When I was little and later in grade school, I was a size queen. Everything had to be bigger and better. Especially when it came to two things, homes and man meat!!! I was always drawn to larger homes and mansions, and I thought, one day, I'm going to have a huge, larger home or mansion, or marry very well. Over the years, with many family members and friends, I have listened and learned to what they say and can at times see their true feelings on living in large homes. As I got older and grew up, my stance changed. Now currently I have no desire to own a home, let alone a larger one. While on vacation several years ago in the Catskills, we visited a friend who had one of those small houses, and I saw first-hand for the first time what they looked like and was quite shocked by the style. I might reconsider owning a home now. Like other types of design and technology, the design and planning, the longer they are around, are getting fine-tuned and very smartly planned and filled with amenities. My friend loves his small house, the downing sizing of "stuff" and the feeling you can up and go much faster. Some people decide to start living small once they find there are many advantages to downsizing. A smaller home means smaller bills and a smaller set of responsibilities. That's great for me. I refuse to be a slave for a home. I also feel as I got toward middle age, I am definitely becoming more of a minimalist.
Some people decide to start living small once they find that there are many advantages to downsizing. A smaller home means smaller bills and a smaller set of responsibilities. People buy larger homes for a number of reasons. They outgrow their smaller home, receive a promotion at work, are convinced by a realtor that they can afford it, or to simply show off and impress others. The mantra of the culture again comes calling, "buy as much and as big as possible." They believe the lie and choose to buy a large home only because that's what you are supposed to do these days. I 'll never understand it. Since being back at the ancestral home, we have two floors. Four bedrooms, two baths and a half, and a finished basement with a family room, mud room, laundry room, and a games room with pool table. Our place is by no means giant, but we still don't use half the house. And the dining room gets used if lucky, 8 times a year or less. Many people I know with huge homes or estates, or have seen in videos, admit to never using half the house. Then why waste the money??? Then, when they do have a huge house, a lot of it sits empty because then they can't afford to have the house styled properly. To me, especially since apartment living, I'd rather have a small, charming space, and decorate it the way I want, filled with things I love. So, if I ever were to own a home, I am seriously considering a small house. The one featured today, is SOOOO me. Especially that kitchen and bath.
Some advantages to small home living. Smaller homes are easier to maintain, you spend less time decluttering, smaller homes are less expensive in taxes, heating and cooling. Living small means, you go into less debt. It's mentally freeing. Smaller homes have a smaller environmental impact of the environment, and you just might be able to have a home in any location, where you might not be able to normally afford a larger home. You free up more time to do other things, with less house and less land. Smaller home also lessen the temptation to accumulate more. Smaller home are in a wider market to sell. By its very definition, a smaller more affordable house is affordable to a larger percentage of the population, then a more expensive one.
I have seriously thought of getting a small house and place it in the Pocono Mountains and use it as a summer house and get the feel of it, see how it goes and feels. If all goes well, then I could move in permanently. Or have the whole house relocated to a beach locale. Either way I love these smaller homes. Luckily for this size queen, my love for large cock never wavered though.
I prefer enough space to be comfortable but not so much as to promote excess work/clutter.
ReplyDeleteWe have decided that home ownership is the ticket to wealth creation, because (despite 2008) houses are a good store of value. Thus, the bigger the house the greater storage of wealth, even when you do not use half the rooms in the place.
ReplyDeleteThe downside is that this induces sprawl with all of its environmental catastrophes. But who cares if we destroy animal habitat for the sake of suburbs? It is not as if Poison Ivy will exact revenge upon us.
Who says poison ivy ain't real? For all you know that could be I! That's what kills me about real estate and a lot of places the country especially with development. We keep building more office complexes and strip malls, yet right next to where the new one is an old one sits completely vacant because everything left. Exactly what sense does this make? Why can't we greenify the play on it, had little parks and more gardens. I swear in some counties any open space and they panic, oh my God what can we build there! Don't get me started lurker.
DeleteI couldn't agree more. Here, within a 2-mile radius, are three abandoned office industrials parks and two almost empty strip plazas. Yet they built a new strip mall across the street from the old ones, and also build a new office complex with only two tenets in it so far. First off, I don't think there is a need for office space anymore, since the new normal has hit. Second, why not turn the old industrial park into a man-made lake and park grounds, or like you said gardens. Are we afraid of open space??? And also, why aren't we housing low income or homeless in the empty buildings if they won't be torn down? Drives me nuts.
DeleteTwo tiny for me, though as a bright note, they bought that floor tile in the bathroom at Home Depot.
ReplyDeleteI should have you give me design ideas for my 'kitchenette'. It is original to 1951 except for a new double sink. My house (cottage) is small but I do have a detached two car garage which is very rare because of space demands and overcrowding in Florida.
ReplyDeleteBy the sounds of your place Jimmy I would absolutely love it! I'm already in love with the outside when you've shown pictures. If I ever get down there I'll help you decorate and you can cook for me.
DeleteCook????????....LMGAO!!!!!!!!!!!!
DeleteWell I'm sure we can arrange something!
DeleteI keep wanting to downsize --- or, as my wife says, right size. Like in that first photo you have; I could live there --- without the stairs. But then she backs out. Every time. We have two rooms we don't use often at all. We could easily be in a home half the size we have.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love that house in the picture and in the mountains that would be spectacular. It's funny how we can change over the years. Even when I went to my last apartment, that was much smaller than the loft apartment I had in Harrisburg before I moved to Bucks County.
DeleteI kept telling my spouse we need to downsize, almost to the point where he passed away. As much as I loved him I'm stuck with the whole kit and Kaboodle to downsize,purge and eventually sell! It's exhausting!
DeleteI already downsized when I moved to this duplex. It has less square footage than my old apartment, but you know what? I'm okay with it. I still have two bedrooms and once I get the kitchen remodeled I'll have enough space for the things I need.
ReplyDeleteHa! We "downsized" from a 4 bedroom house to a 6 bedroom house because the new house had downstairs bedrooms and bathrooms. The major problem is lack of wall space to put books as upstairs is chalet style.
ReplyDeleteA friend of my mother's just downsized also into a bigger home because they had a bedroom on the first floor. Meanwhile the whole upstairs with five bedrooms and study sits completely empty. It's a beautiful Old Stone home though. Unfortunately she can't do steps of her age.
DeleteI love that house at the top!
ReplyDeleteI love these smaller homes. Some can be too claustrophobic for me (like having a bed I can’t sit up in). But I’d be happy in much of what you shared. We never had mansion-sized houses but several were way too big for us. 5 bedrooms, 3 or 4 baths, home offices, dens... blah blah blah. And you’re right we never used half of them except for company who used us as a hotel. Our apartment now is just a little too small for our down-sized tastes. But we sacrificed for the location.
ReplyDeleteThat would be my only stipulation if I get a small house. I would have to have a regular size bed that I could sit up in. I wouldn't want one that has to be on the floor or in a loft. A loft is all right if I have a guest but not for myself!
DeleteI think we've lived in every possible size variation possible with regard to living spaces. In the past we've apartments, 2 story homes, ranch style homes, lofts, and a historic 1800's 2 over 2 Georgian style! Our home in Savannah was a sprawling single story on a 1/4 acre. We bought it because my MIL was living with us and couldn't handle stairs. We stayed even after she passed and rarely used half of the house. Of course, it was great when the krewe came to visit, but it was cheaper for the 2 of us to fly out to L.A. than for them to fly out to us. We even had a room they dubbed the "Do Nothing" room because it had (gorgeous) furniture that housed our CD and DVD collections! LOL The room also had comfy chairs and a table, so it did provide a quiet space. It was a really lovely place. Anyway, now it's time for a MUCH smaller place because the kids have taken over holiday parties, as long as the MITM makes the gumbo! xoxo
ReplyDeleteYou should be a house reviewer Savvy!!!!!! And I love Georgian Style homes puddin pie.
DeleteI get it. Love the efficiency of the kitchen. Adore the outdoor seating areas. And the view. Sigh. Sign me up. It looks like the kind of place you escape to when you want to finally sit down and write that novel you've been talking about writing all your life... (talking in general, not you, you.) Me? Sign me up.
ReplyDeleteWhen growing up we always had huge homes and I have no idea why because it was only my parents me and my brother, yet we had six bedrooms. Now I have an apartment three bedroom which was a good size once but now I don't need it. So I'm all on board with a small houses. I can't lie I find them very intriguing and what's not to like about that kitchen! That's nice you're looking than mine. Glad to know though you haven't given up being a size queen completely,;-)
ReplyDeleteThis just goes to prove Small Things Come a nice packages! Ever since I and William had our first child I've lived in a big home and still in the same one. Currently the home I'm in is almost 4800 square feet. Since Williams passing I've been spending time downsizing purging , donating , and passing along items in the house as I'll be downsizing to our little beach house in Slaughter Beach Delaware. The house I currently have there doesn't look much bigger than the one pictured here. I'm very excited by it. At my age and the older I get I don't have the time nor energy to deal with such a big home and rattle around in it. This house you featured is giving me some good ideas for some updates though. I say go for it big homes and owning a home is overrated if you ask me. And when you die it's not like you can take it or any of it with you.
ReplyDelete4800!!!!! I knew you had a huge home from your picture you sent once. It will be an adjustment for sure, but just think...you'll have an ocean view!!!!! I don't blame you, that's a lot of house for one person.
DeleteHad I known this, I could have sold my house and bought one of them small houses. Then we could have been neighbors somewhere! I love this one. It's so Chic yet Charming.
ReplyDeleteall I know is the small house is better come with a shoe horn, because with your bubble ass you need one to fit in it.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry my dear, but you're up for elimination.
DeleteI was just commenting on someone else's blog that my apartment is around 1000 square feet and it is more than enough for me. I don't really entertain. And I feel like even this much space is a burden to clean. My only problem is I'm a hoarder and tend to keep stuff...so I do rent the garage across from my apartment (of course the complex charges extra for said garage) to keep some of my stuff in.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I am looking for a condo. And I want it to be around the same size--cause any bigger and I would be in cleaning misery.
I'm the complete opposite of a hoarder. If it isn't used in two years, it's out or donated, of given to someone who can use it. I considered a condo myself, but only detached. Hearing sounds from other units was sometimes a major pain in my apartment. Thought over the 22 years I was in there, I only ever any major noise maybe 10 times over the years. So glad you back updating us you little minx!!!
DeleteMy current house is the biggest one I've ever lived in and definitely has more responsibilities to it
ReplyDeleteSame here, I agree. Since being back in Harrisburg and at the ancestral home...the outside work alone is time consuming...but by choice as I love gardening.
DeleteI generally prefer a one story house, but that first photo may have changed my mind a bit.
ReplyDeleteAs I said on Sixpense's spot today, our Camden home is twice the size of our old Miami home and with the same number of rooms, though this house has 2-1/2 baths as opposed to two, and has a large laundry room., so it's just bigger rooms. We are thinking of downsizing though mostly I want a downsized yard because we're on a hair more than an acre and that's getting to be a lot of work.
PS Adore that green kitchen!
OMG
ReplyDeleteYou are right!!!! We were on the same page! I, of course, love this house. Both the setting and the construction are right up my alley. I do wish I'd have the money to have a house custom made for me. This would be the photos I'd bring the architects...
You know how much I like small houses. When it comes to dick? Well, I can take on a challenge. But houses?
XOXO
Well sixpence, let's take our plans to an architect build our small houses, and we can be neighbors! Just think we can share cocktails, recipes and big cocks! I had a feeling you'd love this house, and that would make two of us.
DeleteI don't know how much these tiny houses have caught on in Europe, but I would sell my place to get one and have it on the county side of Amsterdam. I agree: 202e needs to be filled with tiny homes and bigger living!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I think these are gaining popularity all over the globe.
DeleteLOVE IT AND THE CONCEPT! I too came from big house living. Over it. As a teen I can’t imagine living in that small home, but now, I'd do a small house in a heartbeat. Now, if I come to visit, where do I sleep? I'm not doing that loft!!!
ReplyDeleteI can share my queen bed...as long as you you behave. LOL,LOL,LOL!
DeleteI love tiny houses tour and it's always exciting to see different layouts and ways they incorporate personality into their home.There are not enough exclamation points for this breathtakingly brilliant tiny home build! It is probably this size of mu apartment, and the sad part is this is more chic and great looking compared to my place now. I'd get one if my big ass would fit in one!!!!! I'd have to grease the corners and stairs case to get through..
ReplyDeleteIt blows my mind knowing they are the same size or only slightly larger by 50 sq ft then my apartment, because of the way it is planned out.
DeleteI love this!!!! I think as time goes one, it wouldn't surprise me if old, abandoned properties, and old ruin down sections of cities and suburban developments get razed, and then neighborhoods of small houses go in. My husband and I are planning to build a tiny house if we find a property we like one day. I'm so ready to downsize...
ReplyDeleteI would have never thought I'd like a tiny house, but this is absolutely stunning. I like everything about that kitchen. The modern design, color scheme and finishes is right up my alley. I know we're way over spaced here.
ReplyDeleteYour big self would fill the place!!!!!
DeleteSmall??!!!!
ReplyDeleteSx
yes...This is the same square footage as my last apartment...900 sq ft. I would most definitely have to lay off some of the houseboys. It would break my heart Ms Scarlet.
DeleteThe two of us, are in 1120 sq. ft. About half the size of the average new home in the USA. It works well. This was a downsize, the house before this was about 1,700 sq. ft. The tiny-tiny trailers are way to far for me, but this works well.
ReplyDeleteI could do these as it is just me, but I more used to what you two have now.
DeleteWe down-sized when we bought this apartment (a duplex in a tidy area) and, while I love it ,I'm itching to get the garden planted.Too hot right now! But "small" need not be squishy if properly designed.
ReplyDeleteYour absolutely right Dinah...its all in the planning and space use.
DeleteAbsolutely! Also, if the budget allows, think about new furniture, especially if you still have the heavy suite from days gone by!
DeleteOh yes!!!! When it comes to furniture, I'm very large scale. My main dresser has 12 drawers in it!!!!
DeleteYou could be the boy with a big dick in a small house.
ReplyDelete