DIY dad converts basement staircase into cottage playhouse

“I modeled it after a coastal-Northeast-looking cottage with the shingles."

ByABC News
August 2, 2017, 3:29 PM

— -- A DIY-loving Georgia dad converted his cluttered basement staircase into a cottage-style playhouse.

Robert Miller, of Canton, said he spent four weeks building the playhouse with his 4-year-old daughter, Cadence.

Robert Miller of Canton, Georgia, spent four weeks building the "coastal Northeast looking" playhouse with his 4-year-old daughter.
Robert Miller

It was his ultimate father-daughter project that included teaching his little protégé how to use a chop saw and drill press, square angles and measure the 8 x 5 shingles on the front by hand. He chose a quaint design, different from rest of the family's house.

Robert Miller of Canton, Georgia, spent four weeks building the "coastal Northeast looking" playhouse with his 4-year-old daughter.
Robert Miller

"I kind of modeled it after a coastal-Northeast-looking cottage with the shingles," Miller, 29, told ABC News about his design inspiration. "Our main house has vinyl siding so I wanted this to look cottagey. My daughter chose the door color."

Robert Miller of Canton, Georgia, spent four weeks building the "coastal Northeast looking" playhouse with his 4-year-old daughter.
Robert Miller

Miller said his family has been in their home for about six years and the staircase area in their finished basement was only being used as "junk storage."

Robert Miller of Canton, Georgia, spent four weeks building the "coastal Northeast looking" playhouse with his 4-year-old daughter.
Robert Miller

His wife, Casey Miller, is pregnant with their third little one and the couple agreed it would be smart to have a designated play area where toys could be "out of sight, out of mind," even if that meant turning his drumming space into "a princess playroom."

Robert Miller of Canton, Georgia, spent four weeks building the "coastal Northeast looking" playhouse with his 4-year-old daughter.
Robert Miller

The entire makeover cost about $400 in materials, but, Miller said, "There are some things you can’t measure in price."

Robert Miller of Canton, Georgia, spent four weeks building the "coastal Northeast looking" playhouse with his 4-year-old daughter.
Robert Miller

"If in five to six years it’s not usable, then so be it," he continued. "It’s making them happy now."

Robert Miller of Canton, Georgia, spent four weeks building the "coastal Northeast looking" playhouse with his 4-year-old daughter.
Robert Miller

As soon as the playhouse was finished, the proud dad said Cadence couldn’t wait to fill it with her toys.

"I said, 'Hey Cadence, make sure you don’t put too much in here. You don’t want it to be cluttered,'" he told his daughter. "She looked at me confused, with her hands on her hips, and said, 'Well, it’s our house.' And she proceeded to get the rest of her toys."

Robert Miller of Canton, Georgia, spent four weeks building the "coastal Northeast looking" playhouse with his 4-year-old daughter.
Robert Miller

Now Cadence and her 1-year-old brother, Cannon, can’t wait to share "their house" with their soon-to-be baby brother or sister, due next month.