Staying Rightsized (Part 4)

Staying Rightsized is a weekly photo roundup featuring some of the many space-saving considerations around our cottage. I share this as a reminder that we usually don’t need a bigger space— we simply need less stuff, and more creativity. As minor as some of these moments seem, the little things really do add up, providing more space for navigating daily life within limited or awkward square footage.

Above: A vintage, folding ironing board provides us with a collapsible, dog hair-free surface for sorting never-ending laundry. (Lately it’s been functioning as a mobile desk as well.)

Above: A swivel-arm, wall-mounted rack holds accessories / functional decor for our 7 year-old, while a lower wall basket keeps art supplies (and magic wands) within reach of both kids.

Learning to Manage a Home

My grandpa Lou was orphaned at 9.

Left suddenly alone without a mother or home, he was handed off between various households in different towns and states. Over the years he ran away, lived on a breezeway, and was reunited with - and then dismissed by - relatives. He once watched a caregiver burn his clothes and everything he owned right in front of him— an experience that still haunted him decades later. Foster youth experience disproportionate rates of homelessness, incarceration, food insecurity, and trauma. My grandfather was no exception. 

It wasn’t until he met a caring mentor that he felt heard, safe, and guided, and could then begin to become a responsible young adult. 

He took over the management and responsibilities of a scrapyard. 
He served and traveled in the military. 
He started a family.
He gave back to his communities in tangible and meaningful ways. 

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 nonprofit organization The RightWay Foundation, and invite you to join me by becoming a part of the family support system that foster youth need in order to grow. This season’s contributions will go directly towards nurturing responsibility, helping the youth in RightWay’s supportive housing manage their apartments— from cleaning, to preparing healthy meals, to paying their rent on time.

Click here to help guide our youth, nurture responsibility, and give them the gift of a safer, healthier, and more stable household.

Staying Rightsized (Part 3)

Staying Rightsized is a weekly photo roundup featuring some of the many space-saving considerations around our cottage. I share this as a reminder that we usually don’t need a bigger space— we simply need less stuff, and more creativity. As minor as some of these moments seem, the little things really do add up, providing more space for navigating daily life within limited or awkward square footage.

Suspended clips for air drying washable wipes and all manner of small linens.

A teapot put to additional use when the weather insists on see-sawing between the 40s and the 90s on a daily basis in November.

Vintage French Reusable Shopping List

A recent post featuring our vintage, French, wall-mounted reusable shopping list garnered so many questions that I’m sharing a (recently updated!) shoppable collection of some of my favorite similar designs below. Here’s to shopping small, sourcing secondhand + sustainable, and warming our homes with unique goods that make our spaces all our own. 

From left to right, top to bottom:
1. Commissions (1)
2. Commissions (2)
3. Epicerie Fine
4. Cats
5. Wooden shelf
6. Perrier
7. Liste with peppers
8. Hen
9. Cuisine, galvanized

---

Note: I earn a (very small) commission from secondhand items sold from this post. Photos are © the individual shop owners.

Staying Rightsized (Part 2)

Staying Rightsized is a weekly photo roundup featuring some of the many space-saving considerations around our cottage. As minor as some of these moments seem, the little things really do add up, providing more space for navigating daily life within limited or awkward square footage.

Because we usually don’t need a bigger space. We simply need less stuff, and more creativity. 

Above: Custom cushions top the raised benches / tables on either side of the kids’ wardrobe. With the cushions on, the kids each have a reading nook by a window. With the cushions removed, the kids each have a desk at which to play and work.

Above: 1¼” wide magnetic wooden blocks (squeezed between the trim of two narrow windows) support individual kitchen knives in order to free up drawer and counter inches.

The Tiny French Farmhouse: Sleeping 9 people in <800 sqft

NOTE: This entry was written as a response to one of the most commonly asked questions about the farmhouse: “Where does everyone sleep?!”

Our <800 sqft farmhouse residence, which is shared between five adults and four young kids, was listed as a 2 bedroom / 1 bathroom online.

Thankfully, upon receiving the private link to the full property listing, we discovered that there was also an unlisted half-bath — or “WC”—  upstairs between the little bedrooms. We rejoiced heartily over this. (We still do.)

While the surprise WC solved the most pressing space-related problem we’d anticipated (one toilet for nine people was clearly not going to suffice), there was still the significant, runner-up spacial issue of the need for a third bedroom. As we’re three parties who intended to overlap frequently during both our short and long-term stays, creating an additional, dedicated sleep space was promptly added to our list of restoration and renovation projects. We marked it as non-urgent, but a high priority.

As you can imagine (and see for yourself via my photos), our repair + to-do list is very long. The farmhouse and its outbuildings were constructed in the mid-1800s, and adapted mindfully but inexpertly over time. Some of the our list’s entries are essential. Some are aspirational. Some need to be done for regulatory purposes. Others are constantly being erased and re-written to reflect our families’ evolving needs as life unfolds in the unexpected ways it does.

This past summer was our first with all three parties / nine folks together in the residence at once…

Staying Rightsized (Part 1)

Staying Rightsized is is a new weekly photo roundup featuring some of the countless space-saving considerations around our cottage.

Because as minor as these moments seem, the little things really do add up and provide more space for navigating daily life within limited or awkward square footage.

Wait - Do I Hate Hosting Now?

Don’t share this with any home decor magazines because I’d be out of a small but essential revenue stream for my small business and family, but these days I cringe at the idea of hosting.

It’s not our space— I designed it with hosting in mind.
It’s not the people— I (generally) love people.
It’s not the food— Adam always concocts something tasty.

A Personal Ode to Public Libraries

Earlier this month I found myself tiptoeing alone through the public library with my tripod and camera, trying to discretely capture a particular visual that had long been brewing in my mind. I’d hoped to use the footage to help spread the word about Library Card Sign-Up Month, an event that takes place every September in the United States in tandem with the start of the new school year.

Unfortunately, the library’s sign-up campaign kickoff is often drowned out by concurrent and omnipresent “back-to-school” consumer festivities. Yet as retailers loudly inundate children and caregivers with the latest trends before clearing store shelves for Halloween candy and decorations, a library card quietly remains one of the most timeless, useful, versatile, accessible and cost-effective back-to-school supplies available.

In the past 2½ years alone, local public libraries have saved my family a whopping $24,000.We’ve borrowed hundreds of books, reserved private study spaces, checked out STEM kits and sensory toys, attended special community events at various branches, and more.

But it’s not just about the money— the library has saved our family so much space.

Sharing Responsibilities Across Family Lines

It’s the stuff, but it’s also a lot more…

We visit our public library A LOT. And one of the things you can’t miss in the children’s section is the enormous number of books centered around the topic of sharing. Throughout their childhoods, we remind kids repeatedly how important it is to share. But something about the messaging is often truncated, limited to tangible items like toys or supplies. 

What about sharing workloads? 
Time? 
Energy? 
Ideas? 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about sharing things and reducing the sheer amount of stuff we buy and store within our bursting homes. But…

Feature: Better Homes & Gardens Podcast

Recently I had the joy of chatting with the folks at Better Homes & Gardens via their podcast, The Better Buy.

In the episode, we discuss designing limited square footage to multitask for your household, blending the outdoors seamlessly with your space, and taking an eco-friendly lifestyle seriously—from home renovation to everyday habits.

We also chat a bit about about the French Farmhouse, cottage and greenhouse.

Thanks for having me on the show, BHG!

A Carbon Negative Kitchen Appliance with a Positive Impact on Soil Health

What if the world was waste-free? After all, there is no “waste” in nature — humans are the only species that create trash.

Food waste is one of the greatest contributors to climate change, and over 40% of that waste occurs at the household level.

But we have the ability to change this. Food waste is not really waste when it’s handled mindfully.

Instead, no matter where you live, food waste can become sustenance for nature, contributing precious natural resources back into the earth. Now, at the push of a button.

The Lomi Bloom is the only carbon negative appliance, and it can turn fruits, veggies, plant trimmings, yard waste, animal products, grains, and more into nutrient-rich plant food that supports healthy soil and its regeneration.

Lomi Earth — the result of Lomi’s “Grow” mode operating cycle— produces nutrient-rich, organic fertilizer that’s perfect to use on houseplants and gardens. When the Grow cycle is run with a LomiPod, the end result is packed with vital microbes to support plant health, and can also be sprinkled on lawns to improve soil health.

As we know, healthier soils store dramatically more carbon than degraded soils. When Lomi Earth is mixed with other soil and used to grow plants, the organic carbon in Lomi dirt is partially sequestered in soil and as plant matter. As such, not only are we able to avoid the harmful emissions of landfilling food waste, but we can also help sequester additional carbon.

Not only does Lomi Bloom reduce our carbon footprint and enhance our positive impact, it also rewards users in additional ways with every use. Via Lomi’s app, users can track their Bloom’s impact, and receive rewards like Lomi products and other useful, eco-minded items that can help us curb household waste.

Imagine what our world would look like if, at the end of its life cycle, everything nurtured this magnificent earth as nature intended…

Thank you to the wonderful folks at Lomi for supporting our small business by sponsoring this post. All opinions and photos are my own.

Rightsizing: Thoughts on outgrowing certain spaces...

This is a place for sharing. Not just stories and visuals, but spaces themselves, and ways in which we can navigate and enjoy them together.

Over my 10+ years of publishing lifestyle and design tales of small space living, I’ve ushered millions of folks through lovingly crafted homes ranging from ~100 sqft to ~900 sqft. I’m continuing some of these intimate walk-throughs, but from now on the full-length / full-imagery versions of most posts (including those from the farmhouse and the cottage) will live on my new Substack + newletter: Rightsizing.

There’s so much interest surrounding multigenerational living, co-stewardship, shared resources, and sustainably + mindfully made, modest residences that the discussion has outgrown my blog, and is settling into a more suitably-sized space of its own.

Honestly I should’ve done this years ago, but I simply didn’t have the bandwidth. I so hope you’ll join me there now. Together, we’ll grow a community of folks who are interested in enjoying life in — and with — a smaller footprint.

Why Subscribe? (Because life is better when we share it!)
Subscribing is like walking into our cottage or farmhouse, but without getting all the dog hair stuck to your clothes. You’ll receive my newsletters, and full length versions of posts from my (now abbreviated) blog, along with exclusive imagery.

Managing Mosquitoes in a Healthier & more Sustainable Way

Growing up in Florida and eventually living along the canals in Venice, California, my partner and I are no strangers to mosquitoes. Now, being back in the woods of the muggy southeast, we’re once again faced with a sudden and intense mosquito season. After getting bit on the eyelid the other day (a first for me,) and watching my eye swell for two days, I figured it was time to break out my preferred gear for managing the bugs for our home and family. Here are my favorites, including my new MVP from an ethical, low waste brand that I’ve long adored. 

Mosquito Repelling, Plant-Based Lotion Stone
Click here
Why I like it: This lotion stone is easy to apply, works, and feels good on the skin. Plus it’s a very low waste product with minimal packaging and zero plastic. 
About the stone: The Kate McLeod Dusk Stone is a bar that melts on contact, and is comprised of simple yet powerful ingredients that are full of antioxidants and fatty acids to heal and soothe skin while acting as a natural insect repellant. It’s a highly concentrated formula made without water, synthetics, or alcohols. 

Insect Shield Clothing
Click here
Why I like it: I keep our insect shield scarves wrapped around our sun hats so we never forget them. This insect shield clothing can help reduce overall pesticide and repellent use, and puts the repellent next to your skin rather than on it. All dye colors are  non-toxic and processed in a closed loop water system that recycles 100% of the water used in processing. 
About: Pang Wangle Earth-friendly, Insect Shield® clothing repels mosquitoes, ticks, flies, fleas, chiggers, ants, midges. It's EPA approved for everyone, including infants, pregnant or nursing women, even pets.  

All Natural Repellent for the whole family, including pups
Click Here
Why I like it: This family-friendly, all-natural bug spray, which comes in a stainless steel canister that we reuse, was developed for the humid, hot, swampy, bug infested climates of Florida.
About: Beat It contains no deet, no chemicals, and no artificial ingredients. It can be used on babies, children, pregnant women, AND pets. Beat It repels ticks and fleas on cats and dogs and keeps flies off horses.

Bee-Safe, Non-toxic Mosquito Repellent Sticks
Click here
Why I like it: The smell of this bee-safe formula doesn’t bother me the way citronella sometimes does, and the sticks burn smoothly for over 2 hours.
About: Madison James Flyaway Sticks keep away mosquitoes, horseflies, hornets, and the common fly, without hurting bees. They’re made in limited batches in the USA with highly effective ingredients, and are hand-packaged in a repurposed farm feed bag.

Soothing Bite Balm
Click here
Why I like it: Our 6 year-old has long appreciated this soothing balm, so we add a dab here and there when necessary. And I like that it comes in a tin rather than plastic, and it made by a Certified B Corp.
About: Murphy’s Naturals Bite Relief Soothing Balm uses soothing ingredients, like andiroba, eucalyptus, and chamomile oils. 2% of all sales goes back to communities working to better people and the planet. Murphy’s Naturals is a 1% For The Planet member, which means 1% of all revenues help fund environmental organizations.

Citronella Incense Hanging Coil
Click here
Why I like it: This is what we use if we have a larger outdoor gathering. It’s pretty, has a large coverage area when suspended high, and is nontoxic to people and animals. 
About: This Fredericks & Mae Citronella Incense Hanging Coil lets off a slow-and-steady stream of citronella-infused smoke with the lemony scent of citronella

A Fan + Plants
There’s nothing more annoying than hearing mosquitoes buzz around you overnight, knowing you’ll wake up with welts. We sometimes point a fan towards the bed with a potted lavender plant situated behind it to help prevent the buzz and bites. (Not sure how much the lavender helps, but it smells amazing.)

Long Linen Clothing
When in a hurry or a pinch, we fall back on long linen clothing. It helps block the sun and shield somewhat from mosquitoes, while allowing our skin to breathe in the intense summer heat and humidity. 

Prairie Hand Wash Station

I’m a fan of the earth on the little ones’ hands— soil, sand, bark, and that particularly enchanting smell of gardenia that lingers on the skin after the flowers are clipped from grandma’s garden pathway.

But I could do without some of the other things that get on the kiddos’ hands while we’re out— like, say, Strep bacteria, you know? (And I’m an avid no-shoes-in-the-house kinda person after years of living in major cities like New York, Los Angeles and D.C.)

As such, I added a simple hand wash station* to the front stoop.

I paired it with a repurposed and refillable bottle of soap with a spout adapter and an old cloth napkin, and voila!

The soil can stay, but the Strep has gotta go.

Do You Need More Space... or Do You Just Need Less Stuff?

A handful of months ago, I let myself be momentarily deluded into thinking I “needed” an appliance garage & beverage station in the cottage kitchen.

I had a spot picked out - a secondhand, windowed cabinet that straddles the line between our multitasking entryway / dining room and the kitchen. (Family and friends would immediately have drinks in their hands upon arrival! Kitchen gizmos would be tucked away but easily accessible! Ooh la la!)

In the meantime, our carefully pared down collection of non-library books had nowhere to go, so I shoveled stacks of them into the cabinet as a quick fix.

Over time, guests sometimes popped by, and it turns out that they were quite happy to take the two whole extra steps (gasp!) into the kitchen for their drinks.

Our collection of small appliances remained small itself, because most kitchen gadgets are things we can most certainly live happily without.

And as it turned out, I quite liked the books exactly where and how they were.

We all want to slow down, and yet we’re routinely lured into the expertly marketed promise of efficiency and convenience. We lust after silly accessories for which we upend our wallets and overtax our bursting homes, ultimately coming to the conclusion that we need more space. 

But we don’t need more space. 
We just need less stuff. 
And this planet is desperately counting on us to act accordingly.  

Before & "After": Turning a Construction Zone into a Garden & Outdoor Lounge

Note: While the following is a “before & after” post, the “after” is still very much a work in progress, and will remain so for years to come…

Approaching the outdoor design at our new cottage has been a challenge for me. After 9 years of working on our previous garden, we’d FINALLY gotten it to look and function exactly the way we’d long envisioned. (You can see some of the before / after photos scattered throughout this page on the blog.) But then, a single and short year later, we moved. To start all over again — from a construction zone, no less — felt both overwhelming and beyond budget.

BEFORE: February 2022. We built in an empty field so that no trees or branches needed to be removed. The Live Oak stump is leftover from a beautiful, ancient tree that split and fell down naturally years ago. The Sago Palms were here upon our arrival, and are toxic. We removed the ones that drop seeds, and we keep the pups well away from the palms remaining.

Above: May 2023

So we started the only way we could:
S-l-o-w-l-y.

BEFORE: March 2023. I desperately wanted a natural willow fence, but in this environment we truly require a utilitarian barrier at the foot of the cottage to securely keep gators out while keeping our pups in. Enclosure is about 26’ x 26’.

Above: Work in progress. The vines will eventually engulf the fence posts and climb the porch supports, and we plan to establish shade-tolerant, oversized shrubs behind the sofa to obscure the underside of the cottage and create a living, breathable backdrop of green behind the sofa.

Our wonderful neighbors guided us through much of the process, teaching us more about native and regionally-friendly plants, and helping us obtain reduced prices on trees that would’ve otherwise been beyond our price-point. (They also collected all the plastic nursery pots for return to / reuse by the locally-owned plants shops.)

Our goal with this first pass at the garden was to restore the natural ground cover that was destroyed during construction, diversify the species of plants for both pollinators and shade, let select areas re-wild, and better conceal the underbelly of the cottage, which is built-up 5-6 feet above the ground due to flood safety requirements.

Over the course of several months, we planted the following around our cottage:

• 5 Fruit trees

• 6 Shade trees

• 12+ Creepers & vines

• 12+ Blooming shrubs

• 7 Herbs & Veggies (to compliment the 72 edible plants on our Lettuce Grow towers)

• 25 Shrubs

• 32 Cord grasses

• Seeds: sunflowers, coreopsis, sweat pea, and more.

For natural (and free!) garden edging, we used dry fallen branches we’d collected over time. We hauled them home from around the land via cargo bike, wagon and Jeep.

We let the shape of the branches dictate the flow of the space.

The branches formed the pathways and zones within the space. We deliberately didn’t bother with weed barriers— more on why below.

The branches keep the gravel and mulch separated, and provide a natural surface for animals and plants to explore.

In a few spots within the fenced-in garden, we used mulch and pea gravel to delineate between pathways and plant zones. We didn’t bother with weed barriers, as the pea gravel wasn’t chosen for aesthetics, but for establishing natural drainage and solid, less muddy pathways for rainy days. (Plus it’s such a small area that it’s not hard to pull out unwanted greenery when need be.) Plus it’s tough overall, but soft enough for the pups’ paws.

This fence itself is, sadly, vastly far from the welcoming, warm, ethereal, willow border of my dreams. Instead it’s a utilitarian barrier at the foot of the cottage that is intended to securely keep gators out while keeping our pups in. (The dogs have access to a much larger space to roam freely nearby, but this closer, compact yard is a helpful enclosure for the dogs to access in the middle of the night and during particularly stormy spells.

To conceal the fence in time, we planted Coral Honeysuckle and Jasmine, which will creep and climb, ultimately covering the fence with a breathable barrier that welcomes pollinators.

We created space for a minimal lounge zone, an outdoor cowboy grill, and a bistro set. (And, of course, the kids are working on a fairy garden.) Eventually our outdoor shower will be included as well, hopefully privatized with the help of some creeping vines snaking their way over the fence.

We have two outdoor sofas— a rattan model for the porch, and a wooden design for the garden. The wooden sofa (not pictured in these visuals) is from our Venice cottage, and was made from reclaimed wood by our friends at Tumbleweed & Dandelion. The other is a “NATURA” sectional from Woven. It’s a modular system, which increases its use and versatility around our home and greenhouse.

Above: The “NATURA” sectional from Woven

Above: The “NATURA” sectional from Woven

The NATURA is made from rattan, bio based foam and upcycled, recyclable all-weather fabric made from single use plastic water bottles. There is no hardware, it’s lightweight and ships standard, and it’s 95% compostable and recyclable through Woven’s take-back program.

Out front, we intend to add a couple of locally-crafted Cypress chairs near the enormous preserved Live Oak stump. The stump is leftover from an ancient tree that feel down naturally years ago, and from its core another Oak has sprouted. We’ve slowly started planting flowers, vines and shrubs around it, while adding bird feeders + baths nearby. Already these changes have brought a myriad of pollinators, songbirds, deer, nocturnal animals, and sandhill cranes.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

So many folks have asked why we chose vines and prairie grasses rather than more tamed and manicured plants, noting concerns over animals such as snakes, armadillos, raccoons and the likes.

But our goal isn’t to push the animals out… on the contrary (with the exception of those almighty gators). These creature were all here first, plus they need habitat since the county is rapidly ripping out acre after acre of old growth wooded areas in order to construct large housing developments. Our thought is that the land we share can remain a safe haven for the animals who have long lived here, while also providing them with cover that actually pulls them away from our paths and doorways.

This area has only just begun to take root. We so look forward to watching it grow, and learning from the experience.

Here’s to getting outside and celebrating nature while simultaneously respecting our one magnificent, collective home through our home and garden design decisions.

Note: I want to share a massive and heart-felt thanks to our incredible neighbors, who gave us so much of their time, energy, kindness, and expertise. And I also want to thank my parents — who have tended to this land for over 30 years — for their willingness to let Adam and I explore our own vision for this acreage. We are, after-all, merely a guest house / ADU to their home. We so appreciate their openness to reimagining what some of this land could become.

Functional Decor: Layered Kitchen Lighting

When we designed our new cottage, we didn’t include any ceiling lights in the main room, which consists of the kitchen, dining room, entryway, office, and living room. Nor did we include the recommended lights in our primary bedroom. Despite the electrician’s continued insistence that we needed built-in overhead lighting, I was adamant that we avoid it, remembering how harsh it felt — regardless of bulb type — in our previous tiny cottage.

Six months have passed since we moved in, and not once have I regretted the decision. In fact, I wish I’d listened to my gut about the kids' room too, and remained steadfast in declining the recessed lighting option in there, too. Alas, I caved on that one, and I’m still kicking myself for it.

For me, lighting is the perfect example of Functional Decor. It is the ultimate way to decorate a home and set its feeling of warmth and welcome while addressing a distinct need. Plus lighting can be designed to suit any style within a myriad of budgets.

We don’t often need to switch on the lights within our home thanks to the numerous windows and skylights that usher in abundant natural light. But after the sun sets, the kitchen requires the most illumination, which is why the room is layered with sconces, a pendant, and two table lamps. All of these include natural, eco-friendlier materials, like rattan, linen, water hyacinth, and clay, rounding out the look and feel I want for the space while helping us brighten it gently but effectively in the evenings and early mornings.

I also prefer the versatility of less permanent lighting options. With the exception of the two wall sconces on the back wall, the other lights, including the pendant, can easily be relocated in case our needs or use of the space shift over time.

The growler-turned-lamp, which is ceramic with a light iron wash and a hand-carved screen door on the front, is by a life-long friend whose works of functional ceramic art I’ve collected for 20+ years. The other table lamp (in rattan) was designed by our friend Justina Blakeney. Lighting can be an opportunity to showcase (and even repurpose) sentimental items from around your home, not only adding to the decor but also telling stories about your family and the folks you love.

SOURCES

• Customizable Sconces

• Handmade ceramic, iron wash lamp by our friend Daniel George Designs

• Linen Pendant Lampshade: Secondhand (click here for the jute pendant lamp cord)

• Rattan and linen table lamp by our friend Justina Blakeney of The Jungalow for Opalhouse

How to Make a Pop-Up Play Zone in a Small Space

Read more about establishing play zones for children in compact homes and outdoor spaces via my book, Small Space Style.

Living with kids in a small space can be a unique challenge. But it’s possible to nurture imagination, respect boundaries, and even remain organized when approaching the design and decor of a compact home with inventiveness and consideration.

I’ve long enjoyed creating pop-up play zones for my children in our various environments. Not only does this activity create a “new” area (without spending money or acquiring more items) for the little ones to enjoy, but it’s also playful way for me to start the day, as it feels like a creative warm-up exercise.

Even the smallest stretch of square-footage can be temporarily transformed into something special. (I’ve found this to be particularly useful on those long days when we’re confined indoors for one reason or another.)

Over a long weekend recently, I took 5 minutes to apply a few simple edits to the 3’ x 6’ space between our kitchen island and wall, turning it from a walkway into a play kitchen + art table + bird watching station for our 2 year old and 6 year old.

It didn’t consist of much— just two wall-mounted rails with hooks (for suspending items like an apron, food + tea set, lantern, and child-safe chopping tools), and a vintage folding chair and secondhand mini table with accents surrounding them.

It was such a hit that I suspect we’ll leave everything out for a bit longer, or we’ll at least resurface the concept within a few week’s time.

As always, some of the key tools I use for creating such pop-ups include:

• Vertical storage + organization for space-savvy layers of functional decor

• Baskets for toting toys and accessories

• Folding furnishings

• Portable lighting

All items were repurposed from around the house, but when presented in this revitalized format, the kids enjoyed each of the pieces as though they were once again new to our household.

Here are some photos from this simple setup. And, as always, I invite readers to explore even more details regarding establishing play spaces for kids in small homes and gardens via my book, Small Space Style.

Italy, Spring 2023

I stepped out of my comfort zone when I agreed to host a group trip to Italy.

Venice, Italy. Photo by Alyson Morgan (@alysonsimplygrows). Luggage by SteamLine.

I’d never met any of the attendees in person.
I don’t speak Italian.
I’ve spent the majority of my weekdays for the past fifteen years mostly alone.
I’m wretched at small talk.
I get anxious over logistics.
And I don’t like to go anywhere without my kids and pups, let alone travel thousands of miles away from them.

Como, Italy. Photo by Alyson Morgan (@alysonsimplygrows). Collapsible travel bottle by Stojo.

But, on the flip side, now that we’ve settled into our new cottage and are discovering new routines in our household and business, this feels like such a season of change. 

Restructuring.
Unlearning.
Relearning.
Evolution. 

Lake Como

And, thankfully, the setup of this trip was such that I didn’t have to sweat the logistics, or make small talk. Instead, there were deep and joyful connections, paired with the vibrant backdrop of Italy and Trova Tourism’s mindfully curated adventures. 

Bellagio, Italy

Despite initially planning on visiting France (since many folks who read this blog are interested in our @tinyfrenchfarmhouse journey), I decided to pivot and focus on Italy instead, as the itinerary sang to me given the overlap with my lifestyle.

Bike rides, long strolls, boat rides along waterways— all of this resonated with my family’s day-to-day existence. And on that note, my first group trip clearly had to include Venice, Italy— the town that inspired Venice, California, where our family resided for over a decade.

My small business and online presence were, for years, centered upon small space living along canoe-filled waterways under the warm sun that dries lines of laundry dangling from every awkward corner available.

So the visit to Venice, Italy was not only a feast for the eyes, but it was also a feast for my heart. 

Venice, Italy. Photo by Alyson Morgan (@alysonsimplygrows). Luggage by SteamLine.

Our group activities included the following:

• Milan City Cycle Tour

• Cooking Demonstration with a Milano Chef

• Lake Como Tour

• Bellagio Lakeside Village Visit

• Boat Ride from Bellagio to Tremezzo

• Franciacorta Sparkling Wine Tour and Tasting

• Venice City Tour

• Gondola Ride on the Canals

• Burano Boat Tour & Stroll

(Click here to view the full itinerary / details.)

Burano

Venice

While the sights were stunning and the trip well-orchestrated, what meant the most to me were the friendships forged. It was an honor and joy to be joined by author, photographer and herbalist Alyson Morgan, as well as ten absolutely delightful, like-minded, and kind-hearted travelers, along with our exceptional guide. 

They say that all good things must come to an end, and while the trip is indeed over I’m thinking that this good thing might just need to evolve and happen again. 

… Alyson and I are currently pondering the possibilities together… 

In the meantime, I’m just so glad I said yes to this.

Photo by Alyson Morgan (@alysonsimplygrows)

Pictured in this post: My travel water bottle from Stojo, and my favorite SteamLine Luggage carry-on case, which was the perfect size for our week in Italy. When at the cottage, I use our SteamLine pieces as decor in order to maximize their functionality and further enjoy their beauty. SteamLine has a refurbishment program, and they offer a collection composed of naturally renewable + sustainably-sourced rattan, and recycled synthetic leather.