The latest addition to my Irish collection is this cute little white washed cottage with a thatched roof and sheep grazing around the front door.

Cottages like this can still be seen around rural Ireland and visited in outdoor museums. They are tiny and dark inside, with a distinctive scent of peat smoke from the turf fire.

The small windows were designed to keep out the harsh weather rather than frame the view. The inhabitants worked outdoors so much that they probably didn’t feel the need for light and views as we do today.

You can find out more about these distinctive little dwellings at Muckross Traditional Farms.

You can buy your own little felt version here.