Mill Valley Cottage

Project Overview

The original 1905 cottage, consisting of only the living room, dining and kitchen area, had been relocated to this site in the 1950s from a few blocks away. The tiny cottage was set on a newly built lower floor level, then added onto with a primary bedroom and bathroom at the upper level, two bedrooms and two bathrooms below, a garage and crawl space. When we were hired, only the living room was in its true close-to original state, although windows had been added after the original construction. All other parts of the house had base-level finishes, small rooms and undersized windows.

The Request

After living in the house for a year, they realized they loved the downtown location, but the floor plan just didn’t work for them. The house had no room at the entry for shoe storage, so clutter at the entry was always a problem. They enjoy entertaining, but the dining room was cut off from the living room by a ridiculously oversized powder room. The dining area was too narrow, with tiny windows looking out onto what should have been the best view their house had to offer, the peak of Mount Tamalpais.

The Resolution

We satisfied desires while adhering to their tight budget. When the house was relocated to this site, in the 1950s, a bad decision was made to move the entry door. This created a useless recess that made for an awkward entrance. It took convincing, but the owners finally saw the benefit to sacrificing interior square footage to create a true entry porch. This was the only modification of the building envelope we made, other than new windows and doors.

Stepping inside the new entry door, we relocated the powder room to welcome visitors into the entertaining space, and paired it with custom cabinetry providing concealed storage for the shoes at the foyer. To stitch together the old and new, we matched the original trimmed beams in the living room with newly fabricated ones that conceal the required sprinkler lines. We matched the living room board and batt walls by extending the finish into the renovated foyer, kitchen and dining rooms.

The owners loved the location of the kitchen, but a corner sink, minimal storage, oddly placed skylight, oversized refrigerator, and an island too small to be functional was driving them mad. Remodeling the kitchen was not a high priority, but in the end, the owners realized the benefit of getting it done all at once, and included the kitchen remodel in the renovation.

When friends comment on the beautiful “new” skylight above the hood, they are shocked to learn it was original. It is the thoughtful relocation of the appliances that make the skylight shine. The dining room area went from too small to oversized, to provide flexibility for holiday celebrations.

From the new family room, a door leads out to the driveway, a commonly used entrance for the family. As such, built-in storage for shoes, backpacks, games and jackets was necessary. Beyond the family room, the underside of the stair was opened up, allowing light from above to filter down to the lower level, fitting the washer and dryer in a central location.

To compensate, we installed insulation between the floor joists and recessed beadboard between, then painting it all white. The effect is a perceived higher ceiling, with a rustic, boho-chic finish. The project had a tight budget, and to conserve cost, exposed foundations within the Junior-ADU were covered with drywall and capped with painted wood, creating useful art ledges in the tight space.

Stay tuned for phase two, when an exterior yard renovation will expand the outdoor gathering and play areas to enhance entertaining and take advantage of the limited sunlight.