The Southwold Beach Huts in Suffolk, England are the size of a row of garden sheds, but many of them are passed down through generations like prized family estates. They're synonymous with seaside living in England, so much so that they've inspired books, films, and television specials. Part of their appeal stems from the fact that they're so small, used mainly during the summertime when long days can be spent sitting outdoors by the sea. We've rounded up a number of tiny vacation houses that, like the Southwold Huts, gain character and charm from their smallness and their association with beautiful summertime spots...
FIRST ROW
• Southwold Beach Huts
• A Teeny Tiny Lakeside Cottage from Chicago Home + Garden
• Manilow WeeHouse in Wisconsin
• Small Space Ideas from an Airstream Trailer
• Suburban Tipi
SECOND ROW
• Shobac Cottages by Brian MacKay-Lyons
• Mark and Katie's Cross-Country T@B Trailer
• Asserbo Home by Christensen & Co
• Tiny Norwegian Summer House by Todd Saunders and Tommie Wilhelmsen
• Guest Retreat from Cottage Living
First Photo: Martin Pettitt via Creative Commons License
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How about the Methodist camp tents in Ocean Grove, NJ? They're also passed down through the generations, and give the town a truly 19th century air during the summertime. Even for New Yorkers, Ocean Grove isn't that much of a hike, and it beats a lot of the developed beaches with boardwalks.
Those are so very cool! love the trailor.
These are so cute! Guess it helps simplify your vacation too since you don't have room to over pack.
Ocean Grove is cool to visit. The tents, as Texaninexile mentioned, and Victorian gingerbread homes are fun to see. It really is a throwback in time.
Ocean Grove is a wonderful gem; what I wouldn't give to have one of those tents. Because of a restriction on cars at one time, and probably also being a "dry town", here in NJ, it's jokingly referred to as "Ocean Grave". Those old customs have changed but Ocean Grove still somehow manages to keep its quiet charm.
The town of Southwold is actually in the county of Suffolk, not Sussex. I life in the next county up (Norfolk) and always make it a point to take visitors from the States to see it. They are VERY expensive - selling for up to £50,000 (over $80,000) and are a true symbol of the British resolve to enjoy the seaside no matter the weather. Unbelievably for the price, they don't even have running water!
There was an ad campaign from a local brewery called Adnams, who has the most lovely and amazing bitters and ales. The campaign centred around the beauty of Suffolk, and the colours and styles of the posters have inspired the decor of my bedroom. This one of the huts is my favourite:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_imwii1LdjiM/RxzA5buBfQI/AAAAAAAAAgY/mn4LPXVU0dI/s1600-h/cw.468.jpg
Anyone know where to find a ladder like the one in the last picture?
The trailer is so cute and happy! Makes me smile.
This post inspired me to visit Ocean Grove, NJ again...since I'm only about an hour away. The last time I saw the tent cottages was during the fall. By then, they were closed up for the season. Now they're open and are so cute with the little gardens and as I walked by, I would gaze into some of the interiors. People sat out on their porches and always said 'hello' when you walked by. It's a charming world.
Lovely!