THE HIDEOUT

Contractor: AT Build

Structural: Strudet Inc.

Photos: Nanne Springer

They wanted a cottage in the city; they had a garage. This conversion project was built to serve as a retreat—from TV, computers, and videogames—for a family of five. A true multi use space for sleepovers, massive house parties, a quiet place to read by the fire, or quite literally, a place to hide out from the hubbub of whatever’s happening in the home.

A person standing inside a modern black backyard shed with large glass doors open, revealing a cozy interior, in a residential backyard with green grass, trees, and neighboring houses in the background.
A modern black backyard extension with large glass sliding doors, two children sitting on the doorstep playing a game, green grass in the foreground, and a large tree with green leaves behind. The main house is beige with gray siding, and there is a fenced backyard.
A modern backyard with a black garden suite, large glass sliding door, outdoor dining with black chairs and a white table, and a wooden shed surrounded by trees and greenery.
View through sliding glass doors of a modern house interior with a gray sofa, potted plant, wooden feature wall, and indoor lighting; outside, there is a patio with black chairs, plants, and a neighboring house with beige siding and black window frames.
Backyard patio with black dining table and chairs, fenced yard, and modern black house with large glass sliding door.
Interior of a modern living space with a living room, kitchen, and a lofted sleeping area. Two children are playing; a girl is on a ladder leading to the loft, which has a bed with pillows and a skylight. A woman is in the kitchen near the sink, and there are plants and wall decorations visible.
Interior of a modern garden suite with a loft bed above a small kitchen and a grey sofa in the living area.
Living room with large sliding glass doors opening to a backyard patio with outdoor dining and garden, wood-paneled ceiling, and modern furniture.
A cozy living room corner featuring a small window above a potted plant, a modern black fireplace with a chimney, a fire toolset, a beige chair with colorful pillow, and part of a gray sofa.
Interior of a wooden-walled attic bedroom with a bed, decorative pillows, beige blanket, wood-burning stove, small window, and a large glass door leading outside where a person is sitting on the grass.
Modern kitchen with black marble walls featuring white veining, light wood shelves, black sink and faucet, and a small potted plant on the black countertop, with a small window on the right side.
Backyard with a gray two-story house, a small black shed, a wooden pergola, and a landscaped garden with green grass and trees with autumn leaves under an overcast sky.
Interior of a modern backyard garden suite with large glass sliding doors, showing two children sitting on a gray sofa and a bean bag, with a view of an open-plan living space and a bedroom loft above.
A woman opening a sliding glass door to a backyard patio outside a modern garden suite at dusk. The patio has a white table with chairs and potted plants. Large trees are visible in the background.