Little Houses

My husband and I love little houses. Granted, we tend to go head-over heals and Ga-Ga over the occasional over sized Victorian or English Tudor. But when it comes to getting serious and looking for a house for our family- we are attracted to the smaller scale houses such a post-war bungalows and cape cods. When I say small-scale, I mean small square footage. We can't help it, it just happens.

I don't know if it is the dreamy images of tiny cottages adorned with lovely gardens, front porches and picket fences or the practicality of cheaper maintenance and lower utility bills. Marc and I both like to feel comfort and cozy in our spaces. We like the smaller rooms that can be easily decorated with the necessities and a few treasured pieces. We like the smaller yards that can be maintained easily and quickly as to maximize time spent with family. Less time mowing the yard= more time playing in the yard.

There is a certain feeling that a little house evokes for us. The feeling of closeness, security, togetherness.........comfort. The kind of comfort that wraps around you like a warm quilt on a winter's night.

Yes, we are perfectly aware of the fact that we have three children. Each of who comes with a huge amount of stuff. Children whose mother also has a habit of accumulating stuff. Too much stuff if you ask my husband!! LOL!!!

However, when we look for homes we always seem to be most attracted by the smaller ones. The larger the house- the more overwhelmed we feel about seeing ourselves there. The smaller the house (within reason) the more excited we tend to get. Our bigger concern is number of bedrooms opposed to the amount of square footage. Well, that and the kitchen. The kitchen has to be the "ah ha" in the house. Or at least have a size we could work with.

When I look at the little houses I tend to notice every single detail that they have to offer. Those tiny details don't seem to get lost or overshadowed like they sometimes do on the large houses.

And then you have the little houses that are completely void of character............such as the one that seems to have our heart-strings for the time being. As I have said before- Marc says I am attracted to the ugly houses. If there is one within a five mile radius I will find it and fall in love. Every time. Guaranteed. This little gem is crying out for some love and attention...........Doesn't she look sad?

I envision light sage-grey siding, dark blue shutters, a plum colored front door, new dimensional shingles and dormers on the roof, a new front porch with white railing, gingerbread mouldings and wicker furniture, window boxes filled with pink and purple petunias and ivy, and the front yard surrounded by a white picket fence with an arbor and a gate out front. A pergola over the garage door would allow for climbing wisteria and a flagstone walkway would guide guests to the front door. OH! And we can't forget about a cute new screen door!

The kitchen sold me on this house. It has the original 1952 cabinets that remain in great shape...

Pure vintage cuteness. Two windows invite the sunshine in all day!

The detail on the cabinets is just too cute!!

And there is even a little nook just begging for a built-in breakfast bench!

The two bedrooms upstairs have the rounded/sloped ceilings and storage under the eaves. The bathroom is also cute with it's original cabinets and bathtub. The inside of the house just needs tweaking: new counter tops, back splash and flooring in the kitchen and bathroom. The carpet would all be removed to reveal the hardwood floors. The basement is full and could be finished easily for additional square footage and a much-needed second bathroom.

The outside of the house needs the most attention. But the possibilities are endless.........

Can you see what I see? Brick-paver patio, a "wall" of hydrangeas, lanterns along the fence line....

You hear so many people tell you these days that you can't raise kids in a small house. My Grandparents raised 7 kids in a little bungalow. It was common back then for large families to live in small houses, having shared bedrooms and even shared beds. Do we really need a bigger house? Or is the answer as simple as-we need less stuff? How much space does one really need to live?

HUGS

~Heather:)

If any of the houses belong to you please let me know so I can give credit to you! Thank You.