From Garage to Gorgeous: Kerns Micro House

As most Portland residents know, the city follows strict design guidelines, making the construction of any building a bit of a battle. However, through smart thinking and expertise from Fieldwork Design & Architecture, a garage unit was replaced with a 250-foot dwelling – designed and built to meet then exceed these restrictions.

The entire home spans 250 square feet, clad with a locally sourced wood fir board and batten system.

While the outside is dark and striking, the interior is a beautiful contrast of colors, utilizing white oak which was also sourced locally. The marriage of colors coupled with the large windows helps to create a home that lets light creep through every corner while also showing off the beauty of shadows and nature too.

The living area-cum-bedroom makes the most of all the space available. It includes Oregon white oak cabinetry, a custom Murphy bed, storage unit, and a beautiful white wall to contrast against the earthiness of the wood. All furniture has been custom fabricated by the Fieldwork team.

The window accent in the living area folds out to a helpful table or forms the back of a bench.

The couch becomes a perfectly formed bed.

The kitchen is simple yet functional, featuring those same heavy wood tones.

The bathroom utilizes a mixture of clean, modern amenities with darker wood accents.

Such is the thought and innovation going into Kerns Micro House, that it received a Mayor’s honorable mention in the 2016 AIA Design Awards, while also taking out an excellence award in the Best of Residential category.