THE SMALL HOUSE: The lot for this new home is about half the size of its neighbors. This presented unusual challenges regarding design, zoning, and neighboring property owners. Our design was well received. 21 required zoning variations were granted. The house has 1,900 square feet of living space, a ground floor master suite, an attached garage, and 2 bedrooms with 2 baths and a study upstairs. This is an example of designing around difficult circumstances – and of a trend towards smaller homes and simpler lifestyles.