple of walls removed though. I like open spaces, fewer walls, fewer distinct rooms.
