"The Tiny House Movement"

In a 2011 edition of House Beautiful they focused on Living Large in Small Spaces. In a note from Newell Turner, Editor in Chief for the magazine, he says, 

"most of us are intrigued by small spaces, even though we have a tendency to think bigger is better…home is really what you make of it...The charm, the beauty of small [spaces] is in the creative and stylish ways we decorate them and make them work."

The article I want to showcase is "The Tiny House Movement" by Shax Riegler; he pulls together a charming portfolio of small homes and space designs from the past. 

English Banqueting Houses

During the late 16th century the banquet became a popular form of entertainment among the nobility in England. "Imagine the delight of guests climbing a spiraling staircase…to find themselves in a tiny, whimsically decorated bower filled with extravagant displays of sweets, fruits and spiced wine."-Riegler

The octagonal banqueting house was hosted by Queen Elizabeth herself in 1578

The South Pavilion

"I have here but one room, which like the cobbler's, serves me for parlor and for kitchen and hall. I may add, for bed chamber and study, too." - Thomas Jefferson

This two-story building was the home for Thomas Jefferson, his wife and their six children.
This was the original dwelling for the future president!

There were many more small spaces of the past that Riegler mentions:

The Walden Cottage 

"I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society…"

-Henry David Thoreu

Cape Code Dune Shacks

They have long been summer retreats for writers, artists and others seeking seclusion

French Pleasure Pavilions

These were built as retreats to escape the stifling atmosphere of court life at Versailles, these petits chateaux of the 18th century were where French aristocrats would escape to play cards, pursue love affairs, and "air out their wigs".

Garden Sheds Reimagined

Grown-ups longing for their own playhouses have started transforming garden sheds into hideaways, offices, craft rooms, dining spaces, guesthouses and reading retreats.

If you want to read up more on this idea Sarah Susanka's "The Not So Big House" is a great example to bring this idea of Living Large in Small Spaces to reality. Her manifesto: "Rather than spend our budget on square footage we wouldn't use, we decided to put the money toward making the house an expression of our personalities"

By thinking smaller you and afford the more custom details that make your home or space more you!

I think this is a great trend thats coming into vogue! The feeling of home should be more about quality than quantity, and it just goes to prove that you can have a spectacular space without having the spectacular square footage!