What Is a Carriage Style House, and Is It the Right Building for You?

If you want to add a touch of elegance and history to your home, you may want to consider building a carriage style house. These homes are modeled after the horse-drawn carriages of yesteryear and feature distinctive features like large porches and dormer windows. While they may seem like something out of a fairytale, you can easily get blueprints for a carriage-style house. This article will cover what a carriage-style house is and whether it is the right building for you.

Features of a Carriage House Style

The features of a Carriage house may differ based on the building preferences of the homeowners. These days’ homeowners are now modifying their carriage houses to suit the architectural style in trend. It is common to see carriage house with a touch of modern interior or exterior features. However, there are several exterior and interior characteristics that is associated with any true carriage house style.

Exterior

• Sloping or flat roofs
• Vinyl, brick, or wood exteriors
• Matching shutters and colors
• Private entrances
• Rectangle-shaped building
• Typically two or three stories high
• Large garage type of doors with few windows
• Gable or gambrel style roof

Though carriage houses are known to be detached from the main house, they can be added to the main building structure or linked to a private courtyard.

Interior

Just like the exterior of the carriage house style, the interiors boast several features that make it stand out from other architectural styles.

• A full kitchen
• An open living area
• Utility space
• Porches

The interior square foot of a carriage style house may range from 200 square feet up to 3000 square feet depending on the owner's housing needs and lot size. Some carriage houses boast 3 bedrooms with up to 4 baths above a 2-3 car garage. Building a carriage house with large square feet offers you and your family enough living space and additional space to include a swimming pool or an attached deck.

Main Materials of the Carriage House Style

Like most traditional architectural styles, the carriage house style comprises several natural materials. It is common to find the following materials associated with a typical carriage style home.

• Red brick
• Wood
• Vinyl

The choice of material is solely determined by the homeowner and builder. With the rise of the contemporary architectural style, it is common to find carriage homes featuring both natural and artificial materials. It is important to note that the type of materials used may increase the cost per square foot and the overall construction cost of your carriage style house.

Why We Love the Carriage House Style

You may wonder what else makes the carriage house style unique and popular across generations. Its low cost and quality of life it offers are some of the numerous benefits that come with building a carriage house.  Here are some of the reasons why people all over the world love the carriage house style.

Additional Monthly Income

With the rise of short-term rental services like Airbnb, a carriage house can serve as a source of extra income from renting it out. And while short-term renting of home has some downsides, renting out a carriage house can help you reduce your housing costs.

Generous Space

There is no lack of space with a carriage style house. Since they typically feature two stories and an open floor plan, there is ample space to spare. Some carriage houses are large enough to accommodate house staff and areas for socialization. So, if you are looking for a house plan that is large enough for your family to live multigenerationally, then the carriage style house is your best choice.

How Much Does Carriage House Style Cost?

On average, a Carriage house plan can cost around $500 to $2,500. However, custom plans and blueprints may cost around 5-10 percent of the total home building cost. The average cost to build a carriage style house in the US is around $100,000 to $300,000, depending on your home location, customizations, and square footage. Most house builders in the US charge an average of $180 per square foot to build a carriage house.

Before building one, you should know that a carriage style home requires less time and is affordable. Check out some of our carriage floor plans and designs here to build a carriage home.

Constructing a Carriage Home Style

Constructing a carriage style home requires the input of a professional architect and builder. When looking to build a carriage home, you may decide to opt for a ready-made floor plan or a fully custom-designed blueprint for your potential home.

The first step to constructing a custom carriage home is to get a comprehensive architectural drawing set. This gives you more insight into the type of materials to be used, accurate dimensions of the floor plans, location of the elements, sections, and other construction-related information.

If you are looking for a comprehensive yet affordable Carriage house blueprint or a customizable floor plan, then we at Archimple are here to serve you. We have several carriage house design collections and floor plans. You can check out our carriage home design collection to find out how we can help you achieve your dream home.

You can click the following links to learn more about what consists of our typical plan set and how we work or can be of help to you and your carriage home-building project. Remember that your home is not just an investment for the future but a reflection of your personality. So, it is important that you employ the best architectural help to make your dream home a reality.

Final Thought

The Carriage Style House is a great investment for those looking for a solid and reliable home. This home is built to last, with its strong construction and quality materials. With its spacious layout and comfortable features, the carriage style house is perfect for families or individuals who want a relaxed and inviting home.

Frequently Asked Question

What is a carriage style house?
A carriage style house is a type of home with a garage underneath the living space. They are typically two stories, with the main living area on the second floor and bedrooms on the first floor.

Where do carriage style houses get their name? 
Carriage style houses get their name from their original purpose - to house carriages! These homes were designed to have a garage on the ground level so that carriages could be stored underneath the living space.

What is a carriage style house?
A carriage style house is a type of home with a large, central living space with high ceilings and exposed beams. The windows are often large and on either side of the front door. These homes usually have two stories, although some may have one or three. Carriage-style houses are often found in rural areas or small towns.

How did carriage style houses get their name?
Carriage-style houses got their name because they were often built to resemble the horse-drawn carriages of the time. These homes were both comfortable and practical, with plenty of storage space and easy outdoor access.

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