I was chatting the other day with an aerialist/dancer who is performing in The Tempest. He and his beloved bought an apartment in NYC last year and paid over $300,000 for a one bedroom space in Manhattan. That’s actually a really good deal. What is considered a large or small amount of space is relative depending on where you live. We both remarked on what you can get for the same amount of money in other parts of the country. That $300,000 would buy a huge house elsewhere. And then we laughed about all those young people (where do they come from?) on House Hunters who insist on a granite countertops or stainless steel appliances or who frown and say that a walk-in closet is “just too small.” What planet do they live on? (And why do they feel so entitled? That’s a whole other conversation.)
I saw some beautiful kitchens featured on a blog recently. They were lovely, but they were all huge, with lots of cupboards, drawers, a pantry, new appliances, beautiful range hoods, massive kitchen islands. I often see large, spacious beautifully decorated living rooms as I travel throughout blogland. I see big entrances, large foyers, big family rooms, huge master bedrooms with baths and seating areas and fireplaces. It’s all too easy to believe that must be the way most people live. At least most people in our blogging world or on HGTV.
That is not my reality.
This, my cottage that I love so dearly, is my reality. When I shoot it from this angle it looks bigger than it is. But a lot of what you see is porch. In truth, we have a small living room, a den, a kitchen, and two small bedrooms upstairs, one full bath downstairs, one tiny half bath upstairs. And a hallway that has been turned into my workspace. My husband and I share a small closet. And let me tell you right now, it is not a walk-in closet. It’s not even a moderately wide closet. All of our clothes are jammed into a space that in reality is not large enough for one person.
I’ve written quite a bit about living in a small space, in the Small House Series and in my most popular post ever: My Rules for Living Comfortably in a Small Space. Would I like more room? Yes. But not a lot more. My wishes are modest. Truth be told, if we stayed here and never built an addition (a dream of ours) we’d be just fine.
I have to believe that most of us are living in more modest dwellings. Certainly, all the comments we got during the Small House series seemed to attest to that. Most of us cope with cupboards that don’t always shut tightly, closets that are too small, lack of storage space, tiny bedrooms, and a whole host of other challenges. We don’t, especially in these tough economic times, have the budget to redo our kitchens or buy new appliances that all match or get our furniture reupholstered. We live in a less-than-perfect space and we are just fine.
Why am I writing this? Because I think it’s always a good thing to have a reality check. And because seeing all these pretty pictures in blogland of big, beautiful spaces and homes might make one think that most people live this way. And watching House Hunters might make one believe that having anything less than a huge walk-in closet and stainless steel appliances is simply not done.
Not hardly. Don’t believe it for a second.
Have a great Tuesday.
your cottage is just darling and I would love to live there! Lucky you!!
I agree with Clara! Your place is lovely – and the grounds so pretty. My husband and I have often discussed the very topic of this blog post. Being a Baby Boomer, I am very familiar with the houses that my parents’ generation lived in, and many in my generation lived in. You can go to almost any town and see those small bungalows built in the 1940s – the ones really close together – the ones that held a mom and dad and 8 kids – the ones where you could find neighbor kids all playing together outdoors. Something has happened. And it’s not good. I think it is an entitlement attitude, as you suggested.
I like your philosophy. Bigger is not better. No doubt your cottage is cozy and welcoming. It’s beautiful.
Claudia, I so agree with you! I too, have wondered about the young couples and their demands for what is “necessary” in a house.
I hear you about a small kitchen – mine is minuscule. But as my NYC friends remind me – HUGE compared to their apartment standards!
Your cottage is beautiful and YAY for porches! I would much rather drink my tea on my serene porch than drink coffee at a supposedly posh coffee shop with all the frenetic busy-ness!
To each their own. . . and I’m more than satisfied with my small quiet cabin.
You are definitely talking my language now, sweetpea. I agree with you and have blogged about it a few times that the reality of what you see on television is definitely NOT the reality of 90% of the rest of us. I’m truly happy with what I’ve got and state that frequently.
xoxo,
Connie
Preach it! No walk-in closets here, either. My countertops are laminate and appliances are white – the horror! ;) My kids love to watch House Hunters and talk back to the selfish 25 year olds who think they must have granite and walk-in closets and perfect paint colors, etc. “It’s your first house, you don’t HAVE to have granite!” It cracks me up. :)
You definitelly don’t mean my house referring to the huge ones in blogland. :-)
When ever I think my house could be a bit bigger, have a more comfortable bathroom, (we only have one from the seventies, and yes I should make a post about it because of its “lovely” greenish-floral “style”), maybe a room/study for my crafts, I think that I am the cleaning lady.
The best part of my house is its warmth (the wood heating means heaven to me) and cosiness and the place.
What’s more, I can afford it without myself working to death (this is a very common lifestyle in Switzerland)
And last but not least; my house is what I make of it. And this is just the best.
Your cottage is gorgeous! I was actually reading The Small House Book by Jay Shafer recently. And now I’m starting to get why my parents called me an “old soul”. It seems that families (Baby Boomers) who had to share spaces are actually closer than those who didn’t (80’s kids…me). I love the idea of having limited space (just more than 800 sq ft) & filling your home with only the things you love. We are planning to build this summer…Do you have any idea of how hard it is to find house plans under 1600 square feet? Who would have thunk! We finally settled on the old Sears & Roebuck 1923 “Roseberry” with some adjustments of course. It seems we need 1495 sq ft :o)
I know exactly what you mean. I have a small cottage-like house and it is just fine for my needs. My elderly mum lives with me and in the future, I can see it will be too big for me. Why would one person need 3 bedrooms?
It has mismatched appliances and way too little storage space (or I have too much stuff).
What really gets to me is watching all the English house hunting shows. I don’t know if you get them in the States but all the modest looking houses for first time home owners seem to cost half a million dollars. I want to know where they get the money. A friend who moved to Canada from Ireland said that if he had stayed, he would never have earned enough to buy a house – he would have had to rent for his entire life. Puts things in perspective and makes me love my small house more. J
That is a pet peeve of mine…those young couples on House Hunters. While I like the show and try to watch when I can, I find some of these first timebuyers or just the younger generation demand so much and are so opinionated that it makes me nauseous! The things that come out of their mouths just makes me want to slap them! My first house was so small and had to have so much work done on it to make it liveable(but we were so happy there) and then the 2nd and 3rd house were only a little bigger but they were like jewels to us. Yes, we have granite counter tops now and a stainless steel refridgerator but I only have one bathroom and 1300 square feet but it took us 35 years to get this and we don’t “have” to have anymore room to make us happy. It also seems the older we get it takes less to make us happy and we want to live a more simple life. Who wants to clean all those rooms! Okay, I am done now…..sorry I ranted. ~Hugs, Patti
Great post! It’s very easy for us to get caught up wanting bigger and better after doing a little blog hopping. I too have a tiny home, no big open kitchen or living area but I love it just the same. I remember listening to one of my favorite radio stations and they talked about a mother and her kids living in one room, on dirt floors, and cooking in one tin can, I thought to myself “how can I ever desire more than what I have”. The trick is to make your house your home, no matter the size and your post is a reminder of just that!
I have never owned a house. I have a fairly big one bedroom apartment. The galley kitchen is small but when I’m washing the floor on my knees, believe me, it’s big enough. Sigh! The bathroom could be bigger. I have two pretty big closets which I mostly use for storage. I don’t have that much clothes. I’m retired and don’t go out much so I rarely buy clothes. But, I don’t deprive myself. If I need something, then I will get it. My appliances are mismatched. The fridge which is new is white and the stove is yellow.
Two years ago they gave me a new fridge because the old one broke and I was so happy that it did because it was the kind that you have to defrost by hand and it only had a wee freezer. I tried to get a new stove to match the fridge but they said the oven on their new stoves are not as good as the one I have which is as old as Adam and Eve.
I feel very lucky to have found this apartment. The rent is reasonable and includes heat and light.
The living room is huge. I have a big enough dining room off the kitchen. There’s an entrance hall and another hallway which leads to the various rooms. I also have a fairly big linen closet. A lovely balcony where I can keep a few potted flowers and sit during the summer.
What more do I need? I think our health and the health of our children is the most important thing.
However, I am not upset with people who have large spaces and who like granite counters and all those frills. There was a time when I would have wanted those also. But, I never got them and after a while, I stopped wanting them. To each his own!
I enjoy watching those young kids who go house hunting. I don’t mind that they want granite counters and huge walk in closets. They probably have huge incomes and work hard for their money. So, why shouldn’t they buy what they want. They don’t necessarily need it to survive but if it’s something which will keep them motivated and happy, then I want them to have it. We don’t really know much about them, do we? Perhaps some of them never had anything when they were young but now things have changed and they’re going for it.
Oh my gosh that is so funny. I live in Ca. where housing is expensive too and laugh at that show. These first time buyers are so entitled. Sadly they are just showing what their generation expects. They were raised getting whatever they want so why not have a house they want right off the bat. No paying your dues and working up to it or just accepting a smaller home.
Good post! so many huge homes today, when natural resources are shrinking, and the cost of heating, cooling, lighting, maintaining is so high. I too, laugh, when the House Hunters won’t buy a house because the wall colors are terrible. Have they not heard of paint and brush? Anyway, small house here too, built in 70’s. Not a cook’s kitchen for sure; more of a “reheat”/microwave size. Tiny bathroom, closets. I would love a walkin-pantry though.
My favorite line from HH is this bathrom is to small, like what are they planning to do in there…..when I am in the bathroom I am ALONE and I like it that way.
Dear Claudia, as Mathilde is still here, I have not taken me time to read what you write in this post, but only wants to say, you house looks so wonderful, and cosy.I have alwayes loved wooden houses-we don`t have so many here in DK-
your surroundings are equal wonderful.
Hugs,Dorthe
Sometimes I forget how small my home is… until I visit friends or family that have larger homes. It is a bit of a reality check. I love my little home though, and am so thankful to own my very own little piece of the planet.
I remember watching an episode of House Hunters International and seeing the small sized kitchens taken in stride by the European buyers. It really put things in perspective for me. Whenever I justify (usually to myself) why I don’t need a bigger kitchen I always say, “Hey, some of the greatest meals and good times come out of those tiny kitchens in France.” It’s the people, the memories made, and the love that comes from the kitchen that matters, right?
Hugs,
Jill
PS: Where the heck DO those young couples get the money to buy those HUGE houses, anyway?! I hope people in other countries realize that not all Americans are like that.
My first house was 700sq feet. I could stand in the hall and see all four corners. My next house was too large and was purchased with the purpose of caring for my sick mother and two sisters. That is a whole other story. I am not a fan of large houses as Joe will tell you. He loves his mistress, the old tumbling down house, while I will take our yellow house any day. Small and cozy with a small kitchen. By the way when we bought the yellow house the bank did not want to finance it as it is on a dirt road. What? We find that charming.
Right on! I watch those shows and think why do these young first time buyers think they have to have it all?? I started out in a tiny little house and was blessed to have it. Made do with one bathroom for years with a hubby and two kids! I now live in a modest brick ranch built in 1969…nothing new about it. I love it! No granite, no walk in closet and my bathroom is tiny. I do have a screened porch and a lovely deck. Life is about choices but most of American does not live in a perfect home. I never have and never will. Your cottage is a dream home to me! Hugs, Linda
Hi, Claudia
My home was built around 1953, give or take a year. It is 1000 square feet, one bathroom and housed a family of 4 before I bought it almost 20 years ago. It has a few little quirks, but has served me well and was well within my budget. I am house-hunting now and would like a little more space, room for a table in a kitchen and would be happy with just a slice of your huge porch and lot; this could take awhile and I’ll enjoy my home while I’m here. I think your house is absolutely charming!
-Karen
I laughed when I read this post. The attitude of this generation of young house hunters is a universal one. There’s a similar program on TV here in Holland, and I am always amazed at the demands of these young people. Fresh out of school and they want what previous generations had to work ages for to acquire. It’s not that I don’t want them to have it, of course not, I’d like everyone to be able to have what they want. It’s that they want perfection instantly, not being happy with anything less than that. Makes me wonder if they’ll be able to deal with what life will throw at them further up the road.
Oh Claudia, this really struck a chord with me. Why? Because I so share your feelings! What is with these young people today. I want, I want, I want!!! We have a lovely home on a private one acre lot. But it is old and dated in many ways We have done a lot to it, but there is a lot that needs to be done. We do what we can, when we can afford to it. Our home is a simple one story ranch. It was plenty big enough for our family as it grew up, and now as empty nesters, it is just fine. Sure I wish I had a separate dining room. I wish I had new appliances, and counter tops, and cupboards that slid out to reveal shiny pots and pans. But it is our “home” and we love it. I loved this post!!!
: ) Kris
Love your cottage! It’s got so much charm. I live in a small home too (1100 square feet not counting the finished basement)and have learned to love it! Some people would call my home a starter home because it’s not a McMansion, but that’s fine with me. It’s funny, while staying in a B&B in Savannah, hubby and I stayed in a huge old mansion. The first 3 nights we stayed in the honeymoon suite which was huge! It was kind of scary at night having to walk through three huge rooms to get to the bathroom. Our last night was spent in a smaller cozy room and I felt much better. To each their own, but I’m content with my cozy little 50’s ranch. My someday dream is to build a home that looks like an older home (so we won’t have to deal with electrical and plumbing issues)
I don’t see much happiness in a Mcmansion if it puts you on the edge financially. As a decorator, I’ve worked on everything up to a cottage that cost millions. At all levels of home, the happiest owners were the ones that had really worked for it. ~ Maureen
Small homes can pack lots of charm.. I’ve lived in both that you describe… and I can tell you this… atmosphere.. is everything. It’s not about the size. And you can create a wonderful warm atmosphere in a small space with $5. flea market finds if you’re so inclined.
I have no idea where people get their sense of entitlement… but it’s a sad thing, embarassing, really. Although they don’t get it.
I just rediscovered you after my last computer crashed, and I am so glad. I could not agree more with what you say in this post, and I am going back to find your small house series.
It’s all about making a house a home and putting your unique personality into it, regardless of size. So funny you mentioned House Hunters. I cannot watch that show, the buyers are so annoying. I also heard that some of it is scripted. Buyers are told to say they must have double sinks, granite counters, walk-in closets etc. Wish HGTV would get more creative…maybe have a show that featured bloggers every week showing off their homes and doing DIY projects!
Would love to have a porch! We do have storage space – a very disorganised attic & cellar. We have 2 bedrooms, neither very large, and one bath. The kitchen & living room finish off the space. Oh, and I HATE stainless steel appliances. They were fine when I worked in the restaurant, but not in my home. :)Walk in closet?? Not space efficient! Our house is 24X36. :D
Oh, I hear you, Claudia. No walk in closets, no windows in the kitchen or the bathroom, combined living room/dining area, yes, tiny indeed! I’m also amazed at how much or how little you can get for your money depending on which part of the country you are purchasing or renting!… Donna
Claudia,
I have a town house which was built in 2004. I do have storage because the builder included it. My square footage is about 1400 and I have all the space I need.I do have walk-in closets and I am most thankful. My kitchen in compact and organized. I downsized and then downsized again. I am able to utilize much of what I had before and what was given to me by my parents. I feel blessed.
Your cottage is lovely and full of charm. Now if you want to talk about small spaces, I shall post about the cabin this summer!!!!
Carol
I can no longer watch HGTV-well, I don’t watch much tv and I let the cable go for just this reason but-I agree with all you said. One thing I have often wondered is the why does everyone think they need a bedroom the size of a football field? Not including a gigantic closet and master bath. What are you doing in the bedroom to need that kind of space? And they demand an enormous kitchen while they admit to not cooking nor do they wish to learn. Important for what you have not who you are?
I agree completely Claudia! Really, the wall color is wrong? No granite? What white appliances? I can’t stand the attitudes either. Although I do watch International House Hunters once in a while-I like the small, cozy, fixer-uppers seen in a lot of the episodes. Well, I did see an episode where the couple bought a family home on the beach in Mexico and it actually looked like a resort. Oh, it took them a bit to make up they’re minds because none of the 3 choices was exactly what they wanted! Imagine. I chose my house based on the back yard for the kids and the school system. The house could be painted, etc. I love your cottage! Always looks so warm, inviting and friendly.
I don’t have time to read all the comments….but read a few and will be back to read more. Our home is a bi-level with almost 3,000 square feet. Nothing at all fancy….our house is 46 years old. Vinatage for sure. Very square lines. Actually on the outside it does have some character, thanks to some pillars. It needs alot of work…..like a roof. The size was just okay when we had 4 children licving at home……now it’s a whole floor that doesn’t get lived in. We basically live upsairs in about 1,500 sq. feet. We have two huge bedrooms and two small bedrooms. The big ones could actually be divided into two…..meaning 6 bedrooms. You should see how small our bathrooms are. Our house has a really open floor plan. We tried to sell just when the bottom fell out of the market. We have thought about it again but I think we are happy staying put for the time being. We feel very comfortable in our imperfect home. Maybe we should take in a tennant for downstairs. Truth to be told, if our “special needs” son has to move home, PRAY for me if that happens, there will be space.
We make fun of the House Hunters show and the first time homeowners. Are you kidding.
Even on the blogs…..some of the houses are so unreal.
Let’s boycott and post about our smaller, imperfect, older, homes and let people know that you can be happy in less than perfect spaces.
And……I dearly love your home.
You are spot on, Claudia. It kills me when I watch House Hunters and they say they need to upgrade to a bigger house because they don’t have enough space, meanwhile they are living in a house that is four times the size of mine! I am happy in my little ranch house. Less to clean, lower utility bills, lower taxes!
Oh Claudia, I’m so glad you mentioned the House Hunters show. I rarely get a chance to watch TV – but once I flipped on HGTV and House Hunters was on. I was in complete dismay to see how these “young couples” just HAD TO HAVE granite countertops, etc. – and if it didn’t come with the house – well, then they would just have to immediately remodel. What? Really? Unbelievable. It is so so sad. The nature of “entitlement” is completely out of control. I’m a child of the 60’s and 70’s – and we just had to either do without or wait for just a portion of our needs/wants to be met – and so many times – it was at such a sacrifice. And to think how much tougher it was back in the 30s, 40s and 50s!
I prefer REAL – real people, real lives, real houses, real decorating, and yes, real blogs. Thank you for staying true to REAL!
The focus of life should be LIVING – not pretending!
Keep up the great blog! It’s one of my daily highlights! :)
Hi Claudia,
How funny you would post this today, since just last night while watching House Hunters,there was a guy who didn’t like a house because it needed paint…LOL some people can not see through paint or see the potential in a home. Yes the young ones seem to want everything right now. You have to work your way up and pay the do’s. Homes are at a fair price where I live right now, so buying up for a young couple is very do-able.
Your home is perfect! We love our home too. I think everyone has a dream home and its good to dream. I have a lot of home made and re-cycled things in my home and I wouldn’t have it any other way. A very good post!
Have a sweet day, Elizabeth
Dear sweet Claudia,
Thank you—I needed the reality check. Your home is precious. I know you miss being there. After being away, my heart becomes a little lighter when I turn into our driveway. Everything is not perfect here,but it “feels good” to be home. Happy day!
Carol
A nice post for a reality check. I am an avid watcher of House Hunters late at night and get a chuckle out of the folks on there. Especially those first time buyers! Last night there was an unusual one (International Hunters) in the sense of budget … buying an apartment in Paris and she had a budget of $1.4 million! Trust me, that does not buy you a lot in Paris! AND, I could think of a lot of other ways to use that money than in a HOUSE!
I’m another small house dweller, and our house stands in a tiny plot, yet being in an English village it cost a lot. So we’re broke and short of space, just like you Claudia. But I love my home.
Thank you for this post :D
I have a small two story house on a tiny little plot of land and I love it. Its old and quirky and there is not a level surface in the place. The floors slant and depending on the season, some doors shut and some don’t. I love it to bits, warts and all. I putter away at it and fix it as I can, but I have no desire for stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops. Give me character and old fashioned any day!! Well maybe a better basement but on the whole I am ok with my little house.
having lived in both i prefer small and cozy over huge and cold.
I so agree with you on this, Claudia! We have so little space in this house that I keep my crock pot in the linen closet. I sometimes dream of certain aspects of a big house but not the whole 4,000 square feet. Our starter home is our retirement home. And I’m happy about that! :)
XO,
Jane
I hear ya Claudia– reality check for sure.
Only you don’t sound like you need a reality check– it is the younger generation I think that needs it.
Bigger is not better.
When we moved here- we did get 270 extra sq.ft. of living space–but we storage. We only had two closets in this house..and our 9×12 bedroom was being used for storage!
Now it’s our bedroom …still no closet, but we built an extra closet and we built linen storage in the bathroom. Doesn’t seem like much– but hey, it helps!
love your home, it looks so cozy to me. I know you miss it when you’re in Manhattan– NOW THAT is a reality check. How much you miss it when you have to stay away…
blessings to you, Pat
OMG don’t get me started about HGTV and first time homebuyer entitlement. Really? No downpayment but you have to have granite? Seriously, it makes you want to slap them and the bank that is loaning them the money. Those same people are the first ones to walk away from their mortgage at the frist sign of trouble. Perhaps you should have actually bought something you could afford to live in! Great thought provoking post.
I really enjoyed your post.The HGTV potential home buyers crack me up when they walk through the homes saying “This bathroom needs to be gutted”, or OMG it doesn’t have stainlesss steel appliances or this wall and that wall are going to need to be taken down. These shows are mostly about selling a certain lifestyle and home style and various products. It’s good to see that there are a lot of us that are happy with what we have and can afford.
I think your cottage is very sweet. We don’t have a huge house, and don’t want one. It’s all I can do to keep this one clean. LOL!
DH and I laugh at all the house-hunter shenanigans too! I don’t even like stainless steel appliances. No thank you to fighting an endless battle with spots and fingerprints!
My pet peeve on that show is the closets. All husbands on that show should rise up and reclaim their half of the master-bedroom closet! If the woman has too many clothes and shoes to fit into half the closet, she should donate it to a worthy cause. (Or put her excess stuff in the spare room down the hall.)
When I walk around my own cottage, Claudia, I always think to myself, “If this were sold, no doubt the owners would “improve” (read: *destroy*) all the quaint, comfy, character within these walls that made me love the house when I first saw it. And when I watch HGTV, I’ve noticed the people looking for homes *never* choose the ones I like! But to each his own… I do get such pleasure when I see all the beautiful homes on the blogs I follow, and all the wonderful ideas and design tips their kind owners give. I find many of their suggestions can be reworked and applied (albeit on a very small scale) to my own home and I certainly appreciate all the work and love and time they put into making their homes looks beautiful.
I for one have totally lost interest in reading the blogs with big houses and granite counter tops yada yada. I just find them all too much alike and rather boring. Stainless steel appliances are the orange shag carpeting of the seventies. I can tell you I am MUCH happier with my laminate counter top I put in the kitchen than the granite ones back in Texas. Those chipped. These don’t.
Brenda
“I couldn’t possible live without granite…this would have to be gutted”
Thank you for your post! I’ve found some of those H.H. episodes lead me to think that I should Want More when I really don’t.
Oh I hear you on this one! We bought a townhouse when it was just the two of us when houses were selling cheap (upstate ny about 11 years ago). We’ve added two kids since but we just can’t leave here. Our mortgage is much less than most people pay for rent, but if we purchased another home, our mortgage would be three times as much plus higher taxes. Luckily, our home is in a lovely wooded area where all of our neighbors are in similar situations. Over the years I’ve had so many comments including that it isn’t fair to raise kids in a townhouse ( huh? ) and that we must need a bigger house (we don’t, this place is 1600 sf)
Quite often my son will go to a friends house and I cannot believe the large houses with lavish furniture people have… Where do people get their money?
From 30+ years of improving our cottage home, I’ve learned that today’s “fashions” in homes (ss appliances, granite countertops, and huge walk-in closets) are fairly easy to find in “cookie-cutter” developments. The more time-honored traits of a home, such as character and charm, are more difficult to find and create. It’s rather like the difference between a “generic” home and a “custom” home. Give me a home with character every time!!!!
Claudia, somehow I missed this post but have to put in my two cents worth! Our cottage is just about 1300 sf – and so right for two people. It’s 26 y.o. and hasn’t had a lot of renovations other than general upkeep and a walk-in shower added to the small master bath, and Corian counters to replace the old but great Formica! I would like some extras – a pantry, a powder room, and a bigger kitchen – but it’s not going to happen at this time in our lives. So I’m happy and would like to stay here always – my desire is to remain independent in this smaller home rather than have to move to a condo or, heaven forbid, a retirement home!
A lovely compliment this week came from nearby neighbors who lost their dear home of 40 years, and all contents, to a devastating fire right before Christmas. The bulldozer had arrived for the demolition and rebuilding will be starting soon. They are older than us and raising three young granddaughters (sisters) whose parents cannot care for them. When I asked what style house they plan to construct they replied “it’s going to be cottage much like your home because it’s our favorite house on the street.” how lovely was that.
Home is what you make it………….and HGTV is almost banished from my TV because it’s preposterous. I happened to see it a few nights ago when sitting down late – there was a 50,000 sf. house where just the indoor pool complex cost over a million!
After seeing how those children lived in India a few weeks back I’ll never think of my home as inadequate, and I know I’m blessed….even without granite or stainless steel!
Mary X