Houzz Tours
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A Tired Bungalow is Given a Light and Airy Refresh
This two-bed modern cottage in Colorado has been turned into a welcoming guest space thanks to cosy natural materials
When this small cottage adjacent to their bungalow in Boulder, Colorado, came on the market, the homeowners jumped at the opportunity to expand their property. With two athletic young sons and a dog, the property gave them a chance to expand their garden for active play. It also gave them a chance to expand their living space. The use of the guest cottage is flexible, whether for visiting grandparents or an escape for family members.
Before the sale, the cottage had been owned by the same people for decades and it was ripe for a refresh. Architect Lisa Laursen helped the new owners plan a down-to-the-studs renovation. Interior designer Jennifer Rhode, who had worked with them on designing their bungalow, furnished and styled the cottage when the renovation was complete. By layering a range of textures over a neutral base, she gave it personality and dimension while maintaining an airy feel.
Before the sale, the cottage had been owned by the same people for decades and it was ripe for a refresh. Architect Lisa Laursen helped the new owners plan a down-to-the-studs renovation. Interior designer Jennifer Rhode, who had worked with them on designing their bungalow, furnished and styled the cottage when the renovation was complete. By layering a range of textures over a neutral base, she gave it personality and dimension while maintaining an airy feel.
“When my clients bought the house, it needed a lot of love,” Jennifer says. The full renovation required lots of new windows and new white oak flooring throughout.
The enclosed front sun porch offers a light-filled spot to relax, enjoy the garden views and watch the world go by. In the long and narrow space, Jennifer fitted two comfortable saddle leather chairs on this side for reading, conversation and street watching.
Walls and ceilings throughout the house painted in Simply White, Benjamin Moore.
The enclosed front sun porch offers a light-filled spot to relax, enjoy the garden views and watch the world go by. In the long and narrow space, Jennifer fitted two comfortable saddle leather chairs on this side for reading, conversation and street watching.
Walls and ceilings throughout the house painted in Simply White, Benjamin Moore.
The sun porch was also an opportunity for Jennifer to introduce her colour and texture palette. This includes a variety of textiles such as leather, charcoal grey and wood tones. She also placed plants throughout the home to breathe life into it.
The house is split down the middle, with the public areas running from the front door out to the back door along the left-hand side. The front door opens to the living area, followed by the dining area and the kitchen at the back. The bedrooms and bathroom are on the right side of the home.
Though the space is long and narrow, the vaulted ceilings and white walls give it a light and airy feel. “I love colour, but I like to bring it in through furnishings, art, books, rugs and [cushions],” Jennifer says. The white provides a nice blank backdrop for the decor and keeps the home feeling roomy and bright.
The pocket door past the TV leads to the bathroom. The door beyond it leads to the main bedroom.
Though the space is long and narrow, the vaulted ceilings and white walls give it a light and airy feel. “I love colour, but I like to bring it in through furnishings, art, books, rugs and [cushions],” Jennifer says. The white provides a nice blank backdrop for the decor and keeps the home feeling roomy and bright.
The pocket door past the TV leads to the bathroom. The door beyond it leads to the main bedroom.
Here’s the view of the living room looking towards the front door and sun porch. To keep a cohesive feel, Jennifer used grey as a base colour that she picked up on in each room.
“My clients’ style is classic and clean and layered with textures,” she says. “We wanted to keep [the look] congruent between the main house and the guesthouse. I used a neutral palette in both, but the furnishings in here lean a little more modern than they do in the main house.”
The French doors to the right of the TV lead to the second bedroom.
“My clients’ style is classic and clean and layered with textures,” she says. “We wanted to keep [the look] congruent between the main house and the guesthouse. I used a neutral palette in both, but the furnishings in here lean a little more modern than they do in the main house.”
The French doors to the right of the TV lead to the second bedroom.
Jennifer used a rich palette of textures to make the house warm and inviting. A woven rug, pouffes and cushions add interesting textiles to the mix.
She kept the colour and material palettes consistent throughout the open-plan space. This included plucking greys from the veining in the kitchen’s marble-look quartz worktops and using them on the sofa and rug in the living room. She repeated the floor lamp’s bronze finish on the dining room light fixture and dining table base.
There are also touches of midcentury modern style in the clean lines of the sofa, the hairpin legs on the cocktail table and the silhouette of the floor lamp’s shade. Fiddle leaf ferns stand out against the white walls and enliven the room.
The model is Jennifer’s dog, Hank, who was ready for his close-up on photo shoot day!
She kept the colour and material palettes consistent throughout the open-plan space. This included plucking greys from the veining in the kitchen’s marble-look quartz worktops and using them on the sofa and rug in the living room. She repeated the floor lamp’s bronze finish on the dining room light fixture and dining table base.
There are also touches of midcentury modern style in the clean lines of the sofa, the hairpin legs on the cocktail table and the silhouette of the floor lamp’s shade. Fiddle leaf ferns stand out against the white walls and enliven the room.
The model is Jennifer’s dog, Hank, who was ready for his close-up on photo shoot day!
The live-edge cocktail table brings rich teak into the texture mix. Jennifer repeated the teak on the media console across the room.
She also added some playful touches into the design, such as the pompoms on the cushions and the oversized fringe on the throw.
She also added some playful touches into the design, such as the pompoms on the cushions and the oversized fringe on the throw.
With such high a ceiling came the opportunity for a sculptural light fixture‚ in this case the Flock of Light by Moooi. It’s composed of bronze wires, brass details and small lights inspired by fireflies.
“It doesn’t take up much visual space, but it catches the eye,” Jennifer says. It also helps delineate the dining space. The tulip base of the table plays off the wires in the light fixture. At the same time, the table base takes up less space than four table legs would have, maintaining the airy feel.
“It doesn’t take up much visual space, but it catches the eye,” Jennifer says. It also helps delineate the dining space. The tulip base of the table plays off the wires in the light fixture. At the same time, the table base takes up less space than four table legs would have, maintaining the airy feel.
Lisa designed the kitchen, which includes white oak veneer cabinetry and marble-look quartz worktops. Jennifer furnished the guesthouse in a way that’s cohesive with these finishes.
More: How to Start a Kitchen Renovation
More: How to Start a Kitchen Renovation
Jennifer found another opportunity to add some plants in this corner next to the range cooker.
The light feel continues in the main bedroom, thanks in part to large sliding doors that open to the back garden. “We went for a high-low feel in the house,” Jennifer says. This meant splurging on some elements while saving on others. “They went high-end with things such as the cabinetry, worktops and lighting,” she says. “I think of these things like the handbag and shoes of a high-low outfit.”
A good example of high-low design in this bedroom is the inexpensive, simple linen curtains teamed with the walnut bed with a leather headboard, which was more of a splurge.
A good example of high-low design in this bedroom is the inexpensive, simple linen curtains teamed with the walnut bed with a leather headboard, which was more of a splurge.
The side tables are petite, but their hairpin legs and live-edge wood tops have a strong presence. They add just a touch of midcentury modern style in the bedroom, and they forge a connection to the living room’s cocktail table.
Lisa designed the relatively small bathroom. “The bathroom has the same worktop as the kitchen, and I love that it feels cohesive,” Jennifer says. “Making everything feel connected, especially in a small space, makes the whole house feel calm.”
The geometric floor tiles play off the globe sconces and add some pattern in the white room.
The geometric floor tiles play off the globe sconces and add some pattern in the white room.
The pale colour palette, clear glass shower enclosure and window keep the bathroom light and bright.
The French doors in the living room help share the natural light between it and this second bedroom. Jennifer added a bunk bed to make the house more versatile. She also added bookshelves, styling them with brightly coloured books, artwork, plants and other accessories. It’s a good example of how to bring colour into a white room.
Tell us…
What do you like about this home redesign? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tell us…
What do you like about this home redesign? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? This is additional living space for a family of four
Location Boulder, Colorado, USA
Size Two bedrooms and one bathroom (65 sq m)
Designer Jennifer Rhode
Architect Lisa Laursen
Photos by Heather Burns Knierim of HBK Photography
Acquiring the property increased the homeowners’ outdoor space by more than 650 sq m. The house was built in 1932, and maintaining its original charm was a design priority. The lovely gardens surrounding it add to that charm.
Find an interior designer on Houzz.