Remaining Clutter-Free for the Long Run
This weekend I conducted a “Living with Less” workshop at Create & Cultivate. Several of the attendees shared that they’d gone through the cathartic (albeit tedious) process of decluttering and downsizing, only to find themselves slipping back into an overstuffed life a few months down the road. This is something I hear repeatedly. So here are some tips for remaining clutter-free for the long run.
Photo by Smith House Photo for Create & Cultivate
Avoid Triggers
Identify your more reckless spending triggers, then take care to avoid them. For example, do you find yourself buying items off social media links or major retail sites when you’re bored, stressed or unable to sleep? Tuck the phone away and pick up a book, meet a friend, or take a walk instead. Do you buy junk at the airport during layovers? Bring your own snacks, bottles and entertainment with you, and don’t even step foot in the shops within the terminal.
Pause Before Purchasing
When online shopping, challenge yourself to wait at least 24 hours before checking out. Chances are you’ll realize that you don’t actually need all (or any) of the items in your cart.
Get One, Give Two
If you get something new, give away two items in its place. But make sure the items with which you’re parting have a dedicated home, as 80+% of donations end up in landfills.
Reduce Opportunities for Impulse Purchases
Once you’ve swapped your common disposable goods (such as paper towels, cotton rounds, cleaning supplies, diapers, and tampons) for reusable options, you’ll have far less shopping to do. And with fewer trips to the store, you’ll have fewer opportunities to make impulse purchases.
Decline Freebies
You don’t need to accept every free item and bit of SWAG dangled in front of you. Just walk away, or use the magic words: “No thank you.” If you still somehow end up with freebies of wellness products or clothing that can be of use to communities and organizations in need, leave the goods sealed/unopened and donate them as soon as possible.
Donating Gifts
If someone gives you a gift you can’t use and/or don’t like, shake off the guilt and donate it immediately. It doesn’t do anyone any good for the thing to rot away in a box under your bed. Pay their generosity forward by regifting the item(s) to a fitting non-profit.
Ask Qualifying Questions
Before you purchase a new object, ask yourself the following questions— you might be surprised by how few items actually clear these hurdles to earn a coveted place in your home:
Do I already own something that serves the same purpose as this new item?
Was this product produced ethically and with sustainability in mind?
Can this piece multitask? (Of course this question doesn’t apply to all goods, but it can apply to many. Multi-functional pieces will reduce the number of items you need in your home, saving you money and reducing your footprint.)
Where will this item be stored when NOT in use? And do I have the space for it?
Lastly, if the piece(s) you’re considering pass all of the questions above, then ask yourself: Is there a vintage or handmade option of this item that I can find locally instead?
Let’s do this— for our sanity, for our wallets, for our homes, for our busy schedules, and, above all, for the planet.
Sustainable Small Space Styling Feature
It’s my goal to assist others in embracing and enjoying life in— and with— a smaller footprint. Our friends at Olli Ella invited me to share a few tips pertaining to this on their lovely blog, since we have and use so many of their products here in our tiny home. A preview of the feature is below— visit their post and scroll to the bottom to shop the collection.
Tip 1: Use Your Local Library
Save money, preserve space, and reduce your environmental footprint by borrowing books from your local library— particularly if you have children. While we do have a permanent assortment of books in our home, the most used and efficient collections are those we borrow from the city and county libraries. We keep our son’s borrowed books in the Strolley as it’s easy and safe for him to roll around the house, and it keeps everything organized and easily accessible.
Tip 2: BYO... Everything
We all know that single-use plastics are responsible for a staggering amount of damage to the planet and its inhabitants. Bring your own reusable produce bags, bulk good containers, reusable to-go boxes, utensils, linens, coffee and water vessels, and refillable jars for cleaning and body products whenever possible. It doesn’t have to be as cumbersome as it sounds once you figure out a system that works for you. And since these items are constantly in varying stages of use, they’re easier to stash around your tiny home than you might think. We tote ours daily, and use our Luggys to transport them to and from our local farmers markets and grocery stores.
Tip 3: Organize In Style
You can stylishly organize toys, games, accessories, equipment and more within your small space by skipping the bulky plastic storage bins, and opting instead to use beautiful, versatile baskets made of natural materials. Instead of storing everything together, arrange the containers throughout your home. Use simple hardware, such as coat racks, s-hooks and wall hooks to mount and hang select baskets. This will free up some precious floor space, while enriching the look, feel and function of your home.
Tip 4: Get Some Fresh Air
Whenever possible, skip the car. Clearly this planet needs us all to cut back drastically on emissions from transportation. Plus riding a bike is better for your body, and getting outside is good for the soul. If your town offers shared/rental bikes, use them. If not, there are numerous handmade small space storage solutions for bikes available on sites such as Etsy. Our family shares one car, but we ride our funny little fleet of bikes far more often than we drive. I have a multi-tasking Mamachari for holding my phone and keys while I’m on my bike, and my son has a sweet little Mini Chari on his tricycle.
Tip 5: Decorate With Greenery
Adding a diverse array of air-cleansing plants to your home is not only a wonderful way to make your space visually striking and unique, but it’s also a creative way to avoid filling your home with mass-produced decorative objects. The less manufacturing that is required to create your residence and the items within it, the less harm you’re doing to the Earth. Choose plants that suit your vibe and location, and be mindful of selecting varieties that are safe for your family and pets. (Our son loves to water our houseplants at the kitchen sink while standing on his Storie Stool!)
Updates for a greener, simpler bathroom
In my recent “Space-Savvy, Low Waste Bathroom Swaps” post, I mentioned a product that we hadn’t yet tried, but intended to purchase: a bidet attachment.
Clearly this is not the chicest topic to cover on the blog. But after having the bidet attachment for a couple of weeks we see just how much toilet paper it saves, and I think that’s well-worth sharing. Plus, when I posted videos on Instagram Stories of us installing the bidet in the Cottage, the response was notably high, indicating to me that it was something I should discuss in greater detail. (Many viewers also inquired about our space-saving toddler training seat attachment, which I share and discuss below as well.)
Americans make, move and use 34 million rolls of toilet paper every day. The problem is not just the 54 million trees cut each year to keep up with demand, but also the enormous amounts of water, chemicals, and energy used in the destructive production process of toilet paper.*
It takes just 1 pint of water to properly wash with a modern bidet like the TUSHY. This modern bidet attachment easily attaches to your toilet in minutes— no extra inches required… and no need to continue store tons of extra toilet paper in your small home, apartment or office.
The Tushy isn’t the only thing that’s saving inches in the bathroom. West’s potty-training seat does too, since we don’t need to allocate floorspace for a stand-alone toddler toilet. The seat adapter even fits onto the bowl perfectly with the bidet attachment in place. (The Topseat comes in 2 sizes, for oval or circular seat models.)
We use Grovia’s multi-purpose wipes to dry off. They come in a variety of hues, so you can designate certain colors for certain uses. (An easy way to contain them for cleaning is via washable paper bags.)
So that’s it! Our most recent changes for a greener, less cluttered lil’ bathroom.
*Source: HelloTushy
Video: Tiny Takeaways (Ep.4)
This is the fourth installment of our mini video series, Tiny Takeaways. In this episode, we’re highlighting 5 easy ways to create a soothing small space by reducing visual clutter. We hope you enjoy! (For 200+ more tips for making the most of your compact home or apartment, explore our lil’ book: Small Space Style.)
(Note: This episode is formatted vertically for optimal mobile viewing. To watch it on a desktop/laptop, please click the full screen icon on the control bar at the bottom of the video player. )
Basket Roundup
In our new video series I’ve been showing ways in which we use our diverse basket collection to reduce visual clutter and increase functionality in our small home (and office). Similarly, Instagram Stories videos from our bikes, canoe, and our single car have offered a look at how we also use baskets while on-the-go. In response, I’ve received several requests to share some of my favorite designs and resources.
I’ve included a shopping round-up of baskets we use often (or used repeatedly in the past). When you look at the photos in this post, these scattered containers might not look like much. But in reality, they corral everything from art sets to reusable shopping accessories to dolls to instruments, and so much more. It’s all hiding right here in plain sight.
For me, the key is to find baskets that can be used in multiple ways. For example, the petite bag on the front of my bike can also be converted to a shoulder bag or backpack. And the rolling cart I take to the library and market holds larger garden toys while it’s parked at home. Versatile pieces such as these ultimately save space, money and waste.
When a container is no longer needed for one purpose, we adapt its use to suit our changing needs, rather than buying something new. The best example of this would be our beaded nesting set from Kembali Collective, which we repurpose at least once per month.
A SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING BIKE BASKETS - Across our 4 bikes, we use the following styles of baskets. (It might seem like a lot, but biking is our family’s primary mode of transport— even when we travel locally with the dogs.)
Child’s bike front basket, which converts to a shoulder bag or backpack
Matching adult front basket, which converts to a shoulder bag or backpack
Wide-rim rear basket for larger goods and jackets
A rear basket with a bottle holder
When riding, I usually wear a straw backpack for taller items, like wine bottles or branches. If I need something that closes at the top so goods don’t tip out if I bend over (which happens a lot when I’m traveling with West), then I wear this canvas minimalist backpack.
Photo Credits / Notes:
Whitney and West reading by Tinylicious.
Images of Whitney walking bike and West + StanLee on bridge by MindBodyGreen for Avocado Green Mattress.
As always, any images of West and/or the pups were taken as they interacted (under adult supervision) in their own natural ways.
Less Space, More Creativity
Often when I show my son playing games in our garden, readers send me sweet messages in which they lament the fact they they have no outdoor space where their kids can engage in similar activities. I understand completely— this is the first home I’ve ever had as an adult that includes a yard, an I’m grateful for our tiny patch of Earth every day. But I wanted to suggest another perspective and a few work-arounds for those feeling confined indoors with their baby, toddler or pre-schooler at any point during the year.
When it comes to certain activities (regardless of whether or not they’re considered indoor our outdoor), perhaps you don’t need more square-footage… just dive a bit deeper into your creative side.
When I was a pre-schooler, I had access to an oversized flannel board wall for paying with felt cut-outs, as well as numerous large trunks containing dress-up costumes and creative play accessories. Here, we have no room for either. Yet West can still partake in those games any time he likes.
We have 3’ panel of flannel that we simply tuck into the end of our bed or the edge of our couch, and suddenly those surfaces become adequate stretches of space for felt storyboards. (We keep the felt cut-outs in my favorite market basket so they’re easy to tote around.)
Similarly, there’s no ideal wall that we could paint and turn into a practical chalkboard. We had one of those lightweight Ikea chalkboard easels, but we kept running into it since it didn’t collapse. So we gave it to other parents in the neighborhood, and instead we got a flat chalkboard that we can tuck in the closet or flat up against a wall when not in use. We suspend it from a doorknob with a piece of twine or place it on the floor when West wants to draw on a larger surface.
As for dress-up trunks, we skip the bulky container and just spread the contents throughout the house in spaces that make the most sense for each particular piece. West always knows where to find his butterfly wings, binoculars, rain boots, and duck hat. They’re just not all clumped together in one oversized container.
When it comes to traditional outdoor activities, such as sand boxes and water play, it is clearly more environmentally-minded, space-savvy and budget-friendly to explore community resources, rather than default to buying something of your own. However, for the times when you want your child to be able to explore a messy game at home and don’t have a yard, there are compact and low-waste options available.
A small folding table topped with a collapsible tub, inflatable tray or a compact suite of eco-friendly, water-safe toys can work well for water, sand or other sensory elements. (West enjoys adding petals, rocks and leaves to his PlanToys water set, which is made with 100% sustainable rubber + wood and coated with a non-toxic finish. All colors are made from vegetable dye.)
If you don’t have a bathroom or tub large enough to accommodate such a set-up (we don’t either!), meet your new best friend: The Gathre Mat.
I’ve blogged about Gathre many times before, as we’ve used their mats for a bit of everything. We have one dedicated mid-sized mat that we used for diaper time back when West was in his Grovia cloth diapers, but we also have another, larger mat (which we cut into 2 pieces to suit our needs. We use this 2nd mat for covering the couch when it rains to protect it from puppy paws, and for covering the floor when our son uses watercolor paints, or plays with splash toys indoors.
Normally we do these things outside. But when it rains, during fires when the air quality becomes unhealthy, and other unique situations, we just drop down the mats and let West make a proper mess in the Cottage. The mats are stylish, easy to clean, and fold up tight. They can also be used time and time again as beach mats, picnics blankets, crafting surfaces, rug protectors under highchairs, and so forth.
While there are admittedly no groundbreaking small space ideas in this post, the point is to remind us all that we don’t necessarily need a larger home. We can work creatively with what we’ve got, while keeping our footprint small… and stylish.
(Note: As always, please keep safety in mind when it comes to your home and kid(s). The set-ups and activities that succeed in one environment for a particular child might not be suitable for a different type of home or another family.)
StanLee's 13th Birthday
StanLee, our senior adopted beagle-mix, turned 13 this week! We celebrated with long walks, an extra serving of food at breakfast, and a relaxed canoe ride along the canals.
StanLee has been by my side for more than a decade. We’ve chased rabbits on train tracks, tumbled through the snow, romped around beaches, and explored forests and deserts and mountains and prairies. We’ve driven across the country together. We canvassed door to door through the Carolinas. We’ve fallen into ponds, floated in pools, and gotten trapped in thickets. He kept me going during an epic breakup.
He jogged therapeutic miles with me every day and night, and now rides along in the canoe or in the cargo bike with West & Sophee. He fell in love with Adam in an instant, and I’m sure he understood when I did that Adam would become part of our family.
StanLee watches over our tiny cottage, and has even thwarted robbery attempts. He stood next to us on our stoop when Adam and I said our vows. He sat with my Dad and Grandpa Lou in Florida when they were recovering from treatments and surgeries, even though the medical equipment, walkers, and wheelchairs scared him. He protects West if my back is turned.
When I was pregnant, so many people warned me that once my son was born I wouldn’t feel the same level of love for the pups as I did before. But I’ve found that I’ve grown even closer to them both. Yes, sometimes our walks are delayed or cut short, and one-on-one time with either is something that has to be carved into the schedule with effort. But it’s been fascinating to watch them adapt to life with West and interact with him in their own ways. Sophee is still a total menace, but she has grown up, while StanLee has gone grey without losing his playfulness. I love them more than ever.
It might sound childish, but Stanlee is my best friend on the planet. #AdoptDontShop, folks. It can change your life in the most wonderful way.
Upholding Human Rights
There’s no excuse for human rights abuses. We are calling. We are donating. And, when the time comes, we are VOTING.
Click here to read The New York Times’ post entitled, There’s No Excuse for Mistreating Children at the Border. Here’s What To Do About It.” and explore their recommended action steps.
Video: Tiny Takeaways (Ep.3)
Lately I’ve been reflecting quite a bit on why I do what I do for a living. My goal is for the readers of this blog and my book to be confident and fulfilled in their small homes or apartments, and I want to be one of their primary, go-to resources for reliable, low-cost, eco-friendly takeaways that can help them spend less time organizing and searching for their stuff, and more time with the ones they love. Adam and I created a mini video series that we hope offers creative, no/low cost styling and storage solutions to folks living in smaller spaces.
This is the third episode of Tiny Takeaways, in which we focus on ways to free up floor and surface space by going vertical with functional decor.
Simplified Skincare
I don’t enjoy blogging about beauty-related topics. Women are often told in one way or another that we need to invest extraordinary time and money in beauty and youth at nearly every age, and I don’t want contribute to that narrative.
However, I can’t deny that my simplified skincare approach over the past 1-2 years has saved me time, money, and space. It has also reduced so much bottle, palette and canister waste that I feel as though it’s worth sharing here— especially since I’ve received several requests recently to post about my favorite resources for skincare and makeup.
First, some context: I’m 38 years old, covered in freckles, and have visible sun damage from decades spent outdoors in Florida and Southern California. (That’s why I’m constantly wearing my West Perro hat.)
I have never used injectables such as botox or fillers, and I have never had any cosmetic surgery.
I’ve been regrowing my eyebrows for 2 years by never, ever tweezing them, and I recently got temporary Microfeathering by Kristie Streicher to lightly fill in some patches that are slower to grow back.
Rather than ramping up my skincare and makeup habits as I grow older, I’ve pared them down in an effort to improve my overall health, better suit our limited physical space, and reduce my environmental footprint.
Instead of my skin rebelling at my scaled-back approach, it has responded favorably. Of course, my smile lines and crows feet all get deeper as the years pass. But my tone has evened-out, and my complexion has transformed.
For my face, my skincare routine is as follows:
I wash twice per day, alternating between this cleanser (which also doubles as a makeup remover balm) and this facial bar soap.
2x per week, I use this dual-action microdermabrasion exfoliator that delivers the benefits of both physical and chemical exfoliation.
I apply Active Treatment Essence twice per day (Note: This has been the most effective product I’ve ever used on my face)
I apply Active Botanical Serum at night
In the morning, I apply a tinted SPF20 moisturizer.
That’s it. No peels, no wipes, no moisturizers, no masks, no primers.
Although the Essence and Serum have higher price tags, they actually end up saving me money, since the contents of those 2 small glass bottles are long-lasting, and are all I really need. (If I want a little extra spot treatment, the Essence combined with an application of roll-on serum from this tiny bottle from Package Free Shop have helped me out 100% of the time. )
On my body I use a Leaping Bunny certified body stone that softens on contact with the skin. It’s available in a sustainably farmed, re-usable bamboo canister, or simply as a refill.
My makeup is limited as well— it’s mainly multi-use Olio E Osso balms and a few select Beauty Counter products. My collection consists of: Eyeshadow / Mascara / Sheer Lipstick / Eye Pencil / Highlighter / Brow Gel / Tinted Face Oil / Lip + Cheek Balm
I chose my makeup carefully after searching extensively for healthier products that actually work. While serious health issues are on the rise due in large part to our ongoing exposure to toxic chemicals, Beautycounter (a certified B-Corp) prohibits 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals from being used in their products. Plus I appreciate their ongoing approach to lighten their environmental impact. Last year alone they also offset 3,628 metric tons of CO2 to match 100% of their yearly HQ consumption, planted the equivalent of 4,270 acres of trees to offset carbon usage, and invested in 1,284 Water Restorative Certificates to offset 120% of their water usage. They’re also constantly adapting their packaging to be increasingly eco-friendly. A good example of this is their eyeshadow palette, which has a mirror that can be removed for use elsewhere, allowing the entire palette to then be recycled:
I also trust all things Goop, as their team approaches skin care from both inside and out, using high-performance, active ingredients and totally clean, nontoxic formulas for powerful results and healthy, glowing skin.
I use washable washable makeup remover pads to wipe off my makeup in the evenings, and washable cotton rounds for general cleansing. For folks who prefer to use wipes, here is a compostable option. (Read more about that via our “Space-savvy + Low Waste Bathroom Swaps” post here.)
Everything fits easily into a canvas pouch I found on Etsy, for use at the Cottage or on-the-go.
Here’s to simplifying our routines, and freeing up both time and space for the things that truly matter in this world.
Long-Lasting, Eco-Friendly Kids Clothing
Our son (who turns 3 this fall,) has very few articles of clothing. Nearly everything he needs fits into three jute baskets in our closet, while his undergarments and overnight cloth diapers fit in one additional small drawer.
It’s been the same ever since he was an infant. We never buy for his next stage of growth, and focus solely on comfort in the present. We donate anything that he’s clearly outgrown so as to avoid a build-up of articles, and we keep the number of garments that all of us own to a minimum.
The key is finding versatile pieces that can be layered regardless of season, as well as designs that continue to grow over time. Pants with legs that can be rolled up (and then back down again all too soon), and tops with sleeves that can do the same have been helped us keep certain garments in use for well over a year.
Whether we’re here on the beach or visiting our family up north during winter, our son remains comfortable. (We always have 1 major coat, 1 bathing suit, and 1 pair of gloves that fit him at his current size. All of these items fit year-round into one of his designated baskets— nothing is stored separately during off-seasons.)
We prefer to use hand-me-down clothing from West’s cousins, or pieces crafted in sustainable materials that are responsibly manufactured.
Here’s a list of our main resources.
Primary dot com: West basically lived in their zip-up rompers, day and night, until he was 18 months old.
Caribou Kids Clothing: These handmade pants grow 5-6 inches with your child, and the bamboo tops are incredible at keeping skin cool or warm, depending. West has 4 of the tops and they’re our favorites.
Arq Undies: Now that West is out of diapers (he pretty much potty-trained himself somewhere around 30 months old), he wears durable (and adorable) Arq underpants.
O.N.E. Grovia Cloth Diapers: Just to be safe overnight!
Go Gently Nation: We have a Go Gently Nation dress that our son wears at night, or any time he doesn’t feel like wearing pants. We also have a few of their lightweight long-sleeve shirts for nicer occasions. Again, these have fit our son for several months, and I believe he’ll get about another year out of them. I appreciate that they’re produced ethically and locally, cutting back on transport/emissions.
Red Creek Kids: The pants and rompers by Red Creek Kids are stylish, easy to wash, responsibly produced in small batches, and long-lasting.
Rudy Jude: Simple, natural, responsible, sustainable clothing for kids , babies and adults.
Neve & Hawk: We got West’s favorite sweatshirt here. I appreciate their bright, creative designs.
Exceptions: We try to never buy clothing from “fast fashion” sources, as they’re contributing hugely to the climate crisis. However, I’ll admit that in a pinch I found a couple pairs of West’s pants that we like for everyday use on Amazon. While they weren’t my wisest purchases, they are getting a ton of use. They will either be passed down to another child, or used as cleaning rags in the future if they fall apart.
Etsy: If we want to support a cause, get a bit more playful, or find a handmade accessory for our son, we source via Etsy.
Video: Tiny Takeaways (Ep.2)
Lately I’ve been reflecting quite a bit on why I do what I do for a living. My goal is for the readers of this blog and my book to be confident and fulfilled in their small homes or apartments, and I want to be one of their primary go-to resources for reliable, low-cost, eco-friendly takeaways that can help them spend less time organizing and searching for their stuff, and more time with the ones they love. Adam and I created a mini video series that we hope offers creative, no/low cost styling and storage solutions to folks living in smaller spaces. This is the second episode, in which we focus on ways to streamline a compact home-office. As always, thank you for your encouragement and continued support of our lil’ home, family and business.
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.
Before + After: Living Garden Wall
Back in February, we revamped the front half of the Cottage garden with the landscape design team at Big Red Sun. One of the most notable changes of the makeover was the addition of a 5-foot wide by 6-foot high garden wall at the entrance to our property.
The Cottage is surrounded by an old wooden fence. From late spring and throughout the summer, it’s masked by cascading grapevine tendrils and leaves. But during the other half of the year, the fence feels barren and looks pretty worn after years of water and termite damage. It’s not in our budget to replace it right now, but we can’t dress it up with planters either as it’s not strong enough in all areas to support the weight.
When the creative minds at Big Red Sun suggested beautifying the fence with a custom garden panel, I was thrilled. I’d seen examples in their shop before (shown below), and while I couldn’t picture exactly how one might look at our lil’ home, I knew it’d be the perfect spot for hanging pots, training plants to climb from the ground, and even buttressing part of the heavy grapevine canopy. (And any vertical design such as this is great for a small space.)
Above: A custom panel by/at Big Red Sun.
The custom steel panel was woven with brushwood by the BRS team on-site, and then braced by wooden posted that were cemented into the ground. See the before/during/after in the following image carousel:
Beyond making the entrance to our home more lively, the wall also saves space by allowing us to grow select plants off the ground, leaving those extra inches of garden floor for our son and dogs to enjoy when playing outside.
Sweet StanLee, in particular, likes to nestle deep into the bushes when he sits outside, and he’s killed quite a few plants in the process. It’s been nice to have some greenery up on the wall and immune to his actions.
The planters are simply suspended with heavy-duty zip ties. They’re brimming with succulents, nasturtium, strawberries, and more.
I added a round garden mirror to amplify the light and visually enlarge the space, we well as some ceramic air-plant hangers to layer up the wall.
Thank you, Big Red Sun, for such a unique and beneficial addition to our home. The panel and plants bring us joy. (More photos below!)
Before + After: Bond Group Entertainment Offices
Turning a compact room into a space that’s practical, versatile and beautiful is clearly one of my greatest personal joys. I usually gravitate towards smaller projects, such as troubleshooting a particular section of a home, outfitting tricky floor-plans, and working with existing layouts to make them more efficient, eco-friendly, stylish, streamlined, and/or multi-functional.
Recently, a friend of mine asked me to take her modern office space in Beverly Hills and make it feel like our lil’ old Cottage. While her entire office is fairly large overall, most of the rooms within it are compact and highly visible— like 8 unique yet overlapping small spaces.
The offices are home to Bond Group Entertainment, an HBO-affiliated production company founded and run by actress and executive producer Amy Adams, and manager Stacy O’Neil:
Also on the Bond Group team are Kathleen Clifford, their VP of TV Development, Eddie Adams, and Erica Katchen.
One of the most delightful challenges of this project was celebrating the unique needs and styles of the partners and staff, while also creating a cohesive visual that allows the spaces to flow harmonious together when viewed as a whole through their glass walls.
The members of Bond Group needed me to design within their rental parameters, avoiding bigger changes such as built-ins, wallpaper, paint, overall structure, window treatments, etc. (This is something I actually tend to prefer, because I feel like it makes the concepts and “takeaways” from each job more relatable for others— particularly renters and folks working within tighter budget constraints.)
The photos below jump to the reveal of each space:
I want to thank Amy Adams and Stacy O’Neil for giving me the opportunity to create an inviting space for their new production company. I also want to express my gratitude for the makers and vendors (credited via the pages linked above) who worked with me to help execute my vision for these offices.
(Portrait of Amy Adams by Marisa Vitale for The Tiny Canal Cottage)
Video: Tiny Takeaways (Ep.1)
I don’t want everything I publish to be shoppable. (That’s why I started my “Items You Can Probably Go Without” blog entries.) I don’t wan’t to earn income by constantly encouraging people to buy more, when I know that most of us can (and should, for environmental reasons,) live with less. What I do want is for folks to be comfortable, confident and content in their small homes or apartments. And I want to be a resource for reliable takeaways that can help you spend less time searching for your stuff, and more time with the ones you love.
Adam and I created a mini video series that we hope offers creative, no/low cost organizational and storage solutions to folks living in smaller spaces. This is the first episode, and I so deeply hope that it’s useful to some of you. As always, thank you for your encouragement and continued support of our lil’ home, family and business!
Like a Local: The Piece Collective
I don’t do much retail shopping these days, but I still try to support Venice’s small businesses whenever possible. I pedal our cargo tricycle to thrift stores and locally-owned boutiques when I need something for my family or clients, or even to just to pop by and say hi. Some of my personal favorites are Big Red Sun, Late Sunday Afternoon, Tumbleweed and Dandelion, Venice Plants, The Mart Collective, and Venice Vintage Paradise. Another favorite is The Piece Collective, which is a beautifully designed shop in an old bungalow located on Abbot Kinney. It carries works by some of my favorite makers and home brands, such as MQuan and The Dharma Door USA. They invited me over for a brief Q&A in honor of Mother’s Day— a preview is below.
Q: What do you find to be the biggest challenge of motherhood?
A: In a time of terrifying climate change, growing populations, sweeping violence, and general uncertainty, it can be an extremely intense process to decide whether or not to bring a new life into the world. And once that child is here, the task of balancing her/his safety with her/his independence is a phenomenal challenge every day. But it’s one that I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to face.
Q: How does it feel to be supporting brands that are sustainable and align with your lifestyle?
Whitney: It’s so important that we move beyond fast-fashion— it’s devastating to the environment, and even releases micro-plastics into our water supplies. But sustainable clothing needs to be made more accessible to all communities if it is to make a true difference.
It’s also my hope to help change the perspective that folks “need” new outfits for every year and occasion. I’ve embraced wearing the same garments repeatedly for shoots, interviews and events to help convey the message that newer isn’t necessarily better, and that a few durable and well-designed pieces (for your wardrobe or your home) can function with versatility and style for years.
Video: Small Space Style on Access Live
This week, StanLee and I were guests on Access Live, where I shared my book, Small Space Style, as well as some thoughts on living more sustainably with less.
We were lucky to work with Airstream, who provided a space-savvy Flying Cloud for the segment. (It’s so well designed, both inside and out. Adam and I are already planning to take our family on a lil’ trip in one of their travel trailers.)
We also brought our “Company Car” (the cargo tricycle by Virtue) for the feature. To my delight, the hosts later rode around the lot with StanLee.
The segment is below. Thank you so much for having us, Access Live! We look forward to returning.
Declutter with the Help of Greenery
Rather than buying new, purely decorative tchotchkes that will sit on the planet for hundreds (or thousands) of years, we try instead to outfit our lil’ home with multi-functional items, and/or organic decor that will naturally decay once the time comes. This is one of the many reasons I have happily embraced the houseplant craze.
By now, we all know that plants clean the air, eliminating harmful toxins while releasing oxygen and reducing carbon dioxide. They can also decrease stress, while increasing our feelings of happiness.
But a lesser discussed reason to decorate with plants is that— depending on how you go about it— it can reduce your level of consumer waste.
Most obviously, plants replace the need for superfluous decor throughout your home. And, when all is said and done, they can be composted or planted elsewhere, meaning that there will be no “stuff” left over to throw away or donate if your tastes shift or your needs change.
In my book, Small Space Style: Because You Don’t Need to Live Large to Live Beautifully, there are numerous tips for ways to incorporate greenery into even the most compact spaces— both indoor and outdoor. (There’s also a feature of my favorite plant guru, Hilton Carter.)
Our tiny home feels bare without plants, as demonstrated by the photos in this post, all taken on the same April morning. Just a handful of wisely placed varieties can make a huge difference in a small space, and create a visual that’s entirely unique. (After all, unlike a mass-produced print or accessory, no two plants are exactly the same.) We use a mix of invisible floating shelves, lightweight hanging planters, and vintage pots to display our indoor greenery.
Well Chosen Goods
I recently sat down for an interview with one of my favorite local brick-and-mortars about our lifestyle here in our lil’ LA cottage. Read/view the full story via Well Chosen by our friends at Midland. Below is a selection of additional imagery by Ashley Randall, and a preview of the the Q&A by the lovely Paige and Kelly of Midland.
Midland: What is your favorite thing about living in a small space and what’s one thing that is challenging about it?
Whitney: Living in a small space provides me with a constant reminder that I have all I need and more— and to be grateful for it. For me, living tiny isn’t a sacrifice. On the contrary. Our lives are overflowing, and I hope and aim to pay that extraordinary fortune forward through my work and my daily interactions with others.
Midland: When shopping brick and mortar shops, what inspires your purchases and keeps you coming back?
Whitney: Adam and I do very little shopping in general (o’ the joys of living in a tiny house!), but there are a handful of exceptional brick and mortars we love to visit and support. I’m delighted by practical goods that are also works of art. For example, a versatile pitcher that was formed by hand into a beautiful sculptural work makes my senses sing! The idea that a work of art can brighten your home with its form, while also serving as a watering vessel for plants, a vase for clippings, and a serving piece for your family’s meals is something that I find so valuable. I gravitate towards shops that collect and curate pieces crafted in this spirit.
Above: Wearing garments from Midland at the Cottage.