Small House Bliss

Small house designs with big impact


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The Sea and Sky Cottage on Cape Breton Island

The Sea and Sky Cottage on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

photo by Stewart Applegath

The Cape Breton landscape is dotted with small gable roofed houses, often shingled and with minimal roof overhangs. The Sea and Sky Cottage was designed by architect Craig Applegath and artist Stewart Applegath to resemble those vernacular houses. However instead of the small, closed-off rooms that would be found in older houses, this updated version has an open floor plan and a ceiling that vaults up to the roof ridge.

The cottage sits on an exposed grassy bluff with sweeping views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Bright red shutters protect the windows from the storms that regularly sweep in from the Gulf, bringing winds of up to 130 km per hour.

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Weekend Fun: The Inshriach Bothy, an artist studio in the Scottish Highlands

The Inshriach Bothy by The Bothy Project

The Bothy Project is an artist-driven initiative to develop small studio spaces for artist residencies in unique locations across Scotland. Some of the studios will make use of space in existing structures while others will be new builds. The Inshriach Bothy was the first of these live/work studios. It sits surrounded by birch trees and heather in a small hollow in the Cairngorms National Park. It was built in 2011 through the efforts of artist Bobby Niven, architectural designer Iain MacLeod and a team of volunteer builders, supported by grants from the Royal Scottish Academy.

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The Bensfield Tree House by Blue Forest

The Bensfield Tree House in Sussex by Blue Forest

Located on a farm in the Sussex, England countryside is this small house built around a very big tree. This isn’t a tree house in the sense of actually being supported by the tree — it does have its own foundation — however it is raised above the ground on stilts and has a large oak tree growing up through the middle of it. The Bensfield Tree House was one of the first tree houses built by Blue Forest, a company specializing in constructing elaborate tree houses and similar structures for hotels and private clients.

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The Beach Hut, a romantic retreat in Cornwall

The Beach Hut, a romantic cottage in Cornwall

© Unique Home Stays

This snug retreat provides a secluded escape for lovers. The 85 year old cottage is located on a remote cove on the rugged windswept coast of Cornwall. The Beach Hut was a teahouse when first built in the 1920′s, but had not been occupied for years and was terribly run-down when purchased by the current owners. They undertook a sympathetic restoration, preserving what they could and only introducing new materials that were compatible with the old. The original character is on display with clapboard siding, a stone chimney, and a weathered porch that overlooks the cove.

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La Luge, a modern ski cabin by Yiacouvakis Hamelin

La Luge, a contemporary ski cabin by Yiacouvakis Hamelin Architectes

La Luge is a small vacation cottage in the Laurentian Mountains of Quebec. Not far from a major ski hill, it was designed by Yiacouvakis Hamelin Architectes as a retreat for enjoying the winter season and its activities. To ensure comfort in cold weather, the cottage is equipped with a fireplace, cozy built-in beds, a sauna and a hot tub. Window walls on all four sides connect the occupants with the landscape while the surrounding forest maintains their privacy.

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The Edge, an idyllic beach cottage in Cornwall

The Edge, a small beach cottage in Cornwall

© Unique Home Stays

Nestled into a seaside cliff in Cornwall, England is The Edge, a tiny cottage with huge views. A breath-taking vista of the Atlantic Ocean and coastline can be enjoyed from its deck. The cliffs of Cornwall are dotted with small cottages, typically simple one-story structures with shallow-pitched gable roofs. The Edge updates the traditional Cornish beach hut with modern conveniences and high-end finishes. It was designed by local Cornwall architect Bob Woffenden with interior decor by the owners.

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Eagles Pass, a classic Cape Breton Island cottage

Eagles Pass Cottage, exterior

Eagles Pass is a small seaside cottage on Cape Breton Island in Canada. Designed and built by owner Stewart Applegath in a traditional Cape Breton style, it has minimal roof overhang, mostly small windows, and classic shingle siding with white trim.

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