{"id":74806,"date":"2022-02-01T16:11:11","date_gmt":"2022-02-02T00:11:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?p=74806"},"modified":"2022-09-12T13:21:38","modified_gmt":"2022-09-12T20:21:38","slug":"what-is-a-carriage-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/what-is-a-carriage-house\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Carriage House? Charming 1800s Dwellings"},"content":{"rendered":"

A carriage house\u2014 also called a coach house\u2014 is a building near a larger home that was originally used for storing a horse-drawn carriage and housing the carriage\u2019s driver (coachman). Think of them as a detached garage (although some are attached). Carriage houses today are often renovated into accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which can be used as both a <\/span>garage and a living space<\/span><\/a>, such as a guest house, in-law suite, office, studio, or rentable apartment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This <\/span>popular house style<\/span><\/a> makes for a unique, charming, and useful space. Some home buyers search for properties that include them, while others search for carriage houses sold as an individual unit so they can use them as single-family homes. Learn everything from the origin of the carriage house to its unique characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, and how you can buy one of these whimsical houses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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History of the carriage house<\/span><\/h2>\n

Carriage houses date back to 18th century England and the rise of the horse-drawn carriage. In the United States, carriage houses were popularized during the latter half of the 19th century. They were originally built in <\/span>New York, NY<\/span><\/a> and across New England, including <\/span>Boston, MA<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Hartford, CT<\/span><\/a>, typically in places where travel by horse-drawn carriage was common.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, riding by horse and carriage was not available to everyone. “The great thing about carriage houses,” says Jeff of Delson or Sherman Architecture<\/a>, a modern architecture firm in Brooklyn, NY, “is that unlike typical row houses, carriage houses were often unique. Because these buildings have usually gone through multiple uses, the floorplans show off the colorful history of the building.” Households needed to have enough funds to support the cost of the carriage, horses, and the coach driver, not to mention the financial ability to build a coach house in the first place. This is why carriage houses are often attached to a larger estate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, homeowners often repurpose these buildings for a variety of purposes: small second homes, guest houses, detached garages, home offices, studio spaces, <\/span>mother in-law suites<\/span><\/a>, or even storage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pro tip: take into account budget and permits before renovating<\/h3>\n

Take the time to work with a designer who considers your needs in order to make sure you\u2019re getting the perfect result. Be sure to consider attic trusses, dormers, and hand cut rafters when creating additional square footage for your living space. Think about window placement as well. Make sure to check with your local health department on septic and sewer approvals that may be required when planning to add an additional bedroom to your space. – <\/span>Milburn Design and Construction<\/span><\/a>, serving the building needs of Virginia and surrounding areas.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What is the difference between a carriage house and a carriage home?<\/span><\/h2>\n

“An important thing to remember when searching for a carriage home is that a carriage house and carriage home are different,\u201d says <\/span>Sallie McBrien<\/span><\/a>, a noted Alexandria, VA, real estate team. \u201cCarriage houses were buildings designed to hold carriages, tools and accessories when horse-drawn carriages were the standard means of transportation.”<\/span> The more iconic carriage house is the (typically) standalone garage-predecessor built as part of a larger estate. Both structures are generally built with a garage space on the bottom and a living quarter on the top. <\/span><\/p>\n

A carriage home (or condo\/townhome) is a residential property that comes up to or lies on the home’s property line and is usually built with shared walls. They often look similar to townhouses, but they include a garage, and owners of carriage homes also own the land the unit sits on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Typical carriage house floor plans<\/span><\/h2>\n

Standard carriage houses are usually one and a half story buildings. On the first level there is a large room with high ceilings\u2014 twelve to twenty feet\u2014 which was where they stored the horses and carriages. These days this space is where cars are usually stored. The coachman\u2019s apartment took up the second floor, which sometimes was divided into smaller rooms. Because this is usually a half-level floor, the ceilings can be quite low.<\/span><\/p>\n

Carriage house layouts are generally square-shaped and feature a front-facing double door for the carriage. A side-facing single door is usually present for personal entry \u2013 practical designs for the building\u2019s original purpose.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Modern carriage houses\u2014 houses built after automobiles became more accessible\u2014 can be found in a wide variety of styles. They usually feature a modern garage door entrance on the ground floor and are located in the front of the main house. These can be built as a single-family home without a larger residence or as an additional living and multipurpose area, generally on larger properties.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Overhead Door\u2122<\/b> tip: choose the best design and materials<\/h3>\n

When choosing the right carriage house garage door for your home, it\u2019s important to consider the design elements you\u2019re looking for as well as the material. Fortunately, these doors come in a virtually endless variety of styles, with vertical, horizontal or diagonal panel designs, window options, colors, hardware and more. In terms of material, wood isn\u2019t the only option to achieve the classic look for which this style is known. They can also come in steel options that are fashioned to resemble an elegant wood design while offering the long-lasting durability and low maintenance that steel provides. – Christian Morrow for <\/span>Overhead Door<\/b><\/span><\/a>, the iconic, genuine, original garage door company.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Characteristics and charm of the carriage-style homes\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Carriage houses were typically built as independent outbuildings, i.e. a building that stands alone from a larger house. In some cities, especially New York, they can be found attached to the larger home, either below it (ground level) or beside it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The carriage house mirrors architectural themes of the estate \u2013 think of it as a separate garage in the same style as the main house. Their miniature size adds to their charm and people who lean toward romantic and whimsical homes often fall in love with these gems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The architectural style of the carriage house will depend on the era in which it was built and the architectural style of the region. Because most were built from the mid-19th to early-20th centuries, they\u2019re most prevalent in the following architectural styles:<\/span><\/p>\n