Happy Fathers Day!

In honor of Fathers' Day, this post is dedicated to one of the most recent interior design developments 'The Man Cave'. If you want to keep your man and/or father happy, set aside space for a Man Cave.

Defined as a room, space or corner of a dwelling specifically reserved for the man of the house, a Man Cave is also a personal refuge and an emotional sanctuary away from females, the pressures of family life and other responsibilities. As far as I can tell, the use of the term Man Cave first appeared in 1992 and has gained steam ever since. Man Caves are now so popular that a weekly television show is dedicated to creating, renovating and decorating this male space.

Traditional decorating rules do not apply to Man Caves. Instead of choosing between a modern, Asian or French country theme, these rooms revolve around a favorite sports team or hobby. Memorabilia and guy toys take center stage.

What are the most coveted Man Cave features? The most highly rated gear and gadgets were listed in The Boston Globe article 12 Man-tastic Man Caves.

• Flat screen TV (75%)
• Recliner (69%)
• Stereo (68%)
• Refrigerator (67%)
• DVD player (67%)
• Computer (65%)
• Bar (64%)

Is there room for a Man Cave in a smaller Jewel Box® Home? Absolutely! Pick a comfortable corner for a lounge or easy chair. Put a side table to the right of the chair and a magazine holder to the left and let your husband stake this out as his personal space. When your honey is in this room, the kids, dogs and even you are not allowed within the Man-space corner. And to make your guy's space a little nicer, buy an inexpensive back massager that fits in the lounge chair which he can use while relaxing. At least my husband seems to like it!

Enjoy the gallery below of Man Caves. All photos come from 12 Man-tastic Man Caves.

Every room in a Man Cave needs a flat screen TV.

Tasteful stripper pole theme. But my guy
will have to live without this.

Not only for lounging, this Man Cave has a climbing wall.

Very nice! The garage as Man Cave for a guy with many interests.
Notice the motorcycle, football gear, beer collectibles and guitar.

Gotta love the custom Caddilac couch!

The perfect Man Cave baseball lounge.

There are no rules about color combinations in the Man Cave.
If he likes it, then it works.

A great Man Cave for the golfing afficionado.

Even a corner can become a Man Cave.

Football Loving Man Cave.

A great screening room, but maybe a little too nice for a 'real' Man Cave.

The James Bond look.

A proud Man Cave owner!

Two For the Price of One: Decorating with Yellow and What Qualifies as Small?

Decorating with Yellow

Let the sunshine in!

There is nothing like the right shade of yellow to bring warmth and light into a room or space. Take a peek at the photos below to see how a soft shade of yellow shade was used to revive and bring light to a New York apartment. The yellow theme is also reflected in the richness of cherry and maple furniture and subtle fabrics used throughout the apartment. These looks are courtesy of Martha Stewart Living magazine. Enjoy!

A lovely table setting that also brings in the warm yellow theme.

This is the only room I'm not crazy about. The plant on the left is a bit distracting and I don't think the side chair on the right compliments the sofa. But the red Chinese trunk is a nice touch and the open bookcases, which can overwhelm a room, work nicely here.

What a beautiful grandfather clock and the stenciling on the wall is nice.

Even though the photos vary in size, the look is cohesive because the same frame is used throughout.

The rich color of the wood in this cabinet picks up the gold tones in the color palette.

A clever use of gold toned frames that are similar in design pull this art collection together. Also, the rolled arms on the side chairs add to inviting feeling of this seating area and nicely mimic the round lines of the lamp.

What Qualifies as Small?

I must point out that the apartment above is not small in size. So why am I using it as an example of good design for smaller spaces? Because many of the hallmarks of small home decorating on are display. The same color palette is used in all common areas creating a beautiful visual flow, the 'legs' show on all the sofas and chairs, floor coverings are simple and functional with subtle patterns, fresh flowers add bursts of color and accessorizing is not overdone - although I would have preferred fewer objects on the antique chest in the living room. The bronze bust is so lovely it deserves to be the center piece along with the yellow and orange tulips.

But I also mention the larger size of the apartment for another reason, it opens the door to discuss a comment I received just the other day on the March post 'Decorating a Smaller Home: The Traditional Look Done Right!'. In her comment, Omama said "Bo-ring. Correct, perhaps, but dull, dull, dull. And, 1500 sq ft isn't actually "smallhouse living".

As the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and so too with interior design styles and looks. And I'm quite sure that Omamma is not alone in her opinion of the traditional look as a bit dull. But I raise her comment because of its reference to 1500 square feet falling outside the definition of a small house.

Since the small house movement began, what qualifies as a small residence has been discussed endlessly. Sarah Susanka, who arguably started the small revolution with her 'Not So Big House' books, was the architect of the original 'Not So Big House' which measures over 2440 square feet and the 2004 Showhouse totals 3476 square feet. In 'Not So Big' Ms. Susanka says, "While you might not be able to afford a 6,000-sq.-ft. house, you may find that building a 3,000-sq.-ft. house that fits your lifestyle actually gives you more space to live in." It appears that by Ms. Susanka's definition, any house under 3,000 square feet might be considered small.

The original 'Not So Big House' at over 2400 square feet

The 2004 Show Case house by Susanka at 3476 square feet

On the other hand, Apartment Therapy which runs the annual Small Cool Contest has the following categories for living spaces:

TEENY-TINY 300 Square Feet and under
TINY 600 Square Feet and under (but over 300 Square Feet)
LITTLE 900 Square Feet and under (but over 600 Square Feet)
SMALL 1,200 Square Feet and under (but over 900 Square Feet)
INTERNATIONAL All non-US entries (under 1,200 Square Feet)

As defined by Apartment Therapy, anything over 1200 square feet is not small. Before going any further, I have to add that I do love the Apartment Therapy mission espoused by its founder Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan. "A calm, healthy, beautiful home is a necessary foundation for happiness and success in the world."

To cloud the issue further, the Small House Society, where Jewel Box is listed as a 'Resource for Life' has members with houses ranging in size from under 100 square feet to over 3000 square feet. What I like about the Small House Society is the open discussion it promotes that focuses not about people claiming to be “tinier than thou” but rather people making their own choices toward simpler and smaller living however they feel best fits their life.

Tumbleweed Tiny Houses range in size from 85 square feet to 837 square feet.

So where does Jewel Box fall in the small house size category? Rather than tiny houses measuring 1,000 square feet or less, a size too novel and impractical for many people - especially families with children - Jewel Box concentrates on homes in the 1,000 to 2,500 square foot range, a modest living space by American standards, but "doable" for most households.

As important as size, is the philosophy of a 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, a Jewel Box Home enriches the lives of its people.

I am quite sure many people will consider Jewel Box dimensions too large for the small home category. But I am hopeful that those households living in much larger homes, might see a beautiful 2000 square foot Jewel Box as a reasonable and achievable shift toward living more lightly on the Earth.

Until next time!

Genevieve

More Reasons to Feel Good About Smaller Homes

Some may have simply woken up one day, looked around at their annexes, sunken baths and media rooms, and asked themselves, “Why are we doing this?”
- 'Downsizing is Worth Cheering For', Spokesman Review, June 6, 2009

"We call it 'going minimalist,'" Mr. Gall says. "It's the financing and debt that pushes these people to the wall. But they're also saying that they've had it with buying and collecting. It's like a great purging."
-'At Estates of the Fabulously Rich, the Gilded Era is Going, Going, Gone, Robert Frank, Wall Street Journal, May 19, 2009

A very short post, but I wanted to share two articles that should make everyone feel better about living in a smaller house. Yes, the house pictured above is beautiful, but the couple who owns it are dying to get rid of it.

(Actually, the photo of the real house is copyrighted and I could not afford to buy it for posting on the blog. But the image above is very close to the real thing.)

Richard and Amanda Peacock, the couple profiled in both articles are examples of the rich who are attempting to downsize in what is becoming known as 'lifestyle liquidation'.

You all know that I have struggled desperately with big-house envy. But thank goodness my husband insisted on staying small. The Peacock lifestyle looks like a nightmare. Here are the links to both articles

• Downsizing is Worth Cheering For
• At Estates of the Fabulously Rich, Gilded Era is Going, Going, Gone

Until next time!

Genevieve

Smaller House, Happier Marriage?

[We] are paying for increased affluence with a substantial decrease
in the quality and quantity of social relations.
[S]ince 1960 in the U.S., the divorce rate has doubled...
THE PARADOX OF CHOICE, Why More is Less, Barry Schwartz

Endless research exists to back up claims that smaller houses are greener and cheaper than their larger counterparts. Smaller houses have also been shown to foster a sense of worth and responsibility in children and teens and forge close family ties, 'Small Houses are Healthier for Teens and Children'.

But it occurred to me, what about marriage? Does small home living help or hurt married couples? Since I couldn't unearth any scientific studies on this topic, I conducted my own unofficial research and put together a list of ten reasons living in a smaller house might be good for a marriage. A note of caution to readers. This list is completely subjective and based solely on my 20+ plus years of marriage and the over 100+ years of combined marriage and divorce experience held by four couples who are dear friends.

Ten Reasons a Smaller House is Good For a Marriage

1. Couples have to talk to each other. There is nowhere to hide and sulk.
2. Negotiation and compromise are learned quickly. Especially if there is only one bathroom to share.
3. A partner's moods are easily deciphered since they can be heard cussing or complaining from any room in the house.
4. There are fewer chores which frees up time to argue about other things.
   
5. The bedroom is typically too small for a king bed, so there are more opportunities for togetherness.
   
6. The heavy financial burden of a larger house is absent, eliminating a significant source of stress in most marriages.
7. There is more frequent contact and interaction between spouses because the smaller living area fosters closeness.
   
8. Children observe how parents respect each other in spite of their differences.
9. Partners are less likely to feel isolated or 'estranged' from each other because the physical presence of their spouse is more frequently seen and heard.
10. There is more opportunity to enjoy each other's company because the demands of the house are manageable.
    

I can't close without commenting on a quote from an anonymous author who said, "In marriage, as in war, it is permitted to take every advantage of the enemy." During an argument, my husband is most certainly the enemy and a small house gives me the advantage of knowing his whereabouts to prevent an ambush. Just a little something to think about.

Until next time!

Genevieve

Beauty and Laughter Happen

Flowering Magnolia Tree

Life at high velocity speeds your own evolution.
- 'Mind Over Water', Craig Lambert

I am writing this post while enjoying a glass of white wine - Fetzer Gewurztraminer a favorite of mine - and appreciating the sun shining on the Magnolia tree in full bloom just outside my study window. This beauty exists even though my husband has been out of a job since August 2008, I am still recovering from mass lay-offs in December where I work, a family member needs to be moved to assisted living, we are struggling to pay out-of-state tuition for my son and to top it off, my camera is not working. (That's why the picture above is not my magnolia tree, although mine looks almost exactly the same.)

This is probably way too much information, but I wanted to let you know why I usually post only twice a month and sometimes just once. (And my glass of wine is definitely making this easier.)

Frankly, I have been awed by the fabulous bloggers out there who manage beautiful posts almost everyday. I just love Melissa at the Inspired Room and Joni at Cote de Texas. Someday I hope to be able to send in comments to these inspiring blogs. Right now all I seem to manage is reading the posts.

As for coping with the roller coaster that is my life right now, everyday I force myself to find a bit of beauty and something to smile about. Many days this feels like pulling teeth, but if I just pay attention, beauty and laughter happen. Today, it was the magnolia tree and hearing my son's remarks about 'Dancing with the Stars'. He caught a glimpse of the show while I was cooking dinner. His comment about Gilles, "Sit down sexy dancing man! How can anyone take you or your haircut seriously," had me laughing out loud.

So what keeps me blogging even though I don't have nearly the talent of other designers out there and obviously I can't keep up with their beautiful prose and frequent posts? For me, the friendly and warm people found in the design blogging community are a little bit of heaven. Especially at this time in my life, it is a joy to contribute and participate in my small way to such a lovely group of women and men.

For those of you who are interested, a few short blurbs about me and Jewel Box Home appear in the following magazines this month:

Little Boxes
The New Movement to Seriously Downsize Our Homes

Cottage Living
Small is Beautiful

10 ways to get a small-space lift
(No link yet, to see the article go to page 38 of the May/June Midwest Living)

Until next time,

Genevieve

The Jewel Box™ Home Reader Stories

Suzanne's Little Nursery

At long last I have posted the wonderful small home living stories generously submitted by Jewel Box™ readers over the last number of months. From as far away as Berlin, Germany where Katie lives with her husband in an apartment measuring 480 square feet, to Suzanne in Massachusetts who traded up to 8000 square feet, but still cherishes the tiny home where her children were born, each story is a unique celebration of small home living. For a peek into these much loved smaller homes I invite you to visit The Jewel Box™ Home website under Readers Stories.

And for those of you who live in the Chicago land area, I would love to see you at one or both of the Jewel Box™ classes I will be teaching this summer on the Evanston campus of Oakton Community College. The class descriptions and online registration link follow.

THE JEWEL BOX HOME: INTERIOR
DECORATING ON A BUDGET FEE: $50

In this class you will learn how to create a beautiful and practical living space without going over budget. Find out about quick fixes and
design ideas that don’t cost “an arm and a leg.” Come to class with pictures of the targeted room that could use a new look.
ARC H01-31, ETHS, 1 Tue., 7/14, 7-8:30 pm CRN 50025

THE JEWEL BOX HOME:
ENTERTAINING WITH STYLE FEE: $50

Learn how to throw a cocktail party with style, and on a budget. Find out about staging and flow, planning the guest list, and the best food
to serve. This class gives you all the party basics to make your next get-together a success.
ARC H01-32, ETHS, 1 Tue., 7/21, 7-8:30 pm CRN 50026

To register online visit https://my.oakton.edu/cp/home/displaylogin.

I have to admit, I find the Oakton registration process a bit confusing, so if you have any questions call 847-982-9888 and press 3.

Until next time!

Warmly,

Genevieve

Decorating a Smaller Home: The Traditional Look Done Right!

This is the look of traditional styling done right!

One of the most well known decorating styles is the traditional look. On its own or combined with complimentary elements from other styles, this classic decorating scheme is known for the use of dark, rich woods, Persian and Oriental carpets, along with antiques and reproductions. Decorative tassels and fringe are often found on window treatments and furniture. Because it can feel heavy or crowded, a traditional style does not always work well in a smaller home. But as shown above, it can be lovely if a light touch is used and you don't go overboard on heavy accents.

Traditional Gone Wrong

So how can you create a beautiful traditional style for your home? First, let's look at what to avoid.

The patterns in this room clash and the furniture pieces don't compliment each other. The overall look is too fussy. Haphazardly putting antiques together in a room is not the same thing as good decorating.

Whatever is wrong with this room is no small thing. The spindly antique side tables have no business being in the same space as the dark heavy carved arm chairs and the blue cushioned 'coffee table' creates a strange focus.

Tassels and fringe should always be used sparingly, yet here we see window dressings with fringe made out of tassels! Next we have curlicues and stenciling on the sideboard. This look went out of style in the late 1600's or early 1700's. If this is a valuable antique, my advice is to auction it off and get the cash. And why is that antique arm chair - that looks too fragile to sit in - placed under the window by itself? Furniture needs to be functional and have a reason for being in the room. Enough said.

Traditional Done Right

What does traditional styling done right look like? Use the stunning rooms below, courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens as your guide. Each has traditional elements, but their use is never overdone. Also, you will notice that the color palettes are neutral. Why? This creates the best balance visually and brings harmony to the space. By the way, only the last three photos are from smaller homes. Someday I'll be able to run around and take all the photos I need - or pay someone else to do it - but for now my day job keeps me busy. Enjoy!

Warmly,

Genevieve

My Decorating Pet Peeves - Wallpaper, Is It Ever a Good Idea?

Could you sleep in this room? Not me!

This month as we discuss decorating basics for a smaller space, I'd like to bring up a few of my 'pet peeves'. High on my list of 'no-nos' is wallpaper, especially floral wallpaper. I expect many of you out there will disagree with me, but wallpaper, is almost never a good idea. Here are my reasons:

• Wallpaper makes a room look dated, regardless of whether the pattern is new.
• A wallpapered room often feels cluttered and claustrophobic. The 'busyness' of the walls overpowers every other design element.
  
• Wallpaper gets dirty very quickly and can be difficult to clean.
• It takes a professional to hang wallpaper correctly and it is hard to remove and replace.
• Wallpaper 'chops-up' the continuous visual flow needed to make a small space harmonious.
• Wallpaper almost always becomes a room's focus. To create balance, walls should be the background for a room, not its focal point.
  

Now, if you must have wallpaper, here are photos of some acceptable wallpapered rooms. But let me tell you, these examples were not easy to find.

This works because the wallpaper is monochromatic.

The natural light and uniform color scheme saves this room.

The black wallpaper is the only accent color here so it is not overwhelming.

Again the wallpaper is the only accent color in this room so it works.
These are all complimentary colors which balance with the the wallpaper.

Until next time,

Genevieve

Decorating a Smaller Home: Choosing a Style

Fashion passes, style remains. – Coco Chanel, Fashion Designer, (1883-1971)

When decorating any space, but especially a smaller space, start with a general idea of how you want the room or area to look. This will be your style. For a smaller home, choose a style that can be used throughout the house. Why? This leads to a cohesive look, the first step in creating a harmonious space, one of the hallmarks of a Jewel Box™ home. It is not necessary to rigidly follow a particular style, but you will want to incorporate the basic elements into your overall decorating scheme.

So how do you choose a style? The best way is to look through home décor and general interest magazines and tear out pages with rooms that appeal to you. My favorites are Better Homes and Gardens and Real Simple. Catalogs are also a good place for style shopping. I like Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel and Ballard Designs. While looking through magazines and catalogs, keep in mind that decorating has nothing to do with following design trends. Just because something is trendy, new or expensive, does not automatically make it a good idea. And unless you are a teenage girl, ‘cute’ is not a style. Also, floral prints, plaids and oriental carpets never belong in the same room. Ever!

Most styles are variations on one of several looks:

• Traditional
• Contemporary/Modern
• English Cottage and French Country
• Mediterranean
• Asian
• Eclectic

In the coming weeks we will look at each of these styles and how well they work in a smaller space. But for now, enjoy the striking photos below of a 780 square foot condo in Chicago's Lincoln Park recently profiled in Chicago Home and Garden. This is a wonderful example a contemporary/modern look.

Entryway

Living Area

The Classic Modern Statement Piece - An Eames Chair

Galley Kitchen

Custom Built-in Headboard and Night Tables

Small Houses Are Healthier for Children and Teens

"In one way or another, the challenges of prosperity
come up in about 40 percent of the cases I see."
- Cheryl Rampage, Senior Vice President of The Family Institute as quoted in Privileged, by Penelope Mesic, November 2008 NORTHSHOREMAG.COM

In the Spring 2008 edition of Jewel Box™ Living, I discussed the benefits of small home living as a healthy lifestyle choice. Building and maintaining close relationships with family and friends is widely documented as a critical factor in fostering good physical and mental health throughout life.

Research now finds that small home living is especially good for teens. A recent article in Chicago's NorthShore magazine, focused on the privileged life many teens lead in Chicago's wealthy northern suburbs and the growing number of adolescents who are collapsing under the weight of their advantages. The risk factor for these young people is something that most regard as a benefit - affluence and all the possesions that come with it, particularly the larger house.

Here is an excerpt from this fascinating article:

In fact, the wealthier the child, the more likely to feel estranged. This matters because the best predictor for healthy adjustment is closeness to one's parents, and the reverse is a warning sign for drug and alcohol use, anxiety and depression. And when these problems emerge in high school they may predict a lifelong vulnerability in adulthood.

One way that affluence plays a part, Rampage says, is that "closeness" has a literal component. A less-prosperous family usually shares a smaller space. Parents can see or hear when a child is upset or sad. Children can tell when their parents are worried and have a better sense of their family's problems. The child is more likely to contribute, and the child's contributions are more likely to be valued, which creates a sense of worth and responsibility.

A middle-class family may really need a teenage son or daughter to clean house or to baby-sit and make a meal for younger siblings or to have a job to save money for college. An affluent teen may have no reason to do chores or cook dinner. After all, there are people around who are paid to do those things. Another contributing factor is the affluent teen with his or her own room, bath, TV, computer, telephone and car doesn't have to compromise about who will use the car when, or learn to take turns choosing what's on television, or negotiate about who takes the first shower.

From the parental point of view, to have your child live in a parallel universe may seem entirely positive. Your Audi won't come back from basketball practice with a crumpled rear bumper. You won't spend most of Nova arguing with a 14-year-old who would rather watch Spiderman III. You can read The New York Times "Style" section without having to listen to Radiohead. But even irksome contacts can foster closeness and promote the skills your child needs, including the ability to compromise, negotiate, accommodate others and take care of belongings.

"In a smaller space you witness each other's moods and interests," says Sachs Alter. "You take turns, enjoy each other's company."

The complete article can be found at NORTHSHOREMAG.COM.

The moral to this story? Make children share a bedroom. Its good for them!

Until next time,

Genevieve