Hello, friends! Our contractors have been hard at work on our beach house kitchen remodel and the Tiny Cottage addition. Even though this is our only home, calling it a beach house feels fitting — every day here feels a bit like a vacation. We live near the San Juan Islands, a lovely area with easy access to beautiful destinations 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 adding a Tiny Cottage for them at the back of the house, along with a renovation of other areas. The house is modest — just over 1,900 square feet — and the Tiny Cottage will add about 450 square feet.
Although we’re officially empty nesters, we want this home to be a welcoming gathering place for family, so we’re making it as comfortable and inviting as possible.
There are still many details to finish in both spaces, but it’s fun to share the latest progress.
When I last shared an update, walls and ceilings weren’t painted yet. They’re now Classic Light Buff by Sherwin Williams — the same shade as the kitchen cabinets — and we love the warm, cozy glow it creates when sunlight pours in through the new windows and doors. The natural light now in the space is incredible.
We’re still awaiting the arrival of our new blue-green stove, which will be a standout feature and help set the color direction for the rest of the house. We’re also excited for the faucet and light fixtures to be installed (pendants over the island and a chandelier above the dining table), the wood floors to be revealed, appliances to be set in place, and the finishing touches that will make the space feel complete.
Every new installation is exciting — I’m eager to see how these elements come together so we can fully enjoy the design as a whole.
My goal for the renovation has been to create a beach home that feels happy, warm and welcoming in every season. I’m thrilled with the timeless, cozy character that the architectural updates are bringing to the space.
Once the renovation is complete, we’ll layer in fabrics, furnishings and accessories in blues and greens, warm whites, and other Northwest cottage-by-the-sea colors. I’m also considering a touch of coral and a bit of yellow to brighten the palette, and I’ll be hunting for the perfect fabrics to introduce those accents.
I love decorating for each season and experimenting with color combinations year-round, so having these new backdrops in place opens up many creative possibilities.
This past week we began selecting fabrics for the dining bench, considering window treatments, and shaping a vision for the living room. We debated painting the living room walls blue, but I’m leaning toward adding blue grasscloth wallpaper for texture and depth — I’ve already ordered a sample to try.
To help visualize the space, I placed some books in the bookcase and a couple of pillows on the dining bench. It’s a small start, but arranging accessories helps me get a feel for how the room will live.
I can’t wait to set up a table and chairs and enjoy simple, homey moments again — we’re so grateful to be on the home stretch.
The Tiny Cottage for my parents is progressing beautifully and is already incredibly charming. The lower kitchenette cabinets in Languid Blue by Sherwin Williams look wonderful; a matching blue dish display cabinet will be installed above soon. The kitchenette will include a white sink, a compact cooktop, and a small, charming fridge, with window boxes outside the sunny windows for flowers.
New European white oak floors have been installed throughout, though they are temporarily covered during construction. The Tiny Cottage walls and ceiling will be finished with paneling painted in Simply White for a light, bright, and cozy feel.
The sitting room cabinet will receive a new top and a checkered tile detail. This versatile spot will serve as an extension of the kitchenette — a coffee station and countertop oven area — with additional storage and a wall-mounted TV above. My mom has thoughtfully planned every detail to make the Tiny Cottage both functional and adorable.
Natural light fills the space, with morning sun and all-day southern exposure, creating a cheerful atmosphere. There will also be a cute blue fireplace by the windows, making the cottage feel like a cozy Bed and Breakfast in every season.
Several readers asked how the Tiny Cottage connects to our home. The connection is through our mudroom, just off the kitchen. From the far door you can turn left into the Tiny Cottage or right into the garage.
Stay tuned for more updates! Subscribe to the newsletter to get future 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