Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Tiny House in Boulder Suits an Adventurous Couple
An architect creates a small modern farmhouse in the Colorado foothills for 2 active part-time residents
This micro-residence in Boulder, Colorado, is a true reflection of its high-octane owners. Adventure racer Ian Adamson and Leah Garcia, a TV announcer for professional bull riding competitions, work and play hard, and so does their tiny getaway house in the foothills of the Flatirons. The area is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, and the couple take full advantage of Boulder’s copious open space. The trails of Mount Sanitas are right outside their door.
“We are passionate cyclists — road, mountain and cross — runners and hikers, so being on open-space trails is key,” Adamson says. What the couple especially love is their home’s easy access to the outdoors through the bifold doors connecting the kitchen and deck.
“We are passionate cyclists — road, mountain and cross — runners and hikers, so being on open-space trails is key,” Adamson says. What the couple especially love is their home’s easy access to the outdoors through the bifold doors connecting the kitchen and deck.
Another key requirement for the couple was environmental friendliness, which architect Brad Tomecek accomplished with the home’s small footprint and other eco-friendly features.
“Environmental responsibility is high on our list, and the small space with [photovoltaic] solar is extremely efficient,” Adamson says. “We planted almost 100 trees, which are an enormous carbon offset, and reused most of the construction waste in the storage sheds.”
The home is on a three-quarters-acre lot within the Boulder city limits. Also on the property is a subgrade storage area and a detached carport.
“Environmental responsibility is high on our list, and the small space with [photovoltaic] solar is extremely efficient,” Adamson says. “We planted almost 100 trees, which are an enormous carbon offset, and reused most of the construction waste in the storage sheds.”
The home is on a three-quarters-acre lot within the Boulder city limits. Also on the property is a subgrade storage area and a detached carport.
The house packs a lot into a small space and does it with an excess of style. This was the challenge faced by Tomecek. “Fitting all of the typical ‘home comforts’ into 450 square feet of living space is both a challenge and opportunity,” Tomecek says. “While it required every square foot to be well thought out, it also made the elimination of excessive or unnecessary spaces an easy task.”
Despite the proximity of the kitchen to the living area, clever use of furnishings such as the scaled-down sectional and compact multifunctional island make the space appear larger than it is. White oiled European oak flooring throughout the home keeps the rooms bright.
Sofa: Bantam Studio, Design Within Reach; ottoman: Bantam Chair in French Blue leather, Design Within Reach; end table: vintage maple; shades: Pirouette, Hunter Douglas; rug: handmade Turkish wool, KAS
Despite the proximity of the kitchen to the living area, clever use of furnishings such as the scaled-down sectional and compact multifunctional island make the space appear larger than it is. White oiled European oak flooring throughout the home keeps the rooms bright.
Sofa: Bantam Studio, Design Within Reach; ottoman: Bantam Chair in French Blue leather, Design Within Reach; end table: vintage maple; shades: Pirouette, Hunter Douglas; rug: handmade Turkish wool, KAS
The multipurpose kitchen island with a quartz countertop has seating and contains a sink and dishwasher. Stainless peel-and-stick tiles from Home Depot accent the backsplash above the stove.
Appliances: Bosch; countertops: Arizona Tile; cabinets: Ikea; sink: Kohler; faucets: Hansgrohe
Appliances: Bosch; countertops: Arizona Tile; cabinets: Ikea; sink: Kohler; faucets: Hansgrohe
High ceilings help the interior feel larger, and to maximize space, the bedroom is located in a loft — a common feature in tiny houses. “To make the space live larger and to enable the use of a mezzanine, we wanted to maximize the height of the ceilings in the unit. At the peak of the gable, the ceiling is 15 feet, 11 inches tall,” Tomecek says.
Steel spiral staircase: Salter Spiral Stair
Steel spiral staircase: Salter Spiral Stair
The three-quarters bathroom with radiant floor heating is located behind the kitchen, below the sleeping loft. Clerestory windows bring light into the space, which also has a surprisingly spacious step-in shower.
Cabinets: Ikea; faucets and plumbing fixtures: Hansgrohe; porcelain tile: Marmi Classico Bardiglio, polished and matte, Stone Source
Cabinets: Ikea; faucets and plumbing fixtures: Hansgrohe; porcelain tile: Marmi Classico Bardiglio, polished and matte, Stone Source
A skylight and clerestory windows give the loft bedroom a modern treehouse feel. A gray-stained PSL, or parallel strand lumber, ceiling beam breaks up the stark white walls and ceiling. The same stain was used for the exterior wood on the patio.
With 138 square feet of space in the bedroom loft, there’s plenty of room for a king-size bed and even a Pilates chair. An angular LED light next to the bed takes up minimal space.
LED light: Koncept
LED light: Koncept
The deck extends the living space outdoors, with adjacent hillside views. The concrete deck and contemporary pottery and patio furniture are right in line with the homeowners’ taste, yet still in keeping with neighborhood design requirements.
“The neighborhood covenant had strict design guidelines requiring a ‘farmhouse aesthetic,’” Tomecek says. “Our goal was to take cues from traditional farmhouse structures to create a modern interpretation more suited to the clients’ desires.”
“The neighborhood covenant had strict design guidelines requiring a ‘farmhouse aesthetic,’” Tomecek says. “Our goal was to take cues from traditional farmhouse structures to create a modern interpretation more suited to the clients’ desires.”
A 1,600-gallon PowerPool makes perfect sense for the active homeowners. Jets in these types of pools create a current for hydrotherapy and fitness. The homeowners utilized hydroseeding for their lawn, an environmentally friendly technique that holds moisture and controls erosion.
Decking: AZEK; pool: PowerPool, Maax Spas
Decking: AZEK; pool: PowerPool, Maax Spas
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Sponsored
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Ian Adamson and Leah Garcia, who split their time between Colorado and California
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Size: 450 square feet (42 square meters); sleeping loft and three-quarters bathroom
Architect: Tomecek Studio Architecture
Bifold doors: LaCantina Doors