What Makes a Tiny Home Livable? One Family Found Out.

A Seattle family trades the bustle of urban life for a small house on peaceful Orcas Island.

By John Riha with Photos by Adam Michael Waldo & Free Road Films. Floor Plans by Johnston Architects

This article originally ran in the March 2021 print edition of Tiny Homes. We’ve collected a few of our favorite moments from the piece to share with you.

The San Juan Islands are the jewels of the Pacific Northwest. Verdant, majestic and enchanting, they grace the western coastline of Washington state. These islands have long been havens for poets and painters who cherish their tranquility, abundant nature and stunning ocean views. They are also getaway destinations for the many who live and work on the mainland, especially those in the cities.

Brett and Theresa Marl often traveled here for rest and relaxation away from the hectic bustle of life in Seattle. Those visits made them aware that waterfront properties were becoming increasingly rare, so almost 20 years ago they bought a 5-acre parcel on Orcas Island.

“We had no desire or dream to ever build on it,” says Brett, “but it gave us a reason to come to the islands on weekends.”

Brett knew that on-site construction ate up a lot of personal time, so he started researching prefab possibilities. He was attracted to the modern style of many prefabs, but he wasn’t convinced of the quality. “None of them hit the mark,” he says. “The attention to detail wasn’t quite there.”

But when he came across a magazine article featuring the eastern Washington cabin of architects Ray and Mary Johnston of Johnston Architects in Seattle, he knew he’d found an ideal design, even if it wasn’t prefab.

The Marls even drove hundreds of miles to tour the Johnstons’ cabin. As Brett stepped inside, his reaction was swift: “This is so cool.”

Over the course of tweaking the design, the Marls huddled with the architects to make the plan fit the site and personalized materials to fit their desire for rustic touches, such as reclaimed woods.

With the house complete, the Marls visited their getaway cabin on a regular basis. What they didn’t count on was how much they would enjoy it.

“We just loved being up in the islands, and the kids loved it,” says Brett. “So a few years ago we were like, ‘Hey, what if we just don’t go back to the city?’”

So they didn’t. They put their Seattle house up for rent and moved full-time into their 1,200 square foot cabin.

”We love the islands,” says Bret. “But one thing I didn’t realize coming here part-time is how amazing the community of people here are. Everyone helps everyone. That’s a really powerful thing, and we wouldn’t ever want to leave that.”