With three bedrooms and 1,929 square feet, this plan brings together the charm of a lakeside cottage and the comfort of a home in town. Donald A. Gardner Architects, Inc., of Greenville, South Carolina, suggests materials and building components that reflect the mix of country and city styles. Walls are clad in wood, and handcrafted touches of trim and molding at the doors and windows enhance the exterior appeal. Interiors flow with a roomy and comfortable arrangement of open spaces. A bonus room upstairs allows for future expansion. © 1995 Donald A. Gardner Architects, Inc. more

A curving balustrade leads guests up to the shady gallery of our Gulf Coast Cottage. Raised high on brick piers to keep its owners cool and dry, this cottage attractively reminds you of the traditional Lowcountry homes of the South. A high hipped roof covers the gallery that wraps three sides of the house. The broad, deep gallery forms a functional cool zone around the front of the house and works with transomed double doors to help ventilate the house naturally. The plan includes 3 bedrooms and 21/2 baths in approximately 2,500 square feet of heated space. It offers the formality typical of older Southern homes and a semiopen floor plan often associated with today's houses. For example, the living room, center hall, and dining room may be used separately or as one large room for entertaining. Wide cased openings create one spacious sweep of space, while the perimeter gallery affords spillover space for parties. Ceiling heights are 10 feet throughout the house. The working plans for the cottage include a separate double garage with a similar look. Our Gulf Coast Cottage was designed by William H. Phillips, Jr., of Dauphin Island, Alabama. more

History speaks to us in many forms. For example, when we think of Louisiana architecture and its rich heritage, some of the most picturesque house styles come to mind. The historic raised cottage conjures images of centuries-old dwellings born along the rivers and bayous. Our own Louisiana Garden Cottage, designed by V. John Tee of Atlanta, continues this tradition. An appealing blend of classic and Creole influences, the house features six massive Doric columns, a broad front gallery, and authentic trim and millwork. The carefully proportioned garage is located to the side of the house. In the classic style, fanlights top its French doors, which are flanked by quarter-round shutters, lending the look of a 19th-century appendage. more

• Ceiling heights: 10 feet first floor, 8 feet second floor

• The front porch spans the width of the house, offering ample space for chairs or a small seating arrangement.

• A screened porch off the dining room and kitchen is accessible through a French door, making the porch an outdoor extension of the eating areas.

• On the rear of the home a grand deck includes covered areas and an open space complete with room for a spa.

• The second floor offers a media room--touting its own deck space--and two large bedroom suites each with double vanities and magnificent views. more