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Modern cottage styles feature casement windows that swing both inward and outward. Dormer windows, often found in homes with sloped roofs, are standard in this style, as are large bay windows in the main living space.

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Cottage Architecture Styles: 8 Charming (All-Southern) Features

All cottage architecture styles have some characteristics in common. They are usually small (less than 2000 sq ft.), loaded with charm, and very cozy. Their classic design features are front porches, gable roofs, bay windows, and doorways that welcome the visitor.

Cottage homes are great for home buyers looking for a second home or vacation destination. The style appeals to empty nesters, those who don't want to manage stairs, and rental investors.

What is a Cottage Style Home?

Cottages originated in England during the middle ages as small homes built for peasant farmers, also known as "cotters." And while we no longer use thatched roofs, cottage homes reflect various architectural styles.

Cottages are sometimes confused with bungalows, but bungalows are a specific architectural style originating in 19th century India. While a bungalow can be a cottage (small and cozy), a cottage cannot be a bungalow.

What are the Elements of Cottage Style Homes in the South?

In North Carolina, we have a wide range of cottage architecture styles - Georgian, Tudor, Victorian, or a combination. Southern cottage-style homes tend to focus on outdoor living. Porches - front, back, and wrap-around - feature comfy furniture that lends itself to relaxation.

Exteriors may mix natural materials, including stone and timber, to create a warm and welcoming space. Inside, weathered finishes and comfortable furnishings are the rule for creating an inviting atmosphere that welcomes visitors and serves the family living there.

Cottage Exterior Architectural Elements

1. Balanced, Asymmetrical Elevation

Cottage-style homes often feature asymmetrical elevations, which some people love, and others dislike, sometimes intensely! There are certainly cottage homes in the style of Low Country and Georgian which do feature symmetrical elevations, but most cottage-style homes embrace asymmetry in the placement of chimneys, gables, garages/carports, and porches.

It's important to note that asymmetry in design must still be in balance. Balance is achieved through design elements - a garage balanced by a strong entryway, for example, and via exterior colors and materials.

2. Tall, Gabled Roof

The gable roof is a timeless architectural style and a common feature in cottages. The front-facing gable comes from the Tudor style, while side-facing gables are borrowed from the Cape Cod style. The steeply pitched roof often balances an oversized front door.

Cottage styles are common in the south as second homes, often near the coast or in the mountains. And so, in southern-style cottages, the roofs sometimes include an observation room to enjoy the views.

3. Natural Exterior Elements

Cottage-style homes are designed to be reminiscent of the natural world. Therefore, their exteriors often feature wood, brick, and stone elements and cedar shingles are also common.

Natural paint colors - brown or beige, for example - help a cottage to blend with its surroundings. In North Carolina, a washed-out gray enhances a beach or lake setting, while a darker gray blends in with the forest around a mountain cottage.

4. Charming Finishes & Landscaping

Lap siding is a common feature in cottage finishes, and the siding color often complements the trim colors around the windows and front door.

Cottage landscaping is informal; it may appear as if everything grows wild! Cobblestone pathways wind around bloomers of varying heights. Color schemes are pastels of pinks, blues, yellows, or a combination of bold - reds, purples, silvers. Multiple petal plants like roses and peonies are cottage favorites - and they smell great!

Cottage Interior Architectural Elements

5. Informal Single Story

Most cottages feature an open floor plan in a single story. Some cottages have a half-story or attic space; in those cases, the sloped ceilings add a cozy feel to the interior.

The living room centers a cottage-style home, often using a fireplace as a central focal point. The dining area is usually incorporated into the main living space, not a separate room. Most cottages have one to three bedrooms.

6. Open, Casual-Living Floor Plan

The open floor plan allows cottages to maximize their smaller square footage without feeling closed in or small. A comfortable flow from one living area to another is key. Small cozy nooks can be created within the larger space to serve as a reading area or home office.

Wooden floors are typical in cottage living, and rugs define areas within the central space.

7. Large Cozy Fireplace

Nothing says "cozy" like a large stone fireplace and mantel. For most cottages, this feature is important, often flanked by built-in bookcases.

The large fireplace has a rich history in cottage design, as it originally offered its dwellers both a rudimentary kitchen and a heat source. Bold and oversized chimney stacks accompany the fireplace, adding drama to the front of the house.

8. Large Windows for Natural Light

Windows in groups of three or four are prevalent in cottage-style homes. It's the simple double- hung window that is traditional in cottage homes, with the upper pane sometimes decorated with a grid pattern or screen. Modern cottage styles feature casement windows that swing both inward and outward.

Dormer windows, often found in homes with sloped roofs, are standard in this style, as are large bay windows in the main living space.

Find Your Cottage Style Home!

The classic features in all cottage architecture styles - the arched roofs, natural exterior materials, charming and cozy interior spaces, and welcoming porches - appeal to a diverse group of home buyers.

Are you one of them? If you're ready to start your search, check our listings below or contact us to find more information on cottages in the greater Triangle area.

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Cottage Architecture Styles: 8 Charming (All-Southern) Features

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The combination of southern cottage architectural styles contribute to the cozy charm of these smaller homes for empty-nesters to BnB investors.

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Asymmetrical design.

Gabled roofs.

Cedar shingles.

Arches over windows, doors, entries. Small, attached front porch.

Chimneys, usually brick or stone.

Stone accents.

Bay windows and dormer windows.

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Common Characteristics of Cottage Architecture

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Common Characteristics of Cottage Architecture

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Typically, cottages feature steeply pitched roofing that complements the asymmetrical balance that focuses primarily on an oversized front door. The home's facade often boasts tall, double-hung windows with small upper sashes on the bottom story, with uniquely shaped ones gracing the top-level dormer.

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A modern cottage home is all about using specific colors, materials, and finishes to create a home that reflects countryside living. Instead of being in an actual cottage, the goal is to feel as if you’re in one!

Though the modern cottage style is rooted in country living, it’s not the same as the farmhouse aesthetic

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Today's cottage designs typically feature an open floor plan with wide hallways and doors. It is only natural for the living room or hearth room with a large stone fireplace and mantle to be the centerpiece of a cottage home. While informal, they tend to have an air of modernity that makes them efficient yet comfortable.

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cot·tage

/ˈkädij/

noun

a small simple house, typically one near a lake or beach.