THE SHRINKING OF AMERICAN HOMES

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Americans are now realizing they don't need 1000 s.f. plus of space for each person living in the home. So with our current recession, rising energy costs, and the right-sizing our economy in general, perhaps the boomers really are growing up.
For years, my own three children slept in a bunk bed with a trundle, and even after I set up a third bedroom on the lower level for the 2 girls, they all continued to sleep at night in my son's room. To this day, with the last about to graduate from high school, my kids are very close. And I often wonder if our limited upstairs bedrooms (2) which kept us in fairly close proximity in spite of our large house, contributed to their close relationships.
I grew up in a family of 11 and we were all on top of each other, so there are extremes both ways. But space is a luxury with plenty of strings attached. As we reexamine the way we design and use our homes, there is plenty to consider. Most experienced professionals will offer initial consultations free of charge and that is a good place to begin when anticipating change.