Instant backyard cottage

Instant outdoor dining room

The deck bridging the two units creates an elegant outdoor dining room, accessible from both rooms.

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Natural connection

We visually connected the two cabanas by installing a willow panel created by The Willow Farm. The panel shades the outdoor dining space and offers textural contrast to the Forest Stewardship Council-certified clear inland cedar siding from Natural Forest Distribution.

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Sculptural plantings

We used plantings to create layers of interest to the cottages’ facade. Bella Vita Garden Design created the planting beds with art and design in mind. The varied succulents are a low-water landscape choice that creates a sculptural effect.

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Vertical garden

A vertical wall of succulents by Flora Grubb Gardens hangs at the front of the guest suite. Get a closer look in the next slide.

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Vertical garden

The succulents, packed into their vertical outdoor planter, create a living mosaic of shapes, textures and color.

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Multipurpose deck

The TimberTech deck around the cottage offers a variety of outdoor destinations.

The metal details were inspired by architect Mies van der Rohe, who championed the use of industrial steel in modern architecture. Corrugated walls enclose a corner off the office. See why in the next slide.

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Cool outdoor room

A refreshing outdoor shower is just the thing for outside an office (or painter's studio or beach cabin ...). A slat rack (here, holding towels) by Wallter doubles as exterior art.

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Cottage deck

The deck of the Modern Cottage Idea House is made from a composite material by TimberTech, which requires no painting, staining or sealing. We used it as a platform for a lounge area off an outdoor kitchen.

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Double-duty living room

Living-area space savers include a CB2 Flex sofa that converts to a full-size bed as well as floor pillows made of sturdy Sunbrella fabric that can be used indoors and out. Eco-friendly bamboo flooring by Armstrong runs throughout both of the units.

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Roll with it

Sunset worked with The Beholder to curate an affordable art collection.

The charcoal-gray Flex Sofa from CB2 offers a three-position back: for seating, reclined reading and sleeping. Custom storage cubes on casters on either end of the sofa hold guest bedding.

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Trim a ‘tree’

Coat hooks mounted on a wall decal form a functional display.

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Nab a nook

Built-ins and bar-size appliances equip the one-wall kitchenette for guests. The sparkling CaesarStone quartz countertops and backsplash contrast with dark-stained custom oak cabinets.

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Comforts of home

A sleek, compact kitchen is tucked into one side of the guest suite. The sliding door opens to a back deck with fire pit and outdoor kitchen.

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Save space

Small but stylish, the custom bath vanity offers storage for towels and toiletries beneath the Kohler sink and faucet. There’s also a clothes closet just outside the bathroom door.

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Reuse

For the office desk, we topped an old door with frosted glass, and suspended it from the ceiling on 3/16-inch cable wire.

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Rethink

One partial roll of wallpaper and $20 worth of clipboards add up to a snazzy home-office wall.

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Step to it

Belgard pavers provide slip-resistant footing next to Modern Cabana’s 4-by-5½-foot Kiddo prefab playhouse.

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Modern doghouse

The pooch should have a modern cottage, too. This one sports a living roof.

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Eco touches

A tree aloe in a resin pot stands tall against the office wall. The cottage’s angled metal roof is available with an integrated solar laminate to power the unit. The roof is waterproofed with recycled tire rubber.

Base price for the small structure is $12,000; $31,000 for the larger one. The versions shown here are upgrades ($16,375 and $72,500, including appliances). More info at Modern Cabana.

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Slide show:  Building a prefab house