≡ Menu

Two-Story Garage with 240 Sq. Ft. Cottage


This post contains affiliate links.

Located in the Hype Park historic district of Tampa this two-story garage was designed and built by Historic Shed.

They completely renovated the existing one-story garage to include what you see now, a two-story one car garage with a 240 sq. ft. cottage.

As you will see in the pictures below the cottage is nicely done with wood flooring and big enough for a guest house, mother-in-law suite or at-home office.

Would you add a tiny cottage above your garage? If so what would you use it for?

Two-Story Garage with 240 Sq. Ft. Cottage

historic-shed-two-story-001

Images © Historic Shed

historic-shed-two-story-002 historic-shed-two-story-003 historic-shed-two-story-004 historic-shed-two-story-005 historic-shed-two-story-006 historic-shed-two-story-007 historic-shed-two-story-008

Images © Historic Shed

For more information on how Historic Shed can help you build a two-story garage and much more contact them here.

A big thank you to Jo-Anne Peck of Historic Shed for sharing these photos with us!

If you enjoyed this two-story garage with 240 sq. ft. cottage you’ll absolutely LOVE our free daily tiny house newsletter with even more! Thank you!

This post contains affiliate links.

The following two tabs change content below.
Andrea is a contributor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the Tiny House Newsletter! She has a passion for sharing tiny and small house stories and introducing you to new people, ideas, and homes.
{ 35 comments… add one }
  • Cahow
    November 26, 2014, 11:19 am

    Really exceptional site design, considering ALL of the restrictions placed upon the owners and the architect. I STRONGLY SUGGEST anyone interested in this, to click on the 1st link (Historic Shed) to see both the floor plan but also to read about the severe site restrictions. (2nd link didn’t work for me).

    Living in an urban city for most of my life, I like that they hid the exposed staircase in the back of the garage. That way, anyone up to “No Good” isn’t easily tempted to B & E the unit; plus, it obscures a necessary Evil (access to unit) from street view.

    My ONLY complaint/observation is “Why The Heck?” did they NOT include the smallest/tiniest of Kitchenette units in the place. Even a small counter that runs parallel to the hallway entrance with a small microwave unit, coffee maker/tea kettle and tiny frig would make it more complete.

    Perhaps they plan on including it later? But, it’s still a charming unit. 😀

    • Sally
      November 29, 2014, 7:32 pm

      Hey Cahow, Sorry I disappeared after the Strawberry Ripple conversation, you and Doc gave me a flashback headache 🙂 Hope you’re having a good weekend. I LOVE this place. What a great door and welcoming entrance. Nice they were able to do this. I think I could get a lot of work done in that home office. Once I made the commitment to go upstairs, I wouldn’t be so quick to leave on a brief errand 🙂 and face the stairs again. Good calf muscles, lousy knees. Cheers!

  • Eugene
    November 26, 2014, 11:55 am

    I have been thinking if building something similar, from the ground up

  • November 26, 2014, 12:12 pm

    Thank you for the kind words, Cahow.

    The answer to the kitchenette question is simply that the owners did not want one. They plan to use the apartment area as a home office that doubles as a guest room. Perhaps some day they, or a future owner will add one.

    One clarification on the article – the building is completely new construction, not a renovation of an existing building. There was a garage in this location at one point, but it was removed years ago.

    • Cahow
      November 26, 2014, 1:44 pm

      Well, “Hello!”, Historic Sheds!!!! So wonderfully nice to read your reply. 😀

      I’m an architect that specializes in Add-On’s and building garage studio lofts on existing Grandfathered “in” garages in Lincoln Park, Chicago. That’s one of the reasons why I was so keen on your stunning design. And, you’re absolutely correct in adding that this is a new build out; according to your website, there was a concrete pad and car port in the original footprint.

      I also appreciate your adding to the conversation “why?” there is no kitchenette area. Please understand that when Alex offers us up these “treats”, there’s usually a serious lack of information as to “Why?” the owners/designers did what they did, so we’re only allowed to speculate. I have a home office also, in our cottage, but even in that space, I have a small microwave, tiny frig, and electric tea kettle so I can focus on designs and not bumble off to the kitchen, where I become easily distracted in less demanding fares.

      You should take a bow for this extraordinary creation and HIGH ATTENTION to detail. It’s clear why your client hired you and you inspire the rest of us architects to rise to your high level of design.

      Have a blessed Thanksgiving and continue to reach the sky with your designs! All the best to you, Cahow aka Bee 😀

      • November 26, 2014, 1:58 pm

        You just made my day 🙂 Thank you.

        Happy Thanksgiving!

  • alice h
    November 26, 2014, 12:21 pm

    I wish we could do this in our neighbourhood but it’s very much against zoning bylaws. For now at least. Just a few blocks away across our town boundary laneway houses are allowed and this would be possible. If it were mine I’d add a little “kitchen in a cupboard” along the wall backing the bathroom next to where the table is.

  • Paul
    November 26, 2014, 6:37 pm

    Note to Alex: You really “need” to edit copy above… this was a new build NOT a reno/addition of an existing single garage. The build was done on the location of a garage that was “demolished” years ago.

  • Deb Miller
    November 26, 2014, 7:31 pm

    Typo alert – it’s Hyde Park, not Hype. But aside from that, what a lovely building!

    • Sally
      November 29, 2014, 7:19 pm

      A Freudian slip perhaps?

  • Rue
    November 28, 2014, 5:30 pm

    The Bungalow Company used to have plans available at their site for some of these two-story type garages with living space over the cars….dunno if they still do. I liked the idea at the time — still do. Just something eminently practical about living over your parking space…build up, not out!

  • AL
    November 28, 2014, 10:59 pm

    i like that…that’s what I had in mind all time, even having a garage below, where’s the rest ..like the kitchen and bedroom?

  • Dug
    November 29, 2014, 10:37 am

    Just a slight observation on a stunning build, In Scotland and the UK as a whole I believe there would require to be a fireproof layer between the roof of the garage part and the floor of the top unit for obvious reasons though I can’t see any mention of one in the dimensions or talk on this unit ?

    • Sally
      November 29, 2014, 7:17 pm

      There was no mention of UK codes because it is not in Scotland, it was built in Tampa, Florida, where codes are geared to hurricanes. They can’t mention everything 🙂 I just want to look at the pictures.

    • December 2, 2014, 2:36 pm

      Thank you for the compliment! We did have to meet the code required fire rating between the garage and the upstairs unit. The combination of plywood ceiling in the garage and the floor sheating above was enough the meet the fire rating. The unit is also fully insulated, including in the framing between the first and second floors.

  • Dug
    November 30, 2014, 5:48 pm

    @Sally I’m well aware the build was in the US, my question and indeed observation was re: why NO fireproof ceiling or flooring was required in the US where it is in the UK and in particular Scotland, I trust that’s a better worded post for you

  • Kenny
    January 22, 2015, 4:20 pm

    We found the addition of Another Story on our garage to be cost prohibitive. Likely would require a tear down of the 1 car one, anyway. Plus there’s a lot more permitting issues and an expensive Land Use Review required since it would be changing the orig structure. mostly due to changing the height.
    If its mostly for visitors, not adding a 2nd sink simplifies the process further since the garage conversion can be a detached bedroom or studio, office, etc. I don’t fully understand why there’s so much concern with a second sink, but given the lesser bureaucracy and (most importantly) costs, we’re taking that route upon building.

  • Dru
    April 28, 2015, 11:08 am

    I love this one and appreciate your sending all these great ideas our way. However, there’s a small mistake in the first line – this unit is located in HYDE PARK area of Tampa. Although some may think “Hype” fits it better…lol!

  • Karen R
    April 28, 2015, 11:25 am

    Perfect when one MUST have a garage or shed (MY husband).

  • mick
    April 28, 2015, 2:08 pm

    “severe sight restrictions” for sure. In coastal Florida, the cost of “engineering” and flood regs make the cost of a garage apt. skyrocket.

  • Cat
    April 28, 2015, 2:29 pm

    YES! As soon as Toronto city planning allows this I’m renovating my garage/carport. Solar panels and a roof garden and I’ll have a 500′ apartment with almost the same size garden above it.

    • Keith Falkner
      September 20, 2017, 4:37 am

      There are over-the-garage apartments in Markham, in at least one development. The garage is detached, at the back of the property, and accessed via an alley. I understand that having an apartment over the garage was a $40,000 option about a decade ago. I wonder how troublesome it is to keep pipes from freezing.

      • Cat
        September 20, 2017, 9:44 am

        There are properties like mine with the detached garage at the back that have no alley access but are accessed by a narrow driveway between me and my neighbour’s house. Building to City of Toronto/provincial building codes (insulation, water/waste access, etc.) should prevent frozen pipes. A unit over my garage solar powered and with water recycling would be similar to the house built in Riverdale, Toronto recently mentioned in the newspaper.

  • Kayce
    April 29, 2015, 1:58 am

    Huh?
    Going to all that trouble, code, zoning, restrictions and not including a kitchen-ette is like some I’ve seen without a bathroom? Resale factors not considered…
    Why bother with the build. Makes zero sense.

  • Dominick Bundy
    February 13, 2016, 9:48 am

    The wall on the other side of the Bathroom wall facing the great room is a small space for the possibility of a kitchenette… Also I didn’t see any closets at all in the space? Where I wonder would one hang their clothes and store the rest of their things?

  • two crows
    February 13, 2016, 11:32 am

    This is exciting! I live in the Tampa Bay area and am planning something similar in my back yard. And, yes, Historic Sheds is one of the builders I’ve been considering for when the time comes. It’s wonderful to see an example of their work. I live in an area that features a number of Craftsman homes and something similar to this would fit perfectly! Now all I have to do is save the money . . . .

  • Gabrielle Charest
    February 14, 2016, 12:22 pm

    Lovely place. My complaint is about the excessive restrictions on building. Do the powers-that-be ever review past requirements that no longer make sense? And why, if I own my property, can’t I build what I want on it?

  • eileen
    July 30, 2017, 1:24 am

    Checking Historic Shed’s website, these are not “shells” are not inexpensive. The price does not include plumbing, elect., HVAC, permits, cabinets, etc., etc…. They have some great ideas, tho.

  • eileen
    July 30, 2017, 1:25 am

    meant, “these shells are not inexpensive.”

  • sara
    July 30, 2017, 5:03 pm

    I lived in an apt. over a garage once. The carbon monoxide from the car exhaust wasn’t healthy.

  • Evening Iris
    September 19, 2017, 2:55 pm

    Yes, the stairs are a drawback. If I owned this place, I’d be looking at putting in an enclosed Elevette.

  • Slim Pickins
    September 19, 2017, 4:06 pm

    PLEASE Folks, as mentioned in a couple posts, any dwelling above any type of “garage” area where ANY type of equipment that burns fuel is parked, can/may/will at some point produce Carbon Monoxide gas, whixh is a by product of combustion! As most of you know, it is colorless, odorless and you will NOT know it’s presence unless you have a DETECTOR!! i’ve been in the fire service, EMS and Law Enforcement for over 37 years and cannot count how many deceased people I”ve picked up due to Carbon Monoxide! Thanks for your time!

  • Mark
    September 19, 2017, 4:44 pm

    After the hurricanes… is it still standing?

    • Keith Falkner
      September 20, 2017, 4:41 am

      We Are NEVER “after the hurricanes”.
      Much of the time, for example … now! … we are “between hurricanes”.

  • Laura
    September 20, 2017, 12:41 pm

    I tried all of the Historic Shed links and none of them work. Just thought I’d let you know.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.