Friday's Favs...Surviving and Thriving in a wee little house...

This morning I woke up to the sun shining in the stair landing window and into my bedroom.

The air was cold and crisp coming in our slightly open bedroom window.

The wind from the east was blustery, making the limbs of the old growth cedars in our back yard dance and sway.

I went downstairs and poured myself a second cup of coffee.

(The Hubs always brings the first cup to me in bed.)

I tidied up the kitchen, put away a few things that had been carelessly tossed onto the dining room table, ran a vacuum over the area rugs and wood floor, started a load of laundry.

The whole time, something bubble-y was occuring inside me.

Could it be?

Yes, yes, it was.

It's gratitude, profound thankfulness, that this wee little house, with all of its imperfections is our home.

It's easy to imagine something other than reality when viewing photos on someone's blog.

For instance, a photo of something on my kitchen counter doesn't show you the reality that my galley kitchen is only 4 1/2 feet across from counter to counter.

I thought I'd show you photos today, that might give you a better glimpse of the reality of my wee little home, and some tips to surviving and thriving in a small house.

Storage...when you buy or make a piece of furniture don't just think about what it looks like, think about what it can store.

When I had an idea for these Restoration Hardware knock off shelves, I wanted them to serve two purposes.

 First, I wanted them to look great and hide the side of my refrigerator which was visible from both the dining and living room.  

Second, storage, baby, storage!

My dish cabinet holds three sets of dishes.

Yep, I LOVE dishes, but they're not coming into the house if I don't have a place to put them.

Clutter is not your friend in a small home.

This is our one and only, living room/ family room.

I'm standing in between the dining table and the RH knock off shelves to take this photo.

My wee little galley kitchen is to my left.

Notice the trunk/coffee table and the old blue dresser.

Storage, storage, storage.

Now you're in the living room looking down the entryway hall.

That's the downstairs bathroom/laundry room you see.

When we moved in, I was disappointed that every guest would get to stare at my washer and dryer when they used the restroom.

I put up a shower curtain in front of them, and most people think the downstairs bath has a tub and shower, (which it doesn't).

Small house survival tip: don't get frustrated, get creative.

I love home decor, especially thrifted finds and meaningful objects.

But like I said before, clutter is not your friend in a small house.

So, only keep what you love.

I'm constantly getting rid of things.

If I bring something new in, something old usually goes out.

(My "new" enamelware pitcher.)

Don't try to use all of your home decor items at once.

Have a good storage solution for the items you aren't currently using.

And, again, if you don't love it, get rid of it.

I keep all of my home decor in the closet under our stairs.

I usually go through it and get rid of things at least once a year.

Holiday and seasonal decor is stored in totes in the garage.

When it's time to decorate for a new season, while I have the totes out, I get rid of items I no longer love.

(One of my meaningful objects, a rooster carved by my uncle.  

It was in Mama's house, and after she died, it is my joy to have it in mine.)

And the most important tip of all.

Gratitude.

Be thankful.

I've heard it said that gratitude turns what you have into enough.

 I believe it.

It's almost Friday!!!

Have a HAPPY, HAPPY FRIDAY

and a

BLESSED weekend!