The Neighbors Are Listening (darn)

Who knows who is listening in the next booth.

Today Facebook reminded me of a story I wrote 1 year ago today. In the Next Booth was a story about a little boy we met at Sunday brunch at the Congress Hotel here in Tucson...and about eavesdropping. 

Eavesdropping may not be good manners but sometimes getting to know those people in the next booth can be so much fun.

This year we live in a townhouse with a large back deck enclosed by a high fence which is situated next to the street. The street is a buffer against neighbors that may be eavesdroppers (like me). It was one of the things that drew us to this property in a community that is small. But it turns out that more people are listening than we could even imagine!

Here in our townhouse, the street is just on
the other side of the fence.

In Oregon, the neighbors are just over the fence!

The thing is, my husband and I "disagree" sometimes...and we disagree outside, inside and sideways. It is not a pretty thing to hear I am sure.

We also work things out about people we know both far and near. But we do NOT talk about the neighbors...not here or in Oregon. We are smarter than that. Still, my husband and I talk to each other continually. Good, bad or indifferent, that is the way it is.

Sooooo...it turns out that the neighbors listen as they walk by or they may even just go outside to check on us! Thankfully our friend, Share, tipped us off. Oh dear! We are "disagreeing" indoors a lot more.

The upshot of the whole thing is, like email, people can misinterpret what we say because 1) they don't know our sense of  humor or our background and 2) they don't know WHO we are discussing and 3) they take meaning from their own phobias.

I always have known that the neighbors are listening! Darn! In the next booth, there are two old people (us) that are both just a little deaf so they don't speak in soft voices.

Now, we are mending fences because I really do like these people, I have not talked about them at all...and I think their dogs are wonderful. It is so good to have life, real life, going on around me.

Wanna come over for cocktails? We are having a small party soon.

How close are your neighbors?

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How to Wander Aimlessly

Oh The Places I Go and the Things That I See....

Wandering aimlessly is a skill I learned on my computer. I know...some people, particularly old people like me with diminishing mental abilities will escape out the back door and go on a very long walk to no place. But me...I sit down at my computer and begin wandering.

It is amazing what you will learn and see when you do that. Like the lessons taught by the Dr. Seuss book Oh the Place You'll Go...I find myself on the path to see some very amazing thing. The world wide web is my window to the adventure.

“You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” 
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go!

So today my exploration out in that wonderful world on the web took me back to Schrodinger's Cat.  I was reading a blog post on Adam Scott's Dilbert Blog about the writer's opinions on our upcoming election. Dilbert is about as close to edgy as I will come when it comes to that subject. The writer was talking about various election issues that are very real and pertinent when the Cat popped up.

The Cat was part of a quantum physics theory put forth by Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger in 1935. The brain puzzle asks the question "Does an event happen if it cannot be observed." I read it again this morning. The idea is fascinating if only because I think it relates more closely to the belief in God than it does to any scientific theory. Quantum physics is like that I think.

Then just because I needed a dose of beautiful, I opened Pinterest. That was where I found A Buzz Feed article called 31 Tiny House Hacks . My tiny house living is becoming so popular these day that it is not hard at all to find all kinds of websites and blog posts about the subject. There were some very good ideas I thought.

By the way on that same subject I heard that senior citizens have are now discovering park model living as a choice...just now!  Wow! There are park models in this resort that date back to the early and even pre-70's era. But I suppose the "rediscovery" is a worthy subject too. :)

From there I went to a blog called White Living. The clean lines and lovely well used objects caught my eye. Even though I cannot speak German it was written in the pictures were worth a thousand words.

I have to finish reading my Ivan Doig book Last Bus to Wisdom: A Novel. It seems I don't just love it as much as I should but still...there is something about it. Just in case I am needing something very good to read I took a little look at Powell's Book Store  website on Pinterest. I need to get busy. 

Now you have to admit that my aimless wanderings do lead to places that are interesting. Where did you wander to today?

Related articles

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• Is a tiny house just an RV in disguise?
• How to Teach Quantum Physics to your Dog by Chad Orzel - review

How to Get the Most Out of a Remodel or When will we be done?

The floor is now up to the level
of the bottom of this small door.
The wood paneling hid more metal siding.

First of all you need to know that we live in a very small space during the winter months. We own a park model in an RV resort. The park model is 12 feet wide and about 36 feet long. It also has an Arizona room attached. It is only 7'9" wide and about 16' long. We are restoring that old Arizona room this winter. We have raised the floor to park model height, torn down warped paneling and removed the park model exterior siding and exposed the studs so we could attach bead board.

The "room" had become our virtual basement and things we did not want or couldn't decide if we wanted went there to live. I cleaned it about once a season, ironed occasionally and generally ignored the fact that it existed.

Then one day about a month ago my husband gave in to my nagging and we began the job of making the room livable. We bought lumber, had it delivered and he started the job assuring me that I would not need to leave the main part of the house. He would do it all!

I would wander in several time a day as the project began and one day I said that I wished that I could do what he was doing. It just looked like fun to me. I must have sounded so pathetic so he let me help as much as I could. My husband encouraged me to use the electric screwdriver and even a hammer. I followed him around like a faithful dog picking up wood, handing him hammers and giving my silly advice. It was so much fun. I felt like I was a kid again.

On that first day I remember feeling absolutely drained and when I looked at the clock it was 2:30 in the afternoon, I asked if we could quit. My husband either did not hear me or chose to ignore the plea. So I drank a glass of water and kept on moving until it was too dark to work anymore. Now we have been at it for over 3 weeks.

I have discovered that my talent does not lie in measuring or even nailing but give me a crow bar and a bunch of stuff to tear down and I am just dynamite. I don't know how that speaks to my finesse or creativity but I suppose it is all part of the process. So now we are in the final stages, trim work is being put up and I am going back to Home Depot to buy another gallon of paint. I do love paint a lot.

All the metal siding has been removed...I loved that part!

It is almost over I think but then I thought it was "almost over" three weeks ago so don't quote me. When I asked my husband when we would be done he got that hopeful look on his face. I think he was wishing I would be ready to quit long before the project was complete. Poor man...he is just such an optimist. I will keep you post and I may even get a picture or two up for you to see.

By the way, this is just an update on the blog post How to Feel Younger in a Week. I really am much strong and I think my worth has increased in my husband's eyes. You should give something like this a try...you might like it a lot.

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Quick Guide: Would Tiny House Living be a Good Fit for You?

Have you watched the Tiny House Hunters on HGTV. The show is a new version of their House Hunters series with a twist...it is all about people that want to live tiny houses. I have watched every episode very carefully because this is the way we live in the winter. We traded an RV for a small space home. Our tiny home still has the wheel fittings underneath so it can be moved but is in fact fixed in many many ways.

Extreme Tiny Home from HGTV This probably has around 100 sq. ft.

Our Small Park Model...12x34...less that 400 sq. ft.

Our living area.

Our porch area.

Arizona Room cleaned for company. Still unfinished.

Most of the homes that HGTV are showing are a lot smaller than what we have. We live in less than 400 sq. ft. and we do have a covered enclosed area that we call an Arizona Room. Our Arizona Room is not finished in anyway so I use it as a utility area and we have a twin bed that grandchildren can sleep in when they visit. We also have a porch my husband built that serves as an extra room. We use a patio heater in the area when we want to sit out on cool/cold evenings.

As I began looking at the picture gallery HGTV has for viewing, several things struck me as very important for anyone considering this life style. Small space living is not for everyone so a person needs to be very realistic about the possibilities. Most of us consume a lot more space than is necessary. You need to ask yourself how small you can go and still be comfortable.

We have owned several RVs over the years and the one thing we discovered is that while marble counters and wood floors are nice, comfortable should come first. Living for an extended period of time in a small space will teach you that a good chair, a comfortable bed, a functioning kitchen and a big enough bathroom are essential. Everything else is just frosting on the cake.

But if you are a "frosting" person, you need to be able to see a way to make the space yours. When it is yours you should walk in the door and breath a sigh of contentment. I know that because that would be me. I don't like a mess, want the kitchen to be not only functional but also beautiful...even if it is very small. I realize though that not everyone is like me. Many people prefer to nest rather that decorate. It is up to you.

I also think that you should be aware that if you share a space with a husband or partner, you want to be able to dance around each other or you will be at each other's throat. It would be better if the dancing part was a part of your relationship before you start your very small space living.

Even the hallway and the passage through the kitchen has to be negotiated...in fact there probably needs to be some rules. Running into each other all the time can become annoying! In fact, it can be a deal breaker.

For example, we have a rule that the bathing routine is sacred. Once one person begins their routine, the other needs to make themselves scarce until given the ok to even set a toe in that area. Even a small bit of privacy can become so important to a happy arrangement.

Cost is also a factor. Many of the small houses shown on HGTV are portable. They cost very little if compared to a house with a foundation but then they need to be parked somewhere. A campground space can come at a hefty price. Some kind of services are important...telephone, water, sewer and electricity are essential and then if you are a computer geek or love your TV/video games, you are going to need a cable or internet hookup. The bottom line is that the house is only the beginning. Hookup, means of moving the small house from one spot to the next and your ability to manage all that can make the concept impossible!

And placing a new tiny house on a city lot can be a trick. Cities and neighborhoods are very picky these days.

But, if you find a very small house on a lot in the location that is perfect, consider it. We love our little house and plan on staying here. If we do change our winter home, we will probably look for something equally as small. We like our simple life and the freedom it gives us.

Be well!

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Check the Pages at the top of the page: Small Space Living

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Small Space Living: Channeling my inner goldfish!

Channeling my inner goldfish....

I heard once that a goldfish only grows as big as the container in which it lives. That is why you see big "goldfish" in big ponds and tiny ones in a glass. I really don't know if that is true but it does sound very interesting. Oh, and I have been told that if you feed a goldfish too much it might die. That is important to know if you buy one.

...or channeling my inner whale? (Sea World photo by b+)

Last night I began to wonder if I was finally reacting to the fact that my my husband and I live in a small park model all winter. Is my inner goldfish telling me that I need to get rid of a few extra pounds or my house will be too small to hold me? After all, I should fit into my tiny house. That may be the reason I have begun to enjoy walking again.

When I walk, I lose weight...AND that is the only way extra pounds are going away. There is no hope that I will change anything much about my eating habits at this stage in my life. Thank heavens I am not like a goldfish. I might eat myself to death in one day.

When I return home to Oregon, I will have 1500 square feet of living space. Plus, I have a yard, a patio in the front and the back. There is a small park across the street. I don't even know what to do with all that room when I get back. But, believe it or not, the goldfish in me will adjust and before long I will feel like I cannot live with less.

As for my weight...pray for me. Up until now, I have managed to not expand to fit the space in Oregon. Let's just hope I don't slip a gear or something and begin to channel my inner whale. My goldfish self would have a tough fight against that big creature!

Be well,

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Small Space Living: Life on the "Movie Set"

I don't know if you have ever visited a place like Old Tucson Studios where many famous western movies were shot. If you have you will understand what I am talking about now. I live in a make-believe world too.

When you look behind the doors or inside the cabinets it is all just pretend.  Oh, I live here and put things in cupboards. I scrub and clean and hang pictures on the wall. But all the while I know I am putting lipstick on a pig! It is all very temporary.

My daughter and granddaughter are coming to visit next week so I have prepared a space for my granddaughter to sleep on a small twin bed. I put a TV tray by her bed and paper flowers are in a tin can. The wall was destroyed when we put our porch on last year. You can see styrofoam insulation and aluminum siding on the insidew. I put a screw in a small hole in a metal support so I could hang a string of made believe water jugs on it. A very old desk lamp will light her space.

Honestly, it doesn't look too bad! In fact, it is about as good as it gets.  When you live in a very small tin can that still has the wheels on underneath, living in a pretend movie world become the everyday reality.  And, believe it or not, I love it!

Have a wonderful day.

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Small Parties for Small Spaces: Chocolate Martinis

We had a beautiful party last night. There were eight of us in my tiny park model living room but it was still very comfortable.

I actually have everything I need for a party stashed away in items we use for other things. Everything in this small space must serve two purposes. My table is my desk most days. Our small Ottoman has a lid that opens for storage for wine glasses, chargers and other party supplies. The end tables serves as storage too. And the list goes on.

Cocktail hours are very popular here in the park and most people like cheese, cracker, dips, etc.  I decided that we needed a change so I invite our friends to come for a chocolate martini and a small piece of cake between dinner hour and a dance we were having in the park. I decided to use Giada's Chocolate Espresso Martini recipe....kinda. When you live in a small space and want to have a party without breaking the bank, you use what you have and hope for the best! This party was not any different. I own 4 martini glasses and used wine glasses for the other 4 people. I think the napkins say it all!

from Food Network

Ingredients (serves 4)
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped (I bought Ghirardelli Intense Dark 72%)
2/3 cup brewed espresso, chilled
2/3 cup coffee liqueur, such as Kahlua (we used non-alcoholic chocolate martini mixer).
2/3 cup vanilla-flavored vodka (we did not have vanilla-flavored so we just use regular vodka)

Amazon link: Ingrid 6 Pc Martini Set 

Ice
Special equipment: cocktail shaker

Directions:
Combine the chocolate and 1/4 cup water in a small bowl and place over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth, 2 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.

Dip the rims of 4 martini glasses into the melted chocolate, allowing any excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl. Chill the glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes. (We chilled the glasses in the freezer before dipping the glasses. The chocolate hardened immediately. We left the glasses in the freezer until we were ready to serve the drinks.)

In a pitcher, mix together the espresso, coffee liqueur and vodka. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. In batches, add the vodka mixture and shake for 10 seconds. Strain the mixture into the prepared glasses and serve.

Note: By replacing the Kahlua lacquer with a non-alcoholic mixer we managed to keep the alcohol content down.  Remember, we were going dancing afterwards!

Thank you Giada for the wonderful recipe!

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Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/chocolate-espresso-martini-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

Christmas decorating in a VERY small space!

Keeping it simple is the only way we can live in such a very, very small space.  When we find treasures that we love and want to display them for even just one season, we have to find ways to morph fall into winter and then into spring. 

This year we bought a metal rooster in Wickenburg, AZ. We will love it for a season and then who knows what we will do next year. He was beautiful in the fall but now it is Christmastime and he needs to become a Christmas rooster. The arrangement at the right looks like dried fall foliage. I added plastic Christmas tree decorations to both and now they are looking very festive.

This lantern I bought at Home Goods become a Christmas decoration with the
addition of a white pottery santa ornament.

Our potted palm gets some lights and garlands.
It is kind of tacky but it looks happy and proud.

Why do we do it this way. Well, if we want to live within our space and not have boxes stacked around everywhere, we need to keep the extra things to a minimum.  I just don't want my alley space to get filled with things I cannot put away inside. This really works for us.

Have a wonderful day.

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Small Space Living: Bedroom Carpet Dilemma

From Apartment Therapy

Okay now we are getting ready to upgrade our carpet in the master of our little retirement community home.

The bed we have been using was returned to Costco because I felt like I was falling out of bed all night. My husband and I were fighting for the middle space. It was the safe part of the bed. Incidentally Costco gave us a full refund even though we purchased the bed in 2010.

The room is empty as we wait for the delivery of our Sleep Number bed in a week or so.  Hopefully, we can locate the perfect carpet and have it put down within the next few days. Yikes!

So what is the best carpet for the bedroom? Anybody have any suggestions or ideas?  Help!

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Illumination Matters: Making Your Home More Pleasant by Upgrading Your Lighting

Whether you're completely remodeling your home or simply want to create a “homier,” more pleasant atmosphere, there is one easy way to make your space more inviting: upgrade your lighting. It might be the last thing you think about, but the way a room is lit has a profound impact on a person's mood. A bedroom that's too brightly lit can make it difficult to fall asleep, even after the lights are turned off. Conversely, reading in a poorly lit den can lead to eye strain and eventually the need for corrective lenses. If you're ready to completely change your mood or improve your sleep patterns, here are a few ways to make your experience at home even more pleasant by upgrading your lighting. 

Where Soft Light Is Best
Softer light works best in the rooms where you basically spend the majority of your time, including the living room, den and your bedrooms. The softer lighting allows you to relax and doesn't disrupt any activities that are taking place, including watching television or playing a game of solitaire on your laptop. Softer overhead lighting is the best idea because it allows you to flood the space with gentler illumination. However, there are instances when you will require brighter illumination, such as when reading or doing a crossword puzzle. In these instances, consider placing a desk or floor lamp near your bed or couch. You can enjoy your steamy romance novel or an epic adventure without disrupting anyone else.

Consider Bright Light 
There are two rooms, however, where it's generally best to illuminate the space more brightly: the kitchen and bathroom. The reason is quite simple: You'll need adequate light to safely perform any necessary duties. For instance, have you ever tried to peel a carrot or expertly slice bok choy in a poorly lit kitchen? What happened the last time you tried to shave in a bathroom in softer lighting? Chances are the outcome of both these scenarios wasn't good, which is why it's always the best option to choose bright overhead illumination in both the kitchen and bathroom. 

Create a Lighting Plan 
Now that you've determined the ideal amount of illumination for each room of your home, it' time to construct a lighting plan. Basically, a lighting plan helps you determine where to install fixtures or place lamps based upon the room's layout. For example, let's say your living room is quite large. You've determined one end of the room is strictly for watching television, while the other end is ideal for playing boardgames or curling up with a great novel. In this instance, softer overhead lighting throughout the room allows everyone to comfortably enjoy whatever they're doing. Providing additional illumination through floor or desk lamps, however, allows individuals on one end of the room to enjoy a book or play a game of cards without disrupting others engrossed in their favorite television show. 

Nightlights Aren't Just for Kids Anymore 
Fear of the dark isn't a new phenomenon, which is why so many parents install trusty nightlights in their children’s bedrooms. You might have conquered that particular fear years ago, but this doesn't mean you still wouldn't benefit from subtle illumination throughout the home. Installing nightlights in the bathroom, hallways and the master bedroom allows you to safely walk through the home without disrupting anyone by flipping on a stark overhead light or lamp. 

Outdoor Lighting 
Outdoor lighting serves two basic purposes: increasing your home's aesthetic appeal while warding off potential vandals or burglars. If you're concerned with your home's safety, consider installing motion sensing lights around your yard's perimeter. Uplighting also helps illuminate and draw attention to the striking architectural features of your home's exterior. Whatever you choose, just remember to position the lights thoughtfully to avoid accidentally lighting up your neighbor's bedroom in the middle of the night. 

From installing the ideal bathroom lighting to making sure your home is safe and protected, proper illumination can and will make your life much easier. In the end, just remember that the bathroom and kitchen need to remain well-lit, while the lighting in the bedrooms and living room should remain more subtle. 

About the Author: Heather Richards is a columnist and interior designer. Heather recently installed antique light fixtures throughout her home and is using them to illuminate every room properly.

Airstream goes Hipster + small space interiors

If you have ever been inside an Airstream trailer, you know they are built to last forever. The vintage models were finished in the finest paneling and furniture.  However, they were also small and in the words of a former owner I know "very chopped up".  I have always wondered what that space would be like if all the walls were removed. Now I know.

I am drawn to small spaces and I suppose I could live in my bedroom if the amenities were there. Give me a very small kitchen, a desk, a bath, a bed and I am happy.  All that is remaining of this vintage Airstream is the shell. All of those amenities are gone. The interior has been gutted, lined with shiny walls and retro fitted with a desk, a flat screen TV and a lounge. I don't think I could live in this. But boy could I work. I love this things.

Huffington Post shared these images via their Huff Post Home page. Trendy, mobile and logical...a foodcart-style real estate office may be in your neighborhood today. It's all yours San Francisco!

Source: huff.to via Barbara on Pinterest

If you live in a small space and want some ideas, just do a search using "small space interiors" in the google search.  It is almost like being a peeping-tom but not illegal. I like that part. Here are a couple I found on a website called 1KindDesign.  They featured 40 images that I think you would love..

Have a wonderful weekend.

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Source: onekindesign.com via Barbara on Pinterest

Source: onekindesign.com via Barbara on Pinterest

When Smart Decor Is Still Atomic...2012 Style! Apartment Therapy

Technorati Tags: Apartment Therapy, design, The Homies

Apartment Therapy is all about living in small spaces.  It seems that living in a city among a million people does not insure any human contact.  Apartment Therapy is a place apt. dwellers can go online to read about other people that live the same lifestyle. I guess you can see why I am a frequent visitor to this website!  My small space life is indeed a lifestyle choice my husband and I have made.


They have been running a contest for home design blogs.  They said;

There are awards for all sorts of blogs, but no one ever pays enough attention to the home blogs, so we started The Homies.

They just thought that people writing a home design blog should get more traffic. The money prize is $50 but the big prize is a whole lot of traffic.  If you are a blogger you will understand how important traffic is. Readers are now voting on the blogs using a list created in the last week of February. But we are all winners because this allows people like you and me to have access to a list of the best of the best home design blogs.  Five blogs have made the finals and I voted today.


Finalist Links

1.  Bower Power 
2.  Centsational Girl
3.  Chezerbey
4.  Manhattan Nest
5.  Retro Renovation
6.  The Lettered Cottage 

(The blog names in orange above are the blog links but you need to go to Apartment Therapy to vote before March 9, afternoon)

From Chezerbey

I visited each blog just to make sure I wasn't voting the one with the best name.  If I were to pick the best name I would have to go with The Lettered Cottage.  In fact this is a beautiful blog and one I have on my blog list here in my sidebar. I like that blog a lot.  It has by far the best tutorials around!

Atomic Art from Stevo Cambronne as seen on Retro Renovation

I really could not believe how hard it was for me to pick.  Initially, I wanted to vote for Retro Renovation. I remember when retro was new. Teal green cars and kitchen counters used the same paint chip.  Girls wore "Bermuda shorts" and guys combed their hair back in a "duck tail". But I decided I didn't want to read more than one post. I guess I don't have any sentimental attachment to that era.


So I finally chose Chezerbey.  This blog is about a young couple, both architects, that are making their home in Seattle.  The blog follows the renovation of one of Seattle's 1910 homes. The blog posts show you step by step how they have transformed the interior into a beautiful modern, minimalist environment.  The exterior is also renovated and the couple has managed to bridge the gap between the modern interior and the modest 1910 exterior.  The whole process from rough sketches to the finished (?) product are chronicled in a carefully written blog.  


So I didn't pick the atomic Retro Renovation blog.   I think the creators of Chezerbey have created a smart, functional design for this "fixer Upper" and they have some wonderful recap pages that take you through the whole process without the need to search hundreds of posts.  In a lot of ways their choices reflect what "atomic design" is in 2012.   They are not in 1st place but maybe if everyone votes for the before Friday, they might win.


Have a great day.


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Stylish Winter Living on a Budget & in a Small Space

Note: When I contacted Jocelyn about the possibility of writing something about small spaces and keeping toasty warm in the winter I expected something great. Of course she came through. I think you will find what she has to say very interesting:

Source: furnituredecoration2011.blogspot.com
 via Shawna on Pinterest

Stylish Winter Living     When Barbara first mentioned the topic of writing about small space affordable stylish living, I wasn’t quite sure what direction to take that in – there are so many! But, since I work with heaters on a daily basis and in light of the winter season descending upon us, I thought I’d look at some of the dilemmas we can face living in a small space during the cold months. One of the biggest things we deal with on a daily basis, of course, is maintaining a source of heat in our homes. Whether this is a fireplace, baseboard heaters, central heating or even small portable heaters for rooms that need an extra “punch” of heat, quite often our sources of heat just aren’t that attractive… especially the more affordable ones. So, I thought it would be fun/helpful to look at some creative ways to make our heaters stylish and cozy for this winter season, and all on a budget.

The Dreaded Baseboard Heater     Many people cringe at the thought of a baseboard heater simple because more often than not, they aren’t very attractive. The easiest and probably most affordable way to amp up the style level of a baseboard heater is simply to paint it the same color as your wall (super affordable, just use your leftover wall paint). This produces an elegant, blended look that will tend to make the heater almost disappear. You can also purchase baseboard heater covers, but these can be rather costly. 

      My favorite option is to build some type of low shelf over the heater. I particularly love this idea in an entryway. You can build a shelf over the top of the heater that’s also perfect for storing your shoes on.  It gets shoes off the floor, saving even more space, and is very affordable. Use the same color/style wood in the rest of your home, and it’ll look like it was made to be there! All you should need is one board and two L-shaped brackets. You could also skip the shoes and place pine boughs on top for extra holiday flair. You’ll never even notice the heater.

Also Dreaded: Radiator Heaters     Since radiators are a bit higher and take up a bit more room, my very favorite way to stylize these and utilize every particle of space in a small home, is to build a window seat over the top. You’ll gain seating/and or storage space and get rid of the look of the heater altogether. If you don’t have the budget or know-how to craft up a wood box seat from nothing, see if you can track down some old wood milk crates and build a box around (make sure your heater has ample room to propel hot air out.

     You can also go back to the painting method with a radiator heater. And, since these are bigger than baseboard heaters, I’ve even seen really fun results by painting the entire radiator heater the accent color in your house. It’ll be a bright pop of color, but it can be very fun and draw your eye in. If you’re aiming for the blend in idea, place a row of hanging pictures a few feet above in a straight line to draw the eye directly up. Also consider a table next to the heater that’s the same height with a tall green plant on top. A little mini fake pine tree with just white lights on top is the perfect décor for the winter months or a stack of warm fleece blankets ready to grab and cozy up with at a moment’s notice.



Source: bhg.com via Allison on Pinteres

Fireplaces     The fireplace, in almost any home but especially a small home, naturally tends to become to central focal point. One of the biggest upsides to this is that a fireplace can make it very easy to get away with minimal expense and décor anywhere else in the room if the fireplace can carry the weight of the room itself. Some of my favorite inexpensive and stylish ways to decorate for winter include homemade artwork (especially by the grandkids – just give them paint in your color scheme!), a display of homemade Christmas cards, winter-themed family pictures in a large collage with a stunning frame (check your local thrift stores for these – you can find showstoppers at extremely thrifty prices), a winter-scape quilt hung on the wall or a home crafted shelf laden with family favorite books.
     A nature inspired fireplace is also one of my favorites and, I think, likely the most affordable. You can carry this idea on well after fall and winter, but since we’re talking winter in this piece, think of what you can find in nature and at no extra cost to you. Depending upon where you live, this might be pine branches and pinecones (a few red berries and glowing white candles, and you’re set!), or a bouquet of grasses spray painted silver. Even if you live in a rather “summer-like” locale, you can still take outdoor plants that you have local and affordable and transform them with spray paint to holiday colors. Another fun/southern idea is to combine fruits with some ornaments in large, bright white tray as the focal point. You can also find holiday wreaths very cheap and dismantle them to rearrange on your mantel in a very stylish, wintry fashion.

The Portable Heater     The portable space heater… if you live anywhere where the temps dip below zero on a very regular basis, chances are you’ve got one of these on hand to pull out when you just can’t keep the house warm enough. It’s perfect for keeping legs and toes warm while you’re curled up with a book. The problem is, these really aren’t very attractive (understatement) and since they’re not permanent, there’s little you can craft around them. Guidelines also recommend keeping all objects at least 3 feet away from the space heater for ultimate safety. So, how do we stylize our space heaters in a small home without a lot of cost? In my experience, the easiest way is simply to draw the eyes away from the heater. I am particularly fond of an extra tall vase with a tall wintry bouquet. With the right proportions, this can become a beautiful addition to the corner of your room and nearly take away the fact there’s a small electric space heater hiding down there. Even a tall lamp with a stunning lamp can do the trick. You can look up fun, stylish lamp shades that are DIY and super affordable. And of course, the more of nature you can use, the less expensive it will all be!

Stylish & Affordable Inspiration     No matter what your heating source is, you can find always find way to make it a “part” of your environment that fits your style and doesn’t break the bank. Remember to use things you can find free and local (pieces from nature are always good!), peruse home stores and magazines and see if you can imitate what they pulled off without the name brand cost. And if all else fails for working an item into the overall theme and style of you room, simply try to draw attention away from it. Anything tall at the side, above at eye level or simply extra bold nearby will pull attention from a ceramic space heater that does lots for your comfort but little for your style!

Freelancer Jocelyn writes for Heater Home and writes all their content related to home heating.

Technorati Tags: style, small space living, winter
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Making our house a home!

You know that ad selling storage boxes.  They suggest you clean everything out so you will have more space.  Then you can buy all those beautiful baskets and boxes that look gorgeous on your shelve.  The last and final chapter in the story is...you need to fill the boxes with lots of new stuff.

Well, selling your old house and buying a new one is a lot like that.  We sorted and disposed of all the old stuff.  We bought a beautiful new storage unit (house) and now we really need new stuff.  Some of it can wait but some things just will not wait for even a month.  The list goes like this for us:

• Pot rack for the kitchen
• Gadget hooks for the kitchen
• Curtains and Blinds for the windows
• Some plants for the window box
• A new TV (you saw this one coming didn't you?)

My husband made the kitchen stuff for me...he is very handy.  Then today we went out shopping for curtains and blinds.  I decided on curtains from Target for our two bedrooms and the office/tv room.  My husband has very good taste so we are good at the job of choosing.  I love sheers so I am putting them in the guest bedroom where most of my antiques have found a home.  We will wait on the living/dining room.

The curtains I found for the master bedroom have tabs on the back of the top hem to give a beautiful pleated look when they were hung.  These blackout curtains matched the bedroom decor and it turned out that they were a lot less than the regular lined curtains.  They almost feel like canvas and press beautifully.  The curtains we bought for the office/tv room are  silk-like in a beautiful copper color.  The match stick blinds came from Home Depot.  We were very lucky to find them in the right size off the rack so we could hang two side by side and they fit the windows perfectly.


The total for 4 fabric panels and 2 sheers plus two decorative rods came to  $126.  I thought that was very good.

I might add that our office/tv room is a mishmash of traveling treasures and momentos.  A designer would have a fit but you know what, it is just kind of comfortable.  The room has two chairs and will probably be used by the two of us all of the time.  So we can just let it be.

Curtain from Target...match stick blinds from Home Depot

Desk/TV Stand!  Odd but very practical!

We also bought a new flat screen TV.  Our old tv from the condo was 11 years old and huge!  The flat screen fits on top of the desk and leaves room for my husband's laptop when he needs to use the desk.  Our furniture has never fit so nicely in any house before.

I bought a rosemary plant because I cannot cook without rosemary and I love to step out the back door and cut some from the plant.  I bought lavender and coreopsis for the planter that hangs under my kitchen window.  We brought some plants from our other house and they are already in the ground.  I want a bed of shasta daisies and coreopsis in the front yard but they will wait until later this fall or next summer.

The most important
thing that makes it really feel like home
is a visit from our grandchildren.

So there you have it...the first steps in the process of settling in.  It is a lot of fun.

b

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