Cubby Cottage

by Kitty Lee Architecture

Designed for a young couple and their dog, a thoughtful change to the location of the bathrooms and living room has completely transformed this house without the need to add any additional floor area. This project focuses on the important relationship between each room in the house. The design started by rearranging the floor plan to achieve a more seamless connection between the different areas used for sleeping, bathrooms and living. The existing layout had two small bathrooms located at the rear of the house that were accessed from a narrow unused room. At the centre of the house there was a steep and oddly located staircase to a mezzanine that lowered the ceiling height of the living room below to a minimum.

Switching the location of these two areas has opened up the whole rear of the house and resulted in an expansive living room that is drenched with natural light. The bathroom is now centrally located and an ensuite and walk-in-pantry have also been created. The new staircase to the existing mezzanine neatly wraps around the bathroom with space for a dog cubby underneath. The design of this house demonstrates the importance of first establishing an efficient and well-considered floor plan. All the spaces in the house now have a purpose and work much harder for the owners.