Tiny Cottages
- Chad Moreland
- May 16, 2019
- 3 min read
The tiny house movement is rapidly growing, and these homes are becoming increasingly more beautiful and attractive. The trend is not just limited to the U.S. as tiny homes are popping up all over the world, including countries like New Zealand, Canada, the Philippines, etc. for various reasons, but presumably because of the mobility and affordability. So what is the tiny house movement? You may have heard some refer to it as lifestyle, a social movement, or a financial savings/retirement plan. Or perhaps you haven’t heard of it at all. The point of this post is to explore what is a tiny house and why people are drawn to them.
What is the Tiny House Movement?
The tiny house movement consists of, well, tiny houses; and by definition that means a home that is less than 500 sq. feet on average. So to put that in perspective, a fairly normal-sized house is around 2,500 sq. feet, a number which has exponentially grown in the past 30 years. In 1973, the average house size was 1,500 sq. feet. It is interesting that within the growing trend of larger homes, the tiny house movement has emerged. This is partly in response to the economic instability that we are facing, which includes a need for frugality and decreased spending.
The movement also encompasses the minimalist lifestyle, another growing social movement that is growing in popularity these days. Less is more they say. The environmental benefits of downsizing are numerous–less space equates to less waste of precious, valuable resources. Tiny homes appeal to all sorts of people: the millennials, the retired, and the budget conscious family to name a few.
The Minimalist Lifestyle
Minimalism originally is an art trend that emerged in the 1950's. Its characterizing features are large, simple forms and colors that avoid cluttered detail. The early art trend extended to music characterized by short, repetitive phrases, and even to “less is more” architecture. What began as an artistic style ultimately became a social movement that constitutes eliminating “the unnecessary” in order to have more freedom to focus on the essential.
Many people may have the wrong impression of who are what minimalists are, but for each person that considers his or herself a minimalist, “the essential” is different, whether it be to have a family and a home, or to have a successful career. The focus for minimalist is on living a decluttered life that finds meaning through experiences and people rather than through possessions. But possessions aren’t the only thing minimalists look to declutter; the minimalist lifestyle seeks to declutter all aspects of your life. Its purpose is to eliminate stress and extra expenses by focusing on the here and now and what you really need.
Elevated Designer Cottages
So one of my favorite architects is Jefferey Dungan out of Birmingham, Alabama. Anyone that has discussed architecture and design with me knows very well that I have a major soft spot for traditional and classical aesthetics, and much of his work exudes those styles which is what draws me in towards his work. Recently, Dungan, along with Knoxville, Tennessee-based Clayton Homes, the largest producer of modular homes in the nation, collaborated together on creating elevated designer cottages, their version of tiny homes, fit for those who admire traditional features. Instead of amenities fit for a backyard tree-house
, Dungan and Clayton partnered on a line of luxurious one-bed, one-bath 'Designer Cottages', which feature vaulted ceilings of up to eleven feet, hardwood floors, and full-sized stainless steel appliances.
There is definitely something out there for everyone, and with stylish tiny homes like this in existence, I can definitely get behind this trend and support it. I'm pretty sure I want one, but if like me you to are on the fence, then you should stay over night in one of these designer cottages in Cashiers, North Carolina, which is a gorgeous little mountain town. Find their Airbnb link here, https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/29410135?s=1, and experience what the tiny home movement is all about! Below are photos of the Low Country designer cottage, inspired by the marshes of the American South. Check it out!
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