It is important to consider more than just size when determining how functional a space will be. 

This weekend I met with a client who wanted to take me to see two properties she and her three children were considering.  One was much larger and because of this crazy market riddled with foreclosures, cheaper.  The other, to all of the family members but one, just felt better.  My job was to affirm their gut reaction and to convince them that they were not crazy for going for a smaller, more expensive home.

The reason is simple. Though smaller, the home had a layout that was in tune to the needs of this close family.  The social spaces were clustered in a group and away from the private spaces.  The home had a yard directly off the main living areas, making even the dog seem always nearby.  A smaller family room, but bigger bedrooms better meet the needs of three teenagers who spend less time with toys and more time studying and using electronics. 

Together we wrote down the features of each as we toured them.  Though the length of both lists was the same, looking at the features in black and white made it obvious to everyone what was the better choice.

I am glad we are moving away from the trend of huge McMansions, and houses full of rooms without a stick of furniture. Sadly though, the reasons for the shift seem to be more the force of the economy than a concerted effort to create functional, rational living spaces.