This suburban cottage, built to replace a small, termite-damaged house, is a prototype for compact, gracious living. The lot was purchased by a neighbor, an artist, to preserve her studio view of the site with its flowering shrubs and fruit trees. As the primary focus of her compositions, she was interested in the scale and proportion of the existing one-story 600 square foot house, and sought to replace it with a building of similar size and character.

Thus constrained, the resulting new cottage with its modest footprint (under 1,200 square feet) minimizes impact on the mature landscaping. Efficient, compact floor plans organized around a central stair provide a total of 4 bedrooms and three full bathrooms on three levels (with finished, walk-out basement). Steep roof construction provides a dramatic, lofty volume over the kitchen and dining area in the front while accommodating a second floor master suite in the rear. The living room is also afforded volume ceilings with a high accent window. A covered porch, trellised terrace and rear deck extend the living spaces into the landscape. Exterior detailing and material selections respond to the arts & crafts vernacular of the neighborhood, well known for its collection of 1920’s bungalows.