the power of the cottage

(photo by michael tinkler via flickr)

Merriam-Webster's definition of "cottage" is:

1 : the dwelling of a farm laborer or small farmer
2 : a usually small frame one-family house

Considering its humble origins, it probably seems odd that I would refer to a cottage as powerful. When you think of powerful houses, the White House might come to mind - or maybe a cathedral or a royal palace. You're probably not going to envision a little charmer with a front porch and adirondack chairs.

Yet within those walls lies a power that far exceeds the square footage. Cottages seem to embody a certain modesty and eloquent informality that transforms people as they walk through the door. By it's very nature, a cottage encourages intimacy and communication- experiences that are cherished in our fast-paced, technological world.

The confines of a smaller home can't help but reinforce "togetherness", but the challenges of a smaller home also foster creativity. When there's less to work with, much more imagination and clever planning is required to contain your life's amenities. In a cottage, you'll often notice the "decorative" items surrounding you are exceptional and personal... edited down by necessity, but often reflecting the true soul of its owner.

I think most people strive for their home to be welcoming and for their interior surroundings to tell their "story". It just seems like a cottage home allows you to get it right a little easier, a little quicker, and with an added dose of authentic charm.

Isn't that pretty powerful?

“I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage with my books, my family and a few old friends, dining on simple bacon, and letting the world roll on as it liked, than to occupy the most splendid post, which any human power can give.”
-Thomas Jefferson


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