Good morning! Another Monday has rolled around. How do the weeks fly by so quickly? Time really does seem to go by more quickly these days. I’m not sure I have a lot to show for it, but there you go.
I’m so excited about the new series that Brenda and I are starting, “Defending the Small House.” My neighborhood consists of quirky, individual houses, many of them quite modest, along with some McMansions. The quirky and small have the edge, thank goodness. There was a building boom around here a few years ago. As more and more New Yorkers either sought a refuge away from the city or could no longer afford to live in the city, the population in our neck of the woods increased. There are a few newer McMansion communities that are unfinished. No one can afford these houses. Construction has halted.
We have 3 of these newer homes across the road from us. One of them, which is huge, is only used on the occasional weekend. While I am impressed by the money this young couple must have, I can’t help thinking what a waste that is. Really? You need all that space for the weekend? Hard to believe.
I grew up in a very small house. It was part of a suburban community of bungalows that sprang up after World War II. The houses all looked alike. I was young and school filled my days but I still knew that every house looked like the one next door. I longed for something different.
Nevertheless, my parents managed to raise 4 children in our tiny bungalow. That’s not to say we wouldn’t have loved more space. But none of us grew up traumatized from living in a small house. And I loved our modest, middle class community, which now, after 60 years or so of existence, looks old, established and has beautiful tree-lined streets.
Many of us are downsizing for a variety of reasons; empty nests, the economy, a too-high mortgage. And in the end, do we really need all that space? How many trees are chopped down so that the land around these new houses can be flat, boring and clear of any natural beauty? How many animals have lost their natural habitat and are displaced because everyone has to have a bigger home?
There is a movement happening. Much has been written about the small house. Sarah Susanka has been a strong advocate for the small house and its smaller footprint. For an even tinier footprint, visit Tumbleweed Tiny House Company.
I’ve really never had a choice as to the size of my home. Modest income = modest house. I’d love a wee bit more space for a laundry room and a downstairs bedroom. It may never happen. And we’ll be just fine. We have learned to live in a small space that leaves a small imprint on the land. Along the way, I’ve learned a lot about living comfortably in a small space.
Our house is small and charming and unlike any other house I’ve seen. It’s cozy.
That does it for me.
Our series starts tomorrow. Please join us!
Looking forward to it!
~ Zuzu
Many of the cottages in my neighborhood are 700-900 square feet and they’re really charming. Most are four rooms: eat-in kitchen, living room and two bedrooms. Some of my neighbors see my 1200 as quite extravagant. They seem fine for a couple but in census records, we can see that families sometmies with several children made them their homes. Our “need” for space surely has changed.
I have the Susanka books and they’re wonderful. I think they’re more for someone building a house rather than adapting or renovating but she’s got some great ideas.
Claudia, I agree totally! I love a small home with personality. I think this country is in trouble because so many reached too far on credit! If you can’t pay for it, you can’t have it. I look forward to your new series.
-Lynn
I LOVE smaller homes! I grew up in one of those post WWII houses and my mom still lives there! My Cozy Home was built somewhere around 1930 and we believe that it was a Sears home (The Vallonia). It is aprox 2200 square feet total and has all the room we will ever need and plenty of charm. We are buying it from the owner who used to be our landlord, we love he and his daughters like family! I really enjoyed your post and I stand with you and Brenda on the position for smaller homes. Looking forward to your series!
Claudia, my laundry room is in the basement and I`d love to convert a closet upstairs into a setup like yours! With only 2 other closets in the house, however, this would leave very little storage for clothing, etc. Be happy with your little closet laundry; I love it!
S
xo
Count me in! I’m in a 80-100 year old house that is tiny! But I love it w/all its charm and quirkiness. I’ll be enjoying yours and Brenda’s series. . . . .
Oh how the time flies! I can hardly take in that it is November!
I think you have a lovely home, and it is full of love and creativity. That makes it a very special home indeed!
Hugs,
Terri
Claudia, I am so with you on this. Less is definitely more when it comes to living in a small home. I love small homes. Your home is so pretty and the porch is gorgeous! Brenda’s sweet cottage is just that…sweet!
I’m all for the smaller individual houses/cottages/bungalows/farmhouses… the McMansions of today have no personality.
I thought the McMansions were a California thing? It’s discouraging that it’s spread all through the country. My in laws have one right next door and needless to say, their privacy has flown the coop as the neighbors window looks out to their yard…It’s a shame and like you said..some of these people run out of money and then it just sits there like a memorial to greed.
bunny
Yes, my little blue house looks so modest and ordinary. But I love it!
Tried to call you earlier. Immediately went to voice mail…
Brenda
I’m looking forward to your series , my home is smallish by most standards , just under 2000 sq. ft. A small ranch that my husband and I built with the help of my dad in 1998. We added as much charm as we could afford at the time which wasn’t a lot, but I keep working on that.
I grew up in small houses when my parents were young and as their careers grew, our houses kept getting bigger and bigger. We went from cozy to stark white and cold. My husband and I made the choice early on to have a large family but knew it would mean a small house if I was to be a momma at home. Somehow, it worked to raise 6 in a house that is just over 1800 square feet. Our kids always had space but were close by. Now we have just one at home and suddenly it seems too big. We are building in the country and really struggling with staying with the same size, downsizing or building a bit bigger to accomodate soon-to-be spouses of our kids and grandbabies. I think we’ll end up somewhere in the middle.
Watched a show this morning “My First Sale” and was quite taken back by the young family who had a beautiful 1500 square foot Colonial on a private lane in the trees. They HAD to sell because they were bringing home their first baby in a few months. And selling meant building a much bigger home and losing all the equity in the first house, borrowing more to buy the second one and having to come to the closing table with $7500 they didn’t have.
And that made sense because??
Shook my head. They should have stayed where they were and built up the equity. But I’m sure it’s just a sign of the times that even young families believe little babies need big houses. Sad.
I’m off to tidy my cozy cottage! Looking forward to your new series.
Chy
While I’m not an advocate of the small house, I am an advocate of building more than you actually need. Oh, sweetpea, why do those people build houses that are 10,000 or 50,000 s.f.? It just doesn’t make sense to me. Our old house was almost 5,000 s.f. and we didn’t live in 1/2 of it. This house is 1,800 s.f. and we do live in it…all of it. It’s not a McMansion or a “wee” house but it satisfies our needs.
A friend built a HUGE gorgeous home, and they could afford to, but they’re in their 70s. I wanted to ask them WHY, but it would sound obnoxious or envious so I didn’t. Plus they travel—a LOT, so it just doesn’t make sense to me. Even with 5 boys and their families, I believe that’s what hotels are for when kids come to visit! I doubt I’d ever do that…build a huge house, I mean.
Home is what you make it and ours is definitely a quiet, serene and well loved HOME.
xoxo,
Connie
This looks like fun. As I sit here and type away and bop around blogland. I’m listening to the hammering out back. Yes, we have another tear down going on behind us. They have removed all the trees again and probably no longer going to be a blade of grass on the land. My poor gardening friend is right in the middle now between two McMansions. So so sad to look out and see this. At least she still has the best garden around and we can still trade plants, as we bow our head in the dirt and not dare to look up at the ugliness of the mansions. The weird thing is they get done and have not a penny left for a single stick of furniture, a curtain on the many windows or a plant in the ground. Not my cup of tea. Enough ramblin’, I could go on and on, but save some for the new series.
So looking forward to this. I love our smaller home so much better because it is cozy and easier to keep clean. We do still have the other large tumble down old home. Joe stays there when he works and that is much cheaper than a hotel.
Your house might be small, but it has a large look. It has a LOT of charm. Love the porch!
nancyr
Actually Claudia, my exact words were, “defending the small home”.LOL Either way, I think that the new series will be interesting! I will be looking forward to it.
Am I the only UK reader interested in this I wonder. My cousin in Arizona, who was born and raised here, says American houses are mostly way bigger than here, and rooms are roomier, as land is cheaper. Is that true?
Our little house is just 1100 square feet spread over 3 floors, and although it’s a small house plenty of houses here are smaller. But we are still somehow found wanting by some people because we don’t live in a mansion.
I am totally behind defending this style of living.
I will be there in my 1400 square footer! Ann
McMansions litter the housing developments down here too and like you I can’t understand their appeal.
And looking at this pic of your house I’m just thinking what a cute dollhouse it would make …
I love Tumbleweed homes ! In fact I posted about them once. I would love to see one in person. I live in a small cape and I love my home….though I would have loved a bit more room in our bedroom!
Blessings, Joanne
P.S. McMansions…YUCK!!!
Your home is very sweet and I look forward to your newest venue. Happy Small Spaces…
This will be an interesting series of posts to read. Diversity always makes life more interesting, I think.
Best wishes,
Lena
xo
I adore small houses. Looking forward to the series.
Laura
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I’ve been receiving info from Tumbleweed’s homes for years and so love them. Looking forward to the defending the small house posts by you and Brenda. As mentioned above, I’ll have to call it “defending the small home” as I don’t have a house.
Personally, I think smaller is cozier as long as it’s not so small that it feels cramped. As long as there is room for everything. For instance, Claudia, you might not have a laundry room but you do have a large enough closet to house your appliances. You’re so lucky. My apartment is around 800 square feet. There is a smaller model available in the building but I would not want it because I’ve gotten rid of enough stuff as it is. There’s a limit to downsizing, after all. I could use an extra bedroom but I’m not willing to pay the extra $250 a month they would charge me. I would rather have that money in my pockets. So, I do without the space and I manage. No craft room but I deal with it. I just bring my stuff out and put it away when I’m finished.
Well here I am back at my small house (1400 sq.ft.) and loving it all over again after being away at the bottom of the world for over 3 weeks! Cozy cottages are the best as we know – the MacMansions around us are gorgeous but I would never want one.
I rec’d your note dear about Reality Thurs. and understand. I just got in last night so am crazy busy – especially as I leave again very soon – more on that later.
Love and hugs – will try to catch up with your missed posts soon – Internet was spotty and so costly on the ship.
Claudia, I love the series on smaller homes, our current home of 2.5 years is 1399 square feet..three bedrooms, two full baths..it’s actually laid out quite well, we just moved from 2500 sq feet to this, and that brings along all kinds of trouble. too much stuff, which we are working on getting donated..we are senior citizens so we are slower than most..but small is ok, less to heat and cool!
Barb
Claudia, your house reminds me a lot of my own. From the exterior to the layout of rooms inside. My house is somewhere around 1500 square feet and was built circa 1875. I love all the rooms in your house – your style is very similar to mine. Once I figure out how to use my camera properly, I’ll start posting photos of it on my blog (I’m new to the blogworld). I look forward to learning from you!