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Referencing the work of Philip Johnson, the client requested their own miniature mid-century “skyscraper”. The plan is a simple extruded rectangular form. The primary living spaces and bedroom are located on the second level, elevating them to capture the scenic views and creating a strong connection between the interior and the site. Below, a covered carport is integrated into the footprint, providing sheltered parking while maintaining the light, open character of the structure.

The simple geometry, vertical material expression, extensive glass, and simple material palette allowing the landscape and views to remain the primary focus.The strong horizontality of the massing is contrasted by vertical siding, creating a subtle tension between the building’s elongated profile and the rhythm of its façade relating back to the mini skyscraper. The expansive glazing takes full advantage of views toward Point Monroe, while the privacy of the site and absence of neighboring views allow the small footprint to open directly to the surrounding landscape.

This sawtooth plan helps to orient the views away from neighbors and direct views to a greenway. This allows privacy yet maximizes light. The house plan is also angled to maximize sq ft within setbacks of a trapezoidal site. The property’s slope allows for a basement level with full length windows. A courtyard is formed at the front of the house creating a protected playspace but still remaining connected to the neighborhood.

Designed to capture the surrounding water views, this house bridges the land and extends towards the Hood Canal. The home’s entry bridge visually travels on through the house to the water-side deck and beyond. The main level includes a great room, media den, and a master bedroom suite shielded from the street noise by a series of solid massing walls organizing utilitarian spaces. Additional bedrooms and a gym area are located on the walk-out lower level protected by the long cantilever deck extension above. Working with the steep slope to settle the structure into the grade and incorporating a shallow hip roof assists in reducing the home’s visual impact on the site. Additionally, this siting allowed for privacy at street level, while opening up the view side of the house with a significant amount of glazing for the dramatic vistas.

Nestled on a plot of land that has been in the family for generations, this project seeks to honor the farming roots of Bainbridge Island while maintaining a sleek, contemporary aesthetic the client developed over a long career as an industrial designer. The masses are broken apart with a glass entry to divide the program and break down the scale; fitting into the landscape more organically just as agricultural structures would. The materials blend the ancient and the new with pop-outs clad in composite concrete panels set against the shou-sugi-ban siding of the main building mass. The maximization of the southern glazing will allow the homeowners to enjoy the misty meadow mornings and the dappled afternoon light through the giant relics of the Christmas tree farm. This project is as much about site and history as it is about design and program.

A Perfect Little House Company offering

Like the Juniper, the Birch features a comfortable footprint and feels larger than it is—thanks to plentiful glazing and an extended roofline.

The modern cottage’s “daytime” and “evening” wings are separated by an elegant, light-filled entry, and both wings enjoy abundant natural light and generous, all-around views thanks to the home’s thoughtful longitudinal design.

The Birch’s evening wing contains three bedrooms, two baths, and the laundry area, while the daytime wing includes the living, dining, and kitchen areas. A gas fireplace in the living room helps keep the dwelling cozy on cool evenings. Similar to the Juniper, the Birch is ideally suited for flat, open vistas such as rolling meadows and clifftops.

A Perfect Little House Company offering

The Hillside Cottage—the latest design entry available for purchase through the Perfect Little House Company—is a compact, one-bedroom building ideally suited for steep slope conditions. The house boasts ample garage and storage space, a generous main level complete with living room, dining area, kitchen, reading nook and bathroom, and an upper level bedroom/bathroom. The heated area of the home is 847 square feet, the unheated 387 square feet, for a total of 1,244 square feet. The footprint of the cottage falls below most ADU thresholds, making it an ideal guest house. Designed in the context of pre-war cottage vernacular architecture, the dwelling’s massing, cladding and arrangement of openings help define this warm and inviting addition to the Perfect Little House Company collection.