Plan C-26119

This 18x28 small cottage floor plan delivers 1,005 square feet of heated living space across a ground floor and loft, built around an open-concept living and kitchen area under a steep 12/12 gable roof. It is a 1.5-story cabin design that puts both bedrooms upstairs in a private loft, leaving the entire ground floor free for living, cooking, and storage.

Downstairs, the living room measures 13'6" x 13'6" and opens directly to a 10'0" x 13'6" kitchen with a center island, ideal for entertaining or slow weekend mornings. A full bathroom, laundry nook, and foyer round out the main level, along with a straight-run staircase leading up to the loft. Upstairs, Bedroom 1 spans 13'6" x 10'6" with its own closet, and Bedroom 2 measures 10'0" x 10'6", also with a dedicated closet. A second full bathroom sits between the two bedrooms at the top of the stairs, so neither bedroom has to share across the house.

Structurally, the cottage sits on a concrete slab foundation with continuous perimeter footings, framed in wood stud construction with 2x6 exterior walls and wood siding. The roof uses 9-inch insulated wood rafters under asphalt shingle roofing, pitched at 12/12 for fast water and snow shed, with a lower 3/12 awning roof over the entry and dormer window. The plan includes a 200A electrical service, PEX or copper supply plumbing, and a minimum 40-gallon water heater specification.

This layout works well as a vacation cabin, a backyard cottage or ADU, a rental or short-term-stay build, or a first cottage for owner-builders who want two genuine bedrooms without a large footprint. Because both bedrooms sit in the loft, the ground floor stays open and public, which is useful for anyone renting the space out or hosting guests who do not need to pass a bedroom to reach the bathroom.

This plan is drawn to the 2022 California Residential Code and is not sealed or engineered for other states. Many jurisdictions require local engineering review before permitting, so check with your local building department before you buy or build. This design does not include a garage and is intended for single-family residential use.