Home Architecture and Home Design A-Frame House Plans for Dreamy Weekend Getaways By Grace Haynes Grace Haynes Associate Homes Editor Grace is the Associate Homes Editor at Southern Living. She covers a variety of topics for print and digital, from design and flower arranging to cottage gardens and pets. Before moving to the Homes team, she joined Southern Living as a copy editor.Off the clock, find her strolling through Birmingham neighborhoods looking at houses and snapping photos of colorful front doors. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on January 15, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: David Wagner Picture this: You're relaxing in a comfortable chair on a breezy porch that overlooks a breathtaking view of a vacation destination. Whether you imagine yourself tucked away in the mountains, perched beside a peaceful lake, or settled on a sandy beach, a versatile A-frame home offers a unique way to experience your desired destination. In its simplest form, an A-frame house is shaped like an equilateral triangle. Its style can range from rustic to modern. The front and back walls of the structure usually have tall windows that allow natural light to pour inside and offer prime views of the surrounding area. These minimalist yet cozy homes are intended for recreation and relaxation, and they can be built in warm or cold climates. Inside, you'll usually find a sleeping loft and an airy open floor plan. These pyramid-shaped structures are usually built on a raised platform (with a porch, of course) for taking in the view. Here, five of our favorite A-frame and A-frame-inspired house plans for laidback living. 01 of 05 Contemporary Cottage, Plan #103 William Moore Here's a modern mountain escape we'd like to call home. This plan, designed for hillside lots, offers an open floor plan with two spacious decks. We'd turn the unfinished lower level into an additional living area. Three bedrooms, three baths 1,866 square feet See plan: Contemporary Cottage (SL-103) 02 of 05 Small House-Special Appeal, Plan #132 David Wagner This charming chalet lives much larger than its 1,422-square-foot footprint thanks to a large open-air viewing deck and vaulted ceilings. A full window wall lets natural light flood the living/dining areas while delivering scenic vistas. Two bedrooms, two baths 1,422 square feet See plan: Small House-Special Appeal (SL-132) 03 of 05 House and a Half, Plan #106 House and a Half Set a couple of rockers out on the deck, and we'd move right in. A sunroom connects the main cottage with a separate half cottage, where weekend guests can have their own private retreat. The smaller indoor living area encourages homeowners to spend more time outside. Two bedrooms, three baths 1,742 square feet See plan: House and a Half (SL-106) 04 of 05 Budget Beach House, Plan #102 Ron Ward Go back to basics with a simple, straightforward cottage that's designed for indoor-outdoor living. The raised structure offers a bird's-eye view of the surrounding landscape from the wraparound screened porch. While originally created for coastal settings, this home could adapt to lake or mountain locales. One bedroom, two baths 751 square feet See plan: Budget Beach House (SL-102) 05 of 05 Shoreline Cottage, Plan #490 Southern Living This weekend getaway captures the view from all sides thanks to its tall windows. Architect Geoffrey Prentiss designed this retreat to be livable and easy to maintain for a family, and his plan was inspired by old farm cabins and country cottages. Three bedrooms, one bath 930 square feet See plan: Shoreline Cottage (SL-490) Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit