I always love these AMAs! Here's my question: Our two bedrooms need new blackout shades. The old ones are falling apart. Is there anything I can do to make them look more interesting than just boring shades?
Yay! I have several: 1) What resources do you know of that are focused on living small for bigger families? 2) What are your thoughts on what seems to be a movement toward inter generational living? I am seeing more on shared housing and family compounds, and there seems to be some interesting overlap with living small, especially around sustainability and resource sharing. 3) How do you know when to let kitchen ingredients go? I like to cook, so I tend to accumulate spices, etc. How do you think about simplifying the process for your family? 4) Have you talked about the logistics of an intentional spending freeze? Have you done it? 5) How have you thought about work through a living small lens? I continue to feel the pressure to do and be and take on more. :( 6) How did you decide where to buy your vacation home? What has the experience of owning it been like for you? How did you keep it from being over-complicated?
What are your favorite systems for streamlining junk in your house? Like typical “junk drawer” things. Batteries, school papers, chapstick, etc. Do you work hard for everything to find a home?
Basement storage - future baby stuff, camping, paintings I don’t want to hang up but might in the next house - how do you manage these things? I hate how much my basement stresses me out! Maybe some good shelves would give everything a good home?
What changes have you made to your home that give you the most peace?
How do you manage photos / printing photos? I’ve considered getting an Aura frame. My girls room is overrun with cute photos I have of them but it just feels cluttered.
How do you approach “savings boxes”? My husband and I each have about 2 totes/bins but now are girls are getting big enough that I’m also saving their things. It’s a weird place to be where I’m not sure if or what I want to keep from my childhood, and how that informs what I keep for them.
I would like to know if you have a favorite cookbook that you regularly use? I’m in a rut making the same meals and could use some new ideas. Thank you!
When do you catch yourself daydreaming about more space?
What makes it feel worthwhile?
How do you position your choices to your son (if he asks)? (Curious because ours has just turned 8 and suddenly “why don’t we have a backyard / pool / trampoline” has become a more regular conversation.)
What are the next dreams / curiosities / adventures you’re dreaming about?
Also that was four questions and I’m not sure if four is allowed haha so thanks for even entertaining these! You were my first paid Substack and have continued to be an absolute fav 🫶
Can you expand: What do I do about decluttering sentimental things? Or how do I display/store sentimental things? And can you give an example of what type of thing you mean? TY!
Whoops, I forgot a verb! How do you declutter sentimental things - as in how do you choose what to keep and what to donate - or in the case of a child’s artwork, recycle? By way of example, I have twelve years of my child’s schoolwork and artwork in twelve large boxes.
I’m looking for textile recycling options. I’ve searched at various times for either local or mail-in options for clothes and other textiles that aren’t usable for thrift stores to resell. I know Ridwell offers it as part of the monthly curbside pickup but I live in an apartment and so need to use their mail-in options and textile recycling isn’t one of them. Some of the other sites I’ve seen only recycle their own clothing brands, etc or there’s a larger fee for the clean out bag. I have clients who could use an option as well - this week I just worked with one who had several pieces of clothing with holes and rips that we couldn’t donate, so for now it ended up in the trash, which I hate doing. I know we can make rags or produce bags and the like but it’s not always an option or needed for certain households. Thanks!
2nd & 3rd question - about houseplants, if that’s okay! Any advice for houseplants in a north-facing apartment (with big windows at least)? Also, I have a few that are outgrowing their pots. I often seem to kill the plants when I transfer them to another pot 😩.
Hi, how do you deal with a cluttered office? I struggle storing items that I use for events and my husband has boxes of stuff he needs for work. It’s like we need a drop zone for the office. Then add school supplies, an old printer and toys to the mix and it’s really out of control…
One that may not - probably not - have an answer. We're getting out of our house (sooner than later I hope). We don't need nor want this much space, though some may consider 1200 square feet reasonable. However, one need, until either I'm leaving the planet or managed to cripple myself beyond repair (I still want falling classes!), is a studio. For sculpture. Painting studios can be contained more easily. Sculpture materials and storage, tools, racks? I'd be fine with an apartment after this house but it seems the easiest, cheapest studio is a home one (though I do currently rent I'm tiring of checking my second story floor with a metal rod to make sure the termites haven't completely destroyed its supports). I just thought of this, for here, but it is a niche area, and I'm still figuring out how to downsize there too, without compromising my art. Flinging it on here anyway.
What is your decision making process for bigger house projects? For example, when did you decide “yes, it’s time to renovate the bathroom”? We recently bought and have a number of projects to do, but they all snowball. Ex- if we’re adding a shower to the half bathroom in our upstairs (attic ceilings), it’s looking like we need a dormer. At that point does it make sense to do a wider dormer for the adjacent bedroom for our eventual larger family? And so on, medium size projects become giant projects.
I always love these AMAs! Here's my question: Our two bedrooms need new blackout shades. The old ones are falling apart. Is there anything I can do to make them look more interesting than just boring shades?
Please advise on capsules for kids clothes 🙂
Yay! I have several: 1) What resources do you know of that are focused on living small for bigger families? 2) What are your thoughts on what seems to be a movement toward inter generational living? I am seeing more on shared housing and family compounds, and there seems to be some interesting overlap with living small, especially around sustainability and resource sharing. 3) How do you know when to let kitchen ingredients go? I like to cook, so I tend to accumulate spices, etc. How do you think about simplifying the process for your family? 4) Have you talked about the logistics of an intentional spending freeze? Have you done it? 5) How have you thought about work through a living small lens? I continue to feel the pressure to do and be and take on more. :( 6) How did you decide where to buy your vacation home? What has the experience of owning it been like for you? How did you keep it from being over-complicated?
What are your favorite systems for streamlining junk in your house? Like typical “junk drawer” things. Batteries, school papers, chapstick, etc. Do you work hard for everything to find a home?
Basement storage - future baby stuff, camping, paintings I don’t want to hang up but might in the next house - how do you manage these things? I hate how much my basement stresses me out! Maybe some good shelves would give everything a good home?
What changes have you made to your home that give you the most peace?
How do you manage photos / printing photos? I’ve considered getting an Aura frame. My girls room is overrun with cute photos I have of them but it just feels cluttered.
How do you approach “savings boxes”? My husband and I each have about 2 totes/bins but now are girls are getting big enough that I’m also saving their things. It’s a weird place to be where I’m not sure if or what I want to keep from my childhood, and how that informs what I keep for them.
When your son was younger, was hosting playdates a challenge? Or sleepovers? Curious about how you navigated kids wants with your home’s size!
I would like to know if you have a favorite cookbook that you regularly use? I’m in a rut making the same meals and could use some new ideas. Thank you!
When do you catch yourself daydreaming about more space?
What makes it feel worthwhile?
How do you position your choices to your son (if he asks)? (Curious because ours has just turned 8 and suddenly “why don’t we have a backyard / pool / trampoline” has become a more regular conversation.)
What are the next dreams / curiosities / adventures you’re dreaming about?
Also that was four questions and I’m not sure if four is allowed haha so thanks for even entertaining these! You were my first paid Substack and have continued to be an absolute fav 🫶
What do you about items with sentimental value?
Can you expand: What do I do about decluttering sentimental things? Or how do I display/store sentimental things? And can you give an example of what type of thing you mean? TY!
Whoops, I forgot a verb! How do you declutter sentimental things - as in how do you choose what to keep and what to donate - or in the case of a child’s artwork, recycle? By way of example, I have twelve years of my child’s schoolwork and artwork in twelve large boxes.
I’m looking for textile recycling options. I’ve searched at various times for either local or mail-in options for clothes and other textiles that aren’t usable for thrift stores to resell. I know Ridwell offers it as part of the monthly curbside pickup but I live in an apartment and so need to use their mail-in options and textile recycling isn’t one of them. Some of the other sites I’ve seen only recycle their own clothing brands, etc or there’s a larger fee for the clean out bag. I have clients who could use an option as well - this week I just worked with one who had several pieces of clothing with holes and rips that we couldn’t donate, so for now it ended up in the trash, which I hate doing. I know we can make rags or produce bags and the like but it’s not always an option or needed for certain households. Thanks!
2nd & 3rd question - about houseplants, if that’s okay! Any advice for houseplants in a north-facing apartment (with big windows at least)? Also, I have a few that are outgrowing their pots. I often seem to kill the plants when I transfer them to another pot 😩.
Hi, how do you deal with a cluttered office? I struggle storing items that I use for events and my husband has boxes of stuff he needs for work. It’s like we need a drop zone for the office. Then add school supplies, an old printer and toys to the mix and it’s really out of control…
How do you organize kids’ art supplies and keep them accessible?
One that may not - probably not - have an answer. We're getting out of our house (sooner than later I hope). We don't need nor want this much space, though some may consider 1200 square feet reasonable. However, one need, until either I'm leaving the planet or managed to cripple myself beyond repair (I still want falling classes!), is a studio. For sculpture. Painting studios can be contained more easily. Sculpture materials and storage, tools, racks? I'd be fine with an apartment after this house but it seems the easiest, cheapest studio is a home one (though I do currently rent I'm tiring of checking my second story floor with a metal rod to make sure the termites haven't completely destroyed its supports). I just thought of this, for here, but it is a niche area, and I'm still figuring out how to downsize there too, without compromising my art. Flinging it on here anyway.
What is your decision making process for bigger house projects? For example, when did you decide “yes, it’s time to renovate the bathroom”? We recently bought and have a number of projects to do, but they all snowball. Ex- if we’re adding a shower to the half bathroom in our upstairs (attic ceilings), it’s looking like we need a dormer. At that point does it make sense to do a wider dormer for the adjacent bedroom for our eventual larger family? And so on, medium size projects become giant projects.
I’m curious if you did any sort of art display wall when your son was young? And how you managed birthday and Christmas gifts for him?
Also wondering if you guys do any sort of inbox/outbox in your small space (as Shira Gill recommends?) Thank you so much!