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.
Above: Cotton Tablecloth + Stargazer Strands
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: Watering Can + Cotton Tablecloth
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.
Above: Optic Glassware + Solar Lamp
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
While sharing tips and stories regarding interiors feels pretty ridiculous at this moment in time, I think there is something important to it. Embracing smaller spaces, repurposing, choosing local, handmade and/or used goods, and sharing resources are all ways to look out for each other and out one shared home. We can make the most of our compact homes by being deliberate about what we acquire and getting creative with whatever space we have. Sourcing secondhand is a delightful way to add character to our homes, enjoy previously used goods and shop small. (And don’t forget that you can message sellers to request used packaging materials if they’ve got them.)
Please note that I sometimes earn a small commission from sales of secondhand pieces.
Create the Look: A Small, Sustainable, Multipurpose Corner
Sharing tips regarding interiors feels pretty ridiculous at this moment in time, but I think there is something important to it.
There are so many ways to approach our homes mindfully. We can make the most of our interiors by being deliberate about what we acquire, curiously exploring items we can reuse and repurpose, and getting creative with the space we have. Embracing smaller spaces, repurposing, choosing local, handmade and/or used goods, and sharing resources are all ways to look out for each other and out one shared home.
While used finds like the ones pictured here in our home and those curated below are such gems, there are plenty out there. Remember that homes have only ballooned in square-footage within more recent years, and that newly manufactured “apartment” furnishings are by no means novel concepts. There are so many clever designs that have long been circulating out there - let’s find and use them.
Please note that I sometimes earn a small commission from sales of secondhand pieces.
Creating Your Own Small Entryway Solutions
This latest Create the Look post is is geared towards creating a utilitarian, customized, aesthetically-minded entryway in a small space with the help of vintage and salvaged materials.
But before we jump into it, please note: I don’t want everything I publish to be shoppable. I don’t wan’t to constantly encourage people to buy more, when I know that most of us can (and should — for environmental reasons,) live with less. What I do want is for folks to be comfortable, confident and content in their small homes or apartments.
In our 900 sqft cottage, the front door opens directly into the dining room. Despite the multitasking nature of this area, there’s more than enough space for us to hide our door-side essentials in plain sight. (See my “Rightsizing” Newsletter for detailed photos and explanations.)
Here are pre-loved or small-batch items from independent storefronts that might help you bring a touch of extra storage and functionality to your compact entryway, too.
Please note that we sometimes use affiliate links for the vintage and handmade goods we’ve curated, which helps keep the twinkle lights glowing for our small business.
Create the Look: Upcycled Pulley Laundry Drying Rack
By request, here’s my latest Create the Look, which is geared towards enhancing the utility of our smaller spaces with the help of vintage and salvaged materials.
But please note: I don’t want everything I publish to be shoppable. I don’t wan’t to constantly encourage people to buy more, when I know that most of us can (and should — for environmental reasons,) live with less. What I do want is for folks to be comfortable, confident and content in their small homes or apartments, and to feel inspired by their space.
So here are some pre-loved or small-batch items from independent storefronts that can help you bring a touch of extra storage and functionality to your compact home.
Please note that we sometimes use affiliate links for the vintage and handmade goods we’ve curated, which helps keep the twinkle lights glowing for our small business.
Create the Look: Cabinet-Side Secondhand Storage
By request, here’s my latest Create the Look, which is geared towards enhancing the utility of our smaller spaces with the help of vintage + handmade goods.
But here’s the thing— I don’t want everything I publish to be shoppable. I don’t wan’t to constantly encourage people to buy more, when I know that most of us can (and should — for environmental reasons,) live with less. What I do want is for folks to be comfortable, confident and content in their small homes or apartments, and to feel inspired by their space.
So here are some pre-loved or small-batch items from independent storefronts that can help you bring a touch of extra storage and functionality to your compact home.
Please note that we sometimes use affiliate links for the vintage and handmade goods we’ve curated, which helps keep the twinkle lights glowing for our small business.
Low Waste & Limited Budget: Upcycled, Removable Kitchen Counter Skirt
Low Waste & Limited Budget Home Decor Project: Upcycled & Removable Kitchen Counter Skirt
I find such joy in making adjustments within our little home (which is also my full-time office) in order to creatively improve our household’s day-to-day routines. But I have zero interest in wasting material resources, spending money or acquiring new items in order to switch things up. Instead, I strive to find ways to work with what we’ve got to make impactful changes. These little endeavors usually involve a bit of repair, customizing, crafting, and/or trial and error. Sometimes things play out perfectly. Other times the project ends up a complete disaster. But either way I delight in trying.
Recently, while shuffling things around the house, we stored some extra produce and cooking ingredients, emergency storm supplies and library books in the built-in cubbies of our kitchen island. I found myself visually overwhelmed by everything, which can happen easily in a smaller space with an open layout. I wished I could conceal the cubbies when desired without making any permanent changes and without buying new goods. Usually I quite like the cubbies, and they’re certainly highly functional. I’m glad they’re there, and that we didn’t opt for cabinets instead, as I appreciate the character and depth the cubbies offer. But every now and then — particularly when I’m working on creative projects for others — my mind and eyes need a reset, or at least a calmer canvas of sorts.
A counter skirt / kitchen island curtain seemed like a simple solution. And our younger beagle-mix rescue helped me bring the concept to life by digging a hole in the bottom of our flat sheet on our bed, leaving me with a lot of leftover linen fabric to repurpose. (She’s a menace, that dog, but we love her just the same.)
With a few Command hooks and a telescoping sash rod (we have two on-hand here because we find them as ever-useful as tension rods and s-hooks), I was able to swiftly install an imperfect but entirely passable counter skirt. No damage, no waste, no bulk — everything can be removed and reused as desired.
These simple Command hooks are only visible when ducking below the counter.
It’s not fussy or flawless, but it’s perfect for our home, priorities and needs, and that’s what matters to us here.
Items used:
Telescoping Sash Rod
Repurposed Flat Sheet (cut and sewn to specs)
10 Low Waste Ways to Add Color & Texture to a Room
Even for those of us who work hard to ignore interior decor trends and stick to what we truly love and need, it can be tough to resist the allure of introducing new things. Our homes are our ever-changing art palettes— safe places where we should feel empowered to try out what brings us joy and utility, without fear of judgment or expectation. But given the realities of the climate crisis and the devastating impacts of “fast furnishings” and accessories, coupled with limited budgets and bandwidths, how can we switch things up responsibly?
Here are ten of my most commonly employed tips for bringing a fresh wave of color and texture to a kitchen, keeping budget and the wellness of this extraordinary planet in mind.
Borrow
If you don’t have a public library card, now is a great time to get one! Borrowing books about cooking, canning, gardening, and culinary reference guides can not only provide you with a wealth of new information and ideas, but the publications themselves will add layers of color and meaning to your space. I have a small collection of folding, secondhand bookstands and racks that I use to display volumes, both opened and closed. Public libraries encourage sharing within our communities, and borrowing items rather than permanently acquiring them can help us save funds and inches while preventing material waste, all without depriving us of the information and character we seek.
Peel & Stick
Installing a backsplash (and removing an old one) can be pricey and involve a large number of materials and packing materials. Whether you rent or own your home, consider a playful peel and stick wallpaper instead as a way of instantly transforming accent walls within your kitchen. (Just be sure to keep safety and humidity in mind when selecting placement.) I recommend taking a peek at the Love vs Design website, because they have delightful designs that can be customized for the exact color combinations desired, all in a damage-free format. (You can also get larger format custom samples, which is helpful for highly visual folks like myself.)
Aboev: Some of my favorite Love vs Design patterns and colors.
Visit the Farmers Market
Using fruit and leafy greens to adorn your kitchen is a great way of ensuring that your decor is ever-changing, all while reminding you of the healthy snacks and meals you can access throughout the day. Vintage bowls with citrus, hanging trays of apples, dangling hooks with herbs and bananas, water-filled mason jars of broad-leafed kale and chard, and repurposed yogurt pots with spinach and edible flowers are all ways of livening up your space with food and functional decor.
Paint & Stamp
A sample size of non-toxic paint can help transform a room, whether you paint an entire surface, add a few stripes or spots here and there, or stamp a pattern in an unexpected area.
Repurpose
Dangle stemware with a repurposed bookrack. Use an old basket or sifting tray create hanging, breathable produce storage. Use wall-mounted, folding drying racks to store, display and air out kitchen linens. The possibilities are truly endless, and the results will give your space a one-of-a-kind feeling that can never be found in a retail store.
Get Help from Hardware
Adding hooks in both obvious and unexpected places can help you exponentially increase the storage space in your ditch. Use knobs, pulls and hooks to craft endlessly flexible and functional displays of linens, utensils, mugs, herbs, etc.
Ditch the Packaging
Be mindful of the packaged goods you bring into your home. Product packaging is typically wasteful, loud in design, and bulky. When possible, refill pantry essentials and cleaning supplies in your own, preferred containers. This will not only cut back on waste, but allow you to customize the most utilitarian zones within your kitchen. When packaged items are unavoidable, research ethical brands with thoughtful containers.
Get Spicy
Display ingredients with intention. Slowly finding jars and containers to repurpose for your colorful spices and baking ingredients will help you craft displays that are as delightful to look at as they are to cook with.
Create a Canvas
Art isn’t just for walls. Thanks to unique secondhand frames and DIY hangers, as well as damage-free accessories like Command Strips, you can display art in a variety of ways on a myriad of surfaces. The front of a fridge or cabinet can become an art wall if handled carefully.
Maximize Windows
A window frame can be put to extended use (without being covered up!) with the assistance of tension rods and/or slim shelves. Where it’s safe to do so, consider using S-hooks to dangle everyday kitchen items in a window frame, or create a petite potted herb garden on a sunny ledge.
The Joy of Cracking Open a Can of Paint
Since the arrival of spring, we’ve slowly been infusing our little home with green and yellow.
Read the full post via my newsletter:
Create the Look: A Woodland-Inspired Kids Space
By request, here’s my latest Create the Look, which is geared towards crafting a gently woodland-inspired study + play space for children.
But here’s the thing— I don’t want everything I publish to be shoppable. I don’t wan’t to earn income by constantly encouraging people to buy more, when I know that most of us can (and should, for environmental reasons,) live with less.
What I do want is for folks to be comfortable, confident and content in their small homes or apartments, and to feel inspired by their space.
So here are some handcrafted items from independent storefronts that can help you bring the outdoors in for your little ones.
Create the Look: Upcycled Spice Rack Wall
Little adjustments within a home can save a surprising amount of space— like this secondhand spice rack, fixed up a bit, painted, and now living out its new life in the kitchen of our 900 sqft cottage. (When pressed for space, go vertical if it’s safe. The best, untapped storage options are often UP.)
By request, here’s the latest Create the Look… but I don’t want everything I publish to be shoppable. I don’t wan’t to earn income by constantly encouraging people to buy more, when I know that most of us can (and should, for environmental reasons,) live with less. What I do want is for folks to be comfortable, confident and content in their small homes or apartments. And I want to be a resource for reliable ideas that can help you spend less time searching for your stuff, and more time with the ones you love.
So when people ask where I got something that’s in our home, I usually point them to similar handmade and vintage designs. As such, for folks who inquired about this little cabinet: here are some secondhand items and independent online storefronts with handmade goods that can help you recreate this look in a sustainable way that suits YOUR needs and YOUR style.
Create the Look: Mini Mending Cabinet
It’s the little things that can save so much space— like this secondhand shelf, now living out its new life as a mini mending cabinet in our combination bathroom and laundry room. (When in doubt, go vertical if it’s safe. The best, untapped storage spaces are often UP.)
While Adam and I are no experts at patching and darning, our little ones are certainly experts at wearing holes in everything.
For our 7 year-old, it’s the knees of every pair of pants he has. For our 2 year year-old it’s the tips of her sleeves. And for our pups, it’s every dog bed, fitted sheet and plush cushion in the house.
So we simply try our best. Because as we’ve learned through our journey over at the Tiny French Farmhouse, restoration and repair don’t have to be carried out perfectly in order to be not only effective, but also absolutely delightful.
By request, here’s the latest Get the Look… but I don’t want everything I publish to be shoppable. I don’t wan’t to earn income by constantly encouraging people to buy more, when I know that most of us can (and should, for environmental reasons,) live with less. What I do want is for folks to be comfortable, confident and content in their small homes or apartments. And I want to be a resource for reliable ideas that can help you spend less time searching for your stuff, and more time with the ones you love.
So when people ask where I got something that’s in our home, I usually point them to similar handmade and vintage designs. As such, for folks who inquired about this little cabinet: here are some secondhand items and independent online storefronts with handmade goods that can help you recreate this look in a sustainable way that suits YOUR needs and YOUR style.
Create the Look: Cottage Kitchen Corner
I don’t want everything I publish to be shoppable. I don’t wan’t to earn income by constantly encouraging people to buy more, when I know that most of us can (and should, for environmental reasons,) live with less. What I do want is for folks to be comfortable, confident and content in their small homes or apartments. And I want to be a resource for reliable ideas that can help you spend less time searching for your stuff, and more time with the ones you love. So when people ask where I got XYZ in our home, I usually point them to similar handmade and vintage designs. As such, folks who inquired about this little functional corner of the kitchen, here are some secondhand items and independent online storefronts with handmade goods that can help you recreate this look in a sustainable way that suits YOUR needs and YOUR style.
Rightsized Vintage - A Collection of Secondhand Goods for Sustainable Small Spaces
By request, I’m resuming my Rightsized Vintage posts for all subscribers of my newsletter.
These weekly posts will highlight and link to nine secondhand pieces that are well designed for small spaces, or areas in need of enhanced utility or creative storage solutions. This is a way to add character to our homes, source more responsibly, and shop small. (Plus you can always message a seller to request used packing materials if they’ve got them.)
Repurposing Project: Boot Rack Turned Stemware Storage
We don’t need a bigger space — we just need to creatively enjoy the space we have.
One of our little repurposing / upcycling projects for the Rightsizing in Real Time series in my newsletter was this secondhand boot rack turned stemware storage:
For me, this is a great reminder that most of the time we don’t need a bigger space — we just need to creatively enjoy the space we have.
Rightsizing in Real Time - An Ongoing Event for January 2024
I am stepping into 2024 with no illusions that a turn of the calendar will magically ease stressors, or reveal an untapped source of much-needed energy. Yet who doesn’t relish optimism, coupled with a fresh beginning of any sort?
A new year.
A rising sun.
An unexplored perspective.
It’s my job (and my joy) to help people discover comfort and contentment within their homes— particularly spaces that are compact and/or in need of heightened versatility. In order to tenderly weave that work into the intentions imagined by many at the top of the new year, I’ll be publishing regular posts throughout January as part of a month-long series entitled Rightsizing in Real Time. This series will offer simple, flexible prompts and examples aimed at helping folks with their own rightsizing, downsizing, repurposing, and/or organizational endeavors.
I hope you’ll mull over the concepts that apply to you at your own pleasant pace.
Good things take time and consideration.
Rather than jumping frantically from room to room (which is a common and often overwhelming approach that I find laughable when applied to small spaces), we’ll explore solutions to typical small space hurdles through a more versatile lens.
How can we thin the crowding of belongings wherever that occurs?
How can we better define and adapt zones?
What areas are under-utilized and need reimagining?
Where do we start when operating on a tight budget and with sustainability in mind?
Staying Rightsized (Part 6)
Staying Rightsized is a weekly photo roundup featuring some of the many space-saving considerations around our cottage. I share this as a reminder that we usually don’t need a bigger space— we simply need less stuff, and more creativity. As minor as some of these moments seem, the little things really do add up, providing more space for navigating daily life within limited or awkward square footage.
Above: A spare, recovered floorboard is repurposed as a shallow window ledge in the kitchen, providing an unobtrusive surface for utility and play.
Above: A two-tiered, vintage, rolling side table provides twice the surface space for decor and essentials in the combination laundry room + bathroom.
Staying Rightsized (Part 5)
Staying Rightsized is a weekly photo roundup featuring some of the many space-saving considerations around our cottage. I share this as a reminder that we usually don’t need a bigger space— we simply need less stuff, and more creativity. As minor as some of these moments seem, the little things really do add up, providing more space for navigating daily life within limited or awkward square footage.
A repurposed net bag attached to the underside of a reclaimed wooden stool is repurposed as a breathable shelf, allowing the treads of little shoes to dry by the front door.
A petite, hooked bin holds a bottle*, thermometer, battery-operated nightlight, and handkerchief for our toddler. This eliminates the need for a side table by the bunk, freeing up space for the kids to play. (*The bottle is PURA Stainless, and is an adaptable design that can be used with beverages for kids and adults.)
Rightsized Furnishings via Small Sized Businesses
In this post: Celebrating Small Business Saturday, as well as updates & milestones in the cottage.
This month we approached the one year anniversary of moving into our little guest cottage in the southeast. Our architect and I designed this ~900 sqft structure with great care, as it’s an essential component of the part-time, multigenerational arrangement that allows us to slowly restore the Tiny French Farmhouse abroad as time and budget allow.
Overall we’ve been pleasantly surprised with the efficiency of the cottage, which really does function as we’d hoped and envisioned it would. But when we moved in one year ago there were still several construction tasks left unfinished, as timelines and budgets ran dry (as they presumably do for the majority of folks, despite the highly polished interiors we often see online that can lead us to believe otherwise).
For example, there’s a 4’-long utility “hallway” that connects the main room (living space / kitchen / dining room / entry) to the bathroom / laundry room combo, and that tiny space was left largely undone. The HVAC concealment door that we’d sliced in half and turned into double panel (so we could still fit into the hall when opening the door) was missing hardware and paint. The flooring behind the door was never installed for some mystifying reason. And the opposite wall, which offers a closet-sized nook where the breaker panel is located, was meant to contain a built-in cabinet system that never came to fruition.
The utility alcove connecting the main room on the right with the bathroom / laundry room on the left (as seen using wide angle photography while standing within the HVAC closet across the walkway).
Note: The full version of this post also contains a Q&A with Lyonella Cook of Sandpaper and Wax Design, the artist who restored the newest vintage piece in the cottage, pictured here. A preview of the questions and responses is below:
QUESTION: Sourcing secondhand and vintage are a great way to combat the “fast furniture” trend that is so taxing on the planet. But some older pieces have toxic finishes, making them less healthy for households— particularly homes with young children. What is your approach to addressing this issue?
REPLY: I have made it a personal business standard to test EVERY SINGLE piece of furniture for heavy metals using FDA/OSHA approved testing kits. Yes it is absolutely more expensive but I believe in guaranteeing a safe product for families. The expectation of safety I have for my own family is the same expectation I have for my clients family. My background is in construction, if there is one thing they drilled home in college and on the job site...safety first!
Thanks... but no thanks! (Thoughts on Avoiding Unnecessary Gifts)
Because the best gift anyone can give our children is a healthy planet for their generation and those that follow.
Because the best gift anyone can give our children is a healthy planet for their generation and those that follow.
It’s the time of year… for unwanted and unnecessary gifts.
With the planet groaning under the weight of ever-intensifying consumerism, households feeling relentless financial strain, and families grappling with an excess of clutter in their homes, it’s time we more widely accept and respect one’s decision to firmly avoid giving and receiving gifts.
But how do we kindly tell a child’s relatives to stop sending toys?
What do we do about well-intended friends who insist on giving “something”?
What solutions are there for rehousing the unwanted gifts that inevitably make their way through the door, despite the recipients wishes?
And what are some unique gifts that won’t further contribute to overflowing households, and — inevitably— landfills, which have a greater impact on disenfranchised and marginalized populations?*