Jessica Helgerson Interior Design is a premier firm with an impressive portfolio of high-style residential and commercial work. For her own tiny cottage home, however, Jessica experimented with making the most of just 540 square feet. Using almost all reclaimed materials, Jessica and her family created a home with just two living spaces – kitchen, living, dining, all happen … [Read more...]
In Big Sky Country, a Craftsman Bungalow Home Filled with the Warmth of Wood and Stone
Karen and I each have one tiny connection to Bozeman, Montana, the site of this picture-perfect cottage by Locati Architects. She visited the city once, and for me, it was the site of the design problem on my Architectural Registration Exam. But neither of those experiences was as memorable as this modest craftsman bungalow home. From the street, it's as cute as can be, with … [Read more...]
Wide Open California Contemporary – A Mid-Century Modern Built for Outdoor Living
Ok, it's in Malibu, so the budget for this home likely wasn't modest - but at just 2,164 square feet, this updated home is modest in size. Built in 1962 and more recently remodeled by Burge and Associates, it's a classic California Contemporary, one of many styles often called "mid-century modern". But regardless of size, cost, or pedigree, this home offers a few details we … [Read more...]
A Modern Farmhouse in Vermont with a Unique and Interesting Interior
Taftsville is a tiny area in Woodstock Vermont, founded in 1793 with a sawmill and metal tool shop. Today it's a popular historic district, famous for a covered bridge built in 1836. Taftsville is also site of this new modern farmhouse, built to replace the original decrepit house on the site. … [Read more...]
This Contemporary Cottage Home and Studio is Full of Contrasts
Washington state’s climate, topography, and well, just plain beauty, is a great canvas for a contemporary cottage home like this modern remodeling project by Johnson Squared Architects. What started as a new garage grew into a remodeling of the existing home, adding space and opening rooms up to the views. The forms and shapes of the house stay true to other traditional … [Read more...]
This Compact Two Story Colonial Home is Surprisingly Open and Modern Inside
Just a few minutes' walk from downtown Asheville, NC is Albermarle Park, a charming neighborhood of early 20th century homes, including this super cute two story Colonial home. Set on a secluded hillside on a winding street and surrounded by ancient trees, "Cherokee House" is just about perfect inside and out. … [Read more...]
A Classic Summer Lake Cottage with a Big Screened Porch
We don't have a lot of pictures of this summer lake cottage to show you, but David Heide Design Studio has designed a handful of very special features into this house that we think are worth sharing. First is the overall look and feel. As the Architects write on their website, "...this new house has the look and feel of a 1910 cottage, fitting in unobtrusively with its … [Read more...]
1600 Square Feet of Restored Italianate House Charm in Savannah, GA
This restored Italianate house reminds us of the first house we bought in German Village, an area of historic brick homes in the shadow of downtown Columbus, Ohio. We'll always have a place in our hearts for that kind of urban Modest Mansion living, where neighbors are close and where bars and restaurants (and my first job!) were just steps away. So when this … [Read more...]
Chicagoland Queen Anne Victorian Home Adds Something New, But Keeps Something Old
The trick with updating an old house is keeping the character of the original style intact while giving the house modern function and appeal. We think the owners of this 2,700 square foot Queen Anne Victorian home in Naperville, IL did a pretty good job of that. … [Read more...]
Riverside Rustic Cabin – A Modest Mansion with Tons of Charm
1300 square feet is plenty of space for this two-bedroom, two bath rustic cabin the Swannanoa River, just west of Asheville, NC. As you'd expect, the interior is all wood and stone, with a few surprises thrown in (more on that later!). But this peaceful retreat isn't primitive - it's completely updated inside, with brand-new modern baths and new kitchen appliances. … [Read more...]