When Jahan, a retired architect, asked me to work with him on the design of his new home and cottage, I was excited by the prospect of having interesting discussions developing a beautifully detailed house. We started the process by designing a small cottage on the property - a future home for his in-laws and a laboratory to work through some details. After the construction of the cottage was complete - we met to discuss lessons learned. As the construction of the main house neared completion, we realized how much we had learned from the cottage.