By Bo Niles

A well-designed guest house is a retreat enjoyed by both guest and homeowner when they are looking for an escape from visiting family. Although they are often mini-versions of the main residence, a guesthouse built later on affords the homeowner the ability to learn from past mistakes and build something totally different. Such is the case in the Muller guesthouse, above, designed by Ward + Blake Architects. Even though it does not match the main house, 90 percent of the materials are reclaimed and recycled to give it the look of a revitalized homesteader’s cabin that’s been on the property forever. Economy of scale is important in a small space. In the loft second bedroom, right, storage is neatly tucked under both single beds. The “great room,” opposite, has scaled down versions of living/dining/kitchen areas. Architect Ward + Blake Architects www.wardblakearchitects.com

Since the dawn of civilization, opening up one’s home to visitors to share a meal or stay the night—or longer—has been something humankind takes very seriously. Americans, though, cherish their privacy. For this reason, separate guest quarters are proving an increasingly popular alternative to the “spare room,” even for those with capacious homes. A separate guesthouse not only allows visitors to enjoy their independence but also gives the homeowners a place to escape to when the family returns for visits.

Depending upon the design and the amount of property, a guesthouse may be annexed to the main dwelling by a coinciding doorway or a breezeway or, when conceived as a compound, the two structures may embrace a courtyard or share a common patio. Many of the guesthouses designed by Ward + Blake Architects in Jackson, Wyoming, stand alone and are miniature versions of the main residence. Says Tom Ward, “We prefer a dialogue between the two structures. But sometimes a guesthouse has a totally different style when built after the main house.” As Ward explains, “With education comes experience.”

Because a guesthouse tends to be used only occasionally, it is typically scaled down; in many areas, zoning may restrict its size. The structures are creatively designed within the economical use of space. The Muller cabin designed by Ward + Blake, for example, could not exceed 1,000 square feet (it measures a tidy 984). “In addition, an environmental assessment mandated that we site the cabin so it wouldn’t disturb wetlands on the property,” says Mitch Blake, partner and project architect. “And guesthouses here cannot have a full kitchen.”

“The ideal guesthouse is designed and scaled to be more intimate,” says Mark Pynn, principal in the Sun Valley, Idaho, firm of McMillen Pynn Architecture. Pynn also believes it should replicate or echo the style of the main house—like a “cousin”—and respond to the vernacular of the site in terms of materials, too.

A guesthouse requires the same attention to detail as a main residence. Ease of traffic flow throughout the space, adequate storage and surfaces, good ambient, task, and reading light, and generous water pressure are all basic comforts. The fundamentals of a welcoming guesthouse duplicate the layout and amenities you’d expect to find in a deluxe all-suite hotel: a spacious living/dining area with cooking facilities, plus one or more bedrooms with commodious closets and baths en suite. Pynn includes bunkrooms for kids, if necessary, and amenities such as a washer/dryer and, crucial in the Mountain States, a fireplace.

After all, guesthouses may be the perfect escape for guest and homeowner alike.