What is Cottage Design?

Go to current magazines and you'll get the idea that cottage design and shabby sheik are synonymous. Is that the full picture, or is there more to cottages than distressed furniture and floral prints? The answer lies in the essence of "cottage."

The dictionary defines cottage as a small modest house, and then mentions that anything near a river or lake used as a vacation house is also called a cottage. Sometimes such vacation houses are called "cottage" even though they are far larger than the dictionary definition would seem to imply, so it seems the dictionary definition doesn't really cover the current understanding of cottage. Perhaps an exploration of the roots of cottages can shed some light on the subject.

Once upon a time, cottages were the living space of the common man; usually a one room space with dirt floor and thatched roof. Such cottages look quaint and romantic, and they evoke all sorts of sweet memories of childhood (mostly thanks to that purveyor of childhood magic, Walt Disney). The reality was a bit less romantic though. For instance, canopy beds were developed because so many critters were living in the thatching of the roof. Critters such as bugs, rodents, cats and even dogs (yes, dogs!). Remember the saying, "It's raining cats and dogs!"? Its origin is in the fact that during hard rains, the thatching would become so slippery that the animals could no longer hang on and would slide off the roof. Imagine if you were in bed and a cat or dog wormed its way into the thatching above your head. You would be showered with debris, and bugs, and heaven only knows what. So people began putting tall posts at the corners of their beds and tying sheets to them to catch the unpleasantness, and the canopy bed was born. Wealthier people added heavier duty frames, supports in the middle, and even curtains around the whole thing. Warmer, doesn't collapse, rodents can't find their way in . . . a very practical set of solutions indeed.

Ever wonder where the term "threshold" came from? A dirt floor could become quite messy during the winter, so people would scatter straw (a leftover from threshing grains) over the dirt to tame any mud problems. When the "thresh" became dirty, you could just scatter a fresh layer over the top. Of course, it was easily tracked out of the house since the floor was the same level as the outside, so a piece of wood was placed across the doorway to keep the straw from straying, and the "thresh hold" was born. Again a very practical solution.

Cottages were buildings made for simple living. Practicality, reasonable size, and comfort were the main considerations. Today most people think of cottages as having only one story, though if we use the three principles just mentioned: practicality, reasonable size, and comfort, it isn't necessary to rule out a second story. In reality, each of these principles is open to interpretation. What is a reasonable size for empty-nesters of moderate income is not the same as reasonable size for a family of six with a high income. Now "cottage" isn't a description of size or status level, it is about the way a space feels and functions for its occupants.

If you work from home, practicality demands a spacious, functional home office. Commuters looking for place to get away from work might very well settle for an office nook in the kitchen. Homeschoolers might need a light, airy, classroom space that can be closed up when the schoolwork is done for the day. Each household has a unique set of practical demands to make on its domain.

Comfort in Florida is obtained by wide open, breezy, shaded windows (with strong shutters for protection in inclement weather). In the Pacific Northwest, thick log walls and windows that catch all possible sun are more like it. Some people like a space to be full of their own things, others prefer a Zen-like minimalist environment. No one space is comfortable for every person in every environment.

Cottage design is design that evokes a sense of well-being in life. Anybody, with any style, can have a "cottage" to suit their own tastes and lifestyle. If these three principles, practicality, reasonable size, and comfort, are adhered to in your home, a feeling of peace and homeyness will be nurtured there, and you may find the house you call home becoming a place your family never wants to abandon.

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