Our new place in Austin has this sweet little dining room with lovely wood frame windows all around, but in a 900 square foot house, every room gets used often and for more than one purpose. Mid-afternoon, this room gets bathed in dappled sunlight and it's time to throw down a wipe clean tablecloth and break out the watercolors.
I'm adjusting to this smaller space and finding I really like it. It's not big enough to get dirty. It's not even big enough to get untidy. It's just not big enough to leave out lots of stuff.
The immediate benefit to living in a small space is getting to spend more time with my family. The other day I was feeling a little at loose ends because surely there was something I needed to be doing. And yes, I suppose there's always something that could be done, but the big stuff was taken care of. So it was nice to be able to lay out our painting supplies and, without a lick of guilt, actually sit at the table and paint with the kids. D'anjou's painting stamina did not last quite so long, but he was happy to snuggle up in my lap while I read out loud to my girl, who could really spend all day long painting.
Our days here are slower and it feels really, really good.
Yay!
Posted by: Kristen | October 01, 2010 at 02:29 PM
all that light coming in is so nice to have.i like the wooden horse in background, did you have that here as well?
Posted by: mandy | October 01, 2010 at 02:42 PM
So wonderful!
Posted by: Beachbum | October 01, 2010 at 02:45 PM
We've had the wooden horse for a few years now and it's a funny story how we came across it. We were walking home from dinner in Georgetown (DC) and Mini Pear spied it sticking out of a dumpster outside someone's home renovation. It's solid! And heavy! I can't remember if Mr. Pear carried it home, or if he came back with the car, but he definitely hefted it up 3 flights of stairs to our apartment;) He lost an ear a couple of moves ago, and never had any front legs, but we love him.
Posted by: triple p | October 01, 2010 at 03:31 PM
Oooh, I love the wall color! It's so happy and fresh. Similar to our upstairs landing area and some walls in the art room/guest room/exercise room ;)
I can't tell you how happy I am for you all!
"Our days here are slower and it feels really, really good." My heart fluttered when I read this. I yearn for this and I can feel it coming!
Posted by: Dawn | October 03, 2010 at 04:45 PM