Chatham Park Cottages

Fresh Paint by Garman Homes

Pittsboro, NC

December 2020

Lifestyle choice that appeals to a wide range of buyers both young and mature
Visited similar communities and dug deep into consumer research and requests for housing in the market to design the homes
Only private outdoor living space is the front porch, but residents have shared greens
Only 7 of the 30 homes have single car detached garages, all others have assigned parking spots

Developed by Fresh Paint by Garman Homes, the cottages are a collection of single-family detached homes; the first vertical construction in the larger Chatham Park community in Pittsboro, North Carolina. These cozy cottages range from 826 to 1,376 square feet. Since they are condo plotted, there are no defined lots and people own their homes versus the land around it. The collection obtains a net density of 7 per acre as it is plotted at Chatham Park. Most of the homes cluster around shared greens with assigned parking spots along the outside of the site. After opening for sale in March 2020, the cottages have been well received, having sold 25 out of the 30 homes as of December 2020. Prices start in the low $200,000s. The collection has been so well received that Garman is looking at building more within the Chatham Park community as well as in the larger Raleigh area.

Chatham Park Cottages

Partnering with Preston Development, the developer for the Chatham Park community, the cottages became the first vertical component in Chatham Park and is the first of its kind in the area. Garman worked with their in-house plan designer, Michelle Hoffman, to design the homes. These cottages provide an out of the box solution for attainable housing with cozy designs and high-quality fit and finish; creating meaningful spaces for people who enjoy and appreciate a minimalistic approach to life.

Chatham Park Cottages

There was only one model left open by the time we photographed the collection, since sales were going so well. The only model in this feature is the Hot Chocolate. Garman Homes names their plans after ideas that inspire them. The names for the Cottage plans are all about comfort and what brings people together. All named after comfort foods, these homes inspire nostalgia and bring up visions of coziness and comfort.

Chatham Park Cottages

Several years ago, the Garman Homes team came up with the concept for the cottages but wondered if they could make it work in the Raleigh market. Historically this product has not been seen in the area, but attainability is a challenge. Garman worked with the Chatham Park developer and their in-house team in a charette process to create the collection and envision who would live there and what they would need and want. The team derived a lot of influence from projects out west. Cottage living is not new to the West and the team found several excellent cottage villages that we were inspired by. During the design process, the team also dug deep into consumer research and requests for housing in this market.

Chatham Park Cottages

Buying at the Cottages is not for one demographic but is instead a lifestyle choice. Garman is seeing a mix of buyers including younger first-time buyers, move down, active adults who live the part time, and those who are recently divorced.

Chatham Park Cottages

Not only is the front porch, the only private outdoor space for each home, but it is also the first thing that residents and visitors see, the first impression. The team wanted to make this place special, so made it large enough to gather on and included planter boxes along the railing of the porch, so residents could grow herbs or flowers.

Chatham Park Cottages

The Hot Chocolate plan is the smallest offered in the collection at only 826 square feet. The single-story home has 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, and no garage, only a reserved parking spot. In fact, most homes in the collection do not have garages, only assigned parking spots. Only Seven homes have single car detached garages. The team thought there would be more of an objection, but they are not getting push back, since residents still get assigned spots. Garages are expensive and accordingly to the builder, it is worth the cost decrease to buyers if they can have their own parking spaces.

Chatham Park Cottages

The front door opens on an open great room. Garman brought in Rustic Charm out of Wake Forest, North Carolina to do the merchandising for the model. The team optimized the 826 square feet and made it feel much bigger.

Chatham Park Cottages

Features like a vaulted ceiling not only provide some wow factor, but they also make smaller spaces feel bigger.

Chatham Park Cottages

Each cottage has high finish and high design. Instead of having buyers go through a typical design center experience, Fresh Paint offers curated packages with appealing names like Coffee House, On the Rocks, and Yes, Please! These packages include materials and finishes for the kitchens and bathrooms, as well as light fixtures. Buyers can also upgrade with lifestyle layers like Peace of Mind that includes a Ring doorbell camera and keyless lock on the front door.

Chatham Park Cottages

The team took cues from tiny homes and integrated built-ins to optimize the function of the space. Note the charming and functional built-in dining area.

Chatham Park Cottages

The team made sure to include key features that consumers want like storage. Despite being the smallest plan, this home still includes a walk-in pantry.

Chatham Park Cottages

The main bedroom is charmingly finished to highlight the opportunities of the space with open shelving and even a small seat. Multiple windows fill this space with light.

Chatham Park Cottages

The main bathroom is simple yet functional. Another one of the lifestyle layers that buyers can select is called “unwind” and includes a semi-frameless shower enclosure and a magnetic showerhead. Note the stacked laundry visible in this image. Instead of creating a separate laundry room, the laundry function is instead integrated into the main bathroom and closet.

Chatham Park Cottages

Smaller homes need to provide multifunctional spaces. Note how the interior designer created both a guest room and in-home office setup in the secondary bedroom.

Chatham Park Cottages

The secondary bathroom is simple but includes a pop of color in the vanity. Note the inclusion of the high fixed window that brings light in while preserving the privacy of the space.

Chatham Park Cottages

Garman Homes has a very distinct company culture that extends to their consumers. The contract for the homes is very short, but include a “good attitude addendum,” which promises that the builder will do the best for them and consumer will give the builder the same respect.

Chatham Park Cottages

The Chatham Park Cottages include three plans there were not photographed. The Milk and Cookies is 962 square feet with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, and a reserved parking space. This single-story home has a charming front porch. This was one of the top-selling plans in the community.

Chatham Park Cottages

The Apple Pie is 1,274 square feet with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. The plan has the main bedroom on the ground floor and the two additional bedrooms on the second floor, providing single level living opportunity for the home. This two-story home is the only plan with the option for a detached single-car garage located next to the home set back from the road. This plan with the garage was the other top-selling plan in the community. Single-car garages can be transitioned into a shed versus a garage.

Chatham Park Cottages

The Chicken Noodle Soup is the largest home at 1,376 square feet. This two-story home has 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a reserved parking space. All the bedrooms are on the second floor, which leaves the ground floor to be dedicated to spacious living areas.

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Cozy Cottages with Quality Finishes: A Lifestyle Take on Solving the Affordability Issue

Photography by Nathan Gregory, PlanOmatic

Lifestyle choice that appeals to a wide range of buyers both young and mature
Visited similar communities and dug deep into consumer research and requests for housing in the market to design the homes
Only private outdoor living space is the front porch, but residents have shared greens
Only 7 of the 30 homes have single car detached garages, all others have assigned parking spots

Product type: Single-family detached

PROJECT STATS

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Included Features Project Summaries

Price as of December 2020: $225,000/ starting at

Square footage (min): 826-1,376

Lot size: –/ square feet average

Density: 7

Sales start date: March 2020

Total homes: 30

Sales as of: 25 as of December 2020

HOA: $200 per month

Target market: Lifestyle choice, so includes a range of buyers young and old.

Unique selling position: These cottages provide an out of the box solution for attainable housing with cozy designs and high quality fit and finish.