A Summer Home

Peaks Cottage from the street.

If you're looking for a summer home on a lake or the beach, the Peaks Cottage is the house for you! The livingroom, diningroom and kitchen are arranged for maximum views to the waterfront. In addition to the spacious deck & covered porch, there is an upstairs deck that overlooks the water. The Peaks Cottage also includes 5 bedrooms & 4 bathrooms so everyone has their own private 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.

Peaks Cottage from the beach.

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 Roof Over Your Head

The roof of your home is an important consideration.  But once in place, the roof is little thought about.  Your roof is important for keeping your home dry, it blocks the sun's rays at the eave overhang, it covers your porch, the color and material bring a cohesive look to your home, and different pitches will give you drastically different results.  All of these things show that the roof can have a dramatic impact on the look of your home.

In this article, we will be focusing on roofing materials.  We specify three kinds of roofing materials for our Southern Cottages House Plans: fiberglass shingles, standing seam aluminum panels and standing seam copper roofing.  We leave it up to our clients to decide which material will crown their home.  Each one each will give you a different look and each has a different price tag to consider.

Fiberglass shingles

2117 sf Shelter Cottage

Fiberglass shingles is the type of roofing that most commonly covers the homes of America. There are different shingle styles and various colors to fit any budget and personality.  There are also different warranties available, so pay attention to the warranty length if you live in a high wind zone.  The fiberglass shingle companies we specify are GAF and CertainTeed. 


If you are interested in something other than shingles, take a look at the following metal roofing options.

Standing Seam Aluminum Panels

2058 sf Island Cottage on Pilings

Standing seam aluminum panels are getting more and more common.  They provide clean lines and a completely different look than shingles.  Aluminum panels also cost more than fiberglass shingles.  However, the maintenance of an aluminum panel roof is very low.  The aluminum panel system we specify is the 300 Series by IMETCO.

Standing Seam Copper Roofing

Copper over a bay window.

Standing seam copper roofing is frequently used to highlight a portion of a roof, like over a turret, cupola or window, or as flashing in your roof valley.  It is also possible to cover your entire roof with copper.  Over time the shiny copper will dull and patina, giving an entirely different look to your home.  This is something to keep in mind as you consider copper roofing.  The price tag of a copper roof is higher than an aluminum one, which is why it is commonly used as an accent over the cupola or as an awning over the front door.  The copper companies we specify are Revere Copper Products, Inc. and Hussey Copper, Ltd.


Whether planning for your new home or reroofing your existing one, knowing your roofing options is important.  The selection you make will set the tone of the visual "feel" of your home and give it a distinctive look. 

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 Classic Look of "Home"

The Country Cottage is a roomy house with the classic look of "home".  It takes off where the Hip Cottage ends, giving you additional space on the second floor. Inside it features 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, open living/dining space, wrap around porch, 2 car garage, and more. The additional space in this house is great for visiting guests or your expanding family. 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.

We Love Water

Water is an interesting element.  It is fluid.  It flows.  It moves.  It takes the shape of its container.  It can be loud.  It can be quiet.  It trickles.

As humans, we have an intrinsic need for water, both emotionally and aesthetically.  Because of this we incorporate water into our lives.  The sounds of water are relaxing and calming.  Watching water flow creates visual interest and also brings a sense of calm.

Water is in our environment in two ways.  The first is as a natural element.  The second is a man-made element.  The following are some ways we love to use water:

Rivers, Lakes and Oceans

French Broad River in NC

Our landscape naturally incorporates rivers, streams, lakes and oceans.  Emotionally, just being near them and listening to the sound of water helps us relax and rejuvenate ourselves.  They create locations where we love to sit and think or spend time with friends and family.  Each of these bodies of water can also be used recreationally.  Fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, surfing, white water rafting and boating are some of the ways we enjoy large bodies of water.

Outer Banks, NC

 

Fountains

Residential fountain

The use of fountains in landscaping is one way to bring a visual and auditory experience to your home, office, city center, etc.  On a small scale you can create a hidden focal point in your garden or an accent to your outdoor living.  Large plaza fountains create a sense of place and are a destination where you meet friends, eat lunch or enjoy their detail and beauty.  People naturally gravitate to fountains.

Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy

Swimming Pools

Swimming pool

Swimming pools bring recreation home on a personal level.  Being able to go in your backyard to swim and play is appealing and fun.
Some pools have a dual purpose and are also built for beauty.  They have clean lines and lush landscaping.  Others include water sprays and fountains to delight our senses. Listening to and watching water glide through the air creates a calming and relaxing experience.

Pool with water sprays

 

Waterfalls

Waterfall

There is a natural beauty to waterfalls.  Seldom seen everyday, the anticipation of visiting a waterfall engages our senses while creating a thrilling adventure.  The sounds of water falling combined with the cascading water is a breathtaking experience to look forward to.

Mingo Falls, Cherokee, NC

Water is one of those things in life that we truly love.  Whether for recreational use or its psychological effects on our senses, most people have a desire to be near water. The sound of moving water is relaxing.  Water also brings visual interest and creates a sense of calm.  Finding a way to incorporate water into our environment brings anticipation and excitement in our lives.

We at Southern Cottages are lucky to live on the Atlantic coast and enjoy the beach regularly.  A few of us also have swimming pools in our backyards.  As you can also see from the pictures in this post, we are privileged to have rivers, lakes and waterfalls nearby in our state, too.  We love water!

Let us help you incorporate a water feature in your design project at www.mcleodarchitect.com.  Or view our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

The Value of A Porch

 

A porch can make a world of difference if the sun is shining or if it's a downpour outside. A porch will provide a shaded place to sit, relax and watch the world go by. It's perfect for grilling dinner and spending time with friends and family. If this is your lifestyle, the Shelter Cottage is perfect for you. It has two large porches--plus a deck--available for "outdoor living". It would be perfect at a lake, beach or beautifully wooded lot. Inside you will love the open livingroom/diningroom/kitchen, four bedrooms and extra space. Check it out! 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.

Lighting Reminiscient of the Beach

The lighting at the beach, a boardwalk, or the lakeside is made up of hurricane lamps, twinkling lights and boat or boardwalk inspired fixtures.  Here are some examples to bring the beach home through lighting: 

Hurricane candle holder


  
Hurricane candle holders.

Display your beach treasures in this simple lamp.

Boardwalk light fixture

Nautical Outdoor Light

Marine Bulkhead light.

Kichler Outdoor Nautical Wall Light

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.

A House For A Family

 

Shingle Cottage with Balconies

If you have a large family & are looking for more space, the Shingle Cottage w/ Balcony Option is the house for you. The Shingle Cottage has 4 spacious bedrooms - plus a den - with 3 1/2 baths. No more arguing over who's taking too long in the bathroom. The Shingle Cottage includes a living room & a family room to separate the formal space from the family space. Also included are a generous dining room & kitchen, laundry room (with laundry chute) and a master suite. If you're looking for a family home, the Shingle Cottage with (or without) Balcony Option is the house for you. 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.

Planning For A Residential Elevator

An important aspect of residential home design is taking into account our clients current and future needs.  This includes finding out if an elevator is something required now or will be in the future. 

If you are starting from scratch and designing a brand new house, an elevator can be planned for easily.  You have two options:  you might build your house with the elevator installed from the beginning or a designated space can be planned into the house now so that in 10 or more years the elevator can be installed easily.  Either way, you can work with your architect to find an ideal location for the elevator shaft in the house. 

You might be in the situation where you need to add an elevator to your existing home.  This requires working with your architect to decide the best place for the elevator shaft.  Since the shaft must line up on each level of your home there are a few questions to think about.  Do you already have an ideal location to add an elevator?  Which spaces in your home can be altered to work around the best shaft location?  You might also wonder how exactly an elevator can be installed into your existing home.

The company Adapted Home & Business, out of Portland, has put together a video series about an elevator retrofit.  They have made four short, two-minute videos where they describe how they install a residential elevator into an existing home.  Here is the first video.

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.

Room To Entertain

 

Winds Cottage with Shed Roof

If you have beach front property & love to entertain, the Winds Cottage will give you everything you need: a large living room with ocean view & adjacent kitchen & dining room. It has 5 bedrooms on the upper two floors for weekend & summer guests. The spacious back deck is perfect for enjoying your evenings with friends. Check it out by clicking 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.

Winds Cottage first floor.

Winds Cottage with Gable Roof

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.

We're On Pinterest

Now you can follow us on Pinterest!  

Click this button to see pictures of built Southern Cottages House Plans, our ideas for decorating a modern beach house, kitchen ideas, coastal and southern inspired recipes, pictures of our state (North Carolina), our city (Hampstead), beautiful photos of ideal places to build one of our cottages and more.

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 Views You Love

Island Cottage living room.

If you have property in the mountains, on a lake, at the beach or anywhere else with a spectacular view, you need to check out the Island Cottage. The open concept plan has windows that provide a 180 degree view of your surroundings! Imagine living in a home that gives you the kind of views you imagined when you first saw the property. If you want to see more interior pictures of this house, click this link to our post "Island Cottage Interior". 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.

Panoramic views in the living room and dining room.

The Island Cottage on Crawlspace Foundation.

2014 Azalea Festival Fun

Last weekend our office employees and family members went to the Cole Bros. Circus as part of the 2014 Azalea Festival.  Here are some of our pictures.

 Our employees and their families.

 

 Mike and Laura before the show began.

 The tigers were entertaining.

 The acrobats were fun to watch.

The aerialists were amazing.

 

 There were elephant rides during intermission.

 The balancing duo was impressive.

 

And, what better way is there to end the show than shooting a man out of cannon?!

Decorating Tip to Bring the Beach Home

If you want to bring the beach home, you can use wood accent pieces to create a natural, textured pattern in your room. This can be done with coffee tables, baskets or lamps.  The following are some examples. 

Rattan Coffee Tables

Storage Baskets

Rattan Lamp

  

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.

Winds Cottage

  The Winds Cottage is a contemporary adaptation of southern coastal elements put together in a new and exciting way. The plans work well on a narrow lot because views are afforded front to back from nearly all rooms, even if adjacent houses are close together on a crowded waterfront site.

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the amenities of this house are a large living room with adjacent kitchen and diningroom.   The living room looks out to the spacious back deck, which is perfect for enjoying your evenings with friends or family.  It's also a great place to watch the sunset and relax.

 

 

 The Winds Cottage has 5 bedrooms and 4 baths on the upper two floors for weekend & summer guests. 

 

 

All of the finishes are customizable to fit your personal style.

 

 

We currently have three versions of the Winds Cottage.  It is available with a crawlspace foundation or a piling foundation and with a gabled or shed roof.

 

Standard Crawlspace Foundation

 

 

Piling Foundation, Gable Roof, Elevator

Piling Foundation, Shed Roof, Elevator