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English cottage porch


12 ways to a cozy, welcoming entrance |

(Image credit: Jeremy Phillips)

A cottage porch is not just an essential addition to quaint country homes – it's a look to aspire to for anyone wanting to create an entrance that is welcoming, intimate and cozy.

Porch ideas tend to be on the smaller size for cottages, but that doesn't mean they can't have impact.

'These little outdoor rooms – usually off the front, back or side of the house – can be so many things: a stately extension of the front hall, a depository of rocking chairs, or a shady room for naps,' says interior designer Miles Redd, from New York City-based Redd Kaihoi  .

Redd originates from the South, where porches are particularly popular. 'In the South, we relish a good porch, especially in the spring – when it is warm, but with a cool breeze waiting in the wings.'

Cottage porch ideas

More than just a practical addition, a cottage porch is the ultimate expression of comfort. It gives a warm embrace that makes you feel truly at home. These cottage decorating ideas will help you get yours right.

1. Add seating to your cottage porch – and take in the view 

(Image credit: John Gruen)

As Redd suggests, rocking chairs are a charming addition to a cottage porch, allowing you to while away the hours and soak up the local atmosphere. 

If your porch is raised, it will need to be fairly deep to be able to fit in rocking chairs and safely roll back and forth.

For a narrower porch area, choose a more compact seat with comfy cushions. Rattan or all-weather wicker furniture is an ideal choice, as it has a softer look and will stay looking good year round.

This is a lovely way, whether for front or back porch ideas, to make the most of a beautiful view.

(Image credit: Douglas Gibb)

Though cozy and homely, cottages are not known for their generous room proportions, so consider adding a small porch that doubles as a cottage extension or second living space.

This stone cottage has been extended with a shiplapped front porch, which has added an informal living room and softened the exterior. Double doors open onto a patio seating area with spectacular views.

'A living-porch makes the ultimate warm welcome, and a great spot to wait for visitors to arrive – even on a cold day,' says Andrea Childs, editor of Country Homes & Interiors.

'Make the space an inviting sanctuary with a cozy bench seat, lots of cushions and a soft rug.'

3. Add homey touches for a cottage porch look

(Image credit: Jeremy Phillps)

A cottage porch should make an entrance feel warm and inviting, and connect emotionally with a visitor. One of the best ways to achieve this is by adding thoughtful touches that treat the space as an extension of the inside.

No one knows the importance of accessorizing a porch more than Magnolia founder and Fixer Upper star Joanna Gaines. ‘I think little things like potted plants, sconces, front door mats… things that when you walk in just feel intentional,’ she revealed on a tour of her family farmhouse on the Today Show.

Gaines often adds flower boxes and sitting areas to front porches when designing homes, to evoke the perfect cottage feel. In this design, painted outdoor storage and bench seating add a snug corner, and somewhere to take off muddy boots.

Another way? Through porch paint ideas: white will look light and airy, black smart and formal, earthy tones like these, welcoming and just right for a cottage. 

4. Build a cottage porch on the side of your home

(Image credit: Colin Poole)

When the entrance is located to the side of a house, the front facade can lack impact and a central focus. However, adding a side porch extension allows for the creation of a street-facing door, and creates a generous space that can double as a mudroom or sitting area, and can run to the back of the house, giving access to the garden.

If your entrance is already on the front elevation, then adding a porch to the side of a house gives the opportunity to change the interior layout, which can be ideal if the front door opens a main living space directly onto the street.

Clad in dark-stained shiplap, this pretty porch has a lovely country feel, while the cottage-style gate and sage paint add a softer touch.

5. Illuminate your cottage porch with stylish outdoor lighting

(Image credit: Davey Lighting)

Porch lighting ideas are essential to include, but for cottage porches, it will set an even homier atmosphere.

'Bulkheads, path and step lights make dark or steep walkways safer to use, while a pendant in a covered porch or box wall lights flanking the front door create a warm welcome, as well as enabling you to find your keys,' says Charlie Bowles, director at Davey Lighting.

The brand's square pendant is a simple, classic design with a weathered brass finish, which will tone in beautifully with a cottage aesthetic - also a great way to add character and style to the ceiling for porch ceiling ideas.

6. Make a cottage porch feel part of the garden

(Image credit: Colin Poole)

This classic English Cotswold cottage makes its porch feel at one with the cottage garden by enclosing it with planting and painting the woodwork in a soft moss shade.

But it reveals another clever idea – using the roof to display containers. This trick really frames the porch with greenery and entices you to go inside.

You can only really do this where there is a flat-roofed section that can take the weight. Where this isn't possible, add hanging baskets or window boxes to heighten the connection between porch and garden.

(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)

The weather can rarely be relied upon to be consistently temperate. So consider making your porch more versatile with external shutters, which can be closed off when the sun or wind get too much, or if you want extra privacy.

The soft blue and cream of this color scheme by Benjamin Moore are perfect for a country cottage look.

8. Create a vintage-style reading nook

(Image credit: Jody Stewart)

Cottage porches are perfect for creating a small corner to escape the hustle and bustle of family life. If you can squeeze in room for a chair and side table, then it makes a fabulous spot for reading or writing.

Unlike a rear garden room, relaxing in a front porch makes you feel connected with the world beyond your property, so you can while away the hours watching people and animals pass by.

Make the space feel relaxed and intimate with painted furniture and vintage accessories.

The porch on this English country cottage has a charming exterior to match, with a pretty barge board and finial, and country-style double doors. A cottage garden makes the perfect approach.

9. Add color to a cottage porch with containers

(Image credit: Kasia Fiszer)

Plants are essential for adding color and life to a cottage porch, so fill your space with containers, or perhaps line the steps leading up to your front door with pots. 

'Garden pots are always going to be a good look – don’t be shy of scaling these up,' says interior designer Benji Lewis .

'When it comes to pots, I would likely choose terracotta – those glazed ones that suggest that farmhouse holiday in Provence, filled with something the bees will love, then pop a climbing rose in another pot and train it over the door. '

10. Enhance the cottage feel with rustic materials

(Image credit: Colin Poole)

Part of the appeal of cottages is that they are humbler homes, so use natural and rustic materials to enhance the look and make the space feel more lived in.

‘Think cool brick floors, old wicker, and lush ferns,’ says Miles Redd. 'Porches are a magnet, because they offer so much comfort in the great outdoors.'

In this porch, an exposed timber ceiling, aged stone floor and textured brick walls are beautifully softened by painted woodwork, sheer drapes, an antique rug, and plants in terracotta pots. A vintage wicker chair (just seen) provides the perfect spot to take in the views.

11. Keep it simple with an oak-frame cottage porch

(Image credit: Welsh Oak Frame)

An oversized porch can detract from the charm of rustic cottages, so consider that a simple open-sided structure might best suit your home.

The roof of this oak-frame porch by Welsh Oak Frame keeps you dry while unlocking the front door, and adds a warm focal point to the facade.

12. Bring in the light with plenty of glazing

(Image credit: Jeremy Phillps)

If you're worried that adding a cottage porch will block light to the inside of your home, then make sure the design maximizes glazing.

On this home, the glass features stunning gothic arch detailing on the tall windows, to complement the period property. The roof also includes rooflights, to bring in ample light.

Furnished with vintage-inspired metal furniture, the space doubles as a garden room, and is the perfect spot to remove muddy boots after a walk in the countryside.

As editor of Period Living, Britain's best-selling period homes magazine, Melanie loves the charm of older properties. I live in a rural village just outside the Cotswolds in England, so am lucky to be surrounded by beautiful homes and countryside, where I enjoy exploring. Having worked in the industry for almost two decades, Melanie is interested in all aspects of homes and gardens. Her previous roles include working on Real Homes and Homebuilding & Renovating, and she has also contributed to Gardening Etc. She has an English degree and has also studied interior design. Melanie frequently writes for Homes & Gardens about property restoration and gardening.

Know Your Home: Cottage Style Curb Appeal - West

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Learn about Cottage Style for your exterior, including lots of ideas and sources.

Cottage style homes are having a moment.

And why not? Cottage style is cozy and warm while still being timeless. Unfortunately, there are a lot of conflicting ideas about what a cottage is. Searching the internet gives you a LOT of confusing information.

Simply put, “Cottage” is a style of architecture. It doesn’t matter what size the house is – you can have a giant cottage or a tiny one. You can have a Cottage even if you don’t live in England.

How to get Cottage Style Curb Appeal

The first step is to confirm you have a house that is cottage in style, both in the architecture and the materials.

If your home has any combo of the following:

… you may be living in a cottage! And if it doesn’t have these things, it’s the perfect place to start to add that cottage feeling.

Every cottage will have these essential characteristics in varying degrees, regardless of its size or location—the real defining one though, is that street-facing pitched roof open gable. If your gable faces the other way, you most likely have a bungalow or a colonial. Cottages always face front.

And a quick note about the “Euro” cottage style: it simply doesn’t exist. If your home has Cottage characteristics but also some other stuff that’s not immediately recognizable, it’s probably a McMansion. The best way to deal with that is to either not buy that house or have a good architect because they typically require significant changes to the structure to make any sense of them.

On to the materials!!

Standard Cottage Materials

The materials used on your home can also be an indicator of the style of your home.

Cottages, no matter their style, typically have the same family of material finishes on their exterior. Each style may use more or less of any of these, and most cottage-style homes will have more than one of these materials at a time.

  1. STONE SURFACES: The most common exterior surface for a cottage is stone. You’ll see it applied to the entire exterior, or in smaller areas, like just the foundation.
  2. WOOD ACCENTS: To be specific, I mean unpainted, NATURAL wood surfaces. Examples could be doors, shutters, window sills, or support posts and beams.
  3. WOOD SHINGLES: Roofing is the most frequent use for wood shingles. Wood shingles also clad the walls for some cottage styles. These are genuine wood, but there are some excellent facsimiles available if you’re looking for this style roof.
  4. PAINTED SURFACES: Yes, duh, I know, painted surfaces on a house. Groundbreaking observation. Hear me out, though. Painted areas are typically used only as an accent on a cottage. The more natural wood and stone surfaces generally are the majority of the exterior surface.
Which Cottage Style?

In North America, homes that have cottage architecture are typically styled in one of the following ways:

Unsurprisingly, this will almost always have to do with WHERE exactly your cottage is located. Location is everything!!

Each style will use the basic cottage materials in different ways and have different color treatments, hardware styles, and landscaping.

Let’s take a deeper look at each…

JUMP TO A STYLE:
English | Suburban | Modern | Beach | Mountain

English Cottage Exterior Style

You may be living in an English Style Cottage if:

English cottage style is found all over North America, too, but especially in the places where gardens pretty much grow themselves – ie Southern California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Upper Midwest.

Inspiration for an English Cottage:
Designing an English Cottage Exterior:

Here is how I would help a client with their English Style Cottage:

  1. STONE EXTERIOR: To get a really authentic look, I’d start with cladding every single exterior surface of your home in some sort of stone or masonry. For the most charming look, we’d want to make sure we limit straight lines. I’d help you look for a flat face veneer, a tumbled stone with wide-set mortar lines between each piece. Windows should have exposed wood beam lintels and sills and be left to their natural color. (This is a great place to go faux!)
  2. WOOD SHINGLED ROOF: A classic way to add more natural texture is with a cedar shake roof. I would help you decide if you want to go natural or composite. If you go the genuine route, you can let it weather to a soft grey over time, or the really great composite options will look great from day one. And natural copper gutters and details will add richness, warmth, and even more charm.
  3. ARCHED DOORWAY: If it doesn’t already, I’d recommend that we make sure the main entry door to your home should be arched in some way. The arch detail will add balance to all the straight lines from the divided windows and the steep angles of the rooflines.
  4. ADD CHARM: What would an English Cottage be without a charming garden? So for the final touches, I’d recommend that the front garden be riotous with color and texture and feature flowers heavily. Then we’d accessorize the house with a gorgeous hanging lantern that replicates natural candlelight and numbers that look hand-wrought. You can add even more English style with shutters that have full strap hinges and interesting hold-downs.
Sources for your English Cottage:

LANTERN | DOOR | HINGES | SHUTTER

ROSES | LINTELS | HOUSE NUMBERS | CLADDING

Suburban Cottage Exterior Style

You may be living in a Suburban Style Cottage if:

Inspiration for a Suburban Style Cottage:
Designing a Suburban Cottage Exterior:

Here’s how I would help a client with a Suburban Cottage:

  1. SMALL SCALE: This one is really important and the best place to start. We want to make sure everything you select matches the small scale of your structure. We don’t go for the giant lantern, we want to keep the numbers on the short side, and we shouldn’t overwhelm the house with tall plants in the front yard. I’d also recommend keeping the color scheme limited to 2 or 3 tones of the same color for the materials because too much strong contrast can look a wee bit crazy on houses this small.
  2. ADD A POP OF COLOR: That being said, while the siding can be a nice neutral, we want to make sure to add a bright hit of color in one spot. The front door or the shutters are the perfect places to do this. Keep it punchy and fun!
  3. GREEN LANDSCAPE: I always say you should enjoy the reason you moved to the suburbs in the first place and really go for it with easy to care for smaller shrubs, colorful flowers, and a gorgeously lush green lawn.
  4. TALL CHIMNEY: Finally, the chimneys on these houses look way too tall for the smaller structures. But this is how they’re pulling in even more cottage charm, so let them shine!
Sources for your Suburban Cottage:
MAIN PAINT, SHUTTER PAINT, DOOR PAINT | DOOR | LANTERN | STONE CLADDING
HOUSE NUMBERS | BOXWOODS | SHUTTERS | SHINGLES

Modern Cottage Exterior Style

You may be living in a Modern Style Cottage if:

Inspiration for a Modern Cottage:
Designing a Modern Cottage Exterior:

Here is how I would guide a client who wanted a Modern Cottage:

  1. CRISP DETAILS: Ideally, your home would already have a crisp and clean architecture. This means that everything is very linear, objects come to a point, and there are few, if any, curves. Eaves are usually really small or non-existent, and there are no fussy add-on details.
  2. FLAT SURFACES: Unlike the other cottage styles, there are very flat or smooth surfaces in place of most of the siding or cladding. I’d recommend stucco or brick be used instead of stone or siding. Removing or replacing existing siding and veneers are a quick change that will give an instant modern look.
  3. FULL MULLIONS: And now the details! Because there is so little detail on these homes, the windows become the star. So we would pay special attention to the mullion and frame style and select black frames inside and out.
  4. PAINTED FINISHES: Finally, and blessedly, EVERYTHING IS PAINTED. EVERYTHING. And if it’s not painted, it’s the same color as something else – the roof matches the trim, window trim matches siding, doors match the trim or roof. No pops of color here! Go with warmer whites and blacks, and be prepared to swatch many colors to get just the right feeling for your natural lighting.
Sources for your Modern Cottage:
HOUSE NUMBERS | ENTRY DOOR | CLIPPED BOXWOOD | SHUTTERS
MAIN PAINT, DOOR PAINT | LANTERN | ROOFING | PLANTER

Beach Cottage Exterior Style

You may be living in a Beach Cottage if:

Inspiration for a Beach Cottage:
Designing a Beach Cottage Exterior:

Here’s how I’d help a client with their beach cottage…

  1. SHINGLED EXTERIOR: The simplest options are often the right one, so for these homes, I’d recommend cedar shake shingles on every surface. The big decision is if you want to go with genuine wood shingles that will weather gradually over the years, saving money upfront, or instead use a top-notch faux version for the same effect instantly, which are more expensive upfront but will save you time for years to come.
  2. WHITE TRIM: Deciding to go with white trim is the easy choice here! And then everything that isn’t shingles or deck flooring is painted white. If you have shutters, I would recommend blending them into the grey color of the shingles. And then, the front door is a great place for a pop of soft yet bright color. Go for it!
  3. COVERED DECK: Sitting and watching the sunset is a big part of having a house at the beach, so I’d recommend adding a covered porch for not only charm but to provide a great place to nap in the afternoon.
  4. ADDED DORMERS: If it doesn’t already have them, dormers can add some needed interest to the roofline. If you plan it right, you can have a dormer that you can fit a bed into. So cozy!
Sources for your Beach Cottage:
LANTERN | SIDING | SHUTTER | TRIM PAINT
HOUSE NUMBERS | DOOR | DOOR PAINT | ORNAMENTAL GRASSES

Mountain Cottage Exterior Style

You might live in a Mountain Style Cottage if:

Inspiration for a Mountain Cottage:
Designing a Mountain Style Exterior:

Here is how I would help a client with their Mountain Cottage:

  1. SIDED EXTERIOR: Siding, be it wood, steel, or composite, should be at least 50% of the home’s exterior. So we’d work together to decide on all the same style or a balance of vertical, horizontal, or shake. Then, select a paint with colors that reflect the surroundings and finish the siding. Finally, I’d find some places to add Stone veneer as an accent.
  2. BEAMS ON GABLES: The most defining feature of a mountain cottage is the beams on the open gables over the front entry. We could leave these natural in color or tie them into either the siding or paint color.
  3. LOTS OF WINDOWS: Because of the remote location, privacy isn’t as much of an issue, so I’d recommend letting that glorious light shine in! If they are not already, I’d recommend windows divided with mullions and accent them with shutters.
  4. HIDDEN CHIMNEY: So, the chimney isn’t the focal point here. If you have a fireplace on the front of your house, I’d recommend blending the stack into the siding – let the beams and the window be the stars!
Sources for your Mountain Cottage:
LANTERN | DOOR | HOUSE NUMBERS | ASPEN TREE
FAUX SHAKE ROOF | FAUX STONE | SIDING PAINT, TRIM PAINT | SHUTTERS

And that wraps up this edition of “Know Your Home.” If you EVER need help figuring out what to do for the exterior of your home or would like a custom option just for you, please reach out!

Whenever you’re ready, I’m here to help make sense of it all!

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Cottage project in the English style.

Houses in the English simple style. Three types of English houses

Each of us, sooner or later, thinks about settling down and settling down somewhere outside the city, having our own plot and our own family nest. When planning a future place of residence, we involuntarily follow the famous proverb - "My home is my fortress." As a rule, families want to live in large and impregnable houses on the outside, but elegant and cozy inside. It is these qualities that meet the buildings in the English style

Features

Traditional English architecture developed in the 17th century when England dominated European countries. She personified, first of all, power and strength, but with the restraint and conservatism inherent in the British. It should also be noted that the British, three hundred years ago, tried to combine beauty and comfort in their home.

Country houses in the spirit of old England often look like castles, characterized by a combination of conciseness and luxury.

The following features of buildings in the English style can be distinguished:

Dimensions

The classic two-storey castle in the spirit of the Tudor era is characterized by brutality and impressiveness, such a house can be safely called an impregnable fortress. The construction of houses in the Gregorian style relies on simplicity and sophistication. Small one-story buildings in a rustic spirit with a porch or terrace are common. The Victorian mansion can be recognized from all the rest by its impressive size and abundance of decor. Such a country house looks luxurious and pompous.

Exterior options

The exterior of the Tudor mansion has a rather gloomy appearance - thick and impregnable walls, lancet windows and majestic pediments and buttresses. There must be a chimney towering above the house. The windows are small but there are many. The roof has steep slopes, so the overall appearance is slightly asymmetrical.

Gregorian houses are symmetrical, here you can see many elongated windows decorated with arches. Brick is the main material for the construction of such houses. A mandatory detail is the pediment in the central part and the pilasters on the sides.

Victorian country houses richly decorated with carvings and cantilevers on the façade. The general view is slightly asymmetrical, this is due to a large number of turrets and outbuildings, as well as an acute-angled roof of a broken shape.

Particular attention should be paid to the general appearance of the house and the area adjacent to it. A small rustic house will perfectly complement a modest fence and a small garden in front of the house. A prerequisite is the observance of landscape traditions and the creation of the effect of nature untouched by man. Large country mansions are perfectly complemented by smooth paving slabs, a built-in garage and neatly trimmed trees.

Facade

When building an English-style mansion, several types of materials are often used, such as clinker bricks and stone. High pediments and walls lined with uneven stone or hand-made bricks will add a special zest to a country house. Ready-made projects of modern houses amaze with their diversity, architects skillfully combine natural materials, traditional canons and new innovations in construction. Thus, they create a functional and meaningful classic.

Gregorian buildings lack decoration , but the greenery and ivy that wraps around the brick facade of the house perfectly saves the situation. The façade acquires a neat appearance thanks to the low foundation, discreet shades, as well as the tiled roof. But the graceful chimney is usually made of stone, in this contrast lies an unsurpassed feature of English architecture. As for the color, the preference is given to a dark gray roof and light gray walls. A wonderful addition would be a wooden terrace around the house, which will offer a wonderful view of the lawn or pond. The buildings made of red brick look impressive, which remind us of the castles of fairy-tale heroes.

Roof

The intricate and prominent roof dominates the entire exterior of the English mansion. As a rule, in each house it is unique, and this is remarkable. Sharp slopes are not at all a whim of the English aristocracy. First of all, such a layout was created based on the harsh natural conditions of England, it is necessary to protect the facade of a private mansion from adverse humidity and dampness.

The roof occupies most of the building, but there are no attics, so it is quite common to find small attic-type rooms for old knick-knacks and tools.

Windows

An important point in the design are large panoramic windows. In addition to panoramic windows, multi-leaf windows with weaves are often found. As a rule, traditional window openings are installed on the ground floor of the cottage, they are placed a little lower than usual. If the project allows, then the creation of a second light will be an excellent architectural technique.

Interior decoration

The English interior is considered to be one of the most complex and difficult to recreate. This is due to such a characteristic feature as eclecticism, or, in other words, a mixture of styles. The traditional English interior is associated with the name of Queen Victoria. During this era, Asian motifs, romantic plots, and appeal to the details of the Baroque and Gothic periods were especially popular. Thanks to the thoughtful plans of the architects, all these contrasting elements perfectly merged into a solemn British interior.

Natural materials must be used to create an interior in the English style , with a fairly high quality. The English style is characterized by the presence of a large amount of wood. This includes dark wood doors, flooring, skirting boards, cornices, and wood paneling on the walls, which goes well with wallpaper.

Modern technologies make it possible to use panels imitating wood, which has a positive effect on the wallet.

Ceiling

The ceiling is usually painted white with a cornice running along the edges. Often there are decorations of walls and ceilings with stucco. The ceiling painting is often very skillfully done, which is a distinctive technique for decorating an English interior. In the kitchen and in the bedroom, wooden beams imitating old ceilings will look appropriate. Sometimes plastic analogues are used instead of wooden beams.

Walls

In addition to wall paneling, wallpaper is widespread in the interiors of English houses. The winning options will be wallpaper with a Scottish cage color, wallpaper with wide stripes. Preferred colors are dark red and dark green. Do not forget about the rustic style. For decorating the kitchen and living room, wallpaper in a small flower, with rosebuds or with simple ornaments - Indian motifs, birds, exotic flowers is perfect.

Quite often there is a combination of two favorite elements - wallpaper on top and wooden panels on the bottom.

Floor

The floor is covered with light colored tiles. Parquet made of dark wood species is typical for offices and living rooms. Often you can find carpets and small rugs, this detail creates comfort and warmth of the hearth. The British pay much more attention to the cleanliness of the floor, but do not forget that the flooring should fit into the interior and not spoil the overall look of the room and the whole house.

Furniture

Traditional English interior is hard to imagine without a sofa. English quilted sofas are produced using a special Chesterfield technology - this name is generally accepted for this type of sofas and is known all over the world. Also, the British interior is impossible to imagine without a large fireplace in the living room. It is not only an important accent of the interior, but also a gathering place for all household members. Decorate the fireplace with a beautiful stone or precious woods.

It is worth noting that shelving, bookshelves, and a coffee table made of dark wood will perfectly fit into an English-style interior. A variety of books will perfectly complement the interior. In the hall it would be appropriate to place a pair of identical tables of different sizes, hang pictures on the walls, which will create the atmosphere of an old salon.

Pay attention to details - a lot of paintings in gilded frames, a soft footstool upholstered in velvet, a stand for fireplace appliances and umbrellas. All this will add elegance to your interior. Dilute the severity and richness with bright heavy curtains or organize your winter garden on the windowsill by placing flowers in beautiful pots there.

When choosing a bed, you should pay attention to massive models with an unusual canopy. The decoration of the bedroom is perfectly complemented by a round bedside table, several crystal lamps, and a simple wardrobe. A variety of curtains and decorative pillows will help to decorate the bedroom.

The interior of the kitchen is subordinated to household appliances, which are located there. But the main feature of the English-style kitchen is that the equipment must be hidden from the gaze of the incoming person if possible. This can be achieved by masking the refrigerator or stove by cladding, and making the dishwasher and sink built-in. Vintage household appliances are especially popular in the modern market.

Lighting

From decorative lighting in the British interior there are candles in candlesticks and candelabra, crystal candlesticks, table lamps and sconces. Mention should be made of large panoramic windows, which let in much more light than ordinary windows, so the rooms look much lighter and more spacious.

The old designs of English houses are chronologically the oldest, they are much smaller in area than the Tudor houses that appeared at the end of the 15th century, and even more so the large country Georgian and Victorian cottages, and most of all resonate with the medieval style. The common ones are characterized by steep pitched roofs with cross-gables, large stone or brick chimneys at the front of the house, and small openings of double-leaf windows. Entrances were often gables with a collapsed roof that was steep and straight on one side and carefully curved on the other. Doorways are arched or semicircular, richly decorated with fittings and outdoor lighting.

Architectural features of old English projects

Tudor houses

Tudor houses are considered the next step in English cottage architecture. Tudor houses are usually combined - i.e. the first floor is designed from brick or stone, the second floor is an attic type, usually made using half-timbered technology or with decorative overlays made of timber. Roofs in Tudor houses steep, pitched, with finely flared curves on the eaves, the windows are high and narrow. Tudor houses, like Old English ones, have massive chimneys or chimneys, but they are no longer put in the foreground and are located on the side or behind the house. We offer you to get acquainted with the finished projects of Tudor houses, or to carry out individual design of country cottages, carefully planned and functional, in accordance with your wishes.

Georgian houses

The Georgian style of architecture originated in England in the early 18th century and developed between 1720 and 1840. Houses in the English Georgian style are very easy to distinguish from other English projects - they are characterized by precise proportions and balance.

Features of Georgian architecture

English Victorian designs

The Victorian style of architecture flourished for a century, from the 1810s to the early 1910s, but is still relevant today. Especially common in rural areas and suburbs of large US cities. Houses in this style have an asymmetrical facade, a steep roof, bay windows and towers decorated with spindles or carvings, porches with pillars and spacious covered terraces or verandas - with decorative railings.

Gables stand out visually on facades. The decoration of English cottages in the Victorian style is decorated with shingles or siding, the roof is covered with patterned tiles. Traditionally, these houses are mostly two-story or with an attic.

Our clients are constantly talking about "English style" houses. And each of them means different things. It's time to deal with the English houses. We bring clarity.

Let's get rid of excessive detailing of styles and historical twists and turns. We will cut off majestic castles and huge residences. Fortunately, everything fits into a simple scheme. In the "classical" suburban private architecture of England, three periods can be distinguished, in which three images of residential buildings have developed. If we hear about an English-style house, most likely we are talking about one of these three images.

Here it should be noted that all these once established styles are willingly repeated by the modern generation of architects and willingly bought by homeowners. They do not mix, because each has its own canons, which cannot be stepped over without leaving the boundaries of style - English styles are very different.

Tudor style (1500-1600)

Rustic medieval English house from fairy tales. The style proved to be resistant, despite the order architecture of the Italians, which penetrated everywhere into Britain.

Features of the English Tudor style - a brutal look. Very high gables on the main façade, often of different sizes. Huge chimney, next to the front door on the main facade or side. Arched entrance. Small dormers. Sometimes an imitation of a thatched roof. In new versions of buildings, large bay windows are made on the facades.




Tudor features

Examples of Tudor houses in our façade database.

Georgian style 1700-1800

We can say that this is a democratic version of the Palladian style, which was used in England at the same time in stately residences. The style is serious, sometimes even pompous, but quite simple.

London is made up of such houses. Georgian is the urban English style of modern Britain. Georgian style can be traced even with its bold modifications. Most often, this style is meant by our compatriots when they mention the English style.



Even if the façade is not symmetrical, the Georgian style can still be read in the old city buildings of London
.

Examples of Georgian houses in our facade database.

Georgian style features

Victorian 1800-1900

At that time in England, construction was not regulated by the state, as in France, for example, so young English architects willingly practiced on private houses. A lot of practice led to free composition. The architects paid attention to the internal convenience of the house and the variety of social roles of the residents. Less attention was paid to the external attractiveness of the house, Palladian and generally Italian order canons began to be forced out in favor of a convenient layout.

The Industrial Revolution and the mass production of decorative items made it possible to decorate even relatively poor estates. Hence the general decorativeness of the facades. The most striking style of the Victorian era is the style of Queen Anne.




Victorian features

View examples of Victorian houses in our façade database.

If you know these three English styles, you will recognize all classical English architecture. Unless, next time, to expand our cultural horizons, let's talk about

Great Britain, as a rule, is associated with fogs, rains, oatmeal, well-established respectful social relations and, of course, its unique style in architecture. What does a modern house in the English style look like? This style is not just a picture, it is a kind of visualization of the mentality of the British, which, despite any changes in the surrounding world, retains the features inherent in the British two hundred, three hundred, five hundred years ago ...

In the modern sense, an English house is a mixture of two styles - Victorian and Georgian. The first thing that catches your eye is that the house in true English style is built entirely of red brick. This material has a number of advantages. It is environmentally friendly, has a low production cost, its production can be established almost anywhere, red brick is quite strong and durable. An English house must have two floors, sometimes there is an attic in the house. Under the roof, it is customary to have a small utility room that is not residential, such as a room for drying clothes or a closet.



English house foundation

An English-style house is characterized by a low foundation. Thanks to this feature, the floors in the house are almost flush with the ground, bringing the resident of the house as close as possible to the ground. As for basements, the British, who are practical in many respects, prefer not to place garages or workshops in the basement. The maximum that can be in a classic English house is a pantry or a shallow cellar.


Low foundations are a hallmark of an English-style house

Facade of houses in the English style

The façade of an English house is quite austere and only in rare cases is small decoration allowed. The facade of an English house is not painted or lined with anything. Light stucco is also not traditional in English architectural style.


English country house windows

English houses have windows on the ground floor very low, very close to the ground. Windows, as a rule, are large, two or three-winged. The shape of the windows is rectangular or square.


English style house roof

It is difficult to confuse the roof of an English house with the roof of another architectural style. Moreover, the high and sharp roof, covered with red tiles, is a kind of visiting card of the house in the English style. Recently, the latest fashion has been the construction of roofs from water reeds and straw. Once upon a time, in the 17th century, a thatched roof was a sure sign of financial problems for the owner of the house. Today, the construction of a thatched roof is not cheap, so the thatched roof has become evidence of prosperity and prosperity.



Roof for poor houses before and roof for wealthy houses today

English house porch

This element is quite rare in English homes. It is built only if the site with the house has a slope. But in an English house, various canopies can be made over the front doors or windows. Ivy shoots twining the canopy are considered special chic.


Most English houses do not have a porch, but sheds are popular

Garage for an Englishman's house

A distinctive feature of English homeownership is the absence of a visible garage. It is not customary for the British to place it in the house, or in extensions to the house, or in separate structures next to the house. Most often, the garage is located somewhere in the back of the site, away from prying eyes.

How the courtyard of an English house looks like

An obligatory attribute of an English house, the presence of a lawn and flower beds. Every true Englishman considers it his duty to mow lawns, as a continuation of family traditions. Flowers, on the other hand, occupy a special place among the British, and the absence of a flower garden is not just a sign of bad taste, but also a very likely hint at the owner's financial problems. For many Englishmen, a garden, even a miniature one, is a must in their household. A distinctive feature of the garden can be considered linear paths, hedges of tall grass.



The lawn is the result of many years of work
A small lawn, a small flower garden - here it is an English courtyard! Liked the article? Share on social networks!

The classicism of the English style for decorating country houses attracts both designers and residents with its functionality, rigor and ability to demonstrate the taste and character of its guests well. Photos of houses in the English style show the external roughness of unlined facades with low-lying window openings and a bright red tiled roof.

The distinctive elements of the outside of the English apartments are:


Types of English country buildings

The architecture of English buildings is recognizable all over the world. There are three main architectural and construction trends with their own peculiarities and features.

Tudor house style. Visually, such buildings resemble fabulous village houses. However, the appearance is a bit rough.

The main architectural features of this type are:


Georgian architectural style. For the modern English building world, this direction is the most popular. The buildings in the Georgian direction look magnificent and simple at the same time.

The direction is characterized by the following features:

Victorian direction. Differs in decorative facing and contrasting combinations in color registration.

Features:

The main feature of houses made in the English style is the construction of a building made of red brick. Thanks to this material, which has a very reasonable cost, the life of the house is increased.

Another advantage is the high sound insulation properties inside the premises.

The project of English apartments is characterized by the presence of two full floors and, in some cases, an attic. The entrance to the room is located in the middle.

Architectural features

The foundation of a typical English residential building is very low, so the floor surface is almost level with the ground. You won’t be able to meet the usual basements and garages in the house, since the English style does not imply this.

Sometimes the owners can equip the dwelling with a small cellar or pantry. The outer facade is not decorated or clad in any way, so it looks rather rough.

Rectangular or square window openings of the first level are located low. The roof of the house is covered with red tiles, its shape is sharp, and the construction is very high. In recent years, the roofs of English houses are made of straw or thatch.

A porch is attached to the house only if the building is located on a plot with a slope. But the entrance doors and windows are often framed by canopies.

The ivy that climbs the canopy brings a special luxury to the design of the English-style house. It is customary to plant small gardens and arrange picturesque flower beds next to an English residential building.

Interior layout

The main living area of ​​the first floor is represented by a spacious living room, which is usually combined with a dining room, corridor areas and a hall. The guest room is sure to be bright, as there are many window openings in the room. Another room on the first level is an office.

The second floor is considered the sleeping area. In total, there are three bedrooms, one of which has a bathroom and wardrobe.

Interior composition of the house

The main conditions for creating an internal English interior for a private house are comfort and coziness. The living room is arranged in such a way that it is convenient for all guests and household members to be here.

Natural wood is chosen as finishing materials typical for work in the English style. The floor surfaces are covered with a noble parquet flooring.

The chosen direction is characterized by large spacious areas for the living room, however, with the help of design techniques and in small rooms it is possible to create a project that is distinguished by spectacularity and style.


Mandatory element of interior decoration typical for the English trend is a fireplace.

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