Median house size decreases

Welcome to the future.  The median U.S. house size continues to decrease from it's peak in 2007.   Excerpt from the year end review in Zillow's blog.

Rather than space-age technology, the biggest thing that is expected to change in future single-family homes is the size.

“Homes will get smaller,” says Stephen Melman, Director of Economic Services at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in Washington D.C. “We asked builders, ‘what do you anticipate the new home size would be by 2015?’ “

According to the results of the study, surveyed home builders expect new single-family homes to check in at an average of 2,150 square feet. Current single family homes measure around 2,400 square feet, which is already a decrease from the peak home size in 2007 of 2,521.

To read the full article..  zillow home trends

happy holidays

Thank you everyone for a great year of designing and building small houses!

cottage housing in the suburban wilderness -sammamish

The city of Sammamish City Council will be doing a second reading of there proposed zoning code changes that would provide for a demonstration project of up to 50 cottage housing units at their regularly schedule meeting tonight. The current proposal needs help. Those interested in cottage housing should show up to support cottage housing or email the city clerk  Melonie Anderson.


Microhouse is currently working with a Sammamish landowner to develop his one acre parcel retaining his house and building seven cottage houses.  Under the current Town Center zoning he cannot. He is allowed to develop rowhouses and apartments neither of which are suited to his beautiful steeply sloping wooded lot. Modifying the cottage housing provisions will give him flexibility to design with nature and result in a better project while increasing housing options and density, goals of the town center plan.

Currently the number of cottage housing units in the town center zones and in the proposed amendment is limited to 15% of the total units in a development.  This restriction is redundant and unnecessarily restricts small scale projects.  For example, in the TCB zone, the minimum density is also established at 8 per acre. Thus to do an 8 unit cottage housing development would require a 5 acre development of 53 total units. A 53 unit development is well beyond the range of most local builders. Why is this a problem?  

Only large national developers like the Toll Brothers will be able to build cottage housing after aggregating large parcels of land. Small land owners interested in developing their property will be required to sell, relinquishing control of their land. This will result in large cookie cutter development that doesn't reflect the character of Sammamish or the will of it's residents. 

Sammamish is blessed with a beautiful and varied natural landscape full of mature forests and waterways. Eliminating the 15% restriction for cottage housing will result in better built projects that reflect the community, meet the stated goals of the town center plan and give builders more flexibility in protecting the natural environment.  The 15% restriction should be removed from the demonstration project and also from Town Center as well.

http://www.ci.sammamish.wa.us/files/document/8279.pdf




Sammamish City Council Meeting
6:30pm -10:00pm
City Hall at Sammamish Commons
801 228th Ave SE
Sammamish, WA 98075

handmade modern furniture - 16th workshop

A rare find, furniture that is traditionally crafted and uncompromisingly modern. Seattle based 16th workshop to open a new showroom on Capitol Hill.  16thworkshop

16th workshop is a Seattle based furniture company that designs modern furniture of craft and permanence out of sustainably harvested NW hardwoods. All of their furniture is built by hand in Seattle, using centuries-old joinery methods. The company was founded in 2008, by husband and wife team Chris Armes & Sharon Khosla, who were both trained as architects and worked for some the Northwest’s leading architecture firms. 16th workshop offers a product line of painstakingly designed furniture that is suitable for residential or commercial use.  The young company has enjoyed early success and have been nationally recognized for the timeless elegance and quality of their furniture by publications such as: Dwell, Sunset, Interior Design, Apartment Therapy, and many others.

The showroom will be located in the Capitol Hill Neighborhood at

1205 E. Pike Street.  Suite BA (entrance on 12th). 

To schedule a viewing Chris Armes 206.905.8662 / chris@16thworkshop.com

backyard cottages for seniors - workshop

What are backyard cottages?  They are detached houses that share a lot with a primary residence, and they have been allowed throughout Seattle since November of 2009.  They can be used for many things including housing an ageing family member, a caretaker, a rental unit or an office. These small houses provide opportunities for families, while increasing housing stock, density and affordability. Join Microhouse, Ncompass Cottage Company, and Justin Arnold to learn more about backyard cottage design, construction, and use.  Bring your ideas, after the presentation we will have plenty of time to answer questions about the specifics of your project.

Backyard Cottages - Financing: November 9th, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM, at the Community School of West Seattle, 9450 22nd Avenue Southwest. 

Microhouse and Ncompass cottage company will be hosting the first of three free backyard cottage workshops.  During the workshop we will discuss the backyard cottage ordinance including details of who can build a backyard cottage, what it might look like, and the how of construction.  In addition, Justin Arnold will be there to discuss construction financing options.  

Backyard Cottages - Seniors: November 30th, from 7:00 to 9:00pm, Brick Building Room 32 Phinney Neighborhood Center 6532 Phinney Avenue North

A Matt Long from Husky Senior Care will joining us to discuss aging in place strategies and the design, construction and use of backyard cottages for seniors.  

Backyard Cottages - PNA Home Design and Remodel Fair: January 29th, from 12:30-1:00pm Phinney Neighborhood Center 6532 Phinney Avenue North

Join us at the Phinney Neighborhood Home Design and Remodel Fair along with a wealth of some 70 other building trade professionals and representatives from Seattle’s Department of Planning and Development.

Drop ins are welcome but we prefer it if you RSVP so we can be sure to accommodate you.
RSVP: bruce@microhousenw.com (206) 428-8599

magnolia backyard cottage nears completion

magnolia cottage nears completion

A current view of  Ben and January's magnolia backyard cottage.  The drywall is up and the finish work is beginning.  Landscaping should start any day now.  Because of the steep site, limited area, and to protect a mature cedar tree on this ECA site,  this backyard cottage was able to take advantage of the parking waiver.   In most cases one additional parking space is required for a new backyard cottage.  

free backyard cottage workshop

Would you like to learn more about backyard cottages? Microhouse and Ncompass cottage company will be hosting a free backyard cottage workshop Novermber 9th in West Seattle.  During the workshop we will discuss the backyard cottage ordinance including details of who can build a backyard cottage, what it might look like, and the how of construction.  In addition, Justin Arnold will be there to discuss construction financing options.  Bring your ideas, after the presentation we will have plenty of time to answer questions about the specifics of your project.


Drop ins are welcome but we prefer it if you RSVP so we can be sure to accommodate you.
RSVP: bruce@microhousenw.com (206) 428-8599


Backyard Cottage Workshop
November 9th, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM, at the Community School of West Seattle, 9450 22nd Avenue Southwest.