Why We Love Southern Living House Plan Number 1870
The Farmdale Cottage house plan was originally designed by acclaimed Atlanta architecture firm, Spitzmiller & Norris for Southern Living Editor-at-Large, James Farmer (see how Farmer decked his cottage out for the holidays!). As it turns out, you all seem to love it as much as we do. Here are a few reasons to love House Plan 1870.
Why We Love It
The front exterior presents an inviting entry for guests coming up the brick walk. Just imagine the charming vines you can grow over the front door’s pergola. But the real surprise is waiting inside. The original design called for a front porch, but the architects chose to enclose the space to create an entry/dining area. “It’s basically the same footprint, but now by enclosing the porch we gain over 300 square feet of heated living area,” Norris says. Another big bonus of this idea? The dining room has a breezy casual feel-brick floors, vaulted ceilings, and all. This is the perfect atmosphere for lively parties. No stuffy dinner parties in this country cottage! On a more seriously beneficial design note though, incorporating exterior materials into the interior of the home helps the 2057 square foot, four bed and four bath cottage feel larger than it is.
The Wow Factor
It’s okay to build it in phases. Actually it’s even better this way, both to replicate the natural evolution of old farmhouses and for pocket books! Even though the home is finished, there’s room to expand. “The plan calls for a future breezeway (or porte-cochere), which leads to a two-car garage,” says Robert. “There’s even an area for potting plants and a space for storing garden tools.” And why stop there? Since this is a farm cottage, you can keep building charming sheds, a chicken coop, and even a stable. Dream big!
