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Welcome to the Cottage.

The Tiny Canal Cottage is a resource that helps folks mindfully conceptualize, decorate and enjoy versatile, smaller home spaces. The Cottage was founded by consultant, stylist, creative director and author, Whitney Leigh Morris, whose focus is crafting flexible, sustainable, and more community-focused home spaces. Explore Whitney’s Substack, book, blog, and social channels for ideas that explore joyful, mindful ways to live in — and with — a smaller footprint.

A Summer’s Day to Night in a Multitasking Space

A Summer’s Day to Night in a Multitasking Space

This post was sponsored by Terrain. All photos & opinions are my own. 

As is the case in most smaller homes, every space here — whether indoors or outdoors — multitasks. Here’s a glimpse of the most frequently used, and most versatile, spot on our porch:

Above: Reclaimed Work Table with drop-down sides.

By day, this is a potting zone, largely open to the elements, but shaded from the hot sun via the reclaimed pine ceiling (and blissfully protected from the mosquitoes thanks to the screen). Come evening, this is a conversation bar — a spot where we can gather with neighbors and friends to connect and brainstorm without disturbing the kids in their shared bedroom off of the kitchen. 

As usual, this area is comprised of a mix of thrifted, hand-me-down, and repurposed items. Everything is supported brilliantly by an expandable recycled + reclaimed potting surface from Terrain. The table’s combination of two drop-leaf sides and a back rack with shelf make this design particularly friendly for smaller spaces in need of increased versatility. (It would be a wonderful piece for a deconstructed kitchen.)

Above: Slip-on clogs (made from recycled materials) by an adjustable secondhand stool.

I customized the table by attaching a secondhand tension rod paired below the built-in shelf to create a spot for hanging tools and linens.

Above: Garden Carry-All Basket + Snips

I also added a small, thrifted towel rack with repurposed curtain clips to the face of the table for a spot for hanging our family’s gardening and work gloves. 

Above: Eartha Pedestal Planter and a thrifted towel bar turned into a rack for my Long Gloves and other garden + work gloves.

The end result is a spot that can easily transform from utilitarian work zone by day to a hosting zone by night, regardless of the weather.

Here’s to making every space count — inside and out. 

Above: A Copper + Brass Tulip Sprinkler watering the upcycled garden space just beyond the porch.

Rightsized Vintage: June Edition

Rightsized Vintage: June Edition