A 365-Square-Foot Accessory Dwelling Unit Is Organized, Colorful, and Just the Right Size for One
Name: Margy S.
Location: Milwaukie, Oregon
Type of home: Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
Size: 365 square feet
Years lived in: 2.5 years, renting
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I have been renting this amazing unit for about two and a half years. It’s an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), which are pretty common out here in the Portland, Oregon area. My landlords turned the original family room of their house into this unit. They designed the layout very well as they added large, oversized kitchen cabinets for extra storage and created as much storage in the bathroom/closet area as possible. I can fit so much stuff in the cabinets — it’s a renter’s dream! This little 365-square-foot unit is very comfortable for one person.
I am a 34-year-old meeting planner and have been working from home during the pandemic. I have a little laptop table I purchased from World Market and that is my make-shift office space. It’s a great table as it has a hidden storage cubby where I put my laptop and papers when work is done. I am originally from Oslo, Norway so the aesthetic of my home has a Scandinavian feel. I have a lot of Rosmåling (Norwegian folk art) around my home and things that remind me of home. My main hobby is cross stitch and I have a few of my pieces displayed in my home. But mostly I cross stitch gifts for people. I’m also a French horn player. I have two French horns cleverly hidden in my home as they take up a bit of space.
My identity is definitely reflected in my home. Pretty much everything I have on display has a story behind it. I have moved a lot throughout the years, but I have always brought with me those things I cherish most. I surround myself with those things as they remind me of memories and generally bring me joy. The color palette of the home is pretty much teal and red. I have always loved this color combination so I decided to bring it to life in my home.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Colorful Scandinavian
What is your favorite room and why? I really love all 365 square feet of my home! I’ve spent a lot of time making it feel like home and I just love living here. But if I had to choose an area I would choose my little corner nook next to my bed. I spend a lot of time there cross stitching, reading, watching movies, and just relaxing. I am also very proud of the two floating shelves above the nook — I am really happy with how I curated my books and keepsakes. It brings me joy.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The last two things I purchased for my home are my sofa and the laptop table. And I am SO GLAD that I did considering the pandemic hit a month after purchase. It’s provided me extra seating and space to work from home during this time. Both pieces are from World Market.
Any advice for creating a home you love? Make it your own! If you like color, use color. If you like bold pieces, get bold pieces. Don’t just buy things just to buy them — make sure you love them and that they’ll have a good happy place in your home. This is key especially for smaller places — in order to stay organized, everything must have a place of its own. To me, organization = happiness.
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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