Issue link: http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/i/833937
T his ideology of being smaller but living bigger is not revolutionary; this Saunders admits, saying "It's an idea that's not new but it hasn't been built lately." Why? Things happen, the economy tanks, other events stunt eff orts. Fortunately, Saunders thinks the components are becoming aligned to give this crazy idea of embracing community another go. "I think the time is right for this kind of a living situation to actually reemerge," she says. Right now, buildable land is scarce, our region is (over)crowded, and people are growing increasingly anxious. Do we need to rethink the way we live? People like Saunders have already crossed that threshold. Her vision, her community, is for those who yearn to embrace their neighborhood, the nature surrounding it, and the nourishing eff ects derived from shifting a mindset from limited property lines to expansive shared space. Sounds utopic. But will it work for everyone? On that note, most would agree that it's still nice to have a place all your own. Well, the cottages do off er that. Let's get into the minutia for a paragraph. The cottages themselves aren't exactly small, off ering 1,500–1,632 square feet of living space plus another 2,500 square feet of shared living space with the communal barn, where a big gathering room and industrial kitchen sit below a loft and alongside nine individual storage units. The common space is built to extend your living when you need it for entertaining, parties, or family gatherings. In addition to each cottage having its own deck, porch, and yard, there are common grounds lined with meandering pathways, areas of refl ection, a barbecue area, pet area, and even a rain garden. It's a community that encourages thoughtfulness and socializing; a very European way of living. As far as demographics, the Cottages are for anyone—couples raising a family, single occupants, empty nesters, whoever. Everyone is welcome here and there's plenty of personal space for most inhabitants. "You can have a bigger space when you need it, but you live…in a much smaller footprint, which is the reality of the way we live today." —Juanita Farmhouse Cottages originator and owner Kim Saunders 30 master builder SUMMER 2017