Interior designers should go beyond the results of a well-designed room, we should involve important decisions that not only affect our planet, but also our daily lives.
This Eco-friendly cottage is where interior designer, Jessica Helgerson lives with her husband and two small children. The couple bought the 1940, 540 square feet cottage back in 2008 and had it completely redone almost exclusively with reclaimed materials. The Eco-friendly cottage is located on a five-acre property on Sauvie Island, about 15 minutes from Portland.
The current homeowners made the necessary changes without adding new extensions. The house has a big room, which is the center of the house that includes the kitchen, family room, dining room and a large built-in sofa that double as guest beds. The loft master bedroom is accessed by a ladder and the kids bedroom has two bunk beds and a pull-out closet.
It’s evident the designer and homeowner thought about every detail to accommodate all of their needs in a small space and they did it in a brilliant way. They also have the goal of becoming self-sufficient. They already plant their own vegetables and have chickens for meat and eggs.
Adopting an Eco-friendly lifestyle can involve some changes but in the end these changes intertwine to help us live a more peaceful life.
Welcome
The beauty of simplicity.
Boots
The cottage feels open and airy.
Living
These bookcases are the main storage space in the house. The ladder leads to the master bedroom.
Savage
According to the designer, “the wood used on the walls are reclaimed wood found on site of one of the barns, the new floors are local Oregon white oak, the dining table was made from locally salvaged walnut and the range is a vintage Craigslist find. The wood-burning stove easily and efficiently heats the small house.
Above
Snugly & cozy.
Kids
I like the idea of having built-in bunk beds and the pull-out closet.
Bathroom
Rustic and classic at the same time.
Bath
The tub was a salvaged from a friend’s demolition site.
Play
This is the kind of childhood so many of us dream for our kids: freedom bellow trees.
Colors
The perfect celebration for living in a cottage.
Source: Jessica Helgerson, Photos by Lincoln Barbour
What are your thoughts? Do you like the cottage? I know many of us can’t imagine living in a 540 square feet home, but the more I see small spaces done in the right way, the more I believe in downsizing.
I’d love to know what you think of this place!
Wishing you all a great day! I’ll be busy getting the kids ready for back to school! 🙂
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
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Its adorable, charming, bright and happy feeling. I agree 540 sq feet would be awfully small for me and I dont’ know if it could last…but its a great getaway kind of cottage.
I love this cottage… a lot! I think Jessica has done a great job thinking through the process, both with her eco approach, and with her small space planning. It’s just gorgeous!
Kudos to Jessica and her husband. Their cottage is totally charming – I couldn’t downsize this much but I applaud their efforts! Hope all is well with you Luciane!
What great source of ideas in this Lovely little cottage…had to Pin it, but you already knew that ~!
: ) Valerie
I am in heaven…the perfect cottage!! What a great use of space ~
Love the cottage. It’s like the size of my house, if you see my blog, you will see ny house exterior and can tell it is similar to this size! I think that a big home is nice, everyone has their own spot; however, you can have as much love and private space in a small house as you can in a big house. 🙂 Plus, if you have kids, a parent can keep a better eye on them in a smaller home than a big one. Plus, I think relationships are better in a smaller home — families MUST be together, not off in other parts of the house. Well, that’s just my opinion! Maybe because I have a tiny house! 😉
Love to you/hubby/kids, Luciane! xxoo
Best,
Gloria
Luciane,
I’m always dreaming of what life would be like if it were really, really simple. This cottage is long on style and great use of space. What a fun place.
Karen
I saw this cottage a few yrs ago on Facebook, and immediately fell in love with it. For some reason I wanted to track it down today and after many searches I finally found it. I have to say it is my absolute ideal home, simple, beautiful, cosy and despite all the white very warm and inviting. I love the layout and the setting, to me it is paradise indeed. Although I currently live in a small perfectly formed house that I love to death I would still swap it for this in a heartbeat..x