Inside a 470-Square-Foot Storybook Cottage in the Pacific Northwest

While the main house on this Vashon Island, Washington, property exuded farmhouse charm, the 470-square-foot guest house didn’t have any of that. The one-bedroom, one-bathroom space lacked interesting details and thoughtful design.

“The guest house appeared to be built in a cost-conscious manner and was not afforded the same level of material quality and detail as the main house,” says Alexandria Childs of White Space Design Group, who worked on this project with design partner Brooke Prince. “The scale of the rooms were well-balanced but the low ceilings made the space feel compressed. Overall the guest house appeared dark and overall lacking in warmth and ambiance.”

Miranda Estes

Additionally, the small cottage wasn’t very functional—it didn’t have a single storage closet, no laundry or dishwasher, and the large-scale tile in the bathroom was slippery, which posed a safety hazard.

Originally from England and a resident of California for many years, Alexandria and Brooke’s client had purchased the property as a peaceful retreat to unwind, and eventually make as her permanent home. She saw the potential in the guest house, believing it could be a useful space if some TLC was put into it.

“She knew that purchasing a 100-year-old farmhouse would yield some projects,” says Brooke. “There were areas in the main house that needed attention, so the mindset was to first address the guest house, which she could then inhabit while projects commenced on the main house and, in the future, offer the space to visitors.”

Miranda Estes

The priorities for the guest house were to add storage, transitioning off natural gas, and adding air conditioning, laundry, and a dishwasher. Also, the space needed a spot to sit down and have a meal and a workspace area. Since there were no plans to add more square footage, all of this had to be done within the existing footprint of the house.

“Aesthetically, the client wanted the guest house to feel fresh, inviting and cozy and to introduce some farmhouse character,” says Alexandria.

The client had an affinity for warm woods, natural stone, non-shiny surfaces, shaker cabinets, traditional details mixed with clean lines, and the color blue. So Alexandria and Brooke kept those details in mind while dreaming up the design, while also leaning into the main house’s look and feel.

“We referenced traditional farmhouse and coastal home imagery and took into account features, such as paneling and built-ins, of the main house,” says Brooke.

Miranda Estes

In the entry, the main door was replaced with a Dutch-style door, which not only adds character, but also improves air flow, lets in more natural light, and acts as a barrier for the client’s three dogs. The entry ceiling was vaulted to make the space feel less compact. Paneling adds texture, interest, and durability.

“Every corner in the guest house has a purpose and the petite entry boasts a bench that allows the client and guests a spot to set down their things and remove their shoes,” explains Alexandria. “New luxury vinyl plank flooring was installed in lieu of hardwoods for durability purposes, ensuring the floors would hold up over time as dogs and guests frequent the space.”

Miranda Estes

The main living area is the living, dining, and office space. The designers were careful in choosing the correct furniture that could serve all three uses—there’s a love seat for seating, a slim console table with chairs for dining and work, a TV mounted above  the electric fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling shelving to display personal items.

The kitchen spans the entire back wall of the main living space. “We wanted the kitchen to have all the amenities of modern living but with a cottage feel,” Brooke says. “By downsizing the appliances to smaller-than-standard versions we were able to achieve a compact, but highly functional kitchen, featuring a single basin farmhouse sink, dishwasher, oven with induction cooktop, base storage, refrigerator and freezer and full height pantry with inner outlet for a small microwave.”

Miranda Estes

Smart storage and functional details make the most out of the small space, like the glass insets in the upper cabinetry, which add depth and make the upper storage visually light. A plate rack over the sink provides both charm and function, while paneled appliances reduce visual noise and blend in with the home’s style.

In the bedroom, the ceiling was vaulted and a skylight was added to bring in more natural light. Custom built-in storage and two full-height closets were installed, while reading lights were mounted so they didn’t need surface space for a table lamp.

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“Since we were working with limited depth, a low-profile bed without a headboard fit best and allowed the best circulation in the room so we opted to make the storage a design feature and integrate the nightstands and headboard function,” Alexandria explains. “The space features a queen bed that slides into the open space between the nightstands.”

Miranda Estes

The design team took some space from the bedroom to enlarge the bathroom, which created room for a stackable washer/dryer. More space meant they could bring in a larger vanity that was custom-made to provide more storage. Additionally, a lot of effort was put into designing the shower glass—now the shower doubles as a dog washing station. 

Miranda Estes

Outside, the guest house’s existing French doors were refreshed with new paint, window coverings, and hardware. They lead out to the deck and when left opened, the amount of living space doubles.

“This compact, but very comfortable space has every amenity I or my guests might need, including a lovely deck where one can enjoy sea views and serenity,” the owner says. “I love the attention to detail and crisp finishes that integrate with the aesthetic of the old farmhouse.”