Garden Aprons for the Family
One of the ways we’ve tried to reduce our negative impact on this planet is to not only be mindful of what we’re bringing into our own home, but to also be mindful of what we’re asking others to invite into their homes. This means that we gift rarely and cautiously, and that gift-giving often doesn’t align with a special occasion. Instead, we’ll usually give a present whenever we discover that perfect idea or item. (In other words, we’re fairly disappointing friends/family members sometimes...)
When it comes to gifting to one another as a couple, Adam and I are tricky. He’s one of those people who requires very little, and is content to use whatever he has until it falls apart. And while I’m the buyer for our family and will certainly go after the things we need or really want, I’m certainly not eager to acquire new belongings beyond those.
Back in the spring, Adam let it slip that he liked a garden apron by our friend Hilton Carter. After all, Adam has been spending most of quarantine focused on keeping our plants thriving, and teaching West how to tend to the greenery scattered around our porch, interior and yard.
Our anniversary and Adam’s birthday were coming up (to be followed shortly by Father’s Day), so I nabbed an apron, knowing it would enjoy daily use, and that it was designed by someone we love and admire. (Note: At the time of publishing this post, the aprons are sold out, but they’re due to be restocked before the end of the month.)
Personally I’m into aprons. I’m no cook, but I use mine (an Etsy find) around the house and neighborhood quote a lot.
We always seem to need cloth wipes, hair ties, dog bags, cell phones and doodads on-hand, so an apron with ample pockets is ever-useful for me.
Organic brown linen dress by Eileen Fisher
Even West has an apron, which he uses at his muck table and while watering the interior/exterior plants.
Adam’s apron arrived in mid-May, prior to our anniversary and well before his birthday.
He guessed what I got him right off the bat, so he ended up opening the Things by HC package early. (I saw no need to make him wait. Again, I’m bad at gifting ON specific occasions.) It’s a beautifully designed accessory, with removable leather straps, a ring for a towel or mister, a pen slip, and leather pockets suitable for heavy (and pointy) handheld gardening tools.
In true tiny house fashion, each apron lives in a different place based on how we use it. Adam’s dangles from a point on the porch, mine lives in one of the first drawers I open every morning in the kitchen, and West’s is fastened to the fridge via a magnetic hook for easy access.
For those interested in bringing the outdoors in, here is a roundup of our favorite aprons:
(The Etsy vendor also makes Mini Aprons and Teacher Aprons)
Enhancing a Small Outdoor Space with Vertical Gardens
The Cottage is on the Lettuce Grow blog today in a feature entitled: You Don't Need to Live Large to Live Beautifully: 6 Space Enhancing Tips From Whitney Leigh Morris. (Click here to read.)
Even the tiniest slice of outdoor space surrounding your home can be transformed into a functional and tranquil retreat without much effort. A stoop, driveway, porch, or miniature garden can all be effective ways to enlarge and enhance your living space.
Tailor your outdoor oasis to suit your style and the members of your household, being sure to keep your climate and safety in mind when selecting furnishings and accessories.
If you have an outdoor area—and even the slimmest balcony will do—don't miss the opportunity to make it into a practical yet dreamy retreat.
I’m sharing 6 tips for livening up a lil' patio via the Lettuce Grow blog— click here to read.
Before + After: Creating a Canopy of Vines
We have two fast-growing, seasonal vines in the garden of our tiny house: grapevines, and trumpet vines.
While the grapevine plant recedes completely and becomes bare in winter, the trumpet vine recedes only partially, so we can enjoy it in varying degrees of fullness year-round.
When we first moved in 9 years ago, the trumpet vine was only a few feet high:
Above: Years ago, when the trumpet vine was just a handful of feet high (as seen on the right in dark green), and tucked beneath the grapevine.
Now it spans the entire length of our back garden. (See the video here.)
Above: The house when we moved in 9 years ago.
Above: The house in Spring 2020.
Bright red flowers burst out in Spring, just as the tiny grapes are starting to form on the other vine:
For the most part, the grapevine is trained along our side garden and fence line, as it originates on our neighbor’s property.
But it spreads from there via strong branches and slim creeping tendrils that latch on to anything within reach, ultimately landing on the roof of the cottage.
The trumpet vine is mainly concentrated in our back garden. For years we watched as our string lights drooped lower and lower under the weight of the greenery— so much so that Adam and I had to duck beneath them to traverse the compact corridor below, and to ensure that we wouldn’t disrupt any birds’ nests.
Above: Baby hummingbirds in their tiny nest in the trumpet vines.
Last year we worked with our friends at Big Red Sun to lift the vines out of the walkway, and up towards the roofline. They installed 3 slim vertical steel beams in the garden via concrete as anchor points to start the job.
One post was attached to our back gate/fence.
The other 2 were positioned on either side of the space allocated for our custom sofa and mirror set, which was in the process of being crafted here in LA.
Above: 2019, immediately after the posts and sofa were installed.
From the posts, the Big Red Sun team attached strong cables, which they then anchored to various points along the house.
Above: Fall 2019
They zip-tied the vines to the new cables as a method of wrangling the mess, and left us with a beautiful zig-zag of greenery that followed the path of the twinkle lights intertwined within it.
Above: A close-up look at one of the 3 posts.
As the trumpet vine continued to grow and branch out, I then used lightweight wire to connect the stretches of space between the main cables, so smaller tendrils could then span the open areas to create a more comprehensive canopy.
The canopy has a few larger gaps that allow sunlight to pour through and pass across the garden throughout the day. But otherwise it’s almost as though we have a living ceiling of green out back.
This provides us with much-appreciated relief from the intense sun during the summers.
It also creates a safe home for hummingbirds, as well as a spot for bees and butterflies to congregate and rest.
Above: The view while standing on the garden sofa and breaking through the main/bottom layer of vines.
I’d never had a garden before this one, and I had no clue what I was doing when I started out. The yard was cracked, dry and bare.
This “before & after” is proof that even the most barren patch of city soil can give birth to a sea of life.
Outdoor Shower
In searching my own blog recently, I realized I never shared a dedicated entry about the garden shower we installed a year ago. As we receive inquiries about it daily, I figured it was finally time to add this post.
During the warmer times of year, this simple outdoor shower brings us so much joy. Whether it’s being used strictly for cleaning or purely for relaxation, the shower has proven exceptionally useful here at our tiny home. We live a short walk from the beach and right next to the canals, so — when we’re not practicing social distancing, of course — the 5 of us often return home with sand or muck on our skin (or fur and paws), clothes and gear.
By digging out a bit of pea gravel and sliding a shallow potting or boot tray beneath the shower’s built-in teak platform (and by using a simple, organic shampoo + soap bar), we can collect water to then reuse on our non-edible plants.
This particular model uses a basic hose hook-up, and doesn’t have hot a water connection. This actually helps us limit our shower time, and encourages us to turn the knob on/off only when we truly need the water running.
As such, it’s been a great way to teach West about water conservation. (And he’s used to showering since he outgrew his portable folding tub between year 1 and 2 and we don’t have a tub at the Cottage.)
This past weekend I decided to try a sunset shower as a form of self-care. It was a bit cold, but it was well worth it. It found that, when paired with a mug of hot lemon water and some music from our portable bluetooth speaker, a shower under the vines and twinkle lights was a healthy way to sooth my mind and calm my nerves.
Nurturing a Sense of Wonder in a Tiny Garden (Part II)
A month ago, I introduced a fairy door + window to the cottage garden. The full post is here, but here’s a brief excerpt for context:
In a small space, it’s arguably easier to pick up on the mood shifts of your family members due to proximity and the level of familiarity that comes with such closeness. And while I always want to be honest with my 3 year old and nurture his sense of empathy, I certainly don’t want him to be negatively impacted by the way I operate when I’m feeling off. So, in order to redirect the focus away from my issues and towards something joyful, I decided to nurture West’s sense of wonder with a lil’ addition to our tiny garden.
Now the entire world is feeling off.
Since we’ve been home 24/7 for weeks, West and I decided to add a ladder to the fairies’ tree.
As I’ve mentioned several times before, I’m not great with DIY activities.
Luckily, things that look ridiculously flawed to adults can still be just as magical for kids.
I’m more of a DIY-lite kind of person, so this simple activity was perfect for both of us.
All we needed were some acorns, scissors, and twigs.
Our friends at Big Red Sun are making handmade fairy kits for families at home during the COVID-19 outbreak.
If you’re interested in being added to the release list, just send Big Red Sun an email: info@bigredsun.com. The kits should be in a week or so!
Growing Food in a Small Space
How do we grow some of our own food in very limited square-footage? Vertically!
We are extremely lucky to have a small but highly usable garden space (which also serves as a shared thoroughfare with our neighbor), but for several reasons we’ve chosen to use it as an outdoor living space.
So, in order to produce veggies, herbs and fruit this year, we’re converting our sunny 8’ porch into a tiny house grow zone!
It’s is still very much a work in progress, but we started it all off with two Lettuce Grow Farmstands, enabling us to grow 72 plants within about 4 sqft.
The stands are made in the USA with plastic recovered from coastal communities lacking recycling facilities.
They require only a fraction of the amount of water needed for growing in soil, which helps here in drought-prone Los Angeles.
We’re just getting started, but already Adam has made meals using greens from the stands.
We’ll continue to share our grow journey with you throughout the year.
Video: Tiny Takeaways (Ep.5)
This is the fifth installment of our mini video series, Tiny Takeaways. In this episode, we’re highlighting some easy ways to maximize outdoor spaces! For 200+ more tips for making the most of your compact home or apartment, explore our lil’ book: Small Space Style.
Before + After: Back Garden Sofa
Our lil’ back garden suddenly looks twice its actual size thanks to a new custom sofa + mirror set (made here in LA with reclaimed materials) by our friends at Tumbleweed & Dandelion!
When we first moved into our tiny home 8 years ago (photo below), we wanted to redo the wall that runs the length of this outdoor space, which is the back of the ramshackle shed we share with our neighbor— it holds our washer/dryer, bikes, and lots of his camping gear. But that makeover has simply never been within our financial means.
Over the years we added plants and furnishings that were mainly run-off products from various shoots and client projects. But nothing was ever just right for our space.
Recently we were hosting some friends for a little catch-up session, and I realized that our friend Jeff was basically sitting with his head in a plant the entire time. I’d put the plant there to cover up part of an unsightly, unused garden door. It was meant to be a placeholder, but it ended up living there for years.
Poor Jeff.
The next day, I called Lizzie of Tumbleweed & Dandelion to request her help in creating something more practical for our space. Lizzie is very accustomed to designing, furnishing and styling small spaces. For example, in her shop, which is located in a small, original Venice bungalow, she has giant mirrored panels that help enlarge her porch and garden while brightening up the beautifully tree-covered areas. I asked her if we could bring the same look-and-feel to our yard, but in a more compact footprint.
This wasn’t our first time working with Lizzie— she also created the accordion bench/bed in the West Cottage for the 6 months we rented it. For this particular project, she came up with a simple yet brilliant idea: to mount mirrors to the back of the narrow couch, saving inches without putting weight on the walls of the old shed.
The results are better than I could’ve ever hoped for. We now have a cozy EIGHT FOOT LONG sofa, which is ideal for our tall family. It’s shallow enough that it doesn’t jut out too far from the wall, and yet it’s still deep enough for comfortable lounging. Lizzie kept the arms wide so that we can rest beverages and phones within arm’s reach without requiring accent tables. Best of all, the couch is backed by a set of 3 mirrors that brighten and enlarge the entire space.
The mirrors also make our bedroom feel bigger. Since the back garden is located just off the bedroom stoop, we can see the reflection of the cottage and the outdoor shower through the French doors. It makes everything feel even more open and airy than it was to begin with— all without taking up any extra square-footage.
Here are some detailed shots showing the seams of the sofa components, and the reclaimed wood that Lizzie used throughout the design:
We also added a little dining spot off to the side, with chairs I found at Serena & Lily:
Thanks to the wires that Big Red Sun strung between the shed, fence and Cottage, we now have a natural overhead canopy of green to help shade the entire space throughout the day.
I also added an outdoor, white bistro table to match. Its pedestal legs make it easy for tall folks like us to sit down for a snack without smashing our knees against any crossbars.
Tumbleweed made the custom, weather-proof cushions for the sofa. I added some decorative outdoor throws in white, grey and natural/tan from Serena and Lily for texture and interest:
The redesign provided us with more space for our compost tumbler, which is nestled in a nice shady spot under the ficus trees. Now that this zone is no longer our lounge or dining area, we’re not constantly cleaning up leaves. We just scoop a handful now and then and toss them in the composter.
The sofa and shower feel like built-ins, so they’re more fitting for our Cottage, which is almost entirely furnished with wooden, built-in designs.
This summer we’re trying to cut back on our air travel for environmental purposes. As such, it feels nice to have a special “new” place right here at home where all 5 of us can play and relax during our region’s hottest months.
Thank you, Tumbleweed & Dandelion and Big Red Sun for helping us create this happy, healthy lil’ outdoor extension of our home. We absolutely love it.
Lil’ Garden Makeover (Part I)
This blog post was sponsored by The Home Depot. As always, the imagery and words are my own.
When Adam and I were planning our home-wedding 3 years ago, one of the obstacles we had to tackle was our garden. We’d stopped watering our grass long ago due to the California drought, so the grass went from lush to patchy to non-existent. Most of the yard was a giant dirt-patch, surrounded by ficus trees, bougainvillea, and a single succulent barrel (which we’d planted with my mother upon moving into our home several years prior).
We didn’t want our guests standing in a dusty (or muddy) pit. So, in an effort to find a quick, budget-strict solution for the garden floor, we opted to cover the surface with faux grass.
The design of artificial grass has come a loooong way, but despite the more subdued color of the green and the higher, denser blades, I was never comfortable with the concept of glorified turf. (To each her/his own! That’s just me— I’m a North Florida girl at heart, so artificial greenery in general just isn’t my thing.) But the grass served its purpose for our wedding, and for that I’m grateful.
I had hoped to quickly pass along the rolls of turf to someone else and replace the foundation of our yard a few months after our wedding, but by that point I was working non-stop and in my third trimester. Then, once West was born and I began writing my book while working full-time, my available time to tackle a garden makeover completely evaporated.
Luckily, while working with The Home Depot on our more recent kitchen updates last summer, I mentioned my frustrations about the garden, and we realized that we could also partner for the overdue garden makeover. They offer everything from soil to gravel to drought-tolerant greenery to planters... and even outdoor showers.
I set about the redesign of the garden with the local designers at Big Red Sun. (More on that to come via a later post.) When conceptualizing the space, I communicated that I appreciate the delight in the aesthetics and low-maintenance of desert-inspired landscapes, but that our particular setting feels much more like a deeply nestled old cottage than it does a modern beach bungalow. As such, I wanted a design that felt ALIVE, with branches and leaves that would move with the wind and be soft to the touch, all without requiring too much water.
The first step was to determine what would (and wouldn’t) work as the main ground cover. We had several factors to keep in mind:
The main thoroughfares throughout the garden sit above paths of pipes leading to both our home and the neighboring tiny cottage. As such, oversized custom pavers, grasscrete (which I love), and decking were out of the running as options, as they’d be too cumbersome to move if and when we have to dig up the yard.
Depending on the season and size of the Ficus trees, the same spot in our outdoor space will get anywhere from 30 minutes of soft light to 8 hours of blazing sun per day. That pendulum swing is huge and tricky when it comes to selecting grass and creeping ground cover that can actually thrive in such wildly varying conditions.
Our yard gets SO MUCH TRAFFIC. It’s obviously small, so every usable inch is traversed numerous times per day.
We have dogs and a toddler. There WILL be messes... of all sorts. And some surfaces are easier to treat than others.
The main pathway through our garden is not only a racetrack for our delightfully wild son, but it’s also used by our neighbors. We wanted a walkway that wouldn’t easily trip anyone (we used to stumble on our pavers ALL the time), but could also be forgiving in case of a stumble.
The solution appeared to be Pea Gravel.
At first I was hesitant, knowing that the dogs and West would kick it up and deliberately skid through it. However, after dumping out a couple of tester bags and seeing how much they enjoyed the tiny pebbles, which inspired outdoor activities and imaginative play, my fears dissipated.
I get such satisfaction from hearing and feeling the crunch of the gravel underfoot, and I like the look of the grey and beige rocks when they’re wet as much as when they’re dry.
The gravel also drains easily and naturally without trapping odors, which helps if the pups have accidents between walks.
Watching the fake grass come out was so satisfying:
I will miss the uniform look of the green (oh how I yearn for REAL, healthy grass). And it goes without saying that I sincerely regret the waste. But I am thrilled to now have a natural foundation in our outdoor space.
We raked and tilled the dirt that had suffocated under the turf, and added fresh new layers of Kellogg organic all natural soil. It helps establish strong roots, and adds organic matter to the soil, and retains valuable nutrients. Plus Kellogg is locally made and family owned.
We topped the soil with the Pea Gravel, which won’t attract pests (a concern here when it comes to termites and ants). The gravel will also help retain moisture and reduce erosion. Plus it will be easy to build upon if ever we have to tinker with the pipes.
Next came the plants.
We potted most of the greenery that had long been living in scattered pots, and we replaced some of the overgrown plants along the perimeter with alternatives that were more fitting for the space and how we use it.
For example, I really loved the bougainvillea that grew mid-way along our main path, but it caught our hair, skin and clothing multiple times per day. It also wove through the ficus branches and grapevines in a way that made it feel impossible to manage on our own. So it was trimmed down and relocated, as was the plant growing beneath our bedroom window.
The mixture of new plants adds texture, color and depth to the narrow space. Certain types will welcome butterflies and hummingbirds, all while being able to thrive in varying sunlight. When the young plants grow in a bit more, I expect that the yard will appear so lush and lovely.
The Home Depot’s plants are no longer treated with neonicotinoids, so precious bees will be safe, too.
Strategically placed groupings of Mother-of-Thyme, Pennyroyal and other gound cover tucked between the rocks and the plant beds will spread beautifully while smelling deliciously fragrant and repelling fleas and ticks.
If planting Pennyroyal or any new plant in your outdoor space, please research standard toxicity warnings before-hand so you can make your own informed decisions about what will be safe and work best for you and your family. Luckily our pups and son don’t try to ingest things they shouldn’t.
One of the major motivations behind the garden makeover was to provide West with a safer outdoor environment. I was never sure what chemicals were in (or being released from) the fake grass, and I never trusted that it was properly draining, as it was installed in such a rush. Since we’ve gotten heavier rains in recent winters, messier grapevine debris in the summer (thanks, raccoons), and daily wear-and-tear in between, I always cringed when West stepped off of the outdoor rugs or pavers onto the turf.
In fact, that’s the main reason why we converted our 8’ porch into a playroom. But now that the garden is a safer space as far as chemicals and surfaces are concerned, our son has spent hours upon hours outside with the pups by his side, enjoying the gravel and his garden activity table. West is also eager to use the new outdoor shower, as are Adam and I.
Since removing the shed from the back garden, I’d envisioned adding an outdoor shower to the space.
We live a short walk from the beach and right next to the canals, so the 5 of us often return home with sand or muck on our skin (or fur and paws), clothes and gear. In the warmer months, an outdoor shower will be such a joy! By adding a shallow teak tray beneath the platform (and by using a simple, organic shampoo + soap bar), we can collect water to use for the plants.
I’m working on another blog post about the garden design and details, as well as our new composting system. I will share that soon! In the meantime, I want to thank The Home Depot for helping us create a healthier, happier garden here at our tiny cottage.
Spring Roundup: Indoor/Outdoor Garden Space
We recently did a fun little shoot with Urban Outfitters here in the back garden at the Cottage. I decided to leave the furnishings and accessories out here for a while because I love them so much! They're a mix of indoor and outdoor pieces, but thanks to this SoCal spring weather they're all holding up beautifully, and we've been enjoying them daily ever since.
Before + After: The Cottage Back Patio
While sifting through old digital files, I came across these "before" photos of our lil' back patio and garden. I paired them with "after" shots on the right to demonstrate just how much the trees, vines, and potted plants have grown over the past 7 years!
Update (2/28) - I received so many inquiries about the types of greenery and materials used that I've updated the text below with that information throughout the post. Thanks for the great messages, folks!✌
This spot has served many purposes for us. It's been a play space, a dining room, a nursing corner, a screening room, a lounge, an office, and even housed our wardrobe-shed for over a year. We use the back stoop for some of West's baths, story time, and more.
The overflowing, large-leafed vines are from a single, massive grapevine. These tendrils originate in our neighbor's yard beyond the wood fence, and between the months of April through September they're lush and abundant. They produce beautiful, sweet, concord grapes that our neighbor makes into jam and sorbet.
The long vines that stretch from the perimeter of the property to the top of the Cottage via the string lights are Distictis Buccinatoria, or Red Trumpet Vines. This single plant is rooted in the corner of our property, and was only about 4'-tall when we moved in. Now the trunk is thicker and about 6' tall, while the vines themselves span dozens of feet, back and forth over the garden. These vines are fast growing, resilient, quick to wrap around anything, and produce bright red flowers (with yellow backs) that attract hummingbirds, and make the perfect home for their little nests.
The three ficus trees in the back were on the property when we moved in. We've trained them to grow up and fill inward, to provide us with more privacy and a wilder look.
By the back stoop, we added a customized shed, which once contained our wardrobe. (Now it holds a collapsible wagon and West's fold-up stroller.) An empty wine barrel sits across from it, and was once filled with dirt and dying lavender. Now, it's exploding with a variety of succulents, which my mom and I clipped from around the neighborhood and planted in fresh soil when she was visiting about 6 years ago. I've never changed the soil, and I only water the barrel infrequently. It's growing gorgeously without my interference.
I have 2 potted ZZ Plants, which look fake because the branches are so strong and the leaves are extremely shiny. In my limited experience, they grow quickly outdoors, and can withstand times of downpour or drought. Mandevilla also works well to fill in and beautify gaps around the yard, as it produces bright blooms and grows both wide and tall, depending on the container.
I also have a few tall, potted Corynocarpus Trees from Rolling Greens, and I move those around the property whenever needed. They grow tall and produce numerous leaves, without taking up extra inches around the base, which is helpful on a stoop or in a tight garden.
As for the grass, it's unfortunately artificial. I can't wait to remove and replace it with something natural-- I don't love the idea of West playing around on these types of manufactured materials. Years ago we had real and thriving grass, but we let it die in the California Drought. After a year of debate, Adam and I installed this thick, tall, artificial grass for our wedding. It's something neither one of us ever thought we'd do, as we're both from rain-soaked Florida. Although I still have a really tough time with the concept of faux grass, I do love seeing green rather than dirt or rocks. Other than the grass, everything else is living.
Above: Our friends gathered here for Adam's most recent birthday. We had a Cuban Food Truck pull up to the back fence to serve sandwiches, and we stationed the bar up in the front garden.
Above: Storytime set-up for baby West.
Above: At-home date night with Adam.
Small spaces such as this can be so versatile, and they're relatively easy to makeover or adapt, since they're so compact. I love this spot on the property, and look forward to seeing how it evolves from here!
Front Tiny Garden
When we recently acquired the front tiny house next to ours, we also inherited its 10' wide front yard. If we weren't renting this unit, there are many things I would change about it, such as the garden floor and perimeter landscaping, as well as the exterior paneling and hardware. But we decided instead to do a quick and easy makeover of this previously unused square-footage. We simply added a few plants, a hand-me-down table, and some of our existing outdoor seating pieces to convert this sliver of space into a dining area for up to 6 people.
An indoor/outdoor dining table, weatherproof ottoman/benches from Fragments Identity, two folding patio chairs, cafe lights, and a mix of hanging and potted plants were all we needed to turn the front garden into a comfortable, practical place to dine with our family and friends. (We can even pass our food and dishes from the table up through the kitchen windows of the West Cottage, which helps make hosting delightful and effortless.)
The two oversized bamboo + leather lanterns are usually in the living room of the back cottage, but I love them so much that I tend to use them all over the property.
Perhaps we'll tackle a full overhaul of this lil' garden once day in the future. But it functions perfectly now, and we are thoroughly enjoying it!
Creating a Divider with Greenery
When we acquired the front tiny house, we knew we needed to modify our porch to suit our updated living situation. The porch, which is 8’ wide and nestled between the two craftsman cottages, was formerly outfitted with an outdoor couch and a folding dining set. We loved it, but we found ourselves using the pieces less and less.
"BEFORE" - The porch between the cottages shortly after we moved in.
"AFTER" - The porch between the cottages. We had it set up this way for years in order to accommodate dinner guests or host happy hours.
"AFTER" ... again! The porch updated for West and his friends, as well as all the parents.
We host guests for meals very infrequently these days, whereas we spend more and more time here with West in lieu of sending him to daycare. Additionally, a fair number of our friends had children around the same year we had West, so our social gatherings now involve bringing several children (about 5-8 toddlers per event) together at once. So Adam and I decided that it was time to turn the couch into dual-purpose storage / lounge seating, collapse the dining table, and convert the resulting square footage into a play space.
A full blog post on the transformation is coming soon, but I wanted to tune in to one particular obstacle with which we needed to deal during the conversion. How would we keep the end of the porch (which drops about 1’ down to the stone garden pavers below) safe for the newly-toddling kiddos?
We borrowed a plastic baby gate from a friend to test out, but it was too flimsy for West. We then tried a temporary, metal garden gate. Unfortunately it was pretty ugly, and it felt like a barricade. We didn’t want to discourage the kids from entering the garden— we just didn’t want them falling dangerously backwards into it on accident.
I found three perfectly-shaped, compact, outdoor planters at Ikea (there were some great runners-up at CB2, too,) and I asked the skilled team at Rolling Greens to help me find friendly, space-dividing plants to add height, weight, beauty, and life to the troughs.
I love any excuse to visit Rolling Greens in Culver City.
Rolling Greens lined the planter boxes with plastic to keep the soil from falling out the slats, and then surrounded that wrap with moss to beautify the exposed segments. They then filled the boxes with little Olive Tree plants. They added a pop of color on the parameters with a touch of secondary greenery, then topped it all off with bark, and voila!
Now we have low space-dividers to trim the edge of the porch. The boxes are too heavy for the kids to push over, but light enough for us to shuffle around when needed. Adults and the pups can step between the planters, but now the kids won't go tumbling or bolting off the side of the porch!
We absolutely love our new, living porch barrier. Thank you, Rolling Greens!
Cottage Plants
I receive a lot of questions about the plants we have at the cottage-- are they real? Are they toxic? How long do they take to grow? How much care do they require?
I am by no means a plant expert-- faaar from it. I look to Hilton Carter if I need help with my houseplants, and I am inspired by the creative ways that my friend Justina Blakeney of The Jungalow decorates with her plants. But I can certainly share what has worked for us here in our tiny home-office. While we have a wide variety of indoor and outdoor greenery, we routinely decorate with these three particular plants:
Algerian Ivy - I love this variegated vine, which drapes beautifully in hanging pots/baskets, and can also be used for ground cover. The mid-toned green and pale yellow help show off the texture and shape of the leaves, while the brown/red stalks contrast beautifully with the rest of the plant. Algerian Ivy can tolerate a decent amount of sun, but continues to thrive in times of lower light exposure. I usually display this ivy on shelves because it takes up a fair amount of space, allowing me to fill a room with warmth without cluttering it up with miscellaneous tchotchkes.
Silver Philodendron - Silver Philodendron is one of my favorite plants. In fact, it was one of the main visual inspirations for our home-wedding. This house plant grows rapidly, and has interestingly speckled grey-green leaves. In my experience, the vines will get sparse up top if the soil isn’t healthy and if the pot doesn’t drain well, so don’t forget to give these plants a bit of tending-to each week. My favorite spot to place these plants is on hidden/floating bookshelves on our living room walls. It is toxic to pets and people when ingested, so we simply keep ours high up out of the reach of all our little ones.
Vinca Vine - Vinca is one of my absolute favorites, because it grows incredibly long, and yet it barely sheds. This plant is simple and understated without being boring. It cascades and frames beautifully, adding depth and color wherever needed. My favorite place to hang them is near windows and outdoor corners, where the greenery livens up several feet of bare walls or moldings without consuming space. I’ve found that Vinca Vines require a touch of extra care in the winter, so I personally don’t leave them out in the cold. (Even here in SoCal they prefer to be indoors during the cooler months.) In the warmer season, they enjoy a few hours of sun, or regular dappled light-- nothing too harsh Cutting the vines back around Spring is a great way to spark new, healthy growth. (And don’t worry— they grow back in a blink.)
Lil' video from the Cottage
A little hello from our tiny home in Venice! 👋
(Thank you Shotgun Honeymoon for the wonderful music!)
Father's Day at the Cottage
This post was sponsored by Baileys.
From the first moment we discussed the possibility of having children together, I knew my husband Adam would be a wonderful father. He has a calm and carefree way about him that encourages everyone around him to be at ease. His presence reminds me to relax and breathe— it’s a rare and valuable trait that’s so helpful in the context of becoming a parent, and raising a child in a busy world.
For Adam’s first Father’s Day as a dad, we agreed to celebrate simply. No presents— we have everything we need already, and tiny homes function better with fewer items anyway. Instead, we’ve opted for a quiet night in Venice.
We have lavender in our garden here at home, plus there were buckets of it at our local Farmer’s Market as well, so we decided to use it in a celebratory Baileys cocktail shake.
We rode around town on our bikes gathering up the other groceries we needed. (West has grown up enough now that we can secure his car seat into the cargo bike, which has been amazing.)
Adam came up with a quick and easy concoction that we threw into the Vitamix after dinner:
• 2oz Baileys
• 2oz Bulleit Whiskey
• 2 Cups Ice
• 1 Cup Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
• Topped with Lavender Sprigs
Earlier this weekend, Adam installed a little shelf on our Dutch Door, which is the handiest little add-on for our tiny kitchen. We put it to good use while making our drinks, and while enjoying the porch after West fell asleep for the night.
The ingredients smelled so good that we couldn’t get Sophee to leave them alone while we were preparing the shakes. (In the end, she only knocked over one glass. Given her track record, it could’ve been worse. )
This was a laid-back and delightful way to observe a special occasion together. We wondered: why scream over each other at a restaurant, or go out and contend with LA traffic while a babysitter watches our son? For us, being in our little home with our little family is the perfect way to connect, celebrate and surround ourselves with love.
The Value of Home
This post is sponsored by Progressive Home Insurance
This Spring marks the 6th anniversary of Adam, Stanlee and I living at the Cottage. When I look back at what our lives were like shortly before we moved in compared to what they are now, it’s astounding how much we’ve grown together (in just 362 square-feet!). Other than the years I spent in my childhood home, I’ve never lived in one house nearly this long.
My parents’ house— where I spent the majority of my childhood— sits on the fringes of a gorgeous wildlife sanctuary in North-Central Florida. My mom and dad directed so much of their energy towards cultivating safe and unique experiences for my sister and me on the land. While they never wasted much time on the “stuff” inside our home, the house itself innately held tremendous importance, as it was the encapsulation of our lives with one another. I remember marveling at how my parents, who worked tirelessly every day of their professional careers, would happily choose to spend their precious weekends tending to the house and land (as opposed to resting on the couch or going out with their friends). My dad spent Saturdays mowing the yard on the tractor he shared with our neighbors, while my mom hauled plants and soil around the garden with the dogs trotting along faithfully behind at her heels. Year after year, my friends and I watched them passing back and forth as we played in the pool.
Left: My childhood backyard. Right: Our lil’ garden at the Cottage.
Decades have since passed. It wasn’t until we moved into the Cottage that my I felt my priorities beginning to shift into an oddly familiar direction…
In the 6 years we’ve been here, my husband and I have transitioned hugely in our careers, adopted a second dog, and welcomed our first child into the world. And we now find ourselves happily choosing to spend our precious weekends tending to the Cottage and its garden.
So. It’s happening. I’m officially turning into my parents. “Parentamorphosis.” (Is that a word? It is now.)
Images on left: My mother. Images on right: Me with West, Stubs and Soph
It’s a somewhat awkward time in life, when you jump with both feet into domestic life after existing like a post-graduate nomad, and then suddenly divert your time and energy towards making your living space into a true home.
Adam and I once spent our Friday and Saturday nights biking around Venice, stopping into bars and wasting time by the beach. Now, we find ourselves keeping busy around the garden, and sitting in our little dining room / living room / office / playroom reading to baby West and picking out tiles for our upcoming kitchen makeover.
Obviously we’ve always cared about the state of our house, but since West arrived, it’s like a switch was flipped. I feel the value of making our home a clean, comfortable and safe haven for our family. Adam and I have traded regular bar-hopping for crafting the occasional lavendar cocktail at home, clipping garnishing herbs from our tiny garden, and playing with West and the pups throughout our indoor/outdoor set-up.
While the landscape is different, life sure looks a lot like it did when I was a kid. We travel, we work hard, we have diverse adventures, and we still go out of our way to enjoy and be active within our community. But the breathtaking magic almost always happens right here at home. As such, I’m finding myself more invested than ever in making our tiny cottage a unifying and joyful place for our little family.
Whether you’re experiencing a similar “Parentamorphosis” or simply seeking information on how to buy a new house or how to turn that new house into a home, Life Lanes (by Progressive) provides helpful input and resources for this (nervy / exciting / magical) moment in life.
I acknowledge that I am partnering with Progressive in sponsorship for this post. All expressed opinions, photos and experiences on this post are my own, and are written in my own words.
Everyday Details
This post is sponsored by The White Company
Spring is my favorite season here at the Cottage. The garden grows rapidly, looking lush and bright, and we can fully benefit from our tiny indoor-outdoor setup. As it's our first spring here with baby West, we've been exploring new ways to modify the Cottage to suit our evolving needs. We've found that it's the little changes that have been the most practical. Tiny details have enabled us to enjoy our space more and more. I partnered up with The White Company to share some of my favorite updates for happy, easy small space living.
Now that West is nearly able to crawl, we were having a tough time relaxing in the garden with him, as the pavers that are scattered throughout most of the property were too dangerous for him to sit on. We tried a couple of children's play mats, but the materials were synthetic and too thin to protect the baby from hitting his head against the rough stone. Luckily I discovered the Aubrey Outdoor Mattress. Not only is the outside fabric composed entirely of linen and cotton, but the mat is thick and large enough for us all to lounge on comfortably and safely. Suddenly our entire yard became available to us again in our new lives with our son. Regardless of how long this lasts, it is bringing us immense happiness and satisfaction during the prime outdoor months. We've even started using the mat inside, protecting West from bumping into the hardwood floors during tummy time. The mattress rolls easily into a carrying case made of the same materials, and fits perfectly under my side of the bed.
Adam and I have also started donating and selecting belongings with childproofing in mind. For example, we're slowly swapping out our porcelain kitchenwares for wooden plates and bowls. We saw the benefits of this on day one, as West has already begun sweeping his hands across every surface possible, sending our things crashing to the ground. Since switching to mango dishes, we've been able to laugh and enjoy the moment, rather than scramble to clean up broken pieces before the dogs step on them. I pretty much love everything from their new outdoor collection, and from their organizational products. Patio accessories are usually more durable, which helps around pets and kids.
Another small nursery-related change we've made was giving up our changing table / bath combo. We loved it, and it was completely perfect for our son's first 7 months, but he was becoming too active to keep using it safely. We gave it to a family with a newborn, providing West with more room to scoot around in the house. This extra space in the bedroom means we have a bit more room for the functional decor we love so much. I've been able to replace our homemade swing shelf, and top it off with a various relaxing candles. All of our other candleholders now hold flameless light for safety, but it's been a simple pleasure to burn one remaining, beautifully-scented candle.
In the delightful rush of new parenting and running my businesses, I realized that Adam and I weren't making much time to take care of ourselves. Updating a few little things-- such as our bathrobes and towels-- made a surprisingly notable and positive difference in how we feel while going about our everyday routine.
I've also been trying to be more mindful of the fabrics I wear daily. I've learned that materials such as raffia and linen make me feel better, and that natural fibers don't irritate West's skin when he's pressed up against me.
Linen Shirt Dress in Smoke / Straw Visor / Cashmere Scarf (Coming soon)
We've always been fans of paying attention to the tiny details and moments, but now that we're a family of 5 every detail and every moment seem to hold more weight than ever. Here's to celebrating the everyday with the ones you love, in the places that bring you joy.
Stanlee and Sophee with a gorgeous gift box of essentials from The White Company
The White Company is opening their first store in the U.S. on June 15th in NYC-- check out some more info on The White Company store opening.
I acknowledge that I am partnering with The White Company in sponsorship for this post. All expressed opinions, photos and experiences on this post are my own, and are written in my own words.
Spring Updates to the Tiny Garden
This post is sponsored by Pottery Barn.
The uncharacteristically intense winter rains have finally died down here in LA, and I'm spending increasing amounts of time outside with the baby-- particularly in the afternoons and evenings. At 6 months old, West is now eating solid foods, so he's joining Adam and me at the table for meals. As such, I needed to upgrade our tiny two-seater garden bistro set to something that could accommodate all three of us. Much like our indoor space, our outdoor space is also small, so I needed to select something compact and collapsible. I teamed up with Pottery Barn to find the best possible solution for our little garden, which ended up being their wonderful Indio Folding Bistro Table and corresponding Folding Side Chairs:
The Indio series is far more comfortable and roomy than any compact patio set I've ever owned. I've only had the pieces out for about a week, but I've already logged several office hours and meals out here, and I love it.
I'd always felt as though the wall on the right (behind the table) was too empty, but I wanted to find something specific to install there-- a piece that was practical, space-saving and beautiful. Components of the Gabrielle Garden Shed set satisfied those criteria, and ended up being absolutely perfect for the space:
The part that I've enjoyed and used the most is the Hanging Basket Tray. It is the ideal size for a wall like this one, and it functions as a potting surface, a way to display plants, and a storage container all in one handy little design. The pocket organizers, which I positioned just above the tray, are great for holding garden markers, gloves, tools, wire, and more:
I added a few galvanized accessories to help me tote items between the house and garden. I selected this functional Metal Flatware Caddy, along with a pair of Metal Chargers that we use as trays and in lieu of placemats:
I also opted for a storage ottoman, where I now keep outdoor throw pillows and blankets. (I love these Honeycomb Indoor/Outdoor lumbar pillows and the matching chair cushions.)
I'm so thrilled with how everything turned out. This space was nearly unused before, and now it's the coziest and most comfortable open-air office space and dining area for our little family.
Above: 🐶 🐶 Stubs and Soph frolicking around our updated lil' garden.
Holiday Decor with Architectural Digest
We're delighted to be back on Architectural Digest! This time we're sharing some small-space, outdoor holiday decor ideas. Click here to view the feature.
Thanks, AD!
