A Single Shade of Blue Brought This Once-Forgotten Space to Life as a Characterful New England Guest Cottage
Given complete creative freedom, the designers transformed a simple garage loft into a richly layered retreat
In 2020, amid the uncertainty of the pandemic, a young family turned their attention to an overlooked space above their garage in Litchfield County, Connecticut – looking to reimagine it as a guest cottage ready for whatever the months ahead might bring.
Brooklyn-based Studio Dorion came on board and transformed the raw space into something far more characterful, designed for retreating and reuniting. And at the heart of the house design is a single, perfectly picked shade of blue.
Designed to accommodate guests, family hangouts, and everything in between, the joyful cottage proves that even the most modest spaces can adapt – and emerge all the richer for it.
Kitchen: The serene kitchen balances practicality with charm, with painted cabinetry in Farrow & Ball's Dix Blue, a deep wooden worktop, and antique artwork.
When founders Michelle Ficker and Peter Dolkas first entered the cottage, it was little more than an open room above the garage.
'When we first saw the space, it was a raw, open room,' recalls Michelle. The brief was clear, if deceptively simple: to transform it into a welcoming guest suite that could just as easily double as a relaxed hangout for the family’s children.
The project also came with a rare advantage. Having worked with the clients on their main house the year prior, Michelle and Peter already understood their likes and dislikes – and, this time, were given total creative freedom.
Living Area: The open-plan living space brings together kitchen, lounging, and dining zones, unified by a single shade of blue and Adelphi's Paperhangings Ipswich Sprig Wallpaper layered with pattern, texture, and relaxed, multifunctional design.
'We had one formal design meeting, and then it was off to the races!' says Michelle. 'They pretty much gave us carte blanche on the project and were very trusting. After we presented the design to them, the husband didn’t even enter the guest house until it was fully completed – about 6 months later.'
From the outset, the priorities were about practicality as much as aesthetics. The space needed to sleep as many people as possible, while still feeling cohesive and considered – and there was one firm rule: no pink.
Entry: The signature blue carries through to the staircase and landing, where paneled walls painted in Farrow & Ball's House White and touches of florals add to the cottage feel.
Of course, it’s the oh-so blue color palette that gives the cottage its identity – and it all begins with a single shade of blue.
Rather than starting with paint as the jumping off point, the team anchored the scheme around a wallpaper, drawing out one particular tone from its floral motif and building the rest of the palette around it.
The effect is charming yet layered, allowing pattern and texture to build without overwhelming the compact footprint.
Reading Nook: This sweet built-in window seat framed by bookshelves creates a quiet reading nook, with blue joinery and matching curtains adding to the relaxed charm.
'The center of the flower on the Adelphi wallpaper is that blue, which is close to Farrow & Ball's Dix Blue, so we pulled it from there,' Michelle explains. From there, the color was carried with intent across the space, linking each element of the back to that original hue.
Getting the tone exactly right was key. Rather than relying on tiny swatches, the team tested the color on large painted boards.
'We did change the floor color, says Michelle. 'Originally, it was going to be a bright, acidic green, but when we saw the sample, we liked the idea of a bold blue floor better. It’s really helpful to see large paint-outs on boards in the space before committing to colors.'
Living Area: A built-in daybed doubles as a seat and lounge spot, layered with striped B&J Cotton Ticking Stripe Upholstery and custom plaid bean bags to bring softness to the painted joinery.
It’s this consistency in the color story that allows the space to feel layered rather than busy.
With most of the cottage centered within a single open-plan room, the challenge wasn’t just how it looked, but how it worked day to day. 'When thinking about how the clients would be using the space, we knew there needed to be a lot of comfortable lounge seating for the kids to have a place to hang out, but also have private quarters for adult guests for extended stays,' Michelle explains.
'Most of the space is in one open concept room, so it was about building out the cabinetry to have multiple functions. For example, the daybed can be used for lounging, sleeping, and includes storage below,' she adds.
The kitchen follows a similar logic. Rather than overfitting the space, it’s been thoughtfully pared back to the essentials – a small fridge, sink, and portable hot plate – providing all the necessities for guests without overkill, as they would likely be dining in the main house.
Bunk Room: Built-in bunk beds painted in Farrow & Ball's Stiffkey Blue maximize sleeping space while bringing character with playful pops of color from the vintage rug, Welsh blankets from Etsy, and bed linens from Pottery Barn.
If there’s one space that captures the spirit of the project, it’s the main living area – as Michelle puts it, 'where all the action happens'.
The atmosphere here is built through layers rather than bold statements. Generous seating creates an easy, informal feel, while textiles soften and warm the space.
That same love of layered pattern carries through into the sleeping areas, where practicality meets a more playful, almost nostalgic spirit thanks to a collection of Welsh blankets found on Etsy. Built-in bunk beds make smart use of the bijoux footprint, turning what could have been a purely functional sleepover space into something far more stylish.
Bedroom: With a dramatic vaulted ceiling, this calm bedroom balances pattern and softness, with a red-and-white quilt, striped accents, and delicate Lizzie Teal / Port Wallpaper.
If the bunk room leans playful, this bedroom offers a gentler touch. Still carrying the same red thread of Dix Blue throughout, the palette in here is lighter and more restful. 'The splatter-painted floors are carried throughout the space, and the colors we used are pulled into the millwork, trim, and wallpapers,' Michelle explains.
A red-and-white patchwork quilt brings a graphic pop to the bed, echoed in the striped bed skirt and curtains, while the ditsy wallpaper acts as a delicate backdrop.
Bathroom: A classic clawfoot tub sits against crisp white walls, while the signature blue floor grounds the space with a calm, coastal finish.
In the bathroom, the palette is further pulled back, allowing the painted floor to take the lead.
Set against crisp white walls and a small window, a traditional clawfoot tub becomes the focal point – nodding to the cottage’s New England influences without feeling overly kitsch.
The effect is clean but far from stark, softened by small, vintage details like a time-worn stool and an oil painting for a touch of charm.
Bedroom: To balance the bold mix of prints, the bedside arrangement is kept quiet and simple with vintage wood and a little carafe for guests. An antique quilt and a Ballard Designs bed skirt bring bursts of red to the scheme.
Not every transformation in the cottage came from adding something new – in some cases, it was about knowing what to take away. In the kitchen, a series of art pieces the clients already owned found new life through a simple edit.
'The art in the kitchen was something they already owned, but never really liked because they were in some really gaudy frames,' says Michelle. 'As soon as we took them out of the frame, they felt fresher.'
Similarly, in the main bedroom, the linens are kept white and crisp to allow for a moment of respite among the layered patterns.
Hallway: Blue-painted floors, doors, and trim create a seamless thread through the cottage, proving the power of a single color used with confidence.
Beyond the headline color, it’s the layering that gives the cottage its depth and easy charm. Underfoot, blue floors run throughout, acting like a unifying thread that nods to Melissa and Peter's initial inspiration.
Michelle points to John Derian’s Provincetown home as a touchstone – a reference that’s felt in the relaxed mix of pattern, color, and collected pieces. It’s a look that speaks to traditional New England decorating, but loosens it, favoring character over curation and charm over polish.
Set against block-printed wallpapers and painted millwork, this once rough and raw space has been given an inviting makeover designed to welcome everyone through its doors.
More than anything, the project is a lesson in restraint. While on paper it may look layered and full of charm, it relies on a single hero hue and a willingness to edit. Around it, texture, textiles, and thoughtful details bring warmth and personality, proving that even the smallest footprint can hold real depth.
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