14 Inspiring Small Homes
Great lessons in style and comfort from a tiny cottage, vintage trailer, bungalow, and other small homes
Expanded cottage: Rooftop deck
When you can't expand out, go vertical. "We've got a backyard--it's just on the roof," says owner Mark Egerstrom. "It feels like a treehouse up there above it all."
More creative gardening ideas
Live-work cottage: Living room
Makoto Mizutani and Ben Luddy have turned their house into an R&D lab for living. Every piece of furniture they create for their design company, Scout Regalia, and for their 650-square-foot home (and office) is a product of necessity. In the multifunction main room, a midcentury Hans Wegner daybed does triple duty: sofa, guest bed for visitors, and "conference room" seating for business meetings.
Stylish trailer: Vacation home on wheels
A couple of years ago at a fly-fishing show, Christa Johnston saw a display of vintage trailers. Taken with the idea of a wilderness vacation that wouldn't involve a tent, Christa fell for the iconic Serro Scotty trailer--a brand once common on Western highways. She and her husband Kurt found a not-too-expensive model that wouldn't require too much remodeling and transformed it into the rolling getaway of their dreams
More great cabins and vacation homes
Creative country house: Bathroom
Formerly a second bedroom, this bathroom relies on space-saving strategies: antique redwood troughs in lieu of cabinets; a spa-like basket to keep towels handy.
See more of this creative country house update
DIY cabin retreat: Exterior
Mariah Morrow and Ryan Lingard built their own cozy adventure outpost--just 130 square feet plus a deck--for $57,000, including the land. The cabin is the perfect jumping-off point into the wilderness near Joseph, Oregon.
Santa Monica cottage: Kitchen
Julie Hart's 900-square-foot cottage 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.
More amazing home makeovers
San Diego bungalow
Lauren and Eric Wendlandt weren't worried about the tiny size of this San Diego bungalow when they purchased it. Using creative furnishings (this dining room table can extend to seat 10 people) allows them to maximize space.
Airstream home: Bedroom
Owner 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.
See more of this tiny Airstream home
Modern houseboat
Matt and Jennifer Harvey's modern prefab houseboat 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.
Stylish apartment
Nearly every space in this 725-square-foot apartment has multiple functions.
With a futon that works as a bed, the living room is easily transformed into a guest bedroom.
Green Home
This prefab house is dynamic and livable, honoring Frank Lloyd Wright's legacy while tackling sustainable systems like solar panels and rainwater and gray-water collection.
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," say the architects.
Simple cabin
The interior of this simple cabin in Durango, Colorado, consists of a sleeping/living room, a simple kitchen, and a bathroom alcove.
Modern cottage: Office
The light and airy desk, made from a repurposed door and a piece of frosted glass, hangs from the ceiling by 3/16-inch cable wire.
More ideas for getting the most out of small spaces