In the blogosphere there’s been a lot of talk about creating a ‘slow home’ over the last couple of days – basically, a slow home is the anecdote for our fast paced lives. Going simpler, smaller and a little…slower. From a designers point of view, McMansions are great. More furniture, more rooms, and more money being spent. Personally, I find that the intimacy of a space that is in relation to the people who live there much more user-friendly. Maybe it has to do with living in New York where the square footage of a space is so precious, but when you look at some of the houses I’ve worked in – the extravaganze (or vulgarity?) of so much square footage makes you wonder how much time there is in a day to spend in all these rooms. What are your thoughts on creating a ‘slow home’?
And talking about slow homes, I’m starting a raw vegetable diet today. My friend Preston Bailey has been on it for the last month and feels an enormous amount of energy, he’s lost weight (though he certainly doesn’t need to) and – as somebody who has the kind of appetite that ensures that I would not want to be caught on a desert island with because I’d be roasting on a spit before I could scream – he doesn’t feel hungry. When I first heard about it I thought ‘Chewing on a blade of gras?’ but it’s really tasty. All natural, all raw and very well prepared. Have you ever done one? I’m using RAWvolution and they prepare and deliver main courses, raw soups, appetizers, the works – even two desserts!
I’ll let you know before I turn into a goat. (Funny, because I am capricorn!)
#1 by The Countrypolitan on August 14, 2010 - 2:33 pm
I think terming the “Slow Home” concept into a subset of the design principles could be a useful way of grouping and defining the design principles that address the physical and psychological needs for the inhabitants of spaces. It sounds very elementary, but most spaces, regardless if it is a space of 500s.f. or 15,000s.f, often ignore those needs. The larger homes or McMansions get so caught up in their grandeur that they usually forget to scale spaces within it to address those human needs. What I think we need to be cautious of are the individuals or groups of people believing they should be able to regulate and put limits on how large a home people can build, based on their own personal ideologies.
I love my “juicer” and all the different possible combination’s one can make with it … but I wish someone would design one that isn’t so labor intense in cleaning it out… ~Terri
#2 by Dawn on August 14, 2010 - 2:49 pm
Terri, may I just say your comment is SO well thought out and written! You took the words right out of my mouth esp. the last sentence in your first paragraph. Individuals should be allowed to decide for themselves, without criticism, what size home is comfortable for them, regardless of the criteria they use. A few years ago we built a home we thought we “should” have given our empty nester status. Hated it. The next home we built and currently live in might be considered extravagant (vulgar?) by some but we love it.
#3 by Dawn on August 14, 2010 - 2:52 pm
Another thought…is is extravagant (vulgar?) to have second homes which are only used on a part-time (or less) basis?
#4 by diane on August 14, 2010 - 5:21 pm
I love the idea of a slow home. We find that we spend most of our time in half our space (about 2000 sq ft) and the other 2000 goes to waste. Next home will be much smaller. Not so sure about the slow food idea though. No pasta??
#5 by Carl on August 14, 2010 - 5:22 pm
Perhaps this is telling. Is calm, clean, lean, future forward ? We are in an era of healthy food choices and healthy homes which I think does reflect the environment of our todays. And as for square footage, it is not the size but who dwells within and with what. It is not the cloths that make the person. Perhaps, again, this is telling. But can we slow down enough to see.
#6 by Gary Nelling on August 14, 2010 - 6:27 pm
Vicente – I look forward to your Saturday comments because they tend to be more philosophical and personal. I agree with Countrypolitan and Dawn that a person or family is entitled to live in whatever sized home they need and can afford. Some folks have home offices, libraries, art collections, wine cellars, music studios, etc that necessitate extra rooms or just enjoy an expansive space. If you can afford Park Ave or a high-rise apartment on the High Line Park, go for it! Hopefully, that is one area our government won’t seek to regulate!
But I think it is a question worth posing about neighborhood development across our country. For a century Americans have believed that it is the destiny of each generation to have a lifestyle more grand than their parents in a home 50% larger, and for a while the growth in our economy supported this notion, But in the last couple of decades, developers, builders and mortgage brokers aided and abetted by our government’s easy money, turned a realistic dream into a fantasy. The result was McMansions built of insubstantial materials and sold to people who couldn’t afford them, let alone furnish and maintain them, while the mortgage brokers collected their fees and the debt responsibility went to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, i.e. us.
From 1950 to 2010 (roughly my lifetime) our US GDP (Gross Domestic Product) went up 7X (7 times = $2 trillion to 14 trillion), while our cost of living went up about 50X. The cost of a car and gasoline: 20X, the cost of a home in STL: 20-30X, the cost of a row house in Greenwich Village: 500X, the cost of a private school education anywhere: 80-100X, health care: 100X. And the S&P500 went up 77X. What’s wrong with this picture? The gap between real income and cost has not been made up with savings. It’s been made up with lending.
So do I think the metaphor of a diet as an antidote to our personal and government debt is appropriate? Yep! I hope developers begin building scaled-down homes on smaller lots with fewer cul-de-sacs and more through streets and shorter travel distances to work and shopping. This is not just a green issue on my part (though I think green is important). It’s a national balance sheet issue!
Speaking of diets, please let us know how yours works out. Is this a RAWvolution or just a RAWdeal? After an ineffective decade of counting calories, carbs and fat grams, I’d try darn near anything! Even raw vegetables! Does it only work with that other dreaded ingredient, exercise?
Sorry about the length of my reply.
“I need a dump truck, baby, to unload my brain.” – Bob Dylan
“Me too!” – Gary
#7 by melissa on August 14, 2010 - 6:57 pm
I LIVE HERE IN SANTA FE, NM AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE DOING THE RAW DIET….
I LOVE RAW DESSERTS!!!!!
IF YOU DO ONLY RAW YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT FAST…
I AS A WOMEN BELIEVE IT OR NOT HAVE NEVER COUNTED A CALORIE… WE JUST ARE ALL VERY SMALL IN MY FAMILY..
I THINK DRINKING PUTS WEIGHT ON AND AFTER 40 YOU JUST HAVE TO BE DOING SOME THING THAT BREAKS A SWEAT EVERY DAY FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR..
IF YOU REALLY GET INTO RAW I CAN GIVE YOU LOT’S OF RESOURCES….
I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST YOU LEARN TO PREPARE YOUR OWN RAW FOOD ALONG WITH THE SERVICE YOU USE…
I WOULD BE WALKING EVERYDAY FOR A HOUR ON THE BEACH… EVERYDAY!!!!
P.S.
I LIVED IN A MANSION FOR 16 YEARS ON 30 ACRES….
NOW, I RENT A HOUSE ON 13 ACRES AND I LIVE IN THE WEST WHERE I LIVED IN CONNECTICUT BEFORE.. I THINK IT IS ALL JUST PERSONAL, BUT I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY EXPERIENCE A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVING IN LARGE HOMES ARE VERY UNHAPPY AND THAT COMES FROM BEING PART OF THAT SOCIAL SET AT ONE TIME…. FOOD FOR THOUGHT…
XXOO
MELISSA
#8 by Gary Nelling on August 14, 2010 - 10:02 pm
Melissa – Thanks for speaking truth to reticence!
I was the tall, thin one in my family and could eat anything I wanted until I was 45. And then I blossomed. I really love good food… and average food…. and fast food! There is nothing quite so luscious as a Steak n Shake double cheeseburger or Popeye’s red beans and rice! Despite that I’ve gone long periods on small portions and 1200-1500 cal/day with minimal results (not the good kind of minimalism!). With exercise I was able to loose 15-20 lbs in a year, but when my life and work schedule expanded into exercise time, my waist expanded too! Having a little extra energy might mitigate the times of tough schedules (and excuses). The only raw things I’ve eaten are certain fruit, nuts and grains, but since I do the cooking and the adult-sized kids have moved out, I’m free to experiment! I would be interested in your info about raw food in addition to boxed meals. Maybe it could become a significant portion of my menu.
My wife and I have always lived relatively small so we could put the extra money toward travel, concerts, art, the kids educations and retirement. And we still have assets and little debt. I wouldn’t try to force this notion on anyone, but I would recommend it as a de-stresser. Thanks. – Gary
#9 by Sarah on August 15, 2010 - 1:22 am
I think in this age of energy conservation, it is a good idea to downsize…personally, I love the idea of kit homes and small spaces that are multidimensional…i.e., a kitchen, dining and office area. Smaller spaces perhaps need more creativity to figure out what to do with, rather than a huge, cavernous room with furniture plunked in it. A smaller home costs less – it just seems more practical.
#10 by Ann @ Rose et Lis on August 15, 2010 - 1:42 am
Hi Vicente,
Two years ago I lost 30 pounds and have kept it off since. I started out by mainly a raw diet, juicing, etc. I have to say that I felt great with the raw foods and still eat raw for at least half of my diet today. Of course, exercising 3-4 times a week also helps.
Best of luck! Yes, it takes time to clean out the old juicer, but it’s worth it!
-Ann
#11 by Slim Paley on August 15, 2010 - 4:31 pm
Wow- What an interesting dialogue you have going here!
I agree with the suggestion that individuals should be allowed to decide for themselves, without criticism or government regulation, how large or small their domicile, as long as it doesn’t infringe on someone else’s home and view. That for me, would be the single most compelling factor.
I am always hesitant to throw the word “vulgar” around too freely- Interior design and for that matter, architecture, just like art, is utterly subjective. Who is to say that Francis Bacon is any more (or less) tasteful than John Singer Sargent?!
Lastly, I feel ever so ‘au courant’ as I have always lived my life SLOWLY- it works for me, although I’m sure it often drives some of those around me crazy
#12 by melissa on August 16, 2010 - 12:16 am
START BY GOING TO WHOLE FOODS OR A LIKE STORE AND FINDING THE RAW FOOD SECTION…
ALSO, IF MR. WOLF, WOULD GIVE ALL OF THE BLOGGERS THE NAME OF WHOM YOU USE FOR THE BOXED LUNCHES THAT WOULD HELP..
I ALSO, CAN GIVE EVERYONE THE NUMBER OF A FABULOUS WOMEN HERE IN SANTA FE WHOM YOU COULD CONSULT… SHE WENT TO SCHOOL FOR RAW FOOD COOKING IN CALIFORNIA… A VERY NICE WOMEN AND FULL OF INFO ABOUT RAW EATING…
ALSO, A WOMEN IN SEASIDE, FLORIDA MAKES THE MOST AMAZING RAW GRANOLA, WITH A DAIRY FREE TOPPING MADE WITH COCONUT AND CASHEWS BLENDED TOGETHER IN A BLENDER… THE BEST BREAKFAST I EVER ATE… I THINK HER BUSINESS IS CALLED: RAW AND JUICY….
ALSO, MAKING SMOOTHIES WITH A HIGH POWERED BLENDER THAT BLENDS THE WHOLE FOOD, MEANING THE WHOLE LIME, THE WHOLE APPLE WITH PEAL AND SEEDS, THE WHOLE AVOCADO W/O THE SKIN,BUT WITH THE SEED.. THE REASON IS THAT YOU ARE GETTING THE WHOLE FOOD, (SKIN, SEED) AND JUICING JUST DOES NOT DO THAT… I ALSO, CAN GIVE INFO ON THAT TO ANY ONE…
AND YOU NEED TO BREAK A SWEAT AS I SAY EVERY DAY FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR… START OUT YOUR DAY EVEN IF IT MEANS GETTING UP AN HOUR EARLIER TO DO IT… YOU WILL THANK ME IN A MONTHS TIME….
XXOO
MELISSA
#13 by Travis on August 16, 2010 - 4:19 pm
Hi Vicente and others!
I think the key to making a slow home involves a shift in the way we think about home. Slow is about care. As in, careful about how our choices impact our own lives, the lives of others around us and who come after us. As others have pointed out already in the responses, how much of our homes are we really attached to (and use)? Could we just take off that whole front half of the house and still have a lovely place to live? That said, as much as Slow is about making individual decisions to improve our lives, I think that there is a very important collective dimension to “Slow”. For example, it may be simple enough to redesign a single house, but what about the subdivision or the developer spec house that for many Americans is often the only affordable choice?
At theslowhome.com we have been thinking about these issues for some time now. We believe that by being better educated consumers, we can make better decisions about how and where we live – leading to a home that is more livable and more sustainable. By participating in the daily real-life design principles and exercises offered on our site we think homeowners can improve their design vocabulary and demand a big improvement in the design quality of the average American home.
We have also recently released a book entitled “What’s Wrong With This House?” to develop the definition of a Slow Home and provide the skills necessary to determine how Slow a particular home is in the real world.
I am very happy that we are not alone in the discussion – and especially that in the last few weeks the topic has been so popular in the blogosphere.
Thanks!
Travis
#14 by Julie Koran on August 17, 2010 - 1:52 am
I am a ID that has worked on many McMansions in the past. I have always thought that IF the excess was at the level of Vizcaya, Blenheim Palace, etc. it would be okay. But, here in Florida we had a big boom and constructed a lot of “faux” (can I add quotes around the word faux?) architecture that doesn’t feel right OR rich to me and I was not very excited to work on these houses. Stacked stone facades that are only across the front of house comes to mind…
Ideally, I would like to work on smaller projects that have large budgets because you can spend so much time on detailing and fine-tuning the level & quality of craft which, to me, creates a better home. Seeing homes as pure commodities and emphasizing size is indicative of our social path since WW2 and is always worth addressing.
I welcome the change and/or trend & hope it continues & that people keep dialoguing about this. I am thrilled to be working in the built environment because it offers the opportunity to experiment and seek out other like minded people to learn and share with. It’s challenging and introduces one to new skill sets.
What I do personally is not always where my clients are at, so I don’t push anything onto them, but personally I live a de-convenienced life & enjoy the care and challenge it requires.
2 authors stand out to me regarding this: James Kunstler and Witold Rybczynski, the latter provides very personable, not critical, observations & nuggets of wisdom on the subject.
Have not tried a total raw food diet and would like to, I will be watching for your thoughts on this.
Thank you,
Julie
#15 by Lisa on August 17, 2010 - 6:32 pm
Vicente – love the post. Personally, I am a big fan of small houses and if needed to increase would much prefer adding outdoor living spaces rather than internal square footage.
Rgarding raw – it’s something I’ve toyed with off an on for about 10 years. You should check out Pure Food and Wine in NYC.
Take care,
Lisa