You Said It: ‘Slow Down and Recharge’ and More Houzz Quotables

This week on Houzz, we saw people living large in small spaces. Tailor-made lifestyles celebrated individuality, whether it was a man who built a tiny house so he could afford to start his own business or a couple who began with 400 square feet and then built additions themselves as their family grew. Stories helped us focus on what we really want out of our lives at home rather than basing them on what we see on television or what the Joneses are up to. Suggestions included trying a spring paint color, flipping a blanket upside down or unplugging from the digital world once a week. Put your feet up, peruse to see if any of these ideas spark any inspiration for you, then unplug and enjoy your weekends, everyone!

“Merlin the Great Dane is no stranger to vintage style. He’s lounging on an old army cot on a patio in Tampa, Florida.” — Janet Paik

Oh, just indulge in this article full of cute critters that have had starring roles in the My Houzz series. There are even goats and a peacock named Andrew, which absolutely made my day when I read about them.

Full story: The Best of My Houzz: 50 Design-Loving Pets


“If you live in a foggy or rainy climate, this is a fantastic wall color choice, because it instantly perks up a space regardless of what the weather is like outside.” — Jennifer Ott

I know spring blossoms may seem like a pipe dream for those of you buried in snow this winter. But at least you can bring some of their color in with these happy spring blossom yellows hand picked by a color expert. Ott not only leads us through where and how to use it, but provides additional beautiful colors to go with it.

Full story: Color of the Week: Spring Blossom Yellow


“I have a much more discerning eye now.” — tiny-house owner Ethan Waldman, as told to Mitchell Parker

Waldman completely changed his lifestyle by moving into a 200-square-foot space. The $100 a month he now incurs in home expenses allowed him to start his own business. The fact that the home is built on a trailer allowed him to park it in a gorgeous spot in Vermont. Because his friend, architect Milford Cushman, helped him design it, it’s one of the most charming tiny houses I’ve seen.

The discerning-eye comment is something we can all learn from, whether or not we live in a small space. Pause and think about every little thing you bring into your home. How will you use it? Where will it go? As you bring it in, will something else go out?

Full story: Houzz Tour: A Custom Made Tiny House for Skiing and Hiking


“Tapping into your memories of what it was like to live in a small space can help you anticipate some of the issues that may come up once you are living in a tiny house.” — Laura Gaskill

Speaking of tiny houses, making the decision to move into one is big. If you’re considering it, this article is a must-read. Gaskill walks us through what one loses and gains, and ways to think about life and lifestyle priorities and how they jibe with tiny-house living. She strongly advises thoroughly researching the local codes and laws too.

Full story: Could You Live in a Tiny House?


“A cupboard pantry can be used to store everything from food to china and kitchen equipment. And when the doors are closed, it’s all neatly out of sight.” — Sara Emslie

Even if you don’t live in a tiny house, chances are, your kitchen is not large. When I looked in through these open doors, I thought, “I could fit almost everything I need in my kitchen into this one unit.” The cupboard pantry is such a fantastic idea and aesthetically pleasing to boot. Emslie’s article is full of more clever storage and aesthetic ideas for making the most of a modest-size kitchen.

Full story: Big Ideas for Compact Kitchens


“We both loved all of the intricate weaving you can see on the back side.” — homeowner and interior designer Heather French, as told to me

Sometimes upside down, inside out or backward are options we don’t consider. French is referring to the underside of a Moroccan wedding blanket. While most people love to display the bling and fringe of these handmade pieces, others are more fascinated by the stitching that holds everything in place.

The bigger idea is to look at objects in a new way. Stack your books horizontally. See what that abstract painting that bugs you looks like turned 90 or 180 degrees. Try the plain white side of your duvet cover for a while (I do this one). Heck, just flip those couch cushions over to the stain-free undersides. Shake things up!

Full story: Houzz Tour: New Mexico House Grows With a Designing Family


“Each junction between the three sections frames a different view — to the sky, the city, the rear terrace or to the small garden courtyard from the bay window seat, so that the space never feels confined.” — architect Brent Dunn, as told to Niobe Syme

This house, lodged on a very narrow sloped site, offers a great lesson in site planning. This includes making the most of light, using passive solar design principals and maximizing the potential for cross breezes. Rooms were placed according to views, and although the spaces are quite compact, the layout and placement of the windows makes them feel much larger, while still maintaining privacy.

Site planning also means considering other elements of the site — here, what salt air would do to the exterior. In this case cladding it in copper created a living finish that interacts with the surroundings with an ever-changing patina.

Full story: Houzz Tour: Beach Shack Reborn as a Copper-Clad Cottage


“So give yourself at least one weekend day off and find places around the home to slow down and recharge.” — Liz Durnan

This is the most important piece of advice seen on Houzz this week. You may have a lot to take care of, but the most critical thing is to take care of yourself, guilt free. Durnan provides a great list of things to do that will make you feel like you’re doing nothing, and it will be blissful.

My favorite is the digital detox. I did this for a six days on vacation last week (hence the lack of a You Said It story last Friday), and it was disturbingly hard at first. But then I felt so refreshed; without the screen time, I had time to read three books. When I broke down toward the end and bought one hour of Wi-Fi at the resort where I was staying, it was a huge mistake. The world will not crumble if you’re offline for a day.

Full story: Slow Down: The (Lost) Art of Laziness

Have you tried a digital detox? How did you fare? Did any other ideas on Houzz hit home for you this week? Please share with us in the Comments section.

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