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Storybook Cabin Plan
Written March 18, 2010 by John Hendricks, Architect AIA • Filed Under Cabin Plans, Storybook Style, Whimsical This storybook cabin looks more like storybook cottage meets hobbit house meets Swiss chalet. Nevertheless, this quaint, whimsical cabin could fit in just as easily in a city such as Seattle or Portland as it would in the New Zealand countryside or the Cascade Mountains.
 Storybook Cabin Front Elevation This 834 square foot architect designed cabin (with an optional 159 square feet of two loft spaces) is built for comfort and includes a comparatively large great room with open picturesque trusses and beams set amidst the curved roofs. The home is loosely inspired by the playful Storybook Style from English and French medieval farmhouse design. This style has several style variations, including English Country Cottage, Cotswald Cottage, Hansel and Gretel, Fairy Tale House, Disneyesque, Hobbit House and Storybook House. All were designed to create a cozy, homelike atmosphere.
A little more history, the Storybook Style is a whimsical variant of the Tudor Revival in the 1920′s and 1930′s. The Tudor Revival was based on late medieval styles and the Arts and Crafts movement. Many of the home buyers (as well as architects and builders) were veterans of World War I, and brought back memories of the English and French countryside. In the meantime, Hollywood was creating movies set in historic time periods in faraway lands. In pure Hollywood fashion, liberties were taken with the local styles by enhancing the charm and cuteness of these places.
The Storybook Style surged in popularity after a subdivision of cottage homes, called Hollywoodland, was built in 1923. The theatrically designed homes served as residences in Los Angeles for a number of movie stars and received nationwide media attention as America’s first themed residential community. The themed neighborhood included such places as The Humpty Dumpty Store. The Hollywood sign actually used to say Hollywoodland and was built to promote the neighborhood, which housed such notables as Bela Lugosi and Humphrey Bogart. The developers bowed out in the 1940′s and now the stars build to suit their own tastes. The neighborhood is now referenced as Upper Beachwood Canyon. For more information please see Southern California Storybook Style Architecture: Hollywoodland.
 Storybook Cabin Plan Whereas the historical homes were identified with false, distressed, ornamental half-timbering, this particular home includes fully exposed architectural and structural timbers on the interiors and exterior, which may or may not be distressed. The original Storybook houses had modern interiors resembling the homes of the 20′s, whereas this home has rustic interiors (yet modern in function) to match the exterior.
The home includes a comfortable two person bedroom with a built-in desk. An open loft sleeps two more in twin beds. The quality designed home also includes built-in cabinets, bookshelves and a window seat, as well as wrought iron lighting and hardware. A pantry/storage/laundry room is included, along with a storage attic (which could also be incorporated into a larger loft area) over the back rooms. The home includes an energy efficient stone masonry fireplace while still retaining the Old World look and feel.
The Storybook Cabin is our second stock cabin plan. Prices include:
- Preliminary Sketches – Schematic 8-1/2″ x 11″ drawings showing Floor Plans and the Front & Rear Elevations, for $200
- Study Home Plans – Developed 24″ X 36″ drawings showing Floor Plans & all Exterior Elevations, for $450
- Construction Set – A full set of 24″ X 36″ detailed drawings and specifications including Floor Plans, Foundation and Framing Plans, Exterior Elevations, Building Sections, Wall Sections, Details, Interior Elevations, Reflected Ceiling Plans, Window/Door Schedules, Electrical Plans, Finish Plans, and all Products and Materials Specified per the original design, all for $1550
- Each Additional Construction Set $250
- Construction Set PDF Files $1550
- Modifications available. Please contact us for pricing.
This energy efficient cabin is designed for “rustic elegant” comfort. Plans can be modified to be more unique per individual preferences. Preliminary drawings and Construction Documents are drawn with cad software, and are designed per the latest International Residential Codes. Plans may need to be modified for certain jurisdictions. Please note that with the curved roofs, timbers and other detailing, along with a higher quality of specified materials, that construction prices are higher than the typical home.
For our first stock cabin plan, see cabin plan. While we are beginning to delve into the stock plan arena, I still recommend a custom home design for maximum living and cost efficiency for individual lifestyles. For more information see Good Quality Architecture Adds Value to Your Home. Please visit our portfolio for examples of some of our recently completed custom projects. Sorry but we don’t sell plans of our client’s custom homes.
For more information on our plans please contact us by phone at 208.265.4001, by email, or by filling out your information on our contact page.
John Hendricks, Architect AIA
Hendricks Architecture, listed as one of Mountain Living Magazine’s top mountain architects, is located in Sandpoint, Idaho. Subscribe to Hendricks Architecture’s Blog.
24 Comments
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I LOVE this design! I am wondering if this same Storybook architectural style could be applied to a larger home (say 3000 to 5000 sf). I don’t want to lose the “Storybook Cabin” look or feel but would need more space. I also like the fact that many can now afford their dream vacation cabin and have the opportunity to customize it as well. Your cabin plans are very unique. Will you be offering more plans in the future? I agree about buying plans from an architect. I would feel much more confident in the soundness of the design. Also, you offer to customize and that is another big plus. Can either this cabin or the Storybook Cabin be customized to fit in more of a suburban landscape? I can see the Storybook Cabin set in New England!
John: I met this week with a client who is a book translator. Her husband passed away a few years ago so she is older and single and get this …from England! She works in New York City but is looking for a quiet retreat to do her writing. The storybook cabin may be perfect. Any authors, writers or technology professionals seeking a quite cozy place to get away from all the ‘urban’ distractions should love this. Starbucks should take a look. One lucky winner gets a Starbucks Storybook cabin outside of Seattle or Portland to …my favorite word – CHILLAX !
The Storybook style can be applied to a larger home. Time permitting, we hope to get more cabin and storybook plans out there.
Storybook houses or cabins can fit in just about anywhere. I was reminded today of a builder/designer named Hugh Comstock who designed and built a multitude of creative Storybook/Hansel and Gretal houses in Carmel, California in the early/middle 20th century. He did beautiful and imaginative work but it was, and still is, a rarity to not have an architect involved to get the quality in the details and as a whole.
[...] visit Storybook Cabin Plan for our most recent stock plan, or our Projects for examples of some of our recently completed [...]
John please run with the Storybook Cabin idea!! I really feel there is such a need for more character in a home. When you have that detail it makes all the difference. I know about Hugh Comstock’s work in Carmel and it was fantastic. Too bad many of those homes are gone. Keep the blogs coming!
How fun! You are really on the right track with the storybook idea. I’ll send you a link for a guy who is doing storybook playhouses, and our son Erin just did a really great storybook chicken coop. It would sure be neat if we could fund a Hendricks storybook cabin project on our property to augment our Hendricks custom Mountain house. Something to dream/think about that’s for sure. Keep the creative juices flowing.
[...] mentioned the neighborhood and some of the Storybook style origins on a recent blog post titled Storybook Cabin Plan, and since we were in the area, I added Hollywoodland to our itinerary. Entrance to [...]
I love your Storybook cabin! If I ever need an architect for a cabin or cottage in the mountains…..
I love this Storybook Hobbit house! It looks like the perfect cozy home for reading a book by the fire.
What a wonderful design. It seems to me that this type of concept could be the next big trend in cabins and second homes. There is so much that can be done with log post and beam or timber frame structures that could fit perfectly with this sort of look. I certainly intend on buying the plan and using logs or timbers as the structural and decorative elements to compliment the design.
Firstly, I just came across your work in this month’s Cabin Life! Congrats on the cover story! So here I am and am really pulled towards the Storybook Cabin! I’m actually considering not doing an addition but putting this mountain cabin in the back and using it as a guest house/office. I see you can customize this as well. It’s such a fabulous design!
What a wonderful site. Now I know who to go to when we are ready to remodel our rather pedestrian little ranch in Carmel
Thank you Linda. Carmel is a beautiful place with many wonderful storybook homes. I helped build a more “modern” one 26 years ago before I went off to architecture school.
Can you show us the variations of this whimsical storybook cottage?
Thanks!
I just purchased this plan, and have had very positive reactions on building it from a couple of timber frame builders and my local contractor. I will be building this as a weekend home and will include a full basement for an extra bedroom, bathroom, storage, and mechanical. If interested, Caribou Creek Log Homes in Idaho will be building this for me, and I highly recommend working with them. I will submit pictures to show the final results of this adorable design.
Okay, received the plans. Wow! These are the most detailed plans imaginable. Everything is layed out in clear detail right down to the color of the stain for the timbers. I truly believe my builder is going to be impressed. I only hope that the final result of this cabin plan meets the expectations and vision of the architect. If anyone is looking for a talented, thorough, and imaginative architect, look no further than John Hendricks. If you have been considering using him, you have my full endorsement. John @ 703-327-1791.
Gorgeous cabin! I hope you do more with storybook architecture in the future, and I’ll certainly keep an eye on your website.
Thanks Sarah. You have a fun storybook style blog.
Dear John has any one built the storybook cabin? I live in Midway, Utah near Deer Valley. I would travel…
Dear L.J.,
I’ll send you an email
John
How much does this cabin cost to build?
Hi, Rachel.
I sent you an email on the storybook cabin price. I don’t want to post contractor’s numbers online.
Thanks,
John
John – love your work. I’m curious, has anyone done this on a larger scale? As shown, it’s a neat idea for a guest house or vacation cabin, but I’m curious about the style being used for a permanent residence for a larger family.
Thanks!
We have designed larger homes with storybook charm. There are endless whimsical creations that can be produced. With a homeowner who’s open to ideas (and may even be creative themselves), an imaginative architect, and often a good builder with an eye for craftsmanship, the sky’s the limit.