I kept this a secret from everyone until The Matriarch came home because I wanted it to be a surprise. (And she reads the blog every day so i could not even whisper it) So after we picked her up from the airport and dawdled home I took her into the Coupe and introduced her to her finished (mostly)Tiny Retirement House. The Coupe.
This cabinet is designed to divide the two rooms but provide storage. It has two sides, this is the bedroom side.
And this is the kitchen side. It was built by Jeff Jenson of Kempton and his fellow carpenter Tate. Two very talented young men. They do this for a living. Very, very beautiful work. The Matriarch was stunned and once she had found her voice was thrilled.
You can see how we chose knotted and gnarled timbers allowing the wood to have a voice in the work.
Tiny but perfect. There will be a high beautiful fall of sheer cream curtains that can be pulled across the bed if you don’t want to make your bed. In New Zealand we call this a Granny Flat. However Granny is not ready to retire quite yet so until then it will be a guest house. If you want a writing retreat or simply a retreat in the summer, let me know.
Earlier yesterday all the dogs and I went for a walk.
Boo is still learning to share the stick. You hear people talk about learning to be a good loser (as in not a sore loser) but Boo needs to learn to be a good winner. He does tend to rub it in when he has won the stick. (You know the type.)
By the time we had been up to the airport and back it was dark. And doing the chores in the dark was a bit dicey because this:
Had turned to ice. Though I think it will be warm up again today, and the wind will do its best to mop the water up.
Have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farm
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
82 responses to “A Surprise for The Matriarch”
It looks lovely and the shelving is beautiful. Putting shelving in as a wall is a great idea and I’m putting that one in my back pocket.
What a beautiful job they’ve done of those shelves. Old wood has stories to tell I often thing.
Oh, WOW. What a beautifully intimate and lovely space. You may have to hold a lottery for use of this space within the Farmy Fellowship.
Have been waiting for these photos for quite a time! Lovely ideas beautifully executed. And from what I understand the clothes cupboards will be built in the main house thus providing continuity with your own home . . .private but together! Lovely!! Glad the weather was ‘warm’ enough for the boys’ walk . . . a chance to wear off some energy 🙂 !
The walk through wardrobe will also hold the linen, towels and things as well, so it really will be a lovely space to manage.. c
Love the Granny Flat – looks very beautiful and that woodwork is just so creative and interesting.
Why is it that Granny Flats, on the whole, in Australia (and perhaps NZ?) look so mass produced and boring? Older people haven’t lost their eye or love of beauty and good craftsmanship, they just need to down-size to make life easier as they age and move much slower.
Great photos too.
Wow! It looks absolutely beautiful! You really have an eye for design!
Absolutely gorgeous, and what a treat!! Oh how I would love have a little retreat with you and animals for a couple of weeks! I may not ever want to leave that charming guest house though. 😉
You would be most welcome, gluten free is easy out here! c
Wow, the new wall/storage area is beautiful, and so practical. What a lovely place you have designed.
The Coupe is stunning in its’ simplicity & the wood divider is a wonderful example of functional art. Your craftsmen did a wonderful job making your ideas some to life. It may be small, but the openness & flow of natural light make it seem just the right size for one person. Storage space is such a luxury when living in a smaller home, but you did a fantastic job of incorporating design & function into a serene & efficient living space. The Matriarch can look forward to livin’ large on the prairie when she retires. How fun that you get to test drive the coupe for your guests over the next few years. Your MIL must be absolutely thrilled with how the entire project turned out. I
Boo is making the funniest facial expression with his eyes looking to the side that way. Would love to see a blow up of just Boo’s face so I could think of captions to go along with his cheeky grin. I hope the chicks with frostbitten combs & waddles are doing alright? I have been think about them the past few days & sending positive thoughts that they do not get infected.
So far the chickens are eating and drinking and not huddling or fluffed up in corners anymore.. Now that they are in the real chicken Coop they are warmer and get more feed. They ran off and joined the roosters in the barn and were uncatchable until they got the frostbite poor things.. Thank you for your kind words about the Cpupe. I spent many years in the theatre and then film and it is refreshing to design a set that gets to play for decades as opposed to weeks.. c
Clever use of colour, c. Cool colours for the bedroom, and warm colours for the kitchen. That wood is to die for. Best of the day to you and the farmy!
How lovely! Your coupe is quite beautiful. I adore well panned small spaces.
If I were the Matriarch I would move in tomorrow! What exquisite work and the perfect hideaway.
I love that the wall provides places to display. Doors & cupboards are all very good but we need to see our treasures 🙂
Yes, lots of open shelves, in fact open from both sides, only two cupboards with doors, it is finished.. c
It’s stunning. I knew it would be, but it just vibrates with peace and happy feelings – and that’s in a photo, I can only imagine how good it feels in there for real!
I have been eagerly anticipating the day we would see the Coupe all finished! The Matriarch must have been speechless for sure.. it looks like something from a magazine, c! Well done.. and good luck with training Boo, we still haven’t learned to drop the toy after playing fetch:D xx