Refine & Refresh
A long, narrow box arrived last week. Just yesterday, an even longer four-inch cardboard tube was delivered to our door. Then came a smaller box and a package. Things are arriving at the little house.
This spring marks five years that we've lived in our 665 square foot "cabin," as we called it then. Though that moniker still fits, somewhere along the line since, our home has come to be called, simply, the little house. This may have come about in an effort to differentiate it from the term "tiny house", so popular these days. I suppose some may put it in that category, depending on one's personal definition of space, but I've always pushed back from the idea that ours was a tiny home.
Back in the drafting stage, I used key design elements that employed visual and spacial tricks which, in essence, stretch the place, making it live larger than it really is. I also took a look at what would be necessary for living fully for us. This included things like full size furniture that fits without squeezing, a wider-than normal hallway, a bathroom that can accommodate two tooth-brushers at once (without getting toothpaste in each other's hair), and a master bedroom that has enough space to float the bed, giving access from both sides.
We can seat eight around our table, yet with the banquette and bench, the dining area only takes up space slightly larger than the table's dimensions. The open kitchen accommodates mulitple cooks surprisingly well. Open shelving eliminates the swing of cabinet doors and gives the illusion of a visually lighter, more open space. Our range is full-size, and the 60" of counter, plus the end of the table for rolling out dough, is enough. We don't have a dishwasher or microwave, choosing more cabinet space instead. (Interestingly, we don't miss either one.) Our 30" counter-depth refrigerator is smaller than what you might normally find, but, after having used it for five years, I wouldn't choose a larger one.
All that to say, it's immensely satisfying to know that the little house has good bones that have stood the test of time (and bigger boys). I have to agree with the talented interior designer, Darryl Carter who said, "Decoration of the home begins with an intelligently executed architectural envelope."
With this envelope comes the ability to change the way you dress it, without spending the entire bankroll in the process. This, loves, is liberating. We need to be able to change, refine, and refresh our homes so they remain current with who we are. Over time, our tastes may change, our choice of color may change, our appreciation of another style may evolve. Or we may see an entirely different interpretation of the style we've loved for years. This is good - a beautiful discovery and expression of one's self in her environment. Knowing who you are while discovering who you'll become are significant elements of living fully and living well.
This is where the recently-delivered packages and boxes come in. I'm in the process of doing what I've just described. A refine and refresh is coming to the little house, so it remains current with who we are. It'll be several weeks yet, but I can't wait to show you.
