Craftsman Style Solar Cottage

Like all of Mr. Hartford’s designs, this house was originally designed as an energy–efficient, passive solar home. You can of course build this house facing in whatever direction suits your needs, but if you’re interested in building it as a passive solar home, please read the section below titled Passive Solar Info for specific information on orientation.

The roof covering the front entry porch is supported by wood posts atop stacked stone pillars, and it has a vaulted ceiling that is accented with starburst beams in the front. The foyer features stone tiles on the floor and a coffered ceiling. To the right there is a French door that opens into a brightly lit office with windows facing the front and side yards. Just to the left of the foyer, a small vestibule leads to a powder room, a coat closet, and the master suite. Like the rest of the rooms on this level, the master bedroom has a 9′ ceiling. It has a large walk–in closet, and the ceiling includes sound–proofing to eliminate sound from the bathroom above it. The master bath features a private toilet room, two vanity sinks, a soaking tub, and a separate shower.

From the entry foyer, you pass a staircase before entering the open great room. The great room is generous in size at 22’x24′ and has a ceiling that begins to slope down from the middle of the room towards the window wall. The sloped ceiling has two skylights that bring in additional light to the room, and the change in ceiling height lends texture and flow to the room. At one end of the room there are built–ins for a library or for media, while the other end accommodates a double–sided fireplace trimmed in stone that is flanked by built–ins and counters.

An opening from the great room leads to a dining area that has windows along two walls to bring in lots of natural daylight. A center island with a raised eating counter is framed by two wood columns, and separates the dining area from the kitchen. A screened porch is located next to the dining room, making it convenient to dine there during warmer weather. The perimeter of the dining room has a soffited ceiling, which helps make the room feel a bit more intimate. The roomy kitchen accommodates a desk in one corner, and has abundant counter space along the walls and at the center island. A small hallway from the kitchen has a nook for a bench and cubbies, and leads to a walk–in pantry, a laundry room, and a two–car garage.

There are two optional floor plans for the upper floor that are included in the plans. Both versions feature 8′ ceilings in the bedrooms, and a spacious recreation room that is built over the garage. The recreation room sits under the slopes of the garage roof, but could be modified with dormers to bring in additional head height. The two–bedroom option has an upper landing that opens up to a reading room with bookcases along the walls. Both bedrooms feature a walk–in closet, and share a full bath. The three–bedroom option eliminates the reading area, though the hall is wide enough to accommodate a built–in. All three bedrooms share a full bath, but bedroom 3 has its own door into the bath, and its own private vanity area (as well as a walk–in closet, unlike the other two bedrooms).

Passive Solar Info
To maximize its passive solar design, the front of this house should face West (or East, if the house is reversed).