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Welcome to the Cottage.

The Tiny Canal Cottage is a resource for helping folks mindfully conceptualize, decorate and enjoy versatile + smaller home spaces. Founded by designer, consultant, stylist, creative director and author, Whitney Leigh Morris, this family-owned small business recently finished the construction of a new, compact cottage and greenhouse-office in the southeastern US, and are also restoring a little 1800s French farmhouse and its outbuildings with co-stewards. Morris’ focus is crafting flexible, sustainable, and more community-focused home spaces. Explore Whitney’s book, blog, and social channels for years of tips and tales from living and working in — and with — a smaller footprint.

Cottage Fence Makeover with TaskRabbit

A few months ago, we replaced our low fence at the cottage with a higher design. We didn't want to get rid of the old set-up, but the pups kept leaping over the gate, which became problematic for numerous reasons. We opted for a higher design to help keep  #StubsandSoph safe.

Before:
(We loved this lil' old gate and bougainvillea, but they unfortunately had to be removed for safety reasons.)

After:
(Our new, taller fence. Finished & painted by TaskRabbit, primer & paint by Dunn Edwards.)

The fence was unfinished for months. I got pregnant around the same time I'd planned to paint, and my doctor advised against me tackling the task myself. But with the cottage wedding drawing nearer (we're only three weeks away), it needed to get done.

Sophee REALLY loved the brushes, but we had a feeling she'd make a lousy painter, so we hired a professional named Andrew from TaskRabbit.

It took Andrew about four hours to complete the job. First he had to sand down the rough and splintered sections of the fence, and then apply the primer. After the primer dried, he added the paint, and then replaced the hardware on the fence and gate. He was even mindful to avoid the grape leaves and budding concord clusters, which I really appreciated:

I chose "Play on Gray" paint from Dunn Edwards because I wanted a hue that worked with the cottages, without being SO white that it clashed against the old wooden fence beneath the grapevine. Andrew really did a wonderful job, and we're thrilled with how everything turned out. It's amazing what a difference the fence color makes for the overall appearance and feel of the garden.

I'm looking forward to using TaskRabbit again soon, as they're helping me do some extensive prep-work and day-of jobs for the cottage wedding... but more on that later! For now, it's time to relax in the improved garden with Adam and the pups.

The Cottage Bath

Small Office Space Feature on Domino