Home Home Design & Decor Home Tour: An Eco-Friendly Cottage in Portland By Martha Stewart Editors Martha Stewart Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter Website An article attributed to "Martha Stewart Editors" indicates when several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The Martha Stewart team aims to teach and inspire readers daily with tested-until-perfected recipes, creative DIY projects, and elevated home and entertaining ideas. They are experts in their fields who research, create, and test the best ways to help readers design the life they want. The joy is in the doing. Editorial Guidelines Published on March 11, 2012 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos A family reclaims a dilapidated Portland cottage, gives it a clever renovation, and discovers the joys of living small. 01 of 09 Reclaimed Home On Oregon's rural Sauvie Island, this tiny cottage has itself been recycled over the years. According to local lore, the building has served as housing for shipyard workers, a surveyor's office, and a goose-check station. Now, after an inventive green makeover, it's home to a family of four. 02 of 09 The Kitchen Yianni Doulis and Jessica Helgerson covered many walls in their cottage in wood cladding reclaimed from a barn on the property. "We stained one wall and painted the rest white -- it was just too much to have natural wood everywhere," says Helgerson. They used metal collar ties instead of wooden joists along the ceiling to create a sense of openness. 03 of 09 Living Space "We wanted to think of the house as a boat, so we built in storage wherever we could," says Helgerson. The wide sofas (which double as extra sleeping accommodations) and bookcases were designed and constructed by Doulis and an architect friend. 04 of 09 The Loft Helgerson and Doulis sleep in a loft that overlooks the living room and kitchen. "I was a little worried about feeling cramped," says Doulis. "But I love the magic of climbing up to our little pup-tent space." 05 of 09 The Kids' Room In the room belonging to Max, 9, and Penelope, 7, a closet at the foot of the bunks pulls out to reveal drawers and a hanging rod. The area under the beds holds more storage. The room also has a double bed for guests. 06 of 09 The Bathroom The slipper tub, salvaged from a friend's place, originally had polished chrome lion feet, Helgerson says. "My husband is a modernist at heart, so he designed and built the wood feet." 07 of 09 The Bathroom The wall opposite the sink conceals storage. 08 of 09 The Entry The front door opens onto the great room, a kitchen–living space combo large enough for a big farm table that Doulis made. "We expanded the windows and lowered the sills to let in air and light," says Doulis. 09 of 09 The Garden A garden and a hoop house help sustain the family year-round. They keep chickens for meat and eggs, and bees for honey and orchard pollination. They hope to one day turn the grounds into an educational farm, named Wild Goose Farm by Max. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit