Craftsman Collection · Single-Story Living

Single-story craftsman plans — everything that matters on one floor.

Craftsman plans drawn entirely on one level — master suite, secondary bedrooms, great room, kitchen, mudroom, and porch all on the entry floor. Right for empty nesters, aging-in-place buyers, accessibility-aware families, and anyone who decided early they did not want to spend the next 30 years climbing stairs to bed.

7 Plans Available
36in Standard Door Width
$1,495 From (PDF Set)
Browse 7 plans Why single-story matters
Designer's Pick
Cheaha Mountain Cottage

Plan No. MF-7879 · Craftsman, Cottage · 2-Story

Cheaha Mountain Cottage

The Cheaha Mountain Cottage is a 3-bedroom, 2-bath craftsman cottage that puts 1,720 square feet of living on a sloping lot in a way that makes the terrain work for you instead of against you. I designed this…

1,720 Sq. Ft Sq Ft
3 Beds
2 Baths
None Garage
Explore plan → From $1,495
7 Craftsman Plans · Single Story

Single-story craftsman plans, drawn flat on purpose.

Plans where everything that matters lives on one floor. Wider footprints, smarter circulation, and detailing that earns its place on the only level you have.

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What is single-story craftsman?

A single-story craftsman puts every essential room — master suite, secondary bedrooms, great room, kitchen, baths, mudroom — on the entry level. No upstairs, no basement bedrooms (though a finished walkout below is a different conversation). The footprint runs wider than a comparable two-story plan because every room has to fit on one floor, but the math is honest: you trade lot footprint for never having to climb a stair to do anything daily.

Real Numbers · 2026 Data

What single-story actually adds to a craftsman build.

Cost difference between a 2,400 sq ft single-story craftsman and the same square footage as a two-story craftsman.

  • Larger foundation Footings + slab spread wider, not stacked $10k – $20k
  • Larger roof More roof area over the wider main floor $8k – $16k
  • Wider main-floor framing More wall and floor area on the main $6k – $12k
  • Reduced second-floor framing No second-floor floor system or framing −$8k – −$14k
  • No stair construction No stair stringers, treads, railings −$3k – −$6k
  • 36-inch door upgrade Wider doors at master, main bath, entry $0.6k – $1.4k
  • Reinforced bath walls (blocking) Wood backing for future grab bars $0.4k – $1k
  • Curbless or low-curb shower Linear drain, properly sloped floor $2k – $4.5k
  • Net added cost Versus 2-story craftsman, same sq ft $16k – $34.9k
Single-story is the bet most buyers should make in 2026, and most do not because the build cost spreadsheet tells them two-story is cheaper. The spreadsheet is not wrong — it is just not measuring the right thing. The cost of a stair lift in 20 years is more than the cost of a wider footprint today.
Max Fulbright Sr. Lead Designer + Builder · 35 Years

Numbers reflect 2026 national averages on a 2,400 sq ft craftsman build with mid-range finishes. The single-story premium is real but small relative to the 30-year life of the house.

Single-Story Decision Guide

Is single-story the right call for your build?

Five questions to confirm single-story fits your lot, your buyer, and your budget.

01

Is the lot wide enough?

Single-story needs 20 to 40 percent more frontage than two-story for the same square footage. Confirm before you commit.

Yes → continue
02

Will the primary owners be 50+ within 10 years?

If yes, single-story pays back. If no, you are buying convenience without the aging-in-place return.

Yes → continue
03

Is the foundation+roof premium in the budget?

Single-story costs 6 to 12 percent more in foundation and roof. The savings on framing partly offset, but not fully.

Yes → continue
04

Where do guests sleep?

Dedicated guest suite, BORG (bonus over garage), or walkout level. Pick the right one for your hosting habits.

Pick before drawing
05

Are accessibility upgrades in the spec at framing?

Wider doors, blocked bath walls, curbless shower. Cheap to add now; expensive retrofits later. Spec at framing.

Spec at framing
Single-Story Layout Comparison

Four ways to land everything on one floor.

Same idea — single-story craftsman — at four different lot fits and footprint strategies.

Compact Single

Smallest footprint

Two real bedrooms, one bath, master en suite, great room, kitchen. Roughly 1,400 sq ft single-story craftsman. Fits on tighter lots; perfect empty-nester scale.

Bedrooms2 – 3
Best size1,200 – 1,600 sq ft
Lot fit60-ft frontage

Family Single

Three real bedrooms

Three real bedrooms, two baths, full master suite, great room, kitchen, and a real mudroom. The honest size for a family that wants everything on one floor.

Bedrooms3
Best size1,800 – 2,400 sq ft
Lot fit80-ft frontage

Single + BORG

Bonus room over garage

Full single-story living + a single second-story room over the garage for guests, an office, or a hobby space. Keeps the daily-use rooms on one floor while giving you an extra room.

Bedrooms3 main + bonus
Best size2,200 – 2,800 sq ft total
Lot fit80-ft frontage

Single + Walkout

Sloped-lot specialty

Full single-story above + walkout level below. Gives you the convenience of single-floor living plus a guest suite, second great room, and storage on the lower level. Best on sloped lots.

Bedrooms2 – 3 main + 1 – 2 below
Best size3,000 – 4,500 sq ft total
Lot fitSloped
Before You Build

Single-story readiness checklist

Six questions to confirm single-story is the right structural call for your buyer, your lot, and your build budget.

Common Questions

Quick answers.

How much wider is a single-story plan than a two-story?+

For the same total square footage, a single-story plan typically needs 30 to 50 percent more lot frontage and 20 to 40 percent more total lot. A 2,400 sq ft two-story might fit on a 60-foot-wide lot; the same square footage as single-story typically needs 80 to 100 feet of frontage. That is the trade — convenient living for life in exchange for a wider lot footprint and slightly more foundation and roof.

Does single-story cost more to build?+

About 6 to 12 percent more for the same square footage, almost entirely because of foundation and roof. A two-story stacks roof on roof; single-story spreads both wider. The flip side: simpler stair construction (none), simpler structural framing (no second-floor floor system), and simpler HVAC (single zone often works). On 2,400 sq ft, expect $25,000 to $55,000 more in foundation and roof line items versus a two-story.

Can I age in place in a single-story craftsman?+

Yes — and it is the point. The single-story solves the stairs problem. The remaining accessibility moves are: 36-inch-wide doorways at master, main bath, and main entry; reinforced bath walls for grab bars (cheap to add at framing, expensive after); curbless or low-curb master shower; at least one no-step entry door (typically off the garage or porch); and lever-handle hardware throughout. Several plans here are drawn aging-in-place ready without looking institutional.

Where do guests sleep?+

Three honest options on a single-story plan. First: a dedicated guest suite at the opposite end of the house from the master, with its own bath. Second: a bonus room over the garage (BORG) — a single second-floor space, accessed by a single stair, used as guest room or office. Third: a finished walkout basement with a guest suite. All three work; the right one depends on your lot, your budget, and how often guests actually visit.

Will a single-story craftsman hurt resale?+

The opposite, increasingly. Single-story is the most-requested layout for buyers over 50, and the buyer pool over 50 is growing. A well-drawn single-story craftsman in 2026 sells faster and for a higher price-per-square-foot than a comparable two-story in most markets, especially in areas with higher percentages of retirees or empty nesters. The math has shifted.

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