North Encanto · Phoenix
A small guest house.
A different future for the backyard.
A deteriorating garage made way for a newly built casita with an open living area, kitchenette, walk-in shower, and a patio made with reclaimed brick.
Design and construction by Homework Remodels
Backyard guest-house project
with a newly built casita
storage, and reclaimed-brick paving
The opportunity was more than a better outbuilding. It was a way to give the backyard a useful living space and keep a piece of its history.
This Phoenix casita project began with an aging garage and the homeowners’ wish for a place to welcome visiting family. Exploratory work revealed deteriorating walls, a sinking floor, and foundation concerns. Rebuilding became the practical path to creating the guest space they envisioned.
The new structure was repositioned on the lot, allowing the project to address parking and outdoor space along with the casita itself. Inside, a simple open plan brings together a living area, kitchenette, bathroom, and storage. Outside, brick salvaged from the original garage gives the patio and planting beds a connection to what stood here before.
The outbuilding · Before and after
When the project called for a rebuild
The original garage’s condition changed the direction of the work. Instead of trying to fit new living functions into a compromised structure, the project moved forward as a replacement building. That decision also created the opportunity to reconsider where the casita belonged on the property.
The completed guest house has its own entrance and a covered area at the door. Pale yellow siding and white trim give it a clear, welcoming presence beside the brick patio and garden.
An open interior
One main room, with room to settle in
The living area remains open rather than divided into several small rooms. Windows on different walls bring daylight into the interior, while the kitchenette sits along one side. The arrangement leaves the center available for the way guests use the space.
Light wood-look flooring, warm neutral walls, and white cabinetry keep the material palette restrained. A ceiling fan and wall-mounted air-conditioning unit serve the room without occupying floor space. The finished photographs show how the living area, entry, and kitchen relate to one another.
A kitchenette for guest use
Useful counter space within a compact plan
The kitchenette includes an apartment-sized refrigerator, a sink, lower and upper cabinets, and open shelving. Its counter runs along the back wall, providing a place for drinks, snacks, and the small tasks that accompany a stay.
The white cabinets keep this working area related to the rest of the room. Open shelves sit above the sink, while drawers and cabinet doors provide enclosed storage below. The arrangement gives guests a useful amenity without dividing the living area.
A separate bathroom
Light finishes and a walk-in shower
The bathroom gives the casita a separate place for washing and getting ready. A vanity provides counter and cabinet space, with a mirror and wall lighting above it. The photographs show a light tile floor and a shower finished with white subway tile.
Accessibility was part of the project’s design priorities. The walk-in shower includes a handheld fitting and recessed storage, and the bathroom was planned with room around its fixtures. These practical choices are part of making a guest space comfortable to use.
Materials with a past
The old garage lives on in the brickwork
Although the garage was removed, its brick was saved. Reusing that material for the patio and raised planting beds kept a tangible connection to the earlier structure while giving it a new purpose.
The brick paving also creates an outdoor place beside the casita entrance. Garden beds frame parts of the yard, making the guest house feel connected to the property rather than isolated at its edge.
Considering the whole lot
Guest space, outdoor space, and parking
Repositioning the new structure allowed the project to improve the parking arrangement as well as the backyard. A dedicated parking space and a motorized gate with remote access were included in the work.
The earlier building and its interior photographs help explain why the project was considered at the property level. Replacing the structure allowed the team to plan the casita, access, parking, and patio as connected parts of the same project.
Coffee & Construction
See more of the project’s story
The existing project walkthrough follows the North Encanto casita with Homework Remodels’ design lead, Sheila Lanier. It offers another way to explore the work behind the finished photographs.
The completed casita
A different use for a familiar part of the property
The project replaced a deteriorating garage with a guest house that offers an open living area, kitchenette, separate bathroom, and storage. Reclaimed brick connects the new patio to the original structure, while the revised placement makes room for parking and outdoor use.
Its value as a project example comes from those decisions: evaluating what could be retained, choosing when to rebuild, and planning the small building together with the space around it.
Planning a casita or guest house in Phoenix?
Start with the way the space will be used and the existing conditions of the property. A garage conversion and a new casita can lead to different design and construction decisions. Access, parking, storage, bathroom needs, and the relationship to the main home all deserve attention early.
Explore our casita, guest-house, and ADU services and The Path to Remodeling Clarity™ for help organizing your next steps.
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Tell us how a casita or guest house could serve your household. We’ll begin with a conversation about your property, your priorities, and the possibilities for the space.