Mike and Dena had a simple but deeply personal goal: give Dena’s mother her own space, just steps from the family she loves, designed so she could live comfortably and independently for years to come. What had been a detached garage in their SE Portland backyard became a thoughtfully designed 480-square-foot guest cottage, built with longevity, warmth, and everyday joy in mind.
Portland, Oregon
10 weeks
Complex
Cost-Effective
“Kaitlyn was great to work with for the design process. She is super knowledgeable, organized, and responds to emails very promptly. Her experience made the entire process very smooth, she knew the answers to all of my questions and anticipated issues before I even thought to ask. I could not have done it without her guidance, and the end result turned out beautifully.”
— Dena, Portland
Designer Kaitlyn began by understanding how the space would be lived in, prioritizing independence and the feeling of a true home rather than a converted garage. She presented three preliminary floor plan options, each with clear trade-offs, then guided Mike and Dena through finish selections with a curated starting point to reduce overwhelm.
The result is a studio layout with clearly defined zones, soft blue tones throughout, light walnut floors, white countertops, cream tile, and crisp white trim, creating a space that feels calm, bright, and entirely intentional.
Four single-hung windows replaced the original garage door, flooding the bedroom with natural light and giving Dena's mother a bright, welcoming space to start and end each day.
The bathroom was designed from the ground up, featuring a curbed fiberglass shower with a handheld shower head on a slide-grab bar, grab bars, slip-resistant materials, and generous maneuvering space, so Dena's mother can bathe safely and independently, with room to grow into whatever support she needs.
Matching cabinetry creates a built-in desk with integrated storage, giving Dena's mother a dedicated space for crafts, sewing, and projects shared with her grandchildren, so her hobbies have a real home too.
A generous bedroom closet, a living room closet, full-height bathroom shelving, and well-planned kitchen cabinetry keep the 480-square-foot cottage organized and clutter-free, so the space always feels open rather than cramped.
A ceiling-mounted mini-split provides even, quiet temperature distribution throughout the cottage for year-round comfort.
The sloped garage floor was built up to a flat, ADA-compliant surface using rigid insulation, creating a thermal barrier that retains heat and eliminates tripping hazards.
A 60-inch partial wall separates the kitchenette from the bedroom area, providing privacy without blocking natural light or openness.
A fully functional kitchenette allows for simple, safe, and independent meal preparation.
Three large windows with lower awnings increase daylight and allow for natural airflow, keeping the cottage fresh and bright.
A new concrete path connects the guest cottage directly to the main house, making it easy and safe to move between the two, in any weather.
Lighting locations and brightness levels were designed to support both comfort and task-specific needs throughout the day.
Dena's mother now has a private cottage that is entirely her own, just steps from her daughter's family and surrounded by the garden she loves. The space balances openness for easy mobility with warmth and personality, so it feels less like a converted structure and more like a home that was always meant to be there.
Whether you're thinking about a guest suite, an ADU, or simply making room for the people you love, we'd be glad to help you find out what's possible.
