The Visiting HouseA Backyard Guest House

two-story custom house with vertical wood siding and a black metal pitched roof

A nest for frequent flyers

A backyard guesthouse crafted for long-distance grandparents from Toronto to be closer to the newest branch of the family tree. With the new born grandbaby, this family decided it’s time for a new addition to their backyard.

laneway house kitchen with white and light wood cabinetry, a bright open-concept layout, bell-shaped pendant lights, stainless steel range, and minimalist design.
laneway house kitchen with light wood and white cabinets, a man reading at the island, a woman in the background, white pendant lights, and dark blue bar stools.

With family living at heart, the Visiting House strikes a bold balance between togetherness and retreatan inviting nest that will keep the grandparents eager to return again and again.

Narrow hallway leading to a modern bedroom in a laneway house with light wood floors, white walls, built-in shelving, and minimalist lighting.

The Perfect Visit

An open, shared ground floor for cooking, gathering, and spending time together, and a calm, private ensuite tucked upstairs.

Custom Storage

The washer–dryer hides neatly inside a cleverly disguised landing cabinet.

stacked washer and dryer set integrated into wooden cabinetry in a laneway house
modern bathroom laneway house and closet area with a glass shower, two hanging towels (one striped, one blue), and an open closet with wooden drawers.

Effortless Flow

A walk-through closet acts as a quiet transitional space before you step into the bathroom.

Small Delights

In the bedroom, peek-a-boo bedside windows frame the North Shore mountains—small moments of joy stitched into daily life.

Bespoke plywood bedroom niche in a laneway house with minimalist detailing, light timber joinery, and integrated storage.
bright, modern open-plan custom house kitchen and living room with large white island, dark blue bar stools, pendant lights, and glass doors.

Specifications

Build Year 2025
Home Size939 ft²
Floors2
Bedroom1
Bathroom2
Lot Size 33 x 119
brown wood-textured wall panel detail in a custom house, showcasing durable WPC cladding used as a modern architectural surface finish.
Exterior of a custom house with vertical dark metal Snaplock-style cladding, warm wall construction, and contrasting natural wood for a clean, insulated, modern façade.
residential area characterized by numerous custom homes and abundant tree cover.

Designed to stand out

From the lane, the Visiting House stands out wearing exactly the kind of one-of-a-kind look the family hoped for. Scandinavian thermally treated cedar and folded metal roofline give the home a warm, durable, and distinctly modern expression.

bedroom and bath in a laneway house with a partial dividing wall, light wood floors, integrated closet, and a glass walk-in shower.
Glass globe table lamp in a laneway house, adding a warm to a modern, minimalist interior.
Bathroom of laneway house with an at grade shower and two hanging towels are blue sink cabinet

Floorplan

Download Floorplan PDF
Floorplan

See what you can build.

double-glazed window with a black frame installed in a custom house with a wood facade.

More Projects