Storybook Cob House
Storybook Cob House is really the Mud and Wood House in Ireland built by a Feile Butler and Colin Ritche who run the Mud & Wood Company.
Amazing that they built their cob house by hand using natural and salvaged materials.
Their Mud & Wood site answers the burning question:
What is Cob?
It is earth with straw mixed into it and used as the building material. Furthermore, if you plan to build a cob house and your soil is too sandy, you add clay. If you soil has too much clay, you add sand.
My neighbors have really sandy soil. They don’t need gutters on the house because the rain water just runs off and soaks into the ground. I have too much clay in the front of the house along the foundation. Together, our soil is just right to build a Cob House.
Cob is also not the top soil like you use for gardening, it is below this level of ground.
The house was designed to make the most of passive solar energy.
Most of the wood used throughout the home was salvaged from fallen trees.
Fairytale bunk beds make children’s dreams come true. The ladder branches were hand-picked.
The husband and wife team built their dream come true house. Feile is the architect and Colin is the carpenter. They now teach courses from how to build a cob and timber frame house to how to build a pizza oven from humble and lowly mud.
Be sure to see Houzz for more Mud and Wood House photos.
See Enchanting Fairy Tale English Cottages
English Country Cotswold Cottage
What an interesting house. The light in it must be amazing with all those windows!
I love to feature unique homes like this. If you ever hear of one, let me know.
What a unique house. I like the windows and all the wood and natural elements they used. Thanks for sharing because I’ve never heard of this type of home before.
Shannon ~ bohemianjunktion.com
I was thinking yesterday about ancient adobes and other kinds of early home building and how it reflects this mud house.
Cool house, thanks for sharing that. The countertops are really cool.
It boggles my mind how the countertops are shaped.
Oh, my goodness. This is so cool.
Who knew mud could do so much.
wow cool house the windows are stunning
Love the windows too that let is so much light and heat from the sun.
I love the colors on the outside – the yellow with blue trim is gorgeous.
I also love the use of the old trees – the stair rails, the curve of the kitchen counters.
Have you ever seen any of the homes made from shipping containers? I saw a few and they were just amazing.
Yes, I have seen some really interesting shipping container homes too Carol.
Beautiful inside and out – my dream home! I wonder who the cost compares to a conventional house?
Using the land plus salvaged wood from trees, this home has to cost so much less than any regular home.
Interesting! I love all that wood. A home made out of mud?
Hey Bud, I bet you have to build it, way out in the sticks, with all the city codes that you have to abide to.
Thanks Sue, now I have to check this out
Yes, I believe the house is on a large chunk of land.
Adorable and resourceful work! I’d love to build a Cob House in the Adirondacks as a second home for vacations. Thank you for posting this inspirational piece. I love it.
Adirondacks would be a perfect place for this house for you Robin xo