2012 Best Small Home of the Year

An 800-sq.-ft. backyard cottage in Seattle exemplifies the benefits of downsizing and reveals a new housing opportunity.

[@createwithrightintention1790]

I love how the media center is neatly incorporated into the stairs! The home is well thought out & its inhabitants are proud & happy! Very Nice! : )

[@Grahmahshanz]

ABSOLUTELY love the usage of space under the stairs.

[@robertcolfack26]

One of the nicest open floor plans I have ever seen just a stunning home just what I would like in a home not to much just right I wish the video was longer so I could have seen more of the upstairs living quarters.....

[@bornagainsaint1]

you have a very cozy quaint house, very clean and very organized. I really like it, it's not too big and not too small.

[@secondthought2320]

Absolutely great!! Americans have more than needed and if your floor plan with storage in all places that can be acessed, you can save a lot of money!! 500 to 1200 sq feet is what I am cosidering for just the two of us in our retirement years shortly!!

[@HollywoodFan21]

Congratulations to the architect who design this house. In addition It has everything for a single person.

[@martadolls]

Love this house! If it had a downstairs bedroom it would be perfect!

[@jeffery4pix]

1:10 she said; "it needed to kindda fit in with the hood" hahaha

[@sarahgreene5057]

As a single Mom I always wanted my own home..and now I don't have to win the lottery..I see the possibility of that dream one day..."hope" That is what Tiny Houses has given me. A mustard seed..

[@jukes243]

Like the looks and feel of this home. Well done.

[@BruceJC75]

Did she say "fit in with the hood" lol!

[@tonyakinremi7712]

I'm glad some live in much smaller homes than this. In Los Angeles this would be considered a shack. Love this home.

[@eliasmertens9313]

How much did this cost? By the way, it's not even that small, it's about the size of our house.

[@novelist99]

I could never live in something that small with my husband as he's a hobbyist and gamer. We live in a three-story Victorian and his models (ships, tanks, airplanes--you name it) trains, and game stuff takes up the whole third floor and is spread elsewhere throughout the house. In addition, I would need a room for an office as I work from my home.

[@keithnoneya]

Nice little house, I prefer mansions I guess, I'd like to increase my house size by another 700sq ft. I like room to do sewing, modeling, art, music, entertainment movie, misc. hobbies, guest, reading room with plants. I can't afford it so I just live average and that's fine, but if I could I would. If small homes are your thing then by all means build one and really enjoy life to the fullest as you see fit. I'd like to have a tiny home in the mountains by a lake with some trails to go quading, bike riding, fishing and hunting. Nice home it really fits nice in the neighborhood, the architect really did a superb job . Spent some time on Whidbey Island and love every minute of it, especially going out into the woods at Deception Pass and playing my 12 string guitar. Best Wishes n Blessings Keith

[@ramona2400]

this vid was not about what you want and your life

[@brittneyreigns]

ramona2400 ricky right 😂😂😂 Like dude they have blogs for that!!👀

[@YT4Me57]

Not so small to me. I grew up in (and still live in) a house not much bigger than that. Four small bedrooms for myself, my parents, a brother and my grandmother. And then there was the dog. My next door neighbors were a family of 4 adults, 5 kids and two dogs...same space. The only difference is in the design, which makes this house a joy to live in.

[@murphythompson2571]

This looks totally livable, compared to any " Tiny House " which would be to me , mostly a real pain in the rumpster.

[@roughandready1000]

Robert Thompson p

[@SeattleCoorain]

I live in Seattle and have advocated for inclusive zoning to allow DADU's (Detached Accessory Dwelling Units) for many years. Now they can be built anywhere in Seattle. It is very unfortunate the typical cost is horrendous: $250 - $375+ psf. This works for some homeowners, but not for the vast majority as intended originally by our City Council. It is wonderful the owners portrayed in this video love their ADU, but this building model was intended to serve many purposes, including as rental income for older empty nest homeowners. According to architects in Seattle who specialize in ADU's, very few units have been built and almost none pencil out as rental units to supplement income. And just try getting a construction loan for one that covers the full cost. Very disappointing. Fine Homebuilding is a great publication, I just wish the cost issue had been addressed in their video.

[@MandalorianFanboy]

This publication almost never addresses cost, because all of the people they feature would probably be embarrassed if the amount they actually spent on these projects was made available. Someone earlier mentioned up to $375 / sf. for Seattle projects like this one, which would translate into a cost of $300k just for this structure. That is insane.

[@solarhellas6687]

Their small home.... SMALL home! If you would say "Our home" it would be OK... But our SMALL HOME? Mera is absolutely right. Come in Europe and you ll find out what is small home. Small is 500sq feet. Not this one.

[@lmturmenne]

This is a beautiful custom design for a small 800 sf home. I like the layout and the openness of the design. How much did it cost to build? Anyone know? I'm sure it wasn't cheap.

[@frankleonguerrero]

Beautiful! I love the look, but living alone this is even to big for me! This style into a tiny house on wheels and wait, I'll have to look at this a few more times and take notes. Then I can move into their hood! lol love the video.

[@BJo4230]

love the tiny house so inspirational!

[@All4Grogg]

800 sq ft certainly qualifies as a small home anytime post WWII, they never said TINY home. During the 50's the average home was ~1000 sq ft. Many homes of that vintage or earlier will "feel" smaller due to the floor plans separating the kitchen/dining/living rooms. Nice house btw

[@shaggybowie]

800 Sq ft I'd say is small. personally what I saw of this house I loved.

[@aanon5716]

this is a more realistic human friendly & lovely little home. these tiny homes that are 200-400 sq ft are worse than a college dorm room with these sleeping lofts you cant even stand up in. then these people put a pet in with them & kids?! we saw this tiny living space style in japan apts 10 yrs ago & we laughed at the absurdity. (they are running out of space-they have to do something drastic) but i feel its inhumane. we need space & privacy as a basic human need.

[@mariettawilson5116]

And with overpopulation increasing, how are we going to do that?

[@seecanon5840]

Marietta Wilson ........id say there are almost enough people not an over abundance of them.

[@Momo_Minomo]

There are over 7 billion people in the world with 130 million babies born every year but only around 50 million people are dying in that same amount of time. Scientists estimate the planet can only support around 9 billion people at maximum and we are already running into food and grow space shortages. Considering all that, I think if more people built modestly and vertically, ate less meat, and gave over more land for food production we'd be better off for a lot longer.

[@graceserenachristie2914]

Yes this is a large cottage. I love it but small is different. I like the vacation quality of a type of home you don't spend your life working just for a house instead working for yourself and your family.

[@YourAnjl]

I like the house, but I didn't catch if there was more than one bedroom or if there is a full bath or more upstairs. Also, some indication of whether plans are available, estimated costs, etc. I really like the stairway/built-ins/railing.

[@The_Gallowglass]

The house I grew up in wasn't much bigger than this place. I think WITH the loft/attic my house was 950 sq feet. Originally the loft/attic was just for storage, but it was turned into a living space with a 1/2 bath. So over all it had 3 bedrooms, 1 and 1/2 baths, living room, plenty of closet space, kitchen and a utility room. No basement.

[@The_Gallowglass]

OSlatraigh The only thing I MIGHT add to that is an addition for a dining room, but it isn't really necessary.

[@ytringer]

Small house? My house is smaller than that.

[@riverlighttrider]

if you have a house that is smaller than this then you have a TINY house

[@alliekingsley7919]

My /apartment/ is 800 square feet, this is a small house.

[@deezynar]

The title calls this a small home, it does not say it's tiny. What is a small house? In 4 decades of looking at house plan books and house magazines, I've come to the conclusion that the word "small" (in the US) is commonly used for houses under 3,000 S.F., but I've seen slightly bigger houses called small. I think medium should go from 1,000 S.F. to 2,200 S.F. Small is under 1,000 S.F., and tiny is under 200. I grew up in a 450 S.F. home with a family of 5.

[@VH1hodges]

+deezynar I saw something recently that said tiny homes are up to 400 sq ft, and small is 800 to 1200. I think 3,000 is HUGE! I can't imagine anyone thinking that is small.

[@deezynar]

Victoria Lynn Victoria, you are expressing a view based on common experience in your life, and my personal experience matches yours. However, the books I was referring to were written before 1940, and were aimed at architects, or the people who hire architects. Specifically, people with lots of money. Before electricity, a rich person needed a big house to hold all the people who worked as servants. I have books of house plans from as recently as the 1920's that show maid's rooms. Some have chauffer's quarters, too. Mind you, the overwhelming majority of houses back then were under 1600 SF, but in these books 3,000 SF was a "small" house. I agree with you, 3,000 SF is far bigger than any typical family needs.

[@VH1hodges]

+deezynar That's interesting about the older houses with all the different quarters. I hadn't thought of that.

[@williamwinder3466]

Small house, big heart. Every big house (3,000+ sq. feet) iv'e been in and iv'e been in a lot have felt cold and empty, heartless if you will.

[@JodBronson]

Depend on the Person each one of us feels differently. Not good for Claustrophobia :((((((((

[@justgivemethetruth954]

Nice job! Really cute ... but the trellis makes the whole place look kind of cheap?

[@deezynar]

Interesting take on that. I don't see it that way at all, but taste and perception are fascinating things. Trellises were very fashionable in the late 1800's thru the first couple of decades of the 1900's. If you look at women's magazines from that era you'll see lot's of houses with trellises covered in vines.

[@cosmicmuffin322]

Once they plant a hydrangea or a climbing rose on it it will look lovely.

[@noga8974]

The turntable at 3:18 looks difficult to open...

[@samella35]

"backyard cottage?" Is is behind a bigger house? Seems to be flush with other homes on the street/block.

[@Eztliz]

I actually find this concept much more livable than the tiny house ideas I've seen where you have to climb down a ladder to pee in the middle of the night, or sacrifice actual plumbing.

[@jeroenderycke9653]

Haha, this is a normal sized home in my opinion!

[@stacyice8854]

We are considering something very similar to this and would love to know the projected cost!

[@carloskhali9806]

I love the living innovations coming out of Seattle. I am planning to live small. what is the minimum sq footage required for Seattle? lot size-per-sqfoot-dwelling? Help! Can't find the info too easily.

[@kcirish]

This is a very nice house but NOT SMALL in any way. Perhaps if you have grown up living in very large homes, like many people do in the USA and Canada, this might seem small but to most people all around the world, this is a normal or big house, not small at all.

[@The_Gallowglass]

I grew up in the City and Suburbs of Chicago. There are a lot of homes this size or smaller in Chicagoland. I grew up in a 500 sq foot home with a loft/attic converted into 2 bedrooms and a 1/2 bath (sink and toilet).

[@kazoosc]

when the average house in America (US) is 2,400 sg. ft. -- this 800 sq. ft. house is small.

[@christineg.1776]

Did she just say, fit in with the "hood" 1:10 LMAO Nicely done, Maryland.

[@heresteven]

I love it. Just the essentials. And lower property tax.

[@canadaprepared5642]

Small home? I call this a regular home. Really anything over 1100 sq.ft. is usually just serving the ego.

[@JeevesReturns]

Tell that to my ex-wife with her 6 bed 4 bath McMansion.@$%&!(%*&$#!!!!!!

[@vivaloriflamme]

JeevesReturns My condolences.

[@The_Gallowglass]

JeevesReturns Well, it's your fault for being a fenian. :P

[@kcirish]

The average house in Europe is under 1000 square feet yet in America that is considered "tiny"

[@Canadiancolours]

I've lived in a 600 sq ft apartment , this place seems like it's a 800 sq ft foot print. Is it just the way it looks?

[@cc-cd1yh]

Adorable, so cute!!

[@samella35]

Is this house turned opposite of the other houses next door to it?

[@Fohtman]

Awesome house I love it!!!

[@rainbowtacostv9921]

how is that small my house dosent even have an upstairs?

[@rimrockoutdoors9524]

Are plans available for the construction of this home?

[@kellytodd6602]

ok really neat idea but what would something like that cost? im in the joplin mo area

[@raykont]

in holland we call this a villa

[@The_Gallowglass]

Where I come I call it adequate for living. ;D

[@gremice31]

what about the upstairs?

[@riverlighttrider]

Upstairs There's the bedroom... They show the bed in the room, but no details other than that... and they don't show the bathroom which apparently only has a sink and toilet... They don;t explain how they get water or if they are hooked up to septic system, or a lot of those other details we'd all like to know more about

[@Someonesaidthis]

I LOVE THIS HOUSE!

[@Mera1011]

Oh Americans, exaggerating about everything. This bloody house would be considered to be on the larger end here in England. I would love to see you survive in an average home here.

[@mahousloth6322]

Mera A More like "Oh, person who uploaded/titled this video." Trust me, most Americans wouldn't find this to be small, either. A vast majority of homes for middle-/lower-class people in America are NOT this big.

[@dawidzawislak8405]

Well, good thing I don't live in England ;)

[@simplykayg]

+Mahou Sloth I'd beg to differ. 800 sq ft is definitely small.

[@eliasmertens9313]

You seem like a nice person to be around. And to be frank, why should we care what it is like in England?

[@cosmicmuffin322]

Mera A Lol exactly!

[@ectoteric]

As they get older, they're not going to want to climb up and down that staircase. They should have thought of that!

[@riverlighttrider]

I agree... but then again, maybe they are thinking that in a few years they'll retire to the Islands or something lol

[@21whichiswhich]

I love your home.

[@NuclearCarnivore]

This is a halfway decent home which is slightly smaller than the neighbors houses, but still has a second floor. I would think a tiny house has no second-floor just a loft

[@Temptresstoo]

Isn't this just a cottage in the backyard of their real house?

[@rogue9346]

What is the footprint size?? Fine Homebuilding

[@jimgreene4923]

Since this is in the Seattle area, what is the projection towards actual cost? I live in the Kansas City area & ground prices are so much cheaper than anywhere else in the country, I'm curious.....

[@vivaloriflamme]

Seattle lots are expensive. Same with architects, materials, permits. I went to get a permit to redo my kitchen-- it was more for the permit than for the materials. So I gave up the notion.

[@karenweber8893]

it is a lovely home!

[@alecpratt8165]

What's the cost?

[@yoboi01]

that was it... could they have done a tour of the house besides talk around in circles..

[@bennychloe]

Again, rich people taking the concept of tiny homes and turning it into something most can't afford. This house is located in an elite Seattle zip code, surrounding by multi-million dollar homes, theirs as well..

[@andrewlogan6380]

it may e small - but if you need an architect - too much - the movement is too scaleown - not spend more - I will be there next Tuesday

[@handycamlady]

It amazes me how americans call anything below 1000 square feet, small.

[@fabulousrain9726]

That is DEFINETELY not small

[@riverlighttrider]

yes it really is small... not TINY like the ones on wheels though

[@cosmicmuffin322]

Ummm, hate to break it to you America, but this is considered a normal home in many parts of the world! It's beautiful and well made, but it's not innovative or something new. It's just normal if you don't think the world is made of McMansions. Here in NZ there are countless bungalows that size or barely larger with families of four or five fitting in happily.

[@MichaelWithey]

How is this a small house and how do they think they can pin an award on it? Ridiculas!!

[@riverlighttrider]

This is a SMALL house... NOT a TINY house... but ... has anyone noticed that there is no shower or bathtub shown in the plan of "the powderroom" ?

[@lindagood3091]

riverlighttrider That's what a powder room is...Only a toilet and sink. They are usually found on the ground floor or a 2 story house, for the convenience of not having to go upstairs every time you need to use a toilet. The upstairs usually has the bathroom with the tub and/or shower. Hence the term 'bath'room.

[@riverlighttrider]

Linda Good yes, actually, I know this... I wasn't too clear when I wrote that... What I meant was THERE IS NO BATHTUB OR SHOWER in this small house but for those who don't know the difference, you just taught them... and that's good... (no pun intended) lol ...... really

[@henimsay]

I love it!

[@youngjuggler]

Walter White is that you?

[@ilililhy1]

That's a Lot of HOUSE.

[@amyglass9897]

This is NOT a tiny home.

[@evefiamma5818]

In fact the title refers to a small home.

[@trafficbabe]

amy glass but it is a SMALL HOME WOW

[@josephdeffendoll3056]

hey meng my gang could juse dis for a hide out in Miami Beach.

[@rebeccarosstn]

It doesn't say "tiny", it says "small".

[@addinan]

that is not a small house!!!

[@riverlighttrider]

it IS a SMALL house... but NOT a TINY house... like the ones on wheels

[@dphotos007]

I thought this was about a tiny house. This house is not really that small.

[@ME-dg8el]

it's a cottage.not a tiny home

[@lindasmith277]

800 sq ft & no shower??

[@ashleyf86]

Greed! Why do these people need 2 homes?

[@Cityweaver]

If you make a small house for yourself, you can rent the larger house and have it pay your mortgage, maybe even food.

[@ramona2400]

because they want and can afford it now spend time worrying and commenting on yourself

[@jacopo1104]

It seems you have no idea what a small house is!

[@543210abdullah]

روعه

[@lisajoh1178]

This is not small...

[@rihardskruminliepa9554]

420 hehe

[@fatboysancho]

she said hood. lol