Hello, friends! Our contractors have been hard at work on our beach house kitchen remodel and the Tiny Cottage addition. Calling this place our “beach house” makes it sound like a second home, but this is our everyday home — and it truly feels like being on vacation every day. We live near the San Juan Islands, so it’s a beautiful area with easy access to amazing spots by car or ferry.
If you’re new here or catching up, we moved to this island from Seattle a year and a half ago. My parents have moved in with us and we’re building a Tiny Cottage for them off the back of our home while renovating parts of the main house. Our house is modest — just over 1,900 square feet — and the Tiny Cottage will add about 450 square feet, making the whole property feel more complete and functional for family life.
My husband and I are empty nesters now, but we want this home to be a welcoming gathering place for family, so we’re focusing on comfort and warmth in every decision.
There are more details to come in both spaces, but it’s been fun to share the latest progress with you.
Since my last update the walls and ceilings are finished and painted Classic Light Buff by Sherwin-Williams, the same color as the kitchen cabinets. We’re loving the cozy, warm white and the golden-hour glow when the sun streams in through our new windows and doors. The natural light has completely transformed the space.
We’re still awaiting the arrival of our blue-green stove, which will be the star of the kitchen and set the tone for some of the color choices throughout the house. We’re also excited for the faucet, pendant lights over the island, the chandelier above the dining table, uncovering the wood floors, installing the remaining appliances, and adding the finishing touches that make the design feel cohesive.
Each new installation is a milestone, and I’m eager for the moment when all the elements come together and we can fully enjoy the space.
My goal for the renovation has been to create a beach home that feels happy, warm and welcoming in every season. The architectural details we’ve added bring a cozy, timeless character that I adore.
Once construction is complete we’ll layer in fabrics, furnishings, and accessories in blues, greens, warm whites and other northwest coastal-inspired colors. I’m even considering a soft coral and a touch of yellow to brighten the palette. Finding the right fabrics will be part of the fun.
I enjoy decorating for every season and experimenting with color combinations, so now that the backdrops are in place I have so many creative opportunities ahead to refresh the rooms through the year.
This week we started looking at fabrics for the dining bench, considering window treatments, and refining the vision for the adjoining living room. I’ve thought about painting the living room walls blue, but right now I’m leaning toward a blue grasscloth for texture and depth. I ordered a sample to see how it will feel in the space.
To help visualize the finished rooms, I set a few books in the bookcase and placed a couple of pillows on the dining bench. It’s a small start, but arranging accessories gives me a better sense of scale and how the rooms will feel once they’re furnished.
I can’t wait to have a table and chairs back in place and enjoy simple, homey moments again — we’re grateful to be on the home stretch.
The Tiny Cottage for my parents is coming together beautifully. Those lower blue cabinets in the kitchenette are so charming, and a matching blue dish display cabinet will be installed above soon. The color is Languid Blue by Sherwin-Williams. They’ll have a white sink, a cooktop, and a compact fridge, and the sunny kitchenette windows will feature window boxes for flowers.
Recently installed floors, now temporarily covered, are European white oak — the same flooring planned for the rest of the house. The Tiny Cottage walls and ceiling will be finished with Simply White painted paneling to keep the interior light, bright and comfortably warm.
The sitting room cabinet will get a new top and a charming checkered tile detail. This area will serve multiple purposes: an extension of the kitchenette for a coffee station and countertop oven, extra storage, and a mounted TV above. My mom planned every detail to make the Tiny Cottage both functional and adorable.
Natural light fills the space — morning sun and southern exposure make it especially cheerful. There will even be a petite blue fireplace by the windows, creating a cozy retreat that feels like a welcoming bed-and-breakfast in every season.
A few readers asked how the Tiny Cottage connects to our house. The photo above shows the mudroom off our kitchen: through the far door you can turn left into the Tiny Cottage or right into the garage. It’s a simple, practical connection that keeps the two spaces integrated.
Stay tuned for more updates! Subscribe to the newsletter to receive future remodel posts and resources.
More Posts about our Remodel:
A Tiny Backyard Cottage (progress on the addition for my parents!)
Kitchen Renovation Update: Marble, Soapstone, French Doors and Beadboard
Tiny Cottage Kitchenette Design Mood Board (My Parents’ Addition)
A Peek at Our New Coffee Station Cabinet with Pocket Doors
The Beauty of Soapstone Counters (+ why we chose them for our kitchen)
Kitchen Renovation Update: Floors, Cabinets, Sink, Hardware and More
Our New Kitchen Design Mood Board (and five questions that helped me make decisions!)
Adding Character in a Kitchen Remodel: The Tale of Our New Range and Faucet
My New Kitchen Floor Plan + Parents’ Addition and Exterior Elevation