The perfect design for down-sizers, or for a couple just starting out, this comfortable two-bedroom cottage includes an unfinished basement for future expansion. Entry is through a covered porch, where a stone-based pilaster, formed from a tree branch, lends a rustic air. The front door is flanked by sidelights, and the foyer contains a roomy coat closet. The great-room complex, viewed from the foyer through an arched opening, boasts large windows that look onto a covered deck and provides a welcome to family members and guests alike. A gas fireplace will make this room a magnet during the cooler months, and its cosy glow will spread to the dining room and kitchen. The dining room windows overlook the back garden, and a door gives access to the covered deck, the ideal spot for year-round grilling.

The kitchen is  separated from the great room only by a five-seat eating bar fitted with a double sink. Plenty of counter space will make the cook happy. Just around the corner is a handy pantry, adjacent to a coat closet and the laundry room, which has access to the double garage. The master suite, which features a display area just outside the entry, also overlooks the back garden.

The spacious walk-in closet is reached through the ensuite, which includes a soaker tub as well as a corner shower, for a touch of spa-like luxury. The linen closet is close to the bedroom door. To the right of the foyer, the second bedroom features an extra-deep window sill, and includes its own linen cupboard, adjacent to a three-piece bath. Nearby, a U-shaped flight of stairs leads down to the unfinished basement. Exterior finishes include vertical board-and-batten siding in the gables, complementing the horizontal siding elsewhere.

Old-fashioned shutters frame a vent in the attic. Trim is painted, and windows are partly mullioned to enhance the home’s cottage-y character. This home measures 44 feet wide and 56 feet deep, for a total of 1,625 square feet, not including the unfinished basement.