The owner of the Queen Anne house that shares a site with this new cottage came to us with a unique idea to a common problem: a separate home for her aging mother, who was sharing the house with two other generations but lacked privacy, elbow room, and a space adequately designed for aging in place. This cottage would be a fully separate building, but fit in as a part of the Queen Anne property. This novel approach brought difficulty for the required zoning approval, but our team persevered and now not only does the property work well for this multi-generational family, but stands as a successful example for the town of how to add to a historic property. In order to achieve this successful result, we designed a cottage that has character while also being architecturally subordinate to the house. A gable roof is punctuated by a large, turned gable on the public façade. The façade is rich in crafted detail unique to the cottage, but a part of the Queen Anne vocabulary. Decorative shingles, a double-arched window, and carved fretwork give the cottage a unique charm. The deep porch will allow the grandmother to sit outside in the summer months, protected from the elements. The cottage includes everything that one might need, all located on one floor for ease of movement. The main floor is only slightly raised off of grade, offering easy access from the exterior. With this new gem, the property is set to house generations, for generations to come.
