This home is featured in the highly acclaimed book, "The Not So Big House - A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live." Unlike many homes that face their "long side" toward the street, this home presents a compact front facade, making it ideal for a narrow lot situation. The focus of the living areas is toward the rear, an advantage in the city or suburbs where privacy from the street is desired, or where the main view is rearward. The house was originally built on the shore of a lake, where the rear-oriented daily living spaces, as well as the master suite took advantage of the lake views.

Entry into the home, either from the covered front porch or from the garage, is into a shared foyer. Immediately, from both entry locations, you are visually drawn deep into the heart of the home, by windows strategically placed all the way at the far end in the dining room. Varied ceiling heights are used to create a specific feel in each part of the home. Standard 8' ceilings are used in the central hall, the kitchen and dining room to create a cozy, protected feeling. Carefully placed lowered ceiling soffits, and warm-toned natural wood trim add to the homey feel. By contrast, the 10 1/2 foot ceilings of the living room set it apart as a more formal area. The two-story ceiling, combined with the large rearward view windows and high-placed, playfully staggered windows of the family room, create a fun, informal, indoor/outdoor feel. A small indoor balcony off the master bedroom, and an open railing on the loft overlook the family room.

A Special Note about the main level width: The small bumpout on the side of the home near the living room, was created as a nook for the original owner's upright piano. It is not a structural component, and does not affect the line of the basement foundation wall below it. It is therefore easily removed if its extra 1 foot 6 inches of width is an issue. With the bumpout the home is 41' wide. Without it, it is 39'6"wide: a narrower width that allows the home to fit on a common 50 foot wide lot with 5 foot side setbacks.

Like the main level, the center hall of the upper level has standard 8' ceilings for a protected feel, but all of the bedroom on the upper level take advantage of the home's high roof peak, and have vaulted ceilings. The front bedroom, both bathrooms, and the master bedroom all call for skylights if desired.

With its traditional materials and styling, the Family Tradition house adapts itself well to many different neighborhoods.