Feature: Better Homes & Gardens Podcast
Regardless of square footage, having a versatile home is key.
Recently I had the joy of chatting with the folks at Better Homes & Gardens via their podcast, The Better Buy.
In the episode, we discuss designing limited square footage to multitask for your household, blending the outdoors seamlessly with your space, and taking an eco-friendly lifestyle seriously—from home renovation to everyday habits.
We also chat a bit about about the French Farmhouse, cottage and greenhouse.
Thanks for having me on the show, BHG!
Feature: Tips for Adding Character to a Newly Constructed Home
When Real Simple columnist Laura Fenton contacted me to ask for a few tips regarding how to make a new home feel older for this feature she was writing, I was delighted.
I’ve never been drawn to a sterile, modern aesthetic, which could be one of the many reasons I fell in love with our 1920’s Tiny Canal Cottage in Venice, and our 1800’s French Farmhouse in the Midi-Pyrénées.
Adding stories, history and layers to our recently constructed home is of the elements that makes our little ADU cottage so special to me.
Recently, an eight year old friend of my son’s visited our home and remarked that it didn’t look as though we just moved in. She said that it felt as though the house had been lived in for quite a long time. Assuming she was referring to the character of the interior — rather than the impressive tumbleweeds of dog hair and ever-present, overflowing Uashmama bags of laundry waiting to be folded — she made my month. My husband replied that this was the highest design compliant anyone could give me regarding our home, and I think he’s right.
Here are some tips to consider when trying to make a newly built home feel as though it’s been around longer.
Reclaimed + Repurposed Materials over New Furnishings and Accessories
If you already have newer furnishings, consider adding a dash of reclaimed materials to them in one or more ways. Vintage hinges, door knobs and pulls can work wonders. Similarly, consoles, countertop segments, accent pieces, and more can be enhanced when securely topped with a layer of repurposed or reclaimed materials, sized to your specifications.
Mix & Match
Matching furnishings and textiles are often hallmarks of a new space. Try mixing and layering textiles and materials. Not all metals have to be the same. One set of curtains can be different than their neighboring set. The sofa and armchair can indeed contrast. Such an approach echoes a time when newly manufactured goods weren’t so prevalent, and unique, mismatched, homemade and storied goods decorated well-loved rooms.
Lime Paint + Tadelakt
Old homes develop beautiful, rich patinas of all sorts over time. An impactful way to attain a similar feeling is through the application of layered Lime Paint and Tadelakt. The origins of these concoctions date back centuries, so they inherently offer an old-world, texture-rich look when applied to walls and ceilings.
Swap Out Switch Plates & Electrical Outlet Covers
If your home has plastic switch plates and outlets, explore alternatives and work with an electrician to replace the ones you see / use most. Toggle switches, pull cords (keep child safety in mind), wooden plates, screws in dulled metal finishes, and other such details can delightfully age a room.
Include Plants
Mix and match pots, display methods (suspended, wall-mounted, tabletop, floor), and types of plants for a vibrant and layered home that feels truly alive.
Embrace Imperfections
I know that one of the benefits of a brand new house is that there should (theoretically) be less to repair and modify. However, as we’ve learned first-hand, there can be PLENTY of imperfections in a recent build— especially if you’re working on a tight budget. If safety isn’t an issue, try embracing the little quirks, as they too can add character and disrupt uniformity.
Feature: Our New Cottage in House Beautiful
We’re delighted to share that our new cottage is being featured in the March / April 2023 issue of House Beautiful, entitled, “Backyard Retreats.”
The feature is accessible online here, and will be available via newsstands on March 28th.
Heartfelt thanks to the team at House Beautiful, and:
Writer: Hadley Keller
Photographer: Jenna Peffley
Stylist: Raina Kattelson
Architect: Jennifer Langford
… and, of course, my partner Adam Winkleman.
Eco-Friendly Organization Tools
Tips for organizing, and living mindfully, beautifully, and practically in spaces of all sizes.
I’m delighted to be featured on the UASHMAMA blog today, sharing tips for organizing, and living mindfully, beautifully, and practically in spaces of all sizes.
I answered such questions as:
Many people want to de-clutter and live with less, but generally don’t know where to start and what to let go of. Do you have any tips for those who are just beginning the process of a living with less lifestyle or mindset?
… as well as:
When thinking about designing in a small space, should you prioritize design or function? Or can you have both?
Traditional Yet Informal Holiday Hosting
Creating a festive holiday tablescape in a small home or garden.
I can’t remember the last time we hosted… perhaps late November of 2019? Regardless, I’m eager to get back to it. In the meantime, I’m resharing this informal-meets-traditional tablescape I created for Food52 during a live broadcast, in the hopes it’ll provide some ideas for folks who are entertaining in small spaces this holiday season:
Recent Features Roundup
Occasionally we like to select a few features from the Cottage that were published by other outlets and share them via our own blog as well. Our latest roundup includes a video interview, tips for small space living, and our story of sheltering in under 400 sqft for nearly a year.
What's Your Story?: A live conversation in this time of global reckoning, revolution, and reinvention, with Rebecca Walker, Lily Diamond and Whitney Leigh Morris via Book Passage.
Video below, or click here to view via the Book Passage events channel replay page.
Basenotes by Vitruvi: Tips for Small Space Living from The Tiny Canal Cottage
Whitney Leigh Morris lives with her husband, her four-year-old son, and their two dogs, and has another baby on the way. Sounds pretty average, right? Until you factor in that she’s doing it all in less than 400 square-feet. Find out how she makes it work in her interview with Basenotes.
Domino Magazine: Small Space Quarantine Tips from Whitney Leigh Morris
(Note: This was published in December 2020, but was written at the start of the previous the Spring, when when we’d only sheltering in place for 2 months. Now, after nearly a year of staying home, most of our practices are still very much the same.)
A Traditional-Meets-Informal Holiday Table
As a way of showcasing some informal-meets-traditional tablescape ideas for this holiday season during which we’ll be sheltering-in-place, Food52 invited me to do LIVE broadcast in which I styled this lil’ vintage garden table at the cottage for their online community. Photos below:
(Click here to view the IGTV LIVE video via Food52.)
Recent Features Roundup
SecondAct Podcast
Click here to listen via itunes
A conversation with actor Bonnie Somerville covering topics ranging from the evolution of my work, brand partnerships, exes, sustainability, imperfection + compromising, The RightWay Foundation, and the direction in which my business and family are likely headed in the near future. (Behind-the-scenes note: I recorded this interview on the same morning I discovered I was pregnant. I hadn’t slept a moment and was still in a bit of shock…)
Food52 + Home52
View the replay of the LIVE segment here.
A LIVE video in which Food52 asked me to merge traditional and casual dining styles for to create a fall-to-winter tablescape for special dining over the holidays during the pandemic.
OddbirdCo
An IG Stories feature/interview on sustainable small space living.
MyBearaby
Click here to view.
A brief video about styling a weighted blanket in three separate small spaces.
Recent Features Roundup (Dwell, Domino, Chalkboard, Insider)
Occasionally we like to select a few features from the Cottage that were published by other outlets, and share them via our own blog as well. Our mid-May roundup includes Dwell, Domino and The Chalkboard. Click the links below to explore.
Below is an excerpt from our Dwell feature:
As climate change continues to impact the way we live, Whitney believes small spaces can work spectacularly for a variety of family structures with different income levels.
"Living within a modest floor plan can help folks lead a greener existence," she says. "The average American home is about 2,500 square feet and uses a commensurate amount of energy. A small space runs on a sliver of energy by comparison. After all, it doesn’t take much to warm up, cool down, or illuminate a 400-square-foot home. Through our work and our home, we’re striving to be a resource for those who are interested in self-sufficient and restorative small space living, requiring less of the earth while also giving back to it."
Quarantining in <400 Square Feet for Two+ Months
Recently, Domino asked me to answer some questions about what life has been like in our tiny house since we began self-isolating— the questions + responses are below.
We hunkered down on March 13, and we intend to continue the course as long as our state and local officials instruct us to do so, in an effort to keep ALL members of our community as safe as possible.
(Thank you to Elly Leavitt for the questions and the Domino feature!)
Q: How long have you been self-isolating in your space?
A: We’ve been practicing strict isolation and physical distancing since March 13th.
Q: What tweaks have you made to accommodate everyone staying inside at the same time?
A: While life beyond our walls has changed drastically— as it has for everyone— our existence at home is remarkably similar to how it’s been for years. We are used to being mere inches from one another for days on end, as my husband and I both work full-time from our <400 sqft live-work office, and our 3½ year old was not yet in a full-time school.
However, just before the lockdown here in Los Angeles, we swapped out my desk in exchange for a large credenza. This has helped us all tremendously, as it provides a generous, streamlined and accessible storage solution for our son’s toys (among other items). This has lead to a simplified clean-up process, which is helpful in space of any size, but particularly a compact home
Q: Your main room is a multipurpose area - can you elaborate on that a little?
A: We’ve been in our tiny house for 9 years, and the main room has always been a multi-purpose room. As such, we didn’t need to acquire anything new to help us keep the space adaptable while sheltering in place. With the help of rolling and folding furnishings and accessories, this zone can easily become my office, our son’s place space, our workout room, a pop-up dining room, a makeshift office, a screening room, and our son’s bedroom at night.
Q: How do you carve out time (and physical space) for yourself at the home?
A: We are lucky enough to have a small yet highly usable garden and porch. When the weather is nice, any one of us can separate from the group and sit outside under the shade of our canopy of vines. It’s a great place to read, work or enjoy an outdoor shower.
Within the house, we’ll sometimes set up a mini, portable projector to create an oversized screening surface in either the main room or the bedroom at night, which keeps our son occupied while my husband and I check in with each other about the business and/or personal matters.
Q: What does your work-from-home station look like? How have you altered it (if at all)?
A: I’d always had a dedicated office zone within our cottage until this Spring. Now that I no longer have a desk, I either work at the kitchen counter, or via a pop-up office that consists of a garden table and an easily portable basket of essential office accessories and supplies. (My favorite spot is on our tiny back stoop, as it strikes the perfect blend of indoor and outdoor.)
Q: Can you tell me a bit about what it's like having a kid in a tiny home during this time? How do you balance everything?
A: I’m less interested in finding “balance” and more interested in going with whatever flow seems healthiest and most natural for us as a family and as individuals, day by day. Sometimes I’ll pass the entire day with my brain focused on work while my husband, Adam, cares for our child and our 2 dogs. Sometimes I’ll stash my tech away and focus solely on family and the house/garden. While we miss our library, beaches and community events, we feel so grateful to be here right now. Sheltering at home is a privilege that we don’t take lightly, and by turning every little thing — like gardening, cooking, cleaning, creating, reading, and exercising into family activities, the days have rushed by.
Q: Are there any fun activities you've loved doing together? (IE crafts, ways to get West involved around the house)
A: We have 2 Lettuce Grow Farmstands that we tend to daily— they’re great tools for growing leafs greens and vegetables in small spaces like ours. West loves monitoring and harvesting the plants with us. We also do simple activities like paint our fence with water, play “darts” with suction cups, set up tetherball within the house (aka a ball in a stocking tied to an overhead beam), go “fishing” from our folding Pikler Arch with magnetic rods, hang laundry up to dry on the line, and more. Everything can be turned into some sort of a game with a bit of creativity and patience. I am not a cook, and at best I’m a DIY-lite sort of person, so none of these things require extensive crafting or specialized skillsets. (Whew.)
Q: What have been your biggest challenges?
A: Teaching small space living tips via live online classes has been a joy, but also a struggle. With 2 loud pups, a delightfully playful young child, and neighbors in close proximity, there is a lot that’s beyond my control when it comes to creating a quiet and focused environment during the sessions. But that’s quite all right— this is a time for global empathy, understanding and patience.
Q: What are you doing to unwind together as a family - how has that routine changed?
A: Family yoga (thanks, Cosmic Kids!), gardening, and movie projector sessions have all been so enjoyable lately. We’re much more lenient about how much time we spend viewing shows— I think our son has seen every episode of Sarah & Duck and Puffin Rock 1000 times, but he still loves them. And we’ve been making (and thus eating) cake a bit too often. But the last thing I’m going to do while trying to keep the family and business thriving during a pandemic is guilt myself over such things. Instead, we’re embracing them. (Further details via this blog post.)
Q: What tips can you share for those living in a smaller space during quarantine? What have you done that you've personally found to be the most helpful?
A: I have countless blog entries, IGTV videos, and even a book that are dedicated to cultivating comfortable, beautiful and efficient small spaces! But the main takeaways from these resources that I’ve been implementing at this time are: continuing our use of washable goods in lieu of disposables (this saves so much space and prevents unnecessary household waste), creating pop-up offices that offer a bit of a visual barrier so my son better understands when I’m working, and communicating clearly and efficiently with my loved ones so that we’re all on the same page and happy to be together in our tiny home, 24/7.
Current + Upcoming Events & Recent Features
There’s been so much going on here lately! Below is a brief roundup of current and upcoming events and appearances, as well as recent editorial features. Thank you as always for visiting our lil’ blog, and I hope you and yours are staying safe and feeling well.
NEW & ONGOING
Create Calm in a Small Space
Online Live Interactive Class via Airbnb Experiences
Click here for info and/or to took book a tour
Your home is where you play, relax, work, and imagine. And it can be inspirational, functional and comfortable no matter the square-footage. Over the course of an hour via this live and interactive Airbnb Experience (conducted via Zoom), guests and I will explore how to generate and maintain sense of calm, maximize space, and create a truly unique small space unlike any other with the help of plants, pop-up zones and functional decor. We’ll explore my home and garden via a detailed tour as a way of demonstrating small space solutions first-hand, and we'll touch on the topic of sustainable sourcing, and eco-friendly space-saving swaps. (Note: new dates and times being added regularly to the class schedule.)
Journeys In Greenery Podcast Episode with Hilton Carter
Click here to listen via your preferred platform
(Warning: I say “like” repeatedly in the first few minutes while I’m getting settled— sorry about that, folks. It’s only at the start, I promise.)
“My guest today is Whitney Leigh Morris of the wonderful blog The Tiny Canal Cottage and the beautiful and informative book, Small Space Style. Whitney is a small space lifestyle consultant based along the canals in Venice, CA and as she would say, "a firm believer that you don't need to "live large" to live beautifully." She, her husband Adam and son West are all featured in my new book Wild Interiors where you'll see how they found such an elegant way to utilize plants in a <400 sq.ft. space, while blurring their outside patio into the inside of the home.” - Hilton Carter
UPCOMING
Create & Cultivate Money Moves Digital Summit
May 2, 2020 (All day event. My live segment is from 4:00 - 4:30 PDT.)
Click here for info & tickets
As part of this all-day online conference, I’ll be conducting a 30 minute workshop entitled: Staying sane while working from home in a small space and the hacks you need to thrive. I’ll cover creating a pop-up workspace, minimizing distractions, and maximizing productivity for those who are working from home during the pandemic or year-round.
RECENT PRESS & FEATURES
Lula & Georgia:
Whitney Leigh Morris on Living with Less
(Click to read)
Travel + Leisure
You Can Chat With a Famous Author or Listen to Drag Queen Storytime With Airbnb’s New Literary Experiences
(Click to read)
Insider:
Tiny House Residents Reveal What It’s Like to Live in a Small Space During Coronavirus
(Click to read)
PopSugar:
Styling an Entryway (or lack thereof(Instagram Stories Takeover)
"Small Wonder" Feature in "Wild Interiors"
Despite the fact that Adam and I have been together for more than a quarter of my life (WHAT IS TIME?!), we really have so few photos together. Our extraordinary friend Hilton Carter (@hiltoncarter) took this portrait here at the cottage while he was snapping imagery for his new book, Wild Interiors.
Above: Outtake photo from the Cottage by Hilton Carter for his new book, Wild Interiors.
At one point during the photoshoot, Hilton paused to adjust the settings on his camera, and Adam and I kept standing there in the garden, arms locked around each other. Hilton eventually looked up at us and said: “you two know I’m not taking photos now, right?”
Above: Outtake photo from the Cottage by Hilton Carter for his new book, Wild Interiors.
We knew. But even after being in such close proximity to one other for day and night, year after year, we still want to wrap ourselves together and hold one another up. I’m so thankful to Hilton for capturing that love, and for including us in his second book.
Above: Author, filmmaker, and plant + interior stylist Hilton Carter at the Cottage in 2019.
Hilton’s newest book, Wild Interiors, is as stunningly beautiful to look as it is informative (and often hilarious) to read.
The pages are overflowing with his signature texture-rich photographs, layered with depths of lush greenery and brilliantly orchestrated interiors.
Above: The outdoor shower at the Cottage featured in Wild Interiors.
Wild Interiors opens with Hilton guiding readers through his own epic plant journey, and sharing his inspirations and favorite house plants. It then showcases the residences of 12 plant parents (Adam and myself gratefully included), that demonstrate the versatility of decorating with plants.
Above: Photo from the Cottage by Hilton Carter as seen in his new book, Wild Interiors.
From there, Hilton ushers audiences through a room-by-room profile of the plants that are most suited to each type of space within a home.
About the book:
Wild Interiors is my follow up to my first book, Wild at home. Instead of showcasing my home and studio, I traveled the world to show you the beautiful spaces of others. First I take you through my own plant journey, inspirations, and my top ten favorite house plants of the moment. I then grab your hand and take you along with me on a Journey in Greenery where I showcase the homes of 12 inspiring plant parents that demonstrate the versatility of decorating with plants. From a tiny house in Venice, California and a light-filled loft in New York City, to a Berlin apartment decorated with vintage finds, and the Barcelona home of a ceramic artist, there are ideas for all types of spaces and budgets. I then set you off on your very own plant journey, taking you room by room, profiling the plants that are most suited to each: those that thrive in the tropical humidity of bathrooms, the erratic heat changes of kitchens, and plants that can live happily in the indirect light of an entryway or bedroom. Packed full of interior design advice such as using “statement plants” like Fiddle-leaf figs to create a focal point, how to layer your greenery by using hanging baskets, and how to assemble the perfect plant shelf, I show you how bringing houseplants into your home creates instant impact. Be inspired to create your own Wild Interiors with my styling advice, plus my hints and tips on plant care that take the mystery out of looking after your green friends.
Above: Author, filmmaker, and plant + interior stylist Hilton Carter at the Cottage in 2019.
I am in such awe of Hilton Carter and his myriad of talents, and I’m honored that the Cottage and my family are part of his gorgeous new book. We are lucky and endlessly grateful that Hilton and his wife, Fiona, are part of our lives.
New Podcast Interview Live
I was delighted to be a recent guest on the “What We Said” podcast, and the episode was released today: listen here.
We discussed tiny living and sustainability (and actionable tips for navigating both), as well as family life in under 400 sqft.
Thanks for having me on your show, Jaci and Chelsey!
Recent Features Roundup
As we close out the first month of 2020, here are a few stories by other outlets that featured the Cottage. Click the links below to explore.
Recent Features Roundup
Every now and then we like to select a few features from the Cottage that were published by other outlets, and share them via our own blog as well. Our late fall 2019 roundup includes CNN, Goop, Hunker, and Sunset.
Click the links below to explore.
CNN: How to Have a Stylish, Sustainable Christmas
Excerpt: Whitney Leigh Morris of the Tiny Canal Cottage showcases some of the truly beautiful gifts she's "wrapped" this season on her blog. She covers her presents with book jackets, tea towels, upcycled and resewn old garments, and cotton muslin cloth bags to wrap up her presents. Sometimes she adds a repurposed ribbon, and she almost always hunts around for some natural ornamentation: "We adorn any gift we're giving with greenery clipped from the garden or from around the neighborhood.” And if they’re not homemade, Morris tries to make sure [gifts are] still environmentally friendly. “When it comes to gifting, we're trying as hard as possible to do locally made goods in sustainable packaging. Because it's not just the present itself that has a carbon footprint— it's the packaging as well. And the more you can cut back on the distance the gift has to travel, the better," says Morris.
GOOP: Holiday Skincare Routine (video)
Excerpt: Tiny-home lifestyle blogger Whitney Leigh Morris has amazing sustainable living tips... AND the best skin routine for glowing skin (all year round, but especially during the holidays).
HUNKER: The Less-Is-More Holiday Gift Guide
Excerpt: Whitney Leigh Morris knows a thing or two about living simply. As one of the pioneers of the tiny home phenomenon and author of Small Space Style, Morris aims to help individuals, couples, and families live comfortably and contentedly in — and with — a smaller footprint. But the holidays are often a time where living simply isn't always easy. With endless parties and pages-long gift lists to cross off, it can often be a challenge to find thoughtful gifts that show you care (without creating more clutter) — which is why we went straight to Morris for help.
SUNSET: The Hottest Holiday Decor Ideas This Season
Excerpt: Sunset’s editors combed through Instagram feeds to find some of their favorite picks and inspiration for holiday decorations this season, from banisters to floral Christmas trees. Here are the grams we’re stealing ideas from this month.Whitney Leigh Morris’ Tiny Canal Cottage spreads the holiday love with ornaments on hanging garlands.
"Vivre Mieux Avec Moins" (Swiss Blog Feature)
I’m so delighted to be featured on La Vie Bohème, a beautiful Swiss blog by journalist Céline Perret.
During our nearly 2 hour long interview, Céline and I discussed living better with less, my arc into a greener lifestyle, and the ways in which small space living intertwines with sustainability.
We also discussed the process of writing my book, Small Space Style, and how engaging in brand partnerships has given me the opportunity to dive into lengthy, productive discussions with companies about what they are doing to reduce their footprint, and how consumers can help drive change, too.
To read the article in English, opt for your web browser's auto-translate function.
Images courtesy of La Vie Bohème.
Feature: Growing Passion for Sustainable Tiny Living
Our friends at Olli Ella invited me for a Q & A regarding small space, sustainable living. The full feature is on their blog, and a preview is below.
“Sustainability warrior, interiors guru and long-time friend of Olli Ella, Whitney Leigh Morris is setting the example for everyday folks who hope to lead a fuller life, with less. Whitney's now famous Venice Beach cottage (which measures in at 400sqft) is loved by people near and far for it's clever use of space and her blog and Instagram have become a constant source of inspiration for many thanks to her small space styling hacks, incredible eye for design and the environmentally fueled ethos by which she lives; you don't need to live large, to live beautifully. We chatted with Whitney about her family, her home and her growing passion for Tiny Living.” - Olli Ella
Q: The merging of interior design and styling with your passion for sustainability has really become the heart of your brand. Is this passion a result of living in The Tiny Canal Cottage, or is this an area that you have always been interested in?
A: I’ll admit that the focus on sustainability is newer to me, and is a direct result of living in the Cottage. I wish I'd been dedicated to leading a greener existence much, much sooner, and I still have so much to learn. Being in this small space as a family, coupled with reading more environmental impact reports and studies, sparked our awareness about the amount of waste around us, and our determination to get more involved in finding and sharing solutions for individuals and families in this time of climate crisis. Tiny Living can significantly reduce the environmental impact of a home - from the amount of materials used in crafting the structure, to its daily operations once occupied, which is one of the reasons why we love publishing images and stories about the routines we share here in under 400 sqft.
Q: When it comes to storage, nothing seems to be more daunting than tackling the wardrobe. Living in The Tiny Canal Cottage, what are some handy storage hacks you have come across to make wardrobe organization a breeze?
A: Rarely do folks enjoy this reply, but if I’m being honest, the “hack” is simply to own less stuff. The fewer belongings we have, the fewer storage solutions and space we require. In my mind, that’s a positive thing, as it lessens both our physical and environmental footprint. Having shared that, we all have stuff, of course, and we need a place to put it. I think that versatile and adaptable baskets and shelving are key, so that we can always adapt our space (such as a closet) to suit our current and evolving needs. For example, our single closet has changed over the years from a wardrobe for 2 people, to a nursery for one child, back to a closet again… this time for 3 people!
View additional images and the full interview via Olli Ella. The three dresses pictured in this post are all from Olli Ella’s new WARES collection. Several of the baskets pictured are also from Olli Ella, and we use them daily here in our tiny home. (Our recent basket roundup post can be explored here.)
Recent Features Roundup
Every now and then we like to select a few features from the Cottage that were published by other outlets, and share them via our own blog as well. Our early summer roundup includes stories from goop, Hunker, Domino, Create & Cultivate, and Olli Ella.
Click the links below to explore!
HUNKER HOME: 5 Small-Space Organization Lessons We Learned From Whitney Leigh Morris
GOOP: Low Waste Living - How to do Things Small with a Big Impact (IG Stories feature*)
CREATE & CULTIVATE: Even CEO's need Their 8 Hours a Night
OLLI ELLA: Sustainable Small Space Styling
* Screenshots from IG Stories feature below.
Sustainable Small Space Styling Feature
It’s my goal to assist others in embracing and enjoying life in— and with— a smaller footprint. Our friends at Olli Ella invited me to share a few tips pertaining to this on their lovely blog, since we have and use so many of their products here in our tiny home. A preview of the feature is below— visit their post and scroll to the bottom to shop the collection.
Tip 1: Use Your Local Library
Save money, preserve space, and reduce your environmental footprint by borrowing books from your local library— particularly if you have children. While we do have a permanent assortment of books in our home, the most used and efficient collections are those we borrow from the city and county libraries. We keep our son’s borrowed books in the Strolley as it’s easy and safe for him to roll around the house, and it keeps everything organized and easily accessible.
Tip 2: BYO... Everything
We all know that single-use plastics are responsible for a staggering amount of damage to the planet and its inhabitants. Bring your own reusable produce bags, bulk good containers, reusable to-go boxes, utensils, linens, coffee and water vessels, and refillable jars for cleaning and body products whenever possible. It doesn’t have to be as cumbersome as it sounds once you figure out a system that works for you. And since these items are constantly in varying stages of use, they’re easier to stash around your tiny home than you might think. We tote ours daily, and use our Luggys to transport them to and from our local farmers markets and grocery stores.
Tip 3: Organize In Style
You can stylishly organize toys, games, accessories, equipment and more within your small space by skipping the bulky plastic storage bins, and opting instead to use beautiful, versatile baskets made of natural materials. Instead of storing everything together, arrange the containers throughout your home. Use simple hardware, such as coat racks, s-hooks and wall hooks to mount and hang select baskets. This will free up some precious floor space, while enriching the look, feel and function of your home.
Tip 4: Get Some Fresh Air
Whenever possible, skip the car. Clearly this planet needs us all to cut back drastically on emissions from transportation. Plus riding a bike is better for your body, and getting outside is good for the soul. If your town offers shared/rental bikes, use them. If not, there are numerous handmade small space storage solutions for bikes available on sites such as Etsy. Our family shares one car, but we ride our funny little fleet of bikes far more often than we drive. I have a multi-tasking Mamachari for holding my phone and keys while I’m on my bike, and my son has a sweet little Mini Chari on his tricycle.
Tip 5: Decorate With Greenery
Adding a diverse array of air-cleansing plants to your home is not only a wonderful way to make your space visually striking and unique, but it’s also a creative way to avoid filling your home with mass-produced decorative objects. The less manufacturing that is required to create your residence and the items within it, the less harm you’re doing to the Earth. Choose plants that suit your vibe and location, and be mindful of selecting varieties that are safe for your family and pets. (Our son loves to water our houseplants at the kitchen sink while standing on his Storie Stool!)
Like a Local: The Piece Collective
I don’t do much retail shopping these days, but I still try to support Venice’s small businesses whenever possible. I pedal our cargo tricycle to thrift stores and locally-owned boutiques when I need something for my family or clients, or even to just to pop by and say hi. Some of my personal favorites are Big Red Sun, Late Sunday Afternoon, Tumbleweed and Dandelion, Venice Plants, The Mart Collective, and Venice Vintage Paradise. Another favorite is The Piece Collective, which is a beautifully designed shop in an old bungalow located on Abbot Kinney. It carries works by some of my favorite makers and home brands, such as MQuan and The Dharma Door USA. They invited me over for a brief Q&A in honor of Mother’s Day— a preview is below.
Q: What do you find to be the biggest challenge of motherhood?
A: In a time of terrifying climate change, growing populations, sweeping violence, and general uncertainty, it can be an extremely intense process to decide whether or not to bring a new life into the world. And once that child is here, the task of balancing her/his safety with her/his independence is a phenomenal challenge every day. But it’s one that I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to face.
Q: How does it feel to be supporting brands that are sustainable and align with your lifestyle?
Whitney: It’s so important that we move beyond fast-fashion— it’s devastating to the environment, and even releases micro-plastics into our water supplies. But sustainable clothing needs to be made more accessible to all communities if it is to make a true difference.
It’s also my hope to help change the perspective that folks “need” new outfits for every year and occasion. I’ve embraced wearing the same garments repeatedly for shoots, interviews and events to help convey the message that newer isn’t necessarily better, and that a few durable and well-designed pieces (for your wardrobe or your home) can function with versatility and style for years.
