The Montlake Spite House, a strange architectural jewel in Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood, is a tribute to human hostility transformed into artistic creation. This distinctive pie-shaped home, built in the 1920s, represents a historical tale based on personal revenge. According to history, a past couple owned the corner property where the little house currently stands. Following their divorce, the woman only kept half of the land.
She apparently built this unique home to block her ex-husband’s view, taking advantage of the opportunity to convey her dissatisfaction. The pie-shaped dwelling, which is only 55 inches wide at its narrowest point, has just enough room for a queen-sized bed. The Montlake Spite House, currently owned by Emily Cangie, who affectionately refers to it as her “little wedge of cheese,” has been a house for two and a half years, according to Faircompanies.
Despite her initial reservations about being exposed to the extended structure, Emily found the home to be quite comfortable. The lower level, previously a garage or carriage house and now nicknamed the “captain’s quarters” by Emily, exemplifies the builder’s creativity. If the legend is correct, this creative endeavor occurred when women needed male co-signers for loans in the United States. This practice was discontinued with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974.
Despite its unusual shape, the Montlake Spite House has changed hands several times over the years, according to Home Hacks. Each owner has treasured its unique appeal, leaving the inside mostly intact. Stepping inside creates a sensation of marine efficiency, evocative of a well-designed vessel. The living room, albeit small, demonstrates careful design choices. A six-person dining table, Lucite chairs for light transmission, and original door and window hardware all contribute to the space’s historical authenticity.Despite its obstacles, the wedge-shaped bathroom has a bathtub, a shower, and plenty of room to move around.
The bedroom, which has a queen-sized bed and two drawers, serves as a hideaway with a continual reminder of the house’s founding story—two neighbors living nearby, divided only by spite. It’s tough not to imagine the original owner of the spite house, a resolute woman looking to express her independence and living just a stone’s throw away from her ex-husband.
Descending to the bottom level shows a place with a nautical feel, replete with a bed built into the floor that resembles a ship’s captain’s berth.The preserved original carriage doors contribute to the historical appeal, as the present owner lovingly remembers the oddities and hardships of living in this unique home. Last year, they welcomed a family of five, including two dogs and two cats, who transformed their unique two-story space into an unexpected adventure. It demonstrated the versatility of this one-of-a-kind home. Discover this pie-shaped miracle in the video below: