Design ideas

What a backyard home can be.

Eleven designs from 520 to 1,300 square feet — one level and two, with a garage or without, a studio built into the house. Pick the size that fits your life; the free report says which may fit your lot.

Concept rendering of a small one-level backyard cottage in light grey lap siding with a black door and a gravel pathConcept rendering
Compact · Under 650 sq ft

Main St

A one-bedroom that lives bigger than it is — for one person, a couple or a first rental.

  • 550 sq ft
  • 1 bed
  • ¾ bath
  • One level
Concept rendering of a white one-level cottage with a front gable over a covered entry and a stone-based porch postConcept rendering
Standard · 650–800 sq ft

The Country Cottage

Two bedrooms behind a bright great room — a small house, not a studio.

  • 785 sq ft
  • 2 bed
  • 1 bath
  • One level
Single-level white board-and-batten backyard home with a cedar entry and an attached garagePhoto · built
Family · 800–1,000 sq ft

Cedar Groove

A two-bedroom on one floor, with or without its own garage.

  • 800 sq ft
  • 2 bed
  • 1 bath
  • One level
  • Garage optional
Concept rendering of a two-story backyard home with a garage below, a recessed balcony above and a side deckConcept rendering
Family · 800–1,000 sq ft

The Horizon

A one-bedroom home upstairs, with parking and storage kept below.

  • 981 sq ft
  • 1 bed
  • 1 bath
  • Two levels
  • Garage
Concept rendering of a blue-grey two-story backyard home with a two-car garage and an exterior stair to a covered porchConcept rendering
Family · 800–1,000 sq ft

The Ridge G

Two bedrooms over a two-car garage — full-size living with real storage.

  • 994 sq ft
  • 2 bed
  • 1 bath
  • Two levels
  • Garage
Rendering of The Phinney: a two-story home in light-gray lap siding with white trim and an attached garageRendering
Family · 800–1,000 sq ft

The Phinney

Three bedrooms. A family, or two tenants.

  • 995 sq ft + 424 sq ft garage
  • 3 bed
  • 2 bath
  • Two levels
  • Attached
The Willowmere DADU, a two-level United Signature backyard home in SeattlePhoto · built
Spacious · 1,000 sq ft and up

The Willowmere

Two bedrooms, two and a quarter baths, on a small footprint.

  • 1,000 sq ft
  • 2 bed
  • 2.25 bath
  • Two levels
Dark modern two-level backyard home with wood accents, from the yardPhoto · built
Spacious · 1,000 sq ft and up

Signature Modern

Living downstairs, two bedrooms and two baths upstairs — a full second home.

  • 1,205 sq ft
  • 2 bed
  • 2¼ bath
  • Two levels
Concept rendering of a two-story garage-and-shop building with two garage doors and a covered porch on the living wingConcept rendering
Spacious · 1,000 sq ft and up

The Atlas

A two-bedroom home over a garage and shop, with a bonus room on the ground floor.

  • 1,213 sq ft
  • 2 bed
  • 1¾ bath
  • Two levels
  • Garage
Black modern house on Beacon Hill with a red door at garden level, the entry to the attached studio, below a deckPhoto · built
Attached · Part of the house

The Beacon

A studio suite with its own entry, built into the lower level of the main house.

  • Studio · one room 15′ × 40′
  • Studio
  • ¾ bath
  • One level
Prices, full plan sets and what's in a package
These designs are offered by HousUp's partner builder for Washington. Its prices and plan sets are on its own page.
The builder's plans & prices ↗

HousUp doesn't build and doesn't set prices. A design is a starting point; the free property report tells you which sizes may fit your lot before anyone quotes you, and you're free to use any designer or contractor.

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