It is finished (well, the main construction is finished, but more will still be worked on outside). My parents are now living in the Tiny Cottage (SO EXCITING!), but before they got in and settled I snapped a few quick pics so you could see how adorable it is even empty! Not to worry, though, if you love this tiny cottage as much as I do, my mom will let me share it again and again, so this won’t be the last you’ll see of it. :)
If you’re new here, this Tiny Cottage is actually a part of our home, you can enter it through our mudroom or garage. However, it is a self-sufficient home! It is truly a Tiny Cottage at about 400 square feet but it has its own outside entry, DARLING kitchenette, bathroom/laundry, bed nook, sitting area, outdoor deck and garden.
Did I mention it is CUTE AS A BUTTON? But you can see that for yourself!
The Tiny Cottage was designed as a place for my parents to live in full time but it is also part of the main home. Best of all worlds! It also is a useful space that could serve family in various ways for years to come. We like to say we live in our vacation home. This is our one and only home but it’s within walking distance of the beach so it really feels like you are on vacation every day.
Watch a VIDEO of the Tiny Cottage here!
** UPDATE: You can now see the Tiny Cottage furnished HERE in this post! **
The sitting area of the Tiny Cottage with its peaked ceiling, chandelier, white planked walls and charming blue fireplace is so inviting, it’ll be amazing to enjoy it in every season. The light is wonderful in here and I love the view of the trees outside– and in the winter when it snows (which is usually only for a week or so) the view through these windows will be equally as incredible! Soon there will be plants and furniture outside, too.
Another fun feature in this sitting room is this built in cabinet, designed by my parents specifically as a supplement to the kitchen for storage, a coffee station for their espresso machine and a spot for their toaster oven. It has a tiled top. And their Frame TV goes on the wall above it. Small space PERFECTION!
A charming kitchenette is tucked away and such a delightful surprise to walk into it! It’s light and bright with windows overlooking the Tiny Garden and window boxes. I love all of the cottage-y elements my mom chose — from the vintage-inspired appliances, to the tile to the blue cabinets to the copper hardware to the fun display shelves, deep windowsills and plant nooks! I can’t wait to see how she decorates in here.
I love the bathroom / laundry room — it has the neatest washer/dryer combo (small space dream!) and handy storage, too.
Fun fact, this subway tile is actually the same tile we had in our old gray and white kitchen! We had some left over and they bought more to finish it off. (Ours was called Arctic White #0190 but there’s a similar color here)
The medicine cabinet has lights and mirrors inside and out, plus a fancy defogging feature! The ceiling has an exhaust fan with a heat light so it’ll be warmer in here in the cold months.
She swapped out the vanity knobs for these white ceramic knobs, it’s super cute! (The other photos in this post were taken before the knob switch!)
The bed nook was a bit tricky to design within the available space, but with careful planning by my parents, they have a comfortable spot for sleeping and free standing cabinets that will be added. SO CUTE!
Hope you enjoyed a peek at the Tiny Cottage! I will share more once they get settled in.
UPDATE: You can now see the Tiny Cottage furnished HERE in this post!
Kitchen Sources:
Copper Handle on Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen Blue Subway Tile (they got theirs here but it appears to be a better deal HERE)
Copper Wall Mount Paper Towel Holder
Espresso Machine White and Copper
Bathroom / Laundry Sources:
Bathroom Faucet in Brushed Nickel
Subway Tile in Bathroom (Ours was called Arctic White #0190 but there’s a similar color)
Bathroom Exhaust Fan with Light and Heat
Bathroom Medicine Cabinet with Light and Defogger
Sitting Room and Bedroom Sources:
White Wood Bead Semi Flush Mount Chandelier
Fireplace: Jotul Brand in Sky Blue
Blue and White Checkered Tile on cabinet (they got theirs here but it appears to be a better deal HERE).
Paint Colors and Floors:
Walls: Simply White
Kitchen Cabinets: Languid Blue Sherwin Williams
Floors: European White Oak (We got it locally through a flooring shop, unfortunately I wasn’t able to get a link to it nor find a brand name online to share it but it’s European white oak, engineered wood! It had a matte feel and finish so it has a nice casual / beachy feel).
White Porch Light (Dawn to Dusk) – this is their exterior entry light which isn’t pictured in this post, you can see it here.
Find lots of the Tiny Cottage sources in my Amazon folder HERE.
See all of our previous posts about the remodel HERE.
Read whole story of how we decided to move to this house with my parents here!
This is so cute and cozy!! Your parents and you made such great choices. This will be a wonderful place for your parents to live.
Thank you Barbara, we are just delighted with how cute it is! 🥰
So adorable! I want to live there! Can’t wait to see more.
Ha me too, it’s so cute! Thank you ☺️
So cute!! But we want to enlarge your pictures to see details, please!!! Please change your picture format so they can be enlarged!!
Melissa, Thank you for all your ideas and encouragements. Because of you
and your opinions I now have the courage to use all the items that people have tried to discourage me from using. Heres to going with your gut feelings when it comes to what makes you comfortable. Bonita
I’m so glad to hear that ☺️ thank you
Any chance of a website for the apron front farmhouse sink you have in your kitchen. Also, have you had any experience with pedestal sinks….recommendation?
I’ll link a few of our kitchen remodel sources here including our sink https://amzn.to/3KaQg2R. I have had several pedestal sinks I liked and they were all Kohler!
Oh my goodness, this is adorable!! And the shower reminds me of ones in Europe. The washer/dryer combo, too! Love it! 😍
So kind—thank you, they are just so happy with how it all turned out! I think it’s just perfect ☺️
What a perfect cottage for your precious parents! Curious if you knew you were going to build the tiny cottage when you purchased your lovely home.
Thank you Barbara! No we didn’t know, although my parents wanted to do this something like this for years! We talked about it with our seattle home though. When we found this house we really didn’t think it would work for all of us but we’ve always believed where there’s a will there’s a way (especially when you follow your heart). After we weighed pros and cons we realized it was actually ideal for them and us in so many ways! We decided this was where we wanted to be and we’d figure the rest out. After moving in and months of planning this space came together!
I am so happy it worked out for all of you!
ABSOLUTELY charming! I want one.
Thanks, it’s just the best little space!!
I’ve enjoyed following your home remodel, including the tiny cottage. Have you posted the floor plan of the tiny cottage? I would like to see how you put all the spaces & features in that very small footprint; it’s ingenious! I adore the tiny kitchenette, especially the wall tile! Love, love, love it all! What a wonderful space for your parents!
Thank you Shirley, we haven’t shared a floor plan but I’m sure I’ll share more of the small space ideas here!!
So lovely. Looking forward to seeing the finished work. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for following along, we appreciate that so much!
Hi Melissa, it is just beautiful and the workmanship looks great too. You manage to find great people to do your renovations. I wish you and you Parents the best.
Thank you Cathy! That was our main concern especially in such a large renovation – we didn’t know any contractors in this area. We’re so grateful we found this team! They were able to bring the whole vision to life and are amazing to work with, too!
It is perfection!! 😍. Such great planning and design choices.
Aw thanks, my parents put in so much work researching and designing each and every detail! They have always had the best vision for renovating their homes.
Hi Melissa,
I love it all.
Wondering what model of Jotul wood stove is in your parents cottage. Surprised to see how close it is to the windows. I didn’t think I had enough room for a stove but maybe not.
Deb
I’m not sure, I can try to find out! It’s great for a small space!
Lovely!
Thank you Karen!
What a great home for them!! Every detail is so well thought out too.
I just bought an electric fireplace look heater in navy on Amazon days for my sunroom and after seeing yours I’m so happy I went with the color and not black.
Thank you! How fun! I’m glad you were inspired! I need to get one for our snug, too!
Oh my goodness! It’s so good! What a beautiful home. The tile in the kitchen and on the little counter is so unique and special.
Thank you, so kind. they thought of so many details to make it charming and so functional too!
Beautiful and functional! I can see where you inherited your own amazing style from
Aw thank you! I definitely began my love of home with the influence of my parents! They’ve taught me so much! :)
What a wonderful use of the space. I enjoy the blue color choices, especially the backsplash tile in the kitchenette. Can’t wait to see how your mom decorates it. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, I know she will have a lot of fun making it just the way she wants it!! I’m excited for her. Thanks for following along!
Adorable!
Thanks for sharing your projects!
I appreciate you following, Laura! It is fun to share with such a kind community!
Love the kitchen — do you have a source for the counter top?
Thank you.
Beautiful!
This is so cute!! I love all the details, especially the blue tile in the kitchen! It is amazing! We have a woodstove in our house, and I can never go back now. They are the coziest thing ever.
Thank you Jenny, I agree it is SO cozy!
This is adorable and so inspiring!I will soon be moving to a retirement apartment and will look to this site often.Thank you for sharing.xo
Thank you so much! Enjoy your new home!!
Such great taste! I love the shiplap and want to know if it’s just regular boards spaced apart or shiplap wood. I am looking for the best price!
Would love an updated tour of the Tiny Cottage now that it’s occupied. Would love to see how your parents furnished/decorated. Thanks!
Melissa,
This is so adorable! What great selections for the tiny cottage! Hey, can you tell me what brand of gas or electric wall heater that you purchased? Are you and your parents happy with the amount of heat that it gives off?
May you and your family create many happy memories at your new home!
Just beautiful especially the tiled backdrop in the kitchen. So so pretty. Can’t wait to see the finished product. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Pat!
Melissa-this is just amazing and brilliantly planned and executed! What a joy for Borge your parents and your family to be together and also have that bit of private space… Can’t wait to see it furnished! I see another book here!🩵
aw that’s so sweet of you to say, Melinda! Thank you!