Cottage House, European Style, Welcomes You Home

Cottage House, European Style, Welcomes You Home

 

Springtime, and your mind begins to wander. What kind of house plan should I choose?  European? Small? Large? What style? Begin here with this-a Cottage house plan, one that can be large or small, European or Craftsman, among other styles, and is usually built with warm materials such as cedar shakes and stone. This Cottage home plan by Frank Snodgrass of Living Concepts House Plans, HPP-8637, is that- a just right cottage that invites you inside with spacious room (2443 square feet) to live, work and play.

The two-car garage entrance is on the right side of the house. Entry to the house from the garage leads you immediately on the right to the laundry room, with space for your LG washer and dryer set. Cabinets over the washer and dryer provide room to store extra paper goods (you will want to be sure to have plenty of toilet paper and paper towels just in case) or to keep laundry essentials away from little hands and mouths. There is also a laundry tub for rinsing those muddy garden boots. A window over the countertop allows light to seep in as you use the counter space to fold clothes before putting them away. A closet is located between the laundry room and the powder room. This closet provides you with a place to hang jackets (like that London Fog you bought for those showery months) or to store household essentials as needed. The nearby powder room is in a convenient location, between the laundry and kitchen.

 

 

As you leave the powder room, directly ahead of you is the formal dining room, a space where you can showcase that Toscana Extending Dining Room table you purchased from Pottery Barn and the art prints you bought at your favorite local art show.  Arched windows grace the front of the home and keep the dining room open and inviting.

 

Entering the foyer from the dining room, and making a turn to the right leads you to the stairs. Going forward, however, you walk into the spacious family room, complete with a fireplace on the left, where you can pull up that leather swivel chair you purchased from Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams, a favorite of Martha Stewart. Bookcases embrace both sides of the fireplace; finally, you have a place for those classics (Shakespeare, Hemingway, or Steinbeck anyone?) you could not bear to part with or the collection of old glass bottles you have had in boxes for years. You could also place your favorite weather station on a shelf (La Crosse has one with a vivid display) before venturing outdoors. Light from the windows facing the back as well as from the French doors illuminates the family room. Stepping outside onto the patio, where your Big Green Egg is waiting for the next family cookout, stairs on either the right side or left will lead you to your backyard.

 

 

Stepping back inside, and on your left, is the kitchen; the open family room leads right to the kitchen island with a double sink (Kohler has some beautiful ones) and room for that whisper-quiet dishwasher. Pull up a stool to the island and dine from the charcuterie board you have meticulously laid out, along with your favorite glass of Pinot Grigio and your evening is complete. A second island is directly in front of the stovetop; Architectural Digest can help you determine the materials that will best suit your design for both islands. The breakfast nook is the perfect place to feel like you are outdoors while eating inside with the windows looking out onto your back yard. The spaces for your refrigerator and wall oven are at either end of the counters, while ample counter space between these leaves you plenty of room to store your kitchen wares below. A pantry gives you room to stock up on King Arthur supplies and your favorite cooking essentials.

 

Going back into the family room, entrance to the master suite is gained through a small hall that gives you both privacy and a place for storage (the small closet is perfect for extra cleaning products and bathroom supplies). The master suite features a tray ceiling (also known as an inverted or recessed ceiling), which adds a variation in height. You can also gain entrance to your patio here. There are two walk-in closets in this suite, with room for those work-out clothes and shoes from Nike or your favorite dress-up clothes. The master bath has ample counter space for your Birchbox cosmetics or grooming supplies; you will also find a corner shower, his and her sinks, as well as a room for a large garden tub from Wayfair (no tip toe through the tulips here, just room for a long soak).

 

 

Taking the stairs up from the foyer, you will enter the loft. To the left is the second bedroom suite which has access to a generous closet; the bathroom has a sink, bathtub and another closet. The third bedroom suite overlooks the front of the home and includes a walk-in closet as well as access to additional storage, room for seasonal decorations and clothing. The bathroom is across the hall and includes two sinks and bathtub. A niche along the wall is the ideal place to display one-of-a-kind artifacts such as the one you found in recent travels abroad.

 

Two steps down and you enter the bonus room. The vaulted ceiling adds warmth to the room; a bar with room for seating and a sink greet you as you enter.  Possibilities with the bonus room are numerous; a Brunswick pool table or indoor tennis table will make this room the perfect place for a rainy day escape or to unwind after a long day working at home or away.

 

Spring is an ideal time to think about your next house- and this Cottage plan entreats you to peek inside.