Just outside Portland, Oregon is a beautiful island on the Columbia River called Sauvie Island. It’s known as an agricultural island, but designer Jessica Helgerson knew the serene and peaceful setting was the perfect place for her family home.
Endearingly dubbed the ‘Little White House,’ the 1940’s cottage sits on 5-acres and was remodeled using all reclaimed materials.
Jessica and her husband Yianni bought the 540-sq-ft home in 2008. They redesigned the home to include a great room which houses the kitchen, living room, and dining room. There is also a bedroom, bathroom, and sleeping loft.
Let’s take a look inside…
The Little White House has an inviting front porch with a small dining table to enjoy meals on the warm summer evenings.
The ‘great room’ truly lives up to its name. The high, vaulted ceilings make the space feel very large and open.
To feed a family of four, it’s important to have plenty of kitchen space. The dining room flows into the kitchen so that the family can be together while meals are being prepared.
Gorgeous reclaimed wood contrasts the white wood planks, and light fixtures hang from the ceiling. Jessica and her family stay warm by using a wood stove in the main area.
Looking the opposite direction from the kitchen, the great room continues and opens up into the family’s seating and living area.
Built-in sofas double as extra sleeping space when the family has guests over. A large bookcase covers the entire living room wall, along with a ladder that not only assists with reaching books but it also serves as the ladder to the sleeping loft.
The sleeping loft is small, but it’s the perfect amount of space for Jessica and Yianni to relax after a day of playing with the kids on their large property.
The white wood-planked ceiling continues through the loft. The light colors help the tight space feel a bit roomier than it really is.
Downstairs, just through the hall, you’ll reach the children’s room, complete with handcrafted bunk beds.
Using white paint throughout the entire home really brightens up the space. Large windows let in natural light, and there’s a floor-to-ceiling closet (with an additional closet to the left) for their kids’ toys.
The bathroom is simple, charming, and rustic. However, the best part is the unique soaking tub.
The sink and vanity are modest and unadorned, yet sophisticated.
Entertaining guests isn’t a problem when you have five acres of sprawling property in the middle of nature.
Jessica and her family also created a greenhouse and a chicken coop in their large yard to help grow and provide their own food.
At just 540-square-feet, do you think you and your family could live in the Little White House?
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