The Weld’s cottage on Dogwood Ridge road is set in the maritime forest of Middle Island with views of the marsh beyond. The Welds shared a hectic lifestyle with separate careers in Raleigh and Wilmington. This cottage is designed as a place for Grif and Joan to rendezvous, relax, and recharge their energies for the coming week. We developed an upside-down plan so that friends and family could enjoy the view while socializing. We used divided light casement window and red cedar shingles for the cottage exterior. This provides a traditional, storm resistant finish. The interior is a very simple traditional design with brick floors on the ground level, beadboard wainscot and heart pine floors.