Over the years, I sometimes dreamed of the possibility of building a backyard cottage for my parents to live in our Seattle home. Backyard Cottage was never in its place, but we are finally making our dream come true in a new way! Today we can’t wait to share our progress in making that dream a reality.
My parents are currently building a beloved backyard cottage that will come with our new home! Let’s take a quick peek at some of the elements.
But first, a quick recap of how we got here.
About a year and a half ago, when it came time for my husband and I to enter the Empty Fledging phase of our lives, we had to make a choice. Will we stay in Seattle or is it time to move? We were ripped apart because we loved our former home and could see it as our forever home!
But when I found this lovely little house on an island about an hour and a half away, it felt like the home I’d always dreamed of. A location overlooking the ocean with a short walk to the beach, small towns and the ability to enjoy beautiful local destinations confirmed the empty nesting lifestyle we wanted to live.
We had encouraged our parents to consider moving in together wherever we landed. We loved it when we found this little house and little piece of land, but it didn’t look like a place to share, so at first we felt we had to pass by.
It certainly wasn’t the “ideal” size or layout that most people think of for multi-generational living. When, in many other respects, it became clear that it was really ideal.
can we make it work?
After taking my parents in, assessing our dreams and long-term goals, thinking about timing, and considering everyone’s immediate and future needs and resources, we quickly became convinced that this home was ours. Did.
We took the leap because we all agreed to the challenge of making this home comfortable for all of us. It took a lot of thought, space planning, and clever design effort to make this backyard cottage concept work.
Our lot wasn’t big enough (nor did we have a lot) to have a separate backyard cottage. That’s why I decided to add it. There were some sacrifices and compromises, but really, that’s one of my favorite things about small houses. You really learn to focus on what matters most to you. We need a lot less than we think :).
My parents designed every detail of this cottage by themselves. They love their homes as much as I do :).
Once they had the architectural drawings, permits, and necessary approvals, the project began.
I am so excited that my parents can live in such a cute house. Even better, my parents live nearby. In fact, it’s under our roof! It’s great to be able to enjoy neighborhoods, small towns and seaside life as well.
Some of the blueprints were changed from the original drawings, but most remained the same.
Below are photos of our progress so far, along with some details about the space.
Q: Do you have an extra kitchen for your parents?
A: Yes, we actually have a beloved kitchenette that is partially enclosed. The kitchen has one inner wall and three windows on the backyard side! The ceiling is atrium, so it’s a small kitchen, but it’s airy and bright space!
They ordered the cutest “small space” appliances for that. This white countertop oven/air fryer matching with espresso machine!
The design of the kitchen is very attractive blue and white checkered tile backsplashblue cabinet, vintage refrigeratorImagine a European cottage by the sea! We will be sharing mood boards of their designs soon.
Love the back window, just got in today! Very exciting!
Q. How many square feet is the backyard cottage?
A. Originally, we planned to add just the bedroom and bathroom, but as the design came together, we decided to add a kitchenette, main living room, and bedroom nook to make it a self-contained cottage. . It wasn’t easy to fit everything in, but it has everything you need.
I believe it’s about 400 square feet. This was by far the largest footprint given the space limitations of the building.
The sitting area also has vaulted ceilings to create more space. The walls and ceiling are white bead board, and the flooring is the same European white oak as our store.
Even on cloudy days, the windows let in plenty of light!their living room is their frame tvcoffee station this cute espresso machine (they love coffee), and a really cute electric fireplace for added comfort on chilly days.
The exterior is also very attractive. It was designed to not only complement the rest of our home, but also match the style of our neighborhood home. It has a new roof in metal, with its own (blue!) exterior door and attractive siding detail on the peak (enjoy it).
We can’t wait to share more of their lovely little backyard cottages with you!
Other posts about mods:
The latest in kitchen renovations: floors, cabinets, sinks, hardware and more
Kitchen and dining room renovation update! The project has started!
Our new kitchen design mood board (and 5 questions to help me make decisions)
Adding Personality to Your Kitchen Remodel: The Story of New Ranges and Faucets
My New Kitchen Floor Plan + Parents’ Extension and Exterior Elevation
5 Design Books I Love For Renovation Inspiration
