The cottage was originally a barn for the existing century home on 3 acres. The actual barn was reduced in size to a shed addition to the back, and the main area was converted to a one bedroom, two story guest house. The renovation includes an open floor plan with the kitchen adjacent to the living space that is open to the loft above. There is one bedroom on the first floor with a walk-in closet and bathroom. The loft has an office and multi-use space that was intended for a workout room that can be converted to an additional sleeping area.

Renovate an existing cottage to be more energy efficient utilizing sustainable design solutions and to blend the traditional style of the exterior with a contemporary space that pushes the definition of a cottage and creates a unique space that maintains a comfortable get-away for guests.

As the utility costs increased and the value decreased, a renovation was deemed necessary. The objective for the renovation includes passive lighting, heating, and cooling. We removed the shed addition and provided a large area of glazing with patio doors and operable windows. By removing a large portion of the second floor framing to the loft we were able to create a living space that would be filled with light and air. The new windows throughout allow for cross and stack ventilation to cool the space. The new concrete floor acts as a thermal mass in the open floor plan; a significant upgrade to the existing 2" concrete slab on grade. The existing boiler heating system was removed and the new HVAC system with heating and cooling through a closed loop geothermal heat pump system was added. With the additional of new energy star appliances, the utilities for the cottage were reduced from the previous year by approximately 80%.

Location: Chagrin Falls, OH
Site: 3 acres
Size: 1,285 S.F.