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Houzz Tour: A Guesthouse and Grotto in 68 Square Feet
A Seattle homeowner creates custom quarters and a backyard retreat with reclaimed touches
Louise Lakier is a contributing photographer for Houzz. She is a designer, a construction manager, a photographer, traveler and storyteller. She is currently in Central America.
Louise Lakier is a contributing photographer for Houzz. She is a designer,... More »
Homeowner Hal David conceived and constructed a tiny guesthouse and grotto as a space-efficient and creative solution for his underutilized backyard. David wanted to reclaim his steeply sloped backyard, which was covered in fennel and weeds. He initially planned to clear and level the backyard to build a patio with a barbecue, but wanted to create a pleasant exterior space where he could plant a hazelnut tree. After a trip to Europe, he was inspired by the grottos he saw there, and realized he could double the space by landscaping and building on top of a grotto. David saw the space as perfect real estate to solve his need for a place for guests to stay. The guesthouse and grotto in the middle of the deep lot are now used by him, visiting friends and is available for rent.
Many of the materials for the grotto and guesthouse are sourced from thrift stores, second-use warehouses and salvage from retail remodels. Construction of the guesthouse took about six months; the grotto took a year and a half.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Hal David
Location: Seattle, Wash.
Size: The guesthouse is a compact and efficient 68 square feet including a kitchenette, bed/couch, shower, bath, writing desk, loft sleeping bed and balcony.
Many of the materials for the grotto and guesthouse are sourced from thrift stores, second-use warehouses and salvage from retail remodels. Construction of the guesthouse took about six months; the grotto took a year and a half.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Hal David
Location: Seattle, Wash.
Size: The guesthouse is a compact and efficient 68 square feet including a kitchenette, bed/couch, shower, bath, writing desk, loft sleeping bed and balcony.
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by Louise Lakier
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| A bird's-eye view of the main floor shows the tight but well-orchestrated use of space. A Murphy bed/couch comes with a laptop table that cleverly rotates and affixes along the wall when not in use. And beneath that hatch door on the floor? It's the bathtub, which we'll see later. The low-maintenance, durable and recycled rubber floor tiles were salvaged from the Portage Bay Goods location on Capitol Hill when it closed. |
by Louise Lakier
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The tiny guesthouse sits above the grotto. The 68 square feet of efficiently designed and utilized space feature a loft, views and a bed/couch combination with pulleys and moving parts. The entry to the guesthouse is dubbed "Clubhouse."
Exterior wall sconces: Value Village and Goodwill
Exterior wall sconces: Value Village and Goodwill
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Upon entering the guesthouse, one finds a lovely little writing desk fully equipped with typewriter and paper and a view of the front yard. The desk was custom-built by David with solid ancient fir from The RE Store, a used building materials nonprofit.
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The bathroom is a toilet/shower combination. It is complete with exhaust fan and awning window with privacy glass. Sliding panel doors keep the water inside.
Red horizontal tile: Habitat for Humanity's ReStore resale outlet
Red horizontal tile: Habitat for Humanity's ReStore resale outlet
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by Louise Lakier
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| The most fascinating feature of the guesthouse is the wall bed. It doesn't come out just at bedtime; it stays out to also function as a couch. A shelf above the sliding panels holds the bedding and becomes a headboard in the down position. The built-in shelving for the kitchenette also serves as the landing for two little step ladders that take you up into the loft space. The wall bed is completely custom-fabricated by David: pillows, pulley systems and all. |
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| Here is the wall bed displayed open and ready for resting. |
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| Below the living room floor hatch is a bathtub, for those who like to soak. The bathtub came from Second Use in South Seattle; the custom hatch door was built from oak pallets that David found near the Port of Seattle. |
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| Climbing up the ladders, one comes to a loft space, complete with bed and shelving for sheets, blankets and pillows. A small sliding window looks out on the landscaped balcony. The structural beam holding up the loft bed was salvaged from a business undergoing remodeling. The railing is fabricated from off-the-shelf plumbing parts. |
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| The details in the guesthouse include: Destaco clamps for jig-making as curtain holders, a van mirror for a 'Van'-ity mirror, a wall-mounted bath faucet with spray and an appropriately sized tiny broom. |
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| David enjoys the view from the guesthouse balcony. A push mower is supplied for lawn maintenance. |
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| A green and grassy roof adds permeable area to the lot. The chimney to the grotto fireplace below creates a nice sculptural piece in the grassy court. |
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| Below the guesthouse, the grotto is accessible along the side yard. The sound of running water greets you as you approach it. Water trickles along a rockery and disappears into a metal grate, and arched brick openings frame the entry to the sitting space. The grotto stones were recycled and reused from the original retaining walls on the site. |
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| The grotto sitting space features a fireplace with concrete delineating walls, an arched brick ceiling and a stone back wall. The fireplace is an original Wendell Lovett fire hood. David made the metal base. |
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| The grotto floor is inlaid with wood planks delineating the sitting area and giving the space some warmth. |
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| Details in the grotto include a trickling fountain that recirculates water, custom-built crystal glass lighting fixtures that glow in the sunlight and a delightful little owl etched and colored on the concrete by a former housemate. More Houzz Tours: A Tiny, Happy Eco-Friendly Home Tiny Home Built for Big Adventure Next: Tour more inspiring homes |
Ideabook updated on April 2, 2013.
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You can either revel in its uniqueness, perhaps even add an Escher print...! or if you are concerned some guests might also feel disoriented you could help the situation by adding a dark color rug to conceal door on floor and ground you, strategically paint the triangular wood pieces and ladder the wall color to smooth out the strange angles, paint the kitchenette shelving area white to simplify its visual impact in contrast with the appliances, and perhaps switch the chair at typewriter to an even smaller item such as a backless stool or ottoman. Either way I also think that switching to Euro square pillows for the murphy bed in a geometric print would be good as then they don't have to be stored but could be used as throws on the couch and perhaps bring your attention down from the bright red wall some.
Very unique space, you have done a lot with very little!
There are a few things I thought of that might make the space look less cluttered - I wouldn't use a pattern curtain in such a small space, for one. I think a solid color would be better.
In your kitchen/sofa area, I think what disturbs me is the unfinished plywood look - but I wouldn't paint it white (just my opinion).
You could resolve that unfinished look easily & without a lot of money - a great site for ideas is http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com ... this is the shortened url for her post on the transformation of her stairs: http://tinyurl.com/33q4t4b
Your little grotto is beyond amazing - is that a real turtle visiting? And kudos to you for keeping what you like - the folding aluminum chairs might not be in style (right now - who knows, in time they might be considered retro!!). but they're lightweight, & easy to fold & store.
Added note: had another thought - painting the plywood in the kitchen/sofa area might not be a bad idea. But I wouldn't do it solid white - white, off-white or another color (or colors incorporated together, if you prefer), then sanded to give it a somewhat shabby look might look nice, and would work in pulling everything together, so to speak. I can't see straight out-of-the-can paint in your place, but maybe I'm wrong...
good idears !!!!