Cottage House Plans For the Simple Country Life

Cottage house plans are usually small and are only one, or perhaps one-and-a-half stories tall. Cottages originated in Medieval Europe as housing for farm workers families, and they were built of stone or inexpensive local materials such as thatch. Nowadays small cottage house plans are usually used by retirees whose families have moved away, or as summer vacation or weekend getaway homes by people who live in cities. These cottages are often built on lakes or near the ocean, or in forested areas where there is hiking, fishing, or hunting. Cottages have a cozy, comfortable feeling to them which goes along with life in the country.

Cottages are for people who are seeking simplicity and the tranquility of nature. Cottage living often includes gardening and being out of doors, so many cottage home plans include porches or patios. Other plans are specially designed to take advantage of natural topographical features of the house site such as hillside views, scenic vistas, even plans for narrow or wedge-shaped lots. The advantages of cottage living are economy - small dwellings are inexpensive to build, to heat, and to maintain. Usually cottage plans are for single family dwellings, but there are also multi-family plans which are ideally suited as rental or investment properties.

Since cottages are small and relatively inexpensive, and also since they are often second homes, building the cottage of your dreams can be easier and more fun than building a formal, first house. Do-it-yourselfers can have a great time crafting their own cottage; or, one can be in touch with a reputable local builder who can do the job for them.

Cottage Home Plans For Everyone

Cottages are not just little houses built for vacationing. Modern cottages are exciting homes that make superior use of their interior space. Snug nooks and inviting corners await you in cottages of all sizes.

Since the Middle Ages, people have lived in cottages. During the 15th century, cottages were built for farm workers and their families and often included a barn and acres of land. By the 18th century, miners and weavers resided in cottages. Modern cottages are usually one and one-half stories, although single story cottages are popular for waterfront getaways. Modern cottages include ranches, Cape Cods and Katrina cottages. A cottage can be as spacious or small as you want.

Vacation retreats are often cottages because of their efficient design. Waterfront and lake communities are checkered with cottages along the shore. In days gone by, fishermen lived in these cottages to be near the water. Today vacationers flock to cottages near rivers and seas to experience the relaxation of the water. Cottages tucked away in the woods are often referred to as cabins. There are a variety of small cottage house plans to create your ideal oasis away from it all.

Many people rent a vacation cottage and become enamored with its charming appeal. Living in a cottage gives you that cozy feeling all year round. Cottages can be perched on mountains, nestled near a stream or situated right in the middle of a busy suburb or city. Cottage have a small, effective design with inviting amenities that give you a warm feeling no matter where you live. Front porches, winding staircases and doghouse windows give cottages added appeal.

Spacious cottage house plans include fireplaces, study nooks, built-in dining tables and attached outdoor rooms. Space is used wisely to create a variety of living spaces in different areas, such as a fold-out bed in a guest room that doubles as your office or craft room. If you have a cottage built on large property, include a matching garage and gazebo. Add a pool house next to an in-ground pool for an instant vacation right in your backyard.

Decorating cottages is fun and creative. Cottage-style decorating and "shabby chic" are often used in these smaller houses. Distinctive English cottage touches include hanging china on the walls, using a variety of colors and textures in one room and mixing patterns. Include plenty of family photos, lacy doilies, fragrant candles, distressed wood furniture and vintage mirrors for an old-fashioned cottage feeling throughout the house.

Traditional English Holiday Cottage on the Beautiful Island of Tresco

Tresco Cottages

For a truly unique vacation, consider the opportunity to rent or timeshare a traditional English holiday cottage on the beautiful island of Tresco in the UK. This delightful small island is devoted entirely to tourism, and has many wonderful sights to explore while you are visiting. The island is run as a timeshare business, which sets it apart from other tourist locations. You can rent holiday cottages, or there is one hotel on the island.

This second largest island of the Isles of Scilly, in Cornwall, UK, is accessible by helicopter or by boat. You will be met at the heliport or quays and delivered to your destination by a quaint farm tractor and passenger trailer. Tresco is car-free, but golf carts are available for visitors who are disabled. Tresco island is leased to the Dorrien-Smith estate, and is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall.

Your rental or timeshare is fully equipped for tourist enjoyment of resort quality. Stay in a traditional English holiday cottage and enjoy local sights and beaches. There is interesting and beautiful scenery on every inch of this 2.972 km (735) acre island. The retreating ice age left its mark of deformation till deposits on the north side of the island, while the south and east coast has mainly shell beaches. There are rugged granite outcrops, and broad heathland to complete the variety of scenery on Tresco.

Tresco Abbey Garden

While tourists enjoy their stay in holiday cottages UK, they are close to very historic locations, including the sub-tropical Tresco Abbey Gardens in the south, and the villages of New Grimsby, and Old Grimsby. These delightful villages are near the center of the island, and do have a shop, post office, pub, art gallery and a hotel. These commercial enterprises are all operated and owned by the Tresco Estate.

Tresco has a dwindling permanent population that numbered only 180 in 2001. Since that year, this island has participated in fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis, with a marathon run of 7½ laps around Tresco. This event coincides with the running of the London Marathon. In addition to shopping and normal tourist activities, the island is filled with historical sights dating back several centuries. Due to its history and geography, Tresco has been featured in fiction. Some points of interest include King Charles's Castle, dating from the mid 1500's, Cromwell's Castle, from the mid 1600's and Oliver's Battery, built by Admiral Robert Blake