This towering home gives you a beautiful, unencumbered view of sand, sea and sky. The lower floor is every child?s dream. A bunkhouse space allows the kids to stay up late telling stories, and the dining area on this level can double as a place for games. Windows lining the walls in the main-floor living and dining rooms maximize ocean views. An elevated porch off the living room puts the focus on the home?s natural surroundings The upper floor is dedicated to the master suite. High ceilings and a wall of windows impart a cool airiness, while French doors open to a romantic balcony. A built-in desk in one corner serves nicely as a home office or a spot to catch up on the daily news. Outside, two ground-level porches offer options for outdoor dining and entertaining. A convenient storage space on one side of the home hides away sandy toys and shoes. A full bath on every level adds a thoughtful touch to this remarkable getaway plan. more

The Hillstone Cottage captures all the understated charm of a 1920s bungalow with its front stone fireplace and tall peaked roof. Inside, the home is all modern conveniences and open spaces. From the front stoop, step directly into the cottage family room where windows filter in natural light and the massive stone fireplace creates an impressive focal point. An optional second story adds a significant amount of living space to the home with the addition of a bedroom, office loft and full bath. Ample walk-in storage space is can be finished off the rear of the home as well. A rear porch offers an ideal place for potting herbs just outside the kitchen window and is accessible to the family room through a French door. more

The Merrick House may seem like a small cottage with only 1,700+ square feet, but this home lives large. Made for entertaining, the home offers a grand kitchen island that could be finished by the builder with a raised breakfast counter and ample storage below or could be a perfect spot for a large harvest table ideal for everyday dining. An open railing upstairs overlooks the two-story kitchen below. The master suite is set on the main level below for privacy. Upstairs, two spacious secondary bedrooms enjoy tremendous views, large walk-in closets and individual vanities. more

In many areas of the Lower South, French and Spanish influences blended to form a unique house type-the Creole cottage. Borrowing freely from European styles, early settlers on the Gulf Coast gradually modified the design to adapt to the warm, humid climate. Although born in towns from New Orleans to Mobile, the Creole cottage also appeared in the interior South, where the Greek Revival style influenced it. The symmetry, center-hall plan, and exterior chimney are characteristic of this influence. Like its predecessors, our Creole Cottage is raised slightly to place the living areas above the damp ground. A steep, gabled roof sheds subtropical rains; the roof's pitch breaks slightly to cover a wide gallery on the front. Six slender columns support the gallery roof and a balustrade. Long, shuttered windows on the lower level combine with round-top windows in the dormers to define the regional look. The house offers about 1,650 square feet of heated space, with approximately 360 additional square feet in the deck and gallery. The plan contains a combination living/dining room to the left of the foyer. Our Creole Cottage house plan was designed by William H. Phillips, Jr., of Dauphin Island, Alabama. more