Tiny Gig Harbor A frame hits two trends in one

Out by Stansberry Lake sits one of the classic weekend retreat home styles from the Baby Boom, an A-frame. This one happens to have been built in 1980, after the style has been around for a few decades. Now, it is part of the tiny house trend thanks to its cozy 576 square-foot floor plan. The other tiny part is the price, $140,000.

It is a simple idea. Why build four walls and a complicated roof when a simple roof can take the place of two of the walls? Water sheds easily. The structure’s stable. It just means a few concessions like putting all of the windows at the ends, and trying to decide what to do with the little angular space where the floor meets the wall.

As a contrast to the angles, this A-frame has a spiral stair winding up to the second floor. Typically, the bedroom sits in the highest spot. Here, there’s yet one more level reached by yet one more unconventional means. A part of the pinnacled ceiling has been sectioned off by another loft that’s reached by a rope ladder. A hide-away within a hide-away? Or maybe just another place for storage.

Downstairs is more proof that someone was willing to think outside the box. Space in the kitchen is maximized by using the ceiling for storage. Pot racks are common enough. The upside down wine glass rack is a nice touch. The cabinets are also different. They’re wide rather than tall, with translucent panels in the doors. Repurposed from some earlier life?

The rest of the ground floor is left open for the living and dining spaces, or closed off for the one bathroom.

Each end of the house opens onto a wooden porch surrounded by a brick patio. It all sits on a flat 0.3 acres, largely left as low-maintenance lawn. No need for a garden if it’s only for weekend visits. Decide to move in, and a fertile green canvas is ready for garden artistry.

• 14127 134th St, Gig Harbor [Estately]