In November we started construction of our tiny cottage with the pouring of the slab. It is now roofed, insulated, has a door and windows. I have been documenting our progress here on my blog. Today you get treated to Holly’s view of the tiny cottage that we’re building. This is the wife I wouldn’t swap, even when offered a bonus of $20,000 on top of a new wife. Holly’s better than gold.
Enjoy! -WalterJ
People have sometimes asked how Walter’s wife feels about this “tiny cottage” move. A whopping 252 square feet for 5 people. Well, I’m all for it. For several reasons. Getting in the windows brought to light for me one of the things that makes it so that I don’t worry about lack of space. There is physical space and then there is visual space. You can live in a huge place but if there is no visual space due to poor floor plan, clutter and chaos or poor lighting that “huge place” can easily become cramped, claustrophobic and depressing. For me, visual space is more critical then physical space and the windows of this house bring some spectacular vistas of fields, woods, mountains and sky into our home. Literally miles of visual space. To me this makes a huge difference. And the floor plan of the cottage allows for both open and privet areas. There is the bedroom and bath which have doors and the kids’ loft which provides a separate area for them to use (and their own window overlooking the pond, field and mountains.) At the same time the kitchen has a spacious vaulted ceiling a window to the east, clear views to the south through the front room windows and a window over the kitchen counter to the west. An interesting note is that the house I grew up in had enormous windows from ceiling to floor and about 8 feet wide. You could see right though the house. I remember watching rain storms come in. Looking out the front side of the house you could see the rain pouring down, then turn around and look out the back where it was still dry. Very cool.
Another key to my looking forward to this tiny cottage adventure is that I have often bemoaned the presence of “too much stuff” in our quite roomy abode. “I need less. I can’t stand it. I’m going to chuck it all. All I need is a tiny place with minimal amounts of things……” is my rally cry when I was at my worst. Believe it or not, stuff can depress me. I need less to feel calmer and more relaxed. I have plenty of responsibilities and, for me, stuff equals more responsibility. To clean, to fix, to put away, to recharge…. whatever. If I don’t have so much stuff then I don’t feel the guilt of not taking proper care of things. What I really want to focus my energy on is taking good care of Walter, Will, Ben and Hope, not on battling to clean a house full of things. So the moral could be “be careful what you wish for.” I’ve always wanted a small place with big beautiful windows and just a few things. So here we go.
Here I would like to add my unabashed plug for the flylady. She is a wonderful (free!) resource who is teaching me how to declutter, establish routines and learn how to take care of the house one baby step at a time so that the “stuff” doesn’t accumulate in the first place.
A third reason that I look forward to moving into our tiny cottage is that I get cold easily. I am always the first in my family to pull out the long pants, long johns and winter jacket. My kids know that when mom is cold, it’s time for them to put on a sweater and slippers because just watching them walk around the house in T-shirts and barefoot makes me feel colder. My dear Will hauls the wood inside, dries it on the grate, lugs it downstairs, splits it and keeps the home fires burning mostly for me. And without being asked or reminded. Yes, I know, I have amazing kids. No doubt about it, they are the best. Well this tiny cottage, with it’s wonderful solar gain, huge thermal mass and “cute” wood stove is sure to be cozy and warm. Even warm enough for me.
The most important reason for my enthusiasm for this tiny cottage is that this is a key piece of the dream. Walter has thought about the house that he would design and build since long before I met him. I think that supporting your partner’s dream is central to a loving relationship. What is the point if you are going to waylay the things that you loved ones really want in life? It would be truly sad if Walter never built his house. This understanding keeps things in perspective. It doesn’t really matter how long it takes as long as it is happening. As long as we are progressing in the direction of the dream. Partners who don’t have compatible dreams are going to have a much more difficult time by their very nature, no matter how much they love and admire each other.
Of course it doesn’t hurt that Walter is building this special, beautiful place. Pick a partner with wonderful dreams that you will be happy to live in. So here I am, excited with each new accomplishment we make. (Looking forward to seeing the attic and loft places take shape.) And knowing that my family will thrive in our “tiny cottage.”
-Holly
Outdoors: 5°F/-14°F Sunny
Farm House: 63°F/48°F eight logs
Tiny Cottage: 48°F/35°F no work
HI It will be exciting to see the house when it’s all done. I think houses built by owners to suit their own quirks have the best bones and soul. Our house was built by a couple as a vacation cabin and they had many happy family memories here. They have another cabin about 1/4 mile from us, but they are older now and won’t be coming up for summers anymore and we will miss their company. Can’t wait to see how it all comes together.
(thanks for visiting my blog!)
We are currently in a Silver Streak trailer. I am thinking strongly about building a small house (think Tumbleweed) on the frame of another travel trailer, with two small outbuildings. I do like your design and I don’t think it is too small for that many people. I used to own an 880 sq ft house, built in 1941.They raised children in that house too.
Thank you Holly for your thoughts on the cabin!
You are a wonderful wife and true partner to your husband. If only more marriages had this the world would be much more peaceful… I enjoyed your perspective and have always thought of you as a trooper! Godspeed girl! Homemakerang
I have used Flylady techniques (it started with cleaning my sink) and I know exactly what you mean about STUFF! It depresses me too! I have unloaded a ton of it in the last couple of years on eBay and it felt great! Good luck to you on your projects!
Holly, good to hear from you! I have similar feelings about home space needs, and that is helping us to build and move. His dream is of a bigger space, and I can support his dream, but compared to our current home, it will be full of the light and views I want (visual space, I like that descriptive), a well insulated house, etc. valuable to me: no more smokey wood furnace struggling to warm an ancient leaky house. And best of all, the house will be empty of so much lovely stuff, clutter despite the value, and the process of decluttering already started, months before we’ll be moving! I have gratitude for FlyLady, too! Lasell, a few hills over toward the CT River
There is a state park about a 30 minute drive from here with a reconstructed log cabin in it. Its one room with a fireplace and loft above. Outside is a sign which explains that the tiny cabin was built by a young couple who first settled in the area. There were 5 children born in that 1 room cabin without medical assistance and the entire family of 7 lived there. That cabin was probably smaller than the cottage your building.
I don’t think I could move into a space that small. I could definitely live with a lot less than what I have now. If it were just Bear and me i wouldn’t see a problem with it, but its not. His kids are here and they fight with each other all of the time and I think putting them into a smaller space would only make things worse. I am pretty jealous of your move though. Right now a move like that would mean a lot less responsability.
Thanks for your beautiful explanation of what the tiny cottage means to you, Holly! I have enjoyed watching the progress and I am certain you all will be happy there.
And thank you so much for the beautiful description of sharing dreams with your partner. You and Walter are inspiring!
I think you should built a small house. Teri you can sell your silver streak trailer online and earn money online!
Wow, so neat to find you folks again. I’m trying to think what email list it was that we were both on, I think a homesteading in TN one. Hope was born while we were on that list. I went by Paula P there, I think. Anyway, I’ll read trough this journal and catch up with your lives in the few years since then. I got here from dragonfly183 talking about your cottage on her journal. Funny how this internet works.
I have to say it is great to hear from Holly! Thank you, Holly. :)
It is refreshing what you wrote about your partnership. All too uncommom in this age.
I love this blog!
K
Way to go happy couples! On an interesting side note, tradition holds that if members of a couple value STUFF differently then they will have some struggles. A groundbreaking study at BYU discovered that if BOTH spouses are materialistic, even the same amount of materialistic, then they still have lots of trouble! Earthshattering, I know, but some folks just gotta be told these things. ; )
Our last apartment was a 450 sq ft wonder that was the perfect size for the two of us. (Having a storage area in the laundry room helped- we did have some stuff, luggage and camping gear, that would have made it cramped had we had to live with it.) Now we’re in a place that’s technically bigger- 555 sq ft- but it’s chopped up horribly and only has one window. I tell ya, four people would have fit better into the 450-sq ft apartment than two people do in the 555 sq ft beast we’ve got now. Numbers can be really deceptive and living space is a good example.