Dreaming of Smaller

We've finally reached a decisive point in our little part of the world, that we're going to move again, and soon. You know when you um and ah about a decision for so long, then finally something happens that gives a clear way forward? That. 

We have thought and thought on this house that we live in, and looked into buying it and staying put right here. But it just didn't seem to be coming together for us - it seemed to be against the flow. Still though, the option remained on the table, and we were almost back at the point of well, perhaps we should just push forward and buy, and the universe handed us a decisive 'NO'. And so we listened. And now we are house hunting!

Anyway, with all of our decluttering and heading down the path of minimalist living (in so far as you can with a young child, dogs, cats, chooks and bikes), I have realised a few things about the place I want to call home. And I realise that I am once again left of centre here in middle Australia. Here is a little list of the things I would really love in our future home.

* A simple bathroom.

Simple, simple, simple. Basic. I don't want fancy tiles, I don't want stone this or stone that, I don't want fancy bits that require lots of cleaning or where mould can build up. I don't want a huge space. I do want the toilet in a separate room and I do want there to be a bath. But simple and basic and small is fine with me.

* One main room for living.

Ideally with a kitchen at one end, room for a solid kitchen table where memories will be created and wonderful meals shared. At the other end, some lounge chairs, a bookshelf or two (for our much-reduced collection of books), somewhere to stash my yarns and some toys. Room for little beds for animals to sleep in.

* A small main bedroom.

Small. The bigger the room, the more tempted we are to fill it with stuff, the more stuff we have, the messier the room becomes. When I have nowhere to throw clothes in a hurry (like onto a chair, or a cot, or whatever else fills the space), I am forced to put clothes away. And I like that. And really, I want room for our double sized bed and not much else, save for little side drawers and a smallish closet.

* Two little bedrooms.

For our little one, and hopefully one day another little one.

* A main wood heater. 

I know they're not the most environmentally friendly heating around, but what is? Gas isn't. Split system certainly isn't. Wood heating creates the nicest warmth, and we have to work for our heat by collecting and splitting our wood (we have 'designated' wood collecting areas in the part of the world).

* And the rest...

Lots and lots and lots of natural light, north facing windows in the living area, good thermal mass, insulated floors and walls, timber floors. Space in the garden to grow some trees, vegies, keep a couple of chooks and have room for a little person to run around and get very dirty.

Small, simple, basic. Just a place to call home, small and easy to clean, easy to keep an eye on a toddler while I'm in the kitchen. Oh, and I guess I would love a little nook to sit with macbook and write, and somewhere where I can create and not have to pack everything away all the time… but I won't be greedy. Small and simple really is key here. Am I asking too much?

I was reading a copy of Better Homes and Gardens magazine recently (Mum kept if for me as it came with bonus cake icing bits, a piping bag and stuff, score!). Anyway I don't really read stuff like this, but I've been a little intrigued, mainly with looking at the 'how' rather than the 'what' (this graphic design course I'm doing is responsible for that..). But I did note with interest an advertising feature for completely over-the-top bathrooms, great stone monolith types, all very stylish and everything, but really. Is this what your average home needs? Is this what people aspire to? Is this why there is so much debt? Is this what keeps our economy 'strong'? Spending money on unnecessary things, things that take up so much space, things that may be stylish now, but in 10 years will be outdated? Blah. 

Left of centre, once again. Give me small and simple and plain any day.

How about you? What does your dream home look like? Or are you living in it?