Hobbitat Homes

As the tiny house phenomenon gains traction in these difficult economic times, we’ve seen great examples of thinking large but living small from places like New Mexico, toTexas, Georgia and even the near-Arctic.

Based in Maryland, Jetson Green reports that this tiny home builder Hobbitat began a year ago as a design-build partnership between designer Sue Thomas and custom home builder and historic restoration specialist, Bill Thomas. Though the Thomases has been designing and building homes since 1995 under the banner of Blue Sky Ventures, they’ve now partnered up with local eco-tourism retreat center Blue Moon Rising to build a series of distinctive, recycled tiny cabins that visitors to the property can try on for size.

© Hobbitat
© Hobbitat

Built using locally reclaimed building materials and architectural hardware, the rental cabins were initially dubbed “Hobs” before everyone finally decided on calling them “Waldens” — a pointed reference to environmental thinker Henry David Thoreau who literally wrote the book on simple living in his classic Walden.

© Hobbitat
© Hobbitat

These delightful cabins will be put to good use, as Blue Moon Rising hosts workshops in environmental education, sustainable living and green building. Though there’s no word on the website on how much it costs to rent per night, Hobbitat is available for custom orders to own that could be based on one of these “Waldens,” or tailored to the client, with prices starting at USD $45,000. More info over at Hobbitat and Blue Moon Rising.

© Hobbitat