Higgins Architects is responsible for the design of this rustic French cottage located in Arcadia, a neighborhood in Phoenix, Arizona. Created for a couple of empty nesters, a split floor plan divides the master suite on one side with the guest and auxiliary spaces on the other. This brilliant design squeezes a four-bedroom house with all the features of a larger abode into a 3,000 square foot home.
The neighborhoods 17′-0″ height limit required a narrow floor plan to fit the homes steep pitched roof under. The result is a single loaded plan that floods the interior with natural light. French oak floors throughout the interiors lend a feeling of warmth and timeless beauty. A French limestone fireplace surround serves as a focal point to the main living space. An organizing element used throughout this dwelling is referred to as “enfilade” or the lining up of spaces and rooms.
This allows the small home to feel transparent and the spaces to flow into one another. The rooms and furniture orientations capitalize on the spectacular view of Camelback Mountain to the north of the home. The angled cul-de-sac lot enables the master suite to open to the mountain’s peak.
Another important element of this French cottage is a rear-sited garage. This enables this dwelling to front on two separate streets, doubling the curb appeal. This avoids the trap of a typical six-foot side yard wall encircling the property and turning a blank face to homes facing the side of this property. The neighboring homes now look onto a beautiful side yard that also serves as a dog run allowing the homes two Labradors to socialize with the pedestrian traffic in the neighborhood.
What We Love: This French cottage style home offers its inhabitants a warm and cozy atmosphere for living and entertaining. A tight fit on a corner cul-de-sac lot, this home’s orientation created intimate front and backyard spaces. Overall, the architects did a fantastic job of creating a floor plan that feels open and spacious, thanks to vaulted ceilings in the great room and master suite and a skylight in the kitchen.
Tell Us: What key elements in the design of this home most stood out to you and why in the Comments below!
Note: Have a look at another fabulous home tour that we have featured here on One Kindesign from the portfolio of the architects of this project, Higgins Architects: Stunning French provincial home in Paradise Valley.
Above: On the interior, French oak flooring and reclaimed barn wood beams add a rustic touch.
Above: In the kitchen, a focal point wall is clad with matte-finish arabesque-cut tiles, offset to catch the light. A skylight above floods this space with natural light. Free-floating white marble shelves match the countertop material.
Above: An open layout at the heart of this home includes a spacious family room, kitchen and dining nook. French doors spill out onto a covered backyard patio, blurring the lines between indoors and out. A vaulted ceiling is half the pitch of the roof, where plumb lines and air conditioning ducts run through the space between.
Above: Foregoing a formal dining room, the homeowner opted for a more casual style. A space-saving built-in upholstered banquet is accented by a large farmhouse table.
Above: In the master bedroom is cozy yet eclectic, boasting a view of the backyard oasis. A feature wall behind the bed is reclaimed Chicago brick, an accent that can be seen throughout this home, adding a historical vibe.
Photos: Ian Denker of Omega Images
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