Typically, a cottage is a tiny residence. It may have the notion of being an outdated or outmoded structure. In modern parlance, a "cottage" is a small, often comfortable residence in a rural or semi-rural setting. Farm laborers were typically supplied with temporary housing in the form of a cottage; see cottage garden. Today, cottages are commonly used as vacation homes or retreats. Cottage homes were popular among the wealthy and middle class during the early years of Minnesota history. They were usually one room structures with clapboard siding and a gable roof. The front entrance was usually through a large window or door that opened into a small foyer. A stairway led up to the second floor where there might be more rooms for guests or tenants to rent. There was usually only one bathroom on the first floor because most households had only one use for a kitchen—to cook food. Cottage homes were also common in suburbs after World War II when families began to move away from cities into smaller houses on larger lots. These suburban cottages usually had two stories and a basement or garage beneath them. They looked much like their city cousins except they were usually not made of stone nor were they as big. In recent years, there has been a rise in popularity of cottage styling outside of Canada and the United States. This new wave of cottage design is often characterized by simpler shapes, softer details, and greener building practices.