I know some of these books, they are really great. Unfortunately, there is very little about creative low budget. And in many cases, they are architects who built their own house. Inspiring, but unfortunately only partially applicable.
What were the most interesting thoughts you took away from the books?
You recognized it yourself. It is meant to inspire.
Many of these compromise plans have a common core.
Namely a red thread.
Either great architecture (regarding room layout) and cheap materials like monolithic cubature, corrugated iron roof, few but well-positioned windows.
Or simple design of the area with high investment in trades.
For me, on the one hand, the realization to rather be small (tending to be too small) but refined was decisive.
That we now end up small and cheap has less to do with the planning and more with the cost explosion.
On the other hand, self-control not to get lost in your dream house, always wanting the best of everything, but skillfully and deliberately building affordably in certain trades.
For example, for us, no dormers, no skylights, no projections or extensions.
Around outside, gravel and lawn instead of stones and marble.
What we also had to learn is that copying Pinterest is often the wrong way.
Because visual impressions rarely have anything to do with reality.