Goodbye, McMansions

It’s official; America’s love affair with the McMansion is over. It was fun while it lasted, but those outsize abodes cost more to buy and to maintain. And these days, even high-end buyers have developed a practical streak.

But that doesn’t mean erstwhile McMansion buyers are willing to sacrifice luxury. They want to keep such features as large gathering areas, well-appointed kitchens, ample master suites and posh bathrooms.

And they want to add green features such as Energy Star-rated appliances, sustainable building materials and low-maintenance landscaping. In addition, they want outdoor living areas that extend useable space without adding square footage.

The tradeoff? No more hotel-sized foyers, no more rarely used formal areas and no more previously de rigueur features such as elaborate home theaters and so-called bonus rooms.

So, who’s driving this change? Simple answer: everyone.

Baby Boomers, tired of supporting small armies to help maintain their Hummer Houses, are flocking to smaller designs as the kids leave the nest. And sometimes they’re not even waiting until then.

The reasons are both financial and emotional. The worst recession since the 1930s hit many Boomers in the pocketbook, of course. Jobs were lost, savings were depleted and retirement plans were jettisoned.

But the psychological impact was just as profound. What had been a predictably secure existence for many of us suddenly became precarious. Conspicuous consumption, particularly in the form of outrageously proportioned homes, came to be considered a bit tacky.

In any case, if a family basically lived in the kitchen, the family room and the master suite, why did they need another 5,000 square feet of space? Why not accept less space but pack in more comfort, luxury and technology?

The children of Baby Boomers, categorized as Generation X and Generation Y, are also contributing to fundamental changes in the way new homes are being built.

Younger buyers, in particular, are eschewing cookie-cutter suburbs in favor of close-knit communities conducive to fostering quality time with friends and families. They don’t want expansive lawns and sprawling floorplans. They do want efficiently designed, eco-friendly homes with all the high-tech bells and whistles.

And just how is the home-building industry responding? Enthusiastically, it would seem. Across the nation architects, home designers and builders have re-engineered and “right-sized” their homes—and leading the charge in Central Florida are architects Tony Weremeichik of Canin and Associates and Don Evans of The Evans Group.

“Building smaller is not only an economical idea but also an environmentally friendly concept,” says Weremeichik. “Homes with less square footage typically use fewer materials to build and less energy to operate.”

Adds Evans: “Many homebuyers are opting for less square footage but dressing up their homes with all the details and amenities that had become standard in larger homes, such as custom millwork and high-end countertops.” Evans also insists that the right-sizing trend is permanent, regardless of what happens with the economy.

On the home-building front, a number of builders have embraced so-called jewel box homes. Says Todd Ermisch of Century Homes: “I think building smaller homes is a trend that most builders are practicing, even the custom builders.”

Collaborating on one of those right-sized custom projects is Goehring & Morgan Construction and architect Phil Kean of Phil Kean Designs. They’ve recently broken ground on a 2,490-square-foot Winter Park charmer commissioned by a couple wanting to downsize to a home with only the rooms and space they truly needed.

The home boasts Spanish-style architecture, an extensive outdoor living area and aging-in-place features. But missing inside its rotunda entry are the once obligatory custom-home formal areas.

“There are not a lot of walls,” says Kean. “The home was designed to allow the spaces to define themselves without enclosing them. The openness gives you great views of the courtyards as well as the lanai and the pool.”

Echoing Kean is long-time custom-home builder Bill Silliman. Silliman Homes has introduced the Villa Collection of floorplans, with homes from 2,847 square feet, in the Windermere community of Waterstone.

“My buyers are no longer motivated by square footage,” Silliman says. “They like new floorplans offering less formal space. They want courtyards and outdoor living space complete with cabanas and fireplaces.”

Silliman agrees that smaller, more energy efficient homes cost less to operate and maintain. But he also notes that less square footage can also translate into lower property taxes.Right-sizing is a movement that Silliman and others believe will continue for some time to come. With proper design and planning, they say, less can truly be more.

IN A COMPACT HOME, SMART DESIGN IS KEY
By Carrie Alexander

Not all small homes are created equal. A compact home needs to be well-designed to be livable. How do you live large in less square footage? Maximize space. Tear down walls that divide living areas. Skip the formal—and rarely used—rooms such as the dining room and living room and create a more comfortable, multifunctional family gathering space. Instead of a space-hogging home office, create a computer nook.
 

In addition, the garage should be large enough to accommodate vehicles as well as items that need to be stored. And outdoor spaces such as porches and patios should extend living space with room for a grilling and/or seating area.

Ceiling height should be in correct proportion to the rooms. A large room with a very low ceiling can feel cramped.  By the same token, living spaces should allow for comfortable furniture placement and shouldn’t feel cramped. Is there a suitable spot for the TV? For the bed?

There should be plenty of natural light with large windows and doors with glass panels. Natural light makes a home feel brighter and more spacious. The floorplan should offer flexibility to add on later if more space is ever required for a growing family or for taking in aging relatives.

Finally, is there enough storage? Storage becomes even more important in a smaller home. Check to see if the home has a place to store everyday items such as linens and brooms as well as seasonal items.