She's taught us how to style a small house and proved that even the tiniest spaces can nail that open, airy feel that's synonymous with the rustic cottage aesthetic.

It was all going so well until it came to choosing the perfect paint colour. Eager to create a calm, countryside cottage vibe ...

For example, the Taos cottage in New Mexico looks like a large adobe-style house. In reality, it is only a two-bedroom, one-bathroom, 1,088-square-foot cottage.

The first home that the Papkes sold as part of their pilot project is on Crawford Street. It’s a three-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage-style home with energy-efficient appliances.

Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Evensong Cottage is 950 square feet and suits the couple well, Raianne said. This was quite a downsize from their last house, which was 3,000 square feet.