TK English Cottages That Will Make You Leave the City
A Guide to English Cottage Designs, From Tudor to Modern
Fact checked by Jillian Dara
Cottage style architecture and interiors radiate comfort and informality; for many people this is the only kind of house in which they can really feel relaxed and "at home". Cottages evoke cozy living: a crisp, clean, wholesomeness and back-to-nature sensibility for which they'd abandon their current urban digs in a heartbeat.
While some architects do a good job of producing modern interpretations, you won't find many contemporary home tracts built to look like authentic Tudors or English cottages. The look has been romanticized through magazines like The Cottage Journal and films like The Holiday, in which two women swap houses at Christmas. The house that most people fell in love with: Kate Winslet's fairytale-perfect Rosehill Cottage outside London, which was actually a specially built set.
From their low ceilings, which give the homes a tucked in feeling, to arched doorways, rustic wood beams, stone floors, and whitewashed walls, these homes have a charming feel that makes people feel instantly relaxed. But, even if you don't live in the English countryside, you can incorporate English cottage style through rustic details, decor with patina, and beautifully overgrown gardens.
What Are English Cottages?
An English cottage is a traditional countryside dwelling, often with a cozy floor plan. You'll find charming details that look like they've been plucked right out of storybook and traditional building materials, like thatched roofs, stone, brick, and wood. There's often a chimney that is the centerpiece of the home. Think of an English cottage as somewhere you'd like to pull out a good book, grab a spot of tea, and escape to the countryside.
Characteristics of English Cottages
You won't find an English cottage with all of the following characteristics, but most have at least a few of these features:
Thatched roof: A dense covering of harvested reed, rush, or straw was applied to roofs for insulation and also added to the homes' rustic charm
False thatched roof: Since reed or straw aren't the most practical roofing materials, a fake thatched roof can be made with modern materials. Wood shingles are steamed or composition roofing is rolled around eaves, resembling thatch
Half-timbered: In an effort to use what was available, cottages were often built of stone or brick on the first floor and timber or a mix on the second
Leaded windows: Multi-paned or lattice-style windows
Bargeboard: Aka vergeboard, is a carved, ornamental board attached to the projecting gables of a roof
Smart use of concrete
Sash windows
Vines often covering the cottage
An emphasis on rustic and an almost Medieval look
Stacked chimneys
Sometimes, a single tall roof
Especially on Tudor styles: front-facing gables
Low eave lines
Massive chimneys
Side gables
Steeply pitched roof
Decorative half-timbering on facade
A beautiful English cottage garden
Enjoy a tour of diverse cottages that all have one thing in common: charm.
English Cottage Examples
False-Thatched Roof
Yes, that's a faux family of ducks marching across the false-thatched roof of a cottage in Norfolk, England. This roof subtype copies real thatched roofs that once dotted rural landscapes throughout Great Britain. This one is steeply pitched with curved dormers and gables. A bunting of flags, charming climbing roses, and a perfectly trimmed hedge enveloping the picket fence make this country cottage absolutely iconic.
English Country Garden
Irene lives with her sons and husband in an "ancient" Cotswold manor house with a romantic garden and a courtyard built in 1570, what she calls "a gorgeous 500-year-old money pit." In the eight years since she's lived there, Irene has created a lovely terrace, greenhouse, and garden that grows tomatoes, peas, and herbs for the family's supper. She also grows breathtaking flowers, like these white viburnums, which grow abundantly, spilling over into the walkways for the classic English look.
Bwthyn Swynol
Staying in old houses (or mansions) while traveling throughout Europe to experience is a wonderful way to see what it's like to live like a local and explore intriguing buildings. This B&B is a well-maintained cottage in Wales that has had architectural elements painted for just enough emphasis. The stone exterior, arched doorways, and climbing vines feel quintessentially British.
Older-Looking English Cottage
Nat Woods loves French antiques and furnishings and owns a Morris Minor automobile—named Mrs. Taylor—that takes her through the Hampshire and West Sussex countryside. Although Nat's house looks like a tidy but slightly rustic farmhouse/cottage, it was actually built in 1993. In her blog, Laid Back Farmhouse, Nat chronicles renovating and decorating a cottage home as she adds period architectural elements, wainscoting, and light, cozy furnishings to give a newish home character and lots of personal touches.
By the Sea
Another renovation that's a work in progress is Laura's 1920s cottage on the coast of Devon, England. Dubbed her "forever home by the sea", the property sits on an acre with a wild garden that she and her husband are in the process of renovating, like everything else. Did you ever think that English gardeners might want an American look? Laura is hoping to give her landscape a "New England kind of vibe" with Adirondack chairs and a fire pit. Of course, she won't rule out a classic English country garden, and her interior has a patina that is both cozy and refreshing.
Savoring the English Countryside
As the owner of Gather & Graze Boards, Kyle Campbell divides her time between her home base of Nashville and long working trips to England. Captivated by the English country lifestyle, she frequently explores villages to take in breathtaking homes and gardens. "There is nothing like an English village in June," she says. "English summers are something special." The thatched wood, stone construction, and climbing roses of this cottage feel romantic and historic.
Charlwood Charmer
Take the brick path to a 16th-century cottage in Charlwood, England, that once had a wooden chimney. Wisely, it was replaced long ago with fire-retardant brick. This old gem includes a steeply pitched, false thatched roof and classic Tudor half-timbering details on its facade. There's something about it that feels right out of a storybook, from its clearly handmade construction to the dormer windows peeping out like eyes from the roof.
What Is Tudor Architecture? History and Key Characteristics
Bibury Cottage
Pink English roses surround a country cottage in Bibury, a rural village and tourist destination in Gloucestershire with many historic Cotswold buildings and tea houses. Note the characteristic front-facing gables and steeply pitched roof. The setting feels both elegant and intimate, embodying the English aesthetic.
British Miami
One of the first projects for the architectural firm of McCown Design was Fairhope Cottage, an English country cottage...in Miami. McCown added elements to give it a refreshed, modern cottage look. There's a traditional subtly curved roofline, dormers, lintels made of reclaimed brick, contrasted with more modern dark accents for the trim, windows, doors, and posts and beams. You'll see thickly painted brick embedded in sand and lintels made of reclaimed brick. It's a contrast with the surrounding architecture, yet it blends right into its landscape
Storybook Cottage
Fittingly, this whimsical storybook cottage with a steeply pitched thatched red roof is in Devon, England, which is known for medieval towns, towering coastal cliffs, and fossils along its Jurassic Coast. This feels like something right out of a fairy tale with the turquoise blue accents and roof that feels almost surreal. You could expect a magical creature to pop out of the front door at any moment.
Charming English Cottage in Illinois
A 3,000-square-foot house in Hinsdale, Illinois, was designed by Michael Abraham Architecture to appear as an established quaint stucco cottage-style home. Looking at it from the facade, you'd never guess it has a sprawling floor plan. The sloped roof, dormer windows, and small panes give it a perfectly British appeal. Set on rolling hills, the home is landscaped with native plants that complement its design.
Castle Combe
Freelance writer and editor Elaine lives in Bath, England, and is an old house and cottage fanatic. This cottage is in Wiltshire's Castle Combe, considered one of the prettiest and "quintessentially English" villages. Since the town receives so many visitors and is often photographed, owners keep their cottages and gardens well manicured. This one, with its large stone brick facade and charmingly old stone wall, is exactly what you imagine when you think of a centuries-old village.
Elm Cottage
This pale yellow early 19th-century stucco cottage, which overlooks Barnes Pond, was originally built for the village schoolmaster. Located in the Borough of Richmond upon Thames, the district of Barnes has many 18th- and 19th-century homes and buildings. This is a simpler construction than many of the other cottages, with a gable roof, symmetrical facade, and two chimneys, but the picket fence and gingerbread detailing give it a charming appeal.
Wiltshire English Cottage
After living in London for 18 years, Laura recently "closed the door on my flat for the last time" and moved to her dream home: a cottage in a tiny rural village in Wiltshire. This charmer has the false thatched roof; leaded, multi-paned windows, and stacked chimneys. The free-growing garden in the front is a timeless English countryside look.
Village Beauty
Photographer Corinna takes stunning pictures of the villages near her home in Wiltshire, England. This particular cottage is her favorite, and has an authentic thatched roof, curved dormers, wood-framed or casement windows, and lovely garden.
History of English Cottages
Cottages grew out of the Picturesque architectural movement of England and Europe, starting in the late 1700s. Initially, the Picturesque style was used to describe buildings or landscapes inspired by scenes depicted in then-contemporary paintings, like those of French masters Claude Lorrain or Nicolas Poussin. The cottages were rustic, in rural areas or small villages, and made with local materials and resources (Vernacular architecture). Styles often blended, with many using Gothic and Tudor architectural elements, which suggested Medieval roots.
Before universities trained architects, carpenters and craftspersons built homes by following plans outlined in illustrated books published by architects like Alexander Parris, Benjamin Henry Latrobe, and Alexander Downing. One of the most popular, Downing's 1842-published Cottage Residences, introduced Picturesque architecture to homeowners and builders. Designers emphasized the charms of a rugged and rustic lifestyle in the country.
The Influence of Voysey
At the turn of the century, the architectural, furniture, and wallpaper designs of Charles Francis Annesley Voysey became extremely popular. Cotswold homes of the 1700s inspired Voysey's Tudor cottage designs of the early 20th century. Voysey supported the use of stucco on wood framing for cladding in his Tudor designs. After 1920, the solid-stucco home-building technique was preferred; leaving behind the half-stone/masonry and half-timber patterns.
The cottage style was phased out around World War II, after which postwar home builders promoted a whole new modern world.
Types of English Cottages
While all English cottages have a cozy, charming feel and abundant cottage garden plants, there are several different architectural and regional differences that are worth noting. Here's a look at a few of the most sought after cottage styles.
Thatched cottages: A thatched cottage is instantly recognizable thanks to its roof that is made of thatched straw or reed. Typically, the roof extends past a normal roofline, meeting dormer windows.
Yorkshire Dales cottages: The Yorkshire Dales are known for their historic stone cottages, often surrounded by dry-stone walls and set against a backdrop of rolling hills dotted with barns.
Cotswolds cottages: The storybook cottages in the Cotswolds are recognizable for their Tudor details, including arched doorways, thatched roofs, climbing greenery, and fireplaces.
Vicarages, Parsonages, and Rectories: All three of these country homes were where you'd find rectors, vicars, and other religious leaders, yet these architectural styles could range from a cottage to a grand manor house.
Half-timbered cottages: A half-timbered house shows its structural timbers on the exterior. It resembles a Tudor style house, though these are not necessarily the same. They are called half timber because half of the oak timber shows on the outside.
Fishermen cottages: A fisherman cottage is the most simple of the English cottages, with a practical facade that has little detail. It's often one story, with a front door, simple windows, and gable roof.
How Much Do English Cottages Cost?
Anytime you're building a smaller home, it's going to cost less than a home that has more square footage. However, how much your English cottage costs will be determined by the amount of detail and the materials that go into it. Typically, with standard materials and specifications, cottages may cost between $175,000 - $350,000.
If you build a custom cottage with premium materials, expect to pay between $150 to $250 per square foot, however, if you opt for a prefab cottage with standard specifications, you could pay closer to $125 to $175 a square foot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a house an English cottage?
A house is an English cottage thanks to charming details like a thatched roof, stone, wood, and other rustic materials, as well as landscaping including picket fences and English gardens.
What size house is considered a cottage?
Typically, a cottage is a smaller structure, between 1,000 and 1,200 square feet.
What is the difference between a French cottage and an English cottage?
A French cottage is typically less cozy than an English cottage, which is a result of their warmer climate. There's less need to curl up by a fireplace in France, and the cottages are airier with light neutral earth tones.
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Read the original article on The Spruce.
