Small House-Special Appeal

With trellised entry and rear deck, this two-bedroom plan offers the appeal of a vacation house. It also provides the practicality of a first-time or retirement home. Its small size and simple detailing make the house relatively economical to build, but the plan includes special design features that give it the feeling of a larger home. For example, a vaulted ceiling and a full window wall in the living/dining area add volume and open the rooms to the outdoors. An adjacent deck provides additional fair-weather living space.

The plan offers unusual flexibility for a house so small. The entry hall doubles as a gallery space and allows access to all major downstairs rooms. The master bedroom may be located downstairs or up in the skylit loft. Flexibility in siting is another bonus of this plan. In warmer climates, a northern orientation of the glass gable wall would provide good natural light and ventilation without significant heat gain. The window wall may also be sited for the lot's best view or toward the south for passive solar gain.

Designed by David Wagner.