Pall Spera Company Realtors-Stowe, VT
Pall Spera Company Realtors-Stowe, VT
Teresa Merelman, Broker, Pall Spera Company Realtors-Stowe, VTPhone: (802) 793-5171
Email: [email protected]

Your cottage house style guide

by Teresa Merelman, Broker 12/14/2022

If you’re fantasizing about a dream cottage house, you might be interested in the variety of styles, shapes and sizes cottages come in. While there are many more options than you might think, all cottage style homes feature some of the same key elements.

Here is a short guide to the defining characteristics of cottage house plans:

Architectural elements

Cottage houses come in a wide variety of styles based on era and region-specific traditions. However, even modern cottage homes share some of the same key similarities. Some examples of exterior architectural elements include:

  • Thatched & gabled roofs.
  • Half-timbered walls.
  • Stucco.
  • Bay windows.
  • Stacked chimneys.

Size

Property size is crucial to defining a cottage house. The homes themselves tend to be lower square footage than other styles, making the house a cozy dwelling nestled within the natural landscape.

While modern and contemporary cottage homes boast more square feet than their traditional counterparts, the house plans and decor remain quaint and charming to maintain the cozy aesthetic.

Gardens

No cottage house plan would be complete without a garden. Traditional English cottages are one of the best examples of this defining feature, so much so that English cottage gardens make up their own style of landscaping design.

Cottage home gardens should be abundant and overgrown landscapes full of a mix of flowering and edible plants. Meandering stone or gravel pathways often lead from a small gate to the front door. Climbing roses and other flowering vines cover fences, arbors and even the home’s facade to further integrate the structure into the natural surroundings.

Cottage house plans are perfect for homeowners seeking a cozy escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life. With these key elements in mind, you’ll be able to better recognize a cottage home and incorporate aspects of their house plans into your own living space.

About the Author
Author

Teresa Merelman, Broker

 Teresa's beginnings were at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She was child #5 of 8 and born into an Air Force family that moved all over the United States but usually ended up back in the Washington, D.C. area. Teresa attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and received her bachelor's degree in business from George Mason University, in Fairfax, Virginia. Some of her prior careers include: computer buyer in Fairfax, Virginia; Deputy Clerk at the U.S. District Court in Denver, Colorado; Police Officer in Steamboat Springs, Colorado; and Bed & Breakfast owner in Stowe, Vermont. Teresa obtained her license as a Realtor® in 1998. She has been through many ups and downs in this profession and continues to learn every day. She very much enjoys the real estate profession and the wonderful people she has met and assisted along the way. In order to serve her clients and customers, Teresa continually attends classes and seminars. Some of her Designations and Certifications include: 

  • ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative (2003)
  • CBR - Certified Buyer Representative (2000)
  • e-PRO - Internet Certified Professional (2001)
  • CNHS - Certified New Home Specialist (2005)
  • CRS - Certified Residential Specialist (2005)
  • AHS - Accredited Home-Stager Specialist (2008)
  • TRC - Transaction Referral Certification (2009)
  • RSPS - Resort and Second Home Specialist (2009)
  • GREEN - NAR's Green Designation (2009) 
  • SFR - Short Sales & Foreclosures Certification (2009) 
  • SRES - Senior Real Estate Specialist Designation (2012)
  • AHWD - At Home With Diversity (2021)
  • SRS - Seller Representative Specialist (2021)

Teresa has also served and continues to serve on several boards:

  • Lamoille Area Board of Realtors - President and Board of Directors
  • Vermont Association of Realtors - Board of Directors
  • NEREN (MLS) - Board of Directors and Shareholder 
  • Vermont Real Estate Commission - as a member of VAR's Liaison Committee
  • Stowe Vibrancy - Board of Directors - this is a volunteer group that promotes activities in the Village of Stowe

In 2007, Teresa was named Vermont Realtor of the Year.Teresa and her husband, a local attorney, moved to Stowe in 1987. They had two sons and Stowe has been their home for the past 36 years. She still feels the Stowe area is a wonderful place to raise a family, there's always something going on. Teresa can often be found behind the lens of her camera documenting the beauty of the area and its many events.As an update, Teresa's older son is now a Doctor/resident at the University of New Mexico's Emergency Management Program. Her younger son graduated from James Mason University and currently resides in Chicago, IL as a supervisor for OKTA.