You would take one look at the little stone row house I'm in and gasp: "It's so small!" But for me, it's perfect. The one room plus bathroom home is a little larger than the living room in my house back in Toronto (about 9'x15'), with the door on a short end and the bathroom attached to the opposite end.
Furniture-wise, a double bed sits in one corner with shelves above it for clothes. Beside the bed is a little wood stove for heat. A large table at the foot of the bed doubles as a kitchen work surface and beside that a large toaster oven with two stove elements tuck into the front corner. A hanging bar and more shelves on the opposite long wall complete the main room. My mini-fridge is in the bathroom and I wash my dishes in the bathroom sink.
I eat half my meals down here, the rest in the main house. I couldn't entertain in this space, but it's enough for my current entertaining-free needs.
The long walls are constructed of tinted concrete and exposed stone. A skylight and vaulted ceiling make the space look larger and less box-like.
I'm very comfortable here and could easily live in this space much longer than my planned three weeks.
Someday Lessons:
- Spatial needs are relative to where you are in your life.
- Don’t decide how much space you need just to impress others; pick a home sufficient to your actual needs.