In recent years, homeowners throughout the Pacific Northwest have begun rethinking what it means to fully use the space they already have.
A rising cost of living, limited housing inventory, increasing multigenerational living, and the continued shift toward remote work have all contributed to the change. More homeowners are looking beyond traditional additions and asking a different question altogether: How can existing property be used more intentionally?
Across the region, detached backyard studios and accessory structures are becoming a more intentional alternative to traditional home expansion. For many homeowners, the appeal lies in gaining functional square footage without the disruption, cost, or footprint of a full-scale home addition. That shift, in part, is what inspired the launch of Coast Studios, a Skagit County-based company specializing in thoughtfully designed backyard studios and small detached living spaces.
Backed by more than two decades of regional building experience through Johnston Building Services, longtime Skagit County builder and resident Erik Johnston recently introduced four pre-designed backyard studio models tailored to the way many Pacific Northwest homeowners are now living.
“People are asking more from their homes than they were even five years ago,” says Johnston. “The dining room became the office. The guest room became storage. Everybody was sharing the same space all the time. People want breathing room again.”
Unlike a traditional home addition, detached studios offer flexibility without months of disruption or forcing families to completely reconfigure daily life during construction. “There’s also a simplicity to it,” Johnston adds. “A full home remodel can feel overwhelming: financially, logistically, emotionally. A backyard studio solves a problem without turning your entire house upside down. In most cases, this process is far less invasive and time-consuming than a major addition. Depending on the size and intended use, our studio projects can move from concept to completion in as little as four to seven weeks.”
Coast Studios’ four studio models are designed around a streamlined building process that allows projects to move more efficiently than a traditional addition while still offering homeowners flexibility in finishes, layout features, and overall design direction. Available in a range of sizes and styles, the studios can incorporate elevated finish elements such as cedar siding, pine tongue-and-groove ceilings, cork flooring, and warm natural materials that feel distinctly Pacific Northwest. The result is a space that feels carefully considered without requiring months of construction or a fully custom architectural process.
Rather than emphasizing excess square footage or one-size-fits-all builds, Coast Studios focuses on flexibility, functionality, and spaces designed to evolve alongside the homeowner and the way the space will ultimately be used.
The company also partners with a local interior designer, Somi Hom, to help homeowners navigate finish selections, color palettes, and cohesive design choices, simplifying decisions that can otherwise feel overwhelming during a construction project.
While Coast Studios currently focuses on backyard studios and smaller detached spaces, the team also designs and builds fully customized, larger residential projects through Johnston Building Services for homeowners seeking more expansive long-term living solutions.
Photograph by Hickman Aerial Photography and Photograph by Tina Kies
