Creole Cottages: Full of Charm and Steeped in History
The Creole cottage is one of the most charming home design styles found in New Orleans and truly characteristic of the city’s unique architecture. Most often found in the historic French Quarter and Marigny neighborhoods, the Creole cottage style was inspired by French and Spanish colonists and commonly built in the early 1800s.
Often made of plaster or stucco and painted in lively color combinations, Creole cottages typically feature tall, wooden shutters, floor-to-ceiling windows, French doors, and hardwood floors. But what distinguishes the facade of a New Orleans Creole cottage versus those in surrounding and rural areas, is the fact that its doors and windows often open onto the sidewalk, rather than a front porch. Even two hundred years ago, urban square footage for middle class families was expensive, and a smaller footprint was a necessity.
Additional distinctive features of a Creole cottage include a gabled roof, dormer windows, and a roofline that runs parallel to the street, often jutting out over the front steps and sidewalk to provide a bit of cover from the elements.
Creole cottages, with their inimitable look and feel, celebrate much of what’s special about New Orleans. And behind those colorful shutters, you’ll often find either diamonds in the rough — or lovingly renovated homes waiting for their next lucky owner. Either way, Creole cottages offer historic appeal and a style that can be appreciated by tourists and locals alike — as they stroll down the city’s notable streets.
Here are a few of our favorite Creole cottage listings:
841 Barracks Street
1037 Dauphine Street
Categories
Recent Posts
