Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter
Tiny House Fascination
We are in Seattle, having a blast and seeing old friends. My friend Ann not only has an adorable house near Alki Beach, but also a tiny, tear-drop trailer that she and her husband use to go camping. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to get my twins out of there, they were so taken with the cunning smallness of the camper.
As a child, I was similarly entranced by cleverly compact spaces. When I was 12, I ignored the sunshine and ocean views and stayed below decks when we were invited on a friend’s boat because I was so charmed by the efficient built-in storage down below. In my twenties, I adored the first restaurant I worked in New York because of the great use of space: Table linens were stored in the banquettes, and tiny shelves under the credit-card machine held rows and rows of 6-ounce glass soda bottles. Every inch was utilized, and it was beautiful. My lucky friend Ayun had a wonderful carpenter friend who helped them maximize their 340-square-foot East Village apartment. I’ll never forget the shelves in their “kitchen” that were just wide enough to hold two cans, but stretched from floor to ceiling.
There is beauty in efficiency. When you live in tight quarters, it forces you to be clever and streamline. Even if your space isn’t tiny, you can bring this mind-set to areas of your home that feel cluttered. What objects aren’t pulling their weight? What spaces are underutilized? One of my happiest days was when I finally found an 8-inch-wide recycling bin that fit in the dead space between my stove and the wall.
Look around: Instead of hating your kitchen (or bathroom, or apartment) because it’s so small, pretend it’s your boat and think about the cleverest and most creative way to use every precious inch.