Cloth Diapering
Now that West is well into his toddler phase, we've revised our diapering habits here at the cottage. A few things have proven crucial for us, so I'm sharing what we've learned in case it helps anyone else. Almost always, we use cloth diapers from Grovia.
The heroes of our simple system are as follows:
BioLiners - BioLiners are amazing. They're similar in size/weight/form to a dryer sheet, and they catch solids, which makes cleaning West's cloth diapers so easy. (I won't even use a cloth diaper without the liner.) We just toss the used liners into our small diaper pail.
Musical Greeting Cards - YES. HEAR ME OUT ON THIS! West frequently flails around like a maniac when we're changing his diaper. Musical greeting cards have been the best way to keep him entertained and engaged during changing sessions without handing him an iPad or iPhone. (We're not big fans of screens here.) When he gets tired of a certain card, we just remove the music box and toss the paper into the recycling bin. (Downside: we get the worst songs stuck in our heads. The number of times I've caught Adam humming the hamster song as he cooks is ridiculous.)
Gathre Mats - We use several Gathre Mats every day, one of which is reserved as West's changing surface. We use it on our bed and it works perfectly. Since there's no safety belt, we never leave our son unattended.
Coconut Oil - West had a horrible diaper rash during a stretch of time when we stopped using cloth diapers. (We hadn't been using the BioLiners yet, and it was getting to be a hassle without them. Once I discovered the liners, I really regretted using disposable diapers.) Our son's doctors prescribed 3 different ointments for his skin, but none of them worked for more than a day or two. But safe and natural coconut oil (with cloth diapering) helped the rash go away-- and stay away-- within 2 or 3 days.
Wet Bags - We try to wash the worn diapers every 2 days. In the stretch of time between laundry loads, we keep used diapers in hanging wet bags.
Snap-In Soaker Pads - We do use pre-fold cloths in West's diaper shells, but I prefer the snap-in soaker pads. They're less likely to bunch up or slide down when West is particularly wiggly.
As an important side note, it's estimated that disposable diapers make up over 2% of the garbage in American landfills each year-- that's millions of tons! One of the key criticisms of cloth diapers is that they require an increase in water to wash. Parts of cloth diapers must be washed after every use, but you can reuse shells from hybrid diapers, depending on the circumstance. If you use about the same amount of water as the average American household, washing diapers could account for up to 5% of your total water use.Washing diapers is relatively efficient when you compare it to how much water is required to produce products.
Looking for more conservation tips to apply in and around your home? This wonderful graphic from Arhaus has some easy, helpful suggestions. Their philanthropy page contains links to even more info.
Parenting in a Small Space: Q & A with Adam
I operate two small businesses from our tiny Cottage. While I do so, my husband Adam is (very) busy caring for our son all day. Our schedules overlap and our responsibilities intersect, but there's no confusion as to who handles what on a day-to-day basis. As such, I thought it would be helpful for Adam to share some general information on how he handles caring for a toddler in a small space!
1. What inspired you to leave your job in advertising in order to care for West full-time?
This wasn't a difficult choice to make. Given my work schedule and Whitney's growing business, we would have had to hire a full-time nanny to take care of West. After researching several options, the smartest and best solution for our family was for me to leave my job. It didn't make sense to me for us to pay someone else to raise my son, when I could easily take on that role without financially burdening our family.
2. What have you found to be the greatest advantage of caring for a toddler in a small space?
Our home allows me to easily keep track of a very mobile toddler, as well as contain the explosion of his toys, books, etc. Additionally, a lot of the furniture is built in, which provides greater stability during his climbing endeavors.
3. What is the most challenging aspect of caring for a toddler in a small space?
Finding a semblance of peace and quiet for his nap time can be tough. We have two beagle rescues, who have a tendency to be bark right when I'm getting West to nap. He's fairly used to their barking, but it can be frustrating when he's almost asleep and the dogs disrupt the process. (Before we had the front house on the property, another challenge was trying not to distract Whitney while she worked.)
4. What are the primary tools that enable you to teach, entertain, and tend to a toddler in compact quarters?
I think the key is to have all the books, toys, musical devices, and wipes/diapers as accessible as possible. West is so curious and his attention span wanes quickly, so it's important to be able to mix things up with ease. We keep most of his items in baskets and in a corner dresser with large, thatched drawers that are easily removed. The contents are always readily accessible, and the containers are all lightweight enough that West is able to carry them around wherever he’d like.
5. What have you experienced by caring for West full-time that you didn’t anticipate?
How fortunate I am to be able to be his full-time caregiver. I know that stay-at-home parenting is not an option for everyone, and recognize how lucky I am that my wife's business has allowed us to be home with our son. Within our circle of friends, I'm one of several fathers who are the full-time caregivers, while the mothers work. I truly appreciate that we're able to challenge gender stereotypes and redefine parenthood together.
Tiny Adventures: Museum Day
One of the things I love most about small space living is that it encourages us to seek every day adventures outside of our home, and it reminds us to engage more with our local communities. As such, I'm starting a new series of mini posts on the blog to share these lil' moments from our lives here at the Cottage.
Left: West stepping out of his room, ready to explore the world. Right: Sophee saying bye to us through a window in the front cottage.
This week, I decided to play hooky for a half-day and take Adam and West to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. West recently became super intersted in animal and dinosaur illustrations, so I thought it would be the perfect time to show him some creatures beyond the pages of his books.
We took the Metro from West LA to the museum. (Psst-- LA folks: If you take the metro to the Museum, you get a discount on adult admission fees to the museum.)It was West's first time on a train, beyond the shuttles at airpots. He was enthralled at first... and then passed out.
When we arrived, I though our son would be so excited by the oversized sculptures at the entrance to the museum. However, the passing construction trucks nearby stole most of his attention. (Sad trombone!) Luckily he was out-of-his-mind with joy the moment we entered the exhibition halls.
Above: Enjoying the beautiful installations at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.
It turns out that this museum is the PERFECT place for a toddler to safely bolt around. West repeatedly ran from window to window, animal to animal, and garden to garden, soaking up all the there was to see.
It felt wonderful to step outside and show our son something new and extraordinary. And it felt equally as wonderful to return home-- satiated and exhausted-- to our little slice of the world after our tiny adventure.
Porch Makeover
Outdoor living spaces encourage us to put down our screens, take a healthy breath, and relax. That's one of the reasons why I love our little sliver of a porch so much. We recently modified the space to suit our evolving needs, and today I'm excited to share the tiny tour with you! Even though we only updated this outdoor spot a little over a week ago, we've already spent dozens of hours enjoying it with West and several of our friends. We partnered with Fragments Identity for this redesign that transitioned our open-air dining room into a lounge and play area.
(Explore additional coverage of this porch update on Lonny by clicking here. Photos by Jenna Peffley.)
This space, which connects our two tiny houses, is now outfitted primarily for use by our toddler and his friends.
I've worked with Tammy from Fragments Identity before, and she and I share a love for natural textures and neutral tones.
Together, we came up with a design that’s safe and functional for kids, while simultaneously being comfortable for their parents. And most of the pieces are designed for outdoor use, so we only have to throw West's toys (and a few blankets or small accessories) into a market cart and wheel those in at night.
We also made some updates to the living room as well, helping the interior and exterior spaces better blend with one another.
Tammy created new seat cushions for our built-in couch (a much needed change, as we'd had the previous ones for nearly seven years!), as well as some gorgeous new pillows.
The full story, complete with numerous beautiful images shot by the incredible Jenna Peffley, is now up on Lonny!
Co-Sleeping in the Cottage
Note: Please consult professional sources and keep safety as the top priority when making sleep decisions with and for your child. I am neither advocating for or against bed-sharing via this blog post. I am simply sharing our personal experience in case it helps anyone else on their journey.
We receive lots of questions about how we manage the family’s sleep situation in our tiny home. Where does West sleep? What about the pups? How do we handle noise and keep from disturbing one another? What are our plans for the future? Would we recommend bed-sharing to other new parents living in small spaces?
Left: WEST In the DockATot Deluxe in the Cottage bedroom. Right: West In THE mini-crib in our tiny house nursery nook.
Adam and I never had a sleep plan in place for our life with the baby. We decided to go with what felt natural for us, day by day. The short story is that we’ve bed-shared for the past 16 months. The longer version involves many more layers, including a DockATot, mini-crib, and convertible toddler bed.
Months 1-12
Our Baby:
For the first year with West, we had a mini-crib. When our son was a newborn, he would take his naps there, or in his MamaRoo or the small DockATot. He would also begin his nights in the crib.
I worked full-time throughout my entire pregnancy and after our son was born, and I simply felt too tired to get in and out of bed for each feeding. As such, we would bring West into bed with us after his mid-night wakeups. At that point, he slept safely and snugly between Adam and me in the center of our bed in the DockATot.
West fit perfectly in the mini-crib until around 7 months, when he began to flail around a bit too much to sleep in there for more than a couple of hours at a time. We kept the mini-crib for for an additional 3 months for his naps. Sometimes we rolled the crib into other areas of the house and the garden, just to get him used to other views and environments.
Left: In the airplane bassinet, flying to France. Right: Up from a nap in a hotel in Maui.
Bed-sharing has been made life easier when we travel. West will fall asleep anywhere when his natural bedtime rolls around.
Our Dogs + The Noise:
Sophee sleeps at our feet in the bed, and Stanlee like to curl up on the floor in the tiny space between my side of the bed and the wall. They have THE LOUDEST beagle barks, but they rarely wake up West. I think it’s because West has been listening to those barks since the moment he could hear in the womb. I even remember him physically reacting to being startled by the barks when he was still just a bump in my belly. By his earliest days in the Cottage, he was very used to the sound. West doesn’t even wake up when Adam and I watch movies on the laptop in bed next to him. And, due to the skylights and numerous curtainless windows in the cottage, the light has never phased him either. We lucked out.
Months 12-16
Our Toddler:
West still sleeps with us in bed at night, but we no longer use the DockATot. We believe he's big enough now to sleep safely by our sides without it. He also uses his new convertible crib / toddler bed / daybed in the front cottage for naps, and at night when my parents or a sitter are with him.
Travel:
When we take quick trips by car we bring the large DockATot with us for the versatile options it provides. When we travel by plane, we simply plan on West sleeping in a regular bed with us.
Left: In the DockATot Grand in the garden. Right: Slumber party in the front cottage guest bed.
The Bottom Line:
Personally, I love sharing our bed. Since I work for most of the day, the nights are a wonderful way for me to be close to my son. It can’t last forever, I know, but it’s still enjoyable for us right now. Yes, he kicks and pivots and smacks us in the eyeballs. Yes, we are tired. But what parent isn’t? And the magic of it all far outweighs the disruptions. We plan to wean ourselves slowly off of co-sleeping at some point this year, when it feels right for all of us.
Space-Saving Toy Tents for Kids
Children (and pets) so enjoy tents and forts. But in a small home, a store-bought toddler tent can easily eat up an entire room (if it even fits at all), and a DIY fort can quickly eliminate the limited space required for your daily routine.
Tablecloth tents could be a handy solution for your little one(s) in your little home. I found this one via Etsy, and it's a big hit here at our tiny cottage. Folding card-table sizes are also available, and custom-sized options are also commissionable. Throw one over your dining table or desk to encourage a child's creativity while also working within the realities of your square-footage. (And if you can't fit a tablecloth tent, not to worry-- use a doorway or hallway hanging playhouse instead!)
Update: Many of you loved West's beagle pants, so I thought I should share the details on those! They're handmade by an Etsy artist-- some of my favorites from her shop are below:
Tiny Toolboxes
When I left for college, I inherited several tools from my parents. I felt sentimental about the pieces that they generously gave me, and I used those hand-me-down supplies to assemble furniture and make minor repairs in nine of the ten places I’ve lived since leaving home at 18. The last major project in which I used the tools was West’s nursery nook.
Over the years, the tool collection evolved and grew. I added more and more little things to it— particularly when I was set styling over recent years. Eventually I found myself with a multi-level, wheeled cart that I dragged around our cottage with me, despite the fact that I usually only used a handful of items within it when at home.
As we began working on the front tiny cottage, I realized— I only need a small, specific grouping of tools and hardware. Everything else is always brought and handled by the professionals with whom we work. So why was I struggling to store a 3’-tall toolbox in our tiny house when I didn’t have to? True small space dwellers know— there is absolutely no room for something like that in a compact home. The poor thing was was a mess inside, and it was routinely left outside for days on end, crammed onto one stoop or the other, and shoved into the back of our 2’ shed. (It was so oversized that West would even climb into the bottom 1/3 of it so we could roll him around the house. It was adorable, but ridiculous.)
I got to thinking about the individual items within my collection. The ones I used regularly could be condensed into a multi-tool, and most of the other products I could do without entirely. (And, surprisingly, I was missing a tool or two that would’ve been extremely helpful to have here on a regular basis.)
I realized that a toolbox makeover was in order. I had to separate the sentiment behind select items and part ways with them. Plus, I needed to come up with out-of-the-ordinary ways to store the necessities. I played around with a few ideas, testing out what ACTUALLY worked (not just for photos), and what was easily accessible, without standing out in our tiny house or consuming space needed for other uses. I combined few methods of storage, and thus far, this mix has been practical and hassle-free:
1. Small Tool Roll (Rather than Box)
A tool roll has proven much easier to store than a box of any size. It’s portable, it can easily be kept out of West’s reach, and it’s neat and organized even when left out in the open. I use these waxed canvas pockets to store the handle of our new Husky 16-in-1 interchangeable screwdriver set from The Home Depot, our new Husky pick + probe set, our hammer, touch-up paintbrushes, and a miscellaneous multi-tool that I use on our bikes. (The Pick & Probe set was one of the items I realized I needed but was missing. Our cottages are from the 1920s and have a lot of imperfections, and West somehow finds them all, and then gets all sorts of stuff trapped in the smallest slivers of space. The picks help Adam and me reach and clear those spots.)
2. Hardware Notebook
It’s easier to make room on our bookshelf than anywhere else in our home, because books can live countless lives by being re-gifted onward to friends and family for their enjoyment. I couldn’t find a hardware organizer that worked well on our built-in bookshelf, so I upcycled a 3-ring binder for the job. I used a combination of basic plastic bags and binder pouches to hold a mix of hardware, along with the various heads for our screwdriver and drill.
3. Large Tool Hanging Bag
After giving away anything I no longer needed, then outfitting the tool roll and notebook, I was left with a few compact yet larger items that were scattered around the house: a 30’ tape measure our Ryobi multi-tool base (which I use to build our suspended shelves and to cut/sand wood), our Hex Key sets, and extra water-resistant gloves. It got obnoxious to have all these items separated, so I gathered them together and dropped them into a washable garden bag that I can hang on the wall. Not only is the bag easy to tote around, but it hangs mere inches away from the notebook, and can also contain the tool roll.
No longer having to track down and lug our nomadic, oversized toolbox has saved time me and frustration. I now have everything organized side-by-side in a way that really works for our funny little space. As we finally wrap up months of repairs to the front cottage this week, I realize that I now have delightful new memories associated with our updated tools.
My advice to anyone in a small space who's looking to get a fresh start on their tool/hardware/craft collection is to carefully select multi-tools, and to think beyond the usual toolbox when it comes to how to store them. Find means of organization that work well for the spaces you have available, keeping size, shape, accessibility, and aesthetic in mind.
Select tools from this post were gifted to me by The Home Depot. All words/opinions are my own.
Date Nights at Home
Since West was born, Adam and I have orchestrated date nights at home more often. It eliminates the cost of hiring a babysitter, it allows us to eat a bit healthier (and have a drink without breaking the bank), and encuorages us to continue to connect as couple without being separated from our son and the pups.
Left: Movie night with Adam in the back garden. Right: A little family time in the yard (with flameless lanterns and a folding toddler-sized table and chairs) before West goes to bed.
While out little home inspires us to get out and involved in our community during the day, we never want it to feel limiting. For date nights, we take a few extra minutes to set up something out of the ordinary, such as a projector in the garden, or a pop-up dining table in the multi-purpose room (which functions as the living room / guest room / office / dining room).
The winter here in LA has thus far been fairly mild, so we can leave the doors cracked open and enjoy a modified version of our usual indoor/outdoor set up. And since West was born into our tiny home (and is always surrounded by barking beagles), he is used to noise and doesn't wake up when we cook, laugh, or watch a movie.
Spending more non work-related time together as a couple was a goal that Adam and I set forth for ourselves in 2018. In order to be the best parents, business partners, and friends possible, I think it's important for us to take some time and quietly catch up with each other-- even right here, in the same wonderful <400 sqft we share every day.
Toys (+ Toy Storage) for Tiny Homes
While we aren't minimalists, our overarching goal at the Cottage is to minimize our possessions without sacrificing comfort, style or experiences. When it comes to our son's book and toy collection, we've stayed in this mindset and only acquired items that he seems to genuinely enjoy, and that we believe to be beneficial to his development-- and, of course, we try to find pieces that we actually enjoy seeing scattered all over the floor, whenever possible.
In our small space, it's been helpful to find the following types of toys and containers:
Collapsible
Travel-Sized
Self-Contained
Scalable (for longevity)
Woven, wood, leather, or hanging baskets/boxes (to suit the style of our home)
As long as everything West enjoys regularly has a dedicated space that's easily accessible (and can be contained in a way that makes our home still feel uncluttered and organized), it works for us. Here are some visual examples of our everyday, ever-evolving storage methods:
A Handmade hanging basket on A magnetic hook Holds west's magnetic letters and numbers on the fridge or dishwasher
Wire mesh hanging baskets hold small toys high up in the nursery
An oversized Knotted string hamper basket contains miscellaneous toys that west enjoys daily
a mix of Toys contained via similarly-toned boxes and suitcases
the large Built-in trundle storage bin beneath our bed
Here are some of our favorite types of toys at West's current stage, along with the reasons why we love them:
The above sampling of West's toys demonstrates the types of items that work well in our small home. Our son uses all of these regularly, and we can store them easily. The small train breaks down into segments for simple clean up. The leaf puzzle slides onto the bookshelf at night. The wooden book is pocket-sized, and travels everywhere with us. The alphabet books entertain West endlessly, and are self-contained in a small box. The geometric star is pliable and can fit almost anywhere. The handmade magnetic fishing set has small (yet safe) parts that we quickly stash away in a drawstring linen bag.
I want my son to have access to a diverse array of colors, shapes, materials, and activities that make him happy and stimulate his growth. I look forward to seeing how his preferences and styles differ from my own. Having said that, I take joy in analyzing everything we bring into our home, and if we can make select items work for all of us (at this stage), then why not. Everyone wins!
Year 1 as a Family of 5
It's been a full year since we first brought baby West home to the Cottage. We celebrated our son by hosting a cozy little gathering at the house.
(I deliberately kept my camera and phone tucked away as much as possible, focusing on the moment more than the documentation of the moment. But I'm glad I caught this photo. We decorated minimally, with faux vines instead of traditional birthday bunting. We topped the cake table with light-up letters, which remind us of the famous Venice Sign not far from our home.)
Our families visited for the happy occasion. Rather than packing our weekend together with events and to-dos, we decided to relax. We strolled the canals and visited the farmers market with West, and in the evening we sat outside and chatted for hours. We lit a sparkler candle and sang happy birthday to our boy in the main room of the cottage, then watched as he happily destroyed a sliver of carrot cake AND a helping of chocolate cake (both from Gjusta) on the porch.
We gave West his first bike-- a Venice necessity-- and he's aaaaalmost tall enough to start using it comfortably. (He already wants to climb on it constantly, but his toes are still a few centimeters from the floor when he's on the seat.) I selected a Wishbone Design Bike, because it can transform as the months go by. It starts as a baby walker, and can then be adapted into a toddler trike, and then later into a balance bike until West is ready for pedals.
We also got a collapsible wagon-- admittedly as much for us as for West. At 12 months old, he wants to explore EVERYTHING around him, and the wagon allows him to see and move around more than the stroller as we walk through the neighborhood. It also provides ample space for his blanket, a few books, and our market groceries. I looooove the wagon, as does West. The model we selected has an optional sun canopy, and cup/bottle holders. And to make it workable for small space living, it folds up easily under its cover, and tucks up tightly against our stoop. (Although in my mind, I pretend it looks more like this.)
Wearing the SANCHEZ LONG OPEN WEAVE COTTON PONCHO from Monserat De Lucca
West's birthday weekend went exactly as we'd hoped. Everything was simple, sweet, and close to home. And most importantly, our son was surrounded by family, and oh so much love.
For the Pups
Many of you wrote us to inquire about the indoor/outdoor dog beds we added to the cottage recently. Here are some more views, along with some of our other favorite pet gear:
Small Space Highchairs
Baby West is now ten (TEN!) months old. As such, he's at a point where he's feeding himself, and drinking from sippy cups and glass bottles. This means that mealtimes are a complete and total mess-- but they're also (honestly) a complete and total joy. A few items have proven themselves to be extremely practical for feeding our son in our tiny home, and on-the-go.
This is ridiculous, but we actually have TWO highchairs here at the Cottage-- the reason being that they were gifted to us, and we decided to hold on to both for an upcoming project we're working on (and excited to share in the near future). We like each chair for different reasons. Perhaps one might be right for you, depending on your particular needs and space.
We have: The folding NANO highchair from Bloom. We like it because it folds up, and sits slenderly against our Dutch Door when not in use. It also comes with everything needed (safety harness, removable, machine-washable tray, seat cover, and foot rest), so it's nearly ready-to-go out of the box. The downside is that it's a bit tricky to deep-clean in certain spots, but we still use it daily. It's the perfect counter-height, so we pull it up to our breakfast bar and enjoy meals there alongside our son. I recommend it to anyone living in a standard small space.
We also have: The Stokke Steps Chair, which we use less frequently, but really love. It's a clever and streamlined system. We like it because it will grow with West, so we won't have to buy different dining chairs for him as he gets older. It's also very easy to clean, and beautifully designed. We use it when we convert the living space into a dining space for entertaining. The add-on tray is the perfect place for West's meal, or for his books and suction-cup toys. The downside is that it doesn't fold up, so we ran into it constantly when we used it full-time. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a design-savvy, adaptable highchair that they can use for years to come.
We've also used and recommend: The Lobster Portable Highchair, and the Space-Saver High Chair. These are two products we've tried elsewhere, and believe they would work particularly well for micro-space dwellers, and/or for the grandparents' house.
Another small space lifesaver is the Gathre Mat. These mats come in a variety of colors and sizes, including one design that's intended for use beneath a highchair. We ALWAYS use one under West's chair if he's eating. It prevents his food mess from getting all over the floor. They're stylish, easy to store, and only take a moment to wipe clean.
Our other favorite baby-feeding tools aren't necessarily small-space specific, but since they are always visible (whether on the drying rack or in their standard storage places when not in use), we selected them for both their look and how they function:
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.
Tonight in the Cottage Nursery
Currently experiencing epic levels of love at the Cottage. 🐶👶🏻🐶 So many people have written and asked about this chair. It's from The Land of Nod. (More pix below.)
Babywearing
I'm a big fan of babywearing. It's not only great bonding time with West, but it's also one of the only ways in which I can get anything done here at our lil' home/office. I have two Solly Baby Wraps that I love and use daily. They're beautiful, and they fold up so small that they can fit anywhere when not in use-- from the diaper bag, to the baskets in the baby's bay.
I'm sharing some small space nursery tips over on Solly Baby Wrap's blog-- click here to view.
Closet Nursery and Having a Baby in a Small Space
I took some time away from the blog to focus on our first month with Baby West. He is now 6 weeks old, and we've been very pleased with how the nursery has worked for us thus far! (View our nursery tour posts here.) This is a quick round-up of some of the key items we've loved, and the reasons why they're handy for our small-space lifestyle.
Our most functional, space-saving piece is definitely this bathtub and changing table combo. It rolls all over the house, depending on where we need or want it to be-- from the garden, to the stoop, to the nursery. The removable tub is extremely easy to use and clean, and the entire unit is tall, so we don't end up with aching backs after changing or bathing West. There are also two massive storage baskets built-in, which hold our reusable diapers (from Grovia), disposable diapers + wipes (from The Honest Co.), and bath items (from Amazon and Etsy).
I added a long metal wire basket (from Amazon) to the side of the table to hold baby-care essentials for easy access. Items shown include:
Grovia All-in-one Newborn Cloth Diaper - Via Grovia
NailFrida the SnipperClipper – available at Target
FeverFrida the ithermonitor – available at Target
NoseFrida Travel the SnotSucker – available at Fridababy.com
Handmade Linen Baby Towel - Via Etsy
Some of my favorite goods, which work well in the closet-nursery AND on-the-go:
Handmade Changing Mat with Carrier Strap (can be stored vertically, and looks beautiful when hanging up in the house) - via Fawn + Cub
Waxed Canvas Unisex Diaper Bag (completely foldable and easy to stow) - via Kith and Kin
Handmade Wallet + iPhone Tiny Leather Purse by Hustle & Hide (a small, extremely functional handbag/wallet) - via Etsy
Solly Baby Wrap / Carrier (takes up no space when stored) - via Solly Baby
All-in-one car seat cover, nursing scarf, and cart cover - via Native Wilds
Our mini-crib (via Bloom Global) works beautifully, and fits perfectly in the Bay. But IF we didn't have space for the crib, we could've still made it work via a co-sleeper. My favorite is the DockATot, which is available in two sizes.
Note: The curtains are only near the crib when the baby is out of it or an adult is supervising.
I thought that the Bay was a bit TOO dark at night, but I didn't want to re-instal a ceiling light (they can get too hot, and we don't have real room for one anyway). There also isn't enough available space for a table-top lamp. So I recently installed some battery-operated twinkle lights (from Terrain) to brighten up the nursery, and I absolutely LOVE how they look and function.
MamaRoo Infant Seat - via Target
This incredible gizmo takes up less space than a traditional baby swing. West loves it. There are varying speeds, movements, sounds, and angles, so he never gets bored. It's a phenomenal help when I'm working at the computer, and when I want to keep the baby upright while he dozes off immediately after breastfeeding.
In the kitchen we use a collapsible bottle-drying tree, and a wall basket for bottle-tops, etc. These take up much less space than a traditional drying rack. (Via Amazon)
And, as always, going vertical wherever possible has helped us find place for the pretty little accessories we use on a regular basis, such as burp cloths, rattles, soothie clips, etc.
On a side note: After our first month with West, it's also important to note a few changes we made for the pups in order to prevent them from feeling neglected as we tend to the baby. We've added daily trips to the dog park or beach to the routine (in addition to our regular dogwalks along the Canals). We’ve also started giving them meals from @thefarmersdog (they’re completely obsessed), and we got them new handmade beds from our wonderful neighbors @thewolfnest. So far, so good!
(Please note: the pieces in the nursery and cottage will change as West gets older. His safety is obviously our main priority, and the space will evolve according to his growth, capabilities and mobility.)
Our newest resident: Baby West!
Baby West is here! Our son was born on September 30th, and Adam and I have spent the entire month of October fawning over him here at the Cottage.
I would’ve loved to have an at-home birth, but since this was my first pregnancy and I’m considered to be of “advanced maternal age,” we decided from the start to play it safe and give birth in a hospital:
I was in labor for about 24 hours, and had a natural childbirth (on Pitocin). West was healthy and relaxed upon his arrival, and is truly an amazing newborn. I’m happier and more thankful than ever.
The Cottage has been the perfect place for our family of 5 these past weeks, and I am so excited about our family AND home evolving together.
I’ll soon share details on our experience thus far with the tiny house nursery. In the meantime, thank you all for your kind and supportive comments on Instagram— we’ve read them all, and we are so grateful for the outpouring of love!
Tiny House Closet Nursery - The Details
My favorite part of putting together the nursery was finding all the little, practical details to use in the space while our son is an infant. My main shopping resource was ETSY, but I discovered incredible products (both new and vintage) from a variety of other makers and vendors as well.
CRIB | The first piece we picked was the crib. We needed a VERY specific size, and this Alma Bloom Mini Crib (on wheels, which is a feature we love and use frequently here,) ended up being absolutely perfect. The crib's platform height is adjustable, and the entire thing is easily collapsable. We couldn't have dreamed up a better design for the baby's Bay.
CLOTHING STORAGE | Next we needed a vertical storage solution for the remaining cubby (to the left of the crib). And again, it had to be a super-specific size. I found a lightweight, simple set of rolling drawers on Amazon. They're well-suited to the space, and we're thrilled with the piece's functionality.
LARGE ITEM STORAGE | The last major element of the Bay to consider was the top shelf. We needed durable storage containers that were roomy enough to hold several items, but we also needed them to be small and soft enough to slide onto and off of the top ledge. (We also had to ensure that whatever we selected would remain secure during an earthquake.) I found three gorgeous jute baskets from The Dharma Door (USA), and not only are they ideal in terms of use, but they're completely beautiful:
OPTIONAL CLOTHING RACK | We removed the dowel rods from the closet, as we don't intend to hang the baby's clothing in the space. However, in case we do need a place to hang items from time to time, I found a wooden bead garland (to act as a clothing line) via ETSY that I shortened to fit our needs, and then secured to the inner lip of the Bay's top shelf. I can pull the strand out whenever we need to hang something up, and then tuck the strand away again when it's not in use:
As such, we also needed some small, light hangers. I opted for these adorable cardboard clouds from Little Dundi, as we can recycle them once they're no longer needed:
ARTWORK | Then came the artwork! I wanted the nursery to have dedicated imagery, but for the pieces to compliment the other art within our bedroom. I also toyed with the idea of dark accent walls and/or wallpaper for the Bay. In the end, however, the bright, clean walls decorated simply with the art won me over. (Plus, we want the Bay to be easy to adapt, so it can evolve as our son grows.) I chose the following pieces for the Bay and the bedroom, and kept the possibility of earthquakes in mind when choosing how and where to display them:
Sources:
1. "They Delayed the Workings of the Day..." by Elly MacKay as "Theater Clouds" on ETSY (Link)
2. "Legends" book cover (Vintage)
3. "Homestead" by my friend Gregory Beauchamp as "Beauchamping" on Instagram and ETSY (Link)
4. "Peace Leaves" pen + ink by Britt Fabello as "Sea of Atlas" on Instagram and ETSY (Link)
5. Medium, vintage-reproduction nautical map of the "Reefs of Florida" from Archive Print Co on Instagram and ETSY (Link)
6. Large, vintage-reproduction nautical map of "Old Santa Monica" from Archive Print Co on Instagram and ETSY (Link)
(Also pictured: Handmade beagle plush toy by ADToys via ETSY)
FUNCTIONAL ACCESSORIES
Next on the to-do list was the delightful task of selecting functional accessories to help us easily access and stash various necessities.
I selected these lightweight Otis Wire Wall Baskets that I found on Domino to help hold miscellaneous cloths, tiny clothing, and toys. (As our son grows and begins to be able to reach these baskets, we'll relocate them.)
(Also pictured: Small driftwood, burlap and hemp baby mobile-- another ETSY find, via Wiggly William.
I wanted new hardware to hold Stanlee's and Sophee's leashes next to the Bay. This pair of hound hooks (also from ETSY) were spot on, and blend well with the decor when paired with the nautical rope leashes by Resq Co:
We needed to find a place to stash my prenatal and postpartum paperwork, as well as the baby's ultrasounds and future health records. Rather than opting for another "storage solution" I wanted to find a pretty lil' something that could be left out in the open like an art objet. I stumbled upon a vintage picnic basket at Tower 20 (by Tim Clarke Design) in Santa Monica, and repurposed it into a medical files box:
I then decorated the nearby heater cover with lightweight mirrors to help brighten and enlarge the appearance of the space:
(Also pictured: Handmade Loch Ness monster plush toy by MEVVSAN from etsy // Small wooden stool (vintage) // 2-toned Umbra hub ladder // Daphne white garden stool from home decorators collection // Sailor swaddle by Woolf with me)
We also needed a new, cozy rug to sit on while spending time with the baby. I found the Sahara Rug in Sand via Loloi Rugs, and it's my new favorite item in the bedroom:
(Also pictured: Handmade Loch Ness monster plush toy by MEVVSAN from etsy // Small wooden stool (vintage) // Daphne white garden stool from home decorators collection // Sailor swaddle by Woolf with me)
Another item on the checklist was a baby monitor. But we also wanted something that could act as a general security and pet cam when we're out of the house. We love the look of this Withings "Home" camera, and that it has several audio features that we can control with our iPhones. (We've started using it already to speak to the pups when we're out, which is always entertaining.) We'll have to find the perfect place for it once the baby arrives!
CHANGING AND BATHING TABLE (+ ACCESSORIES)
Last but definitely not least, we needed to find a changing table and baby bathing solution. While we could've used any place in the house for changing diapers, we wanted something dedicated and mobile. I am nearly 6' tall, and Adam is even taller, so the idea of bending over a low surface for changing and bathing was completely unappealing to us. Meanwhile, our sinks (bathroom and kitchen) are too small and not properly designed for baby bathing. We don't have room for a changing table AND a bathing solution, but luckily we found a rolling combo piece.
... and no, we aren't keeping the combo table outside-- it's just easier to photograph out of the house! It will be a mobile piece within the Cottage.
How cute is this greige sailor changing pad cover by Woolf With Me?!
We've already stocked up the cart with multiple diapering systems from GroVia. (We've used them on our nephews who are here frequently, and they've worked wonderfully.)
When we're on the go, we'll use this handmade changing mat from Fawn + Cub. (I bought this a year before we decided to get pregnant. Crazy, I know, but I just loved it so much.)
Our diaper tote is also made by an ETSY vendor-- a married couple who run a shop named Kith and Kin. Adam and I love how this unisex bag is both durable and beautifully designed:
LOUNGING | We don't have the room for a glider inside, so we placed a wicker rocking chair from Joss & Main in the garden just off the bedroom/nursery stoop. We dressed up the space with outdoor rugs, throws, lanterns, and a 5' handmade mobile by Sea & Glass. If the baby isn't in our arms while we're enjoying the garden, he'll be in this gorgeous Moses Basket from Plum + Sparrow:
WHEW. Now I think the only thing we still need is... THE BABY. Hurry up, October! We are can't wait to meet our son and introduce him into this loving, little world of ours.
Cozy in the Cottage
I decided to take a few weeks away from the blog in mid/late July and just stay calm and cozy in the Cottage. But as the month is somehow already over, we're back! August will be fairly crazy for both my creative firm and my personal brand, so I felt like it was wise to rest up before-hand (especially since I was particularly wiped during the transition into my third trimester). This post recaps a bit of what we were up to these past weeks. While I was still running my creative firm from my home-office, I took a significant amount of time to declutter in anticipation of the baby's arrival, relax when possible, and organize the little things that I'm sure we won't have time to tackle once our son is here.
PUPPY LOVE | First and foremost, we took time to overly-smother our pups with love. Everyone says that pets get neglected when a new baby arrives. We hope that won't be the case for us, but we wanted to give Stanlee (10 yrs old) and Sophee (1 yr old) as much attention and affection as possible, just in case:
We also had another health scare with Sophee a couple weeks back, and we were terrified that she wasn't going to pull through this time. Luckily this little adopted beagle is one hell of a fighter, and she is nearly fully back to her normal "Menace of Venice" behavior already.
Above: Sophee upon returning from emergency treatment at the pet hospital.
DECLUTTERING | While you can't see most of the decluttering we did, we certainly did a TON. We donated several car loads of clothing, shoes, home goods, dishware, and books. It feels good to see the surface of the Cottage looking so simple, and to know that simplicity is echoed behind every cabinet and within every drawer:
ENTERTAINING | We did some very low-key entertaining at home. I didn't feel much like going out (just too damn tired), but several of our amazing friends were sweet enough to make the trek to Venice to hang out at the Cottage:
Above: Justina Blakeney of The Jungalow, Erica Reitman, and Jennifer Harrison of Flea Market Fab having dinner at the Cottage.
Above: Lindsay Hollinger of Casa Joshua Tree (with Adam, Sophee and Stanlee's stub-tail) in the Cottage garden.
Above: My life-long bestie Nell (also pregnant!) and her husband Chandler visited the Cottage and canals for a summer movie night along the water. Nell officiated our home wedding and co-hosted my bridal gathering back in May.
HOSTING | We hosted some video and photo shoots here throughout the month. Once those wrapped, we spent time messing the house back up with my three year-old Nephew Finn and his infant brother, Digby. We enjoyed the outdoor section of the nursery with Digby, and started harvesting the grapes off the Cottage vine with Finn:
EVENTS | I did manage to make it out of the house for a few events, my favorite being this tastemaker dinner at Rolling Greens. How dreamy is this set-up at their LA location? (And how easy is it to pick out the giant 6'-tall preggo in the photo below?)
Despite all the sickness-- both Sophee's and my own-- it was a wonderful, peaceful month. I feel so grateful and so damn lucky to be surrounded by so much love and beauty.
I'll leave you with this-- my favorite Boomerang thus far. Here is our 10 yr-old adopted beagle-mix, Stanlee, leaping up onto the dishwasher while trying to scare a squirrel through the window. It makes me smile every time I see it...
Small Spaces + Pregnancy (Week 26)
This weekend marks the 26th week of my pregnancy! We've made numerous behind-the-scenes changes around here in preparation for our baby boy's arrival in October. Thus far it's been a lot of simplifying and decluttering. We will tackle the majority of the nursery makeover in August and September, and I'll be sure to share photos, tips and resources when that time comes.
But before we consider the more pin-worthy projects (such as wallpaper, specialty cribs and multi-functional nursery goods,) we should address an obvious obstacle when it comes to small spaces and pregnancy: how do you handle the inevitable wardrobe transformation when you barely have any closet space to begin with? As your belly balloons outward, where do you keep the newly acquired maternity and/or pregnancy-friendly clothing and personal care items?
First, it's important to start with the fundamentals of downsizing. Nobody likes to hear the following, but I've found that these are truly the two handiest tricks when it comes to dealing with clutter and storage, regardless of your square-footage:
1. JUST GET RID OF IT. This is the single best tip for living well in a small space. You don't need to devise clever storage solutions when you don't have much crap to store in the first place.
2. ONLY BUY WHAT YOU REALLY NEED. Controlling what you bring into your home is the best way to avoid accumulating clutter.
So! What do you NEED when it comes to maternity clothing? My jeans stopped fitting midway through my first trimester, yet these are the only new items I've truly needed in order to dress comfortably every day thus far:
1. Storq Basics Bundle
I layer the items from this beautiful, simple Storq pack with my "normal" clothes for daytime outfits and evening wear. There are 4 products in this pouch (which itself is so easy to store-- photo below). I love that the pieces in this bundle create a simple foundation for endless maternity outfit possibilities when paired with your usual layers and accessories.
2. Over-The-Bump Jeans
My opinion: Don't waste your time with the demi-panel maternity jeans. They're uncomfortable and you outgrow them quickly. Get a pair of the over-the-bump jeans, and easily store them by donating 1-2 other clothing items you no longer love.
3. T-Shirt Dress
Ideal for lounging, sleeping, running quick errands, etc.
I even decided to downsize and declutter my toiletries. My skin changed a great deal when I reached my mid-thirties, and pregnancy has changed it even more drastically. So I got rid of my old skincare and makeup items, and simplified my routine and medicine cabinet. I decided to stick with a small selection of products from Glossier, Kate Somerville, Naked (by Urban Decay), Foreo, and Aesop. Nearly everything else went into the recycling bin. It always feels so good to get the bottle clutter under control. (Read more about our bathroom storage here.)
The biggest changes wardrobe-management changes will come in August and September, as we begin to clear out our closet in order to transform it into our son's nursery. In the meantime, we've been able to make do with the storage we have, which is pictured below:
1. Bathroom Shelving (read more about our bathroom storage here)
2. Whitney's Under-the-Couch Shoe Storage
3. Adam's Under-the-Couch Shoe Storage
4. The Closet (soon to be turned into the nursery)
5. The Bed Built-In Hamper (cameo by StanleeStubs)
6. The Bed Built-In Clothing Bin (photo by James Tse for "The Knot" Magazine)
Pregnant or not, small-space living can be frustrating if you have too much stuff. What I love about our home is that it reminds us to keep things simple, and requires us to routinely downsize our belongings. Since we've adopted this lifestyle, we've discovered that we have more energy and time to devote to one another, and to the things that matter most in our lives.
Disclaimer: All brands mentioned above are ones that I genuinely love to use as described. I have received compensation in the form of product for some of those mentioned in this post, but all opinions expressed are my own, regardless of compensation.