Distinctly Montana Magazine

Exterior of the Strong home It's clear that small house design demands creativity—from architects, build- ers, and homeowners alike. That creativity leads to some clever solutions. A LITTLE INNOVATION MAKES SMALL SPACES INFINITELY LIVABLE HGTV HOME Flooring by Shaw is all about making your floors HGTV fabulous. If you want only the best styles of carpet, hardwood and more, all from the design experts that you've come to trust, then come into Pierce Flooring for HGTV HOME Flooring by Shaw. Murphy beds are a creative solution to small home living. In 2008, Mary and Matt Strong built a thousand square- foot two-bedroom home in the Kings Hill area north of White Sulfur Springs. They sketched a design of their own and then went to architect Mark Weirich for advice and final design. The Strongs wanted a modern home with a rustic cabin look, nestled in the mountain terrain. Weirich, owner of Mark Weirich Architect, Inc., ex- plained that hall space is an area where home plans can quickly cut back on square footage. The hall in the Strongs' home is just under 40 square feet and is in the middle of the home, acting "like a hub on a wheel." Weirich described the project as an enjoyable challenge. "When there are no limits on scale, the easy way out of a tough design is to simply add more space… On projects like this, it is not an option," he said. He found it very satisfying "to fit a large program into a small space." For the Strongs, the Kings Hill home is very livable. "Weirich knew how to de- sign the floor plan to enhance the living space and make great use of corners for storage," Mary said. Space-saving solutions abound in the house that Caldwell de- signed too. He dropped the ceilings in a few rooms to allow for loft-area storage. Bozeman Billings Great Falls Missoula www.pierceflooring.com Carpet | Area Rugs | Hardwood | Laminate HGTV HOME is a registered trademark of Scripps Networks, LLC used under license to Shaw Industries. 52 DISTINCTLY MONTANA • SUMMER 2012 ENERGY EFFICIENT AND ECONOMICAL The little compromises are far outweighed by the benefits of small home living according to Breslin and Sweney. They were able to use some higher end finishes and unique materials because the scale of the house was re- duced. They also invested in blown-in insulation and radiant heat. The house is not only remarkably sound-proof on windy days, they also only pay about $40 per month to heat the home. The house that Caldwell designed is similarly efficient with $60 per month utility bills in the winter. In the summer, there is no need for air conditioning because of the home's unique design. "You open the windows below and the skylights above; it ventilates like a chimney," Caldwell explained. "It pulls the cool air up through the house." There is also a solar screen to shade a large south-facing window.

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