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600 Sq. Ft. Small House Remodel with a Nice Kitchen


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I wanted to show you this 600 sq. ft. small house remodeled by Atelier Drome Architecture today.

Not sure about you but I love finding out about small homes that have survived the test of time. This one not only survived the test of time but it also recently got a complete renovation.

In this case, the homeowners were already in their 600 square foot home that was built in the 1950s but they wanted to make better use of the space. Instead of just adding on to the house, they hired the help of an architect to redesign it completely without making any additions.

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600 Sq. Ft. Small House Remodel

600 Sq. Ft. Small Atelier Drome House Remodel with a Nice Kitchen

Images: Atelier Drome Architecture and Humble Homes

I encourage you to enjoy the rest of the tour inside below (I think you’ll like the kitchen):

600 Sq. Ft. Small House’s Awesome Kitchen

600 Sq. Ft. Small Atelier Drome House Remodel with a Nice Kitchen

I really like the usable kitchen because as you might already know I’m a big fan of home cooked meals. This kitchen has a compact dishwasher, microwave, oven, and full-size refrigerator. And there seems to be enough storage for everyday use too.

Why Open Shelving is Great for Small Kitchens

600 Sq. Ft. Small Atelier Drome House Remodel with a Nice Kitchen

I always like open shelving in small kitchens because it helps keeps the clutter away from the countertops while keeping those everyday things handy and it also makes space feel more open (especially small, thin shelves like these).

Living Room with Large Windows

600 Sq. Ft. Small Atelier Drome House Remodel with a Nice Kitchen

Kitchen and Living Room

600 Sq. Ft. Small Atelier Drome House Remodel with a Nice Kitchen

With the renovation they purchased new appliances that are more energy efficient so this has helped reduce their utility bills. They also re-insulated the walls to reduce air conditioning costs.

Bathroom

600 Sq. Ft. Small Atelier Drome House Remodel with a Nice Kitchen

The bathroom is really my only complaint about this house. I’d choose different tile and possibly bring some color in to brighten things up a bit and not make you feel like you’re in a public restroom somewhere.

Floor Plan

600 Sq. Ft. Small Atelier Drome House Remodel with a Nice Kitchen

Images: Atelier Drome Architecture and Humble Homes

Tips on How to Find Small Housing Near You

  • Check Craigslist and limit square footage in the search bar to 1000 sq ft or less
  • Do the same on sites like realtor.com and other MLS-based database sites
  • Drive around historical neighborhoods in your area as frequently as possible (often times these homeowners only put up for sale/for rent signs without ever listing it online or even in the newspaper)
  • Ask locals and tell friends and family what you’re in the market for

You’d be surprised as to how much help you end up getting when you tell your friends and family what you’re looking for. Some of them might know people who know people who are neighbors with a surviving small house that’s 800 square feet or less. Just recently I ran into a 300 square foot tiny cottage in my part of town (I took photos inside & out and I’ll be sharing that in the next few days so stay tuned) that just came up for rent and the owner depends on a sign out front to rent it. And she got more than 40 interested people calling in within a week’s time!

Is your next home going to be tiny or small?

I’m just curious.. Do you think your next house will be tiny (let’s say 100-400 sq ft) or smallish (500-1000 sq ft)? And why? I’m curious so if you’re willing please share in the comments below.

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Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!
{ 62 comments… add one }
  • Cahow
    October 27, 2013, 11:31 am

    Hahahahahaaa. I love your “new” classification for Tiny Homes, Alex: “Smallish”! Too cute!

    Well, we already live in our “smallish” cottage from the ’20’s and wouldn’t change a thing! And this is coming from an architect, whose career is ALL ABOUT “changing things”! When my husband and I bought this place, we both agreed that we absolutely REFUSED to buy a home, only to dump a mega-fortune of vanity into it! You know who I’m talking about: people who buy a perfect, turn-key home only to rip out every appliance/counter/light fixture, etc. because it’s NOT their style. (I’m not talking orange shag carpeting, folks!) Now, this excludes necessary upgrades such as a new furnace vs. the 1952 beheamoth that we inherited and a new stove when the vintage 1955 beauty could no longer be repaired by any local service person. Nope: we looked and looked and looked until we found the right site, the right floor plan and the right price.

    I adore this house and the liberal use of GIANT windows; something near and dear to my heart.

    Alex, if you’re reading this: Sadly, the colour, grey, is VERY much “on trend”. You’ll notice the entire home featured is done in grey. I couldn’t think of a sadder colour to display in a home. I have brand new client’s that needed a dangerous open loft area enclosed and when I first walked into their home, it felt funereal: honest to God…there was not ONE SINGLE COLOUR in the entire home beside…and I hate to use the description, Fifty Shades of Grey! (lol) Dark grey, light grey, dove grey, pearl grey…blahblahblibbityblah…grey! At first, because they had just moved in and it was only the furniture and painted walls, I hoped that area rugs and art work with COLOUR were soon to come. Hah! Nope, once the rugs and art arrived, it was MORE frickin’ grey! SMH And this couple have four small children under 10 years of age. Poor Grey Kids. 🙁

    Well, each to their own. I MUST have colour and art and pets and flowers and friends and good home cooked food in my home.

    • Doc
      October 27, 2013, 12:50 pm

      Cahow,
      Not a fan of the grays either. But, not a fan of the crayola bathroom featured earlier this week either. Tastefully colorful is nice.

      P.s.
      BTW: how was that book anyway??? 😉

      • Cahow
        October 27, 2013, 1:04 pm

        Hi, Doc. WHICH book are you referring to? I read about 2 books per week. 😀

        Regarding Grey or any colour: a little goes a long way. Too much blue, red, white, grey…an overdose of a particular colour (even neutrals) makes for lack of contrast.

        Didn’t have time to check out the other bathroom blogs, yet.

      • Cahow
        April 2, 2015, 2:53 pm

        DOC!!!!!!! Hi, friend!!! It’s been way too longs since I’ve read and enjoyed your thoughts. Welcome back!

        I don’t think I’ve seen the Crayola bathroom you’re referencing; often, if it’s a tiny home that I don’t agree with, I just pass on posting any comments.

        And the book? Silly Doc! I told you, below, that >that< type of writing isn't me "cuppa". LOL

        Nice to see you back; now we just need to keep Ralph Sly here and the pithy comment will be flowing. 😀

    • Doc
      October 27, 2013, 1:23 pm

      The book reference was for “fifty shades of gray” 🙂

      • Cahow
        October 27, 2013, 1:47 pm

        Doc wrote: “The book reference was for “fifty shades of gray” :)”

        Oh! ~blush~ I’m not into such falderal, Doc! I have an extemely active imagination and therefore, have never required a text book on how to snog nor shag. 😉

    • Joe
      October 27, 2013, 6:50 pm

      I love grey. Always have, way before it became the latest thing. I have at least 4 different shades of it in my place. Now, I also have white, blue, tan, plenty of natural wood, and even quite a bit of black! I guess ‘funereal’ is in the eye of the beholder 🙂

      • Cahow
        October 27, 2013, 11:36 pm

        Ah, but, Joe, you listed the Magic Words! “White, Blue, Tan, Black and natural wood” all add L.I.F.E. to grey! I was talking about a 100% grey house interior with white trim; now THAT is funereal. (LOL)

        • Ralph Sly
          October 30, 2013, 12:39 am

          Cahow, do we have anything to worry about, are you visiting many funeral homes these days. I seem to be visiting more and more old friends there lately and don’t recall any grey ones. Actually they have a lot of oak and calming color to the ones I have to visit. Hum, I will pay attention, I can almost be certain the occasion will arise soon, I have many old friends that are really quite in a rush to get to one. Me, I am not in a hurry.

        • Cahow
          October 30, 2013, 8:56 pm

          Sadly, dear friend, Ralph, we went to three funerals in 2 weeks, this October. One was a very dear friend who passed of age at 86 but the other two were sons of friends of ours: one was 17 and the other 23. Both involved stupidity: running across an expressway, on foot, while drunk and on a dare and the other was Russian Roulette at a party. It’s been a tough October.

        • Ralph Sly
          October 31, 2013, 12:31 am

          I am sorry my banter reminded you of this Cahow, we expect visiting friends in the age group and over the last few years there have been far too many (the price of loving so many) at funerals but to have to go the funeral of youth who we both know pull the same pranks our groups did as youth and managed to live through it is heart wrenching to say the least. I had to attend a step grandson’s funeral a year ago this time through the same antics only many people partied around him while he passed in their presence. I didn’t know the lad as this was a new part of the family I was just meeting but he was strong, healthy and athletic. Poor judgment at the wrong place and a young life was lost. We joked you and I about times in Amsterdam but in essence, it was the same stupidity, or I should say the finding of ones self that could have turned out so different.
          My condolences to the parents of those boys, I do not want to be in their place at all. I have a Son who he and I sometimes have our moment but I did receive a phone call that rushed me back to Calgary in one hell of speed, he was racing motor cycles and came off his at 300 k and was just very lucky to be alive. I was so grateful the lord didn’t take him from me. I have a greater tolerance understanding of him these days and in recent months he is taking me to tasks again on that tolerance but now, I just let it go and wait until he really finds the answers himself. I will be there when he is ready as I always have only now I don’t fuel it with my opinions. Ironically, when he was born 44 years ago, I had to be allowed to leave a hospital I was in after totaling my rally car in Germany. I didn’t allow them to tell his mother because I suspected I would get a call that she was going to give birth at any time. I just had to get that on last rally in before going back to England and joining them. Once again, sorry my friend for reminding you of sad events.

    • Paul
      October 5, 2014, 5:32 am

      I disagree… grey (and it has to be the right kind of grey) is an awesome neutral colour. Far, far, faaaaar, better than the ubiquitous (blech) cream.

      Not does it tend to hide many sins (i.e. dings in the walls etc.) but it provides a perfect neutral backdrop to paintings and other artworks, so long as they don’t contain lots of grey. That would apply to any neutral colour anyway. We bought grey undercoat to cover hideous wallpaper in our lounge and my wife took one look and said don’t change it. Had to let her down and tell her it was undercoat so went out and bought top coat in same colour. And we LOVE, LOVE, LOOOOOOVVVVEEEE it!

    • Eric
      February 16, 2016, 4:11 pm

      And precisely what is WRONG with Orange Shag Carpet young lady? (sniff)

  • Iris
    October 27, 2013, 11:48 am

    Love the 600 tiny or smallish house. I would like to have one like thst soon. I am a retired grandma that would like more freedom of cleaning a house to enjoy life outdoors. Your newsletter is amazing. Congratulations and thanks for keeping us informed.

    • Alex Pino
      October 27, 2013, 2:16 pm

      Thanks Iris!

  • Cahow
    October 27, 2013, 2:09 pm

    Oh, I also wanted to add, earlier but spaced on it: The architect missed the mark by not having a nice LARGE window in the bathroom along the toilet wall. Not only does !FREE! sunshine come in (reducing need for extra $$$) but ventilation in a steamy room, too! For shy folks, you could have a translucent blind that goes from the bottom window sill ^UP^, so they can have their privacy. It looks like a window is installed in the tub area but for my money, they are problems just waiting to happen! Constant water pounding on the seams, steam and minerals building up upon the glass…and WHEN are you going to have a window open to your naked Bits & Pieces when you’re showering/bathing? This is a very popular place in older homes and I’ve made a tidy sum of money, replacing entire rotting walls/sills for people.

    • Alex Pino
      October 27, 2013, 2:15 pm

      Good call, thanks!

  • Kathy
    October 27, 2013, 3:22 pm

    We recently downsized from 3000 sq ft to 1000 sq ft for our family of four. This is a transition and I actually got the idea from one of your posts when you mentioned transitioning into tiny living. We took this challenge on so that I can homeschool our children, and believe it or not 2 months into our new place and it actually feels too big. We will continue to move smaller most likely build our own small house of 500-600 sq ft. – mortgage free house within the next couple of years. This is a great journey – thanks for sharing!

    • Alex Pino
      October 27, 2013, 9:24 pm

      Thanks Kathy! Congratulations. Wishing you the best. Alex

  • Ed Campbell
    October 27, 2013, 7:42 pm

    Alex,

    Your site is the best motivator and I appreciate it so much. This “Ravenna Remodel” design shows what you can do with 600 SF of space both then and now. Mid-century is my absolute favorite period of architectural design ever and this great design has inspired me. (yes, I may plagiarize a bit)

    Now in my early fifties and divorced I am re-evaluating everything including how and where I live as well as what I really need vs. what I really want. The home I currently own is a fourteen year old one I designed and helped build, and at only 2200 SF most friends and family feel it’s small but it really seems too large for just myself and my girlfriend… I could do with much less really.

    So while I am very intrigued by many of the designs I’ve seen since subscribing this most recent 600 SF mid-century design really spoke to me more than anything else. I’ve begun seriously re-evaluating how I live and will be moving forward with the re-invention process thanks to you and your site.

    Many, many thanks and keep up the good work!

    Ed

    • Alex Pino
      October 27, 2013, 9:26 pm

      Thanks Ed you made my day with this comment! Best of luck with your downsizing adventures.

    • Cahow
      October 27, 2013, 11:42 pm

      Ed, depending upon which city you live in, you can find scores of mid-century homes that are a nice, small footprint in older, more established areas. Even in the less popular areas of Chicago there are loads and loads of them and cute-to-boot bungalows, straight from the Sears catalog!

      We went from 2,800sf to 800sf and it’s perfect for us! Two of the three bedrooms are home offices/art studios and when the kids and grandkids visit us, we have bunkbeds, pull out sofas and sleeping bags for them all. Of coure, when the weather is nice and balmy, the kids all want to sleep outside in the enclosed screen porch so that adds even more useful space. The 800sf is perfect for the two of us and our constant parade of long-stay visitors. 😀

      • Ralph Sly
        October 30, 2013, 12:14 am

        Now my world is scared from all spheres. Cahow, you put company in make shift beds, grandchildren in a screened porch. My God Girl, you will be had by the human branch of the SPCA. You don’t do that to children today. My first bed was a drawer in a large built into the wall wardrobe and had to be in my two oldest sisters rooms, those beast, when they got irritated with little brother, they put me to bed and slid the drawer closed, damn, scared me for life. (Oh ya, they called it hide and seek and it was a good spot because they never found me) I stay away from wardrobes all together by just tossing things on chairs. (My excuse and I am sticking with it) LOL graduation was sliding two large arm chairs together and until my leg length separated the chairs, then I got a bed, either that or it was a wedding gift, I can’t seem to remember, I try to stay away from terrifying memories, and that was the way it was. You can’t do that to children today, it just isn’t proper.
        I will bet those kids have a blast. My last wife invited her grandsons to my Calgary house when we were friends, (those were nice days), I gutted the dining room of furnishings and put up a makeshift tent, tossed some foam down and that is where they spent the night. They talked about it forever and I made instant buddies. The one was a little concerned about Grandma having a boyfriend though, he had the talk with me, (7 it think he was) yep got right down with it and called me aside, asks, so my grandma is your girlfriend “ay” (a Canadian thing, we start them young), I told him yes but I was an honorable man and he didn’t have to worry, (I think he was wondering why the tent was so far away from where Grandma and the potential new Poppa was) (my idea, the relationship was young and I wanted to honor her), then he got to the route of the problems with “but Ralph, she is a grandma, how do you feel about that”? (I didn’t have the heart to tell him my grandson was graduating university that year). I just said, Ty, your grandma is a pretty hip old gal and we get along pretty good. That seemed to do the trick; I got a high 5… And after all, I didn’t keep her long. I sure miss those boys, (the fridge to)
        Yes Cahow, you bring back a ton of memories and we did the same with a vacation house we had in Kelowna BC, tons of people all over the place and having a blast. Sears houses, come on, that is about as insane as purchasing a house on the internet. Sears never sold houses girl, I believe it was Sears and Roebuck, but who is splitting hairs here. (I am still getting on the card list right,[but you are the stickler for statistics and facts]) (Oh people, my ass is grass after that one, I had better not slip up in the future) Sad story about old Roebuck but we all can’t be winners, the house venture must have been his. (But they made a fortune on those) I used to get twitches whenever I walked into one of those when I matured in size because they, if I remember correctly, featured built in wardrobes did they not?
        Yes Alex, I will respect your “Smallish” classification on tiny houses because this is what this lifestyle is all about, those who want to go real tiny, then have at it. I just always wonder how they can control their lives over time when emotions and new people come into play. I went down to 250’ and am contemplating steeling a few more feet but do have room to ad on if someone else wanted to do so, the main mechanics of W/C and kitchen will suit anyone (when finished) but personal space could be built on for another’s extracurricular activities without invading mine. Actually it’s working out quite nicely at present because potential suitors have their own places and prefer to be there than among the sawdust here, the mice ad a certain flavor to the moment also. So dinner is at their place, hum, and kind of a nice arrangement when I think about it. Oh, by the way nice house, hate the grey…

  • Eric
    October 28, 2013, 7:24 am

    I know why they did what they did with the kitchen, for openness and to avoid a microwave over the range, but the 36″ sink base for a single bowl sink was a BIG waste (they could have made that 30″ and had a full size dishwasher) and the wall oven/microwave cost them counter space. A range would have cost half as much, then microwave in a wall mounted cabinet right where it is would have recovered counter space and saved a ton of money over those built-in appliances that will be a problem when they fail. It’s a beautiful kitchen. It’s also more costly than it needed to be, by a good stretch.

    • bob henry
      October 28, 2013, 8:02 am

      I am in flow with building a 20 x 26 house in a house. I am stealth building a small house in a very large pole building. There are 3 areas in the home. The 9×20 kitchen on the left end of the rectangle a living room and bedroom both 9 x 15. The flow is open with no doors . A double tee wall is in the center that contains a 36 wide neich for the living room and two 30″ neiches in the bedroom on either side of the bed and the kitchen wall contains 4 shallow storage closets one for a broom closet one is canned and boxed goods as a pantry one is a spice cabinet and one is a what-not shelf hidden by a wall mounted let down table that acts as a cabinet door when closed. The open flow seem to make the house feel much larger than if divided by doors.

      • Ralph Sly
        October 30, 2013, 12:26 am

        Smart man Bob, I missed a hell of a deal to me in an area I travel to often and would love to have a place there, everyone said I was lucky because you couldn’t build on it but the large out building could stay and man it was huge enough to hold a large skid shack. For storage mind you, just for storage. Oh, I might have snatched an afternoon snooze in it for a few months or so but just because it was stored there. Just for storage Bob, inside that beautiful old out building with huge doors.

  • Amy Poole
    October 28, 2013, 9:43 am

    Hi,

    I have a 500′ foot waterfront cottage in the Southern Tier of New York (Lime
    Lake). I would love to send photos of the improvements I have made and of a 10×12 bunkhouse that was built near it this summer…. let me know if you
    are interested, thanks.

    • Alex Pino
      October 28, 2013, 9:53 am

      Hi Amy- I’d love that! My email is [email protected] so you can send everything there 🙂

  • Abbie Wirick
    October 28, 2013, 10:49 pm

    My husband, 13-year old son and our 3 cats are looking for a a smallish 🙂 home. We’ve downsized substantially in the last couple of years, and soon we’ll be in our very own house. God knows the desire of our hearts…now to find our place. 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration & encouragement.

    • Alex Pino
      October 29, 2013, 10:42 am

      Thanks Abbie. Best wishes! Alex

  • Jay Bee
    October 31, 2013, 10:57 pm

    I really miss our 480 sq ft cottage in NZ. I miss it more and more each day. It was even more efficient than this space, and it wasn’t what I would call efficient.

    Our new place — where we’ll be landing in 2 days — is something like 600 or 800 sq ft. I don’t know exactly. Two beds, living, dining, galley kitchen, and bath. So, I’m guessing more efficient than this place.

    Anyway, I love little places and it’s fun. I’m looking at getting a live-income property next, and living in the downstairs apartment of the two-apartment houses (old mansions divided in half) so that the kiddo can have the run of the yard. Ideally, a well designed 400-600 sq ft is the way to go for us.

  • Liv
    November 24, 2013, 11:37 pm

    I’d love a small house for two reasons; it would simplify my life and it would be more in my price range! I love the brilliant design plans that use every square inch of space so wisely!

  • Kathy
    December 20, 2013, 3:16 pm

    Alex, this is a lovely, well planned, really livable small home. I agree with other comments about the over all gray-ness if this home, but each to his or her own. Color is certainly no basis on which to rate a living space. You were right though — I *love* this kitchen. The fireplace is great too, as is the second bedroom/office. I suspect that this house is going to tip the price scale way too far for most of those looking for a small house or tiny home. Nice dream though. Maybe I could afford it if we lose the fireplace, and second bedroom……Sigh.

  • LIZZY
    January 23, 2014, 2:15 pm

    I’m a 65 years alive widow with an empty nest. Gonna sell my houses in Montana and Florida, empty my barn in New Mexico and hit the road! For 15 years I’ve been caring for my mother, now 90. When she makes her big journey to heaven I’ll start making mine to all points possible on Earth. Gotta have my Tiny House ready to roll. Love all these sites and comments of brave women who are “Livin’ Da Life” !!!

    • Alex Pino
      January 23, 2014, 2:21 pm

      Wow, thanks Lizzy, you are awesome!

  • Comet
    January 23, 2014, 9:14 pm

    @LIZZIE—

    Thanks for being open about waiting for dear mom to pass before you take up the next phase of your life–we too are waiting for a similar event. This soulds cold when we say it like this but—taking care of thi particular person has been a trial from Day 1 as she is mean and treats her family like crap no matter what we do for her. Her dubious BFF’s–all of whom are looking for a handout at all times—are of course PERFECT.

    Well anyways—we are planning what to DO when this occurs and like you—selling the two houses and MOVING ON! RV or new house—someplace WARM—after THIS winter that might HAVE to be Australia!!!!—and taking our adult kids and small grand kids with us. AS of now we are all crammed into a small house not made for 7 people. While the mean rellie lives in splendor in a large house with ONE person! Jealous? No–I would rather be crammed than live with the type attitude she has.

    Having great fun thinking and planning on what we WILL be doing!!!!!

  • mim
    January 24, 2014, 1:06 am

    alex
    do you know the measurements of this house?
    i am in the midst of acquiring a small property and dreaming and designing my smallish house….i would like to know how lobg and wide this house is…
    thanks
    mim

    • Alex Pino
      January 24, 2014, 8:18 am

      I don’t know for sure but my guess would be approximately 20’x30′

  • libertymen
    January 25, 2014, 7:46 am

    Its a decent plan and they probably spent a ton of $ on it.Do you really need an Architect to remodel a 600 SF home?
    That fireplace must have cost $$$$$$$$$$/

  • Fred
    April 15, 2014, 5:08 pm

    My wife and I raised our children and (grandchildren for a while) in our 4 bedroom, 2-1/2 bath, 2,200 ft2 home. Our next home will be an earth-bermed (or underground) rectangle, about 700 ft2, one bedroom, one bath, with the long wall facing south and mostly glass, passive solar, and a deep full-width patio or deck across the front — much like the Solar Arcade that Mother Earth News built a few decades ago. The full width north wall will be all with floor-to-ceiling interior doors with a couple feet deep storage behind.

  • lizzy
    April 15, 2014, 6:58 pm

    I really like this home – except that bathroom is not to my taste. At my age late 50’s I am looking for a 350-400 ft home, the biggest problem I have is trying to find a place to park it…..I don’t have property nor can I afford to buy property. I will keep searching. Thanks sharing.

  • John
    April 15, 2014, 7:02 pm

    I really like the size and layout of this place. It feels like it would be perfect for me. I like the idea of going small but I find the ‘average’ tiny home to just be too small. Maybe it’s because I’m a ‘big guy’ but I don’t want to be bumping into walls all the time or having trouble turning around and I do NOT want a loft (other than perhaps for storage but definitely not to sleep in). So anyway, this seems great to me. Small but still ‘big enough’ to not make me feel like the place is ‘caving in’ around me lol

  • CathyAnn
    April 15, 2014, 11:35 pm

    This house reminds me of the post-WWII housing in which I grew up. The houses were generally small. Our 2 bedroom, 1 bath house (for a family of 4) was under 1,000 sq.ft. that my folks purchased for $12,250 in 1952. Small houses like this one above were the norm, and my sister and I thought nothing of sharing a bedroom, although we’d grumble about it after we had an argument. That was located in Redwood City, CA, just south of San Francisco. My mother sold that house in the early ’90’s for almost $400,000. A former school chum whose mother still lives across the street emailed me a few years ago saying the house was on the market again with an asking price of a little over $900,000 (I don’t remember the exact figure she gave me.). Of course that price was before the bottom fell out of our economy in around 2008.

    The fireplace in the house above looks like it’s from the ’50’s. I’ve seen enough of them. I don’t mind the gray, but I would definitely add color to the decor. And I really like the floor plan.

  • Mary Beth Krause
    April 16, 2014, 8:54 am

    At 44 I too am downsizing again! 1500 home to 729 Apartment and want to go to 500 ft cottage. I am working on my stuff for starters and will move into my camper for a year while I look for property and save some money so I can build that small cottage. Then Ill incorporate the camper as guest quarters when Im not using it for my adventures with Sisters on the fly!!

    • Alex
      April 16, 2014, 9:04 am

      Thanks for sharing Mary Beth wishing you the best! Alex

  • Gracie
    April 16, 2014, 12:01 pm

    We (2 retired adults – 2 dogs- 4 cats) live in a 600 sf Amish built house- the carpentry is great – the plumbing not so. We have had electricity installed. 1 BR, 1 bath – kitchen that we have remodeled and LR. We have changed the decor from dark and gloomy to bright and cheery- think seaside cottage. we are on 7 acres of Paradise in the boonies, but not remote. Love It!!!!! This move meant we got rid of “George Carlin’s Stuff” with no hesitation.

  • Rebecca
    June 7, 2014, 3:48 pm

    I have transitioned down in steps. 4000 sf on a half acre… to 1800 sf on small lot… to 840 sf on 5 acres. I love outdoors and find that with fewer house chores I can spend the time outside. I am going to build 480 sf cabin with outdide storage

  • Elisa Negroni
    July 31, 2014, 7:33 pm

    I would go for “smallish” In fact looking for something to rent in Chattanooga starting Sept 1 or even to house-sit for a while!

  • Noreen
    October 4, 2014, 1:46 pm

    Sorry, Alex, buy if I could afford it, I would buy a huge mansion and everyone else can live in their tiny boxes!

    • Cahow
      October 5, 2014, 5:04 pm

      Bwhahahahaaaa! An honest answer if I ever read one! LOL

  • Judy Waddle
    October 4, 2014, 2:11 pm

    Working on getting the money to build my small house in my son’s backyard. We’ve found the right floorplans – now just need the cash. I’m a widow and want to enjoy the outdoors instead of spending all my time inside cleaning!!!

  • Cheryl Brogden
    March 29, 2015, 3:53 am

    i think your kitchen design is perfect for me. Do you have other pics f your home or is this like a really old post?

  • jeannie
    July 5, 2015, 11:35 am

    In the next year will be buying a 14 x 32 cabin and making it my house. Looking at all these sites and going to do it cheaper! Seen some places for 50,000! Trying to save money lol

  • Chilebeanz
    September 10, 2015, 3:01 pm

    Can a 12 ft. wide house like this be built on a trailer? I love it, especially the kitchen, but yes, I’d put some color in that bathroom, too.

  • Jeremy
    September 10, 2015, 6:24 pm

    This looks great! Very cool little house. Sad/glad to admit we just bought a condo in the 1100sqft range. No affordable small houses around here!

  • Sharee
    September 10, 2015, 6:31 pm

    Kitchen: I would say it is just ok, not worthy of being part of the title.

  • Trish
    September 11, 2015, 11:43 am

    I truly love this website. Every morning I can’t wait to see what’s new and different. The informaton is worth its weight in gold, and the comments are really inspiring, except for a few jerks occasionally.
    I’ve gone from a 3 bedroom, 2-1/2 bath townhouse to a 700 sq. ft. one bedroom apartment. I’m still downsizing my stuff, that’s the hard part. I have the mindset for a tiny house and intend on reaching that goal. Goodwill has seen a lot of me, and will continue to do so. The tiny house appeals to me because I’ve had several mortgages over the years and no longer want to support the banks. By the time you pay them off you’ve spent another 2-3 times the value of the house with all that interest. I’m debt free now and on a limited income. I will not go in debt again. Too bad that lesson wasn’t learned earlier. I’m also taking care of my 86 year old mother that has dementia. So in the interm, I am planning my escape to a tiny house. I still haven’t found “the perfect plan,” but I’m getting closer thanks to all the contributors to this site. Keep up the good work Alex.

  • Leigh
    December 26, 2015, 6:24 pm

    We live in a 1800 sq. house. We bought the small lot across the street from us years ago when we lived in the house next to the lot. We sold the house but not the lot. Someone gave us the ideal to build a small pole barn house on it. It is 600 sq. A 20 by 30. Its going to be a one bedroom, kitchen and living room together with french doors. Has a nice sized bedroom closet and a good sized laundry room. We have the rough plumbing in, electricity is hooked up, walls are framed. Wooden front porch. Will finish it as the money comes along. We will move into it one day. It would be nice to get rid of all the stuff we don’t need.

  • Joyce Cates
    August 11, 2017, 7:44 pm

    600 to 800 max square feet. I would love to find this.

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