08/07/2026
One of the design goals of this tiny home was that it shouldn't feel like an afterthought - it needed to belong. Since it sits behind our century home, we wanted the architecture to respectfully echo the Victorian character of the main residence without simply copying it. In close consultation with the Heritage Planning Department, many design decisions were made throughout this project. The front gable, however, became an opportunity to go beyond simply creating a design that was sympathetic to the main residence. It became a chance to incorporate handcrafted Victorian-inspired details that reflect the character of the original home while giving the tiny home an identity of its own.
After months of sketching, refining proportions, and building templates, we settled on a design inspired by traditional Victorian millwork. The decorative spooling and corbels were all crafted by hand. Each spool was individually turned from solid white oak. The sunburst panels and geometric field were built from Extira, an exterior-grade composite chosen for its excellent durability and stability in the weather.
The reclaimed brick dictated much of the colour palette. Rather than competing with the warm tones and texture of the masonry, we chose muted heritage colour that complements the brick while allowing the millwork to become a subtle focal point.
What you don't see in the finished product are the countless hours spent laying out angles, making jigs, testing proportions, machine parts, sanding, priming and fitting every piece before installation (see photos attached). The entire gable detail took several months to bring from an idea to reality.
This is one of the most rewarding parts of woodworking and building - taking a concept from a sheet to a finished architectural feature that looks as though it has always belonged here.
It's details like these that give a home its character and begin its story within a community.
