A 450-Square-Foot Cottage Is Tiny, Colorful, and Incredibly Cute Inside

Name: Shelby Sloan
Location: Orlando, Florida
Size: 450 square feet
Years lived in: 4 years, renting

I’m Shelby, an artist, vintage shop owner, and interior design nerd. I live on my own in this little beauty. I really don’t think anyone else would fit—it’s a 450-square-foot, four-room gem, built in the 1920s!

I consider my little shotgun-shack in Orlando’s Thornton Park neighborhood to be a little jewel box. Like the jewelry boxes of toy treasures from my childhood, this little box of a house holds all my favorite things. I’m a collector through-and-through, and consider myself a “curated maximalist.” I love color and beautiful things, but I try to only buy the things that truly speak to me, considering the size of my home.

What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room is the living room/studio/library. This is where most of my treasures and collections are displayed, from my books, to natural treasures (crystals, shells, etc), to the yarn I collect to make woven art. This is were I create, watch TV, dance around, and hang with my friends—and the most amazing light flows in at all hours.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Vintage, bright, colorful, fun, cozy.

If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? I would kill for a linen/utility closet!

Any advice for creating a home you love? Collect only things you love and speak to you—not to fill a space on a shelf. If you buy things that call out to you, they will all look great together even if it’s not fully planned from the beginning. And don’t be afraid of color!

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? My last treasure find was this amazing pair of vintage brass candle holders at an estate sale. They are originally from a Buddhist temple in Thailand.

Thanks, Shelby!

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