I was deeply inspired by Shay Salomon and her book, Little House on a Small Planet. It opened my eyes to a new (and infinitely more manageable way of life.) I hope that it will do the same for you. Perhaps, like me, you should start to think big and live small. I believe it will change your life for the better.

Here is Shay Salomon with her inspiring story on living small!

What is the Small House Movement?

The Small House Society (SHS) is the movement of people who want to simplify their lives by living in less space. So it's really a wide range of people, in the United States and all over the world, from young families who have exchanged their large suburban homes in favor of small downtown apartments, to folks who have retired into RV's and the open road, to movie stars who have downsized to small mansions.

Even if it doesn't exactly feel like summer yet, yesterday's solstice tells us yes, indeed, summer is here. One of my favorite childhood summer memories was renting a house in Pennsylvania for two weeks. We would barbeque, walk to the lake, play cards and best of all, walk to the country store for Fudge Pops after dinner. What kind of summer vacation are you planning this year? Vacation Rentals by Owner is a great place to start. Want a Pennsylvania cabin close to a lake? How about a beachfront Costa Rican casita? Or someplace romantic in say, Fiji ? You've got plenty of choices. So, where are you renting this year?

Do you know which celeb slashed the price of his home by $10 million dollars? How about the sports figure whose 447.8 acre ranch is now priced at $10 million? You will, if you visit AOL Real Estate's Celebrity Housing Market. I was interested in Tina Fey's new digs and Lenny Kravitz's "den of seduction" in his Miami Beach mansion (going for $2.85 million.) And if you are priced out of the celebrity mansion market, have no fear, AOL Real Estate has got plenty of listings for you that just might make your new-home dreams come true.

Ok, this week's fantasy is running off to Italy and restoring a beautiful old stone house. Since I have about as much hands-on renovating skills as Silvio Berlusconi, I am sticking with this week's Real Estate Book Club book. Under the Tuscan Sun is Frances Mayes' memoir about buying, renovating, and living in an abandoned villa in Tuscany. So yes, let someone else do the renovating, let me enjoy scenes of rolling hills, tables filled with delicious foods and something called the sun (if you are living in the northeast, you know what I mean.) And if you are not feeling the book, check out the movie.

The last time I was home sick, I curled up on my couch with a cup of tea and turned on the TV. That's when I came upon a documentary about Leisurama. If you have no idea what Leisurama is, then let me tell you that it was an almost perfect melding of forward-thinking, marketing and design -- and a true experiment in affordable housing. The industrial designer and architect Raymond Loewy was asked to design homes in a planned community out in Montauk, Long Island. The houses would be fully furnished (all you had to do was move in) AND you were able to buy them on the ninth floor of Macy's Herald Square. Some models sold for $12,995! The year was 1964 and the inspiration came from our American way of life (summer vacations! bbqs! sun and surf!) Did I mention that it all started with a Cold-War debate between Khrushchev and Nixon? Ok, it isn't as dry as all that, it is actually quite funny. Take a look at this clip and see how the houses (and their owners) have withstood the test of time.

And you can buy your copy of Leisurama here.

If you've been reading this blog, you know I love pre-fab houses. In fact, I could look at pre-fab housing all day long. I find everything about them wonderful -- from the price points to the design to the fact that they're pretty durn cool. Imagine my surprise when I came upon the MetroShip, a luxury pre-fab houseboat featuring top of the line appliances (Gaggenau) and (oh, yes!) imported Italian vanity units. My, oh, my! The prices start from $79,000 (for a trailerable, fully-movable houseboat) to about $159,000 for the 12-foot-wide-40-foot model which can be shipped anywhere in the world in 8 – 12 weeks. And if you are design-challenged (like me!) check out their MetroModern Interiors suggestions, they will really float your houseboat in style.

If houseboats are not your thing, check out ShelterPop's gallery of MetroSheds (and get more mileage out of your own backyard.)

You know me and my bargain-hunting ways. I doubt that I will ever change. A good bargain makes me happy. So just imagine how I felt when I found this $1,000,000 coupon. If you clip it and with just an additional $5,995,000 you can own this stunning 7 bedroom, 8 bath home. Located in the historic River District of Fort Myers, Florida, this home was originally valued at $10,000,000. The current price (with coupon) means a full 40% off. But you must act quickly as this coupon expires on July 31, 2009.

Gallery: Coupon Clipper Dream Home

(Many thanks to The Real Estate Bloggers for loving this as much as I do! And check out the listing at AOL Real Estate.)

I've decided that everyone needs to love real estate as much as I do. I've been quite successful in getting people around me to enjoy it too. Take my boss Kristen, she sent along this post at Green Building Elements this afternoon. Her only comment was it's beautiful. So true, so true. The Wilkinson Residence was designed to evoke music for the owner by the architect Robert Harvey Oshatz. I think it does in every flowing, sensuous detail. I can't help think of a beautiful classical piece for the piano, but it also echoes the lushness of nature that surrounds it. Part tree house, part song -- all quite lovely and unique. The Wilkinson residence is music for the senses. Don't you agree?

Gallery: The WOW! House - The Wilkinson Residence

Ok, I'll admit it, I had a pretty strong reaction to this story on Bloomberg.com this morning. The (mystery) owners of the Philadelphia mansion known as La Ronda are planning to raze it to make way for the construction of a new home. My reaction: don't do it! And it seems that neighbors and local officials agree and want to negotiate with the owners to see if it can be saved. The mansion is a 51-room Mediterranean Revival-style villa located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. It was commissioned by Percival Foerderer, the owner of a leather company and was the last project of architect Addison Mizner. Built on 233 acres, the 14,000-square-foot now sits on just 3.2 acres and was sold to owners who want to remain anonymous for $6 million in March. The township and preservation groups want to buy back La Ronda and are estimating they need $7 million dollars. What do you think?

Gallery: Addison Mizner, Architect

I really loved Ferris Bueller's Day Off. I kind of had a little crush on his nervous best friend Cameron – and oh, yeah, Cameron's house. The house was a lovely mid-century cube with wrap-around windows. It was a perfect modernist gem – just the place for cutting class and contemplating life. And now it is for sale. Known as the Ben Rose Home and located in Highland Park, IIlinois, it is actually two buildings of steel and glass, cantilevered over a ravine. The house is approximately 5300 square feet and houses 4 full bedrooms and 4 full baths. It sits on 3/4 of an acre and has a 3-car garage (but it doesn't say anything about a Ferrari.)

Gallery: Ferris Bueller's Day Off

It is being sold by Sudler Sotheby's Real Estate for $2.3 million dollars. Anyone? Anyone?

Before you go off for the long weekend, I thought I'd give you something to think about. Is strange good? Would you want to live in a weird building? Sometimes, when the mood is right, I think I just might like to. Other times, I'm all for a modernist cube. The other day, I visited Ten Weird Building Designs. I think I might just like to live in the Urban Cactus in the Netherlands. What about you? Or are you more of a Crooked House kind of person?

Being sent to the doghouse was never any fun – until now! The Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio just opened a new exhibit called Barkitecture. It is an exhibition of 11 doghouses created by local artists and architects that runs from May 9 - October 31, 2009. From the whimsical Oops...Bottom's Up! (featured on the Stan Hywet website) to the Frank Lloyd Bite house below, you can let your kids go to the dog(house)s in style. The houses are interactive, so the tykes will have plenty to amuse themselves and the gardens are stunning (for the adult folks.) And there are also "Woof Walks" on most Sundays during the season, so Fido and Spot can have some fun too. Barkitecture is sponsored by One of A Kind Pet Rescue and Summit County Animal Control and all but one of the doghouses will be auctioned to benefit these two organizations. So if you are in the Akron area, check out the best in show of Barkitecture.

Spring means many things to me – the return of warmer weather, the beautiful blossoming of nature and one of my all-time favorite activities, taking rambling house tours. For a small fee or donation, (usually benefiting a community organization or preservation society,) I can walk into beautiful brownstones, quaint maisonettes, and what-the-heck-are-they-doing-in-Brooklyn cottages. Last year I discovered I am in walking distance of an enclave of Victorian homes that would do a charming New England town proud. This year, who knows? I am planning my touring schedule thanks to The New York Times. And no matter where you are in the USA, they've got great ideas for you too. All I can say is, get in on it!

I guess you can say that Americans and Britons are divided by a common language. Why else would they call these fabulous little studios, garden offices and workshops, sheds? In any case, We Love Sheds has received submissions in 13 separate categories and opened the voting on Shed of the Year 2009, so you can choose your favorite. Will an eco-shed win? How about something from the hut category? There's even one that warms my nerdy, sci-fi heart, the Tardis -- for all of us Dr. Who fans. I just voted on Inspiration House by Terry Rathje. And all I can say is: go Shed Team USA!

(Above is The Chalet, a cabin shed that belongs to Will Stovell of Horsham, West Sussex.)

The internet is all abuzz, and I am too, about the Clayton i-house, a manufactured home that recently debuted at Berkshire-Hathaway's annual shareholders' meeting in Omaha, Nebraska . (Yes, Warren Buffett saw good things coming from Clayton Homes, who supply one third of our nation's mobile and manufactured homes and acquired them in 2003.) Why do I love it? First of all, see for yourself.

The design hits the right note of cool modernism. The price point hits the right note of affordability (at about $100 to $130 a square foot.) And it is green, green, green – featuring solar panels, a roof rain-water catchment system, energy efficient appliances, and low-e windows. USA Today says that the i-house's 1,000-square-foot prototype comes furnished and has a master bedroom, full bath, open kitchen and living room with IKEA cabinetry, two ground-level decks and a separate flex room with a second full bath and a second story deck covered with a sail-like canopy. The price of the prototype home is approximately $140,000.

Gallery: Clayton i-house

All pictures of the i-house come from blogger Greenotter, who shares his passion and intelligent insights on The Clayton i–house blog.