FrontDoor.com

Nearly two-thirds of the households in America have only one or two inhabitants, yet the average new home has four bedrooms and is 25 percent larger than homes built for families 25 years ago. Does that sound peculiar to you? It did to Ross Chapin, too, founder of the Cottage Company and the architect responsible for the charming Third Street Cottages.

"My vision for the Third Street Cottages came from looking at what's happening in America, how as families get smaller, houses get larger," Chapin says. He recognized a need for high-quality smaller homes that didn't sacrifice the amenities that modern subdivisions offer. "My personal inclination was to see what could be done to build smaller, to build toward community."

A community is exactly what the Cottage Company has created with its circle of eight colorful homes. Owners name their cottages, creating a village surrounding the common courtyard area with a shared toolshed, workshop and rooftop terrace for group gatherings. Mailbox kiosks and sidewalks throughout the property create natural places for chance meetings among neighbors, and covered porches and a community garden encourage homeowners to come outside and mingle.

Charm and Character

Chapin gave equal time to the details that personalize space and turn a house into a home that can really be lived in. "We've focused on the details -- the nooks, the crannies -- to bring in originality. Smaller can be better. It can be richer," Chapin says.

Each cottage has a private garden complete with split-cedar fence and swinging gate, and windows are carefully positioned to ensure privacy among closely situated homes. There are lots of special features to make the pint-sized homes seem more spacious, like built-in storage, walk-in closets and cathedral ceilings.