This Couple Turned Their Grandma's Garage Into the Cutest Tiny House
Now she can eat dinner with grandma every night.
To be closer to her grandmother, Rebekah Carey, a stylist and owner of A & B Creative, and her husband Alex McNall transformed her 1905 garage into a cozy and warm abode for themselves and their three dogs over the course of six months. By scouring their hometown for reclaimed materials and free items listed on Craigslist, the couple were able to achieve a dramatic makeover for their now teeny country cottage for just $2,000—here's how they did it.
Before
At first glance, the couple knew the 200-square-foot shed had potential to be the perfect home for their little family. It had good bones, it just need some finishing elements and personalized touches.
Before
To make it livable, the couple installed new insulation, siding, doors, ceiling panels, and reclaimed flooring, which they found for free on online. The salvaged floors needed some serious TLC, but the pay off was well worth it. "I love that everything in our home has a story, even if it's just 'I found this for free off of Craigslist!'" Rebekah told CountryLiving.com.
After
Now the garage feels like a scaled-down farmhouse complete with shiplap, rustic beams, and plenty of light and bright materials. "The style and look of our 'Bitty Berkeley Bungalow' is something like 'refined rustic eclectic,'" Rebekah told CountryLiving.com. "I chose to keep the walls and ceiling white because I wanted to maximize the light in the space, anything to make it appear as big as possible. I also wanted to use the vertical lines in the siding we added to the walls and ceiling, as well as the floors we installed, to elongate the home. Since every 'room' is all in the same small space, little tricks of the eye can go a long way."
After
Accessories in various hues and materials make the tiny house feel warm and homey, while smart storage hides clutter. "Because there is so much white, layering in textures and colors in the accessories and art was essential to making the space feel 'lived in' and not bland," she said.
After
Rebekah and her husband knew they wanted to use as many reclaimed and thrifted pieces. "Everything was was second-hand, [with] the exception of the electrical work pieces, even the outlet covers and light switch plates are vintage!"
What's more, they also scored free materials and furniture by searching the web. "It felt really good to create as little waste as possible, and practice patience as I waited for items like the table (that folds up to seat six and has four chairs hidden inside it) and kitchenette to pop up on Craigslist," she said. "All in we spent about $2,000 for the materials and furnishings to transform my Grandma's garage into our little house."
See the complete transformation at Design*Sponge.
Ways to Make a Small Entryway Feel Twice as Big
How to Make a Small Living Room Feel Twice as Big
7 Cottages That Look Straight Out of a Storybook
Simple Tricks to Make a Small Bedroom Feel Bigger
