With a total of 840 square feet, space optimization was key for this small house in West Asheville, N.C. The homeowners wanted to make sure their small space was functional as well as comfortable, so every space provides multiple functions and storage opportunities.

This small house is on an one-eigth-acre infill lot in bustling West Asheville. With only 840 square feet, space optimization was key. Each room houses multiple functions, and storage space is integrated into every possible location. In the kitchen, simple, white cabinets completely line the kitchen/living area wall. The upstairs loft, accessed by a ladder, serves as a guest room, home office, and extra storage space. The bathroom houses a stacked washer and dryer, and an exterior door allows it to also function as a mud room.

The owners strongly emphasized using available outdoor space to its fullest. A large screened porch takes advantage of the Western North Carolina climate, and is an adjunct dining room and living space for three seasons of the year. The screened porch backs up to a dense stand of trees, giving privacy to the large sliding glass doors leading from the living area. The tall east-facing wall of operable windows frames a view to the vegetable garden.

A simple form and tonal grey palette unify and lend a modern aesthetic to the exterior of the small house, while light colors and high ceilings give the interior an airy feel. Nestled among larger, developer-designed spec houses and early 20th century cottages, this charming modern infill home is a point of architectural interest in this hip neighborhood.

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