by Amber Rouleau
***Note photos below are not from this plan but from another home to give you an idea of what it could be like.
Real estate professionals often use terms like “cozy” and “charming” to oh-so-cleverly disguise the fact that a house is small. In the case of this 648 square foot cottage from Connor Homes (www.connorbuilding.com), the size and style of this home need no disguise – it’s authentically charming, due in large part to its historically-inspired roots.
This design, called the Samuel Whitlock Cottage, can best be described as a southern regional vernacular one-and-a-half story Georgian cottage. It is a one-bedroom, one bath cottage, and the key design features include a gable roof with dormers, an exterior end chimney, wide beaded weather boards, board and batten shutters, and flush rakes with applied soffit caps.
The existence of a built up brick wall which raises the height of the first floor is common in low lying areas such as tidal areas, in the south. This is called a “water table”. Additionally, the outside chimney on one gable end speaks to regional roots; in colder northern climates, center chimneys and fireplaces were preferable to provide the needed heat to the entire house. In temperate southern climates, heat was (and remains) less of an issue.
The likely period of construction for the inspiration for the Samuel Whitlock Cottage would have been mid-18th century. Interior finishes at that point would have either been what’s referred to as Primitive (lots of natural elements, colors and textures) or Traditional (classic and understated).
Today, of course, this new-old home is a beautiful addition to any property, and the interior finishes can be custom tailored to meet any home-owner’s needs. In fact, Connor Homes even offers complete, highly detailed, and historically accurate interiors to accompany their ‘new old homes’.
The interior plan of the cottage is much more contemporary than it would have been in the mid 18th century, as is illustrated by the floor plans. One of the great advantages of a “new old house’ is the ability to combine the charm of an authentic exterior with the advantages of a bright, open and comfortable interior. This cottage features a first floor “great room” with kitchen, dining and living spaces open to each other, much like the interior photos (which are of a similar design), and the upstairs ceiling is vaulted, increasing the feeling of spaciousness.
The Samuel Whitlock Cottage’s 648 square feet are open and spacious, creating a home that, while small in size, is big on function, style and yes, charm.
For more information on Connor Homes, please visit www.connorbuilding.com or call (802) 382-9082.