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Across the Fence:  Anyone else live in a small home??  |
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goneriding
True Blue Farmgirl
1599 Posts
Winona
Central Oregon
USA
1599 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 10 2012 : 08:04:16 AM
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I've been wanting to ask this for the longest time!! My home now is prolly 1300 square ft. Two storey. So easy to clean and take care of! Of course, we've had to downsize our stuff, not enough room!
Actually, we like/love it more than our way-bigger home we used to have.
What's your thought?? 
My website: http://antlersantiqueswindchimes.weebly.com
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2012 : 08:07:31 AM
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We live in a house that's just under 1000 sq. feet, a cottage from the 1920's. It's small, for sure, but it helps us keep the clutter down to a minimum (well, with the except of my husband's "airplane room"--that's a WHOLE other story!). I love my small house--sure, I could use another closet, but I'd likely just fill it up with more crap.
The "only" thing I do wish for is a bigger kitchen. We have an "eat in" kitchen, that is, if you're a family of dwarves, otherwise, it's the sofa...
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
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clothedinscarlet
True Blue Farmgirl
1333 Posts
Siobhan
Battle Creek
MI
USA
1333 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2012 : 08:32:42 AM
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Ours is about 1050 sq ft. With a fourth baby on the way it has gotten too small. We are moving in a couple weeks to a 1700 sq ft home which will be just right for us. I don't have any desire to live in a huge house. We did for two years and it took so much to keep the inside clean that I never had time to spend outside, which is where I wanted to be. Not to mention the cost to heat a larger home was crazy.
Farmgirl Sister #1110
Siobhan - AKA Liza-Jane (my farmgirl name), wife to my best friend, Trent, and mommy to Camden (11/28/05) and Bennett (7/11/07). and Truman (7/28/09) |
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princesspatches
True Blue Farmgirl
431 Posts
arttie
iron mountain
michigan
USA
431 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2012 : 08:35:00 AM
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When I was married to my first husband I lived in a 3000 square foot (7 bedroom) older home. I was a stay-at-home mom. And cleaned ALLLLLLLL the time.
Then.........
I met my husband he was living in a 900 square foot house w/ 3 kids. I moved in with 2 kids and a dog. We were stacked on top of each other. So we bought a new house with 5 acres. The house is 1500 sq. foot ranch. No basement. Garage with attic for storage. I love it. Perfect size.
We have 2 kids grown and moved out, so 3 left. I can clean the house in a couple of hours and have time to play. We are not 'keepers' so we don't have clutter or stuff everywhere. The smaller house is easy to heat and very efficient. Aside from the house payment, it costs us very little to run. I really want to invest in solar power to cut the electricity bill.
Arttie |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2012 : 7:28:20 PM
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I want a smaller house. Like Arttie, my house now is 4000 sq. ft. I don't want to clean this house anymore! I think a 1200 to 1800 sq.ft. house would be just right.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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JessieMae
True Blue Farmgirl
702 Posts
Jessie
Raleigh
North Carolina
USA
702 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2012 : 12:08:21 AM
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My house is 1600 square feet, and it feels too small. It didn't until we adopted our daughter, and now we wish we had something bigger with MORE BATHROOMS! (We only have one.)
Jessie Mae
Farmgirl #134 |
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Lorie.Vance
True Blue Farmgirl
200 Posts
Lorie
Tampa
FL
200 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2012 : 04:38:43 AM
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I live in the historic distric of South Tampa Florida in a 1200 SF Bungalow that was built in 1921. We have a great front porch that's big enough for a Settee, two chairs, a coffee table, side tables, and a plant stand. The back has a large pergola, 2-side court yards, a 10,000 gallon pool, a 15x20 secluded area for my chicken run and coop, and a 10x10 garden area. Because we disigned the outside space to represent different rooms, I feel like I live in a mansion. I have more outside space than inside and feel each area has a different feeling so it's easy to read, write, paint, garden, etc. little houses are such a design opportunity!
Lorie
http://thevintagegardengirl@blogspot.com |
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JerseyGirl
True Blue Farmgirl
181 Posts
Michele
Southern NJ
USA
181 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2012 : 04:51:02 AM
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Mine is just under 1800...I dont know if I need more square footage or just be happier with the layout...I have a combined kitchen/dining room that is pretty good in size but with our families over it is way too small. Ive always wished we could enclose the deck right off the sliding doors in there and make it one huge entertaining space.
Its 4 bedroom/2 bath with 5 people living in it who are as happy as clams. So I really should just be grateful for what's here and make the best of it!
OMGosh on the 3000 and 4000 square foot houses! You must all be exhausted trying to find each other in there!LOL! |
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Marylyn
True Blue Farmgirl
316 Posts
Marylyn
Ellsinore
MO
USA
316 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2012 : 07:18:13 AM
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My current home is just under 1700 square feet....way too big for just me and hubby, at least for me. So we just dug a footing for a new cabin that will be just under 800 square feet!!! Well, that is not counting a loft bedroom and two porches that will stretch the length of the house!!! I am so excited...I designed the house myself and a friend of ours built my design for a lake cabin. When I went to see the finished product I cried because it was just as I had envisioned it...perfect. So my hubby decided I was right and ours is just now being started!!!! It may be a few years before it is finished because we pay as we go and we do all the work ourselves ( it isn't the first house we have built ) but when it is finished it will be mine!
Love,
Auntie M
Farmgirl # 4062
That which does not kill me, only serves to make me stronger!...unknown to me. |
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crafter
True Blue Farmgirl
2313 Posts
lori
Fort Atkinson
Wisconsin
USA
2313 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2012 : 08:07:16 AM
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My family and I partnered with Habitat For Humanity 11 years ago- our home is 900 square feet...only difficult thing with 4 "girls" in the house was only 1 bathroom! Some mornings were CRAAAAZZZEEE!! But we love our little home!
Lori
Gernerosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need! |
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knitnpickinatune
True Blue Farmgirl
1140 Posts
Sherrie
Gardena
California
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2012 : 08:17:35 AM
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Gardena house is single story,built in the early '40's and app 1300 square feet. Ever notice how fix em up magazines never include homes this size?
http://www.mandolinbabe.biz
@MandolinChick on Twitter
mando pickin,uke strummin,banjo pickin, & fiddle sawin' Farmgirl #702 |
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goneriding
True Blue Farmgirl
1599 Posts
Winona
Central Oregon
USA
1599 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2012 : 08:31:08 AM
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Heh, our problem is we are still trying to put things in the house! So, now, we have to stop and ask ourselves if we really need it 'there'. A friend of ours just got a big house, and while I like all the room he has, I still like my little abode. So easy to take care of and I have time for a life!
My website:
http://twohorseswalkingdesigns.com
http://antlersantiqueswindchimes.weebly.com
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2012 : 08:50:07 AM
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I have to add to this, that when we first married, we could only renovate one room at a time, so we started on the add-on portions from the 1950's which would become our bedroom and the study (now called "The airplane room" by our 3 year old) and we were sleeping in the original bedroom of the house which would become the dining room. After we got both the back add on rooms done and moved our bedroom into the furthest room, it was like we lived in a mansion. And I worried--we'd been basically sitting on top of one another in 3 rooms for....4 years or so. How on earth would our marriage surive being so far apart in the house!!!!
When we started to work on the dining room....we found out we were expecting our first child. Scratch that plan and now that's the nursery room. I like it better that way, anyway :)
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2012 : 05:10:39 AM
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Ours is barely 1,000 and I hate it. 2 bedrooms 1 bath. Lots of wasted space because everything has been added on. It's an old 1930's Southern Shotgun style.
If you try and close the "master " bedroom door there's zero clearance to the bed frame. So cleaning is a ROYAL pain. I can't get dressed in the bedroom and retrieve something in the bathroom without trapsing through the entire house buck nekkid. One night I had taken a shower and almost walked out into the kitchen where hubby was talking to someone! I thought he was just talking to the dog until I heard another voice. Oops!
If we were to do it all over again and demolish this house. I would keep our kitchen and bathroom. Those have each been remodeled w/ in the past 10 years. But what I wouldn't give for at least another bedroom, 10 more feet in each room, a bathroom in our bedroom, and a REAL garage!! We have nothing and our cars are always parked outside.
True, it beats living in a cardboard box beneath a bridge. |
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prayin granny
True Blue Farmgirl
1874 Posts
Linda
Kansas
1874 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2012 : 09:00:18 AM
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I am sharing an apt with one of my grown daughters. We actually are roomating very well!!
Anyway it's a little over 920 sq feet, with a decent size balcony. We both had to downsize.
I am still working on creative ways for storage in my room. Going up and lots of baskets, little by little!, for the craft stuff! Lol!
But, honestly, I love our place and so does my daughter! It's becoming more and more homey and cozy! When friends come they seem to always enjoy themselves too. Sooo small works for us .
Best part of all? We have great Mgr and maintenance crew that take good care of us! That eases my mind a lot in my older years!
I'm learning too, that my farmgirl spirit comes more alive each day?! Without the stress I used to have of older home repairs and such....I am more relaxed to get back into needle crafts, more cooking/baking from scratch, etc. small and apts don't work for everyone I guess, but it's becoming a blessing in disguise for me!
Farmgirl hugs,
Linda
www.scatteredlittleblessings.blogspot.com
Country at Heart |
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nabrown42
True Blue Farmgirl
409 Posts
Nancy
Caneyville
KY
USA
409 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2012 : 09:31:04 AM
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Our house is 1400 sq ft, down from 3500 and 3 stories to one floor. I don't have enough storage space in the house but that's my fault...I didn't purge enough prior to our move last October. I am more cluttered than I planned but when dh finishes up the electrical in my "little house", all my sewing and craft supplies are into the "lh", this place will be as close to perfect for us as we can find. My "lh" is 14' by 28' plus an 8' porch and if that isn't big enough for my quilting and other needlework, I'm a hopeless case! I am going to have a small sitting room area at the front and the rest will be divided from that area by book shelves for all my craft books. I can't wait until I can move into it! Small houses are great!
"I've wept in the night for the shortness of sight that to someone's needs I've been blind; but I've yet to feel a twinge of regret for being a little too kind." |
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mickib
True Blue Farmgirl
267 Posts
Michele
Coeur d'Alene
Idaho
267 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2012 : 4:57:29 PM
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| Our house is 2400 sq ft, but 1200 of that is unfinished basement . So I really feel like my house is 1200 sq ft - because that's the part I clean! It's just the right size for me and my husband, although it used to seem a little small when we had 2 teenage girls at home. He uses the basement for his wood shop and gun room and we use the rest of teh basement for storage (freezers, washer, dryer, camping gear, paint). I think I could live in a smaller house if it were designed a little better; I've never been thrilled with the floorplan of my house - it's a 70's rancher and feels like a double-wide sometimes. |
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LouisvilleMom
True Blue Farmgirl
246 Posts
Kathryn
Louisville
KY
USA
246 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2012 : 7:21:26 PM
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We are currently in a 2300 sq ft house with another 1000 feet in the basement. It isn't huge but the layout is awful. We are building a one story house with 2200 sq ft and a basement the same size. It sounds really big but the upstairs kitchen, eating area, greatroom and entry are essentially one really big room. Also I run my business out of the home so it is not even an option for me for have my own office. The laundry room is about 12" x 12" but it is also the family closet. We have a large mud room for all six of us to keep all shoes, coats, umbrellas, etc. The basement will have a theater room and a large gathering area (we love to have lots of people over). The front porch is around 450 square feet and we have an upper and lower deck on the back for the views. We planned this house very carefully so that when the kids start leaving we can shut off certain areas and not heat or cool them.
That being said I love tiny houses and would love to have one as a lake home. The problem is that I grew up with my grandparents compound for the family as being the gathering spot and got used to having 50 people for Christmas. It was almost 7000 square feet with the ugliest furniture and lighting you ever saw and we loved it! We could have cared less about decorating (which was a good thing...even the kitchen had yellow linoleum counters) because we had the mountains. Funny thing is that my cousin and I used the outhouse as our "clubhouse". It was a two seater so it was VERY upscale! We no longer own the compound :( Sorry to get off on such a tangent!
SAHM mom to four great boys.
http://ksfarnsworth.blogspot.com/ |
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goneriding
True Blue Farmgirl
1599 Posts
Winona
Central Oregon
USA
1599 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2012 : 8:42:55 PM
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Hunh...my laundry room has turned into our closet too. It's just too hard to haul the clothes into the other bedroom, which has a big closet. So, everything ends up staying in the laundry room. It's on the way, sort of, to the bathroom, just swing by and pick up what is needed and there you go! Dressed and done!!
My website:
http://twohorseswalkingdesigns.com
http://antlersantiqueswindchimes.weebly.com
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LouisvilleMom
True Blue Farmgirl
246 Posts
Kathryn
Louisville
KY
USA
246 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2012 : 8:56:25 PM
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Winona, Amen girlfriend! I have four boys and one day I realized how dumb it was to have clothes all over the house so we started keeping all the underwear and socks in there and gradually more and more until most of what they wore was crammed in. There are only 6.5 years from the oldest to the youngest so all of them overlap into at least one other brother's clothing size. When we starting designing the new house I said we were not doing individual closets. Put it in one giant room next to the mud room and that is where it stays! On our land there is plenty of dirt, water and mud so both rooms will be well used (we even have a drain in the mud room floor so we can just hose it out!).
SAHM mom to four great boys.
http://ksfarnsworth.blogspot.com/ |
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2012 : 10:47:40 PM
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My house doesn't take up a lot of space--it's a 50's starter home--but it has a full, unfinished basement (storage and laundry) and an attic that is partially finished. I don't go up in the attic when it's real hot or real cold, but I like to go up there sometimes and just sit and listen--things sound different when you're higher up. Like I can hear the katydids when I'm up there, but I don't hear them on the ground. I have four rooms that are decent sized. It's plenty of room for one person but I wouldn't want to live there with three other people, which is the occupancy limit. It has an attached garage but I usually park in the driveway cause my car barely fits in there. It's a nice little house in a good neighborhood. I have a lot of fun decorating it.
Cindy
"Vast floods can't quench love, no matter what love did/ Rivers can't drown love, no matter where love's hid"--Sinead O'Connor
"In many ways, you don't just live in the country, it lives inside you"--Ellen Eilers
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
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knittingmom
True Blue Farmgirl
665 Posts
AnneMarie
Edmonton
Alberta
Canada
665 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2012 : 4:14:51 PM
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I think our house is around 1200 square feet total. We're in a townhouse (so two storey). Has enough space for all of us. I grew up in a 800 sq ft bungalow.
Farmgirl Sister #3759
"There is no foot so small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world"
"The things that matter most are not really things after all" |
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queenmushroom
True Blue Farmgirl
985 Posts
Lorena
Centerville
Me
USA
985 Posts |
Posted - Jul 28 2012 : 3:57:57 PM
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I think our house is about 800-900 sqf. It's layed out all wrong. Hubby and I have our bedroom in the loft and ds has his room down stairs. Only enough room in the livingroom for a couch and barely enough for a recliner. Our kitchen barely has enough room for the table that also serves as a ketchall (the newspaper, a magazine or two, etc). Our bathroom is the size of a guest bathroom in a double wide. The problem with a small house, no matter what is out of place, it makes the house look cluttered.
Lorie
Patience is worth a bushel of brains...from a chinese fortune cookie |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Jul 29 2012 : 1:25:15 PM
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My house is 1700 sq ft. Love the floor plan. I have a big master bed and bathroom and big closet. have 2 other bedrooms and bath. One of the extra bedrooms is my office/craft room. Everything from the craft room closet is out here in the room. Trying to down size. But can't seem to get rid of anything. I have a big living/dining room. My kitchen is my favorite. I have a 20 ft wall of windows that looks out at the deck, water garden and back yard. I have a great pantry and utility room. Carport and screened porch. there is a 50 X 60 ft shop and a nice celler. EVERYTHING is full. Have been trying to downsize for the 2 years since DH passed away. Love my little house and the only time it is too small is Christmas Eve when there are about 40 people here. Trying to get rid of clutter to make house cleaning easier. Too hot to go outside is why I am working on the office/craft closet.
Back to work.
Belle |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Jul 29 2012 : 1:26:06 PM
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| I just noticed, that was my 1200th post! |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Jul 29 2012 : 1:27:29 PM
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| Oh, now it says 1201. Wonder what it will say this time? Excuse me girls, while I talk to myself. |
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Across the Fence: Anyone else live in a small home?? |
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Anyone else live in a small home??
