Home Architecture and Home Design 20 House Plans We Know You'll Love We've collected some of the most gorgeous, breezy, and comfortable house plans from around the South. By Southern Living Editors Updated on January 9, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Fritz Kapraun Whether you are looking to build a small cottage, ideal for retired couples, or need to accommodate more family members with a multi-generational family home, there is a house plan for you. Be inspired to design and build the home of your dreams, complete with a space for all the people you care about to spend time together. Choose from classic home styles, from French Country to Coastal designs. Help decide every detail from the ground up, starting with the foundation and completing the construction with the number of floor levels paired with a perfect roof. Here are some of the most gorgeous, breezy, and comfortable house plans from around the South. 01 of 20 Honeymoon Cottage, Plan #1622 Fritz Kapraun Thanks to the open, informal plan from architect Mitch Ginn, with only three main rooms—a kitchen, primary suite, and living room—the first floor is cozy and modern. Save time and stay on budget by planning to add the second floor after the initial construction. "I liked the idea of a compact cottage that could expand with the family. This is a lot more stylish than most starter homes," he says. 3 bedrooms/2.5 bathrooms 1,999 square feet See Plan: Honeymoon Cottage 02 of 20 Cloudland Cottage, Plan #1894 Architect Durham Crout designed this house with long family weekends in mind. Life at this Chickamauga, Georgia, cabin centers around one big living room and the nearly 200-square-foot back porch. Upstairs, architect Durham Crout tucked in two bunk areas for guests. On the outside, he took punchy design liberties on this mountain cabin: He stuck with the typically boxy shape but raised the roofline, upgraded asphalt shingles to slate, and swapped out logs for larger than usual, one-by-six clapboards. 2 bedrooms/2 bathrooms 1,200 square feet See Plan: Cloudland Cottage 03 of 20 Salisbury Court, Plan #1884 Fritz Kapraun This Southern vernacular exterior hides an open, modern floor plan full of casual living space. And the louvered shutters aren't just pretty—they work. "They're one of those things that add authenticity and charm and really make a big difference, even if you can't quite put your finger on why," says residential designer Suzanne Stern. The Walking Dead team didn't make many alterations to the home—or alter the six other Southern Living House Plans homes featured on the show, shot in Senoia, Georgia. "They're really well-designed houses, so we just stuck with the colors and finishes in the plans," says the show's production designer Grace Walker. 4 bedrooms/3.5 bathrooms 2,488 square feet See Plan: Salisbury Court 04 of 20 Nautical Cottage Alternate, Plan #235 Southern Living This classic shingle home packs three sizable bedrooms, an open kitchen, and a living area in a house plan of only 1,500 square feet. Architect Scott Ziegler maximizes efficiency in this little cottage. Both screened, and open-air porches wrap this home, designed to allow you to capture views and breezes from all locations. 3 bedrooms/2 bathrooms 1,500 square feet See Plan: Nautical Cottage Alternate 05 of 20 Lowcountry Farmhouse, Plan #2000 J. Savage Gibson Classic Southern architecture combines with Farmhouse-inspired finishes for this comfortable, cozy, and breezy architectural design. Create a timeless house plan with an expansive porch, wide central passageway, hardwood floors, and shiplap-paneled walls. For more space, add a bonus room over the detached garage. 3 bedrooms/3.5 bathrooms 2,754 square feet See Plan: Lowcountry Farmhouse 06 of 20 River Place Cottage, Plan #1959 Southern Living A cottage built for entertaining guests will always be a classic design. This comfortable yet sophisticated house plan combines sophisticated elements like a beamed ceiling in the great room and screened-in porches with an outdoor fireplace. 3 bedrooms/2.5 bathrooms 2,420 square feet See Plan: River Place Cottage 07 of 20 Southern Gothic, Plan #1921 Southern Living House Plans This Southern Gothic-styled house features a triple-gabled roofline and subtle details that highlight its exquisite facade, creating a lot of visual interest. Surround this house with Spanish moss to watch it gently sway in the breeze. 4 bedrooms/3.5 bathrooms 3,416 square feet See Plan: Southern Gothic 08 of 20 Farmdale Cottage, Plan #1870 Southern Living The Farmdale Cottage highlights a kitchen with post-and-beam ceilings and an expansive living room. Keep this home beautiful in its simplicity by using natural materials that create a welcoming atmosphere. 3 bedrooms/3 bathrooms 2,057 square feet See Plan: Farmdale Cottage 09 of 20 Meritta Creek, Plan #1877 Fritz Kapraun This petite plan by residential designer Eric Moser is as functional as it is flexible. You could add a garage across from the primary suite to create a courtyard effect or move the primary suite to the side to evoke a classic dogtrot design. The second floor also has easy-to-customize options: Use the smaller bedroom as a study or game room. The best part? Tons of natural light. "One of my favorite things about the plan is that it's only one room wide through most of the house, so it stays very bright," says Moser. 3 bedrooms/2.5 bathrooms 1,807 square feet See Plan: Meritta Creek 10 of 20 Hawthorn Cottage, Plan #2004 Lake & Land Studio, LLC In just over 1600 square feet, the Hawthorn Cottage features a great room and kitchen off the home's entrance, while the bedroom and bathrooms remain private as wings attached to the home's side. A large screened-in porch extends the entertaining space outdoors. 2 bedrooms/2 bathrooms 1,611 square feet See Plan: Hawthorn Cottage 11 of 20 Banning Court, Plan #1254 Southern Living Banning Court is a one-level cottage charmer with a deep front porch and an attached screened addition. The house's interior features a combined living and dining room for a welcoming, warm, entertaining space. 2 bedrooms/2 bathrooms 1,286 square feet See Plan: Banning Court 12 of 20 Tucker Bayou, Plan #1408 Designed by LRK Architects The 2007 Idea Home, Tucker Bayou, uses historic seaside architecture for inspiration in this vacation-style house with all the comforts available for everyday living. Thoughtful features connect the interior and exterior living spaces making everyday life easier for today's busy families. 5 bedrooms/4 bathrooms 3,554 square feet See Plan: Tucker Bayou 13 of 20 Idea House at Fontanel, Plan #1855 Robbie Caponetto This U-shaped farmhouse is the perfect house plan for entertaining because the beautiful interior opens from the front and back doors into the two-story-high living room area. This house is traditional yet modern, with over 2,800 square feet of porches. 2 bedrooms/2.5 bathrooms 3,065 square feet See Plan: Idea House at Fontanel 14 of 20 Garden Cottage, Plan #1830 Dale Watson Adorable in size, this 540 square foot, one-bedroom, and one-bath retreat is picture perfect. Complete with a fireplace and covered front porch, this Garden Cottage makes the ideal guest cottage, mother-in-law suite, or weekend getaway spot. 1 bedrooms/1 bathrooms 540 square feet See Plan: Garden Cottage 15 of 20 Kinsley Place, Plan #1131 Design by St. Joe Land Company Kinsley Place combines Victorian influences and traditional Floridian-style homes. This design features lap siding and board-and-batten siding to emphasize this attractive design with areas for every family member. 4 bedrooms/5.5 bathrooms 3,510 square feet See Plan: Kinsley Place 16 of 20 Evergreen Cottage, Plan #2003 Southern Living House Plans This comfortable cottage boasts a deep front porch to welcome family and friends into the open-plan kitchen and dining rooms. The exterior features an expansive screened-in porch surrounding three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. 3 bedrooms/2.5 bathrooms 1,921 square feet See Plan: Evergreen Cottage 17 of 20 Farmhouse Revival, Plan #1821 Designed by Historical Concepts Enjoy a classic Southern design with a wraparound porch and open layout. The 2012 Idea House at Senoia features a warm and welcoming floor plan and a main floor primary bedroom suite. 4 bedrooms/4.5 bathrooms 3,511 square feet See Plan: Farmhouse Revival 18 of 20 Deer Run, Plan #731 Fritz Kapraun After sketching a 400-square-foot home for a penny-pinching customer 30 years ago (on a cocktail napkin, no less), architect Bill Phillips was inspired to create more small plans. Only 973 square feet, this home has a tin roof, board-and-batten siding, an inviting front porch, and classic stonework, making it memorable. "People see this cabin, and it captures their hearts," he says. 2 bedrooms/2 bathrooms 973 square feet See Plan: Deer Run 19 of 20 American Farmhouse, Plan #1996 Cindy Cox The main level of this house features a primary bedroom suite that connects to the rear patio. Enjoy a wraparound porch that extends the living and entertaining spaces outdoors. 4 bedrooms/3.5 bathrooms 2,718 square feet See Plan: American Farmhouse 20 of 20 Holly Grove, Plan #1581 Southern Living House Plans Holly Grove features modest square footage, but the floor plan efficiently uses every inch to include a combined living, dining, and kitchen area. It's straightforward, charming, and designed to fit today's casual lifestyles. 2 bedrooms/2 bathrooms 1,269 square feet See Plan: Holly Grove Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit