Small Wonder

How tiny homes manage to pack a big punch of personality.

- Victoria Van Vlear

We’ve all seen them: mini maisons crammed with charisma or tiny jewel boxes filled to the brim with charm. But how do these diminutive dwellings manage to have so much character? What is it that gives the classic tiny cottage its dreamy style and wow factor? Here are some essentials.

Roofline. There are many roof shapes that can work with cottage style, but the key is having multiple sections to the roofline. This home sports a hip roof with two hip-and-valley sections in the front. This makes the home symmetrical and provides interest in the roofline. On a single-story home like this, the hip-and-valley sections create dimension. You want to avoid a single, flat roof.