34x20 Modern Cottage House Plan with Basement, 2 Bed 2 Bath, 1,180 Sq Ft

This 34 ft x 20 ft modern cottage floor plan delivers 1,180 sq ft of heated living space by building down instead of out, pairing a compact main level with a full basement below it. The result is a small-footprint home that still gives you real square footage, an open living and kitchen area, two bedrooms, and a second living space downstairs that can flex into whatever you need it to be.

The main level opens into a living room at 11'2" x 9'5" that flows directly into a 10'9" x 9'5" kitchen and dining area, keeping the whole front of the house open and easy to move through. Down the hall, bedroom one measures 9'5" x 9'4" and bedroom two measures 10'5" x 9'4", sharing a 6'3" x 5'9" main bathroom, with a 3'7" x 5'8" closet tucked in between. Out front, a 22'8" x 6' covered porch gives you a shaded entry and outdoor sitting space without eating into the heated area. Downstairs, the basement holds a second full bathroom at 6'3" x 5'9" and a wide open 29'2" x 13' space, large enough for a rec room, home gym, office, or a future third bedroom.

Construction is straightforward wood-frame building: 2x6 stud walls, 2x10 and 2x12 roof rafters, and a standing seam metal roof over tongue-and-groove cedar plank siding installed as a rain screen. The foundation is poured concrete for the basement, with pier footings supporting the covered front porch. Batt insulation runs through the walls, floor, and ceiling, and the plan includes full electrical and plumbing layouts for both bathrooms and the basement utility area, so your framing crew and trades have what they need to price and build the job.

This plan is a strong fit for owner-builders who want to self-manage construction, small families who need two bedrooms now but want room to finish the basement later, and anyone building a rental or guest property where extra downstairs square footage adds value without adding to the roofline. It also works well for buyers in colder climates where a basement is standard practice rather than an add-on.

As with all our plans, this design is not engineer-stamped and does not meet earthquake seismic or hurricane/wind code requirements in states where those apply. Local codes, soil conditions, and permitting requirements vary widely, so we recommend having a licensed engineer or architect in your area review the plan before construction begins.