This little house lives larger than it looks.
Architect James Crisp tells me he designed it as a full-time residence for a client who was downsizing and moving near family.
They wanted it to echo the style of the old Greek Revival that sits nearby on the property in Eastern Connecticut. Take a look!
Designing a Small House with a Big Porch
It has a small-town, sit on the porch while Andy Griffith plays his guitar kind of vibe…
Jimmy Crisp (literally) wrote the book on porches:
On the Porch: Creating Your Place to Watch the World Go By.
He tells me, “We have a lot of fun designing these micro homes, and we get a plenty of feedback about how much fun they are to live in.”
The house is pretty “micro” at 650 square feet, so the 350 square feet of porch
becomes additional living space when the weather permits.
The vaulted ceilings make the house look and feel bigger than it is.
Like we saw in Carmella’s tiny house, the more windows in a small space, the better.
Built-in bookshelves like these are a great way to add storage to a small space.
I like how they frame the two windows on that wall.
He says they’re often asked to design small homes like this. Sometimes they’re meant to be used as guest houses,
but occasionally they’re a primary residence like this one is.
There’s just something appealing about them: “After designing a guest or pool house, we have had the owners tell us that they spend more time in the secondary structure than their main home.”
Crisp Architects designs projects throughout New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
For more information and examples of their work, visit their website.
“In spirit, it could have been built in the 19th century,” he says.
In the photo below you can see the family’s Greek Revival beside the little house and how beautifully the new blends with the old on the property.
Thanks to the architect for sharing his project with us.
Visit his blog to see more of his work.
Photography by Rob Karosis.
Lovely…
I think this is one of my all-time favorite houses! It just proves that *how space is laid out is the important thing. I love every bit of it.
As Goldilocks says, “This one is just right!” Love everything about it. I could definitely live in something like this full time.
This is delightful. I love these tiny houses – more, please! It would be so easy to live in a house just like this one.
I’ve always loved small homes. This is so perfect! I would definitely live in something like this as my primary home once my kids are out of the house.
There’s something refreshing about the simple beauty of this home. I like most styles of houses but this one seems so easy to look at and live in.
I have never not LOVED a home or renovation by Crisp Architects!! I also hope James is reading these comments because I want to thank him for how he personally replies to questions (mine included) on other websites! Great home posted here Julia – thanks for sharing 🙂
Adorable! It doesn’t look small from the outside. Very restful, and a beautiful landscape surrounding the houses.
That is such a pretty home! I love it! So clean and uncluttered looking. Oh, and that porch!
I prefer homes on the smaller side, I think it’s because I feel more safe and cozy in this type of home. All of my sisters (I have five) live in rather large homes, which are great for family holidays and parties, but not so great as their kids are all leaving for college.
I really like this house! I think there’s something freeing about living in a smaller home. Of course, there is less housework, but it goes beyond that. You tend to be very discerning about what you bring into the house, because you have limited space. The porch is amazing, and it’s like having another room!
High ceilings. Cozy atmosphere. Lots of light. So Inviting.
Less time spent on keeping it clean and more time spent sitting on that adorable porch!
I bet if someone built a charming little neighborhood of these types of houses to sell, they’d have a long waiting list of buyers!
OK, Julia, this is the best one yet! (I think I’ve said that several times before!) Thank you!!
For a small house, the exterior is trimmed with substantially-sized millwork; yet, the house is not weighted down like a little girl wearing her mother’s wedding gown. The architect has pulled off a rather nifty visual paradox very elegantly. I also admire the surprisingly deep overhangs, that, like the trim, look perfectly proportional. You’d think with such a small footprint and the desire for a Greek Revival design that the overhang, which is energy-efficient and great for water management, would have been nixed in favor of the aesthetic. What practicality and beauty!
This is a lifestyle that I aspire to have. Cottage Girl has it right – enclaves of such designs would be snapped up, similar to the micro community concepts that are popping up in some urban centers. The difference here is that the design is gracious and appealing. Looking over the pictures for the umpteenth time, the home appears to be ADA and aging-in-place compliant, though I’d move in today with my family. I live near a community where the HUD money is largely spent demolishing dangerously derelict housing stock. How wonderful would it be to have new neighborhoods comprised of homes that are this intelligently designed?
My grandparents on my mother’s side had a great front porch and basically lived there. The interior was for eating, sleeping and really cold periods (which are relatively minimal in East Texas). My ideal house would make maximum use of exterior spaces like that. I also love well designed small houses like this. There’s a lot to be said for a house you can sweep in five minutes or so.
This is charming. I love seeing small houses built well with quality design and materials. Love its classical facade and proportions. It would be interesting to see a floor plan and more views. I would just want a small table with a pair of chairs (with backs!) that I could sit at to use the computer or to dine. Wouldn’t want to only be able to sit at a counter. I might sacrifice the loveseat for that and use the chairs for extra seating. Or better yet, bump out the twin windows (not shown in the picture) opposite the loveseat into a box bay for a window seat and put the table in front of it. That way you could keep the loveseat and sofa and have a little (tiny) dining/writing nook.
I very much enjoyed this post! These homes are lovely. I came across the small homes and cottages of another architect, Ross Chapin – in Seattle I think. I found his site from a Pinterest picture the other day. I thought his homes were sweet too.
I’ll have to look him up — thanks, Jeanne!
Love Ross Chapin’s designs! His small houses and pocket neighborhoods with handkerchief yards are adorable and so well thought out. Definitely worth a post.
I couldn’t ask for anything more perfect than this home. Morning Coffee/afternoon Tea and let’s see maybe cupcakes to be enjoyed on that beautiful porch. Hi Julia thank you for sharing. Regards Esther from Sydney. PS I miss Andy Griffith.
This home is so lovely. I love everything about it.
In Goldilocks & the 3 bears the sweet quote was ……”This one is too large, this one is too small but this one is “Just Right”….. This adorable house is just right.
Nice house…cottage style is great and that stone fence in the last photograph is extra special, icing on the cake. Thank Julia!
Love it. Especially all the cool windows that light it up.
Simple pleasures. The way I’d like to live. Everything you need and nothing more. The only thing I’d change is the heat. Radiant heat is just so much more comfortable than forced air. But you can’t have it all.
Love everything about this house! Is there a way to find out the name of the blue paint the designer used in the bathroom? Thanks!
So thoughtfully designed! I love it! That would be a little tight for us right now, but in a few years, when the kids are gone, I could see it being perfect for me and the hubby. I would just need a large barn/pool house for the kids and grandkids to come back and visit and where we could have big parties & sleepovers! That actually sounds perfect.
I love the white appliances in the kitchen. I am so tired of the sterile look of stainless steel. This house is just perfect!
Thank you all for your kind words. I agree that Hooked on Houses is a really special site.
Thanks, Jimmy! I just love this little house.
Perfect retirement home for me!
Truly a beautiful house! Wonderful size. I thought the wood floors and bathroom were my favorite parts of this house, until I saw the landscaping/scenery: I’m a sucker for large green lawns and stone walls.
If this house is considered a ‘Micro’ house, then I wonder what my home would be called….the cottage that my wife and I live in is just under 350 square feet….the size of the porch in this post. 😉
Oh, wow! I guess yours qualifies as a Mini-Micro house then? 🙂
Maybe I’ll send you some pics of our cottage one day. 🙂
You know I’d love to see it, Aaron! 🙂
This is so sweet! It’s a wonderful alternative for people who wish to downsize, as opposed to the typical condo/bungalow choices. Love the nostalgia factor the porch provides!
I soo love this site! It SUCH a treat. It’s so much fun to see INSIDE these houses.
Thank you Julia!!
Lisa
Thanks, Lisa! 🙂
This is just what I’ve been looking for! Is there a approximate cost for a house this size? Beautiful!
The approximate cost was $ 278,000
Love it!! What more can I say? Perfect size. The décor is wonderful, too!
Eastern CT is a beautiful area. This house fits right in!
What would a home like this sell for?
He told us how much it cost in the comments. Just scroll up! 🙂
Really, a beautiful house with Wonderful size and the décor is superb. I Love everything about this house! Great post.
Could be my new favorite small home. Any idea on the cost to build? I realize prices will be vary by area.
That house ran $275/sqft or $275,000
Thanks
Thanks, Jimmy!
Mr. Crisp,
Can you homes be built anywhere in U.S? I live in Ohio and I think this small house is the most perfect I’ve seen so far. It is just beautiful.