Dreams in Miniature

Mike Butler is an architectural photographer who takes pictures of Miami mansions, and then goes home to a 400-square-foot cottage. That cottage, a grotto hideaway called Coral Gables, was created by architect Gladys Diaz with a vision of an artists' village. Butler was instantly drawn to the energy of this one-room cottage.

He moved from a 1000-square-foot place into this 400-square-foot cottage. He admits that he had to sort through gobs of junk and pare right down to the basics. At this point in his life, he wanted something a little different — and this place is just that. What's important is that it works for now.