You know, for every "extremely efficient" cookie cutter design there's a "this is innovative and cool but not exactly efficient". I like the latter ones better. Or design a new home! Live in a nuclear submarine, complete with reactors and several machines and scuba diving sets and diesel generators for when the reactor stops working...
Or a floating castle (possibly a Steampunk one)! Think outside the box. Build your entire base in a single chunk with the Quarry acting as a chunkloader and taking 64x64. And make an elevator system using IC2, AE, MFR, Obsidian Pressure Plates and Dispensers.
The possibilities are endless. You just have to do something you've never done before.