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I made the mistake of joining the Cottage Living FB group and now I am fascinated with the idea of finding or building a cottage for our next house. Maybe something like this:
https://www.architecturaldesigns.com/house-plans/2-bedroom-modern-farmhouse-dream-home-plan-with-bonus-over-garage-51865hz
That is adorable! If I went for the full-boat on my dreams for this cottage, I'd do that dormer for sure! Just know that a one-floor 700 sq ft is great for 2 people. If you plan on entertaining and/or having overnight guests (i.e. grandkids), the dormer/2nd storey home would be much better.
Enjoy dreaming. It is part of the fun.
Keep it simple and easy for you to clean/maintain for the next 30 years. It seemed to have a large footprint requiring a fairly large lot. How easy are such lots to find once you decide the final destination
iris lilies
1-2-22, 10:24pm
It is cute, but I no likeee “open floor plan” and want a wall between the kitchen and the living room.
There must be two bedrooms upstairs. I didn’t see a floor plan. The photo image shows a couple of steps off of the kitchen so that must be where the staircase is.
Not crazy about totally open concept either. I think it's the board and batten exterior and dormer that got me. The website has bazillions of options so I have only just started looking.
Teacher Terry
1-2-22, 11:06pm
It’s cute. I am not a fan of seeing dirty dishes from the living room. The previous owner of my condo took out one of the entry closets and put in a island. Then I removed all the upper cupboards. But there’s a small wall that blocks the view of the kitchen sink and much of the countertop next to it. That I really like. I was in a condo with the original design and it really felt closed in. I am sure there’s probably lots of floor plans and you can probably change things. The biggest problem is trying to find land to build on.
I like cottages--especially those that look like beach houses. The size is perfect.
I guess I always thought of cottages as being smaller. Then again, look at the summer "cottages" in Newport.
iris lilies
1-2-22, 11:50pm
I guess I always thought of cottages as being smaller. Then again, look at the summer "cottages" in Newport.
Well, I refer to my Hermann house as a “cottage” and it’s around 1400 ft.². It also is a 1 1/2 story like that. I think “cottage” works here If the finish materials are simple.
Such a nice site for browsing!! I can see where I will be spending some idle hours!
That house would be cuter if it didn’t have that ginormous garage stuck to its side.
That one thing would make the house acceptable to husband. His vehicles and tools must be stored in a locked garage and it has to be a two car one. I like the house and the options. I would love the over the garage room for my long arm quilting machine.
iris lilies
1-3-22, 10:54am
That house would be cuter if it didn’t have that ginormous garage stuck to its side.
yes and in that this again is reminiscent of our (formerly) cute Hermann house, now a cottage with a huge carbuncle attached.
iris lilies
1-3-22, 10:55am
That one thing would make the house acceptable to husband. His vehicles and tools must be stored in a locked garage and it has to be a two car one. I like the house and the options. I would love the over the garage room for my long arm quilting machine.
That’s what I see that over the garage room as being, an art studio. It wouldn’t be practical for a woodworking shop because you have to go up and downstairs and carry too much big stuff. If outfitted with a bathroom and tiny kitchen. it could be a vacation place for in-laws, a place your in-laws come to spend the winter or some such thing. Kitchens can be quite simplified these days.
That one thing would make the house acceptable to husband. His vehicles and tools must be stored in a locked garage and it has to be a two car one. I like the house and the options. I would love the over the garage room for my long arm quilting machine.
I agree that a garage is useful and desirable. But this house would look a whole lot cuter if the garage was a separate building. Personally I'd love if the garage was a separate building that complimented the house instead of an appendage that throws off the look of the house. And if I could use the room over the garage as my WFH office. Currently my office is a separate bedroom in our house. It would be easier to have work/life separation if the office was in a different building 30 feet away or whatever.
iris lilies
1-3-22, 11:26pm
I agree that a garage is useful and desirable. But this house would look a whole lot cuter if the garage was a separate building. Personally I'd love if the garage was a separate building that complimented the house instead of an appendage that throws off the look of the house. And if I could use the room over the garage as my WFH office. Currently my office is a separate bedroom in our house. It would be easier to have work/life separation if the office was in a different building 30 feet away or whatever.
Attached garages are considered very wonderful in snow country.
I dream of an attached barn for that reason.
Right about now, I'd settle for an attached mailbox. >:(
Attached garages are considered very wonderful in snow country.
I can certainly understand that. If we ever move to somewhere that it snows I’d be torn between the convenience of an attached garage and the desire for a better looking home.
I can certainly understand that. If we ever move to somewhere that it snows I’d be torn between the convenience of an attached garage and the desire for a better looking home.
An attached garage is wonderful!!!!!! Protects from snow, rain, wind, and hot days. One can take one's time to unload purchases with ease. The dog will continue to snooze in back seat while I store what I have brought inside. Tools are handy and accessible without going outside and a greater sense of security when I can simply lock the door.
iris lilies
1-4-22, 10:49pm
I can certainly understand that. If we ever move to somewhere that it snows I’d be torn between the convenience of an attached garage and the desire for a better looking home.
In Hermann we even had room to have a detached garage. But early on I just threw in the towel about aesthetics.
Our first house in New York had a garage that you entered from the side of the house which didn't really upset the aesthetics of the front, but to be honest, it was a bilevel raised ranch which is hard to make attractive anyway. I hate raised ranches. They might be very functional in terms of providing a lot of living space, but I hated the entryway which forces you to use stairs to get to the main living area. Seems like bad Feng shui
I love my garage, especially in winter. It's fairly common around here for people to store their tools and junk in the garage and leave their fancy cars and trucks at the curb or in the driveway. One neighbor I've chuckled at has three big screen TVs against the back of the garage, a frig, a giant tool box, and a couple of lounge chairs.
iris lilies
1-5-22, 10:06am
Our first house in New York had a garage that you entered from the side of the house which didn't really upset the aesthetics of the front, but to be honest, it was a bilevel raised ranch which is hard to make attractive anyway. I hate raised ranches. They might be very functional in terms of providing a lot of living space, but I hated the entryway which forces you to use stairs to get to the main living area. Seems like bad Feng shui
I have come to learn that East Coast “raised ranch” is what we call in the Midwest “split foyers.” I think. It is where you walk into the front door and have to go either up or down.It’s a 70’s thing.
That differs from a split level.
Split foyers are my least favorite house.
I don’t mind split levels with their half staircases throughout. but neither are traditional structures.
I have come to learn that East Coast “raised ranch” is what we call in the Midwest “split foyers.” I think. It is where you walk into the front door and have to go either up or down.It’s a 70’s thing.
That differs from a split level.
Split foyers are my least favorite house.
I don’t mind split levels with their half staircases throughout. but neither are traditional structures.
Yes, the "raised ranch" and "split foyers" seem to be the same thing.
In our NJ neighborhood, which was built as a development in the 70s, has many of these homes. My own house was/is split level--the living room is raised up about 4 steps. Very typical 70s middle-class design.
With the influx of Asians into our neighborhood, the larger raised ranches are snapped up for $500k+. The reason is, the ability to convert the lower level of the raised ranch into an in-law suite is ideal for multi-generational families. We rented out the lower level of our raised ranch in NY for a while--it had a full bath and a kitchenette.
Tri-levels, raised ranches and basements are abundant here and were novel to us. There are pluses and minuses. With ours, the split is in the middle of the house so the entry has no stairs which I am glad of. I curse the six stairs up or down daily though because I end up leaving shoes or glasses on one or another and go back and forth, up and down. I figure the exercise is good though. Nevertheless, I am looking for a better-designed, one-level house next time. So many ugly, poorly designed houses out there though.
iris lilies
6-27-23, 3:18pm
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/216-W-3rd-St_Hermann_MO_65041_M78435-38091
this cute little old house is currently for sale in Hermann. It’s probably sold already. It’s
On a nice street.
iris lilies
6-27-23, 3:21pm
I Was very much charmed by this cute old house in Hermann and it sold immediately. It has a lot of original Victorian charm. Plus, it has an additional dwelling unit in the back that could be rented it out to tourists.
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/309-W-6th-St_Hermann_MO_65041_M84079-36752
This little old house sold very fast here in Hermann, and I couldn’t figure out why it was so expensive. But then I saw it is from 1840 which is very old for these parts. Also, it sits on a hill and has a fabulous view of the Missouri river. Under that awful siding, could it be stone? It sits in an area where there are many stone houses. Would some clueless person have covered up the stone exterior with the siding?
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/111-Gellert-St_Hermann_MO_65041_M77902-10527
Boy, Hermann reminds me a lot of Galena!
iris lilies
6-27-23, 4:14pm
Boy, Hermann reminds me a lot of Galena!I made an aborted trip to Galena in the summer of COVID. It is a funny tale. I thought I would give myself a little vacation-and drive my convertible up the Great River Road to Galena. Stay over night. Have a little change of scene.
shouldn’t be hard to get there following the Mississippi’s Great River Road, agreed? It was a beautiful cool June day. But … Somehow the road goes out in parts not far from st. Louis. I got lost. I had a map, but it did not help. I tried Google Maps on my phone, but being out in the boondocks, had no reception. Rats.
I drove on for a bit until I recognized an intersection and then thought I had better turn around and go home while I still could find my way home.
DH found it all amusing. I did have a magical 10 minutes driving around tiny Elsah, IL where there were 3 little boys playing in the creek and I could hear them discussing my car. That was like a throwback to a different time, Opie Griffith in Mayberry.
I loved Galena--we used to go there when we lived in Illinois, and husband purchased a place in Wisconsin near there. Alas, he sold it and we went to upstate New York, unfortunately.
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