Toss in a bathroom and a small kitchenette, I could live there.

oh, I love it!

Cute, cute, cute!

A fairy tale come true. Now, let's imagine the garden that would go along with it!

Reminds me of the original Dwarf House restaurant where 'Chic Fil A' started.

Nell

"Now, let's imagine the garden that would go along with it!"

Very tall flowers and carpets of blooming ground cover?

It's darling...Wonder how costly it was to build? I also wonder what it's used for.--I didn't read everything under the photos so maybe I missed it.

I bet it cost a pretty penny to build, esp. when you read about the materials used and the professionals that were hired to do the labor and custom features. One thing interesting I read was that another entrance door was built at the rear as the circular door "does not meet code". I've forgotten what the cottage's purpose is.

Someone wanted a "repository for his collection of J.R.R.Tolkien manuscripts and artifacts".

Somehow, this reminded me of Fable Cottage we used to have here in Victoria.

{{gwi:634279}}

Libby

What happened to Fable cottage? It's enchanting!

Use to have? I remember visiting Fable Cottage a long time ago (and Butchart Gardens). I always wanted to visit again someday. . .

Gosh, both of these cottages are cool!!!

It's cute, but I don't think I'd even fit in there standing up!!

This house reminds me of some houses we discovered by chance when vacationing in the northern part of the Michigan mitten. I went on line and found some sites. I
cannot make them work in the Link line so here's the links
for you to try.

www.interesting ideas.com/roadside/charlevoix/index.html

The builder is Earl Young. There is some interesting material on him at the Charlevoix library web page.

www.charlevoixlibrary.org/research/Young/Young

Hey Grandmachris, it was a surprise to see your post about Charlevoix, MI. It is about twenty five miles from me (fewer by boat) and I have seen the Earl Young houses a number of different times since I was in high school. You have to really look for them, and I suspect most people drive right through the town without ever knowing they are there. They are all clustered in the same general neighborhood called Boulder Park.

Here's a picture I found on Flickr to give you all an idea of what Grandmachris is talking about.

{{gwi:634280}}

ThinMan

I might be able to build something like the cottages in Michigan. I have a book on how to build a stone house, but I can imagine the amount of material one would have to find and haul back to the property. Thanks for posting.

schoolhouse, grandmachris and thinman thanks for posting those adorable cottages. I would LOVE to live in one. They are so cute. What a joy it would be to build a garden around one of those. Plus - maybe housework would be minimal and one could spend more time in the garden. Well, I spend more time in the garden anyway.

I've had the dream for many years. I thought it would be great to move into in my twilight years or whenever I wanted to "retreat to my summer estate". I could almost live without electricity, but a water source (including bathroom) is another thing. Chemical toilet? Ew, but doable. Porta pot? Yuck, and it would have to be disguised as an outhouse. The existing septic tank is actually a short distance from the area I would build the tiny cottage, so that's an idea. $$$$

Fireplace for heat? Sounds romantic but fireplaces can be alot of work, even a small one. Plus a fire hazard, esp. if I was 98yrs.old and might fall in it. Propane heat and stove? I imagine there are lots of codes to adhere to when installing a propane tank.

But the thought of a little breakfast room with tall leaded glass windows on three sides, looking out onto the gardens is such a draw. Sigh.

I found the collection of articles on the work of Earl Young in building the houses (at least 19) in Charlevoix
fascinating. He must have been a real character!!

He usually found the rocks first. Sometimes it was the site. Each house was designed to match the site--each
one different. He was known to have buried boulders for years that he wanted to use but did not have immediate plans for.

One of the articles he wrote says that he didn't pay much
attention to kitchens or use much space for them because
he didn't like to cook!

www.charlevoixlibrary.org/research/Young/Young

Chris

Oh I love all these houses! All so one-of-a-kind and the craftmanship is wonderful. I guess I would love to live in one of them if modern conveniences could somehow be included in them :-) This thread reminded me of the granite houses in our village of Monsanto, an amazing place, where the houses rise from the stone - literally. Have a look at the following link.

Eduarda

Here is a link that might be useful: Monsanto village in Portugal

Fable cottage was moved to Denman Island just off the east coast of Vancouver Island.

Libby

Libby, when did it move to Denman, anywhere Des Kennedy's? Is it going to be a tourist attraction or just privately owned?

Annette

Take a look at this YouTube video about the move, Annette.

Here is a link that might be useful: fable cottage in the news.

Thanks Libby, I meant to say anywhere near Des Kennedy's. Denman Island is the perfect spot for Fable Cottage.
Des Kennedy has another very charming cottage surrounded by a beautiful cottage garden, very much like another garden that comes to mind right here on this forum :o).

Annette

Oh I love all these cottages! I don't ever plan to move again, so I will just have to admire others stone homes.

Eduarda, Monsanto looks fantastic! I would love to take a trip there, it is such an unusual looking town, a real stone-lover's retreat.

Gottagarden, we are fortunate enough to still have quite a few historical villages which are basically made of stone (mostly granite, less frequently slate). Monsanto is by no means the only one, there are quite a few others, such as Sortelha and Piódão. For a few photos of these historical places, just click on the link below.

Eduarda

Here is a link that might be useful: Historical villages of Portugal