31 Days of Cozy: Day 24

Photo by James Ray Spahn

Location: Crested Butte, Colorado

Cozy Factor: If you choose to build a new house in the town of Crested Butte, Colorado, a National Historic District, you have to play by the Board of Zoning and Architecture Review's rules. That means no McMansions and a certain indigenous architectural aesthetic. Because the owner of this house wanted a new home within walking distance of town, following the rules was just fine. In fact, her house, a modified Victorian with mandatory gables, is a mere 1,200 square feet—smaller than she was allowed. Its cedar exterior, painted gray, looks good in all seasons. And though the homeowner couldn't have certain design elements she wanted—a stained-glass window, a second-floor deck—she still loves the look of her little Victorian house. We think it looks like the perfect place to spend Christmas Eve. Wherever you spend yours, we hope it's just as warm and cozy!

Learn more here: http://www.mountainliving.com/article/living-large-small-spaces