When a house sits on a big lot, it enjoys the luxury that space provides: privacy from neighbors, room for recreation and relaxing, an impressive and commodious backdrop to entertaining. Sure, the landscaping and the outdoor amenities are important, but they are just parts of a larger whole so their impact isn’t as intense.
But the situation is reversed for a house on a small lot. To be its livable best, the house needs all the support it can get from its outdoor spaces. A well-designed landscape can give a small-lot house all the advantages of abundant acreage, and more. Plantings, terrain, and orientation can be exploited to provide privacy and a natural setting. Pools and spas can be tailored to fit most any size lot and sited to provide a shimmering view from wherever in the house the clients desire. Strategically located and well-appointed outdoor spaces can make interior rooms feel and live larger and make entertaining convenient and impressive. Plus, small lots have one big, built-in advantage over big lots: They’re easier to maintain.
The two houses featured in the issue offer a wealth of ideas for exploiting a small lot to its fullest. Each has a footprint that shapes the outdoor space and offers a full range of outdoor living within its sheltered environment. Take a close look at these small wonders; you’ll find a lot of ideas for your next small-lot house.
