Yes - she argues for smaller well-designed custom houses with quality finishes versus large plain vanilla McMansions. The cost would be about the same and both too much for the general housing market. But her hope is that consumer demand would turn from focusing on just square footage and specific purpose rooms toward wanting better designed spaces. Then, perhaps, the tract builders would start providing these to the masses at affordable prices.

You hear so much about the "free market" and how it is just providing what the consumer wants. But sometimes I think what we are offered is what makes the most economical sense for the producer and they just spend a little extra convincing us that its what we should want.

If you have never lived in a well-designed space that fit your needs then how are you going to know one when you see it?