A green roof planted with moss and ferns from the surrounding Columbia River replaced a deteriorating roof and insulates the home efficiently."Every room in the house works hard, and that's really the point. We remodeled everything and gutted it and turned the interiors into a highly efficient space," says Helgerson.

Shot straight on without a flash, this photo feels warm and inviting. The time for this natural light is usually about 20 minutes after the sun sets. The light level needs to be just right — from the inside light to the last bits of daylight — to get this glowing-lantern feeling.

6. Downsizing. Designer Jessica Helgerson looks at downsizing as a long-term trend. "New-development houses are getting smaller again," she says. "People are interested in living in smaller spaces that are closer to downtowns rather than larger houses where they are dependent on their cars." The designer has already gotten a few requests for the plan for her 540-square-foot home, one of the most popular on Houzz in 2012, which she says is a testament to a shift in the way people are looking at and designing their homes.Take a look inside Jessica Helgerson's home

1. A Family of 4 Unwinds in 540 Square FeetIt's easy to see why Houzz readers loved this beautiful home in Oregon. The small-space solutions, ecofriendly undertones and warm cottage style could translate to any new home or remodel.

6. We might not be a good investment unless you love our work. Payback time is not always there. Your green roof will reduce your cooling costs and extend the life of your roof, but if you don't find it beautiful, it might not be the way you want to spend your money. As a general rule, the next person to buy your house will not pay you as much for the kitchen as you paid us to renovate it. So renovate because it makes your life more comfortable, convenient and beautiful, and because you love how remodeling can change a house for the better. If you look just at the raw numbers, you should insulate the attic, replace the water heater when it breaks and run those ugly kitchen cabinets into the ground.

skirt

Green roof - planted with moss and ferns - good insulator

I wanna live here!!

terrasse

good use of 540 sq ft

Love this place!

roof!!

Deck

House size

small house

Green roof....planted with moss and ferns...

Green/living roof

My dream house..

Can I grow succulents on my roof

Exterior

extending outdoor space with an uncovered porch. green roof. and the tree is growing through the porch floor!

deck

porch white tall windows bungalow

tiny house--540 sf

deck

Roof walls

Front porch

Kind of what we need

Love the floor to ceiling windows

house

garden roof

window

great model for Michigan cottage.

Pool house look?

tiny house with porch

precious little place.

Although it is small it appears much larger as there is a place for everything,therefore no clutter.

So cute, so homey, so simple even though there's a lot going on here. Lovely.

So cute, so homey, so simple even though there's a lot going on here. Lovely.

partial open

All I need

I love this! Maybe if we decide to build on our lot????

Summerhouse

House

soo cute

pretty weatherboard

Great deck sample

would work on the front of ours

Tiny house.

Deck no railings

Casa noastra ;)))))

simple open porch and WINDOWS!

tetto

50 m2

windows but in black

Platform Deck for Sondra

Front porch

Posts under eaves.

Guest house

roof

tiny house - beautiful

Ytr

windows

porch only

what about having two small barrack style bungalows like this - one living area - utility/mudroom/kitchen/dining/living/den/bathroom/loft....the other two bedrooms/bathroom/yoga space

GREEN ROOF EARTHWISE.....

Roof

Roof garden

Tiny house

So homey. Love the idea of living small.

height, no rail, horizontal, wide skirting

Granny wing

Join

Moss and fern roof

deck kitty

Deck

deck

lateral "lattice"

love this porch

casa simple

Small cottage

grass roof

white cottage

Look for retirement house

küçük ev tamamı

feel good house

full length deck

Small house

Country contemporary

porch

540 square feet.

Take exterior photos about 20 mins after sunset

House

living roof

nice look-casual-laid back -easy

House style

ver despues toda la casa

Sockelidee

Porch instead of our deck.

mija

deck, tree

6. We might not be a good investment unless you love our work. Payback time is not always there. Your green roof will reduce your cooling costs and extend the life of your roof, but if you don't find it beautiful, it might not be the way you want to spend your money. As a general rule, the next person to buy your house will not pay you as much for the kitchen as you paid us to renovate it. So renovate because it makes your life more comfortable, convenient and beautiful, and because you love how remodeling can change a house for the better. If you look just at the raw numbers, you should insulate the attic, replace the water heater when it breaks and run those ugly kitchen cabinets into the ground.

open with something over door

is that you fergs?

Front porch

Outside colors

Small house

Bryan porch

namukas

facade and deck

even a simple pool house like this ok because of windows are great, though need a bigger door and skip the moss roof

green roof

Windows

porch, style, small houses are possibly very smart and ecologically sound as well

I always love brightly and naturr's light.

Front porch

540 square feet house

Tipo casa

Guest house

I love the green roof.

Dacha

Small house

cute

love this house

windows, simple roofless porch

front porch

a green roof planted with moss and ferns

roof

porch

Adorable.

All of it

Retirement house

A green roof planted with moss and ferns from the surrounding Columbia River replaced a deteriorating roof and insulates the home efficiently.

deck

Shot straight on without a flash, this photo feels warm and inviting. The time for this natural light is usually about 20 minutes after the sun sets. The light level needs to be just right — from the inside light to the last bits of daylight — to get this glowing-lantern feeling.

Steps

moss roof

walkway materials

facade with three windows and porch

the large front deck

size

porch

Yeah, it is farmhouse-y, but I like it. Note the window grills.

sweet, simple, something anyone could do easily and inexpensively

Love the porch

green roof

Cool

green sod

Why can't I find a little house like this

this would be a nice deck/porch off back of house; like the low to floor windows.

basic layout

roof

roof garden

Loving the porch. So small and quaint

Tree!

low windows';

It doesn't always have to be fancy to have appeal. The charm of this home comes from its imperfections and when smaller homes are kept up well in the front and feel illuminated from the inside out, it makes it feel as if the home has soul.

roof--moss

this is what i'd like our guest house to look like!

love colour

nice simple clapperboard with open patio

ROOOOOOOOOOOF!! Yum

roof. porch. light. cat.

small houses

deck

Green roof

little house with great windows

Steps

Seriously Green Roof!

small house but porch adds style

Green roof!

Love this sweet house. So modest! Love the long-as-the-house porch & the windows, the tree & swing built INTO the porch and the living roof!

Entrada

Ever.ythind

cute small house

Small house

6. We might not be a good investment unless you love our work. Payback time is not always there. Your green roof will reduce your cooling costs and extend the life of your roof, but if you don't find it beautiful, it might not be the way you want to spend your money. As a general rule, the next person to buy your house will not pay you as much for the kitchen as you paid us to renovate it. So renovate because it makes your life more comfortable, convenient and beautiful, and because you love how remodeling can change a house for the better. If you look just at the raw numbers, you should insulate the attic, replace the water heater when it breaks and run those ugly kitchen cabinets into the ground.

lines for straight house

fun roof

It's cozy.

Perfect house

tree in the porch. w swing. plus, grass on the roof.

green roof guest house? looks a bit patchy, learn more

Nice as additional cottage for guest

Simple and neat

I would love a covered deck but could also do this

deck is like mine

House design

porch

outdoor room

I want a green roof!

deck with tree

Just the right size

Beautiful cottage :)

Perfect

Farmhouse style

Porch

House