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The new exterior was kept dark, but the front door was given a punch of color.

The bathroom wall tile is from Lili, the wall light at the sink is from Alora Mood, the orange wall light is from West Elm, the sink vanity is from Joss and Main, the countertop is Silestone Quartz, the faucet is American Standard, and the tub was repurposed with a Delta fixture.

Floor Plan of La Cueva by Picado de Blas

"It's not about the space; it's about envisioning what you can do with what you have." —Loretta Gargan

Sharon Carriage House floor plan

Architect Beverly Choe was “inspired by the infinite capacities of light” as she transformed a small, dark garage in San Francisco into a bright, skylit studio.

The original run-down shed wasn’t very functional: The roof leaked, the carpet had sprouted mold, and the narrow quarters were sectioned off as two parking spots and two office spaces. So Ella engaged Mutuus Studio to help figure out an optimal design for the 360-square-foot shed—one that would encompass garden shed, exercise room, office, playroom, and outdoor dining space all while staying within a modest budget of less than $40,000.

Once a dilapidated garage, this flexible garden studio in Seattle now serves as an all-weather hub for Ella Dillon, and her 10-year-old daughter, Isabelle. After moving into the Craftsman-style home in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood in 2006, Ella was ready to expand into the garden studio—envisioning it as a place for Isabelle to do arts and crafts, for friends and family to gather—and as additional storage for games, gardening tools, and exercise equipment.

The one bedroom-one bath guesthouse has a kitchenette, and also utilizes the same materials as the main house: walnut cabinets, cedar walls, and the tongue and groove ceiling treatment.

The concrete wall behind the porch provides a backdrop for the wood stove and privacy from the road.

The Langs use an outbuilding as a rec room of sorts. "We call that the Grace Studio," Lang says. "It's designed so a car can pull in there, but we use it as more of a rec room and work space."

The renovation took 2.5 years, in part due to common Covid-related delays, and was officially completed in June 2023.

The rough-hewn stone stairs that lead to the cottage were made by a local stone worker.

“It’s a human-scaled house. It’s not intimidating or fussy. It feels good,” explains architect Solomon Berg.

At the center, the two volumes are separated by a wood deck that overlooks a large lake called Ruotsalainen.

Pluspuu customized the structure to meet the family's needs, sizing the windows and doors to their specifications and including a large covered terrace to better enjoy the cabin's natural setting.

A patio connects the family’s trio of My Cabins.