I got so much great advice and support from this smaller house forum when I built my house a couple years ago....a very helpful group! I am also very budget aware. I built a 1628sq handicapped accessible house and love it. In fact, a poster on this forum actually came up with the house plan that I basically used for my build. I also used the building forum for many things. I don't know if you search "Phoggie's house...finally" or something like that, you may still be able to find it. Good luck with your build and if you have questions, I will try to help. I don't visit this forum much any more since my smaller house is complete, but do check in from time to time to check on some of my favorites. ( I just checked and my pics and lots of my posts are still on here, if you care to peak.)

I just located my house plan that I built....with a couple of small revisions...

we're a good place for what you describe. a good number on here are retired couples. A few single women too. Very budget conscious here. Most of us take great pleasure in a bargain/sale or reusable item!

mushcreek is building his home from scratch himself! lots of pics on here somewhere of his handy work.

come on in!

hey phoggie! good to 'see' you here again. you built a great house for you! how's living in your house on the lake going?

Welcome cricket5050.

I think you will find a lot of like-minded souls here. Many of us simply don't need or want a large home with expensive finishes. Share your ideas and plans and I think you will get a lot of useful suggestions and encouragement along the way.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. I think I will fit into this thread better than some of the others.

phoggie

I went back to previous posts and your house is decorated so classy and yet every room utilized. It is the perfect size for one or two people. Thank you for the plans.

mushcreek

I have been stalking your posts for years. Your build is taking a long time but I admire what you have accomplished. I wish my DH and I were as handy as you are. Searching and using second hand fixtures shows how creative you are.

Thanks desertsteph and llucy.

We are in the early stages of our build. We bought the land and had it cleared. Like many on Gardenweb who build in rural areas, we will need to have a well drilled, septic and electricity brought from the road. This alone is an expensive endeavor. We could buy a house cheaper than what we are doing. Maybe that is why the whole process seems overwhelming.

I have been on this site for over 5 years getting remodeling or repair ideas and it is a very welcoming site.

I think if you post to the building forum and clarify what you want you can get great advice there for homes of any size. I posted a draft plan for a "modest vacation home" (1300 sq feet) and got very helpful advice. In fact one person said they looked at the thread because I had the word "modest" in the title! There are some glamorous homes being planned and built but it seems there is still plenty of helpful advice for those who dream and plan differently. I hope you enjoy the process as you work through it.

I've noticed that many of the forums have postings for higher end of whatever it is, building, appliances, decor. But I think that is because by and large, building (and remodeling) is expensive. But I think you can get good advice on any of the forums, if you just state up front that you have restrictions. That said, I do think that most on this forum are more more budget minded or into simplification. People do tend to congregate where they find like-minded people.

There are some budget-minded people here...and a few on the kitchen forum. Let people know you want to stay on a budget and you'll get help appropriate to your situation. Even if you COULD afford more, many don't WANT to spend huge amounts on their home. They like to have money left over to do other things, too :)

Summerfield is missed! Not only did (s)he design Phoggie's home, but was also a big help with Mushcreek (Jay/Flgargoyle) and my proposed farmhouse remodel. I have had to put the remodel on hold indefinitely....but I miss those amazing plans...and software! There are some other home designs on the Building a Home forum, too. You can always tell...the style looks like Phoggie's plan, above.

Welcome cricket5050,

I think many of us here do tend to keep the financial end of building in mind. Some times skimping here to be able to buy the crown jewel that makes the new space s special. Like Moccasinlandings gorgeous stove in her kitchen remodel. Many like Jay and ML saved and acquired for years to have the dream space they were wanting to do.

We are not doing any building right now. I think we have done our house to suit us. Always enjoy what others are planning.

chris

In this day and age, being cost-conscious is the responsible way to be. Plan and wait, but don't overdo it. Make sure you know what you are budgeting for, be it the new furnace reno or your damaged roof repair.

Is this an advertisement....or a comment?

Please join in and make regular comments....or buy some ad space :)

Actually, it was just advice. I recently had my 100 year-old boiler replaced with a new high-efficiency version. What a space saver and definitely a money saver. But to get there, a lot of planning and advice from a variety of vendors was needed.

Well then, welcome to the forum :)

Are you still working on your home? Do you like to decorate? Garden?

Our garden took a hit this year from the local critters. They seem to yank out certain plants and veggies and leave a mess in their wake. As far as decorating goes, we are thinking of painting our kitchen floor. We recently saw some Pinterest images of painted carpets. As our floor is original and worn away, a paint job might be in order as a stop gap to having the whole floor replaced.

Painted floors can be really nice! I've read that porch paint is a possibility, too. Very durable :)

Gardening critters....ugh. Do you have cats? My barn kitties chase out everything but the deer! LOL

Yeah, I have a closed-in porch which we painted the floor with. Its been about 6 months so far and still looks great. So I'll look into that for the kitchen.

No cats. My wife won't let me have one after our last one was put down. I think the squirrels or racoons are digging up the planters though. I hear chicken poo works. Might try that.

I came to this forum wondering the same thing. I'm getting a lot of flack in the building forum for not wanting a 100 sq ft formal foyer devoted to impressing guests. Hoping to get some more practical/mindful advice on the small house group, even though our "small house" is going to be approx 2500 sq ft at the end of the day! :)

You will certainly get a more practical advice on the small house forum. If you are not trying to impress guests with a 100 sf foyer, then do 't do it! It is your house and your money! Want to share your plan with us?

Most definitely! I'm excited to post it. :) Will have to wait til bedtime though. No one told me how much children would take away MY "screen time." ;)

Bumping this up for Buehl to see....told her about Phoggie's lovely home plan :)

no arial it's not flack for not having a 100 sq foot foyer to impress guests. it's not having any entry other than through the mudroom and into the kitchen. There are ways to combine a mudroom entry and main entry. I strongly suggest reading Sarah Susankas book The Not So Big House. It will explain what we were trying to get across in the Building forum. Oh and btw most folks here consider 2500 sq feet a large home. :)

My house has topped out at a little over 2000sf, but I'm still a smaller homes kind of person (and a notorious cheapskate). I've saved every scrap of lumber and tile from every home improvement project, and reused as much as possible. I have more time than money to invest, though.

My youngest is taking after me. ♥ She purchased a couple of acres with a shell of a building, and has been raiding my remaining stockpile (and tool room) for her very small, almost-off-the-grid, too-primitive-for-me, remodel. But our kitchens both have black marble tile!

Apple doesn't fall far from the tree? :)

Thank you for not saying nut. ;)

I've built several houses under 1000 square feet, and you really can make them work. Nowadays, there are a lot of pre-made plans for them as well.

Ann, you'll get much more interest if you start a new thread about this. I would crosspost in Building a Home, too.

Building a Home has some very nice down to earth pros there. They can spot the weakness of the plan just in seconds. I think you should post there too. We can all go there to support you. :-)