Simplify and Downsize....AGAIN? We're going smaller! - Page 2

[swimswamswum]

You are such an inspiration Sara! You could make a living doing consultations for people (we could send you pics of our house and you could tell us what to do and in which colors).

Thanks for sharing this!

[the_anti_grrrl]

I was thinking you could give consultations as well...

You are so impressive. I actually just blogged about your blog being so awesome!

Dh and i are currently living in a 613 sq foot apartment and saving to build a home on my parents property next year. I am loving katrina cottages http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...ge/KC_612.html and i don't want a 2 story - so i'm thinking the 612 sq. foot one is for us.

I've had my reservations about it for some reason - which is odd considering it's only 1 sq. ft. smaller than where we are now

Just seeing this post made me realize...we can do it! Thanks

[Delight]

Originally Posted by mommaof3boz

Sara-I am curious. We battle coats, mittens, boots, hats, etc. Will the area Matt is building hold all that? I have finally solved my problem with them but I am always wondering if there is a better solution. Also where do you store things like Christmas decorations/ornaments, baby keepsakes, your and Matts keepsakes, picture albums, etc? Are your parents storing some things for you guys? Under the Compact are you able to get cool paint second hand? I try to keep an eye out at Goodwill/SA but everything they get is all dried up or ugly. So many questions...

Yes, the shelving unit will hold all of the outdoor gear. It's definitely a struggle to keep it under control, especially in snowy snowy Montana. I just have to stay on top of it and keep putting away the things that aren't actively being used. As far as storage stuff...we did a huge purge before we moved and we don't have much. Christmas decorations...only 1 bin...baby keepsakes and outgrown clothes...2 bins. aternity clothes...1 bin. Other keepsakes...1 bin. All of those bins will go in the storage in the wall...I don't think I detailed that in the photos. There is a nice crawl space there. Some outdoor gear may have to be stored at Matt's sister's place, but other than that, we're good.

Well, I'm not sure what others do on their Compact, but for me, paint isn't included. It's something that I am using to make our living space more live-able and it's a consumable. It's not a "thing". So yes, while I could try to find paint that I adore 2nd hand, it's highly doubtful that I will. Am I breaking the "rules"? Maybe someone else's, but not mine

Thanks for all the kind words ladies... Y'all are too sweet.

[Emilie]

I have not even looked and i am sooooooooo excited!

[Emilie]

Wow Sarah! We mmoved 34 times in under 3 years but you have got me beat!
Lets be positive about the neighbors ok.
And wow- I was just thinking I wonder if anyone else on here has ever been in this apt!
We are planning a trip to MT this year to see dh's grandparents. NOT in the winter tho! Seems really cool the town you live in- the one we are going to is pretty rural.
Is that a nook in the lr?

I also would pay for your services. Not much since I dont have much. But I would.
I need help in my living room, dining room , kitchen and odd room off of them both. LOL.
Emilie

[mommaof3boz]

sara-if I was compacting I wouldn't include paint either. In my opinion that is a necessary part of home maintenance. I just wasn't sure how you were doing your compact. That is great about the crawl space storage. We will all be looking forward to your progress.

[SimplyMama]

Isn't there such a thing as recycled paint, that you can have tinted to any color you like? I think I've read about it somewhere....

Loved first apartment & am looking forward to seeing the new one evolve. Your blog is one of my favorites...such an inspiration!

[Penelope]

Sarah, it's awesome! I love the bathroom. You're in Bozeman, right? There used to be a great kind of pan-Asian restaurant there - granted, this was fifteen years ago, but still!

Is the Pickle Barrel still downtown? In high school I knew the guy whose parents owned it - Jay something, maybe. If it is there, it's a fun place.

Sorry, I'm a little homesick, and even though I grew up in Kalispell, Bozeman is closer than Chicago.

I'm so excited to see what you do with your place!

[Emilie]

Hurry up- were waiting! LOL.
I am so excited to see what you do!

[wife&mommy]

Originally Posted by Emilie

Hurry up- were waiting! LOL.
I am so excited to see what you do!

Yeah what she said!

[Denvergirlie]

I too am looking forward to what you are going to do with the place!

[treefolk]

Just a tip - in my town we have a Habitat for Humanity "shop". They sell leftover materials that they have used for houses very cheap. Lots of paint, wood floors, cabinets, tiles, etc. Anyone looking for materials should contact their city's Habitat for Humanity first. The $$ goes back to the program.

[Emilie]

cool thanks!

[Tradd]

Sara,

How do you get out of your leases without paying through the nose? That's TWO apartments now...or were you on month to month leases? I'm very curious about that!

[hanno]

We're moving into a 351 square foot apartment, so I'll be looking for inspiration

[Delight]

Originally Posted by Tradd

Sara,

How do you get out of your leases without paying through the nose? That's TWO apartments now...or were you on month to month leases? I'm very curious about that!

The first one we were able to find someone to move in right away and sign their own lease (to replace ours). That was initially a 1 year lease...but there were ways around it. We had about 15 calls in it as soon as I listed it. Whew!

This last one was a month to month. This next one is a 6 month lease and then it turns month to month after that, but the penalty to break the lease is only $200. The lady renting it said she had sooooo many calls on it, so it won't be hard to rent if we wanted to get out of it sooner (which I'm definitely not planning on that for awhile!).

Originally Posted by hanno

We're moving into a 351 square foot apartment, so I'll be looking for inspiration

Yay mama! Can't wait to see YOUR photos!

[cdmaze]

Awesome!!! So cute. We'd be in a tiny yurt if we didnt have 3 kids- just too many bodies. Our 800-900sq feet is just fine.

I love your apt!

We dont consider paint, nails, etc in our Compact. Painting leads to contentment with what you have- improving on what you already are in. (in my opinion)

[MommyErin]

While I'm not compacting, per se, I have great luck buying "used" paint at our local building reclaimation center. It's a place where people can donate ANYTHING for home building/improvement projects. The proceeds go to Easter Seals and creating jobs for mentally and physically challenged individuals. I found a nearly full gallon just today that's a beautiful shade of beige/gray that someone obviously had mixed and didn't like when they took it home. It would have been $5 but it was a 50% off day with Presidents' Day.

Places like this are great. In the past we've gotten a porcelien kitchen sink (retail value at Lowe's was $225) for $20, an outdoor porch light for $10, a nice but brassy chandelier for me to paint for $20 and various other things for our home. We love that it's keeping stuff out of the landfill. And the prices are awesome.

So, Mommas, check your local yellow pages.

[ZanZansMommy]

Amazing. Simply Amazing

[EviesMom]

You should definitely submit your finished apartment to the smallest coolest contest on Apartment Therapy! Did you know Maxwell at Apt. Therapy is going to be on Oprah? He, his wife, and their daughter live in a 285 square foot place. I loooooved your old place, and can't wait to see what you do with this one.