Our cottage is a modest size but it's cozy and I love that we use every inch of it. In our old house we had rooms we rarely went in to. They say small homes grow tight families and I believe that to be true.
The room formerly known as Maddie's bedroom, is downstairs and is tucked away a bit off the family room. It is our guest room but also serves as den, game room, reading room, exercise room, writing room and sleepover room. One day, I fear, it will be a hanging out with the boyfriend room with door ALWAYS open, of course, and me walking by as much and loudly as possible.
A couple of weeks ago it was called into action as a sick room and is where Emma recovered from pneumonia. Always with loyal dog at her side even while she herself was recovering from dental surgery. It's been a heck of a couple of weeks around here folks. This past weekend it was a guest room for my friend Melissa and today it is a Doctor Who marathon watching room while it thunders away outside.
This space is quirky and often changing. It's a fun place for me to shift things from other rooms so it always has a fresh feel. Nothing matches. Nothing happened on purpose but it just kind of came together slowly and I find I like it that way. I have very much made an effort not to rush things in this house. I plan to be here forever. It's okay if it takes awhile to get things the way I want them.
I hope our guests are comfortable here and that they feel welcome. It's always my goal to make people feel at home, but you can bet as soon as they leave we are back in this room making ourselves comfortable!
I once proclaimed that we couldn't possibly build a house with less than 3600 finished sq ft. My Sweet Hubby thought I was crazy. And so I was. It turns out size does matter and for me a smaller home is better. I love not having to just fill space and instead getting to just use things I really love to make a home that I really love.
Small rooms are the best! I'm glad your girl is all better.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Amy Jo
Sounds completely cozy.
ReplyDeleteSmall rooms are so fun to decorate and yours looks amazing
Amy
My favorite Jen quote today, "I have very much made an effort not to rush things in this house. I plan to be here forever. It's okay if it takes awhile to get things the way I want them." Now to live that way. Hope everything returns to a nice normal pace and glad your girl is better. Have a wonderful 4th of July holiday weekend.
ReplyDeleteAll of the rooms in your sweet home look so comfortable and welcoming! Sorry to her your daughter hasn't been 100%, but glad she's on the mend! Take care
ReplyDeleteI look forward to your posts so much! We too live in a small home and no decorating has any rhyme or reason but it just makes sense to us. Your cottage is such a cozy inspiration! Hope your week is a healthy and relaxing one!
ReplyDeleteSo cozy and wonderful, We are hoping to move from 3,000 sq. ft. to 1,100. I am excited. My 10 year old little girl who calls me Nanny, said she was excited because she loved little places. Isn't that cute.
ReplyDeleteI adore your blog and decorating style.
ReplyDeleteI moved from a large house into an apartment a few years ago and love how easy it is to keep every space relatively clean!
Hope Emma is feeling great again.
Hoping both your 'patients' are well now. That is a lovely and soft looking room and perfect that it can function in so many ways. Our home, small in our neighbourhood, is 1900 sq.ft. plus a finished basement suite and way too big for us. I look forward to the day when we downsize and move to less square footage and more lot size.
ReplyDeleteYour home is beautiful and I love anytime I get a sneak peak into it. My dream home is a little blue cottage. I have it all pictured in my head.
ReplyDeleteI agree, bigger isn't always better. I love reading your blog and glimpses into your delightful home. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteA Good Nest Feathering takes Time.
ReplyDeleteHello Jen!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more - we have lived in 3800 sq ft and our Minnesota cottage was 2000 sq ft which I liked better. I like my people close by and hated spaces where my girls could escape too!
xo~Jill
We have never lived in a big home...we lived in a couple of apartments when we were newlyweds, then lived in a small townhouse, then bought the small ranch-style house we live in now. We've been here 24 years, so far. The only times I wanted a bigger house was when my boys were little and had friends over to play. Otherwise, I love my small home. Cozy, less to clean, more charming!
ReplyDeleteYour house always looks so welcoming! We raised our girls in a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom cottage and if the neighborhood hadn't declined, we'd still be in that sweet little house (we did add a second bath when the girls were in high school). Bigger is not always better!
ReplyDeleteWe reduced over one thousand square feet this past year, and probably two thousand pounds of unnecessary, half-loved junk that decorated and filled it. We just adore smaller houses, too! I will never buy another big one. We've been in apartments, small houses, large houses, multi level houses, and gigantic houses, old and new. We have had a giant turn of the century farmhouse with all the gorgeous woodwork, pocket doors, and charm. We've also had the giant, new house with amenities and rooms with nobody stepping foot in them. Never again. Our old acquaintances are shocked and slightly amazed that we would go so much smaller when our kids are still teens, but it feels so right to all of us. Our friends cheer us on and are also looking to downsize. Makes so much sense! I hope we are here for a good long while.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog, as usual. Yay for new posts!!
This room looks so cozy and pretty! We live in a small house too, and we have found we can always make room one way or another for what we need to do.
ReplyDeleteOur little cottage was 832 sq. ft. when we bought it and now with the addition of an art studio, we barely make 1,000 sq. ft. But, I wouldn't change it for the world. We are fortunate to live in a climate that the garden room is the most used room in the house 10 months of the year.
ReplyDeleteWe have friends who live in McMansions and I wouldn't switch with them for anything. I do agree with you that small houses build tight families.
Enjoy your little nest!
Last spring (a year ago), I found myselfmovinf into a home that had belonged to another woman. Her fingerprint was everywhere. I've worked to irradicate that print.. while still respecting my husband's sentimentality. Its been a balancing act, for sure. I hope to be as comfortable in my home (eventually) as you clearly are in yours!
ReplyDeleteLove your home....have you divulged the sq. footage of living area? I am ready to downsize (we are empty nesters with just under 3000 sq. ft) and am sure I could do with half the size....except when the family (3 adult children +) come to visit. We live in a wonderful neighborhood, and it would be so hard to leave.......
ReplyDeletesmall homes grow tight families... i love that! it's always so nice to see the special touches that you place on your home, jen! the crate on the wall... the aqua arrow and map grouping... that chippy red table... so cozy and unique to you and your family... have a great rest of your week, friend!
ReplyDeletefull of beauty and warmth. this post. these pictures. your home. and you. :)
ReplyDeleteYour bedroom is gorgeous and the headboard is truly stunning. The cabinet that holds the linens is so pretty too.
ReplyDeletecool-design
Hey Jen... I found this absolutely gorgeous cottage blog and I though of you immediately! The colors, the gardens, the photograpy are all gorgeous. Its European, but it is translated into English. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Madeliefje-madelief.blogspot.com.
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