Located about a block from a popular street packed with restaurants and shopping, this 0.2-acre lot had plenty of close neighbors and road traffic. The owners wanted to build a 500-sq.-ft. home, leaving enough land for gardens and chickens. The bank required them to upsize their plans so they could get a loan. Duncan McPherson and Margaret Chandler of Samsel Architects tweaked the footprint and raised the roofline to add a habitable loft, bringing the house to 816 sq. ft.

After a small flat spot next to the road, the property slopes steeply before flattening out again and backing into a treeline along a stream. The slope provided some challenges for construction, but by locating the house at the bottom of the hill, the architects used the contours of the land to provide a natural privacy buffer for the yard and home. With the slope screening the house from the street, the wall of windows in the dining area flood the space with natural light without compromising privacy. Locating the living space and screen porch at the back of the home accentuates the sense of solitude.

To make the most of the small space, the architects designed one room to serve multiple functions. The laundry, bathroom, additional storage, and a hot water heater share a space that also serves as a back entry and mud room.

Outside, the architects terraced the slope to accommodate the gardens the owners wanted, leaving the remaining flat portion of the land for play and other activities. A 200-sq.-ft. screened porch located at the back of the house opens into the yard, and allows the house to “live larger” during warmer seasons.

For the design of this home, Duncan McPherson and Margaret Chandler of Samsel Architects received our 2018 Best Small Home Award. Check out the gallery below for a closer look at the house and the read the full article in FHB #275 for more.

All after photos by Todd Crawford, courtesy of Samsel Architects.

Please click the Launch Gallery button below to see a slideshow of photos from this home.