Tucked into the forest on a 137 acre property on Signal Mountain, Sheila’s Cottage is an homage to the bucolic structures of rural Appalachia. The humble structure is a gift from a son to his mother, who has lost homes to both a tornado and fire. Having kept only her most important possessions, Sheila’s needs for physical space are minimal. What she truly treasures are her family, her books, and connection with nature.

The remote forested location is only accessible by a winding gravel road, thereby limiting the construction methodology used for the build. Smaller delivery trucks, limited size lumber, and simple construction techniques will be required. The brief for the cottage was minimal- a two bedroom, two bathroom house with a reading nook and window seat, and plenty of porches and windows. Materials were chosen for durability and to honor the character of the agrarian structures of nearby mountain farms. Mountain stone anchors the base of the cottage, thermally-modified wood siding adorns the walls, while the roof is covered with a galvanized seamed metal. A wood-burning stove was chosen over a traditional fireplace to limit costs and simplify roof flashing.