Cathy Schwabe Architecture Hi -
The building SF is 864 SF. The plan is essentially a large rectangle -- 24' x 36' with a bite taken out for the covered entry porch which is 12' x 5' - 4'. The spine along the back which is 7' - 6" wide ( 6' - 6" of usable width) contains a bath/laundry combo (8' -4" long inside dimension) and then a space that is 15' - 6" long ( inside dimension) which is used for a study + darkroom and will become a kitchen workroom at some point. Then the last piece of the spine is the alcove in the main room which is 10'-2" long ( ID). The bath + study/darkroom sit under a storage loft. I have had very preliminary conversations with other folks who were considering this as the starting point for a small cottage. We talked about making the work space behind the yellow doors the kitchen and conceiving of the study/darkroom space as a small bedroom --- I think it seems quite doable but would depend on the site -- and how you dealt with the at grade situation and how outdoor space was provided -- for one way of addressing something similar look at the Mendocino House on my site which is on a sloped lot and has a partial basement (840 SF, 2 BR) where a deck (which increases the footprint) is incorporated as well as and a front terrace. Interesting idea to think about -- where is your site?
Thanks,
Cathy

Cathy Schwabe Architecture Hi again - so I was thinking about this some more -- if I were going to make this into a dwelling unit rather than what is currently more of a work/live space - I would make use of the loft -- incorporate a stair and or ladder ( stair seems more comfortable) at the end of the study/dark room near the open alcove. By lowering the ceiling in the spaces under the loft one could get a pretty comfortable space that would be a sleeping space. Build in some storage for clothes... the bath/laundry seems fine as it is -- lower ceiling would be ok here if the sleeping loft continued over this space. The kitchen could go in what was left in the space behind the green door - leaving the space behind the yellow door as a small study if that were desirable and or as I suggested previously and then the balance of the under loft space could be a small guest room, a study, pantry/storage... I would also look at increasing the width of the building by at least 12" and give it to the spine rooms so that they are wider. Another idea is to build in a platform seat/bed in the alcove and sleep there -- during the day it is a daybed/sofa and at night the sleeping place -- and or a murphy bed idea... lots of options to consider. More food for thought.
Feel free to email me -- cschwabe@earthlink.net if you want to have a more direct conversation. Thanks, Cathy