These Laneway House Designs Are So Clever

A laneway house instantly endears. Tucked in the rear of the main house, often in an alleyway, there’s something secretive and special – romantic, even – about a hideaway dwelling. Perhaps it’s that laneway houses are often garage conversions: ugly utility transformed into something beautiful and cozy. Practically speaking, laneway houses can provide added income. Whatever the reason for the allure, we’re swooning over these swans.

Lanescape Architecture Inc.

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With the Grain

With its pronounced wood detailing and crisp black windows, this 950-square-foot laneway house by Toronto’s Lanescape makes a good case for rethinking that drab garage out back. There’s a lovely garden through those gates. Scroll on to check out the amazing interior of this incredible wooden laneway treasure.

White kitchen in laneway house with flat-front cabinetry

Lanescape Architecture Inc.

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Heart of the Home

This narrow laneway home features a bright and breezy white kitchen, with a skylight funnelling sunny happiness into the space. Flat-panel cabinetry keeps the vibe streamlined, while doses of wood and a chalkboard wall add warmth.

Smallworks

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Compact Charm

With its cottage-y exterior, traditional mullioned windows and Westeck French doors, we are crushing on this friendly abode by Smallworks in Vancouver. The firm has been creating elegant, compact homes since 2005.

Built-in bench seating in minimalistic laneway house

Smallworks

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Prime Perch

Here’s the interior of that previous cottage-like laneway home. The banquette with storage is part of the seating area in the kitchen – a table tucks into there. Above, the sinewy black chandelier pops against walls as white as powdered sugar.

Smallworks

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Classic Elegance

And here’s the kitchen – compact and loaded with charm. A subway tile backsplash with dark grout complements two-toned cabinetry and luxe brass pulls. Going white on the uppers lends a sense of airiness in the small space.

Smallworks

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Cool Cut-Outs

Built as a pied-a-terre in Vancouver, this multi-level dwelling also made by Smallworks has quirky windows, including a fun porthole recalling a ship. Black-trimmed flourishes against corrugated steel give the structure a a dapper presence in the laneway.

Smallworks

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Wonderful Whimsy

Here’s the interior showing those playful portholes. There’s also a minimalistic fireplace with shelves for displaying plants and pretty things. This laneway beauty is 636 square feet of style!

Smallworks

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Spectacular Stairwell

With its unexpected triangular window, the simple stairwell thrills. Its function is also, of course, to flood the space with natural light. A piece of artwork quietly dazzles on a sliver of wall.

Smallworks

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Minimalistic Mastery

Here’s how the triangle plays in the bedroom – such whimsy! A dainty wall-mounted ledge makes a much-needed night table. In a small space, real estate is a luxury. Built-ins just make sense.

Smallworks

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Classic Coach

A quaint coach house with clapboard siding and a trough of plants welcomes visitors in this Vancouver-based laneway house, again by Smallworks. The home provides density, while preserving the feel of neighbouring dwellings.

Smallworks

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Elegant Warmth

In this classic coach house, every inch is beautifully accounted for. The kitchen features a skylight (not shown) and ample storage with contemporary wood cabinets for warmth. The upper ledge is perfect for trailing plants.

Minimalistic living room in laneway house

Smallworks

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Simple Style

Here’s that classic coach house again. Polished concrete floors, a freestanding Jøtul Allagash gas fireplace in the corner and black against the neutral palette give the space a cool attitude.

Retrofitted laneway home in Toronto makes use of existing exposed brick and features cheery yellow doors to bring back mid-century charm.

Lanescape Architecture Inc.

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Punchy Entrance

This unusual laneway suite is a retrofit of an existing brick building in Toronto. You can just make out the interesting torqued roof on the right. The second storey is a light-filled paradise thanks to those windows; meanwhile, vivid yellow doors recall the palette of quintessential mid-century homes.

Kitchen and living room in laneway house

Lanescape Architecture Inc.

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Fresh and Bright

Its quirky, contemporary exterior extends to its interior style, too. An airy layout, cool-coloured accents, and modern leggy furnishings makes sense in a smaller footprint. Plus, it looks fab!

Exterior of a stunning contemporary laneway house in Calgary, featuring a blend of concrete with airy black and white architecture and vivid greenery.

Alloy Homes

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Courtyard Caper

Who wouldn’t fall in love with this view from the main house? This two-storey laneway house by Alloy Homes in Calgary faces the three-storey main digs across a central courtyard. A tunnel beneath the yard connects both units so the multi-generational family can scoot between both homes. Clever! Read more here.

Alloy Homes

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Yes, You Should Judge the Exterior

Here’s a better view of that stunning laneway house in Calgary by Alloy Homes. We love the harmonious black and white palette, the geometry of the flat roof with the wood-lined overhang and that lovely little balcony that faces the courtyard.

Light-filled kitchen and open stairs in laneway house

Alloy Homes

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Airy Living

The modern-lined interior features floating stairs and a generous kitchen. Ethereal glass railings keep the sightlines open in the space.

This stunning slender laneway house in Toronto features an intriguing mixed-material exterior.

Lanescape Architecture Inc.

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Marvellous Mix

This 1,470-square-foot laneway house by Lanescape rivals any main house. A mixed-material exterior comprised of aluminum composite panels, wood planks and masonry is a zingy foil to the cool and airy interior. Keep reading to scope it out.

Lanescape Architecture Inc.

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Ready to Rev

Expanses of glass flood the home with light. The large windows suit the contemporary setting while their wood trim provides a warm, cozy interplay against all the white. And yes, that’s a motorcycle. Because every cool laneway house needs one.

Kira Noel

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Back in Black

Imagine taking a grubby garage and turning it into this? That’s exactly what Laneway Custom Build (alongside Solares Architecture) did for one family in Toronto. The 1,400-square-foot abode has three bedrooms and sits atop a garage. The black corrugated metal provides a chic backdrop for the lush greenery.

Kira Noel

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In the Alley

Here’s the flipside of that house by Laneway Custom Build, with its pristine garage door that hasn’t been tagged by graffiti – yet.

Kira Noel

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Design Details

Just like the chic exterior, the unfussy interior of this Laneway Custom Build home is a knockout. Black punctuates the mellow scheme – we love the pendants and black sliding doors and the barely-there glass railings.

Laneway house in Toronto with white-painted brick wall living room

Kira Noel

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She’s a Brick House

For a textural uplift, there’s also a painted white-brick wall. It’s so much more interesting than flat white. Ready to ogle the upstairs? Keep flipping.

Kira Noel

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Quiet, Please

The relaxing, uncluttered bedroom in the Laneway Custom Build home suits the vibe throughout. A no-nonsense shelf, a wall-mounted sconce and fabric headboard keep the ambience beautifully minimalistic.

Adorable kid's bedroom with modern furnishings

Kira Noel

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Make Some Noise

While the parents’ bedroom you just saw may be quiet, we’re certain this adorable kid’s bedroom (one of two in the home) gets pretty loud. A rainbow mural, ball pit and bed-on-the-floor in shades of grey, pink and white spells fun for hours in this home by Laneway Custom Build.