Too many people spend money they haven't earned,
To buy things they don't want,
To impress people they don't like.
Will Rogers, American humorist and entertainer, 1879-1935
Welcome to the Jewel Box Home, your ultimate guide to decorating, entertaining and finding happiness in a smaller home. Its good for the environment, good for your wallet and good for your sanity.
Famed architects Louis H. Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright called several of their favorite projects "jewel boxes". This term wonderfully captures the richness and potential of small home living. There are many articles, books and websites that talk about living in a small space, or making small spaces look big. But few, if any, celebrate and honor the advantages and beauty of the smaller house, which I affectionately call a Jewel Box Home.
I have fallen in love with the Jewel Box Home, but that was not always the case. As a wife and working mother of two boys, I was convinced our 1800 square foot home with three bedrooms and one and 1/2 bathrooms, was too small for a growing family. Add neighborhood pressure to see home ownership as a competitive sport, and I had a serious case of big-house envy.
Happily my husband did not want to move and my eyes were opened to the ease and comfort of small home living, and the financial freedom that comes with it. I also felt good that my house left only a small footprint on the Earth. The Jewel Box home was born.
What is the Jewel Box Home? Size is the most obvious trait. Rather than making a grand statement, the Jewel Box Home respects the scale of its neighborhood. Compared to the average American home, its size is modest, usually less than 2,000 square feet.
As important as size, is the philosophy of the Jewel Box Home. These living spaces are designed to meet the needs of home life, rather than follow trends or impress neighbors. The comfort of family and friends takes center stage. Beauty and function are valued over accumulating space and things. Just as a jewel box displays the gem inside to its best advantage, the Jewel Box Home enriches the lives of its people.
On this blog you will be able to find updates and news about small home living, along with tips about decorating, entertaining and living happily in a smaller home. For all you ever wanted to know about the Jewel Box Home and how to create your own Jewel Box visit my website at www.thejewelboxhome.com.
