I lived in a 5000 sq. ft. house for 15 years with my husband. We raised 14 children there. We had three living rooms, a 20 x 20 ft. dining room, 7 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 laundries, 2 offices, mudroom, play room, a pantry the size of most living rooms and huge central hall. Our professional stove was close to the size of a Buick. We designed and built it ourselves and it was built in true Craftsman style as my husband builds "period appropriate" homes. It wasn't a derivative style, it actually had the plaster walls and all the vintage fittings. I still remember the day it was "officially" finished. A light went on in my head and it hit me, "Heckola, I've gotta clean this thing!!" Obviously 16 people needed a large home but my goodness, we spent so much time on just running a cleaning crew. We had hardwood floors and Marmoleum and it used to take my husband (I did NOT do floors) a good six hours to sweep and mop the floors once each week. I still remember that there were 59 doors and 76 windows. All needed cleaning. No more....
I've spent the last 8 months alone in a motorhome in the woods. It's 26 ft. long and has about 25 sq. ft. of space where one can walk. The rest is taken up with a large bed and a table and two small benches. My storage cubbies are full of my precious books, yarn, French magazines, and art supplies. I live here alone (due to my seizures as I needed total quiet) except for 5 little rescue dogs. My husband comes out once a week to change my bed and clean and it takes him about 30 minutes. I LOVE IT!! It's my cozy nest. We sit in here and talk and have a glass of wine and it's absolutely perfect.
In about two weeks I move into a newly built and tremendously pretty cottage which was built specifically for me by my husband (a true labor of love). It has 450 sq. ft. and seems humongous!! I'm actually a little worried about the size. My sweetie keeps telling me I'll deal. Plus I get a kitten out it. One has to have a kitten due to the mice, you know. Poor me. In about three years, when our last child is grown, my husband will move back in with me and we have plans to build on a bedroom but that's it. There's simply no need for more.
I have become very interested in the small house movement and have read just about every book out there. It's all about prioritizing, setting up systems, and planning multi-use space. Interestingly enough, my husband and his partner--our eldest son--are now building small houses for backyards.
There's nothing at all like it. I'm a convert.
Concerning husbands needing more space, we do have a large barn and shop on the property. He's got his "area" but as for the house, it's staying small and cosy.
