Small Homes

Today, efficiency and compactness are greatly desired characteristics of a house.  A house with less square footage than the average American house (2,469 sqft. according to the 2006 U.S. Census) will not only cost the owner less to build initially, it will also reduce heating, cooling, maintenance and upkeep costs over the lifetime of the building.  Many people desire large spaces and can't imagine living in a small house, but while a house may be small in size, it does not need to feel small.  Thoughtful arrangement of spaces, ample exterior light and views, and a little ingenuity can make a house with low square footage feel larger than it is.  Think of all the benefits of a smaller home: less to clean, less space to fill up with junk which takes our valuable time keeping up with, more money to do meaningful things, more time, smaller energy footprint, and the list goes on...  Our Cottage Collection is a great place to start when looking for a small home plan.  Or, if you have something a little more unique in mind, get in touch with us.  We'd be glad to work with you to get your ideas down on paper.

Green Design and Sustainability

Sensitivity to the effects of buildings and homes on the natural environment has always been a guiding principle at Jonathan Miller Architects. Feeling a moral imperative to be stewards of the earth, as Architects we realize an opportunity: the magnitude of the positive impact we can have on the environment. From our in-office recycling program to environmental design, capitalizing on that opportunity is a core value.

Recent studies show that buildings represent 39% of primary energy use in the United States. Consuming 72% of electricity and 40% of raw materials, buildings present a huge opportunity for increasing the level our environmental responsibility. With rating systems in place like energy star and LEED, we can now easily quantify that level. We have experience in LEED certified projects, and have LEED accredited professionals on staff to lend their expertise.