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ARCHIVAL DESIGNS
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HomeCottage1-Bedroom Cottage Guest House with Vaulted Great Room

1-Bedroom Cottage Guest House with Vaulted Great Room

Plan #J4912-A · 496 sq ft · 1 bd · 1 ba · 1.0 story

CottageNarrow House PlansShed House PlansOne Story
★★★★★Read 687+ verified reviews →
Estimated cost to build the home
$75k – $125kFree zip estimate ↓
Have questions about this plan? Book a free plan review with David →
David Park · Residential Plan Advisor · 30+ years
496
Sq Ft
1
Beds
1
Baths
1.0
Stories
Garage
10′
Ceilings
“We kept coming back to this plan — it just felt right for our family. The flow between the kitchen and living room works.”Verified buyer · Trustpilot
40+
Years in Business
3,000+
Plans in Catalog
10%
Beat Any Competitor Price
Expert
In-House Design Team
Quick self-check · 30 seconds

Is this the right plan for you?

Most regret comes from buying a plan that doesn't fit your life. Skim this before you decide.

Great fit if you…
  • Working with a very narrow lot or secondary building site (just 16 ft wide x 37 ft deep)
  • Planning a guest house or vacation rental (compact 496 sq ft with covered entry)
  • Want an open floor plan to maximize small square footage (combined great room and kitchen with vaulted ceilings)
  • Need a home office or creative retreat (open layout supports flexible use)
  • Seeking an affordable, efficient small dwelling (minimal footprint on slab foundation)
! May not be the best fit if you…
  • Need 2+ bedrooms—this plan has only 1 bedroom
  • Want a large living area—total heated space is just 496 sq ft
  • Require a garage or workshop—this plan includes no garage
  • Prefer separate dining and kitchen spaces—layout combines these into one open zone

This plan tends to appeal to:

Vacation Home BuildersDownsizersWork-From-Home ProfessionalsAcreage OwnersFirst-Time Builders
Think this is the one? Choose your package above and check out when you're ready.Yes — this plan fits me →

Floor Plans

Tap to zoom · Download sample

Main Level — 496 sq ft · 16.00′W × 37.00′D

↓ Free Sample
floor plan

Choose Your Package

Not sure? Call us — we'll help
PDF Set
Build as-is or minor changes
$1,025
  • Complete working drawings (PDF)
  • Instant delivery to your email
  • Unlimited build license included
  • Copyright release — print as needed
  • AutoCAD DWG files not included
CAD Set
Significant modifications or custom design
$1,320
  • Complete construction drawings
  • Unlimited build license included
  • Copyright release — print as needed

About this plan

The Cottage Guest House is a compact one-story plan delivering 496 square feet on a narrow 16-foot-by-37-foot footprint, ideal for secondary dwelling units, guest quarters, or small-lot rental properties. The single bedroom, full bathroom, and open-concept great room with vaulted ceilings maximize both functionality and perceived space within a highly efficient layout.

The interior centers on a great room that combines living and kitchen zones, eliminating hallway waste and allowing 8-foot-plus vaulted ceilings to amplify the modest square footage. Natural light floods through the open plan, while the strategically positioned bedroom ensures privacy from the main living area. A 96-square-foot covered front porch provides a defined entryway and modest outdoor extension.

At just 16 feet wide, this cottage fits on constrained residential plots or as a secondary building on larger properties. The 8:12 roof pitch and 13-foot-10-inch maximum height create traditional proportions that blend seamlessly with existing architecture. This design works equally well as a rental unit, home office retreat, or guest accommodation for families seeking flexible use of small acreage.

What's included in this plan
  • Exterior elevations (all sides)
  • Detailed floor plan(s) with dimensions
  • Foundation plan
  • Roof plan
  • Schematic electrical layout
  • Building cross-sections
  • General notes & specifications
Not included (handled locally)
  • Architectural / engineering stamps
  • Site & grading plan
  • Structural / framing calculations
  • Plumbing & HVAC layouts
  • Energy-compliance documents
  • Material take-off list
These are typically prepared by your local builder or engineer to meet your jurisdiction's requirements.

Complete Plan Specifications

Total Living (heated)496 sq ft
1st Floor496 sq ft
Front Porch96 sq ft
Total Porch96 sq ft
Bedrooms1
Full Bathrooms1
Stories1.0
Width of House16′
Depth of House37′
Building Height13′10″
FoundationSlab / Crawl Space / Basement
Wall Framing2x4
Roof FramingTruss
Roof Pitch8:12

Key Features

Single-story living — no stairs
1 bedrooms · 1 full baths
16.00′ × 37.00′ footprint
Unlimited build license included
Copyright release — print as many copies as you need
Builder-friendly construction drawings

Modify This Plan

Free quote in 1–3 business days · In-house design team
In-house design team · Family-owned since 1983

Need a 4th bedroom, a different foundation, or 8 more feet of width?

Two quick steps. We'll reply with a fixed-price quote — no obligation, and no charge until you approve.

1–3 days
To send your quote
~2 wks
Typical revision time
Free
Until you approve
Direct
To the architect
1
Your contact
2
What to change
PLAN
Plan #J4912-A
HOUSE · 496 sq ft · 1 bd / 1 ba /

First — where should we send your quote?

We only ask for what we need to get back to you. No address, no marketing.

Free quote — no charge until you approve·Direct to our in-house architect·40+ years modifying plans

What will this cost to build?

Most buyers are off by 20–30% before checking this.
Budget
$158k
Most common
Mid-range
$168k
Premium
$205k+
Modeled on Wichita, KS — our US price-baseline city. Use the form below to generate an exact estimate for your own location.
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Still deciding?

Book a free 15-min plan review with David Park.

David has 30+ years in residential design and construction documents. He'll walk through this plan with you — foundation options for your lot, modification possibilities, and exactly what's in the construction documents you'd receive. No pitch. No fee.


Reviews across all our plans — see plan-specific reviews on Trustpilot →

★★★★★

JoAnne and the entire staff was extremely helpful and patient with us while we decided between 2 homes. Outstanding curb appeal and a great layout perfect for us.

R
Rita Long · Milwaukee, WI
Plan: Cranberry Gardens
Verified buyer · Trustpilot
★★★★★

We've had an amazing experience with our new home. The customer service we received during our modifications was exceptional — they walked us through every change.

S
Sandra Hawkins · Montgomery, AL
Plan: Dunrobin Castle
Verified buyer · Trustpilot
★★★★★

We compared three plan sources and Archival's pricing + free design call won us over. Our builder said the construction docs were the cleanest he'd seen.

M
Mark Chen · Boise, ID
Plan: Pepperwood Place
Verified buyer · Trustpilot

→ Read all 687+ reviews on Trustpilot


Frequently Asked Questions

Can't find your answer? Call (888) 890-2353

For most buyers, the PDF Set is the right choice — instant delivery, unlimited build license, and easy to share with your builder. If you plan significant modifications or are building in CA, OR, WA, or NV, go with CAD + PDF so your designer can edit the source files. Still not sure? Call (888) 890-2353 and a real person will help you choose.

Still have questions about this plan? Talk to a real person — no pitch, no fee.

Starting at
$1,025
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