We are consolidating two homes (town & country scenario) into one (country scenario) right now, so a combined 6500sf needs to fit into about half of that. Feels tight, but only because we've got double of everything. So, you'd probably say, simple solution: get rid of half. Sounds simple. Somehow not working out that way. Have finally gotten DW to stop referring to our 4BR/3.5Bath semi-rural retirement country home as "small". She doesn't mean to offend anyone, she just wishes it was closer to 4000sf. What we're missing is a dedicated laundry/mud room (I see her point), big walk-in closet (I see her point here too), three-season enclosed porch (we'll probably add that), and a formal dining room (so we can use it once a year). After decades of city living, thing I've come to appreciate about the country home is the privacy and outdoor space, which is nothing short of spectacular - sunset deck, stone terrace, pool & lounge area, rolling fields. For half the year, much of our living space is outdoors.