Project architects Studio Marshall Blecher and Jan Henrik Jansen Arkitekter opened up the center of the house, previously comprising a maze of fourteen small rooms, creating one large and airy kitchen and dining space with a high, chapel like ceiling. A six-meter-long concrete plinth standing at the center of the room which doubles as an island bench and dining table, had to be lowered into the house by a crane while the roof was being reconstructed.
In the primary bedroom, built-in storage is ship-like and not particularly plentiful. “I’d rather live in 850-square-feet by the ocean and see the sunrise every morning than in 3,000-square-feet in the suburbs,” Caleb says.
The Little Owl A-Frame’s matte-black exterior sets it apart from its woodsy neighbors.
The loft style layout sees the primary bedroom stacked on top of the kitchen area. LED lighting offers illumination but with primary emphasis on the framed views of surrounding verdant nature. Beside the bed is where the washer and dryer reside.
The utilitarian washroom (situated beside the kitchen on the main floor) has a small vanity, sink, and toilet made by Moen.
The pantry lines the wall to the right.
Floor plan of Farouki Residence by Farouki Farouki
“I studied architecture as an undergrad, and even though I’m in interiors now, that education of not overpopulating spaces, of letting the building be seamless, has always carried through for me,” says Caroline.
From the compact quarters downstairs, you emerge into a bright, open second floor. It feels more expansive than its square footage thanks to a steel moment frame that eliminates the need for interior structural walls. In the dining room, a Lambert et Fils chandelier hangs above a black-stained, live-edge ash table.
Blue Savoy marble from Coastal Tile lines the floor.
The home's roof height meets that of its neighbors’ second stories, and its big, black-framed Marvin Ultimate tilt/turn windows put a contemporary twist on a centuries-old ventilation strategy. Its Artisan V-Groove siding by James Hardie, with mitered corners and painted Narraganset Green—a deep peacock-emerald with tones of charcoal and slate—strikes a happy medium between subtropical color and chic contemporary minimalism.
Portland loosened rules for backyard accessory homes, allowing up to two at 800 square feet each. They no longer have to be smaller than the existing home.
Created in collaboration with nonprofit Summit Huts Association, the Sister's Cabin by Colorado Timberframe is a timber ski hut perched atop Breckenridge's Baldy Mountain that can only be accessed by a 3.5-mile trek. Due to its remote location, the retreat operates entirely off-grid. It was built with prefabricated timber elements and SIPs airlifted to the site, and it features a luxurious interior that can accommodate 14 people.
Cedar siding is combined with black metal cladding that spills down from the metal roof, all providing maintenance-free durability.
Tight confines meant only a few feet of foyer before giving way to the stairway and kitchen, yet the small footprint (and a glass door) helped fill the home with natural light.
The home's interlocking twin volumes—addressing street and nature view, respectively— were inspired by Louis Kahn's Fisher House in Pennsylvania.
The Fallen Leaf features three additional bedrooms. Two of the bedrooms share a spacious Jack & Jill bathroom while the third room bedroom includes its own full bathroom.
View of the master bedroom
The walls are thickened by closet storage on two sides, which also controls the interior temperature and dampens sound.
Sleeping Room
Custom Walnut Cabinetry in Master Bedroom
The upstairs master suite has a bank of custom closets trimmed in raspberry Laminex and Split (Doughboy) handles from IN-TERIA Design.
Detail of the make up corner
Built-in storage keeps things organized in Leo’s bedroom, which contains an Ella bed from Room & Board and an Inmod duvet.
Materials like vinyl flooring from Canica are chosen for durability and easy maintenance, maximizing hygiene standards. The colors of the fabric panels on the wall are muted and elegant.
Photography is by Olivier Blouin.
The interior finishes in the bedroom and adjacent bathroom are similar to those on the main floor: birch plywood, concrete, and neutral tones.
Wardrobe
New research shows that downsizing to a tiny home can cut your ecological footprint by 45%.