Elegant Fancy Small Home

Join us as we ‘tour’ a sophisticatedly designed small home for a young family. You’ll surely get inspired – we promise!

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The words ‘elegant’ and ‘small’ are not always seen together in a sentence. But this is quite an elegant and fancy small home. What a treat.

But in our house tour today, you’ll find that those two fit well together, and that a small-spaced home can be easily described as ‘elegant’ (and then some).

Take a look and see for yourself … Photo Credit BHG.com

small home front door entrance

Grand entrance, anyone? This small home is definitely designed to change our view of small spaces. A row of built-ins offers storage and display space just inside the front door. By painting the inside of the bookcase black, it gives the wall a recessed look. A large, custom fish-eye mirror completes the look.

small home living room

Oh, those sofas are definitely calling my attention. I love them!  Any family will love to have this living room! This decorating scheme incorporated family pieces, including two red sofas, two large Empire Era chests, and a pedestal table. Blue accents calm the space and are the perfect companion to the vibrant red sofas. A mix of patterns on the pillows and chairs infuses the room with a youthful attitude.

small home fireplace

The fireplace. It just looks so modern and absolutely creative. The artwork above the mantel is from the owner’s childhood home. They were just waiting to find the perfect spot for it.

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Check out the simplicity of the living room below.

small home family room

Here’s the family room. Oh wow! A mix of geometric, organic, and ethnic patterns gives this room a playful persona.  The homeowners chose to create a casual space for relaxation and covered existing sofas in durable brown corduroy.

small home kitchen

In this small space, this kitchen’s crisp white cabinets, dark wood floors, and beautiful granite countertops create an ultimate kitchen any cook would love. Okay. Do you remember what I said earlier? Elegant and small in one sentence?

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Here you go. Elegant small kitchen. Based on the photo alone, I think we would never have guessed that this kitchen is from a small home / apartment. I mean, would you look at that? This is the dream kitchen.

small home dining nook

Oh, I love the dining nook! In the kitchen, every surface and fabric can be wiped with a sponge, including faux-leather pads on the banquette, laminated David Hicks fabric on pillows, and a Roman shade in the dining nook. The antique dining table was a wedding gift.

small home master bedroom

Amazing! A disco ball-inspired chandelier takes center stage in the master bedroom, where chartreuse cut velvet covers the headboard, Roman shade, and bed skirt. I love the fact that every room in this small home is somehow ‘themed’
small home kids bedroom

The kids’ room is absolutely stylish! Velvet twin headboards, bed skirts, and a Roman shade boast pretty green hues in this super-sophisticated kids’ room.

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Oh, lovin’ the desk nook below.

small home office

Sweet and tidy! A built-in desk area opposite the dining nook is command central for this family.

Garage Storage to Maximize Space

Maximizing space in your garage is not really a big problem anymore – with the help of some efficient garage storage. Storage tips

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It’s spring cleaning time! Maximizing space in your garage has never been easier with all the cool and nifty AND efficient new garage storage items available to us.

If you’re tired of looking at your messy… and what seems to be.. small garage, then we have some cool storage ideas that will get your garage spiffed up in no time.

But I have to tell you, if your garage is a wreck, then first and foremost, you have to do a big spring cleaning. Get rid of the junk and then start organizing what you have.

messy garage

Garage storage.. Do I really need it?

Yes! …yes, you do. It’s going to help you get organized and put everything in it’s place. Garage storage and cabinets are worthy additions to garage spaces of all sizes. Having some garage systems will definitely make your garage neat and clean, to say the least.

Here are some garage storage ideas that will surely take full advantage of your space – small or otherwise.

No place on the floor anymore? Install a ceiling storage in your garage!

ceiling storage Overhead storage bin

Having a ceiling storage installed will be one step to maximize your garage space. If you have a small garage, then getting one of these overhead ceiling storage units will be very practical – especially if you have a vehicle parked inside your garage. Easy and quick to install, you’ll make the most of your garage space in a few minutes (with the right tools, of course).

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Garage storage system

The most popular way of maximizing garage space, or any space or room for that matter, is by shelving. Shelving has a lot of benefits. For one, it will remove the “messy” look of your garage as it will surely reduce the clutter.

Aside from the obvious fact that it will maximize your garage space, it will also get you organized with the different tools, items and products that are normally stored in your garage. So remove those unwanted paper boxes – shelve the contents instead.

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Utilize your vertical space…

Pegboards for garage storage
… and that means hanging and storing all kinds of tools in one place – on the wall. Pegboards are known to do the trick of effectively hanging all kinds of tools, even bikes.  Pegboards are also known to last for a long time, and they don’t even cost that much.

Organize, organize, organize!

We mentioned it at the beginning of this post.. You really can’t skip this part when you want to maximize your garage space. Even with the above-mentioned storage ideas, if you are not organized, your garage will still end up messy and not easy to look at. Not to mention, you’re really not maximizing your garage space when working tools and garden products, for example, are not stored correctly. So make sure that you identify and group things accordingly.

Leave Garage Storage to Maximize Space for SmallHouseLife.com

8 Ways to Organize Your Small Bathroom

Eight Ways to Organize Your Small Bathroom: When you live in a small home, one of the top priorities is to


8 Ways to Organize Your Small Bathroom: When you live in a small home, one of the top priorities is to maximize your space. Contrary to popular belief you can store items in a chic way, and keep clutter at bay.

Organizing is becoming more mainstream with shows like Clean House and Hoarders, so we now have endless options to organize.

If you need a little help to get your creative juices flowing, don’t fret, below are eight ways to get started.

Cut the Junk in Your Small Bathroom

The bathroom is a wonderful place to store random items you don’t need. How many half empty hair spray bottles do you have? What about the number of half used disposable razors? One of the best ways to start any organization project is to cut the junk. Bring in a big trash bag or box and start throwing unused items away. If you don’t know if you should keep it or throw it, recall the last time you used it. Chances are you don’t use it often enough to keep it.

Baskets and Storage Bins

Once you have purged access items, it’s time to decide where to keep them. Group like items together to make access of each item easier. For example, all hair products can go in one area, dental care items in another and so on. But these items in decorative baskets or storage bins for easy access that adds a touch of flair.

small bathroom basket for vanity

Organize the Small Bathroom Vanity

Whether you have a single or double bathroom vanity cabinets, they need to be organized. Besides adding baskets or storage bins, purchasing drawer organizers is a great idea.

This allows for things like your toothbrush and other small items to be accessible and not lost in the shuffle.

Utilize Your Door in Small Bathrooms

Adding hooks to the back of your bathroom door opens up the space to hand extra towels, robes or even clothes if you need to. Whether you are organizing your small bathroom or other small space, it’s a good rule of thumb to go vertical. The more you hang, the less you have to worry about items taking up precious square footage.

Shelves for Small Bathrooms

small bathroom organizer

The space behind the toilet is often regarded as “dead space”, but this doesn’t have to be the case. You can find plenty of shelving options to use around the toilet. This can add a great deal of vertical real-estate in your small bathroom.

Less is More in Small Bathrooms

Keeping your counters clear in your bathroom is a must. To have a bathroom that looks decluttered, and organized, your counters are one of the first things in your line of vision. If you don’t have the cabinet space, investing in multi-purpose items is a great way to clear up the junk. Check out this 5-in-1 organizer.

Get Vertical in the Shower

How many times have you tried to squeeze more space out of your bathtub? Households with more than one person living in them can see how fast clutter is accumulated in the shower/bathtub area. A great option for this problem is to go vertical. Adding shelves around the bathtub, or a rack around the shower head really utilizes all the space you have.

Tissue Tower

With all the space you don’t have under the sink it can be a challenge in deciding where to keep extra toilet paper rolls. Tissue towers are a great way to keep multiple rolls close without taking up much space. A win, win.

Guest Post: Miguel Salcido is an avid blogger, father of 2 and a recent proud home owner. He loves studying home design and decor and has his eyes on purchasing some walk in bathtubs for his home.

Five Easy Tips to Expand Your Small Space

Easy tips for your small space. Super simple ways to expand the use of your small spaces while making them feel bigger, too!

Your small space does not have to feel cramped or be inefficient. Remember, living in a small house is not about doing without. Here we’ll show you super simple ways to expand the use of your small spaces while making them feel bigger, too!


1) Declutter

First and foremost, you gotta get rid of all the extra stuff. This one tip alone can make you think your room is twice the size. If you need an objective ‘eye’ have a friend come in to help you sweep some of it away. Be ruthless because all that clutter serves no good purpose and it’s filling up your space making it less functional… and pleasing.. and comfortable!

Of course, along with decluttering, comes organizing. If you need a quick tip guide to declutter, you’ll receive one once you sign up for our Sunday morning Magazine. Look to the right sidebar for signup. Can’t get motivated? There’s help at >> Kick the Excuses and Get Organized

2) Multipurpose your Rooms

We touch on this at 5 Mistakes not to make with your House Plan.  It’s Tip #2.

Gone are the days that we use our homes like we’re ‘supposed’ to. Formal dining room? Who says that space has to be used as a dining room? Or you can use it as a formal dining room but multi purpose it as a library also. Guest room double duties as an office or music room. Screened in back porch can be unique sleeping porch for occasional over night guests. The list is really endless.

Bunkbed with desk underneath
Photo Courtesy of Bunkbeds.net

3) Multipurpose your Furniture

Ahhh.. This is one of my favorite small space tip because we can find all kinds of multipurpose furniture in the marketplace. What are we talking about?

Bunkbeds come to mind. But not just any bunk beds; we’re talking about the ones that have double beds underneath, or desks, or futons. Extremely efficient.

Tables that have shelves underneath. Or even something as basic as having a drawer in the side table instead of just the table.

Chests used as coffee tables so you can store items in the chest. Headboards with built in bookcases.  Breakfast table that doubles as a game table.

4) Get Rid of Unnecessary Furniture

Is your room over stuffed with furniture that you aren’t using? When we’re talking about living in a small house, even one unused piece of furniture can be one too many. Really think about how you are using your space (or how you want to use your space.) If you have extra furniture that does not serve a purpose, get rid of it!

Take bedroom bureaus as an example. How much do you dig around in the drawers? Get rid of the big, hunky dresser and put those clothes in your closet. Whatever was on top of the bureau can go A. to charity, B. on top of bed table, C. bathroom vanity.

Can you imagine how much bigger your bedroom will feel? ..and I’m sure if you think about it, there are other furniture pieces you can live without.

5) Mirrors

Decorative mirrors as seen in this gorgeous small space, expands the visual of the room while adding a fun decorative touch.

HGTV Mirror - Decor by Erinn Valencich
Mirror Photo: HGTV - Decor by Erinn Valencich

Mirrors are an easy, inexpensive way to instantly add visual space to any room. Lean a large mirror against a wall and it will not only increase how big the room feels but you also have a place for a full length check before you head out the door.

Hang a mirror on adjacent wall from a window and it feels like you have two windows! I actually do this trick any time I have the opportunity because I love the feeling of expanding outdoor views.

In a tiny bathroom, extend a mirror across the entire wall for big visual pop like you see in our small black and white bath.

Please share these tips with your friends at Twitter and Facebook. We always appreciate the ‘share’ love! Dee 🙂

Kick the Excuses and Get Organized

Have you ever noticed the messier your house is the less you get done? So why can’t you get organized? We debunk the excuses and help you

Have you ever noticed the messier your house is the less you get done? Or even the more clutter, the worse you feel… So why can’t you get organized?

You have to get rid of the excuses before you can get rid of the clutter. It’s just that simple. All the organizing tips in the world will not help one bit if you are still holding on to your reasons (code name for excuses) as to why you can’t get organized.

We all have priorities of what matters to us. And no matter what we say, our actions really do speak loud and clear about what’s in our hearts. If it’s important enough, we’ll find a way. But sometimes we need to kick some junk out (in this case, excuses) before we can focus on what we want.

I have a free article I want to share with you called Get Organized in 5 Easy Steps, but before we can get to that, let’s address the variety of excuses that we use to hold us back from a little organization and simplicity in our lives.


One of my neighbors in Houston.. hello Barbara if you’re reading this.. had eight children ranging in age from about fourteen years to a newborn. Her husband worked fulltime while she was a nurse (I think 72 hours straight, then off the rest of the time).. Anyway, my point, and I do have one!

My point is, she had one of the most organized (and clean) homes on the block. I remember she had a laundry system where each child had their own basket. Whoever was doing the laundry..and all the kids pitched in.. would simply fill up each basket for the owner to retrieve and put away. Of course each basket was neatly stored on a built-in shelf in the laundry room before it made its way into the kid’s rooms. I suppose Barbara and hubby had a basket too, now that I think about it.

The reason I illustrate the story of my Houston neighbors, is because I knew that would be one of the first excuses to pop up! “Not enough time.”  So let’s lay out some of the most common excuses first:

  • Not enough time
  • I’ve always been this way
  • Everyone else in the family is a slob
  • It’s too overwhelming
  • I don’t know where to start

Let’s tackle them one by one.

Not enough time

First of all, you do know that time is the one thing we all have the same amount of on any given day, right? Obviously we fill our time up differently, depending on our priorities.

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I’m not going to get into a big debate about this because here’s the bottom line: It takes less time to be organized then to be disorganized. Yes, you know it’s true! If you take five minutes to hang your clean clothes up, you’ll save that in one morning of desperately searching for a particular garment. Now multiply that by several mornings of searching and you get what I mean. Or how about searching for keys or misplaced school books? You know I’m right. 🙂

I’ve always been this way

Girl, this is probably the lamest excuse in the bunch! Do not use this one, because it holds you back on so many levels it’s not even funny. Your past does not have to equal your future IF you make a decision to change your actions. Different actions get different results, period.

Everyone else in the family is a slob

OK, even I will admit this can be challenging. If you get in gear and start organizing but then everyone else throws stuff around, it can get frustrating. If it’s your kids, perfect! You have the opportunity to teach them to be good stewards of their belongings. After all, you’re the mom. If it’s your spouse, ya’ll can either have (what we like to say in Texas) a ‘come to Jesus talk’ or an understanding that you don’t see eye to eye.

But all is not lost if your spouse refuses to change his/her messy ways! There are plenty of areas that you can declutter and keep organized. Your purse, your car, your papers, your closet, etc. Even getting these spots in order will bring you tremendous relief and clarity. And there is always the possibility that your organization will encourage your spouse to keep the house a bit tidier.

It’s too overwhelming + I don’t know where to start

These two go together because I’m giving you the free organizing article I told you about earlier that will address both of these issues. I have some very simple tips in there so you can get started today towards organizing your life!

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When you sign up for our free magazine.. that’s delivered directly to your email each Sunday morning.. you’ll receive a link that takes you to Get Organized in 5 Easy Steps.

If you already receive the Sunday email, but can’t find your copy, just contact me here and ask for the link.

OK, so sign up right NOW in the footer!  Dee 🙂

Santa Rosa Gulf Front Condo

Come along to see this small house that happens to be a condo! Just 1513 square feet, with three bedrooms and three baths.

Small house that happens to be a Destin, Florida waterfront condo!  Just 1513 square feet, with three bedrooms and three baths.    We’ll give you the contact info at bottom of post in case you’re interested to see if it’s still available to buy.  If you like country, or maybe I should say with a slant towards french country, you’ll like the way this beach condo is decorated.

Front

Whoever said living in a small home meant doing without?  Look at the front façade of this condo complex, oh so elegant!  And I love the giant  fountain at the entrance.  Makes a great first impression, and I can imagine the splashing sound of water cascading in the front with the waves of the gulf at the back of this property.

Living Area

The small living area – The color selections are fairly typical in a beach property.. although the TV stand is definitely unique. The position of the TV is great because you won’t receive any glare from the outside sun.  And we all know beach son tens to be bright.  Can you see the beach and water through the balcony?

Living

The photo above shows you the view of the unit standing with your back to the balcony.  Nice dining area and the large kitchen bar for casual fare and entertaining.  Notice the large tiles set on a diagonal on the floor.  Tile is especially nice for a beach house.

Kitchen

Granite counter tops in a fully equipped kitchen.  Nice stainless steel appliances compliment the warm kitchen cabinets.


Dining Area

So this is the view from the kitchen – includes the dining table and the living area. I thought you might like to see the rest of the room in a slightly different perspective.  And there’s that gorgeous water again!  Enjoy waking up each morning and take in the breathtaking views of the emerald green waters.

Bedroom

Here’s one of the bedrooms. The white color of the wall obviously shouts simplicity. You can maybe hang some pictures or paintings here. Or maybe paint it with the color of your choice but then again, if you’re looking for the simplicity this room gives out, this bedroom will surely do.  Master suite has sliding glass doors to balcony, whirlpool tub and separate shower in master bath.

Wash Area

Dual wash in the small bathroom. Look, even granite countertops in the bath.  BTW, we do granite counters in our spec homes in Texas.  Looks like it’s also popular here in Florida.  And the mirrors- this is really ideal for families or even a couple in the bath at the same time.  Cool sinks and faucets!

Bedroom2

Photo above shows one of the secondary bedrooms.  It’s always nice to have single beds for guests or if you’re going to rent out a space.. This may be ideal as well when you have kids.

Community Pool

Oh yeah,  here’s the big community pool.  Personally I like to look at the ocean and swim in the pool.. LOL  That’s just me.  This is a great spot to meet up with friends for a party or enjoy a quiet afternoon reading your favorite book.  Development offers 515 feet of sugar white beaches, covered parking, fully equipped exercise room, video arcades, game room, and 2 gulf front pools.

The pictures are Courtesy of destinpropertyforsale.com.  MLS# 558484

 

The Nest Small Cottage

A romantic Italian small cottage set amid Italy’s countryside This romantic cottage, 431 square feet, was once a barn for goats.

I have found the coolest small cottage on the planet, called The Nest.. If the name alone doesn’t conjure up a charming, quaint, small house, the pictures definitely will.

This romantic cottage was once a barn for goats.. but now you can actually stay in the 431 square foot dream house (for two.)  We’ll give you all the contact info at bottom of post.  For now, let’s jump in and look at the cottage pictures!  Prepare to be amazed.

Outside View of The Nest
Could it get any more charming?  And it’s located in Italy’s Langhe region: A hilly area to the south and west of the river Tanaro in the province of Cuneo in Piedmont.  The stone house with tile roof amidst a rural countryside… I’m there!  Apparently this area has not been invaded by mass tourism, yet.

Entrance Door

Really, for this charming cottage, I’m mainly going to let the pictures speak for themselves.. But would you look at the view from inside?  OK, I’ll hush up now..

Living Area

Living Area Corner

Small Kitchen Area

I have to say this (because I’m very picky about it).. Look how clean this house is.  And is it too cute how they’ve carved a space under the stairs for a tiny kitchen?  Just goes to show how you can indeed get optimum living space from the smallest of spaces.  AND the small kitchen even has a tiny window!

Dining Area

Bedroom from another angleWow!  Love the high ceiling with wood and wood beams.  Rustic and warm.  Perfect balance for the hardwood floors and crisp white small bedroom.

Bedroom

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Small Bedroom Door
I am SO digging these doors. Don’t know that I’ve ever seen anything like them. You won’t find those at Lowes! Notice the doorknob.. cute little lizard.

small bathroom
Man.. this tiny cottage continues to delight. Sweet bath! Love the sink..now you can get those at Lowes.. although it looks like a stone sink so it would definitely be a special order.

PatioNow for a little rest and relaxation, we go out to the backyard. Can’t you almost hear the silence? 🙂

Backyard Barbecue

Garden

Garden

Flowers by the Pool

A pool? Well, I guess so. You’ll want to contact owner to make sure it’s a private pool, but it certainly appears that way.

Swimming Pool

View from the Pool

Now that you’ve seen the Nest, here is more info about this charming cottage to rent taken from the travel guide.  The Nest cottage website is >> Cascinaadami.it

The numerous villages of “Alta Langa”, full of rural life and rich of culture, can not only generate ideas about interesting tourist and cultural activities but also a lot of opportunity for who is interested by the traditional gastronomical culture. Indeed Murazzano is well known for his “toma”, a sheep milk cheese, for his hazelnuts and for his ancient restaurants. Murazzano is the ideal place where to spend relaxing holidays in touch with nature and rural life.

Leave The Nest Small Cottage for HOME

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Small Bathroom Ideas

Small bathroom ideas for your bath, big or small. It’s essential to get smart with how you use your space with small bathrooms. Creative ideas




These small bathroom ideas are sure to perk up any bathroom, big or small. From built ins to creative use of space. This page has some of our more popular photos! Enjoy.

There’s clever use of small spaces, as well as cool new trends you might not be familiar with.

It’s essential to get smart with how you use your space when we’re talking small bathrooms. There are a lot of different ways to organize a small bath so it works as well as a larger bathroom. So, jump in and have a look.


Small black and white bathroom with amazing storage idea. SmallHouseLife.com
Remember your bathroom does not have to be big to be amazing! Especially when you have great storage ideas like above.

Small Bath from HGTV Remodels
Small Bath from HGTV Remodels

The small bath above has an ideal detail for small or large bathrooms.. the built in shampoo and storage area in the shower.  Really, the way a home lives is in the details.





I like the rich coffee wood that is mimicked in the rattan and wood drawers next to the sink.

Small-Bathroom-Ideas---Kohler-Frameless-Shower
Photo Credit - Kohler.com

Crisp, modern bath courtesy of Kohler.  Oh look!  They also feature the built-in storage area in the shower.  I like the kind of half sink also.  These are fairly inexpensive at Lowe’s or Home Depot.. and give a luxurious look.

Small Bath design
Photo credit: One of our fav designers: Donald Gardner

Donald Gardner is an architect that we use sometimes when we build houses, and this picture was taken of one of the homes he designed.  This particular bah has some interesting elements.  The vanity is not your run of the mill cabinet, but more of a furniture piece.



Then the sink definitely makes a statement with it’s unusual shape.  The faucet is one I used in a bath I called my ‘farm’ bathroom.  I’ll have to do a post on it so you can see how I used that faucet.  Lovely small bath, although I will say, it’s a bit trendy.

Bath at Horseshoe Bay
Lovely small with lamp.

Warm, traditional bath.  The beauty of this look is it’ll never go out of style.  Granite counter tops with complimenting tile backslash.  Not too crazy about the floors but they work.

Bath Design from ModernFurnitureDesign
Photo Credit:ModernFurnitureDesign

Who says a small bathroom has to be boring?  This tiny bath is crisp and clean with minimal feel.  FYI, the faucet seems to be mounted too high for me.  I think it’ll make quite a splash into that sink.  What a cool chandelier!

Tropical Small Bath design
Tropical Small Bath design

What a fun bathroom!  They didn’t miss a beat did they?  Great job in creating a tropical paradise.  Even the old timey ‘blind’ windows.  Boy, you don’t see those anymore.  Use of pebble tile continues the rustic oasis.  BTW, this pebble tile typically comes in 12×12 tiles and are laid just like any other tile.  Interior wood posts.. and a fan complete this casual, rustic bathroom.

Leave Small Bathroom Ideas for Home

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Southern Small House Built in 1941

Tour this delightful southern small house built in 1941. Just 1633 square feet, but this small home packs big living in small spaces.

Our first small house tour of the new year and it’s gorgeous!  Beaufort, South Carolina, where this home is located, is one of my favorite places to go soak up architectural style..  There is just something about the classic southern design elements that warms my heart..  I may be a Texas girl, but I was born in Savannah, you know.

Quick particulars: This lovely southern beauty sits on approx. a third acre, was built in 1941, with three bedrooms and two baths; approx. 1633 square feet..  OK then!  Now, it’s time for this small house tour!

Front View of Small House

When you say small house, it doesn’t mean that it cannot look grand, right? The circular steps welcoming your visitors, along with the archway framing the charming front door.   Simple yet elegant.  Lovin’ the wood windows.  How about the weeping moss hanging from the trees?  Only in the south!  Now let’s peek inside this lovely home.

Living Room

We begin with the living room.  Notice there is not a foyer.  Now, I personally am not big on foyers in a small home.  I think it wastes valuable space that can be used elsewhere.  The living room furniture is arranged to compliment the direct entrance into the room.  Ideal for movie night or just hanging around with family/friends enjoying easy conversation by the fireplace…

Quick comment about the TV over the fireplace.  It’s a very popular way to go these days but I always wondered how that played out in real life.  I mean does your neck get sore when not watching TV straight on?  We just moved into a house with the television set up like the one in this small house, and I’m here to tell you it works fine.

Tips for Hanging TV over Fireplace

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  • Hang TV as low to the fireplace mantel as possible. The TV you see in the living room above could be placed about six inches lower.
  • If you are building, select a fireplace with as low a mantel as possible that still works with your room proportion.

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Kitchen 2

The kitchen is a good size for a small house. Remember we’re talking just a little over 1600 square feet. Looks like a total update, and very well done. When you’re considering a home that’s been remodeled, make sure the quality is up to par.

Streamlined flat-paneled cabinets with slick stainless appliances.  Note with the cabinets, they installed old fashion style knobs to balance the semi modern kitchen with the older home. The country kitchen sink is a very expensive addition. FYI, I’ve never seen one less than about $1700. Also, they splurged on a refrigerator cabinet for a polished, finished look.

May I complain for a minute here? One of my pet peeves is this:  If someone is taking pictures of your house (for any reason, but especially to sell) get rid of the clutter! The dishes, and dishrag, and junk on the fridge, MUST GO. Pheww, ok now I feel better.

Kitchen

Ok, another view of the kitchen.  I’m diggin the range and vent.  Oh, and hardwood floors!  You noticed those, right?

I also want you to note how the cabinets go all the way to the counter.  We also did this in our big house.  Scroll down to the kitchen picture here and you’ll see.  I liked that and would probably do it again, but my kitchen had extra counter space next to the cabinets, while these do not.  The only reason that matters is if you have stuff on the counter and want to open the cabinet, there’s no place to scoot it.  Just remember that if you decide to build.

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Dining Area

Oh yeah, smart, smart how they opened up the space from the dining room to the living room.  And the sleek dining set is perfect for this small house.

Bedroom 2

Onto the light and bright master bedroom.  I love that the windows are situated strategically so when the sun shines in and it’s time to wake up in the morning, you’ll get the full benefit.

Even though this is a small bedroom, they got all the important pieces into the room and it looks great!  The white is a perfect compliment to the warm tones of the bed and hardwood floors.  It’s unusual to have hardwood floors throughout a home because they are more expensive than tile or carpet.  This is a perk you’ll sometime find in an older home.

Bathroom

Crisp, clean small bathroom right here.  I seriously love this bath!  I can’t tell id there’s wood on the walls, but I think there is.  The window brings in lots of natural light.. and speaking of light, how about the fun light fixture above the pedestal sink!  You know me, I’d probably tear up the floor and replace it with the black and white tiles that we did in our black and white bathroom here.

Bedroom 1

I’m telling you, this small home has fabulous windows to enjoy the natural light.  And see how they are even all cased out to give a more finished look. (Cased out means they have wood trim around them)  anyway, this is quite a large bedroom for this modest square footage.  Cool.

Porch

Speaking of windows.. Just look at this screened porch!  And the garden!  It’s really inspiring, isn’t it? Imagine reading your book here while drinking some iced tea on a hot summer day… It’s fantastic to have extra living spaces like this that extend the indoors to the outdoors, and double our enjoyment of our home.

Patio

Which brings us to the backyard of this lovely home.. You don’t always get such a generous outdoor living space in small houses, but this one over-deliverers.  Plus it looks so peaceful and private with the thoughtful use of hedges along the fence line.  Again, I have to say if you’re selling, move the boat!  Although I guess it does imply there’s water nearby, now that I think about it.  Hmmm. OK

So, this country cottage is actually still available to buy (photos from Realtor .com) at the time of this post.  Check out MLS#127651 or call listing agent Neil 843.252.2121.

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Small Bedroom Ideas

Small bedroom ideas.. Redo your small house with creative bedroom design ideas that will perk up any room. Small bedroom pictures..

Small Bedroom Ideas for your Bedroom Design


Small Bedroom Ideas is a real treat today because we have so many pretty bedroom design ideas to show you.

One thing I try to do when putting together a post, is give you a good variety of images to look at.. LOL, I say that and then I noticed a common theme through the small bedroom idea pictures below. Many of them have really cool walls.. often some kind of wood attached to the walls to add interest and texture. If you can budget in the additional expense, it’s well worth it!
Small bedroom white and orange
First small bedroom idea by House Beautiful, is a simple, white room with just a pop of color. Gives a crisp, clean look without being boring.

[note color=”#D3D3D3″]Bedroom Design Idea: If you’ll go neutral, you will have lots of flexibility in changing the look by simply changing out pillows, a rug, maybe a painting or slipcover.[/note]

Notice the wood walls I mentioned earlier.. I like the vertical wood pieces capped off with horizontal and then polished with a high gloss white paint.

Small Bedroom Pottery Barn 1
Small Bedroom Photo: Pottery Barn

As much as I love white rooms, THIS warm and cozy small bedroom is one of my favorites! The wood tones perfectly blend with the white (again wood) walls and light colored bed linens, create a welcoming oasis.  It really starts with the bed, doesn’t it?

small bedroom - by Michael J. Lee
Photo: Michael J. Lee

Off to a more modern space. if you checked out our IKEA 386 sq. ft small house then you saw use of the wall storage just as you see in this small bedroom.  Going vertical with storage is a super smart design idea to maximize precious space.  In this one, you even have your bedside table included!  Clever.

small bedroom Crate and Barrel Atwood Bedroom
Photo: Crate and Barrel Atwood Bedroom

Another, cool, crisp small bedroom that manages to appear warm with the rich wood furniture against a backdrop of white.. More white wood walls!  How about the light over the bed?  This room would be perfect in Texas.  🙂

small pink bedroom
For the girlie in all of us, a romantic, whimsical bedroom.  Look what they fit into this small space!  A tiny bed stand with reading light cleverly mounted on the wall to save space.  Natural light unencumbered by window treatments..   and artfully stenciled walls highlighting a funky mirror.  Of course, we know mirrors are perfect for reflecting light and making a small room appear bigger.

Photo: WILLIAM ABRANOWICZ at Martha Stewart

Don’t have a headboard? No problem because this design idea eliminates the need for one.  Just paint yourself one.  Or even wallpaper a headboard on.

Photo credit: Pottery Barn Small Bedroom
Photo credit: Pottery Barn Small Bedroom

Speaking of headboards, how about this small bedroom idea? Looks like old rustic shutters doing double duty as a stunning headboard. Combine soothing blue and white sheets for a real winner.

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IKEA – Small House 376 Square Feet

IKEA Small House pictures show us how to get a whole lot of living out of a tiny 376 sq. ft. floorplan. Get small house design tips along

[adrotate banner=”30″]Here is our first IKEA post of a small house.. There’s a big IKEA in Austin, Texas right off Hwy-35, as you go towards Dallas. Hubby and I went there to purchase cabinet drawer pulls and thought it would be fun for our viewers at SmallHouseLife.com to see some of IKEA’s small house decorating. So the small space you’ll see today is a 376 square foot small house with living room, kitchen and small eating nook, bedroom and small bathroom. Oh! and loads of storage.

IKEA Store Texas
Just had to show you the outside of the Austin IKEA because, number one, it’s pretty darn impressive.. you can see it for miles, but also I wanted you to get a good look at that gorgeous Texas blue sky. This picture was taken Dec. 2011.

IKEA 376 Floorplan
IKEA 376 Square Foot Floorplan


Check out the photo above to get the small house floorplan. This will help you visualize the space as we move from room to IKEA room!

IKEAS 376 Bedroom
OK, so first up is the small bedroom. A brilliant way to get the most living out of a small space. Basically the bed is built in by surrounding it with storage compartments. You have the compact bedside tables (with drawers) and hanging storage units,along with full size clothing storage units. And notice the bedside reading light attached to the wall so as not to take up precious table space.

IKEAS 376 Living

Moving right along into the small living room. You’ll have to excuse all the IKEA tags. Obviously there’s nothing I could do about that. So just try and tune them out! Again, storage units mounted overhead to take advantage of the dead space over the sofa. See how the ottoman doubles as storage?


Smart, and you can now get an array of different sized and colors of ottomans almost everywhere these days.. Marshall’s, Ross’s, TJ Max.

IKEAS Living Room

Here another view of the small living room as you look to the kitchen. I like how they used one floor type for continuity into one space from another. This is an easy trick to use to extend the feeling of space when you actually have practically none. 🙂

IKEAS KitchenAhhh, we’re at the galley kitchen. Who would have thought they could even get dining seating in here, but they did! Run the major components against one wall..

Fridge, sink, stove, with complete storage cabinets. Then the other side of the small kitchen is utilized for the dining space and even a butcher block table for additional prep space. The next picture is a close up of the storage space you see over the dining table.

IKEA Kitchen shelfAs promised, a closer look at the storage unit over the dining table. Even though IKEA went for a more decorative look, you could use the storage cubes for cook books, dishes, etc.

So, there you have it.. our first ever IKEA small house tour. We’ll have more soon!

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Green Cottage with Garage Apartment

Enchanting green cottage – Come along for a tour.. and get small house design ideas that you can implement in your own small home. We take..

enchanting green cottageCome along as we tour this enchanting green cottage!  This small house is a two bedroom, one bath and only 1073 sq ft.  It even has an attached 400sf 1/1 garage apartment.

What I love about the garage apartment concept is that you can live in a small house but have extra room for guests or a little B & B or even a place for caregivers to stay.  What would you do with the extra space?

“That cute, little cottage from down the block” will be the description of  neighbors living near this small home. It’s really something – brings out the feel of ‘living a simple life’.  I like it!  I know you’ll fall in love with this little cottage, too. Simple but gorgeous.. and lots of design and decorating ideas for small spaces.

Photos Courtesy of Realtor .com MLS# 7918560

Living Room

Nice, cozy living room... yet spacious with an abundance of natural light. From the outside look of the house, you’ll never guess this fancy living room, huh?  And don’t you agree less is more?  This is a perfect example oh how you don’t need a bunch of stuff to make a welcoming home.

Fireplace

This picture focuses on another angle of the small living room. Notice the fireplace? For a cottage, a fireplace is a great addition. I like the combination of the simple and very ‘futuresque’ style right there.  One observation I want you to be careful of: The TV is too high!  It looks like it can come down another eight inches or so.  If you’re putting the TV over the fireplace, my suggestion is to put it just and inch or two over the mantel.

Kitchen

The kitchen certainly looks awesome.  Crisp and white.  Modern and yet fits perfectly with the cottage feel.  And how about the built-ins to the right of the pantry.  No wasted space!  See how you can carve out extra living areas to take advantage of all the space you have?  The walls are a lovely grey/taupe to compliment the white..and the stainless appliances.  Oh, and the ‘never out of style’ hardwood floors.

Kitchen 2

The other angle of the kitchen. Gotta love that granite counter tops.. It’s Volga Blue granite from the Ukraine to accentuate the white cupboards.  And I don’t know about you but if at all possible put a window in the kitchen!  There’s just nothing like mindlessly day dreaming while preparing dinner or cleaning up dishes.  OK,  it’s time to cook!

Dining Room

This dining area definitely shouts a ‘close family’ dinner. Or maybe even a dinner for a newly-wed couple. First house… first dinner together at your own house… Again, notice how adding built ins..this time in the corners, just makes a small dining room or any small space for that matter, function more efficiently.

Bedroom1

Now onto the master bedroom of this small house.  I like the way the bed and the other bedroom furniture are arranged. The wooden furniture and floors actually accentuate the comfy feeling here. Makes you want to just lay down for a while and drift away somewhere in your dreams. I also love that this room has many windows – makes it bright inside during daytime.  Notice the armoire angled in the corner.

Bedroom Nursery
I am a little surprised at the baby bed positioned perpendicular to the wall.. but apparently this 1073 square foot little cottage has pretty good size bedrooms.  Soft and sweet for the soft and sweet baby.  🙂  Check out the cool rug that covers almost all of the hardwood floors.. and then see what I suggest about hardwood floors under the next picture.

Bedroom 2

I like that the garage apartment bedroom is carpeted.  (See the roof tops through the windows.) Walking on a soft carpeted bedroom floor gives a calm feeling.   Here’s my personal opinion about hardwood floors:  They are fabulous in your main living areas, but not so much in the bedrooms.  I did a home with hardwood floors throughout, and was not happy with it.  The bedrooms always felt cold to me.  Just something to consider, and you’ll save a ton of money forgoing the hardwood floors in those rooms.

Yard

Yup, that’s the perfect yard right here! If you have kids, this yard will be very beneficial for games, outdoor picnics, camping out, or maybe some nice Sunday barbecue with the whole family… you name it!   You can do most anything in this spacey yard.  Always consider your outdoor living space when either buying a home or purchasing a Lot or acreage to build your small house.  It really matters!

Quaint Cottage – Small House has it all

Come along to tour this quaint cottage. This small house has gorgeous curb appeal.. The three bedrooms and one bath lives big at 1560 sq. ft.

Come along as we tour this quaint cottage.  Talk about curb appeal in a small house!  And behind that pretty face, are three bedrooms and one bath contained within 1560 square feet.   This small house makes it into our small house gallery because of the spaciousness of the living space.  Photos courtesy of Realtor.com MLS# 776566

Front Elevation of quaint small house

A very nice facade for a home, isn’t it? It’s almost like a dream home of young lovers starting out in their first home…. But this, I think, can be turned into a family home overflowing with children.. or maybe the perfect place to retire.   Quaint cottage.

Front 2

I included this picture so you’ll have a closer look of the front elevation..  
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Before we even step inside, we can see that they did a great job on the exterior part of this small house. The color is classic (for a classic home) and the wood front door gives it just enough interest.

Main Floor View

The main floor view above: I like that the main floor is quite spacey.   It is a bit cluttered.. at least for my taste.. but this area is roomy.  The hardwood floors are perfect and in great shape.. I love wood floors. It gives you the ‘homey’ and simple feeling.  Nothing quite like them for classic decor.

Living Room

This photo of the living room gives you the idea on what furniture and other décors you can put in. I like that the windows are all over – makes the whole room well ventilated and light and bright.  Personally, dark rooms are just too depressing for me.  Let the sun shine in!

Dining Area

Oh yeah, we definitely have a formal groove here in this small house.  But I’m still amazed that even with a ‘fussy’ look, there is still a lot of space for only 1560 square feet.

Bedroom
Alright, even though our quaint cottage is way too formal for my taste, I kinda like this master bedroom. 
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In fact, I like it a lot.  The green and white is fresh, and compliments beautifully with the wood furniture.

Deck
Now here’s a treat!  Cozy back yard deck surrounded by an English garden.  The only way you can get away with an uncovered area like this is if you either live in a cold area where you need that sun, or if the back of the house does not face west.

Deck-Yard
A broader view of the deck and garden.  This is really a gorgeous, spacious back yard.  Notice how they used greenery to create a privacy hedge waaay at the back of this picture.  While you can still see the neighbors over sized backyard building, it’s not unsightly due to the thick trees.

It sure is nice when your small house has an outdoor living space such as this quaint cottage.. It’s something to think about when designing your perfect living in a small house.

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Table Top Christmas Trees and more..

Table top Christmas trees may be small but they can pack a lot of punch for your small space. Get inspired with this group of small Christmas trees.

Table top Christmas trees are perfect for small houses and small spaces! We have table top trees, along with other Christmas tree ideas for the small area you want to decorate this year. And may you and your loved ones have a safe and Merry Christmas.  Dee 🙂

Photo Credit: Keith Scott Morton - Table Top Christmas Tree

The table top Christmas tree above will fit in practically any small space you want. It’s casual and fun.. practically a Charlie Brown Christmas tree actually. I love the blue and silver. Look at the silver bowl that the tree sits in. Elegant touch to an otherwise casual look.

Christmas-Trees-Embossed-Horchow
Small Christmas Trees Embossed from Horchow

A trio of trees.. quite elegant. Even one or two of these gold and cream trees would be gorgeous. You’ll notice in the caption of each picture, we give credit to where we found the picture. In this case it was an actual store, so you can go their site and purchase, if you wish. Simple, but elegant, to be sure.

Photo Credit Jackson and Perkins

Now here’s a fun little Christmas tree. Green balls with silver poinsettia flowers.. Just enough Christmas cheer to be festive but definitely won’t take up a lot of room!

Whimsical dove small Christmas tree
Photo Credit Keith Scott Morton - Dove Tree

Oh my, the dove tree above is so unique. It just goes to show that with Christmas decorating, you are only limited in you mind. They took this plain little tree and made it magical by simply draping cutout doves to the branches. Beautiful, whimsical effect.

Small Christmas Tree Decorated
Small Christmas Tree Decorated

This table top tree also has doves.. but with a completely different affect. The gold doves are complimented with gold balls and a bright red tree holder with a single gold ribbon at the top and the bottom.

Mini Fauz Christmas Trees from Horchow

Check out the tree duo above. Quite unique I think. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a tree decorated where it wasn’t done as a whole. I mean, the bottom is decorated completely different from the top part. Great idea.

Front Porch Small Christmas Tree
Photo Credit HGTV - Front Porch Small Christmas Tree

Lovely small Christmas tree just outside the front door to welcome your guests and put a smile on their faces.

Double small Christmas trees by the front door
Photo Credit - Jackson and Perkins

A welcoming pair of Christmas trees to grace the entrance of your small home, or to place inside. Blue and gold stars compliment perfectly the rustic tree holders. Makes you want to go inside and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate doesn’t it?

I hope these Christmas trees will inspire you to have fun with your Christmas decorating. Looks like today’s Christmas trees are beyond the traditional lights and ornaments. 🙂

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