Love Shack

Objectives: The owners loved their rear-yard cottage-above-garage and referred to it as the “Love Shack” but it was in need of serious repair. The building was sinking into the ground; knee braces added to the garage made the space almost unusable and did not keep the shack from shaking. The living space was divided into two small rooms and a half-bath, with the ceiling at only seven feet. The owners asked us to fix the structural issues, upgrade the energy-efficiency & make the interior roomier while preserving the cottagey look & feel.

What we did:

1. Structure: The structural repairs included adding a new foundation below the garage walls. By adding plywood to both sides of the garage walls and the garage ceiling we eliminated the shaking. Removing the ceiling joists and adding a structural ridge beam greatly expanded the sense of space upstairs.
2. Floor plan: We removed all the interior partitions and reformatted the floor plan with the bathroom at the back.
3. Energy & Comfort: We added spray foam insulation, Pella windows and a high-efficiency ductless heat pump unit to condition the cottage for year-round use.
4. Cottagey: We kept the original beaded wall paneling and reinstalled the original ceiling paneling on the new cathedral ceiling. The custom bath built-ins maximize storage without cluttering the bedroom area. Built-in soffit lighting accents the ceiling and wall-mounted sconces & reading lights add light without clutter.