Located near Millersburg, Ohio, this sweet cottage is a mere 450 square feet. But it looks so much bigger in the pictures…. maybe it’s because the homeowners follow, nay, embody the philosophy of “Live small to have it all!”
A couple named Sue & Ron live in this tiny cottage. They hand-built it themselves over a 6 year period.
Ron & Sue are old hands at tiny house living – married since 1986, the largest house they ever had was 900 square feet.
On their website, they make no bones about the fact that they are driven by years of experience, living small before it was even cool:
We are not young, idealistic dreamers, fresh out of college, thinking we can change the world.
We are old, idealistic dreamers, fresh out of youth, hoping we can change the world, but knowing at least we can share our decades of small living experiences and contribute to the conversation
Ron and Sue like to call it a “Movement Towards Rational Habitation.” The concept is to live richly with only what you need – an idea that has been gaining traction for a few years now, especially since the housing market went bust in ’08 and so many lost their homes to foreclosure.
The Shiny Tiny Mansion may be a mere 450 square feet but look at the delightful decor…
And it’s not paired down or minimalist in any way! There are lots of nooks and crannies for storage and beloved bric-a-brac is on display throughout.
The kitchen packs a whole lot of charm and utility into a very small space:
The bathroom/laundry area is a little larger than the kitchen, but no skimping on style here:
It helps that Ron and Sue are intrinsically creative people. Ron is a furniture designer/craftsman and artist, and Sue is a writer/artist and craftswoman.
Their whimsical and fun sense of style is found on every wall.
The cozy bedroom in the loft is the kind of place you just want to nest in all winter long…
The Shiny Tiny Mansion is a shining example of living responsibly with a smaller footprint – without losing the comfort of “home”.
Check out what Ron & Sue have to say on their websites:
Sue’s website:
Ron’s website:
