Recently I wrote a post entitled Tiny Shabby Cottage .  I thought it was one of the cutest little homes I’d ever seen and while the focus of the article was about the interior decoration in the shabby chic design style, I couldn’t help but wonder how she made the house itself.

Well, today, by coincidence I found the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company.  Their designs range from 65 sq ft to 837 sq ft and are styled just like the shabby cottage.   Jay Shafer founded the company on the idea that large houses can be wasteful so he set out to design (and live in) a tiny home that provides enough useful space and storage to live a simple, yet happy lifestyle.

So, if you were wondering just how to go about building such a cottage for yourself, check out Jay’s video, then head over to his web site.  He sells the plans on their own or will build it for you.

Would you build a house like this?

FYI In case you haven’t heard:  The team over at Flea Market Style magazine have updated their blog and are celebrating by giving away free autographed copies of their 2010 edition.  Click on the image below to go over there and enter!

AND they’ve announced another edition of Flea Market Style for 2011!

Found these images on Caroline’s Lost and Found blog.  The room is light, functional (look at all the storage), classy, romantic.

The shabby chic home can be described as quiet, soft, romantic and sophisticated.  This decorating style reflects a sensible approach to comfort and function by utilizing simple and elegant furnishings that are valued for their faded grandeur.  Mass produced goods are rejected, while imperfect and worn objects with a sense of character are displayed prominently and valued for their uniqueness and timelessness.

Practicality and simplicity are dominant.  Everything is functional in the shabby chic home.  Objects that may have once been luxurious heirlooms, are re-purposed for modern use.  Worn tea towels become the valance over the kitchen window.  A weathered wicker table is topped with glass and becomes useful again.  Embellished fabrics serve as both a tablecloth and a skirt.  Tattered chairs and sofas are given new life with white slipcovers, so that both dogs and kids can lounge about comfortably.  If it’s in this house, it’s meant to be used.

Colors of the shabby chic home decor are subtle and subdued.  Ceilings, walls, and often floors are painted in crisp white hues and help evoke a sense of open space.  Soft pastel colors, muted grays, and cream are brought into the space through faded, vintage fabrics.   Floral patterns are a favorite and can be seen in pillows, tablecloths, and tableware.  The use of such colors and patterns are familiar reminders of days gone by, a time when life was slower and more easily enjoyed.

Anyone can achieve the look of a shabby chic home with a little imagination and an appreciation for craftsmanship.  Acquiring this look doesn’t always require much money, however it often requires some time.  Searching for treasures in flea markets, thrift stores, and your grandmother’s garage does take effort, but over time you can develop an an eye for simple elegance and create your own unique style.