Cottage extension ideas – 10 cute cottage additions

Cottages are adorable, but they often lack the room that contemporary families want. These additional ideas will help remedy this problem. Adding a place to your property that has been carefully considered can significantly impact your quality of life and the value of your home.

Preserving the cottage’s inherent charm by retaining old features like fireplaces and exposed wood is essential. Period Living editor Melanie Griffiths adds, “Sometimes just building on a minor extension, such as filling in the side-return, and reorganizing the room’s arrangement can be revolutionary.”

We’ve compiled many examples to help you build your own cottage addition, from contemporary glass boxes to classic thatched roofs.

1. OPT FOR OAK FOR A TRADITIONAL AND SENSITIVE COTTAGE ADDITION

In addition to providing character, texture, and an ageless appeal, a green oak frame complements most forms of the cottage. It is intrinsically adaptable, as noted by Merry Albright, design director at Border Oak.

A self-supporting feature of oak framed additions is that they can be built to flush against the host home without any structural “tying in” that would add time and money to the project. Since putting in load-bearing walls or otherwise altering the construction of an older cottage is often a leap of faith with high financial stakes, this is often of paramount importance.

2. CREATE CONTRAST WITH A MODERN GLASS BOX COTTAGE EXTENSION

Generally, people expect additions to cottages to look like they were always a part of it. Although this is possible, it rarely leads to a seamless transition between the old and the new. Instead, homeowners and architects are increasingly drawn to ultra-contemporary glass designs highlighting the property’s evolution through time.

This beautiful extension delineates the transition from the original 400-year-old home to the newer, more modern addition. This sleek, contemporary glazed design respects the old home’s charm by mimicking the cottage’s gable end. Because it is just held in place by a glass link, removing it won’t have any lasting effects on the ancient structure.

3. BUILD UP TO CREATE AN EXTRA BEDROOM

There may be additional requirements when constructing a two-story cottage addition. But it can radically change your property by adding a bedroom, an ensuite, or an upstairs bathroom, all of which will increase the resale value of your cottage and make it much more functional.

4. CREATE A KITCHEN PERFECT FOR ENTERTAINING

If your cottage kitchen is cramped and dark, add some windows and open the room with a simple expansion. If your kitchen views the garden, adding square footage by expanding outward or into a side return is a simple and cost-effective way to make the most of your space.

Floor-to-ceiling windows and patio doors let in plenty of natural light and create a dynamic focal point by framing views of the garden beyond.

5. CHOOSE A GLAZED DESIGN TO FLOOD YOUR COTTAGE WITH LIGHT

A sizable backyard isn’t necessary if you’re considering adding a glass addition to your house. The orangery’s spectacular domed roof lantern, designed in the Victorian style, lets in plenty of light and serves as a stunning introduction to the home.

6. MAKE THE MOST OF A COTTAGE GARDEN WITH GLAZING

A conservatory, orangery, or garden room addition is a common technique to increase the square footage of a home and can work for various types of buildings. A glazed addition can be either an independent room or part of a larger open floor plan, and it can be used for everything from cooking and eating to lounging and entertaining.

Is it consistent with the atmosphere of the host establishment and its immediate surroundings? “David Salisbury’s Director of Creative Services, Karen Bell,” states the article. Do you respect the height restrictions where you are constructing the boundary, and does it have an appropriate relationship with the host building? If a proposal is well-executed, in my experience, it will likely be approved by planners.

7. JOIN YOUR COTTAGE TO OUTBUILDINGS WITH A GLAZED LINK

This glass-box-style cottage addition unites the historic 16th-century cottage with the more modern brick and wood outbuilding. The connecting room’s vintage furnishings and decor reflect the equilibrium of the contemporary with the old.

According to Thames Valley Window Company’s managing director Ryan Schofield, “the trend for adding huge sections of glass continues, with the blend of old and new attracting the focus.”

8. CREATE A SEAMLESS COTTAGE ADDITION BY MATCHING MATERIALS

“When your home was built, it was supposed to be the final product, in harmony with the neighbouring houses and garden. Mel Griffiths, the editor of Period Living, explains that “extension can sometimes be the only option to safeguard a home’s future for decades, and hopefully centuries, to come.” This is because of the massive increase in the cost of living.

To make the addition appear as though it was always a part of the house, it’s best to go with the same building materials and methods you utilized for the original structure. Though the addition is subtle, the extra space this cottage now offers is much appreciated.

9. TAKE IN SPLENDID VIEWS WITH A GLAZED COTTAGE EXTENSION

Stunning scenery is a central selling point for rural real estate. But cottages, with their little windows, fail to make the most of their picturesque locations. Glazing, an addition, allows more light and views into the room and makes the room feel larger. Choose an aluminium model because it has minimal sight lines and will enable you to enjoy the environment in any weather.

10. CONSIDER ADDING A PORCH FOR A MORE WELCOMING ENTRANCE

To make a grand first impression, consider building a porch. This modest addition not only serves as an eye-catching focal point for the front of your cottage but also as an extra room that prevents dirty shoes from being tracked inside.

Choose a style that looks good in your house. The porch’s bargeboard and finals give it a charming cottage look, making it practically impossible to tell that it was added at a later date.

SHOULD I HIRE AN ARCHITECT FOR MY COTTAGE EXTENSION?

Hiring a professional house designer or architect who has worked on cottage expansions is wise since they can examine your property and provide layout and design suggestions that you had not considered.

They will bring more than simply architectural knowledge to the project; they will have worked with the local planning department before and be familiar with all the rules and regulations.

Though it’s possible to save money by developing a design on your own (especially if you’re constructing a slight expansion), mistakes may be extremely costly (and even catastrophic), so it’s usually best to hire pros.