Paula,
Beautifully stated, thoughtful, intelligent and evocative like so many of your posts!
Awwwweee, Chickpea Thanks. It was a looong post so somewhere in there were a few good ideas! Also consider that people who want small homes fall into different categories -- simple/efficient/low cost to bells&whistles/probably efficient/high cost/upscale.
One comparison of similar square foot cottages would be the ones behind Angelina's and the Cottages at Camp Creek. I think they're both about the same square footage, though the ones behind Angelina's are two stories and the ones at Cottages at Camp Creek that are similar square footage are all on one floor. I'd be curious to see the inside of the ones behind Angelina's to see how they used the space. Magnolia cottages are probably the next step up in size.