River Road
At just 800 square feet, the River Road House shows how small homes can live large. Designed through a close collaboration between homeowners and design team, this hybrid timber-frame cottage combines efficiency, sustainability, and timeless beauty.
Every detail reflects the owners’ vision of a home that is earth-friendly, filled with natural light, and deeply connected to its garden setting. An open great room unites living, dining, and cooking areas, expanding to a flexible study/guest space and a partly sheltered deck. A central wood stove anchors the room, while natural plaster walls, exposed wood structure, and built-ins create warmth and character. Private spaces include a cozy bedroom bathed in morning light and a bathroom designed with accessibility in mind—an elegant “forever home” solution.
Sustainability was integral to the design. The home earned an Earth Advantage Gold rating with its double-insulated envelope, advanced air-sealing, mini-split heat pump with HRV, and solar PV and hot water systems. Skylights, clerestories, and tall windows ensure abundant daylight even on Oregon’s gray days, while rainwater and graywater reclamation irrigate the gardens.
For the homeowners, the result is a dwelling that balances practicality with poetry. As Julie describes, it is a “human-scale home—welcoming in a very open way that feels natural, not confining but definitely embracing.” With spaces tailored to entertaining, working, and retreating, River Road House is proof that tiny home living can be both sustainable and beautifully expansive.
Every detail reflects the owners’ vision of a home that is earth-friendly, filled with natural light, and deeply connected to its garden setting. An open great room unites living, dining, and cooking areas, expanding to a flexible study/guest space and a partly sheltered deck. A central wood stove anchors the room, while natural plaster walls, exposed wood structure, and built-ins create warmth and character. Private spaces include a cozy bedroom bathed in morning light and a bathroom designed with accessibility in mind—an elegant “forever home” solution.
Sustainability was integral to the design. The home earned an Earth Advantage Gold rating with its double-insulated envelope, advanced air-sealing, mini-split heat pump with HRV, and solar PV and hot water systems. Skylights, clerestories, and tall windows ensure abundant daylight even on Oregon’s gray days, while rainwater and graywater reclamation irrigate the gardens.
For the homeowners, the result is a dwelling that balances practicality with poetry. As Julie describes, it is a “human-scale home—welcoming in a very open way that feels natural, not confining but definitely embracing.” With spaces tailored to entertaining, working, and retreating, River Road House is proof that tiny home living can be both sustainable and beautifully expansive.
