Small Homes that Live Large

I love how small homes, not McMansions, are getting more popular. Of course, what is considered small is relative. My idea of small would be someone else's idea of a shack. But what is important is that some people truly get it. That with the world currently holding more than 6.5 billion people, in order to preserve our natural resources we will have to get used to living smaller, living slower, using less, and using more responsibly. Of course, those can be two different issues, 1) a small house and 2) a Green house and more power to the people who achieve both goals in one.

I will be tackling the Small issue. Last week in the bookstore, I saw this great magazine, The Best of Fine Home Building magazine Small Homes that Live Large homes under 2,500 sq. ft (catchy title, huh?) It is only available on the magazine stand. The designs within are great, even though I think 2,500 sq ft is pushing the description of small. They have also published
More Small Houses, a compilation of 31 articles they have printed on the small home in the past.

The 720 sq. foot house above is the Bartlett Cottage house plan by Ross Chapin Architects, an architectural firm in Washington state. They design and build homes (small homes, bungalows, cottages) that seem like the type where neighbors borrow cups of sugar to make brownies that they then share with their neighbors at the block party later. They range in size from 700 sq ft of heated space to 2,400 sq ft. I believe their smallest is the Betty Lu at 708 sq ft. It is a one story house, consisting of a bedroom, living room, covered patio, dining alcove, small study and an open kitchen.

Tiny but well designed.

Credits: Floor plan and all home photos are from Ross Chapin Architects.

Can you guess what these are?

Go ahead...try.

Yes, the return address does say IKEA.

After missing the UPS guy for two days because of class I was rewarded today by the arrival of my desk. I will not even try to convey in writing how relieved I am to have this physically in my home after so many months of frustration.

Whew!

Merry Belated Christmas!

I finished some Christmas/Holiday gifts and they are finally ready to be shipped out.



Here are the pincushions made from this and this.



Here are the headbands made from the Heather Bailey headband pattern.

I am flabbergasted

I just got THE call!

Kathy from IKEA called me this morning to find out if I still wanted my desk on back order.

HELL yes!

I told her that I was certainly surprised to get her call and that I had first placed an order for this desk in September of 2006. She was surprised and said, "Really?" I told her that quite a few of my orders had mysteriously been dropped from the system.

Well, guess what Kathy said? She asked me if anyone had mentioned to me that all back orders that have been in the system for 60 days would be automatically purged from the system. She was truly surprised that when my back orders were placed no one had told me that. So was I. She says she also tells people that if they call near the 60-day cutoff, she can do something in the system that will extend that deadline.

This is the difference between GOOD customer service and BAD customer service.

From September 2006 to today, I have actually corresponded with or spoke to six people employed by IKEA; from their Home Shopping, Backorder, and After Sales departments, and only one person supplied this information. If just one of the others had mentioned this, my growing frustration with the organization would not have happened.

The desk is being sent UPS Ground and is expected to take 8 to 10 days for delivery. I will write about it when it arrives. Duh. Cross your fingers and wish me luck!