Small Home, Cottage and Cabin Plans

Three different versions of an easy to build 20' wide floor plan allow everything from a simple cottage to a full sized expandable farmhouse. These are our most popular full sized house building plans. Each can be adjusted in length for a smaller or larger version.

• A simple to build 20x30 single story cottage - Z009
• A loft version with more space up above - Z010
• A full two-story expandable farmhouse - Z012
  - Z009, Z0010, Z0012

Complete building plans for three size buildings - 10'x 14', 12'x 18' and 14'x 24' (drawing). Customize your own layout. Two roof styles - one with a walking roof deck and the other with a sleeping loft. Easy to build no-concrete post and pier foundation and 2x4 wall construction. Lowest cost structure.

Perfect for an owner-builder camping cabin, back yard guest cottage or that starter house for the homestead.

Retreat Cabin (A "how-to-build" example)

Step-by-step photos of a simple 10'x14' cabin my two sons and I built for about $1400.

The hip roofed cottage  at left is an example of modifications that were done by one builder who sells these as backyard retreat and play houses.

For year round living or easy code approval. This is an upgrade to the larger Little House plan (above) into an all-season 14'x24' cottage. Click the image for floorplans and more information. This house has a concrete perimeter foundation and better insulation. Highest quality construction at reasonable cost. Best plan for year-round living. Very energy and space efficient design.

This plan is now part of the Big Enchilada kit below (plan Z006) which includes many possible customizations and additional options for additions and exansions.

For an example, see Victoria's Cottage Progress photos. Roll down almost to the end. The Builder's Cottage is being built as the guest cottage behind the main structure.

This combination plans set is for the new owner-builder or owner-designer. Allows for future additions and customizations of a cabin or cottage up to 14' wide and any length.

When you order the big Enchilada you get:

• The Builder's Cottage plans (See above.)
• The Little House Plans kit
• The Sunroom, Greenhouse and Skylight plans
• A special book of bonus details and building tips so you can customize your plans.

Click HERE or on the image for more information.

Click the title or images to see the plan for a 16' wide little house with 12' high sidewalls with an open interior and a full sized loft with two rooms. Energy efficient R-30 roof, and 2x6, R-21 walls.

Click Progress photos for shots of this house under construction. (It also has a 14x24 Builder's Cottage out back).

A two bedroom cottage home with an easy-to-build truss framed roof. This efficient plan uses an inexpensive but well-insulated slab-on-grade foundation for heat storage from the south facing windows. R-21 walls & R-38 roof.

Volks Cottage plans -Z004

An alternative floor plan for a one-story two bedroom cottage. Slightly larger but still under 1000 sf.

This is the house we built for ourselves. Three bedrooms, two baths with 1483 sf on two floors and a 14x28 attached solar sunroom.

Upgrade plans and tools for use with any house

An inexpensive technique for adding solar heat and light to any project. Build your own sunrooms, skylights, and window walls using standard wood working tools. The key is using tempered insulated glass from sliding glass doors and a special hi-tech glazing tape. Click the drawing or the title above for more information. 

This plan is also available as a free member download from the Misc. Plans section of our sister site PlanHelp.com.

Site evaluation, house layout and energy optimizing tools. Use simple passive solar, sun tempering and other techniques such as a sunroom to increase energy efficiency of a new home at little or no additional construction cost.

• Learn simple, low-cost solar heating and cooling strategies that work anywhere in the U.S.
• Evaluate solar potential of any property (even before you buy!)
• Determine which trees to take out and which to plant to minimize heating & cooling costs.
• Adjust your plans and maximize window areas to best fit the site and local climate.