What is a Storybook House?
Every so often, you turn a corner and spot a home that looks like it belongs between the pages of a children’s book, with a swooping roofline, a round wooden door, and a chimney that seems to lean in for a chat. That’s a storybook house, and once you notice one, it’s hard to look away. You’ll find them tucked into neighborhoods from Carmel-by-the-Sea to Los Angeles , where the style first took hold. This guide covers what makes a home storybook, where the look came from, and what to know about upkeep, resale value, and showing one off. What makes a home a storybook house? A storybook house is a home designed to feel like a fairy tale come to life. Also called fairy-tale cottages or Hansel and Gretel houses, they borrow from the cottages of English and European countryside folklore, much like cottage-style homes , and push those details a little further than a traditional home would. The result is a house with plenty of personality, often with a cozy, handcrafted look that feels mo...
