Start At The Roots
The discussion around downsizing and designing a tiny living space invariably centers around “stuff” and what will and won’t fit.
I generally ask questions about what 3 or 4 lifestyle and livelihood things are most important to the person, which helps us hone in on what absolutely needs to be incorporated into the design, but I think — as useful as this question has been — it’s too soft. Let me ask it another way:
What can you absolutely not live without?
I’m serious.
Not “really like,” not “immensely enjoy,” but what is it that you cannot live without?
This is a great place to start.
A Material Girl
For me, materials matter.
The things I come into contact with each and every day matter.
If I’m surrounded by plastic, my skin feels sick. I’m not generally a fan of laminate flooring — though, some of it is ok. It still has to pass the barefoot test!
I’m most comfortable with wood, stone/stoneware, and metals, so this is going to show up a great deal once I get to the finishing work.
Solar Power
I don’t just mean having panels, I mean that I am solar powered.
A warm sunny day can change absolutely everything.
When the sun hits the backs of my shoulders, I have to pause and soak it in. My attitude, my outlook, my energy level — everything is improved. I don’t always realize how depressed I get during the winter, until suddenly I’m not. One day of sunshine can change everything.
This is why I have 13 windows and no interior walls that would block the natural light.
Breathe It In
We’ve come a long way in the world of air filters, but they’re still not trees.
I could go for a little less climate-control and a good bit more weather.
::breathe-deep::
When I’m indoors for an extended period of time, my sinuses get dry, I end up with a headache, and I yawn… a lot. My eyes are more sensitive, too. I’m not sure why my eyes would be affected… maybe it’s the lighting more than the air, but it all seems to be connected.
I’m one of the few — the fortunate — without seasonal allergies. I know, it’s not fair that the outdoors aren’t kind to everyone. Fresh air is one of the simplest pleasures I get to experience and I always feel rejuvenated by it.
This is why I have a small porch for sitting outside, and all 13 windows in the house are functional — I can open all of them!
The Path to My Heart…
Food is my favorite. I love it.
I love thinking about it, I love mixing textures and flavors, I love prepping it, I love smelling it, I love eating it, I love figuring out how to make it better next time,… I love food.
Food can also be quite dangerous for me. Certain foods (those with fructose or that breakdown into fructose) make me very, very sick. At one point, about 5 years ago, I hadn’t yet figured out what was making me so sick… and legitimately thought I might die before figuring it out.
Food is both immaculate life and excruciating death.
It may not seem like I’ve put much into the kitchen, but I’ve made sure it’s as flexible and usable as it can possibly be! A nautical stove ensures that the fuel is clean and simple, that the stove is mobile — so I can use it on the counter every day, outside for large pots of gumbo, and store it when it’s not cooking, using that counter space for prepping, and that I only have enough storage to keep the freshest foods on-hand.
A thoughtful kitchen doesn’t have to be a large one.
But What About…?
My hope is that it’s becoming evident: it was never about closet space.
XOXO,
