A cottage home provides all the comfort of a house, but in a smaller structure. It usually hints at vintage or antiquated house. In the current architectural scenario, a cottage home is usually constructed in a rural or semi rural topography and depicts a humble and comfortable accommodation.

The word ‘Cottage’ finds its origin in the English Architecture. In its basic form, it denoted a house with ground floor having a living area and one or two bedrooms contained in an upper floor. This upper level was well fitted under the projecting eaves. In British English the term in modern concept represents a small residence built in English traditional style, all the while extending to similar-scale modern cosy dwellings designed to resemble cottages.

Depending on the people occupying a cottage, it can be constructed as a separate entity or may be built as an additional terrace component. Since historically this additional component was used to house mining workers or peasants, for latter they were once known as cotters. The cottage exists in many countries and cultures, albeit with different names. In American English, a cottage refers to a ‘holiday home’, or a ‘cabin’, a ‘chalet’ or even a ‘camp’.

Key elements

• A cottage home generally is confined to one or two stories.
• The structure is asymmetrical in appearance.
• The roof is medium to steep pitched, displaying cross gables or at times, clipped gables.
• A thatched-roof appearance is occasionally created using a rolled composition at the edges.
• Larger Chimneys, often constructed using clink bricks, feature decorative bricks, stone works and chimney pots.
• Band arrangement of tall, narrow windows with occasionally leaded or diamond paned casements, is one defining characteristic of Cottage home.
• The patio is generally enclosed within a gabled, cat slide roof.
• Doors may display a semi circular edge or arched and provided with decorative hardware.
• Stucco, shingle and lapped sidings are quite commonly observed.
• Ornamental half-timbering is also associated with cottage construction.
• The asymmetrical layout almost always ensures irregularly shaped, yet cosy rooms.