Small House Living

In our house, we describe certain circumstances as “luxury problems.” We are well aware that we are privileged to have the means to build a beautiful cottage from the ground up. It is fun, it is exciting, and we are fortunate to get it just right…except for one thing. Decisions must be made about what stays and what goes. Things must go, and yes, they are just things. And when the large things go because they are too large, small things must be purchased. This is an example of a luxury  problem. Marie Kondo we are not!

Meredith, Elyse, and new pup Alice shopping for plants to fill up our shared backyard. 

Here are some things that Meredith and Elyse discovered way back in the spring while moving from a 1300 square foot home with a garage to a 613 square foot home without one:

1. There will be many arguments. If I have to give away a table, you have to give away a desk. 
2. Things you thought you could never part with will suddenly find a new home.
3. Downsizing is highly emotional and second guessing this whole plan will occur.
4. No one makes recliners that are small enough to replace the ones you once loved.
5. When you find a recliner you think is small enough, it just isn’t the same.
6. Books take up a lot of space. You try to convince yourself, you no longer need to keep lots of books because you have a Kindle. This is sad. Very sad. 
7. Family photographs make the cut but they still have to live in the crawlspace.
8. You will forget where things are stored. Christmas ornaments will have to be found next year.
9. Precious collections can be downsized. You discover which tablecloths are your favorites, which photos show up on the wall again, and how to re-think your wardrobe.
10. When you break through denial, the downsizing does lose some of it’s sting. Benefits begin to show up. Cozy spaces can still be created once the boxes are out of the way. It is fun to see our stuff being used by people we love.

Maude and Alice patrol the backyard. 

Summer has officially arrived in Seattle and we thought you might like an update on how our settling in process is going. It turns out we can gather with friends in the living room, there is ample counter space to cook family meals, and it truly feels like home. The garden is blooming, the pups are free to roam, and on any given evening we can be seen chatting between the two houses from our back windows.

Oh, and our new storage shed is just adorable, isn't it? 

Progress, Framing, and Your Treasures

Well here we are on day 47 of the construction process! Framing is nearly complete and car decking has been installed on the second floor. Something about seeing a space for doors, windows, and an honest to goodness roof really makes it look like a real house, doesn't it? Be sure to follow us on Instagram to see daily photos of our progress!

More Backyard Treasures

After sharing our last post about the origins of the mysterious items we unearthed during the demolition process, many residents of the Ballard area shared their own stories of discovering backyard treasure with us over on or local neighborhood message board. Some of these are just too cool not to share with you. We won't name names (or locations!) but items of note include: 

• Lots and lots (and lots) of glass bottles. 
• A jar of mustard plaster or "Musterole" for coughs and colds. 
• A jar of marbles.
• A jar of money!
• Part of an old gravestone. 
• Peanut shells.
• A giant bone and a piece of a clawfoot bathtub. 
• A bottle of whiskey and a newspaper from 1947 discovered inside a wall during renovation. 

One young neighbor has requested to investigate our yard with his new metal detector, so we'll see if he finds even more interesting items beneath the surface. We'll report back soon!

What Goes Up Must Come Down

Welcome to progress! The permitting process may have taken three months but building seems to be happening at lightning speed. We’re capturing this transformation as fast as we can. First, for context we’ll share a photograph of Drew and Jacob’s backyard prior to breaking ground:

So long, garage!

Left: Scout enjoys a cool drink on Drew and Jacob's lawn. Right: Jacob and Maude relax in the sunshine last summer. 

The first step in the construction process was tearing down the old garage. Drew and Jacob’s house was built in 1910 with a small shed out back which was upgraded and replaced by the current garage in 1951 according to the documents we found at the King County archives. Not too shabby! Since the garage was only one foot from the neighbor’s garage, Joe’s crew did the demolition by hand, board-by-board, sledgehammers in hand, which took 2.5 days.

Raise the roof..and then dismantle and recycle it. 

After the garage went to its final resting place in recycling heaven, Joe called in the excavators, a company called Fasoldt Gardens. The bobcat arrived and as the crew proceeded to remove concrete and dig down to eventually establish the parameters around the 14 by 24 foot cottage, they discovered another foundation made of brick. Everyone stopped, everyone got nervous. The excavators spray painted a large question mark on the brick foundation and called Joe.

Coming home to a giant question mark and mysterious bricks was quite a surprise that day.

Long story short? All is well. It turns out that the brick foundation did not have to be removed. It was below the level necessary to dig the new foundation and was actually the foundation of the original brick structure that preceded the garage we demolished. The crew speculated that at one point it had been used as a trash pit for burning neighborhood refuse and we even found old beer bottles and car parts hanging around!

Fasoldt Gardens worked around the old foundation and proceeded to build the necessary trench two feet deep for the new foundation. Constructed forms and rebar were fitted in the trench with cement poured by Salmon Bay.

In the trenches.

Petr The Plumber has now entered the picture to dig trenches for the pipes to connect to the sewer. This pretty much brings us up to date.

Left: Petr and Elyse discuss plumbing. Right: Elyse, Joe, and Petr.

Bruce of Microhouse reviews plans. 

Last week ended with a meeting with Joe and Bruce to discuss doors, floors, windows and ceilings, keeping in mind that space is precious, or as Elyse asked, ”are you sure you measured it right?” Yes. This is what 616 square feet looks like.

Home sweet home.