Names: Katy and Tighe
Location: Vashon, Washington
Size: 850 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, rented
Back when Katy and Tighe were city dwellers, they lived a semi-country life. They built a greenhouse in a tiny San Francisco backyard, grew their own food, and made plans to raise chickens. Eventually, having moved to Seattle, they decided to try out an actual country life. They found a little cottage on Vashon Island, got an (adorable) dog, and set about making a lovely home among the madronas and pines...
When Katy and Tighe moved in, the cottage, once the caretakers' residence of a nearby hunting lodge, was surrounded by a blackberry thicket, but they loved the idea of having four acres of land to plant and play on. So they got to work clearing the blackberry bushes, planting a crop of vegetables, and making their indoor space a cozy and stylish haven.
They've only lived in the house a year, and so they still consider it a work-in-progress. We love what they've done so far, furnishing with hand-me-downs and antiques that feel perfectly suited to the woodsy surroundings. Playful, modern accessories add vibrant notes throughout the small and comfortable rooms, but don't detract from the original details of the cottage. A gorgeous river rock fireplace is the focal point, complete with a cooktop for those stormy winter days when the island loses power.
In their move out to the island, Katy and Tighe have made the choice to simplify, keeping the house spare and uncluttered, decorating with beloved, meaningful objects and art. From the moment you climb the steps, evidence of the couple's creativity and talent is everywhere. An herb box made by Tighe, with honey-colored wood slats overlapping down the sides, greets you on the porch. Indoors, Katy's own art can be found in almost every room, and a portrait of baby Tighe painted by his grandmother smiles over a couch.
AT Survey:
Our style: We try to mix efficient design with classic styles. Great Northern Hotel (Twin Peaks) meets small space living.
Inspiration: Natural elements and materials; unique antiques; incorporating hand-me-downs in new ways.
Favorite Element: The river rock fireplace. Almost anything looks good next to it or on it. It also managed to keep us fairly warm and well-fed through a brutally cold winter.
Biggest Challenge: Even though we have two bedrooms, the house is very small so we still have to be extremely strategic about where we place furniture. We also have put this house together with very little money due to a tough financial year. We've really tried to make the best of furniture we or other family members already had, as well as using here-and-there finds from our local thrift store, Granny's Attic.
What Friends Say: Friends always say that our house is very comfortable (it helps that we also tend to cook a lot for visitors). They also seem to like the fact that you can see madrona and pine trees (and sometimes woodpeckers and owls) from any window in the house.
Biggest Embarrassment: Tan, blue, and white beach-style bathroom. If we decide to stay in the house for a while, we'll at least paint the walls to make the colors less funky.
Proudest DIY: The garden. Tighe ripped up about 1000 square feet of blackberry vines to create a larger planting space for food in the garden. It's fed us well over the summer.
Biggest Indulgence: A nice mattress. We might be getting old, but we definitely felt like splurging on a comfy place to sleep.
Best advice: Don't underrate good storage! We can make our house seem clean and efficient because we keep all the odds and ends we've collected the past 30 years in the attic or shed. After living in tiny apartments our whole lives, we don't know if we could ever go back to living without adequate storage.
Resources:
Kitchen:
Rancilio espresso machine - Vashon free page
Herb rack - made from Ikea elements
Stovetop espresso makers - collected over the years from around the world
Side cutting board - smallest available size from Storables
Stepstool - estate sale
Living Room:
Tables - antique
Lamp - Ikea
Painting on the mantle - created by two of my Katy's former three-year-old students, who were twins (note the different painting style on both sides)
Frame above lamp - piece of fabric in a thrift store frame
Bedroom:
Dressers and bed tray - antique
Tom Waits quote in three frames - made by Katy
Painting (of the intersection of Cole and Carl streets in San Francisco) - made by an old friend
Second Bedroom:
Media cabinet - Ikea
Futon - Craigslist
Desk - street find
Shelves - handmade by Tighe
Painting of Tighe - made by his grandmother when he was one year old
Bathroom:
Print - KozynDan
Hallway:
Shark print - made by Katy
Outdoors:
Furniture - all hand-me-downs
FunFul stairs - installed by our landlord, from an amusement park in Tacoma
Front of the house herb box - made by Tighe
(Thanks, Katy and Tighe!)
(Images: Katy)
This is definitely a house to grow into. The outside shots are stunning and there are many excellent elements that over time could be enhanced.
Like the paneled walls. I could see some playing around with color and those panels. Maybe shades of white or gray and white to keep the filtered light feel to the open spaces?
I also like the fact that you haven't covered up those lovely wide windows. It looks like you receive excellent light, all around.
It would have been great to see what the 1000 ft. garden looks like, too. So many times we see decorative gardens, a fruit and veggie garden would be a pleasant break and inspirational considering the work put into it.
view Polyrevenge's profile
What a wonderful spot: I bet it is dreamy to stay here as a guest. I can almost smell the delicious soups cooking on the stove. Let me go pick the herbs for a garnish...
Oh, how I love the amusement park steps.
Please share more rentals on House Tours!
view JoJenks's profile
I love the couch in the living room. The Fun-ful ladder is a cool find. I'm jealous of the natural surroundings.
view aj's profile
I am green with envy! I've been in love with Vashon since I was 10 and made my first visit to family friends who lived there. It is fabulous. Really wet, though, in the winter, I believe.
You're right about the need for having good on-site storage. I live in a 900 sq. ft. house with attached laundry/storage area (not counted in official square footage) and a fabulous Rubbermaid big shed in my back yard.
Thanks for sharing your personal space you've created in what looks like the PNW Garden of Eden. Personal design, as opposed to professional-looking magazine layouts, are so often more inspirational to those of us with smaller budgets who like to try DIY.
view Adreamer's profile
So sweet . . I like it a lot. But . . . is that carpet in the bathroom? Uuuughh I know you're renting . . and I hate it when landlords put carpet in a bathroom!!
view Limeliteshines's profile
Just Lovely!
How did you get rid of the black bushes?
view jtsegal's profile
I'm going to go get on the ferry now so I can steal your stovetop espresso maker collection. I've never seen a four-spout one! What a beautiful, idyllic little place.
view trikitixa's profile
Beautiful home, love the nature that surrounds you in every room!
Can you share where that lovely orange duvet cover is from?
view jonnifer's profile
I really appreciate the peak into this home. Its so personal, and in progress, and real. I can see some of the storage and design choices they've made (books displayed by color; use of boxes and bins) and how they are being lived with. Plus, the cottage is just adorable. Thanks.
view Tara Emelye's profile
Oh how well I can relate to attempting to live in that small space....because I did!
I am actually the daughter of the previous renter, and lived there for about a year. It's a challenging space to work with, and I think you've done a great job!
In the kitchen, we found it felt much larger to have the stove where the fridge is, and placed an apartment sized fridge in the space where the stove was. We had a freestanding cabinet in between the counter and fridge to extend the work area. We then had the old fridge in the shed.
Just thought I'd let you know in case it might be helpful!
P.S. Don't fall down the fun ladder! I'm sure you've noticed the angle is less than ideal for a staircase :)
view jmuseum's profile
It is funny that the previous post is from a former tenant. I am an almost tenant. My husband and I were looking at this place when we were moving to Seattle (from Chicago), but we ended up buying a houseboat instead. Our place is fun (and even smaller than yours), but I do envy you the garden space and the blackberries, and the quiet of the island. I hope that you continue to enjoy it all, and thanks for sharing your home!
view Nancy_Claire's profile
I laughed when I saw your framed sugar bag collection. I have loads of these round the house some of them are pretty. Your house is really welcoming looking. Thanks for the tour.
view hrhprincessfiona's profile
Vashon Island is beautiful... I used to go to bible camp there, and loved the area (hated going to camp though).
It's a lovely house and I love your bed spread.
view pseudodesigns's profile
Such a gorgeous house!
Can someone please answer a question about the woodstove? Is that a traditional fireplace with a 'stand-alone woodstove' set back into it? Or is it a traditional fireplace with a 'woodstove insert'?
view bitsypieces's profile
Jonnifer - I believe the duvet is from Ikea.
view gkm2004's profile
The fun-ful stairs and collection of espresso pots are fantastic! The house is so cozy and warm without pretense and the surroundings of the outdoors is lovely...that's a gorgeous part of the country. I would love to have a retreat like that!
view junklover's profile
dreamy
view formosagirl's profile
Really cozy!! Thanks for the tour! I recommend replacing those two bookcases though! Mine looked like that right before one of the shelves collapsed. Turns out too many books can bring down a bookcase. I am currently looking for a nice dark wood mission bookcase to replace mine.
view calderonlm's profile
i've seen that comforter in several other photo tours (not all on AT). thanks for the suggestion gkm - i will check IKEA. I was thinking maybe Garnet Hill, but they don't have it.
view jonnifer's profile
Very cute and cozy- but I wouldn't totally forsake decorative plants in the name of food production- I think some well-placed ground cover/mulch and maybe some stone border could really emphasize the blackberry bushes, and make the front of the house as inviting as the inside.
view talby's profile
5 stars for not over-renovating! So many others would've ripped everything out to sterilize the space into some trendy version of a loft or chain store showroom. This is a home you can restore your soul in... because it has soul. Small and simple renos are the best because they stay true to the architecture and are intrinsically enviro-friendly because you are reusing what's there. LOVE IT!
view Lucy Love's profile
I love the wine cork cork board. Great idea.
view Trish1980's profile
Wonderful and ordinary. Wonderful.
view bejeweled's profile