Small Homes inspire artful details

There are so many reasons that I think smaller homes are the answer to so many of the gaps in life. 

And when I say smaller, I definitely do not mean tiny.  (I've got more on that below...)

In this post I am focusing on artful details.  The idea is that you might choose to purchase or stay and renovate a small home, rather than spread your resources and budget over a bigger but more typical (and boring) space.

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Odds are, you have a fixed budget to buy and/or renovate a home.  Most of us do.  Whether that budget is extravagant or less so, the vast majority of us have a limit on how much we can afford to spend without acquiring more debt than we can easily manage.  Be smart, consider what you can manage over the long term with the bumps and gaps that life tends to bring over time.

Smaller homes are the answer to balancing your budget.  
​AND creating a stunning, personal space.  
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Here's what I mean:

​What if you take that same budget, and purchase less of a home than "you can afford" according to all the calculators?

Or what if you take that same budget, and instead of moving to that larger home that "you can now afford", you choose to stay in your smaller home and renovate?

It's a very intentional choice and set of priorities...

In a smaller home, your budget can be used for custom workmanship, higher quality materials and stunning artful details,  instead of just your standard trendy off-the-shelf styling in a home with more (often unused) square footage.

So, my challenge to you, is to ask yourself:
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• Do you want your home and space to impress your neighbors?  Or looks like the current trend?

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• Or, should your home be an inspiring, personal space that truly speaks to you and your family?  Full of personal, one-of-a-kind details and artful finishes? ​

​Yes, it's true, your investment per square foot will go up, sometimes very dramatically, but if it is a thoughtful and well detailed design, you will get so much more joy and satisfaction out of using and sharing that smaller space.  I promise.  

what is a "small" home?

A while back I wrote a piece exploring what "small" really means, and why it's infinitely more sustainable than the headline-grabbing tiny home craze. 

​Here's a link if you are curious - Does it Have to be Tiny?
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​front door inspiration

Your front door is the entrance to your home and should be inviting, artful, and set the tone for the entire space. 
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In the spirit of sharing artful and one-of-a-kind details, I am bringing you a little bit of front door inspiration, just for fun. 

I love all of these examples for different reasons, but ultimately each front door is a beautiful detail that is unique and makes me feel welcome (and curious about what's inside!).  I am impressed by each, not because of the large size, or glamorous on-trend style, but because they are artful, show the personality of the builder/owner, and look lived-in.  In a couple of cases, the workmanship is truly stunning too - works of art!

So, rather than spending masses of your budget on an enormous foyer and double-height entrance, I think a beautifully made human-sized door with very high quality details like stunning hardware, glass, and lighting is more inspired and will stand the test of time.  

Hint:  click the images above to see the caption and see a larger image.

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​looking for some support?

Did you know that we offer exceptional design services for Prescott and the surrounding Northern Arizona communities?  If you have been thinking about how to downsize into a small home or want to update it rather than moving, we can help you!
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Design Services

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Thanks for following along.  I am truly obsessed with living a grand and beautiful life in small homes and hope you are inspired to consider this idea.  I'd love to know what you think - just leave a comment below and I will respond. 

Peace and contentment,
~Miriam

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​More inspiration

Looking for more ideas and inspiration for you own cottage or bungalow?  You might like to check out our Cottages & Bungalows resource page.
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Cottage & Bungalows