Sustainable, DIY Mini Christmas Tree
In these days leading up to the holiday break, when so many of us want to welcome that festive feeling without spending money or contributing to overflowing waste bins, this is a simple, lovely, adaptable DIY / craft activity for both adults and little ones: Mini Holiday Trees!
Just pop over to your local tree farm / vendor and ask if they wouldn’t mind you scooping up some remnant branches and stumps from around their sawing station.
There might already be a hole in the slices of the tree trunks from display stands at the vendor. If not, just drill one or more in which to pop branches, either all together (like a shallow vase), or independently (like a floral frog).
Add a battery-operated or rechargeable faux-candle or light strands for a hint of safe glow, along with leftover ornaments, earrings or tags and voila! You have a compostable, ever-changable, mini holiday tree for festive flare around your home and garden.
Happy holidays!
Designing an Adaptable, Built-in, Small Space Sofa
Post Summary: How we designed our custom, adaptable sofa, which includes a side table, ample storage, a console / tabletop surface, and drop zone cabinets.
Compared to our previous home, which measured under 400 square feet, our current home feels positively palatial to us as about 900. Despite the increase in space, it’s still undeniably and, for us at least— delightfully compact for a family of 6 (2 adults, 2 kids and 2 pups) and a set of small businesses.
We’re run into all the usual small space hurdles, like how to maximize inches, comfort and maneuverability when it comes to the living room layout and sofa.
I initially had my heart set on a Sixpenny sofa, as they look so timeless and beautiful to me. But in the end, as always, we realized that we would get the most for our budget and space if we designed a multi-functioning piece ourselves.
I sketched out an idea for a couch with an “L” component that could move as-needed, functioning as a chaise in one position, a wide ottoman in another, or even an extra deep longe or bed in another.
To make sure we didn’t lose the inches beneath the couch, we kept the hollow core accessible via lift-top seats, which can be removed entirely to reveal generous storage for items like luggage, evacuation / emergency kits, seasonal decor, and more.
We opted for a basic, lift-off style of lid so we didn’t risk hinges dropping heavy surfaces down onto little fingers, and so we’d have a clean look along the front rather than a cubbied exterior.
Even the sofa arm lifts off, providing us with a slim but highly usable compartment for spare throw blankets and our foldable projector screen.
Since the sofa backs up to the entryway, I worked a drop-zone component into it by adding a functional pony wall and set of cabinets. But that’s another post for another time!
We determined the depth of seating we desired by measuring a few seats we like in other homes. We decided the lengths of the piece by making sure that the tallest members of our family could stretch out fully and comfortably overnight, and lounge leisurely by day. In the end, we ended up with seating measuring 2’ deep, and 7’ long on either side.
And, just like everything else in the house, the couch is a bit higher than standard due to our heights.
While designing a custom piece can be costly depending on materials selected and labor involved, we estimated that this piece cost us less than store-bought pieces would have, as it’s a convertible sofa, storage space, guest bed, end table, entryway console, and row of cabinets all rolled into one.
Sources:
The decorative wood tops are made from river recovered cypress boards from Goodwin Heartpine in Micanopy, FL.
I oiled the cypress with Rove & Dwell’s Fiber Oil, which is Hemp Oil, sourced directly from local farmers and cold pressed, which means no chemicals or solvents are used to extract the oil. Fiber Oil delivers a beautiful, natural oil tone without the harmful ingredients found in most solvent-based and oil-based finishes.
The cushions (seat + back) are from Cushion Source
The throw pillows, made from repurposed rugs, are from Tumbleweed & Dandelion in Venice, CA, and a maker on Etsy.
The paint is the same as the walls to give it a built-in look: Shoji White by Sherwin Williams
The coffee table is vintage via Etsy
The rug is Lauren Liess via Rugs USA
The cabinet pulls are via Connected Goods
Windows are Marvin
Dedicated Housing for Foster Youth
My grandpa Lou was orphaned at 9. He bounced around homes, towns, and states. He watched a caregiver burn his clothes and everything he owned right in front of him. At various points he ran away, lived on a breezeway, and was reunited with - and then dismissed by - relatives. It wasn’t until he met a mentor, his rabbi, that he felt heard, safe, and guided. He took over the management and responsibilities of a scrapyard, he served and traveled in the military, he started a family, and he gave back to his communities.
When foster youth have a person and place they can count on, they can begin to break the cycle of trauma, and pivot their energy from surviving towards thriving. This is one of the many reasons I passionately support The RightWay Foundation, and invite you to join me. (A donation link is always on my site.)
Thanks to your ongoing generosity, RightWay provided dedicated housing for 34 current and former foster youth, and supportive services for 110 youth aging out of foster care throughout 2022. In the new year, RightWay will provide dedicated housing for 30 additional former foster youth… because having a place to call home is the first step to a healthy, financially stable adulthood.
RightWay’s job training, mental health sessions, housing support, and overall community services work. I’ve witnessed it first-hand, and if you sign up for their newsletter and subscribe to their Instagram feed, you’ll see it too.
Lower Waste Gifting - 2022 Edition
Post Summary: My 2022 personal gift guide featuring low waste goods and/or products from independent makers. (Note: None of the items on this list are sponsored, though I have worked with some of these products or brands in the past. This is my own roundup. )
The following is what we gift or recommend to our close family and friends throughout the year. Several of these items overlap with gifting lists / posts from previous years, because the point isn’t finding the best “new” thing— it’s finding goods that serve a practical purpose with unique style while bringing joy.
Railroad Lantern
The rechargable lantern from Barebones that we’ve been using nightly at the Cottage. It’s easy to carry, suspend, or display on small surfaces.
Click here
Stabilo Woody 3-in-1 Duo Pencils
These multi-tasking pencils with 2-color points can be used in a multitude of ways, including on glass.
Click here
Creative Style by Lizzie McGraw
If you’re on this site, you’ll love the interior design work of Lizzie McGraw. Every piece of multi-tasking furniture I’ve ever designed has been designed with Lizzie, and built by her and her team with reclaimed materials and lots of love. Lizzie turns overlooked items into treasures on a daily basis, and her long-standing shop on Abbot Kinney in Venice is one of my favorite places on the planet, as it shares her vibrant heartbeat. This book is full of inspiration and joy, just like its author.
Click here
Reusable Ear Swabs
LastSwab replaces up to 1000 single-use cotton swabs. Their standard swab and their makeup swab both have a soft-feel tip and are easy to clean.
Click here
Herbs for Home & Healing in the Anthropocene
Our bodies and this planet are our true homes, so we need to listen to and care for them. I have personally come to regularly rely on these Earth Star Herbals by Alyson Morgan.
Click here
Me: A Compendium (Kid’s Journal)
This delightful, fill-in journal is one of West’s recent favorites. (For reference, he’s 6 years old.) It’s funny and playful, and a great outlet for kids who enjoy reading, writing, drawing, and thinking creatively.
Click here
Water Carbonator
Our Aarke water carbonator is not only stylish, but it helps us save between 4-6 bottles from the recycling bin daily. We have the Carbonator Pro in Sand, because it uses glass bottles rather than plastic. But the traditional Aarke is fantastic too, and offers a tiny countertop footprint for space-savvy styling.
Click here
Children’s Audio App Subscription
This app / audio subscription service has a diverse selection of programming for kids of all ages. (West and Léa particularly love Sarah & Duck, and also enjoy Alphabet Adventures.)
Click here
Caraway Cook + Bakeware + Food Storage
I got Adam a set of Caraway’s non-toxic, colorful pots / pans for the new cottage, and we both appreciate them so much that we invested in their bakeware and food storage, too.
Click here
All of Us Skin Tone Crayons
Handcrafted in the USA without any paraffin or fillers, these crayons are crafted with beeswax, carnauba wax and earth pigments.
Click here
The Naked Stone
These low waste moisturizing stones are for the whole body, and are a made-from-scratch revolution against plastics, pumps, and chemicals, and come in a refillable bamboo canister.
Click here
Portable Projector
We don’t have a TV or large monitor in our home, but we can watch movies anywhere thanks to our little projector.
Planetbox
This stainless steel lunchbox (which comes in a few sizes/styles) is one of the most-used items in our home, and eliminates the need for baggies and multiple containers for meals on-the-go.
Click here
Safety Razor
We can prevent millions of plastic, disposable razors and razor heads from entering landfills and oceans with safety razors. Oui the People makes beautiful safety razors to last a lifetime, and also sells blade refills.
Click here
Refurbished Ratio Coffee Maker
Ratio makes the most beautiful coffee makers— especially when paired with their glass carafes. The smaller model is particularly great for small spaces. We have the Ratio8 in a refurbished model.
Click here
Steamline Luggage
These suitcases, which have been favorites of mine for years, are so stylish that they can be reused for a myriad of purposes and for storage around the home. This is particularly helpful in small spaces, where there’s often no place to store a suitcase. If you can’t store it, why not display and use it daily?
Click here
Collapsible Water Bottle
Reusable bottles have never been easier to tote! These collapsible, pocket-sized Stojo bottles even loop over a bike/stroller handlebar or around a backpack with ease.
Click here
Homemade Grape Jam & Bread
Nothing beats homemade food. No clutter. No waste. No costly spending. And a gift from the heart and hands.
Rechargeable Lighter
There are more than 300 uses per charge in this stylish lighter, and it’s rechargeable, eliminating the need for refills or disposables. Plus it has a safety mechanism for homes with little ones.
Click here
Vintner's Daughter
This company’s skincare philosophy centers on offering multi-correctional performance and the belief that if one product delivers a myriad of benefits, fewer products are needed, fewer are produced, and less natural resources are utilized. Even better, the ingredients are sourced from responsible producers, many of which have used the same sustainable, organic farming practices for generations. It’s not cheap, but for the quality and all the products it replaces, Active Botanical Serum is totally worth it, in my opinion. (This company is also a donor to The RightWay Foundation.)
Click here
Play Silks
Sarah’s Silks is a family owned company specializing in Waldorf inspired sustainable toys for children. Their silks are simple and versatile, and dyed with non-toxic, eco-friendly dyes.
Click here
Braiding Sweetgrass
Everyone could do with putting down the phone and picking up a book. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer shows that, “the awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgment and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world.”
Click here
Handmade Wooden Incense Burners
I purchased one of these little gems for the new Cottage and the entire family is enamored with her.
Click here
OddBird Robes + Towels
Sustainably robes made in small-batches, using 100% natural fibers and woven by artisans on century-old semi-automatic looms.
Click here
Late Sunday Afternoon Ascots
These responsibly-made ascots can be worn in a myriad of ways— around your neck, on your wrist, in your hair, on your bag/pack/basket, and around the brim of your hat. Our friends at Late Sunday Afternoon use locally sourced deadstock fabrics to create their ascots in-house. Any scraps are used to stuff handmade dog beds that they then donate to animal shelters.
Click here
Choosing Our Exterior Paint Color
How we chose our exterior paint color: Natural Choice from Sherwin Williams. (The runners up were Urbane Bronze and Iron Ore.)
If you follow along on our Instagram, you’ll know that I waffled over the perfect exterior color for our new cottage for months.
Initially we’d intended to select a muddy green, thinking it would help the structure blend into the woods in which it’s nestled. But we realized that the tones we had in mind somehow appeared to compete or clash with the year-round green leaves of the neighboring oaks.
It became apparent that in order to properly submerge the house in nature, we needed to coordinate with the dark brown trunks of the trees instead. Once we made this shift from greens to warm, deep browns, we were seeing the results we desired when testing swatches. I really liked Urbane Bronze and Iron Ore, and had a hard time deciding between the two. (It didn’t help that the rest of the family’s opinions were evenly divided between the two choices.)
During this time, however, I became concerned with the potential transfer of heat from a darkly painted exterior to the interior, as the southern wall of the house is the largest uninterrupted side, gets the most sun, and borders the kids’ play space and the area of the home that would end up storing all of our food. I also began to look at nearby homes and noticed that the mid-range and darker colors fade or change more noticeably than the lighter homes, plus the dirt from the roads off which we live appeared to cling to them. But what snapped me from my dreams of having a rich and dark cottage exterior was the moment I accidentally put my hand down on a piece of recently painted tester siding that I’d positioned in the sun to dry and it instantly burned my hand. I knew the moody paint I’d had my heart set upon just wouldn’t work in this particular application, no matter how badly I wanted it to.
So we pivoted to the other end of the spectrum, seeking a warm white that wouldn’t take on the blue of the sky or the green of the leaves, but also wouldn’t look too stark, bland, or out of place in the wooded setting. We also didn’t want anything too yellow or bright. We simply wanted an easygoing, Earthy tone that would call to the pale spots on the bark throughout the woods, and echo the sandy patches of soil snaking through the land.
We tried 4 options: Shoji White, Natural Choice, Antique White, and Summer White.
Not only didn’t it check off all the boxes we’d established once we pivoted to white, but it also worked beautifully with the recovered wood cypress soffits and the dark bronze Marvin windows.
From the very first moment the team began to apply the paint, we knew we’d chosen the right color for our project and taste.
The Emerald line is self-priming, with a resistance to blistering, peeling, fading and dirt pickup, as well as a mildew-resistant coating. It was a larger investment, but we believe it will save us money in the longer run given the temperature + humidity extremes of our region, torrential downpours, and the dusty, pollen-filled air that the exterior of the house will experience.
We decided to avoid contrasting trim, as the lines of the windows (with divided lites to prevent bird strikes), the reflections of the trees, and the natural variations in the oiled but unstained Cypress soffits provide more than enough visual interest. As such, the only paint color used on the exterior is Natural Choice.
I’ll have more photos of the exterior once the building supplies and equipment are moved, the porch is decorated, and the garden has been planted.
But for now, even as a work-in-progress, we couldn’t be happier with how the exterior turned out.
Note: Sherwin Williams gifted some of the exterior paint used on the exterior of the cottage. All opinions and choices are my own.
Tips for Avoiding Unnecessary Gifts
This is an updated, more comprehensive version of an earlier post entitled, “How to Politely Handle Unwanted Gifting.”
It’s the time of year… for unwanted and unnecessary gifts.
With the planet in crisis, folks struggling financially, and families grappling with an excess of clutter in their homes, I’d argue that it’s time we more widely accept and respect one’s decision to firmly avoid giving and receiving gifts.
But how do we kindly tell a child’s relatives to stop sending toys? What do we do about well-intended friends who insist on giving “something!”? What solutions are there for rehousing the unwanted gifts that inevitably make their way through the door, despite the recipients wishes? And what are some unique gifts that won’t further contribute to overflowing households, and — inevitably— landfills, which have a greater impact on disenfranchised and marginalized populations? (See Toxic Communities: Environmental Racism, Industrial Pollution, and Residential Mobility by Dorceta E. Taylor.)
Since living in our cottage, having our first child, and learning more about the climate emergency, we began gently telling our friends and family that the absolute best gift they can give our children is an inhabitable planet for their generation and those that follow, and that giving random stuff doesn’t help them in the long run.
For years, this conversation was easy for us, as most people knew that we lived in a tiny house that couldn’t accommodate excessive belongings. Now that we’ve moved into a space over twice the size (~900 sqft), we predict that we’ll have to remind folks that even though our square footage has increased, we still have the same views regarding gifting.
We know that everything sent our way is usually acquired with so much love, but we believe that the impact of the items (from the manufacturing, to workers’ rights, to packaging, to transport, to haphazard placement within our home, to eventual disposal of some sort,) ultimately matters more than the intent.
For folks who take affront, and/or just don’t quite understand our reasoning, I suggest or give a copy of The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis, and/or Aja Barber’s book, Consumed: The Need for Collective Change: Colonialism, Climate Change, and Consumerism.
Of course it needs to be acknowledged that to ward off gifting of this nature is a privilege, as so many people are living unhoused and without the basic necessities. But, as Barber wrote* in an Instagram post, “The things which are said to us in childhood normalize living in a world with inequality… “ (ie: “Be grateful for your food / gifts, because so many people are going without!”) So instead of tricking ourselves into believing that we should simply continue to accept unnecessary gifts and keep our thoughts to ourselves, we’ve instead started pointing the folks who wish to convey their love in tangible form in the direction of nonprofits such as The RightWay Foundation, which are in constant need of financial and product donations.
We are, however, always happy to receive children’s books, knowing that our kids will explore them thoroughly for years, and that we can ultimately pass them along to other children, a library, or a local school once they’re no longer being read.
We also embrace the idea of gifting experiences, such as museum or garden memberships / admissions, Airbnb Experiences, digital subscriptions, local food and beverage, and other such presents that support an organization or small business while also providing our family or others with a new adventure of some sort. When it comes to regifting unwanted items, I look at it this way: If a giver circles back and asks me to reveal the whereabouts of a present they once gave us, that relationship is probably one that needs some reconsidering or deep work. And besides, there are so many people, families and organizations in need of certain goods that I feel no guilt in passing along a thing we do not need here, and giving it instead to someone who can put it to good use.
When rehousing an item, we’ve discovered that it’s extremely important to first verify that an organization can indeed put it to specific use, otherwise it is statistically destined for a landfill. Hopefully the original gift-giver would understand and support that action.
’Tis, after-all, the season to share.
(*Reference to a post by Aja Barber entitled, “Where do out human rights and and others begin?”)
Extra Tall Kitchen Counters
Note: The kitchen is still a work in progress, as we await the arrival of our backsplash, shelves, and permanent island countertop.
Our family is tall. I am nearly 6’, Adam is 6’2”, and my father is 6’4”. Since we designed this new cottage from scratch, higher-than-usual surfaces were an option, and became one of the top essentials on our wish list.
(We didn’t overlook the kiddos when deciding this— see one example of our space-savvy features for them here.)
After years spent hunched over lower surfaces, this design feature has been beneficial for our bodies and our workflow.
In the kitchen, we designed surfaces that sit at 40.5” high. This meant that we had some atypical space to play with in the lower cabinet area, and that we’d have to get a bit creative when designing around standard appliances.
To start, we have a slightly heightened toe-kick area. I know that zero-recess toe-kicks with seamless plaster frames or flush, decorative trim are in style, but with taller folks come bigger slippers, and we find the carveouts to be practical for our home and bodies.
But the real height is added through the addition of 4” high peek-a-boo storage nestled between the tops of the major appliances and beneath the countertop on the back wall.
On the island, we heightened everything with the help of a pull-out drying surface above the customizable Café Appliances dishwasher, and utility drawer over the appliance-sized pull out rubbish + recycling + compost drawer.
In a compact kitchen (particularly one with kids!), the under-counter storage space has been immensely useful already. Plates, a child-size silverware organizer, bowls, and cutting boards easily slide in and out of the cubby.
And since the recessed space extends to all the way to the back of the kitchen wall, there are even more storage opportunities behind the often-used items, proving concealed homes for items like spare glass bottles, carbonator cartridges, serving platters and more.
One of the key design elements that allowed us to make this unique storage option so spacious (the only interruption from wall to wall is the range,) was the inclusion of two sub-counter refrigerators, rather than one wide/tall model. A panel-ready fridge was an option we considered, but we preferred to maximize the upper cabinets, using them to hold dry goods, small appliances, and glassware.
The two customizable Café Appliances , drawer-style refrigerators hold everything we need within reach of the kids, and allow us to retrieve food and drink with ease. Each fridge has 2 spacious drawers, and built-in adjustable organization accessories.
(We don’t have a freezer, as we almost never use one and didn’t want to waste the space. Plus we do have access to a freezer in the grandparents’ house next door if need be.)
The beautiful, customizable Café Appliances range sits on a platform that blends with the toe-kick. We could’ve turned that lower support into a drawer, but for optimal safety and support we left it as-is.
Once the backsplash, wall storage and kitchen island are installed we’ll do am updated post and full tour!
Sources of note:
Nontoxic wood stain and sealer: Rove & Dwell
River-recovered pine floorboard back countertops: Goodwin Heartpine
Knobs & pulls, clean / dirty magnet: Connected Goods
Mugs + drying mats + animal magnets + custom sink: Etsy
Pots & pans: Caraway
Coffee maker: Ratio
Water filter: Walter Filter Ceramics
Note: Café Appliances generously gifted our range, refrigerators and dishwasher, which we appreciated hugely — particularly because we decided to leave the major appliances we’d secured for our Venice Canal Cottage there for the next stewards of that space. Product selection and opinions are entirely my own.
Lime Painting the Cottage Walls
One delightful way to achieve depth and texture in a small space without cluttering up the square-footage is through the application of lime paint.
Main bedroom, work in progress.
For this reason, among others explored below, we opted to paint our new 11’ x 12’ bedroom with Color Atelier lime paint in “Cobblestone,” — a mossy, matte, green-brown.
Lime paint creates subtle movements with natural color variations on interior and exterior surfaces. Color Atelier Lime Paint is natural and mineral-based, which can be used safely in areas with children and pets.
This paint is made with traditional European techniques known for removing toxins, odors and harmful CO2 from interior air, thus improving interior air quality.
Color Atelier Lime Paint is user friendly and it is simple apply it by yourself using a block brush in random, multi-directional strokes— no special techniques or faux methods required; the lime will create the effect in a natural way.
It is non-flammable, free of odor and VOCs, free of solvents, and toxic chemicals, and is composed of all natural materials and mineral pigments.
Lime’s high pH makes it a mold and mildew resistant finish. It also means that microorganisms can’t survive, which adds an hypoallergenic quality.
I typically like to reflect on a space and navigate around it for some time before making design decisions. In this case, I waited for the Lime Paint in the main bedroom of our new cottage to dry and viewed it in all sorts of light conditions before deciding that we definitely needed to include the ceiling:
We’re thrilled with the “Cobblestone”— so much so that we wish we’d painted the entire interior with various hues of Lime Paint, rather than standard paint. (But it will give us an update to look forward to years down the road!)
Below are three videos of the paint process that I shared on Instagram in real-time:
Note: The descriptions of the Lime Paint and the Cobblestone color are from the Color Atelier website.
Tiny Greenhouse Bedroom + Office
In a recent poll on social media, folks asked to see our tiny greenhouse as a sleep + workspace combination through the introduction of a daybed.
As we’re currently pulling furniture from storage in anticipation of our Cottage move-in date, as well as keeping the greenhouse flexible in preparation for the brick flooring installation in November, we figured we’d give the new setup a try.
After all, ever-versatile (and small) spaces are my favorite…
We hauled out West’s organic Avocado mattress, which he’ll be using in the Cottage when the time comes. (If we decide to keep this daybed setup out here at the greenhouse, we’ll ultimately secure another.)
organic mattress
(healthier for people. healthier for the planet.)
use promo code WHITNEYLEIGHMORRIS125 here
Adam and I have — and loooove — the same mattress in a Queen (with the topper add-on). We even got another Avocado in a King size as a gift for my parents last year. And yes— even the dogs have Avocado pet beds. After all, they’re as much family as the rest of us.
With the introduction of the daybed came the need to balance out the space with a larger work surface, so I brought in this slim, folding, reclaimed wood table.
I find that narrow, collapsible, yet expansive surfaces like this are ever-useful in compact rooms.
I’m a fan of this new format. Once the Fireclay brick floor is installed, I suspect we’ll make a daybed a permanent piece.
What do you think? Could you work and doze here— all in 114 sqft?
Built-In Kitchen Step Stool
Our new kitchen might be on the smaller side, but our countertops are on the (much) taller side. As a family full of folks 6’ tall and over, we’ve spent countless hours stooping over sinks and hunched over cutting boards. But no more!
One of the greatest perks of designing our little cottage from scratch was the ability to design surfaces to better suit our needs (and ease our aches). However, we have two young children and wanted to be sure they’d retain the ability to reach faucets and handle essential items on their own as needed.
In consideration of this, we’ve worked a number of unique features into our interior, one of them being a space-saving, retractable step-stool at the soon-to-be-skirted kitchen sink.
We mentioned this concept to the wonderful carpenter who has been bringing our vision to life, and he further magicked it into this design. The stool is as wide as the sink (about 22”), and features two levels of tread.
The track keeps everything from sliding side to side, and we held on to the kids while they first tested it out so that they have a better understanding of how to climb up and down safely with the retractability in mind.
Our oldest is already a pro. Our youngest will take supervising for some time, but at her age that’s the case pretty much anywhere.
It’s a work in progress, of course, but within the next two weeks it should all be wrapped up and we’ll soon be moving in!
Using Recovered & Reclaimed Wood Remnants for a Unique Flooring Pattern
They say that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Well, we’re the second-hand treasure seekers over here!
We’ve used reclaimed materials as well as surplus supplies from larger local builds on parts of our new, small cottage. Now we have three palettes of diverse leftovers of recovered wood from Goodwin to add to the mix!
We decided to experiment with these leftovers, attempting to create bedroom floors with a pattern I’ve had in mind for well over a year. It’s a pattern I’ve seen before in Europe, so the design details feels like another little nod to our French Farmhouse in a roundabout way.
It’s not only the pattern that drew me to the idea of this flooring. It’s the reusing of hundreds of remnant scraps, which came from boards that were both river-recovered and building reclaimed.
Not only are there different types of character pine in this floor, but there’s also very noticeable variation in the wood’s size, surface condition, age, and color.
The variation is all welcome here, as the mix of widths and face markings only makes everything all the more special in our minds.
In certain light, the floor reads a more muted-brown. In other light, it has a red tint to it. We will be staining it with a healthy, whey-based layer in order to mute and even the tones without taking away from the general tonal variations and markings.
When paired with the lime painted walls, this room feels lovingly handmade and full of character. It’s exactly as I imagined.
Packing Carry-On Only Bags for Family Travel
Packing light for air travel with children.
When I showed glimpses of the carry-on only luggage that our family took to the Tiny French Farmhouse this summer, I received a cascade of unanticipated comments and questions: “How?” “Impossible.” “Packing list, please.”
First and foremost, we have somewhat of a cheat when it comes to packing for this particular destination, as the farmhouse is our home and we plan to leave items there over time for increasingly lighter packing in the future. However, since this was only our second visit — and three out of four of us have VERY different bodies and needs than we did the last trip — these were pretty much fully packed bags.
Since most of us are operating on minimal mental bandwidth these days, I’m breaking down what/how we packed into simplified categories below:
BAGS
3 backpacks:
~25L juvenile overnight-style backpack (I wouldn’t recommend the one we have — but this one would’ve worked better.)
1 kid’s ride-along convertible suitcase / seat extender
1 washable paper catch-all Palermo tote by UASHMAMA for miscellaneous overflow items
Baby Carrier Mini, in lieu of a stroller (Note: our youngest is small — please read specifications to find a carrier that suits your child.)
BOOKS
While I prefer hard-copy books, Adam and I use an e-reader for travel
For our baby/toddler: Indestructibles (lightweight, slim, flexible, waterproof)
For our young reader, paperback library books / series selected for content AND weight/size
FOOD + BEVERAGE
2 Stojo adult collapsible bottles, latched to backpacks with carabiners
2 Stojo children’s collapsible bottles, latched to backpacks with carabiners
1 Stojo collapsible, lidded bowl/to-go container
4 Sets of to-go cutlery with straws and washable napkins (minus the matching knives
1 Set of beeswax cloths
FOOTWEAR
I find that shoes from the following brands usually travel + wash well, as they’re slim but sturdy and flexible:
Rothy’s
AllBirds
Bensimon
FEIT slippers
Note: Rothy’s — both the men’s and women’s styles — are also versatile for dressing either up or down.
TOILETRIES
Shampoo + conditioner bar
All-age tin of sunscreen
Toothpaste tablets
Travel first aid kit
One shared travel-sized bamboo brush
Menstrual cup
LastSawb ear swab
Cadence magnetic honeycombs for smaller/specialty liquids.
A clear Stasher bag for all bottles, for easier TSA inspection when required. We then wash and use the bag for other things while abroad.
Above: A TSA-approved size bottle of multi-use Branch Basics cleaner from concentrate for use as detergent and more
TECH
We kept our tech to a minimum, editing cords and plugs and sharing as much as possible between necessary devices. We use a portable, zip-around cord book / organizer to keep everything streamlined.
TOYS
We repurposed small canvas pouches and reusable clear baggies to further organize and corral figurines, activities for fine motor skills, reusable-sticker books, and art supplies. All the pouches fit in the ride-along case with room to spare, since everything becomes undone in travel and needs to fit pell-mell, too. Once in France, we use the pouches and baggies to syphon off activities for car rides and unexpected waits while out-and-about.
CLOTHES + OUTERWEAR
This is so specific to preference, region, time of year and individual needs that I see no point in getting TOO specific. But since we knew we’d be able to wash our clothes, we only needed the following:
A TSA-approved size bottle of multi-use Branch Basics cleaner from concentrate for use as detergent and more
3 days worth of outfits each
1 overnight outfit each
Specialty gear like swimsuits and water-repellent jackets
Building Our New Small Cottage
In January of this year, we broke ground on our new small Cottage in the Southeast.*
(*For those who are confused about this new cottage vs our Tiny French Farmhouse: the property that we’re restoring and renovating in France is a forever project for us, and won’t be livable full-time for several years. As such, this small Cottage will be our primary residence and studio for the foreseeable future, as planned from the onset.)
This cottage is roughly 900 square-feet. For reference, our Venice cottage was <400. The entire structure is built up about 5’-6’ off the ground due to current flood-level requirements in this particular area, which is a wildlife sanctuary.
The floorplan was a collaborative effort (dating back to November of 2020) between myself and Jennifer Langford (AIA, CNU, PA, LEED-AP) of The Sustainable Design Group.
Above rendering by & © Jennifer Langford, The Sustainable Design Group
My initial concept was a layout similar to that of our Venice cottage, but elongated to accommodate a second bedroom. Jennifer took the design and updated it to reflect the necessities of Florida living.
For example, she added a small utility room to house an HVAC system and electric water heater in order to cleverly avoid stealing space from the vaulted ceilings, which we wanted to keep as open and airy as possible.
As a result of the utility room addition, she bumped out the shower in our bathroom + laundry room combo, resulting in one of our favorite features of the home thus far:
I’ll publish more of the small space design and engineering process with Jennifer in the future, but for now I’m sharing some of the exciting progress from 2022 thus far. (I’ve been covering this extensively on social media— particularly Instagram Stories, where I post daily updates and will continue to do so. Nearly 500 videos and photos of the process can be seen in the numerous “Prairie ADU” Highlights on my profile.)
Although it has all taken longer than planned (due to numerous factors), we are pleased with our GC and his close team of subcontractors. Our home isn’t an easy one despite the compact floor plan, primarily due to the elevation and our decision to opt for custom framing. But the team is really bringing something beautiful to life for my family and business.
It’s been a year and a half since we left Venice, so we’re beyond eager to move in and resume our small space lifestyle… in our new setting, and with our newest family member.
We’re almost at the finish line!
Let's go to Italy... together!
From April 23 - April 29 of 2023, I’ll be hosting a trip to Italy! Want to join me?
View the details + itinerary and/or book to join here!
I was initially considering a group trip to France (and perhaps one day we’ll do so!), but the itinerary for the Italian trip sang to me and ultimately won me over. It offers so many activities that remind me of our life in California, but with all the rich culture, history and architecture of Europe.
Activities Included:
Milan City Cycle Tour
Cooking Class with a Milano Chef
Lake Como Tour
Bellagio Lakeside Village Visit
Boat Ride from Bellagio to Tremezzo
Franciacorta Sparkling Wine Tour and Tasting
Venetian Water Taxi
Venice City Tour
Gondola Ride on the Canals
Islands of Venice Boat Tour
Other Inclusions:
Double occupancy in 4-star hotels
Local Guide throughout trip
All city transfers
Arrival airport transfer (until 5 pm on first day)
Additionally, I’ve secured a collection of mindfully curated gifts for attendees, featuring some of my favorite goods for travel from:
Vintner's Daughter
Steamline Luggage
Stojo
Branch Basics
(More details on the gifts later.)
Benvenuti in Italia!
Tiny French Farmhouse: Repairing the 2nd Floor Ceilings
When we and our partners purchased the Tiny French Farmhouse on the final day of 2020, we knew we’d have to tackle the repair of the 2nd floor ceilings as soon as possible. The water damage within them was evident from the realtor photos, and after visiting the property in our stead, our surrogates in the region confirmed the rot was indeed extensive.
Luckily our neighbors and friends are highly skilled in various areas of both home construction and repair, and are knowledgable about the specific materials commonly used throughout older homes in the Aveyron region.
When our family was finally able to visit the property last year, we connected with our neighbors, who generously agreed to handle with the removal of the toxic ceilings as part of the roof restoration for which we’d hired them.
The process was layered, but here’s the gist:
The low, rotted ceiling panels of the upper floor were removed
The aged and water-logged insulation was removed and safely discarded
In select areas, drywall and plaster were replaced or added
In certain spots, electrical wires were reorganized in safer arrangements
As part of the roof restoration, three VELUX skylights were cut-in and installed— one in both bedrooms, and one above the dark stairwell
As of now, the ceilings of the second floor — including the beams that were once fully or partially wrapped — remain unfinished. After seeing it first-hand, we’ll determine next steps.
Even unfinished, it is already greatly improved. Areas that were previously filled with soggy overhead boards (that encouraged bending and stooping) are now vaulted and spacious.
We’re not anticipating dramatic temperature changes within the home without the interior insulation. The roof now provides insulation via numerous materials / layers beneath its original stones, and the home is so small that it isn’t difficult to heat with the built-in system or petite space heaters left by the previous owners. Plus the large fireplace sits beneath half of the upper floor, and its chimney extends upwards throughout the main bedroom and 1/2-bath walls.
Of course, only time will tell! But since we’re in this project for the long haul, we’re unhurried and, currently, quite content.
Tiny French Farmhouse: Lauze Roof Restoration
Since our last trip to the Tiny French Farmhouse, a fantastic team (who we’re lucky enough to call friends) restored the original, stone roof of the 1800s, <800 square-foot residence.
My family will be headed there next week, and we’re eager to enjoy their expert handiwork in person.
Before
This type of lauze roof is very common in the Averyon region. It’s not uncommon to pass one that’s being repaired, just as it’s not uncommon to pass one that has caved in after years of neglect.
Before
The stones gather green moss over time if not maintained, as ours had. In my opinion, the moss is beautiful, and allows the home to sink into its natural surroundings. But since the moss captures moisture and further weighs down the roof, it must be cleaned.
I covered the restoration process extensively across my social media channels*, but neglected to extend that coverage to the blog. (It’s been a sleepy year here on this site, I know. I was prioritizing time with our baby, while overseeing the new little cottage build in the Southeast. But I plan to get back into the full swing of posting later this summer.) *Much of that coverage has been saved to my Farmhouse Highlights on IG Stories.
Repairing the roof involved several technical steps, but the gist of it is:
The scaffolding was erected
The stone tiles were manually removed
The nails were removed one by one from the wood
The wood was allowed to dry out over several sunny days
The rotted components were removed and replaced, and the hips cleaned
Several layers of weatherproofing and insulation were applied above the wood
The tiles were individually and meticulously scrubbed clean and left to dry
The tiles were replaced, layer by layer, beginning at the bottom / soffits, and extending upwards towards the peaks.
From what we gather from the photos, we are thrilled with the end results. The before/after stand in stark contrast of one another, and yet the roof still looks like it’s beautiful, original self (plus the tiny skylights).
The entire process took a team of two about 4 months (including the ceiling work outlined in another recent blog post), as they worked around winter and spring snow and showers.
As far as budgeting for the restoration was concerned, let’s just say that the work was worth every penny, but that it was only possible to pay thanks to the multi-steward partnership behind the property acquisition.
Intimacy in a Small Space (Part II)
One of my most read entries on this blog is about intimacy in a small space. It was a personal post inspired by Maude, which is a sexual wellness company whose work and products are geared towards inclusive, accessible modern intimacy and destigmatizing the subject. The company was founded by our bold and brilliant friend, Éva Goicochea, whose work has turned a legacy industry upside-down, forcing it to confront its biases and narrowed viewpoint. I am so proud of her and her team that I want to shout it from the mountaintops.
Since Maude’s launch, Adam and I have used their products because they’re beautifully, artfully, and mindfully designed, plus they’re marketed with dignity. And, when it comes to small spaces, items often get left out in the open, so it helps when those items are visually appealing and even multitasking, like Maude’s.
Here are some of my favorites:
The Drop: See that lovely, dark green tear-drop shaped item on the bath tray? That’s the Drop, a personal massager that can be used for stress relief and pleasure, and is ideal on neck pain, erogenous zones, and joint pain. It is water resistant, has a small canvas carrying case + a travel mode setting so it won’t accidentally turn on when you’re on-the-go, and it is so tastefully designed that it can stay out in the open without shame.
The Burn Massage Candle: Massage is a powerful tool for fighting stress (which can reduce libido), and it releases oxytocin. Maude’s hand-poured burn massage candle is made with skin-softening jojoba and soybean oils, a 100% cotton, lead-free wick, and cruelty-free + vegan ingredients. Let the candle burn for 10–15 minutes, gently blow out the flame, then pour and apply the massage oil. (It will be warm, but not burning hot.)
The Compostable Wipe: You know I prefer reusable everything when possible, but sometimes wipes just come in handy. These are 100% compostable, water-activated, fragrance-free, OEKO-TEX® Certified, and hypoallergenic towels made for gently cleaning skin and sensitive areas.
The Tub Kit: These two products — the Soak and the Bath Salts, are made for solo relaxing or for soaking with a partner. Both are made from hand-harvested blends that infuse water with nourishing vitamins and minerals. Both are vegan and made with cruelty-free ingredients and never tested on animals.
Expect to see more Maude here over time, because intimacy has proven to be a crucially important part of successful small space living for us as a couple.
A More Sustainable Future for Marginalized Youth
It feels like the tolls against the marginalized continue to pile up at an unrelenting pace, despite all the work and progress of years passed. One of the communities that continues to face fierce odds against their physical + mental health, livelihoods and basic needs is foster youth.
Be a vital force in disrupting the pipeline that leads to disproportionately high levels of poverty, homelessness, incarceration, and unemployment among former foster youth. By supporting The RightWay Foundation, you’re helping build a more sustainable future.
I want to issue a special Thank You to Vintner’s Daughter, whose recent gift to RightWay will go towards hundreds of hours of intensive therapy for young women who are sex trafficking victims, and towards one year of intensive therapy services and support for 3-6 young women who are survivors of childhood trauma, commercial sexual exploitation, and the foster care system.
Year after year, Vintner’s Daughter, a woman-owned & operated business, continues to show up for foster youth in an impactful way. Because women can move mountains. Watch us.
Or better yet, join us.
Small Space Design Hero: Solar Powered Fresh Air Skylights
Small Space Design Hack: Use skylights to enhance your home AND mood.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Now through Feb. 28, enter the VELUX Sunlight Lovers' Sweepstakes for a chance to win two VELUX No Leak Solar Powered Fresh Air Skylights with solar-powered shades and installation.
We’re current building a ~900 square foot cottage in the woods for our small family and business. (This is in tandem with our restoration of the shared, Tiny French Farmhouse, as our permanent move to France won’t happen for years.)
When I set about designing the space with our sustainable architect, I had a few firm requirements for the space:
Green practices and materials where possible
Just four rooms, no hallways
Space-saving interior pocket doors
Abundant natural light via window placement and ample skylights
We had skylights in our Venice Tiny Canal Cottage, and they made ALL the difference in visually expanding and lifting the <400 sqft space, but they lacked several features we desired. For example, there was no way to vent them, nor filter the sunlight when desired. So, when planning for our new cottage, I knew exactly how to get the look we love, along with the quality and functionality we were lacking before. It can all be achieved through the use of VELUX skylights.
On a side note, we also used VELUX skylights for the roof restoration and ceiling renovation in our Tiny French Farmhouse, but that’s a post for another day…
We selected VELUX No Leak Solar Powered Fresh Air Skylights. Since they’re solar powered, so no wiring is required during installation, despite the myriad of functions these skylights can perform.
Not only will the VELUX skylights provide the natural, mood-enhancing light we crave, but they’ll usher in the incredible natural surroundings, from the towering oak tree canopy to the stars at night. Plus they can be opened / closed via a remote control or smartphone for airflow. Fresh air ventilation has wellness benefits, since interior air is often more polluted than outdoor air. And in case we accidentally leave the skylights open, they have am acoustic sensor that automatically closes the skylight at the first sign of rain.
We also know just how impactful skylights are at visually enhancing the interiors of small spaces. The overhead natural light eliminates dark corners, amplifies the mindfully selected decor, and visually enlarges the space.
We opted for 3 slimmer skylights in our main room, which is the living + dining + entry + kitchen space, one skylight for the main bedroom, and one for the kids’ room.
When using skylights in a bedroom, it’s nice to have the option of blinds. (We learned this the hard way in our old cottage.) Our new skylights have solar powered blinds (controlled via remote or smartphone). For the bedrooms, we picked room darkening shades. For the main room, we used light filtering shades to diffuse but not block the sun.
We’re nearing the end of the framing stages of the new cottage build, and as of today ALL of the skylights are framed in. I’ll share updates on the installation and reveal of our VELUX No Leak Solar Powered Fresh Air Skylights.
In the meantime, there are still a handful of days to entire the VELUX Sunlight Lovers' Sweepstakes, which is open from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28 at 11:59:59 pm EST. The grand prize is two VELUX No Leak Solar Powered Fresh Air Skylights with solar-powered shades and installation. CLICK HERE TO ENTER.
Healing with the Power of the Ocean
Osea is giving 10% of the sales from their newly upgraded Hyaluronic Sea Serum to Sea Trees through 3/10. SeaTrees directly supports communities and scientists who protect and regenerate blue-carbon coastal ecosystems. Osea is a Climate Neutral certified, Female-founded and family operated business that makes exceptional vegan, clean, cruelty-free, seaweed-based skin + body care.
This post was sponsored by Osea, and contains a giveback mission to the nonprofit Sea Trees. Use code WHITNEY10 for 10% off, and know that 10% will be going to those acting to restore precious coastal ecosystems.
The ocean has the power to reverse climate change. The nonprofit Sea Trees knows it, and their work is geared towards the planting and protecting of blue-carbon coastal ecosystems. Because, much like mangrove forests, blue-carbon coastal ecosystems are hugely effective at removing carbon from the air.
SeaTrees directly supports communities and scientists who protect and regenerate blue-carbon coastal ecosystems. This includes planting mangrove trees, restoring kelp forests, coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and conserving coastal watersheds.
My friends and former neighbors at Osea are giving 10% of the sales from their newly upgraded Hyaluronic Sea Serum to Sea Trees through 3/10. Osea is a Climate Neutral certified, Female-founded and family operated business that makes exceptional vegan, clean, cruelty-free, seaweed-based skin + body care. I don’t use many skincare products, but I have trusted and used Osea for years.
Just as the power of the ocean can reverse the devastation of climate change, so can the qualities of the ocean help with skin that’s been impacted by pollutants, the sun, and time.
This newly upgraded Hyaluronic Sea Serum is powered by seaweed, volcanic marine ferment, and snow mushroom, which work to restore and maintain moisture in the skin. Despite the wildly fluctuating weather here lately, this serum keeps my skin feeling dewy. (One minute it’s freezing outside, and the next it’s boiling so the AC is cranked, which my skin haaaates. In both extremes, this formula gives me that extra moisture boost my 40 year old skin craves.)
Use code WHITNEY10 for 10% off, and know that 10% will be going to those acting to restore precious coastal ecosystems.