The charming Kvale Hytte Cottage created by architects at The Cottage Co. demonstrates the incredible power of talented design utilizing natural light. Although diminutive in terms of its total square footage, the home includes a porch, a living rooms and full kitchen, one and three quarters baths, a master bedroom and even an optional second loft bedroom or office. The tiny residence reflects awesome interior decorating and landscaping skills, too.
The cottage occupies a small part of a carefully engineered five-acre residential development. The National Association of Home Builders awarded the community both the Choice Grant and Merit Awards. In 2009, the neighborhood also earned an AIA National Housing Award. With extensive surrounding natural terrain creating a scenic backdrop to the development, the picturesque Kvale Hytte Cottage enjoys a lovely setting.
From the outside, the home resembles a small pink wooden wood-frame cottage trimmed in white, with faintly Victorian architectural stylistic features. It boasts a flower-filled entranceway and a white picket porch railing. The designers made extensive use of windows along the front of the residence. With its high saddle roof that includes several skylights, the structure admits copious amounts of natural light into the interior.
Visitors immediately appreciate a cozy sitting area established on the front porch. Rimmed by two flower boxes, it offers a comfortable setting for appreciating the nicely landscaped neighborhood. The main door consists of a split “barn door” style doorway, with a solid bottom section and an upper portion enclosing framed glass windows. On a hot day, someone could simply close the bottom portion and open the upper section to welcome a refreshing breeze into the home.
Inside the tiny cottage, visitors immediately notice a white-painted living area, replete with multiple windows, vaulted ceilings and skylights. The breathtaking Minimalist style of furnishings highlights wooden floors and an open kitchen with a small central wood-covered island. On one side of the room, a living room ensemble adjoins a small stove and hearth positioned beneath a skylight. A short distance away, the modern open kitchen displays a full counter and a full-sized refrigerator and oven. Several pendant lights extend over the kitchen island, which could double as a breakfast bar. Off to one side of the kitchen area, a breakfast nook partly enclosed within a window-lined alcove furnishes a beautiful view of the surrounding neighborhood.
The rear of the main floor contains a master suite and bathroom. The bedroom offers a sliding glass back doorway opening onto a short rear patio with a lovely exterior view of a wooded area. The bathroom adjoining the master suite includes space for a full laundry, plus some shelves for storage.
Upstairs, a staircase leads to a half-loft area beneath the roof. This space provides room for either an upstairs office retreat, or possibly a second bedroom. It overlooks the living room and open kitchen below. The upstairs portion of the residence receives illumination from interior lights, and also offers both a skylight and windows. A fully enclosed three-quarters bathroom adjoins this location on the upper floor.’
The beautiful Kvale Hytte Cottage demonstrates the ability of talented home architects to create comfortable living spaces even within comparatively small amounts of total square footage. It provides a pleasant environment for either a full-time residence or a vacation home.
