Last Updated on April 30, 2025 by teamobn
Michigan USA – Zinta Aistars
Lot size: 10 acres (2 hectares)
Built area: 200 sq. ft. (18.5 m2)
Year built: Unknown
Renovated: 2012/13
Standing on a hill in the woods of south-west Michigan is a whimsical cottage named COTH by its writer owner, Zinta Aistars. Although the 10 acre property has a 100+ year old farmhouse as the main dwelling, this “outbuilding” clearly caught the heart of the owner.
The Cottage on The Hill
The original builder is lost to obscurity, but COTH was obviously built with love, skill and an objective.
“With its quirky angles and mismatched windows, it’s been likened to a place from a Tim Burton movie, or from Dr. Seuss. No two windows match, each is at a different height.”
Since taking ownership of the farm in spring, 2012, Zinta has carefully and lovingly refurbished the cottage, ensuring the original feel and ambience were retained. Renovations included weatherizing the cottage, the addition of a small deck and an outhouse, whitewashing the lower level internally, and furnishing it in order to create a writer’s retreat.
Footnote:
In an email from Zinta yesterday, she said, “I sat on the COTH deck for a while tonight with a friend, and it’s so green and leafy and quiet and beautiful there …”
I think it’s fair to say that many of us would have been happy to sit there with her 
The Story Behind the Cottage on a Hill
Standing on a snow-covered hill in southwest Michigan in December 2011, Zinta Aistars was enchanted by a strange, fanciful building tucked among the trees. The listing detailed a “writer’s cottage on a wooded hill” and a century-old farmhouse on a 10-acre site. Though she had never seen the main house, Zinta felt a quick link to the property. She then remembered saying to her real estate agent, “Doesn’t matter. I am home.
Later called “COTH” (Cottage on the Hill), the cottage was a lovely two-story building with odd angles and mismatched windows, much like a Dr. Seuss drawing. Inside, she discovered a little wooden desk with dragonfly-shaped drawer pulls, a skylight, and a built-in bookcase. The upper level has a wall of windows that gave a quiet view of the surrounding treetops.
Zinta set out on a careful restoration, intent on keeping the particular character of the cottage. She weatherized the building, included a little porch around a neighboring pine tree, and furnished the inside with recycled materials from the barn and farmhouse on the site. The outcome was a warm, rustic getaway with of personal touches including her father’s paintings and a library of beloved books.
COTH now acts as Zinta’s own refuge—a space for writing, contemplation, and natural interaction. Often with her dog Guinnez, she spends time there relishing the peace and creativity the cottage offers. Sometimes she welcomes visitors looking for a quiet getaway, opening her cottage on the hill to share its enchantment.
Cottage on The Hill Gallery
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Design Elements That Make COTH Unique
Perched quietly on a wooded rise in southwest Michigan, the Cottage on the Hill—fondly known as COTH—is a place that captures the imagination. It’s more than just a restored structure. It’s a personal sanctuary with design choices that make it unlike any other small cottage in the region. Every angle and detail tells a story. For anyone dreaming of their own cottage on a hill, COTH serves as a beautiful reminder that charm and authenticity matter more than symmetry or size.
Quirky Architecture That Feels Handcrafted
What immediately stands out when you look at COTH is its unapologetically whimsical structure. The cottage doesn’t conform to traditional architectural norms. Its shape bends with the landscape, embracing the unevenness of the hilltop and the irregularity of its construction.
Each angle feels organic—like the builder shaped it by hand rather than blueprint. This lack of symmetry gives the building personality. It also enhances the feeling that you’ve stumbled upon something magical, as if it emerged from the forest rather than being placed there.
Mismatched Windows That Tell Their Own Story
No two windows are alike at COTH. Some are large, others small. Some are high up near the ceiling while others sit low and wide, drawing your eyes in every direction. This mishmash of window styles might seem chaotic at first glance, but it works beautifully. Natural light filters in unevenly, casting different moods throughout the day.
The variation also gives each section of the cottage its own character. In some corners, you feel enclosed and cozy. In others, expansive views of trees and sky make the space feel open and limitless.
Interior Simplicity That Centers the Soul
The interior of the cottage on the hill follows a minimal, rustic style that reflects both its age and its renewed purpose. The lower level has been whitewashed to brighten up the space while maintaining its worn textures. Original woodwork and imperfect surfaces have been preserved rather than covered, staying true to the cottage’s history. Inside, there’s no clutter or excess. Instead, you’ll find a wooden desk, a bookshelf, and vintage furniture chosen more for their soul than for their style. The minimal design leaves room for thought, creativity, and quiet living.
A Deck That Extends the Living Space into Nature
Zinta Aistars added a small wooden deck during the restoration. It doesn’t just serve as a functional entryway—it’s an outdoor extension of the cottage’s spirit. The deck wraps gently around a pine tree, blending structure with the natural landscape.
It’s the kind of place where you’d sit with a warm drink and let time drift by. The view from the deck is pure green serenity in summer, and quiet white wonder in winter. It invites moments of reflection, reading, or simply listening to the wind rustle through the trees.
Interior Details That Reflect a Personal Narrative
Every item inside COTH has meaning. Nothing feels store-bought or forced. The desk was chosen for its charm, not its finish. The dragonfly-shaped drawer handles are a nod to nature and whimsy. Paintings by Zinta’s father line the walls.
The bookshelf is filled with favorites, placed not for design balance but because they belong. These elements are deeply personal, but they also offer a lesson in designing with authenticity. A cottage on the hill doesn’t need a uniform aesthetic. It needs a story—one that lives in every lamp, shelf, or scratch on the floor.
Preservation over Perfection
One of the most defining aspects of COTH’s design is how much of its original state was preserved. Many people would have torn it down or stripped it back to the bones. Instead, Zinta chose to keep what made it special.
She weatherized the structure without sanding away its history. She added comfort, not luxury. The charm lies in the uneven floors, the cracked paint, the layers of time that still show. This respect for the cottage’s past adds weight and warmth to every corner.
Whimsy With Purpose
COTH’s overall design gives it the kind of storybook charm you’d expect from a Tim Burton film or a children’s fantasy novel. The quirky angles, playful window placements, and tree-hugging deck don’t just look good—they feel right. They echo the freedom of a retreat where imagination thrives. A cottage on the hill like this doesn’t follow conventional rules. It follows emotion. And that makes it truly rare.
The design of COTH proves that a home doesn’t have to be large or luxurious to be unforgettable. It just needs to be real.
Conclusion
The Cottage on the Hill is a rare blend of charm, creativity, and personal history. Its quirky design and thoughtful restoration make it more than just a retreat. It’s a place where story and space come together in perfect harmony.
We have more unique architectural marvels. Check out our bridge house article next!
