Big decisions made this week, although I’d honestly come to terms with them much sooner than this. The fact is, the grand move to a bigger and lovelier and older home that I had so longed for….isn’t meant to be. As it turns out, we’re already home. And we always had been. The house is no longer for sale, and all those little things that showed my personality have come out of storage and back on the walls.
It was not an easy thing to decide, this staying put. I had thought if I hoped and believed and cleaned and prepped hard enough, selling this house couldn’t help but happen. But it didn’t. Although you hear a lot about people downsizing and realizing that they don’t really need that McMansion, they still don’t seem into the idea of 1100 sq. ft of epic adorableness. And that’s what I have to offer.
And so that’s what I’ll keep. This house, while small, is like an art project. I painted and stenciled and planted and created vignettes like the one above out of digging through antique mall booths and family heirlooms.
And while it did hurt my feelings a bit (a lot) to have people turn their nose up at my little house and act like it wasn’t even possible to live in this small of a space (although somehow we’ve managed to) it has also made me a little ( a lot) defiant. I will embrace the littleness. I will fill this house with more personality than any 2500 sq. ft house could even attempt to hold. I will realize that most people in the world live quite comfortably in homes this small or even smaller. I will be content that I am where I need to be and that dreaming of other homes and other people’s opportunities don’t do anything but hold me back and make me ungrateful for what I have.
I will be home in the Little House 🙂
~H
Sleightholm Folk Art 
I'm used to living small, in the UK we are all about small (well ok not everyone but everyone I know anyway):)I sometimes look at your big American houses and wonder how the hell anyone has time to clean them. Personally I like small, small is homely, cosy, warmer and my favourite word 'SNUG' :)Make your home your own and enjoy it x
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Well, its definitely not my American home that is big, but I wonder too how people with large homes have time to clean them. That's definitely not how I want to spend my days 🙂 I think I will adopt a European state of mind about my house. I'll be ahead of my time around here 😉
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i've lived in every possible size house and right now i'm missing my 1200 sq ft one ;)… i realize now it isn't the size of the home but the memories and the location etc etc…when the timing is right i'm sure it will all work out for you. meanwhile your house from the photos you've shared, looks adorable 🙂
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As Wendall Berry would say: What we need is here! I believe your decision shows wisdom and offers you the freedom to spend your time on what really matters in your life. And I think with the housing bust, big McMansions are just not sustainable anymore because nobody can truly afford all that space. I just read an article in CNN about this issue for people in their 20-30s . Would you rather have an additional 1000 sq feet to heat/cool/ and pay a mortgage for the next 30 years OR could you use that million for better purposes?? I mean who can argue that math logic??? I am thinking you can use that million in lots of better ways !!! Like a trip to Sweden or Russa???
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Home is where the Heart is 😉
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We have lived in our very small bungalow for 34 years now and while I'd love a bigger newer house I don't think I could move. Too many memories:) I know eventually we will have to move as we are getting older and will want to simplify our lives…we have a very large garden which needs lots of work…it will be very heart wrenching. We have real estate brokers at our door every week because we live on a prime piece of property. They will take down our little house and build a new very large super house that will change the look of our street. I'm not sure if I like that too much:(
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I only live in a duplex and it's more than I want to clean! Most of the time…I don't. Bad Lauren! I'm a frantic oh-my-God-my-parents-will-be-here-in-an-hour kind of cleaner. I'm happy for you that you've decided to be happy where you are. It's so difficult to be satisfied when we're constantly surrounded by opportunities to consume. Bigger! Better! Newer! I'm not always happy that I live in Kansas, but I am always glad that I have my old duplex and not some new-build monstrosity. P.S. Hooray that your personality is back on the walls!
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I do like a small space, they are cozy and charming, and your place is full of charm. So right now isn't the time, when it is time everything will fall right into place.
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I have 6 children and we went from 900 sf and 3 tiny bedrooms to 3600 sf and a 100 year old 2 story house with 6 beds.I love my new old house but I hate the location and I would rather still be in my little house and had waited and found the perfect location and house to go with it.We were tired of tripping over each other.The house will go on the market next month.I think that if you are meant to be where you are then that is where you will be.A house will speak to the right someone that sees it.Then the time will come to go on your next grand adventure.That's what life is truly about right?
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Grow where you're planted Heather … and I'm sure you guys will xYou might find this interesting – http://www.architecture.com/Files/RIBAProfessionalServices/ResearchAndDevelopment/Symposium/2008/MikeRoys.pdf – bottom line, homes in the UK are on average under 900 sq feet, sure many are larger and many smaller than that average, but at roughly the same size as yours mine is considered a good size!
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Hi Heather, The same thing happened for me, we looked for the \”house\” for over ten years and then settled in and stayed put for some more years…. then with out looking there it was!!Everything is in perfect timing 🙂 And if it's meant to be you will find yourself in that place you see in your mind ;-D Meanwhile your place is LOVELY!! Have a very Blessed Resurrection Day !! Lots of Hugs, Linnie
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We live in a tiny tiny house right now! I'm quite used to the small space and I find it really cosy. It's forced me to become much more organised and de-cluttered. I like to be inspired by places like Europe and Japan where people live in small apartments and make such good use of the space 🙂
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Yay for small homes, that's where we are at and happy with it. Every now and then I look longingly at a bigger place but actually what we have is perfect for us – enjoy your space. We have decided we would rather spend our $ on experiences rather than possessions and a small home is much easier to clean.
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AndreaCreates: I think you're right! It is the memories and moments that make a house, and this place is definitely full of them! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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@ Winnie, well, here's hoping there are millions in my future, hehe, but you're right, living small will leave room for us to expand in other areas, be it travel or giving our little one more opportunity to pursue the things she loves. And a trip to Sweden or Russia sounds good to me!
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Kelsey- it sure is!~ 🙂
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Mary Ann, I'm so glad you're keeping your little house and not letting those short sighted developers snatch it up and level it. I love old houses, and your garden sounds amazing!
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Lauren, I'm with you! I dont want to have to clean a huge house! 🙂 that's one of the main things I was sick of doing when our house was on the market….having to edit down all that was 'me' and keep things obnoxiously clean! Now I dont have to worry about dishes in the sink, yay!
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THanks Sidereal Day, I agree! yay for cozy!
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Annie, thanks for the link! That's very interesting stuff! I'm happy to know that in the UK what we have is of a good size. hehe, we'll tell people we're living in the European model! 😀
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UpandAwayStudios- Good luck with your house hunt! Im sorry the new place didnt work out! You're motivating me though that the 3 of us can live and love this little space!
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Linnie, Thanks so much! And thanks for sharing your personal house story. Your new place is amazing! I hope we're that lucky later on down the line 🙂
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Lyndall- I find Europe and Japan inspiring too, now I need to just get more organized! Im so bad about that, lol
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Crafty Squirrel– spending our money on experience instead of things is a great idea! I hope some day we do get to travel 🙂
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Cute blog!We outgrew our tiny house, sold it, and are renting a house 2x the size while we find *the* house for us. The house-cleaning comments are interesting~I have found that if you can keep a little house clean, you can keep a big house clean! 🙂
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Your home is lovely and full of love and personality and warmth…I grew up in am 800 sq foot 2 bedroom home and it was more than enough room….we live in a similarly tiny rental at the moment, and have been house hunting. We could neither afford to buy, or heat a large house….and 1,200 sq feet is about the top of what we have been looking at….plenty of room for a family of three, methinks. Small is dandy, indeedy! 🙂 Wishing you a splendid Spring!!!!
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Small is good. You have a beautiful home – from all the photos I've seen. As long as you and your family are happy and healthy, that is what matters. 🙂
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I for one ADORE your house. We are 1100 sq ft sisters. 🙂 Ours does seem small at times, but it's also a happy, cozy little place that I love with all my heart. Your house is so very you, and I think the touches you have done make it all the more unique and inviting.
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You'll have your old-timey prairie house someday, Heather-shi! You have made your house so cute and homey despite the size or age. 🙂
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It´s so good that you followed your heart here. It seems to me that you really listened to the voice inside here, which is such a good think. I live in a small apartment and I still love my place. Because it´s mine 🙂 Sara xxx
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Hello again 🙂 so happy to hear from you again and I have so much I would like to say and comment, so I have to come back more times I guess, because now I´m really tired, just put all children in bed :)did you find me Through Sara (snövits äpple)? just saw her comment here!and I also think we have so much in common..as I saw your love for Tasha Tudor (I´m crazy about gardening when the summertime is here) and when I see your home..love so much this oldfashioned (as you might have guessed looking at mine 🙂 and your love for art!!!! You make amazing paintings!!! pure love for all your art..really, I´m already a big fan! You know..I haven´t been painting for years myself..this was my first now…but I feel I will continue and look for my own special style, because I feel so so good when I paint, so now..I´m not going to stop! Always stopped before I was finished before because I thought I couldn´t paint – now I don´t care, I do it anyway (smiles)now I have to go to sleep but I´m coming back – of that you can be sure ***(oh, and that you love Sarah Blanks art..how amazing that you have the same dress that she sent me, it´s so so adorable and I love it so much, and her jewelry..I was so blessed that she wanted to do two extra for me..I have them on even when I sleep sometimes ;)love Lycke
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