How To Choose A Cottage Design

Whether you view your future cottage as a tranquil wilderness retreat where you can get away from the distractions of modern life, or you are envisioning the family party place of the summer, how you choose to design your cottage today will have a big influence over how you will be able to use it in the future.

The following are a few examples of cottage decisions you will have to make and some guidelines on how to make them.

1. Choosing The Right Location.

Choosing the right location is one of the most important decisions you’ll have in building your cottage. Physical elements of the cottage itself can be altered to some extent later on, but the land you choose today is the land you will have for every single trip to your cottage for as long as you own it.

Think about where you wish to locate. You may love the idea of being extremely remote, but ask yourself if that is really practical when you are bringing the kids. Would you get more use and enjoyment out of your cottage if it was closer to home? Does your chosen location have road access, and if not do you have the extra money in your budget that will be required?

Click here for a list of 10 Questions To Ask When Buying A Lot To Build On.

2. Lake Access.

Many of our customers tell us that they want their cottage to be on or near a lake. But even here, there are decisions to be made. Will your family use the lake mainly for swimming? If so, choosing a location near a sandy beach might be the best choice. Are you more interested in fishing or zipping around the water on your Jet Ski? Then perhaps a deeper lake with a dock is more important to you.

3. Single Level vs. Multi Level.

Once you’ve got the location nailed down, it is time to look at the structure of the cottage. Choosing a single level cottage without any stairs is a great option if you have family members with mobility issues or if you expect to entertain older guests. On the other hand, if you have a young family, you might want to have a second floor so the younger kids can sleep in their upstairs bedrooms while the adults stay up and socialize on the main floor.

Looking for a design? Click here to view our Cottage Collection.

4. Square Footage.

Another consideration is how big you want or need your cottage to be. Do you envision it as being mainly a romantic getaway for you and your love? If so, having something a little smaller may be the most practical. Or will your cottage be the destination for large family reunions? If so, you really need to plan ahead and consider how much space you will need. How many bedrooms or bathrooms?

5. Your Must-Haves.

Finally, one of the best things about custom-built cottages is that you have the opportunity to include all those must-haves that you’ve been dreaming about. Do you want a massive dining room with views of the lake? Do you want a wrap-around porch where you can curl up with your favourite book? Try to figure out what your must-haves are by imagining how you wish to use the space and what it would need to include to make those activities possible.

While there is no single “right” way to go about choosing your design elements for your cottage, it is helpful first imagine how you would like to spend time there and let those mental images guide your decisions.

For more advice on choosing the right cottage design to meet your needs, contact our team today.

CONTACT US:

Send us a message online: click here
Give us a call: 1-800-265-2648
Send us an email: info@qualityhomes.ca