A Cob Eco Home That Looks Like It's Right Out of a Story Book

Charming Vacation Home with Eco-Friendly Design

Featured in many books on eco building, the Cob Eco Cottage is a charming and comfortable vacation home. It looks like something you would imagine to be in a fairytale or movie so it's no wonder it's one of the top 4 most popular vacation rentals on Airbnb. The cob home is built using traditional cob building methods and was hand sculpted using local, sustainable and all natural materials giving it it's earthen look and appeal. If the cob eco house isn't cute enough already, it's also located on an acreage with sheep, gardens and orchards. Guests staying in the cottage will have the whole cottage to themselves and access to the immediate surrounding property. The owners of the cottage live in the neighbouring house so they're happy to help guests out with anything they need. The eco-cottage is located on Mayne Island just off the coast of Vancouver, British Columbia. The island is easy enough to get to from Vancouver by going to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal and taking the ferry across to Mayne Island. The property owners will also come and get guests from the ferry dock if they are travelling without a car but there is also a community bus that guests can hop on as well.

Meet the Owners and Explore the Surroundings

The owner of the cottage is Alexis who lives on the property with her husband Manny and twin boys. They have a heritage orchard, chickens and sheep. The cottage sleeps two guests in one bed and only costs $160 CAD per night. Besides relaxing in the lovely little cottage, there are plenty of beaches and hiking trails to explore. There are also some art galleries and restaurants to check out as well. Walking up to the home it looks very welcoming and cute, much like a hobbit house which is also what it's been called. The roof is curved as well as the walls and windows, everything has a very organic look and the colour of the home itself it the colour of earth as well. Upon entering the home, it's as warm and cozy as you'd expect with plaster walls that have been painted white. The wood tongue and groove on the ceiling and stone floor brings some more natural materials into the space.

Unique Features and Cozy Amenities

There is also a really cool handcrafted staircase that's been made out of raw wood and logs. Even a great small kitchen in the cottage which has a sink, a toaster oven and a range to cook on if that's something guests would like to do. In the living room, there's also a little wood burning stove which will keep the place warm on those rainy cold days. The bedroom is upstairs and holds a nice comfortable bed that even has some storage in it with books ready to read. Plus, there's a cute balcony right off of the bedroom which would be a perfect way to start the day and enjoy the views of the country. There is also a bathroom on the main floor with a flushing toilet and a sink as well as a walk-in shower. Cob building is a revival of an ancient British method for building houses out of earth or essentially dirt. You mix clay, sand and straw by foot and then use the material to create the walls of the house. Once it dries, the material is as strong as concrete and even more affordable, and better yet, eco-friendly. The term cob comes from the old English word lump because of the lumps of clay that are used to build the walls of the home. Enjoy spending a night or more at this cute little hobbit house and see what traditional eco-friendly building is all about.