Inspiring small homes

By Sunset



Santa Monica cottage

Julie Hart's 900-square-foot cottage in Santa Monica, Calif., was billed as a teardown when she bought it. However, instead of starting from scratch, she renovated the home into a bright, airy gem.

In the kitchen, new oversized windows and skylights invite in the sunshine.

San Diego bungalow

Lauren and Eric Wendlandt weren't worried about the tiny size of this San Diego bungalow when they purchased it. The use of creative furnishings — this dining-room table can extend to seat 10 people — allows them to maximize space.

Remodeled Airstream home

Landscape architect Andreas Stavropoulos lives in a remodeled 1959 Airstream trailer, which he parks behind a Berkeley, Calif., co-op. The space is only 15 feet long and 7 feet wide, but Stavropoulos makes it work by avoiding unnecessary possessions and using built-in furniture.

Airstream home: Bedroom


Andreas Stavropoulos makes the most of his limited space by keeping his shirts and jackets hanging on a rail across from the cooktop. His built-in bed is topped with a thick piece of cut-to-fit memory foam.

Glass house

This striking glass house was built of components shipped from all over the country directly to the picturesque site in the Sierra foothills of Three Rivers, Calif. It creates an eye-popping impact with its 1,200 feet.

Glass house: Interior

The Fireorb fireplace frees up floor space, and the spindly tables and chairs help the home feel uncluttered.

Modern remodel

Using clean, simple materials, Kent and Pam Greene were able to update their small, light-filled Seattle home on a tiny budget. By using bright colors, adding larger windows and taking down interior walls, they gave the house a feeling of openness.

Modern remodel: Kitchen

In the kitchen, Kent and Pam Greene used plywood for their cabinets, another simple, cost-saving decision.

Modern houseboat

Matt and Jennifer Harvey's modern prefab houseboat on California's Richardson Bay is only 1,000 square feet. When they moved in with their children, Jack and Grace, in 2009, they made the most of the space by getting rid of unnecessary belongings.

Modern houseboat: Rooftop deck

When the weather is warm, Matt and Jennifer Harvey make the most of their outdoor space by inviting friends over for dinner parties on their rooftop deck.

Prefab dream house

Aaron Jones' tiny, one-bedroom home in central Tucson, Ariz., is full of creative ideas for small-space living. The eco-conscious Rocio Romero prefab house is only 625 square feet.

Prefab dream house: Bedroom

Because the house, like a studio apartment, is one big room, Aaron Jones uses furniture to divide one space from another. Here, a low chest of drawers and a couch separate the bedroom from the living room.

Sunny bungalow

Gus and Stephanie Koven wanted a way to unite their 1,000-square-foot bungalow in Venice, Calif., to the backyard, so they built a sunny, greenhouselike addition.

Sunny bungalow: Addition

Now, sheets of 16-millimeter clear polycarbonate open this dark little bungalow to its garden.

Green home

This prefab house in Scottsdale, Ariz., is dynamic and livable, honoring Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy while tackling sustainable systems such as solar panels and rainwater and gray-water collection.

Big kitchen

Christine Nelsen-Thuresson and Johan Thuresson turned three cramped rooms in their tiny San Francisco home into a large, colorful kitchen with views of their garden. The cottage itself is less than 700 square feet.

Big kitchen: Dining room

Eliminating two interior walls brought in tons of light and made room for a dining space.

Rooftop apartment

This smart, 800-square-foot apartment sits atop a 62,000-square-foot Seattle warehouse, tapping into previously unappreciated views.

“This is just one example of what is possible if we look at these forgotten landscapes as new opportunities,” the architects at the Miller|Hull Partnership say.

Rooftop apartment: View

The roof's deep overhang keeps the rooms cool even though the walls are glass.

Colorful bungalow

When Jeffrey Becom and his partner, Sally Jean Aberg, decided to remodel this 1,000-square-foot bungalow in Pacific Grove, Calif., they chose to use bold colors to enhance its architectural details. Becom, an artist and photographer, mixed custom paints and stains.

Colorful bungalow: Living room

In addition to choosing bright, exciting colors, Jeffrey Becom and Sally Jean Aberg also raised the ceilings and opened up several rooms to create a larger living, dining and office space


Simple cabin

The interior of this cabin in Durango, Colo., consists of a sleeping/living room, a simple kitchen and a bathroom alcove.

Modern cottage

This modular project from San Francisco-based prefab company Modern Cabana works as a vacation getaway or backyard guest suite and home office.