Everything You Need To Know About Cottage Style Homes

Cottage style homes are becoming increasingly popular for their charming yet simple designs. With origins in rural England, these homes have a storybook quality that is hard to resist. Today, you can find cottage-style homes worldwide, each with its unique history and style. Whether you're looking for a cozy weekend getaway or a permanent home, cottage-style homes are sure to please. Cottage-style homes are also usually located in quaint, rural areas, adding to their overall charm. Cottage style is the way to go if you want a cozy and charming home.

History Of Cottage Style Homes

The word “Cottage” originated from England where they were popular in the English countryside. During the middle age, cottages were built by local farmers to accommodate their farm produce and families during the planting and harvesting season. With time, the term cottage evolved from the typical ‘small hut’ to a popular architectural style adopted around the world.

Today, cottage house styles now feature a two-up-two-down floor plan, meaning each of the floors has two rooms. However, cottage houses are now elaborate with modern appliances and appeal. While the cottages in Europe serve as dwellings, in America and Canada, a cottage is used to represent a vacation homemade from wood.  

Peculiar Features Of The Cottage House Style

While cottage designs are evolving around the world, there are still some traditional interior and exterior features that describe the cottage house style. 

• Looks Rustic but has a traditional home appeal. The cottage house style is usually compared with a cabin; however, cottage homes offer more in terms of classy designs and details. It is common to find a cottage home that resembles a bungalow, has a Victorian or Tudor architectural appearance.
• Arched Doorway. It is common for cottage houses to feature an arched doorway. This gives the cottage home exterior an inviting appeal. Most cottage homeowners typically accent their doorway with lovely artificial lanterns and beautiful flowers to add to the mix.
• Dormers and Steep Rooflines. Cottage house plans now feature a dormer that creates the steep roofline. The steep-looking roofline create an appealing roofline and increase the floor space underneath the roof. Cottage homes that feature a dormer are an excellent choice for growing or large families. The dormer can serve as an area for extra-curricular activities or serve as a home office or gym area.
• Welcoming Porches. Most cottage homes especially in the US feature a spacious front porch. The wide nature of its porch makes it an excellent area to sit and watch the water or have evening drinks with friends and family. It is common to find outdoor furniture and hanging plants adorning the area.
• Smaller Footprint. Cottage homes are typically less than 2000 square feet. They tend to have 1-3 bedrooms. The living room which also features the dining room is the center of the space with the fireplace as one of the eye-catching features of the cottage home. More importantly, cottage homes are majorly made of woods. 

Why People Love The Cottage House Style Design

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

Appears Traditional Yet Modern

Cottage house plan offers you the opportunity to have a taste of both architectural worlds. You get to enjoy the classic element of a typical traditional cottage home while still getting a feel of modernism. This is an excellent architectural style if you want a house with a charming appearance but comes with contemporary finishes and amenities.

Nowadays, it is common to find cottage house that features skylights, kitchen bar section, and large-sized garages for multiple cars. So, with the cottage house style, you can have a blend of traditional exterior and contemporary interior.

Doubles as a Getaway Holiday Home

Cottage homes can serve as an escape destination from the stress of city life. When you want to spend some quality time away from work or daily responsibilities, you can take a trip to your cottage house to unwind. Whether you build it close to a peaceful lake or at the feet of a gigantic mountain, you are sure to benefit from the calming nature that comes with a cottage house.

Lower Cost

The smaller your home size, the lower your home build costs and energy cost. Since most cottage homes are less than 2000 square feet, you are sure to save money on energy, property taxes, and maintenance cost. Additionally, buying a stock cottage house floor plan is quite cheaper than having an architect create a custom blueprint for you.

How Much Does Cottage House Style Cost?

On average a cottage house plan can cost around $500 to $2,000. However, custom plans and blueprints may cost around 5-10 percent of the total home building cost. The average cost to build a cottage house style in the US is around $100,000 to over $200,000 depending on your home location and square footage.

One thing you should know before building one is that a cottage home requires more time and more expensive to build. If you are looking to build a cottage home, you should check out some of our cottage floor plans and designs here.

Main Materials Of The Cottage House Style

Cottage houses are typically made from natural materials. It is common to find materials like:

• Stone
• Rough-hewn wood
• Stucco

Constructing a Cottage Home Style

Like we mentioned in the earlier section, constructing a cottage home requires the input of a professional architect and builder. When looking to build a cottage 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 cottage 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 cottage house blueprint or a customizable floor plan, then we at Archimple is here to serve you. We have several cottage house design collections and floor plans. You can check out our cottage 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 cottage 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

Cottage-style homes are a great choice for those who want a cozy, homey feel. They come in various shapes and sizes, so you can find one that fits your needs. And, because they're usually built with natural materials, they can help you save on energy bills. So if you're looking for a charming home that's easy on the wallet, consider a cottage-style home.

Frequently Asked Question

What is the definition of a cottage style home?

A cottage style home is typically a smaller home that is cozy and inviting. They often feature charming gardens, stone fireplaces, and exposed beams.

Where did the cottage style originate?

The cottage style originated in England and became popular in the United States in the early 20th century.

What are some of the most important features of a cottage style home?

Some important features of a cottage style home include cozy fireplaces, exposed beams, charming gardens, and comfortable furnishings.

More To Read: 

• Everything You Need To Know About the Craftsman House Plan
• What Classifies A House Style: What Makes A Modern Home Style?
• Cost Of Building A House On Your Own Land
• An Introduction To Farmhouse Style House
• What Classifies A House Style: What Makes A Bungalow Style Home?