storybook cottages - need to buy plans?? help??

Started by water8, May 03, 2006, 04:50:48 PM

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water8

While I have found many cabin plans for small houses, what about plans for small english cotswald type cottages - you know, with sweeping rooflines, shilged in shakes...roses up the doorway, and dormers with gingerbread?  Everything I've found so far is very angular (roofline), and nothing that fits my desire for a storybook cottage.  Stone, timbers - yes, surfaces can change, but what about rooflines that are circular, sweeping, curvy and bumpy?  Anyone come across anything like this?  If I could find these plans, I would be all set to build.  I am seriously almost considering becoming an architect just so I can design in.  Even though I've seem...mmm...I think they're called staphen wilcott?  cottages in some small house books, theyu aren't very small...and they don't ever include floorplans.  Any ideas?

water8

What I want to do is build a small "treasure box" house - since I could never afford an english manor - I want to build a little english style cottage - something that looks like you stepped into a fairytale.  Even if you have a name or company...ay tips...even books to buy?  I've been planning this for years, but always come against a wall here.  Every architect I've talked to doesn't want to take the time to custom design a tiny (small money) house...yet I can't find any "stock" plans out there.  I'm looking for a no garage - no bigger than 20x24 (and preferably about 18x20) square foot cottage.


water8

Just in case anyone is reading this - other narrowing the field issues are - I need to modify to full basement (easy enogh) and I have five kids - so I need three levels (with daylight basement bedroom for kids).

StinkerBell


Deana

HI, sounds like you are planning to build something similar to my dream house.
I'm planning on using John's Victoria's cottage plans or the Expandable Cabin design kit and working from there.  I'm researching soilbag(calearth.org) infil for the 'wall thickness' rather than strawbale, lathe and plaster, or stone, so for me this route seems the most workable option. (And yes, John, my plans are for a 'western front'
option for a guest house)
If you want to  specific plans rather than work from a basic model,  I think this is the place you want to go  http://www.storybookhomes.biz/
They have two sets of plan books you can order depending on the sq. ft. size you are interested in.
My favorite site for inspiration is http://www.lanasthelittlehouse.com/index.htm
In the "press center" section are many articles published on the house, this one shows the floor plan. http://www.lanasthelittlehouse.com/hb_magazine.htm
I love the layout, it  reminds me of John's 'eco cottage starter house' (I think it was on the old forum long ago)...which I think  evolved to the Victoria's cottage....(am I right John? if not please correct me) Spend some time at this site, looking at all the guest photo's and articles and it will give you more information than most of the books I've read so far.
This link is informational, no specific house plans though, http://architecture.about.com/library/bl-cotswoldcottage.htm
Good Luck,
Deana


Sassy

#5
The Storybook homes are so darling!







Can't wait to look at the other sites!  Thanks Deanna, for the "eye candy"  :)

Just had to post one more picture - from Google (linked from the last reference you cited...)Cottswold cottage (kinda small, though)
http://glennkathystroglodytecabin.blogspot.com/

You will know the truth & the truth will set you free

Dberry

Sounds like you want a real David Winter cottage.  I think what separates those from the typical cottage is a very steep roof, and the flair at the edge.  Any plan will do that suits your fancy.  Just have your carpenter make the roof steep and there are some simple methods of furring out the lower sections to get the flair.  There are even companies making synthetic thatch for that authentic look.  Custom doors with the gothic type arch are available, and the cultured stone siding can make a very believable cottage at a cost that is much less expensive than real stone.

We where drawn to the english manor houses from my wife's vast collection of DW cottages and that led me to design my own house since nothing was available on the net that pleased us.

Good luck!  :)


water8

Wonderful!  I love the site at http://www.storybookhomes.biz/tinybook.htm and also much thanks for the roof info!  A steep pitch is easy enough - I wonder how hard it will be to find a builder who can "flair" the ends, though?  This is a great site - so glad I came across it.  The accompianing site with the 16yr old who build her own house was so inspiring.  Thanks for all the help!  If anyone knows of sites where I can find anything else cottagy - details - please post them.  Like gothic architectual details - and those artificial thached roofs - I'll have to look into that.  Again - thanks!  I think I may have to go buy my 19th pad of grid paper - ha ha - inspiration hits!  Also, thanks for the David Winter info - I'd never heard of him.

Daddymem

Not full size homes, but maybe you will see something inspiring... Uncle Eddie's World
Où sont passées toutes nos nuits de rêve?
Aide-moi à les retrouver.
" I'm an engineer Cap'n, not a miracle worker"

http://littlehouseonthesandpit.wordpress.com/


Amanda_931

#9
I gather that the flared ends are pretty easy--in fact in the "just do it" range.  Build up the ends of the rafters.  Might have to sheath with several layers of thinner plywood.  Asphalt shingles--or thatch--can go on with no trouble.  Not metal, unless you were using the metal shingles.  

And there's somebody whose plans are in a lot of those plans periodicals who designs houses somewhere between that and the camp-meeting places.  I'll see if I can find it later.  Speaking of camp-meeting places, the Tiny Houses books are really neat.

Remember, though, that being able to actually live in the place is at least as important (I'd say more so) than what it looks like.  

Amanda_931

The tiny Storybook plans are cute beyond belief.  But I can't imagine them fitting in with the house across the street, or in the middle of my field, etc.  

Which partly contradicts what I just said.  but I'll stand by both.  ::)


water8

AH - but at the top of a wooded hill with no neighbors in sight - partilly covered by old-growth tress - it's going to look great!  I am so excited.  Finalized my plan today.  It's basically a 32x14 rectangle, with two 10x10 "arms" that flank the front courtyard entrance.  Thanks for the flared roof info - I can see how that will work...esp since I am only going to flare the 10x10 additions.  I want to put an old-world style steep hip roof over the main part of the house - with two eyebrow windows.  Anyone have any advice on this kind of roof?  I'm attaching some of my inspiration pictures.  Hope they come through ok.  The main house - entry I am deisgning from in is Sue Susanka's book Home By Design - called "Not So Little Cottage" - of course - I'm making it a very little cottage.  But the entry is so ideal, I want to replicate it almost exactly.  I have two pics here of it.  It's a little courtyard that opens into a circlular room ( a circle inside a square, made of stucco by thickening the walls - not a circle in the footprint)...my guess is about 8x8, but I'm going to use a 6' circle.

water8

Here's the outside of the courtyard

water8

#13
ANd here's the inner circle - note the steps upto the study on the right - moving.


water8


water8

Looking through pics for a steep hipped roof, I found many cottages have a sortof modified hip - it's really a gable roof with the corners sheared off at the top.  Nayone build this?  Seems much easier to build than a full hip roof - esp as we will be using the upstairs under the roof.  Here's an example:

water8

Or this roof may show it better:

Ailsa C. Ek

It's pretty, but how much did you have set aside to build it?  Eyebrow windows cost the earth.

water8

I'll have quite a lot, I hope...but I'll only be able to do it if I keep it small.  We live in a 3000 sq ft home now - my husband likes big.  And I agreed on the condition that when our five kids left, I GET TO CHOOSE the house...and now they are all getting ready to head off on their own.  When we sell this house - I want to build a little cottage on some property I was given by my parents.  So - yes - expensive...but like I mentioned, a little treasure box.  Expensive details, but a little footprint.  I would make it smaller, but I want to have room for three guest rooms in the basement for when the kids come to visit/summer breaks.  I don't want them to feel "kicked out".  The plan I have decided on will be about 700 sq ft, per level (of course the upstairs won't be as big because of the rooflines).  We're also planning on doing a lot ourselves...and with friends.  

Deana

Found some more links, one of these days I'll actually get around to cleaning up and organizing my bookmarks

"Chaplin Court"
http://johnrobertmarlow.com/sb--profile--chaplin%20court.html

and main website:
(be sure and check out the 'links' section )
http://johnrobertmarlow.com/sa__storybook.html


http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/plans/7017.pdf
page 2 shows construction  details of a swayback roof.


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/06/05/HOG726V4TS1.DTL

slipform 'castle'
http://www.hollowtop.com/cls_html/stone_home.htm

Deana


water8

Wow - thanks Deana.  Those sites were all helpful, and I never came across them in everything I searched for.  It's such a pain to try to get info just surfing and searching!  I use Google - maybe that's the problem...I have to wade through so much refuse!  The last one is especially of interest.

Amanda_931

#21
Just got the new mini Garden catalog from Lee Valley.  It has a truly gorgeous shed on the cover.  With curved rafters that are curved rafters, i.e., no build-up to form the curve.  Looks like the sheathing is made of smallish (something by 3 inch?) boards.  That works if you don't need the anti-racking strength of the plywood.  and it's a small shed.

Unfortunately I don't see the picture on the web site.

I'd guess that the math on the "dutch gable"--just hipping the top--is just as bad (or as easy--they can all be done with a tape measure and/or a standard storeboughten square, IIRC) as that for the full hip roof.  

What you lose with it is an easy place to put a vent into an unused space.

water8

Ah - Dutch Gable, is that what's it's called?  It's all greek to me.  Thanks for the info.  Dutch gable sounds a lot better than "gable with the corners lopped off"!  I can't wait to get started!  Anyone want to buy a big vinal-sided house in Vermont?  Ha ha.  I'll order Lee Valley's catalog and hopefully get the same one.  Gardening is my second passion - to planning my dream house.

water8

What a unique website Amanda!  Thanks for posting it!  I see a lot of victorian cottagy details here I can use!  http://www.leevalley.com

Amanda_931

#24
Lee Valley has four different catalogs.  I have bought from them all.   ::)

I think I saw Dutch Gable in a couple of 1920's era reproduction plan books and that's what it was.  

But there do seem to be a bunch of things called Dutch Gable.  Some not at all what we are thinking of.  Wikipedia doesn't have a picture but says that it's a hybrid of hip and gambrel (classic barn) roof.

Seen a couple of things with a false end on the gable--e.g., this:

http://westerncape.lodgesafaris.com/images/klippe_rivier_lodge_280b.jpg

Here's an Australian carport with what purports to be a Dutch Gable roof--kind of the reverse of what I've been thinking.    Which is what most of what I'm finding looks like.  

http://www.homesite.com.au/outdoors/garages-and-carports/carports/dutch-gable-carport

Help!!!! :'(

Well, after I walked the dogs this site turned up.

http://www.theconstructionlibrary.com/index.php?option=com_glossary&catid=6&func=display&search=hipped+gable

It calls it a hipped gable.  Which makes a pretty good description.

I still think that book of houses from the twenties called it Dutch!!!!  >:(  But I could be wrong.  And I no longer have the book.