European House Plans | European-style Cottages (2024)

FAQs

What is a European house style? ›

A common characteristic of the European style design is the use of metals throughout the interior and exterior of the home. You'll often see gabled and hipped roofs and dormers around the top windows, and front porches with their own roofs supported by pillars and columns.

Homes in Europe have traditionally been built to last an estimated four hundred years. Today's European new residential construction is no longer built with centuries of longevity in mind, but its construction quality often exceeds the standards of the typical American home construction.

This style uses natural stone, brick, and wood, from exposed ceiling beams to antique-style furniture. Plaster walls and terracotta tile floors are also common. Exteriors. The exterior of European house plans often features natural stone or stucco walls with roofs made of clay tiles or wooden shingles.

European cottage style is all about creating a space that feels like a retreat. It's characterized by natural materials like wood and stone, muted colors, and vintage accents. The overall effect is a warm and inviting space that feels like it's been around for centuries.

In contrast, European style exudes a sleek elegance. Clothing is generally more fitted, and there is a preference for monochromatic and neutral colors which often lends to a more formal appearance. Polished leather shoes are more commonly worn in Europe, reflecting the importance of a sharp and refined appearance.

On the other hand, Europeans prefer heavy-duty materials that can withstand the test of time and last for hundreds of years. Their homes are usually made from stone and wood. While Americans prefer shingle roofs, Europeans have either wooden roofs or those made from more rigid tiles.

In much of Europe, they won't touch the stuff, wanting plastered concrete blocks or clay tiles; It lasts forever and takes a great deal of abuse. In North America, people who care about resilience, health and longevity should start looking at alternatives too.

Another key difference between American and European homes is the materials used for the construction of the buildings. Americans always prefer shingle roofs and brick walls, while European homes are mostly made of stone walls and wood roofs for better insulation.

American construction also incorporates larger, built-in closets, while Europeans have freestanding wardrobes and dressers instead.

What are old European houses called? ›

Manor houses were sometimes fortified, albeit not as fortified as castles, but this was often more for show than for defence. They existed in most European countries where feudalism was present.

Countries use the building material most available to them. In much of Europe that's stone because wood has mostly been harvested to the point of extinction (and wood is expensive to transport long distances). Whereas in North America wood remains an inexpensive building material.

European style home plans often use brick or stone and include high steeply pitched roofs, tall windows often with shutters, and traditional ornamental details like pediments and keystones. Arched openings are another common feature of European homes.To see more european house plans try our advanced floor plan search.

Characteristics of European Interior Designs

Anything that takes you back to the Victorian era and features minimalist furniture, light colors, open floor plans, high ceiling, or opulent molding is considered a classic European design. Other styles borrow from nature with an emphasis on simplicity and functionality.

The philosophy of the "Common European Home" concept rules out the probability of an armed clash and the very possibility of the use of force or threat of force – alliance against alliance, inside the alliances, wherever.

European design utilizes natural substances such as terracotta tile, marble, stone, brick, stucco, and hardwood materials. You will often see two materials incorporated into ones space to create a balance between textures. Stone and marble are two elements that we love to see together.

In general, European hotel rooms tend to feel a bit more outdated and old-fashioned than American hotel rooms. They sometimes mimic the style of an inn or a bed and breakfast, especially if they're on the more inexpensive side. Even the more expensive hotels often have the tendency to feel somewhat old.