Hello, friends! Our contractors have been hard at work on our beach house kitchen remodel and the Tiny Cottage addition. Even though I call it our beach house, this is our daily home — and it truly feels like a vacation every day. We live near the San Juan Islands, a beautiful area that’s easy to explore by car or ferry.
If you’re new here or catching up, we moved to this island from Seattle about a year and a half ago. My parents have moved in with us and we’re building a Tiny Cottage for them at the back of our home while renovating parts of the main house. The house is modest — just over 1,900 square feet — and the Tiny Cottage will add roughly 450 square feet.
My husband and I are empty nesters now, and we want our home to be a welcoming gathering place for family. We’re making it cozy and inviting so everyone will be comfortable.
There are still many finishing touches to come in both spaces, but it’s fun to share the latest progress with you.
When I last shared an update, the walls and ceilings weren’t finished. They’re now painted Classic Light Buff by Sherwin-Williams — the same tone used on the kitchen cabinets. We love the warm, cozy white and the golden-hour glow that fills the room through the new windows and doors. The natural light is incredible.
We’re still waiting for Beatrix, our new blue-green stove, to arrive. She’ll be the kitchen’s focal point and a color inspiration for the rest of the house. We’re also excited for the faucet, the island pendants and chandelier over the dining table, the wood floors to be revealed, the remaining appliances, and all the finishing details that will complete the vision.
Each new piece is thrilling, and I’m eager to see the space come together so we can enjoy it fully.
My goal for this renovation has been to create a beach home that feels happy, warm, and welcoming year-round. I’m delighted with the timeless, cozy character that the architectural details add.
Once construction is finished, we’ll layer in fabrics, furnishings, and accessories in blues, greens, warm whites, and other Northwest cottage-inspired hues. I’m also considering a coral accent and touches of yellow to enliven the palette — I’ll be hunting for the perfect fabrics soon.
I love decorating for each season and experimenting with color combinations, so it’s exciting to have these backdrops in place. They’ll provide many opportunities to refresh the rooms throughout the year.
This week we started looking at fabrics for the dining bench, considering window treatments, and planning the adjoining living room. I’ve thought about painting the living room walls blue, but right now I’m leaning toward blue grasscloth for texture. I recently ordered a sample to test it out.
To help visualize the next steps, I placed a few books in the bookcase and set out a couple of pillows on the dining bench. It’s a small start, but arranging accessories helps me feel the space and decide what to do next.
I can’t wait to set a table and enjoy simple, homey moments again — we’re so grateful to be on the home stretch.
The Tiny Cottage for my parents is shaping up beautifully. The lower cabinets in the kitchenette are painted Languid Blue by Sherwin-Williams and look wonderful. A matching blue dish display cabinet will be installed above. Soon there will be a white sink, cooktop, and a compact fridge. The sunny kitchenette windows will have window boxes outside, ready for flowers.
New European white oak floors were recently installed and are currently covered for protection. The Tiny Cottage walls and ceiling will be finished with paneling painted in Simply White — light, bright, and softly warm.
The sitting room cabinet will receive a new top and charming checkered tile. This multi-purpose area will serve as an extension of the kitchenette — a coffee station, countertop oven spot, extra storage, and a wall-mounted TV above. My mom has planned every detail to make the Tiny Cottage both functional and adorable.
The natural light here is spectacular, with morning sun and southern exposure through the day. There will even be a small blue fireplace by the windows, making the space feel like a cozy, charming bed-and-breakfast in every season.
Some readers asked how the Tiny Cottage connects to our house. The photo above shows the mudroom off the kitchen — the far door leads left into the Tiny Cottage and right into the garage.
Stay tuned for more updates! Subscribe to my newsletter to stay in the loop and receive our decor 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