SOUTHERN COTTAGES HOUSE PLANS

Large House for Substantial Sized Property

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 18:22:00 +0000

Front of Gables Cottage.

If you have substantial property next to a river or a sound the Gables Cottage is for you. It is a large house that needs land commensurate for its size. The house has formal spaces in the front and gets more informal the further you get into the house and out to the rear porches. The porches are perfect for relaxing in the evening as your kids play and you watch the sunset across the river. The house includes many amenities including six bedrooms, a large kitchen, family room and dining spaces for family and guests to enjoy. All of the Southern Cottages House Plans are designed by an architect to give you style with a comprehensive design at a price you can afford.

Rear of Gables Cottage.

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.
View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

What is Southern Cottages?

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 21:44:00 +0000

Happy New Year!

You might wonder what Southern Cottages is and what this blog is about.

Mike McLeod, an architect in North Carolina, owns an architecture firm called Michael R. McLeod Architect, PA. He has a small side company called Southern Cottages House Plans. It is there that he sells a few of the house plans he has designed over the years at a fraction of the cost of designing a custom home. So, potential customers can get house plans that were designed by an architect but at an affordable price.

This is from the Southern Cottages website:

Southern Cottages is a house plan service offering architect designed houses, cottages, and beach houses for a gracious informal lifestyle. The plans are a collection of exciting home designs which blend traditional southern coastal home styling with more contemporary architectural forms and open plan floor layouts.

What you’ll find on this blog are pictures of the SouthernCottages houses, FAQ, customer letters, info on building materials, and other information about architecture, the beach, and houses.

I hope this post has shed some light on this blog.

Here’s to a brilliant new year!

Four Calling Birds

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 14:42:00 +0000

Christmas is almost here! There are Christmas songs being sung, gifts being bought, and our families to think about. At this time of year, when I think of the word "calling" I think of the words from the song The Twelve Days of Christmas: Four calling birds.

What is a calling bird? A quick internet search tells me there are a lot of other people who have this same question. However, instead of focusing on what bird was originally in the song and when the lyrics were changed, I'd rather think about birds calling to each other.

There are days when, after I've gotten my daughter on the bus and I'm walking back home, in the stillness of the morning I listen to the birds tweeting and chirping. It's when I hear certain chirps from two different birds right after each other that I recognize a conversation is taking place. It's a beautiful thing to hear.

So, as we gather to celebrate Christmas this year, my challenge to those reading this post is to follow the example of the calling birds and take time to listen to each other. Listen to what is being said and then engage in a conversation together.

Plantation Cottage Interior

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 19:00:00 +0000

Sometimes we get requests from people who want to know what our cottages look like on the inside. We received these pictures of the Plantation Cottage exterior and interior a couple years ago.

The Plantation Cottage has a large, covered, wrap around porch with detailed railing. This house has extensive windows throughout to let the outdoors in, a basement garage and four bedrooms.

This picture exposes the "drive-in" garage area in the basement of the Plantation Cottage. You can see how the front porch wraps around the house to provide shelter from the elements and relief from the summer sun. The detailed porch railings give this home southern charm.

The Foyer of the Plantation Cottage is open to the second floor and has an L-shaped stair. It provides a large welcoming space to greet your guests.

The open living room and dining room of the Plantation Cottage provide plenty of space for your family to spread out for their various activities. A built in wall cabinet provides additional storage.

The open floor plan of the Plantation Cottage gives you views to the front and back of the home and provides a great space for a family to live and grow.

The Plantation Cottage kitchen is open to the living room and dining room.

The open kitchen of the Plantation Cottage has a large island and lots of cabinet space. The island provides a great place for a snack or a space to lay out your buffet.

The stairs in the foyer are open to the living room of the Plantation Cottage and connect you to what's going on upstairs and down. The living room's built-in wall cabinet provides storage for this large spacious room.

The upstairs den of the Plantation Cottage provides a family space at the top of the stairs. It is a perfect place for your family to relax and spend time together.

The back of the Plantation Cottage includes a spacious covered porch off of the dining room. It is perfect for entertaining.

If this looks like your ideal home, this house plan can be purchased on our website at www.southerncottages.com. Once there, you can also look at the floor plans, see some of the room sizes, and find out the cost of the plans.

A Copper Dream

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 20:34:00 +0000

Patina is one of the words I learned in architecture school. It’s a compact and fancy word to describe something we’re all familiar with: the oxidation of a material that results in a change of its color. The most common material that patinas that's used as an architectural element is copper.

Copper is one of those amazing materials I’ve dreamt of using on a building, but have not yet had the opportunity to use. When it first goes on it’s a pretty metallic peachy color, which looks good on its own. Then, over time, it slowly changes to the beautiful blue-green. The variegated color that results gives so much character to a building.

Here are some structures that have a beautiful patina:

A modern-day example: The Medac Building (above) is one of my favorite buildings in Wilmington, NC. The variation in color of the copper panels creates movement along the facade. It's a nice surprise in the sea of mundane buildings.

-S.L.

Thanksgiving Traditions

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 18:52:00 +0000

picture from sweetieskidz.com

Thanksgiving usually means spending time with family and participating in family traditions. These are some of the Thanksgiving traditions that our office members have enjoyed over the years.

Tom used to go small game hunting with his family when he was younger. Some of the animals they'd hunt were squirrels, rabbits, and doves. Watching the Thanksgiving parade on tv was another thing he'd look forward to every year. These days, Tom's family gets a Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving, and his extended family is so large that they usually get together to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas at the same time.

Steven also used to participate in small game hunting and watching the parade on tv. When he was little, his family would get together at his grandma's house every year where he would goof off with his cousins. After he started his own family, he took his own kids to his grandma's house where they spent time with his extended family. These days, Steven cooks the turkey every year with his perfected recipe (cook the turkey in an oven bag to keep it moist and juicy).

Stacey had a large family growing up and did not live near extended family, so they had to come up with their own traditions. All the kids were given Thanksgiving names for the day. The girls were named Patience, Prudence, Charity, Faith, and Hope. Her brother was usually known as John, except the year he proclaimed that he wanted to be known as Squanto! (This may or may not have been due to one of the hats he'd made at school and brought home.) Everyone was given part of the meal to prepare, also, including the one year they had "fuit" salad made by her then 2 year old sister. These days, Stacey's family has been known to play soccer in the park on Thanksgiving morning, and at dinner everyone takes turns telling their favorite part of the meal,

This Thanksgiving take some time to reflect on your family traditions and the memories they bring.

Happy Thanksgiving!

House Trend: More Playful Homes

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 21:30:00 +0000

The playful Hip Cottage with Basement.

According to a RealtorMag.com article by Barbara Ballinger, more playful homes are what people want. Why? "Americans work harder now than ever, with many delaying retirement or starting second careers, so they want their homes to be a refuge and a place to unwind."

Adding that playful aspect to a house is something we know how to do.

Basement bonus room with kitchenette.

We design small homes for those looking to downsize, yet retain that playful space to relax. After deciding on a footprint for the necessary rooms, like the living room, kitchen, bedrooms, and baths, we look for ways to increase the enjoyment of your home life. Adding a basement bonus room to a small house provides a place to unwind after the pressures of the day. A theater room, billiards table, ping pong table or just a cushy couch and tv provide a place to loosen up and relax. By adding a kitchenette to the room you've increased the opportunities.
Example: The Hip Cottage with Basement Foundation.

Porches Cottage with Roof Deck

We design homes that take advantage of the space under your house as well as above it. If you're able to, building a basement under your house provides a place for a recreation or bonus room, as mentioned above. Another way to add playfulness to your home is to build a roof deck above it. A roof deck provides a place to watch the sunset or entertain guests at a dinner party with a spectacular view. It's a spot to grill, a location to soak up the sun, or a place just sit and unwind.
Example: The Lookout Cottage with Basement Foundation and the Porches Cottage with Roof Deck.

Backyard putting green by Carolina Custom Putting Greens.

Some of the ways you can get a more playful home is dependent on the lot you buy. Look for one where you can have fun things like a backyard pool, your own putting green, a fire pit, install that pizza oven you've always wanted, or landscape the beautiful gardens you've seen in magazines.

If you're interested in designing or remodeling your home to add more playfulness to it, let us help you create a design at www.mcleodarchitect.com. Or view our architect designed house plans, including the cottages mentioned above, at www.southerncottages.com.

Designing Your Bathroom: Layout

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 19:16:00 +0000

A Gorgeous Bathroom

Bathrooms have come a long way over the last 100+ years. The very informative article A Brief History of the Bathroom chronicles the long story of how people have been taking care of their bodies since ancient times. This brings us to today, where we not only have indoor plumbing (thankfully), but bathrooms have become large and glamorous.

The three main components of a bathroom are a sink, a bath tub/shower, and a toilet. Then, if you have the space, additional fixtures can be added for the opulence that additional fixtures are: separate tubs and showers, double sinks, and sometimes even bidets.

If you're remodeling, the most cost effective thing to do is to keep the same fixture layout. Replacing all the fixtures (and finishes) will give you a new bathroom.

If you're designing from scratch, then the options are wide open. The shape of the room will have a big impact on what fixtures will fit and where. The trick is to find the layout that fits the space the best.

If you're having trouble figuring out a layout for your dream bathroom, Kohler has 101 Bathroom Floor Plan Options to help you get some ideas. All of them are customizable because there are a million different ways to lay out a bathroom. Here are a couple samples of Kohler's bathroom layouts.

Bathroom Plan 1 - Standard Layout

Bathroom Plan 1 is the most standard bathroom plan there is. It's a compact 40 sf and has everything you need to take care of your body.

Bathroom Plan 39 - Jack & Jill Layout

Bathroom Plan 39 is what's called a Jack & Jill bathroom. It is two bathrooms in one, where two separate sink rooms share a tub and a toilet.

Bathroom Plan 44 - L Shaped with a Corner Tub

Sometimes an L-shaped bathroom fits best in a house plan. With 200 sf, Bathroom Plan 44 is a good example of how to fit additional fixtures into a non-standard shape. Two sinks, a corner tub, separate shower, and a toilet compartment round out the fixtures in this bathroom.

Bathroom Plan 59 - Large Shower

Bathroom Plan 59 includes a large, luxurious shower to provide a place for the multiple shower head experience. The rest of the bathroom fixtures are pretty great, also, and include a corner tub, large vanity and toilet.

Bathroom Plan 74 - The Freestanding Feature Tub

At 318 sf, Bathroom Plan 74 is a large and glamorous retreat. The freestanding tub in the middle of the room is the focal point of this spectacular bathroom. There's also plenty of space for separate vanities, toilet compartment, and multiple storage cabinets.

Here are a few examples of our Cottages which successfully use four of these layouts:

Plan 1 Standard Layout: Most of our Cottages use this layout.

Plan 39 Jack & Jill: Lookout Cottage.

Plan 44 L-Shape: Grand Gazebo Cottage.

Plan 59 Large Shower: Porches Cottage 2,395 sf.

Once you have a layout selected you can move toward personalizing your bathroom with materials and finishing touches.

Customer Question: I Need More Information About Your Plans

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 13:30:00 +0000

We recently received a letter asking for more information about our Southern Cottages House Plans.

Island Cottage with Piling Foundation

All of our Southern Cottages House Plans have been designed by a licensed architect. They are detailed, professional, architectural drawings. Our construction plan packages are complete and ready to ship. The house plans we sell include foundation plans, floor plans, building sections, wall details, interior elevations, structural design, and mechanical and electrical layouts. That's everything your contractor needs to build your house the right way. They will save you many thousands of dollars over custom designed plans and save innumerable hours of time, money, and mistakes by your contractor if he were left on his own.

With our plans, you will be able to get accurate contractor bid prices since all construction items are specified and detailed. We rarely have questions from a client's contractor and we welcome any questions that might arise. Plus, we have been complimented on our construction plan quality. We are confident you will be very happy if you decided to purchase one of our plans and with the outcome of your new home.

For additional information, please read “About the Plans” and “Terms of Sale” on our website. If you have additional questions feel free to call our office.

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com. View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

Customer Questions: Fortified Home Standards

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 14:00:00 +0000

We recently received a letter asking if our Southern Cottages House Plans are designed to "Fortified" standards. In order to answer this question we first need to understand what "Fortified" standards are.

Fortified Home is a program of the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. According to the Fortified Home website, the Fortified program is explained in this way:

FORTIFIED Home™ is a set of engineering and building standards designed to help strengthen new and existing homes through system-specific building upgrades to minimum building code requirements that will reduce damage from specific natural hazards.

FORTIFIED Home™ is a third-party certification program specifying design and construction standards to increase a home’s resilience and deliver superior performance during tropical storms and hurricanes. The FORTIFIED Home™ program has three levels of designation – Bronze, Silver and Gold – that build upon each other.

In other words, Fortified Home is a certification program designed to strengthen your home in preparation for certain natural disasters (hurricanes, tropical storms, hailstorms, high winds and wind-driven rain associated with thunderstorms), which thereby helps you to get discounts on your home insurance. This is done by a certified evaluator coming to your home or a home that's being built to review the construction, making recommendations and then you or your contractor implementing them. Your house then gets a designation which you give to your insurance provider.

I have not been involved in this program, nor am I aware if any of our customers have gone through this certification process.

What I can tell you from a quick look is that the Fortified Home standards appear to include things that are in building codes and are therefore included in our plans. For example, the “continuous load path” – tying your roof to the walls, which are tied to the floor, which is tied to the foundation – is included in our house plans because it is a building code requirement.

I took a more in-depth look at one Fortified Home requirement that I think will help give a better explanation of what the Fortified Home standards appear to do. The “sealed roof deck” Fortified Home standard specifies how the roof underlayment is installed to seal the roof deck against moisture. Part of this standard explains how to layer and overlap the underlayment, which appears to match what is in the building code. However, this next part is what makes a difference between meeting the minimum requirements of the building code and meeting the minimum requirements of the Fortified Home standard. This explanation involves a lot of ASTM numbers, but bear with me. (ASTM is the American Society for Testing and Materials, which sets international technical standards for a wide range of materials and products). I will color code the different ASTM numbers to help make the comparisons easier to see. Pay attention to the “Type” numbers.

The 2012 North Carolina Residential Building Code* says, “Unless otherwise noted, required underlayment shall conform to ASTM D226 Type I, ASTM D4869 Type I, or ASTM D6757.”

The Fortified Home standard says “… ASTM D226 Type II or ASTM D4869 Type III or Type IV underlayment shall be installed… ASTM D4869 Type I or Type II will NOT be accepted.”

Upon first glance this appears to be in conflict with the Residential Building Code. So here is the explanation: ASTM D226 Type I and ASTM D4869 Type I are for #15 felt, which is the minimum standard needed to comply with the building code. ASTM D226 Type II and ASTM D4869 Type III or Type IV are for #30 felt, which is thicker than #15 and will give more protection.

After reviewing this information I have come to two conclusions. One, it appears that at least some of the Fortified Home standards provide more than the minimum building code requirements. Two, since a certified evaluator is coming to the house to see how things were installed, it appears that the Fortified Home program verifies if your contractor is building and installing certain things the way they should in order to meet with the program requirements.

The Fortified Home program is split up into three standards: Hurricane Standards, High Wind & Hail Standards, and High Wind Standards. If you live in an area subject to these natural disasters, you’re willing to pay for the Fortified Home evaluator and fix things based on the recommendations so you can to save money on your home insurance, then the Fortified Home program is for you.

To wrap up and answer the customer question asked, our Southern Cottages House Plans have not been designed to meet Fortified Home standards. But that doesn't mean they won't. We have specified products that we have found to be of good quality through years of experience. With our construction plans and specification manual it would be easy for your contractor to look over what has been designed and specified and “upgrade” something if needed.

Southern Cottages house plans were designed to meet coastal conditions and codes in the state of North Carolina at the time they were designed. Houses on piling foundations were designed to meet coastal and flood plain and high wind zone construction in the State of North Carolina at the time they were designed. Because codes and requirements can change and may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, we cannot warrant compliance with any specific code or regulation. Your plans may need to be modified to comply with local building conditions, energy codes, seismic and soil conditions, snow loads, zoning regulations and other ordinances or requirements. We recommend the use of the services of a local architect or residential design professional to verify compliance with local codes and requirements in your area.

One final thought - if you would like an example of the strength that our plans are designed for, please read this blog post about one of our Island Cottage plans that survived hurricane Sandy - and weathered it well. It includes a letter from the owner of that home.

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.

View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

* The current code at the time this was written.

Celebrating Memorial Day

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Fri, 26 May 2017 12:25:00 +0000

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend, the "unofficial" beginning of the summer. Amid the beach trips, relaxing, and the fun of a holiday weekend, I like to celebrate the real meaning of the day.

According to wikipedia, "Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces." One way I like to do this is to visit historically significant locations in my area. Here is a list of places in the Wilmington, NC, area I have or would like to visit:

Fort Fisher Visitor Center

Fort Fisher
Kure Beach, NC
Fort Fisher was built during the Civil War as a way to protect the port of Wilmington from the Union forces. After the fort fell to the Union, the supplies couldn't go out to the Confederate armies. Without supplies it was impossible to keep going with momentum and, due to this and other reasons, three months later the war ended.

It also played a role in World War II. According to the NC Historic Sites website, the Wilmington area "underwent a major expansion in the shipbuilding, chemical, and petroleum industries" during WWII. After Camp Davis was built, anti-aircraft training began at Fort Fisher. This led to further development at the fort, which you can read about on the NC Historic Sites website.

All of this contributes to the historical significance of Fort Fisher. The Fort Fisher State Historic Park includes a visitors center, a civil war museum, earthen fortification walls (man-made mounds), a reconstructed and operational cannon, a confederate memorial, and more. There is also the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area which includes hiking trails, fishing, boating, a beach, four wheeling, etc.

Moores Creek National Battlefield
Currie, NC
The Moores Creek National Battlefield is part of Revolutionary War history. Some of the Loyalist were marching to meet up with Redcoats and head toward the North Carolina coast. Some of the Patriots heard of their coming and positioned themselves at the Moores Creek Bridge with muskets and cannons. As the Loyalists were headed to cross the bridge, the Patriots attacked and the Loyalists surrendered. According to the Moores Creek National Battlefield website, "This battle marked...the first significant victory for the Patriots in the American Revolution."

My family and I went to this battlefield for Memorial Day in 2013 and it was a great place to visit. There were people dressed up from the 1700's, with tents displaying guns, clothing, etc. from that time period. There were games set up for the kids, like hitting a hoop with a stick. There's also a cannon that they fire on special occasions. It's loud, but very cool to watch. This national park has a visitors center, monuments, trail, the Moores Creek Bridge and a picnic area.

You can find out more information about the historical significance of Moores Creek at the Moores Creek Bridge page on the History Channel's website.

Battleship North Carolina
Wilmington, NC
I've previously written how visiting the battleship is one of my family's favorite things to do on Memorial day. The Battleship North Carolina's historical significance is from World War II. It went to Pearl Harbor where it was damaged. The battleship's website has a lot of information, but not quite as much (I think) as the visitors center. Visiting the battleship is informative, exciting, and a great way to spend Memorial Day.

The Battleship North Carolina has a special Memorial Day Observance starting at 4pm on Memorial Day. Check out their website for more information.

Operation Bumblebee Observation Tower -
Picture from Pinterest

Operation Bumblebee
Topsail Beach, NC
Operation Bumblee was a secret Navy program to develop surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles during the 1940's. The location on Topsail Island became the permanent location for testing and launching of these missiles in 1947. One of the famous remnants from Operation Bumblebee are the observation towers that still remain. The Topsail Historical Society runs a Missiles and More Museum, where you can see model and original missiles from the Operation, a full size Talos guided missile, and a film that chronicles the history of the program.

Visiting local historically significant locations is one of my favorite ways to spend Memorial Day. What are some things you like to do to celebrate?

Is Your House Good for Thunderstorm Viewing?

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Wed, 24 May 2017 19:07:00 +0000

In our area we're experiencing a round of thunderstorms, which are supposed to continue for another few days. Reactions to thunderstorms can vary widely from fear to awe with any number of feelings in between. If you're like me, then you love thunderstorms. The rumble of the thunder combined with the amazing light show brings a sense of wonder and awe. They can be a nice change of pace (so long as you're safe).

http://res.freestockphotos.biz/pictures/0/364-lightning-in-the-night-pv.jpg

Depending on your house layout, it can sometimes be difficult to watch the light show outside. You might have furniture in front of your window, so it's awkward to try and sit in a position that allows you to watch. Or you might have small windows inconveniently placed making it difficult to view the storm comfortably. Another obstacle is when your view is blocked by a neighboring building. That can bring disappointment and ruin your excitement.

Today I'm going to describe what I think makes a house good for viewing thunderstorms. First, you need to have large windows.


www.andersencorporation.com

Large windows are a must if you want to have a good, unobstructed viewing area to watch the thunderstorm. You can arrange your furniture in just about any configuration and still be able to watch the lighting streak across the sky while you sit comfortably. Wouldn't you love to have the view out of the windows in the picture above?

Second, you need a house with multiple levels.

The Winds Cottage

Being able to go up a level higher than the buildings around you helps give a better vantage point. If your house is the same height as your neighbors, when the lightning flashes below their house then your view is gone and disappointment sets in. In the picture above, if the second floor isn't high enough then you're able to go up another to get the view you desire.

Third, you need a safe place to watch the thunderstorm.

The Island Cottage

Ideally, having an interior observation loft will give you the height you desire and a 360 degree view of the storm. That would be a pretty awesome view! If you don't have an observation loft, then go back to the first item on my list: find a large, unobstructed window to watch the storm from.

Now, it's important to stay safe during thunderstorms. The National Weather Service has issued a lot of info for Lightning Safety that you should review. They have multiple links to various safety info, one of which is Tips for Safety with information about outdoor safety, indoor safety, and safety tips of what to do if you are stuck outside during a thunderstorm. For instance, don't watch a thunderstorm from your porch. It might seem like an ideal place, especially if it's on an upper level. But, the National Weather Service specifically says this is not a good idea. Take their advice and stay safe!

If you're interested in designing or remodeling your home to facilitate a better view to watch storms from, let us help you create a design at www.mcleodarchitect.com. Or view our architect designed house plans, including the Winds Cottage and Island Cottage pictured above, at www.southerncottages.com.

A House With Storage

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Mon, 23 May 2016 12:00:00 +0000

If you are looking for a home with more storage space, the Woods Cottage is the house for you. This house has multiple linen & coat closets, a built-in china cabinet, sewing counter, pantry, loads of kitchen counter space, family room built-ins, office nook and more. In addition to all the storage space, it has four bedrooms, a den, a large bonus room, first floor master suite and a 2 car garage. And those are just features on the inside. If this sounds like your next house, please click this link. All of the Southern Cottages House Plans are designed by an architect to give you style with a comprehensive design at a price you can afford.

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.
View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

Kitchen Cabinets

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 15:31:00 +0000

One of the most important rooms in a house is the kitchen. We ponder, dream, and obsess over what our kitchen will look like. There are counter tops, cabinets, appliances, flooring, windows and lighting choices to make. Some things you can do to narrow down your choices are to tear out pictures in magazines or make a Pinterest or Houzz board dedicated to these decisions. When you see a picture with something you like, tear it out or "pin" it. Make sure to note what exactly it is that you like. "Love the countertops." "Island configuration is just what I need." "Perfect paint color." You get the idea.

rustic kitchen cabinetry

The kitchen element we're focusing on in this post is the cabinets. Here at Southern Cottages House Plans, the cabinets we specify are Kraftmaid. They are a good, quality product with loads of options. Door style, overlay, color, technique, and wood type combine to produce a distinctive look for your home. Whether you're into traditional, eclectic, rustic, modern, something timeless, or any other style you will find what you're looking for. The Kraftmaid website has some great tools to help you decide what you want. Other manufacturer's should also have similar tools to help you.

With so many options out there we can't go over even a tenth of them, but here are a few ideas we found on Houzz:

Photo by Hill Farm Furniture Ltd - Search farmhouse kitchen pictures

Farmhouse style with recessed panel and trim, white glazed finish, inset panels (cabinet doors flush with the frame) and combination solid and glass doors.

Photo by Clay Construction Inc. - Browse traditional kitchen photos

Traditional style with arched recessed upper cabinets, square recessed bottom cabinets, medium wood finish, and full overlay (no cabinet frame showing between doors).

Photo by Greg Natale - Look for contemporary kitchen pictures

Contemporary kitchen with square recessed panels on base cabinets, glass paneled cabinets above, painted green finish, full overlay, and paneled tall doors.

Photo by Drury Design - Look for traditional kitchen pictures

Timeless traditional style with square raised panel, white color, full overlay, and combination solid and glass doors.

Photo by Roundhouse - More transitional kitchen ideas

Contemporary style with slab (flat) cabinets, gray color, full overlay (no cabinet frame showing between doors), and integral shelf in island.

Photo by Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery - Discover traditional kitchen design inspiration

Farmhouse style with square raised panels, glazed finish, dual colors, and beaded inset (small bead around the panel door and the cabinet doors flush with the frame).

Photo by Witt Construction - Look for traditional kitchen pictures

Traditional style with square recessed panel, distressed finish, dual colors, and beaded inset (small bead around the panel door and the cabinets flush with the frame).

We haven't even mentioned the many molding details, hardware options, lighting or storage solutions. With so many alternatives available, good luck making a decision! But seriously, remember, if you can pinpoint what exactly you like about a picture you find that will help narrow down your decision. Good luck!

Top 5 Home Theaters

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 16:36:00 +0000

Home theaters have increased in popularity the last few years and we can see why. They are a comfortable place to relax, unwind, and get the movie theater experience without leaving your home. Here are our top five home theaters we're pining for.

Home Theater #1
Traditional

Traditional Home Theater by El Segundo Home Media Design & Installation Interior Technologies

This home theater has all the features of a classic movie theater from 'back in the day'. Chandelier ceiling, plush seats, wall sconces, and decorative trim around the curtained screen take us back to yesteryear, but with a stylish modern feel. Although not cheap, a similar lush purple leather-textured wall paper can be purchased online. The decorative wall trim at the curtain can be fabricated by a skilled cabinetmaker.

Home Theater #2
The Night's Sky

Traditional Home Theater by San Francisco Home Media Design & Installation VIA – San Francisco

No more longing for the days when you could go to a drive-in because this home theater brings the outdoor movie experience inside. Watch a movie in surround sound and comfortable seating while sitting under the night's sky. Major bonus: no bugs. The sky effect can be painted, attached with an adhesive mural, achieved by a lighting expert, or a combination of all of the above. Fiber optic lights would produce effective night time stars.

Home Theater #3
Art Deco

Traditional Home Theater by Los Angeles Home Media Design & Installation Roberts Home Audio and Video Inc.

Say goodbye to wall sconces because this theater sets the mood with lighting that spans across the walls and ceilings. With the Art Deco detailing on the lights, we're transported back to the time of The Great Gatsby. These fantastically ornamented lights are offset by dark gray walls, floors, seating and curtains to bring a delicate touch to this chic theater.

Home Theater #4
Natural Elements

Contemporary Home Theater by Sterling Home Media Design & Installation Encore Custom Audio Video

This home theater takes a tip from Mother Nature by using earth tones and natural textures to create a room that is visually appealing and very comfortable. The brown leather theater seats are soft and inviting. The two-tone paint compliments the seats and bring you down to earth. The highlight of this room is the wave-patterned panels on the ceiling. (They also make an appearance on the walls as pilasters.) Reminiscent of rippling water, these interlocking panels from Modular Arts make this textured feature possible.

Home Theater #5
Retro Suite

Contemporary Home Theater by South East Interior Designers & Decorators FiSHER iD

From the hip color scheme to the retro wall panels this home theater is swanky. The purple, aqua and green couches have a dual job: they provide plentiful seating and create visual excitement in what could be a bland room. The diamond art on the wall provides interest, lighting and possibly sound absorption. The clean lines of these elements work together to provide a design that stands out from the rest on this list.

Which of these five home theaters is your favorite? Maybe you have your own ideas for what makes the perfect theater. Let us know. We would love to hear from you!

Disclaimer: Southern Cottages House Plans and Michael R. McLeod Architect, PA did not design any of these rooms. Click the picture to find these rooms on Houzz.

Roof Decks & Widows Walks

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 15:28:00 +0000

View from the Lookout Cottage roof deck.

We've previously posted about the Legend of the Widows Walk. Whether you like the romanticized idea of a lonely wife waiting for her sea captain to come home while pacing the widows walk of her house, or you're more interested in seeing the ocean from your non-ocean-front lot, there's just something about being high above the houses around us that we love.

Our Widows Walk House Plans incorporate a roof-top windowed cupola, which we refer to as an observation loft, accessed by spiral stair from the second story. The observation loft is a great place to glimpse a distant view, to survey the landscape or to find a special place to read a book or to work on a project in your personal studio.

Island Cottage

Grand Island

In addition to our Widows Walk House Plans, we offer Roof Deck House Plans which provide an open-air connection to the outdoors. The smell of the seabreeze or fresh mountain air is just outside the door. Several of our house plans feature a roof-top observation deck to provide a panoramic view and provide your own private sunbathing deck or gathering spot high above the crowd overlooking your neighbors roofline for a glimpse of the ocean or distant view.

Lookout Cottage

Porches Cottage with Roof Deck

Sunrooms

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 16:45:00 +0000

According to Houzz, one of the top 25 home trends for 2016 is having a sunroom. A sunroom gives you a place to sit and relax while being bathed in sunshine. It's a special retreat in your own home. It's a get-a-way from the norms of life. It's a happy place when it's too hot or too cold to go outside.

If you are planning on building a home this year and want a sunroom, consider the following:

Side of the Grand Island Cottage.

The Grand Island Cottage will give you a generous place to enjoy the sun. At 12'-4" wide by 37'-5" long, the sunroom gives you a great place for relaxing or a casual place to entertain. It features windows which are interrupted only by the fireplace. It also includes doors which connect it to the front and rear porches of the house.

Rear of the Porches Cottage with Roof Deck.

Another option to consider is the Porches Cottage with Roof Deck. Called a Flexroom in our on-line plan, the room features three large, double windows to bathe the room in light. This sunroom includes space for a mini-kitchen, bar, or built-ins and measures 12'-10" wide by 27'-8" long. It is located on the rear of the home, which is especially great if that's the direction of your view.

Front left side of the Country Cottage

For those who desire a something a little different, the 3,565 sf Country Cottage features an L-shaped sunroom with windows into the living spaces. The light-filled sunroom will bring sunshine even further into your home! In addition to this, the wall-to-wall windows provide a view on two sides of the house.

Rear of the Hip Cottage with Attached Garage.

If you are looking for a smaller home, the Hip Cottage with Attached Garage has an 11'-0" by 11'-0" sunroom in the rear. This sunroom is lined with windows on two sides, as well, and also includes windows through to the living room. It is a cozy place to sit, relax and take time for yourself.

For more information about any of the homes mentioned here, including additional pictures, please visit our website. If you didn't see anything that appealed to you in this post, most of our home plans include screened porches which can easily be changed into a sunroom.

Plantation Cottage Video

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 19:14:00 +0000

We recently added a new video to our YouTube Channel.

See the interior and exterior of the Plantation Cottage with pictures from a built home! If you like what you see, this house plan is available for purchase on our website: www.southerncottages.com.

Thanks for checking out our blog!

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitectpa.com.

View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

Home Trend for 2015: Small Houses

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 20:54:00 +0000

According to articles on the internet, like this one from The Fiscal Times or this one from Slate, the small home is making a come-back. Whether you're an empty-nester looking to downsize or a young couple looking for your first home, people are looking for smaller homes and smaller mortgages.

At 1,260 square feet, our Hip Cottage fits the bill for being small. Yet, it still has everything you need! Inside of this house you get two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open concept living & dining room, good sized kitchen, laundry room, front porch, rear screened porch, plus storage.

If 1,260 sf is too small for you, the Hip Cottage comes in a few different sizes:

1,423 sf which includes a wrap around porch;
1,545 sf with an attached garage;
and 2,497 sf with a basement.

What's great about our house plans is that all of the Southern Cottages House Plans are designed by an architect to give you style with a comprehensive design at a price you can afford!

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitectpa.com.

View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

What To Do When The Cost of Home Construction is More Than Your Budget

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 20:05:00 +0000

Image courtesy of ponsulak at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

You have been waiting years to build your own home. You have found the perfect house plan. You have financing in place and are ready to begin. The only problem now is that contractors have given you bid prices that are more expensive than you had imagined!

Generally, the trade-offs to lower the costs of home construction involve using less expensive products, such as vinyl windows vs. clad windows and vinyl siding vs. wood shingles; and even composite shingle roofing vs. metal roofing. The amount of ceramic tile surfaces, granite counter tops, pricey fixtures and appliances can dramatically add to the costs as well. Let the builders know that you need to be in a certain price range so that they won't assume that you are expecting the most expensive finishes.

Second, if you haven't already done this, take your house plans to another contractor. You will find that the prices you receive will vary wildly - don't ask why - but this is our experience. Some builders add bucks to their bid if something is a little different or unusual - while others see it as an interesting challenge and something that they want to be a part of. If you need advice on finding a good contractor, our post "Selecting Your General Contractor" can help you out.

Third, if you are in no rush to get your house completed, you can always wait to build in the hope that the costs of construction will go down in time. You could wait a few years if the economy is high. Or you might wait until the "off season" of construction (usually winter) with the idea that contractors will not be as busy during that time and will give you lower numbers so they can get the job.

The last thing you might do (and it's usually the last resort) is have your home plans revised. It will cost more money up front to have the alterations done, and you will have to sacrifice some of the things on your "want list", but in the end you will lower the cost of construction.

Good luck and let us know if you have any questions we can help you with!

Stacey

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.

View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

Grassy Green Paint Colors

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 13:09:00 +0000

You want to paint your room green, but you're not sure what color is the best one. You know you like the color of the grass outside because it's lush, pretty and inviting. But how will you know what the right choice of green is? There are so many different colors of green! What will keep you from making the wrong decision?

I'm going to help you out with my selection of four colors that are pretty, inviting and hopefully fit the bill for lush. These grassy green paint colors are from Sherwin Williams and you can use them to enjoy that refreshing green color inside your home. I'm showing you the paint color, plus a picture of a room painted with it.

SW 6718 Overt Green

In southeastern North Carolina, where we're located, one of the typical grasses available is centipede. Overt Green is a nice yellow-green color, similar to the look of centipede grass. It is also a bold color so it's perfect for an accent wall, as pictured below.

Contemporary Bedroom by Austin Interior Designers & Decorators Panache Interiors

Although beautiful, the picture is slightly misleading about the color of this paint: the lamp light gives the wall a yellowish color. If you look at the wall near the window on the left you can see the true color of the paint. So, here's a lesson in paint and the type of light bulbs you're using: the color of your light bulbs can have a dramatic effect on the perceived color of your room. Different types of bulbs give off different colors. This in turn can make your paint or furnishings look different at your house than in the store. Or even from one room to the next. Home Depot usually has a light bulb display next to their bulbs. If you haven't taken the time to look at it, it's worth the 5 minutes it takes to review.

SW 6732 Organic Green

A name that includes "organic" portrays an idea of fresh, all-natural, beneficial, and healthy. In my opinion, this color is bright and cheerful. What could be more beneficial and healthy than that? What I like about Organic Green is that it's a "clear" color. By that I mean that it hasn't been lightened too much, nor has it been darkened too much. It's a nice medium color of green.

Picture from Fred Smith Company

In the picture, even though there are lighter spots and darker spots the color remains bright and clear. By painting all of the walls one color you are surrounded in a consistent hue. I have to say that this room is refreshing to me. Using white trim and cabinetry adds to the overall feel of the room, contributing to the alluring color.

SW 6725 Pickle

When I think of pickles I imagine the zesty flavor of a pickled cucumber. This color is very similar to Organic Green, but to me, it has some zest to it! It's not quite as bright, but it's still beautiful. I think Pickle is one of those colors that is very much like the color of grass and any number of green plants growing outside.

Eclectic Bedroom by Los Gatos Interior Designers & Decorators Design Theory Interiors of California, Inc

The room above has been decorated with items that are white, black and a slightly different green that are brought together in a cohesive and beautiful way. Even though this green is darker than the rest on my list so far, there are a greater number of white elements in the room. It keeps the atmosphere light yet still incorporates darker items that do not dim the space.

SW6733 Grasshopper

Many things come to mind with the word "grasshopper". But the fact of the matter is that this is a very good candidate for a color reminiscent of the turf outside. It looks like one of those beautiful dark green lawns you see sometimes. This color is the darkest green on my list; it's light enough to match the color of grass and foliage, but it's also not going to make you feel like you're in a dungeon.

Picture from Pinterest

This picture has a darker atmosphere, almost opposite of the one painted with Pickle, yet it still works well. Instead of lighter accents, it has natural wood trim, dark floor and a smoky blue ceiling. The wall color does not overwhelm the space, yet it still brings in the lush color of grass. The paint color invites you into the space.

So, what will help you know if you're making the right or wrong decision with a paint color? The best indicator is this: go to the paint store, get the color chips for the colors you're interested in and take them home. Hold them up to your furniture, the floor, and pictures on the wall. You can even tape them to the wall and then stand back to see if you like the way the color interacts with your belongings and the light in your room. Make your decision based on this action. If the color isn't quite right, go to the next one.

The four colors that I have suggested are all lush, pretty, and inviting. They show how beautiful and refreshing the color of a lawn can be inside a home. If you're looking to make a bold statement in your room while also bringing a touch of the outdoors to the inside of your home, using one of these colors will help you accomplish your goal.

Do you agree? Let me know.

Stacey

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.
View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

Top 5 Kids Rooms

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 12:30:00 +0000

Sometimes it's fun to go crazy and design the most creative and whimsical bedroom for a child. And for those of us who can't afford to do something like this, it's always just fun to look and wish. When I was young I would have loved to have any of these bedrooms.

A colorful indoor gym.

Kid's Bedroom #1
The Gym
In addition to all the color and fantastic lighting, this bedroom has exactly what kids want: a place to climb, swing, scale, jump and pull themselves up! This is just what they need to get out their energy and exercise their muscles, all while keeping the living room clean. (Who's going to want to play in the living room when they have a bedroom like this?!) Anchoring the gym to the ceiling structure is definitely a must in order to use this. But let's be honest, if my kids had a room like this, you would probably find me in there playing on that equipment with them!

What do we do with that column?

Kid's Bedroom #2
The Indoor Tree
This is a fantastic use of a column. Instead of living with a boring column that is required for the structural stability of the building, spruce it up and make it interesting! This brings so much imagination into the room. At Christmas you can string lights on it. You can store your child's stuffed animals in there: dogs, cats, foxes, snakes, chipmunks, monkeys, or owls. You can have a picnic under its leaves any time of the year. The fun is endless!

Bunk beds with a slide? That's brilliant!

Kid's Bedroom #3
The Bunk Bed Slide
As if bunk beds did not incite enough enthusiasm with kids, adding a slide makes it that much better! This is a great idea for a vacation house. If your kids are going to be sleeping in a room with 4 or more people, why not mix in some fun and put in a slide? This gives them a great way to start the day and a fun incentive to sleep in a room with that many people. Plus, you will not have any trouble getting them to go to their room and play for a while so you can relax.

A loft in the kids room?

Kids Bedroom #4
The Jungle Loft
Kids love to climb and be taller than everything else (especially their parents). This loft gives them a place to do that! It's also an exciting location to play or read...up at the ceiling level. The jungle theme gives them a way to be in the tree tops to feed the imaginary giraffe that's come to play. Or giggle with the monkeys. Or they can rescue the cat who has climbed too high and gotten stuck. And of course, when they get in trouble, that's where you're going to find them. This would definitely be a favorite spot in the house for any child.

A secret hideout.

Kids Bedroom #5
The Clubhouse
When I was young a clubhouse would have been so awesome! And one in my room would have been off the charts! This imaginative idea creates a cool place to sleep or a great locale for your child's clubhouse meetings. You can imagine the floor is a lake full of alligators that you've got to stay away from. Or you can go sightseeing above the treetops. Maybe you can get out the flashlights and have story time in there. Or have a camping trip every night.

All of these different kids room ideas are on my list of fun ways to decorate a room and inspire play. Which is your favorite? Which do you wish you had as a child? Do any of them inspire you to play and imagine more with your children? Let me know!

Stacey

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.
View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

Disclaimer: Southern Cottages House Plans and Michael R. McLeod Architect, PA did not design any of these rooms. Click the picture or the caption to find out where I found these pictures.

Step Back in Time

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 13:16:00 +0000

The Grand Gazebo Cottage will take you back to an age where time slows down and relaxation is a way of life.

Grand Gazebo Cottage

This is a grand and sumptuous house with four exterior gazebos connected by wrap around porches. Spend your evenings relaxing on the porch with a lemonade in hand. Inside you will find spacious rooms perfect for comfortable and tranquil living.

The gazebos provide a lot of outdoor living space.

All of the Southern Cottages House Plans are designed by an architect to give you style with a comprehensive design at a price you can afford.

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.
View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

The Battleship North Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Tue, 26 May 2015 15:20:00 +0000

For Memorial Day yesterday, my family and I took a trip to the Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington. This is such a great place to visit! If you ever visit Wilmington, plan a few hours to tour this great ship. It is chock-full of history.

In the visitors center there is a video that shows the history of how the battleship came to Wilmington and how it was maneuvered into its current position.

Main deck guns, anchor chains and flags.

We spent a lot of time going into the various rooms and checking out all the different guns on the main deck before heading down under it to the second deck. To help visitors understand how the sailors used the spaces, there are pictures and descriptions of what happened in a lot of the areas.

The battleship contains a lot of places to explore and see, which makes this such a great place to visit. You can tour the kitchens, sleeping areas, food storage areas, sick bay, laundry, post office, etc. However, on this trip my family just toured the second deck and one or two above the main deck.

After touring the battleship, travel across the bridge to have lunch or dinner at one of the many restaurants along the river in downtown Wilmington.

Visiting the Battleship North Carolina is one of our favorite things to do on Memorial Day. It's a wonderful way to remember those who have served our country.

Thanks for reading!
Stacey

We Are On Houzz

noreply@blogger.com (www.southerncottages.com) — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 16:16:00 +0000

click here

If you are a fan of Houzz (and a lot of people are), you can now browse interior and exterior pictures of the Island Cottage, Woods Cottage, Plantation Cottage, Porches Cottage, Shelter Cottage and Winds Cottage on our profile (with more to follow soon). We also have some renderings of the Grand Island Cottage there. Click the Houzz button above, the one on the left of our blog, or the following link: Southern Cottages Houzz profile.

If you are not aware of what Houzz is, it is the "largest and most influential directory of remodeling and design professionals". One way you can use Houzz is to do a search based on a keyword. A picture list will come up showing you ideas of how to incorporate that particular item into your home.

Another important feature is the reviews we have received from previous clients. Take some time to look through those, browse pictures and get some ideas for your home. As always, please leave us comment if you have any questions or use the "Contact" tab above to find our phone number.

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.
View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.