New Features Added to Jewel Box ™ Home Website!

Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark and a large group of professionals built the Titanic. - Author unknown

The new features which I promised were coming to the Jewel Box™ Home website have at last gone live! The highlights are:

• Jewel Box™ Living – A quarterly newsletter with the first issue, Spring 2008, now up on the website.
• Into the Homes of Readers – A forum where readers can share stories of their small homes.
• The Gallery – Three photo galleries, the first featuring more photos of my home, the second gallery showing party photos and the third with photos of readers homes.
• Design Consults – A tab that lets readers contact me for design consults in the Chicago land area.

You can visit all the new features at http://www.thejewelboxhome.com/. In the meantime, here is an excerpt from my Letter to Readers in the Spring 2008 issue of Jewel Box Living.

The other day, my 14-year-old son informed me that because of the Jewel Box ™ website, I will never be able to live in a big house. To quote his exact words, “Even if you become rich and famous, you can never have a mansion.”

A short three years ago, the thought that I would never live in a house larger than 2000 square feet, would have left me in a depressed state for weeks. I subscribe to the theory that humans behave like herding animals. We like to group together and then gain status within the group. I had joined the home-owning group, and was ready to improve my status by moving to a larger house. When my husband wanted to stay in our smaller home, I was crushed. If not part of the upwardly mobile home-owning community, who was I? I felt like the lone springbok cut off from the herd.

Given my past obsession with trading up, many of my friends and family are surprised that I no longer want a big house. But I am passionate about creating the Jewel Box ™ look and helping others do the same. And then there are the intangibles. In a larger home, would I hear my younger son whistling in the morning? Or both boys laughing and talking at night in the bedroom they share? Priceless! And would my boys feel comfortable sharing their opinions on the frequent verbal sparring matches between their parents? According to the boys, “Our friends’ parents argue like amateurs. You and dad are professionals”! Again, priceless!

So when my son made his announcement the other day, I said, without hesitation, “I don’t ever want a big house or mansion. But the rich part could be fun; I can take a pass on famous.” Of course, if ever I am rich and famous, you will probably read about my Jewel Box™ vacation house in People magazine.

Until next time!

Genevieve

Small Homes as Status Symbols

To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition.
- Samuel Johnson

George Carlin is known for saying, "A house is just a place for your stuff". Technically, this is true. But for most of us, where we live not only fulfills our need for shelter, but also tells the world who we are. More than any other possession, a house is used by our family, friends and neighbors as a barometer of our status and importance within the community. And that is why our houses are such emotionally charged topics of conversation. We attach so many feelings to our homes; pride, success, satisfaction, power, jealously, belonging, love, the list is endless. And what does all this have to do with small home living? Most people move from a small home to a larger home because by society's standards, bigger is better. Many life events - the birth of a child, a significant job promotion or rise in income - come with the expectation that we will move to a bigger house. Until recently, it was considered unusual for someone who had the financial resources not to trade-up to a larger home. Empty nesters were the only market segment where it was acceptable to go smaller. But this mind set is changing.

Cars are the second biggest purchase people make next to their home. Big cars, long considered symbols of success, are now getting some bad press as gas guzzling polluters. Hollywood celebrities and power brokers who drive small hybrid cars are applauded as role models for good environmental citizenship. Indeed, small cars are now sometimes seen as status symbols.

So can a smaller home be a status symbol? Absolutely! The day is coming when people who have the money to live in mansions will choose smaller houses. Rather than making a grand display of wealth and space, they will live in homes that blend beauty, harmony and function, in spaces defined by their owners needs. They will have stepped out of the large home mentality circle of safety and become enlightened!

Until next time!

Genevieve

The Jewel Box Home and Carlos Santana

Live your Light
- Carlos Santana on Tour 2008

This past Saturday, my husband took me and our boys to see Carlos Santana in concert. In my husband's words, "We are making 'the pilgrimage' to see the guitar god". For those of you not familiar with Santana, he is 60 years old, played at Woodstock and was known by a single name before Madonna was out of her teens. To get a flavor for his music, download onto your ipod, or - if you are in my generation - buy a CD with the songs, Maria Maria, Europa and Smooth. As my boys would say, "This dude is lights out"! Translation, they are impressed.

So what does Santana have to do with the Jewel Box Home? Santana's music has always had spiritual underpinnings and these are especially embodied in his latest tour where he encourages his audience to live with a peaceful purpose and bring light into the world. The Jewel Box Home philosophy parallels these themes. It is all about creating a living space filled with light and beauty that is a comforting haven for family and a welcoming place for friends to gather. This is more easily done in a smaller home where the emphasis is on livability not size and human needs take priority. Without the burden of a larger house and its upkeep, we are freed to enrich our lives with a multitude of experiences and reach out to family and friends when needed. May your home and your life bring light and love to the world.

Until next time!

Genevieve

Ten Tips for Raising Children in a Smaller Home

Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them.”

Richard L. Evans Shortly before or after having their first child, most parents will utter the phrase, "We need more space. Let's start looking for a larger home." My husband and I did the same thing. Our first son was born when we lived in a one bedroom condo that was under 800 square feet. After we brought him home from the hospital, he slept in the bedroom, my husband and I slept in a futon on the living room floor every night. And this futon was only the size of a twin bed! We did this until my son was 18 months old and then moved to our current three bedroom, 1800 square foot house. I now have two sons and my oldest is 18 and leaving for college in the fall. So how do you raise children in a smaller home? Let me pass on a few tips that I learned from experience, as well as from a good friend who is married and has 12 children - that's right an even dozen - in a house no bigger than mine. Throw out the changing table. You do not need a changing table to change a diaper. Either change diapers on the bed or on a clean towel or diaper mat on the floor. I don't think I have ever seen a 1 1/2 year old lie still on a changing table for a diaper change. You will be saving money and space in your home. Babies and older children can sleep in the same room. Yes they can. So what if the baby wakes up the older sibling sometimes. Your older child will learn to fall back to sleep and babies like the company of someone else in the room. Children can share bedrooms. Contrary to conventional wisdom, children do not need their own bedrooms, they can share. This is what bunk beds are for. There is nothing wrong with two or three children sharing the same room. In fact, siblings tend to be closer when they share a room. My sons will talk to each other after the lights are out and discuss things they would never bring up with me. They also figure out how to solve problems on their own. Keep computers and TVs out of the bedroom. Put the computer and TV in the family room or the basement. This not only lets you keep tabs on what the children are watching or doing on the computer, but leaves space in the bedroom for the essentials - a bed and nightstand for each child, which leads me to the next tip. Keep furniture in the bedroom to a minimum. You only need a bed and nightstand for each child along with a lamp. This is more than enough personal space. But what about a dresser for clothing? That leads us to tip #6. Use closet organizing systems instead of dressers. If you organize the closet with space to hang clothes, as well as drawers and shelving units, you can do away with dressers and cabinets for storing clothes. I like the Elfa storage systems at the Container Store. Use the dining room table for homework. This is typically a space with good lighting, children can spread out and do their work and a parent is usually available in the kitchen or close by to offer help. Buy a nice book shelf and dedicate one or two shelfs for each child to store school work and books. This eliminates the need for a desk for each child and keeps children organized. Store toys in a nice cabinet kept in the dining room or family room. You can organize the different toys in baskets inside the cabinet. I know its hard, but try to get children to put toys away after they are done playing. Don't feel bad if you have to yell to get the kids to clean up. This seems to be a normal motivational tool. Adults shower in the morning, children bathe at night. This bathroom routine makes it possible for an entire household to function with only 1 full bathroom and a powder room. Just remember, the skills learned by children living in a smaller home - negotiating shared spaces, learning to respect differences - are the same skills that lead to success outside the home. Until next time, Genevieve

Decorators Don't Always Know Best

My decorator made me do it!

Just because a professional interior decorator creates a look for you or subscribes to a particular trend, does not automatically make it a good idea. You may not like the look, or it may not be right for your home. In other cases, a decorator creates a space that is so unique and cutting-edge, that it is uncomfortable for both family and friends. A friend of mine, after
purchasing a new home, decided to splurge on an interior decorator for help with her living and dining rooms. She hates the end result, but she lives with it because she paid so much money to her decorator and spent so much on the furniture. The lesson here is, just because you hire a decorator doesn't mean you have to do whatever they want. Be assertive about your likes and dislikes. And never forget, you can always fire your decorator!

Let's take a look at the room in the picture. There are many things right about it. The scale of the furniture is in keeping with the proportions of the space, the chairs and table have nice clean silhouettes, there are black accents and the curved base of the table is visually appealing. But the color scheme completely blots out all these positives.

Until next time!

Genevieve

Quick Color for Your Spring Garden

These stars of earth, these golden flowers.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

As far as I'm concerned, its not officially spring until the tulips are in bloom. One year I planted over 1000 bulbs! But even when I'm too lazy to lazy to put down bulbs in the fall - which I was this past year - I still have tulips in my spring garden. How? I run over to Home Depot, Lowes, or my local garden store and buy pre-planted tulip bulbs that have already begun to sprout. Don't expect the same range of color available with fall bulbs, or the fancy varieties, but the basic yellow, red and purple shades are usually in stock. I love to plant groupings of 10 to 20 pre-planted bulbs around the front of the house, and fill two planters at the entry way with bulbs. Its easy and looks terrific. Just remember to stay with a single shade - I love yellow or red - and plant bulbs in groups to get a bright pop of color.

Until next time!

Genevieve

New Jewel Box Home Features Coming In Spring!

'Tis a gift to be simple, 'tis a gift to be free,
'Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place that's right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
- Simple Gifts, 19th Century Shaker Hymn by Elder Joseph Brackett

Thank you for your very nice notes asking where I have been. You are so thoughtful to write. The Jewel Box website and blog are my passion, but as often happens, life gets in the way. As some of you know, I have a full time job which has kept me unusually busy over the last few months. Also, my older son is applying to college and the sheer volume of paperwork has been staggering. Filling out the Financial Aid Form (FAFSA) should be listed as a method of torture by the CIA.

As for the website, I am planning to add more photos, create a seasonal newsletter, and have a feature where visitors can share their own stories about small home living. Everything should be up and running by early April, but don't be surprised if it slips to later in the month. Another 'cheese plate' crisis could halt my forward progress. Just the other day I was asked to run over to church and re-plate the cheese and deli tray, which had arrived on, God forbid, a plastic platter with saran-wrapped cheddar. Not to worry, after the substitution of a handled rattan tray and the addition of a few grapes and gourmet crackers, it was fit to grace the pages of Martha Stewart Living.

In the meantime, here are a few quick tips for springtime entertaining.

1. Sofa Magic. Let children, pets and family sit or lay down only on one side of your sofa cushion or cushions. Don’t worry if drinks, food or dirty paws leave stains. When you have a party, just flip the cushion over to the ‘good’ side and your sofa will look like new.
2. The Salad is in the Bag. When entertaining, assemble all your greens and salad fixings in a bowl. Mix the salad dressing, then combine the greens and dressing into a clean white kitchen garbage bag. Twist the top of the bag closed then shake the bag gently a few times. Pour all the salad contents from the bag into your serving bowl and wipe away any spills. The greens will be perfectly coated with dressing and ready to serve.
3. Flowers and Fruit - The Perfect Pairing. Add fruit to your flower arrangements. Apples, lemons, limes and oranges are not only perfect for anchoring flowers in a vase or bowl, but also look beautiful.
   

Until next time,
Genevieve

Where Would You Sit?

You are at a party. There is nowhere to sit, except in the middle of the couch between two other people. Would you sit or stand?

At a Jewel Box party, you would not have to make this choice because your host would bring an extra chair, so that you could comfortably sit down. Why? When was the last time you saw three people sitting next to each other on a couch? Did the person in the middle look comfortable? Your Jewel Box party hosts understand this and would never expect you or a guest to sit in the middle of a couch. In fact, in keeping with the basic principles of Jewel Box decorating, the room would likely not have a couch, but instead a comfortable love seat and two occasional chairs. This way furniture is scaled in proportion to the smaller more intimate room dimensions.

Until next time!
Genevieve

Jewel Box Home Visits With Press About Home Renovation Trends

"A designer knows that he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." - Antoine de St-Epurey

Recently I had the chance to visit with our local paper about home renovation trends. Here is an excerpt from that discussion. For the complete article, click on the link at the end of this blog.

HOME RENOVATION TRENDS - WHATS OUT

January 3, 2008

By J.T. MORAND Staff Writer

During this time when homeowners and home buyers are thinking more about conservation and convenience, Realtors, interior designers and architects reflect on some of the renovations that have become or are becoming passe.

For example, large kitchens and wide open floors are out. Grandeur is losing to convenience and efficiency.

Bye bye big kitchens

Genevieve Ferraro of Evanston said meal preparation becomes a hassle when appliances are too far apart in kitchens.

"Large kitchens throw off the functional triangle arrangement between the refrigerator, oven and sink," said the creator of the Web site thejewelboxhome.com, which offers tips on small home living and provides advice for owners of large homes who want to make their houses feel more intimate.

"When an island is added," she said, "the functionality of the triangle can be completely lost."

Plus, large kitchens often require unnecessarily large appliances.

"Big kitchens are not only inefficient, but contain big appliances that are rarely used," Ferraro said. "A large range with commercial capacity and power looks good on the showroom floor, but is overkill when cooking a family dinner."

(The complete article can be found at:
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/726062,on-renotrends-10308-s1.article)

Small Houses Good For Civilization

"Urban sprawl is out of control in many cities, and green places are scraped away to make way for expensive McMansions, which can't even spring for solar panels (too expensive)." - Sherrie Emerine, Raleigh, N.C. commenting on the Newsweek article "Save the Planet - Or Else", April 16, 2007

The Chicago Tribune, on 12/30/07, declared small houses as 'good for civilization' in Perspective, "Who We Are Now." Big houses, on the other hand were listed as bad for civilization, along with urban sprawl.

Until next time,
Genevieve

The Jewel Box Home: Cottage Style Dos and Don'ts

"Barbie is calling, she wants her dream house furniture back."

We've talked about creating a Jewel Box Home and capturing the Jewel Box Look, so now its time to cover Jewel Box Dos and Don'ts. Today, let's look at cottage style decorating.

The cottage style is very difficult to pull off in any size room, let alone a small space. Why? Charm, the defining trait of cottage style, is almost always expressed as an abundance of cutesy frou-frou pieces that are over-accessorized with shades of pink, yellow or blue, or some combination of all three. Generally speaking, no man - straight or gay - would ever willingly choose to live in a house that looks like this, unless forced to. Of course, if you are trying to break-up with your honey, this is a good way to drive him out. Let's look at some examples of cottage style gone wrong.











So what are the don'ts for these two rooms? Let's make a list:

• Never mix florals, plaids and checks in the same room. I don't care if they are from the same color palette and you love the look. You must restrain yourself. It will always feel like there is too much going on.
  
• Never use ruffles or flounces, unless you are decorating a room for a young girl who is between the ages of 5 and 12. Remember, cutesy is not a style.
• No more than 2-3 pillows on a sofa and 1-2 pillows for each chair. You must leave room for people to sit down!
  
• Baby blue and pale pink should be used as a color scheme only when decorating a baby's room. But if you absolutely must use these colors, then please limit them to accent pieces.

So is it possible to do cottage style well? Absolutely! Just take a look a the beautiful room below.


Until next time!
Genevieve

A Jewel Box Christmas Party

Hospitality is one form of worship.
-The Talmud

I just walked in from a wonderful Christmas party thrown by my neighbor and friend Kelly. She has a beautiful little Jewel Box home and at this time of the year her place sparkles! Here are some scenes from her lovely home.

Enjoy,
Genevieve









































"...[A]nd it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!"
- A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

Bye Bye Big House Envy - More Press For The Jewel Box Home

If we only wanted to be happy it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, which is almost always difficult, since we think them happier than they are.
- Charles-Louis de Secondat, 17th/18th century political philosopher

I always imagined people with big houses were happier than people who lived in smaller homes. A larger house was a symbol of success and status. It was tangible evidence that you had arrived! When my husband refused to 'move-up' I had to readjust my thinking and after shedding many tears, give up my dream of becoming a lifestyle diva with an Architectural Digest home. For a long time I moped around feeling sorry for myself; all the while hoping my husband would change his mind. But to my surprise, after letting go of conventional thinking that bigger is better, I found myself loving the ease and comfort of small home living. Call me crazy, but I'm much happier now that I've stopped trying to figure out how to afford a bigger house and keep up with the Joneses!

To see a video of The Jewel Box Home along with tips for creating your own Jewel Box Home go to the northshoreinsider.com.

Cheers,
Genevieve

How to Throw a Dinner Party and Keep Your Sanity

Oh, the fun of arriving at a house and feeling the spark that tells you that you are going to have a good time.
-Mark Hampton

Let's talk about dinner parties. The Food Network makes it look so easy! Paula Deen, Rachel Ray and Michael Chiarello effortlessly pull together a several course meal that is beautifully plated and ready to go before guests even arrive! This, my friends, is not possible in the real world. I do love my Food Network shows, but they are not reality TV. When it comes to entertaining, the dinner party is the hardest event to pull off. Almost once a month I throw a dinner party, either family dinners, dinners for friends, or dinners with work colleagues. Every single time, about one hour before people arrive, I ask myself, "What was I thinking?!!" Then, as the minutes tick away, I realize yet again, that I am not and never will be Martha Stewart. There will not be lemon slices in the water, nor individual place cards at each setting and perfectly pressed linen napkins. In fact, on at least two occasions there was not even time to take a shower, but guests didn't seem to notice. I find that candle light and lots of good wine hide a multitude of sins. And yes, the enormous effort involved in throwing a dinner party, is worth it. Just make sure to give yourself a few days to recover after it is all over.

Let's look at the basics of a good dinner party:

The Purpose of a Dinner Party. Dinner parties are all about great conversation and good food. Celebrating a special occasion or accomplishment only adds to the fun.

The Guest List. Guests are the ‘Rock Stars’ at a dinner party. To create a memorable event, bring the right players to the table.

· How many to invite? Decide how many people can sit comfortably at your dinner table. I can seat eight with plenty of leg room, or a very cozy ten.

· Who to invite? The success of any dinner party hinges on the invitation list. The food can be spectacular, but if guests feel like they can’t, or won’t talk to each other, the party might as well be a wake. The key is to invite a mix of people who will naturally talk and laugh when brought together. How do you do this? Make sure connections between your guests already exist or will easily arise. Guests who don’t expect to see each other again, will not make an effort to mingle.

Food and Drink. A dinner party menu should not be complicated. Good simple food made with quality ingredients is always the best choice. Choose an entrée that always tastes delicious, and build the meal around it. If you don’t cook, find something you love from at a caterer. I like to build my dinner party menu around a marinated rosemary beef tenderloin. Let’s look at a sample menu.

Course	Food	Drink
Appetizers	Assorted cheeses, a crusty baguette and smoked salmon	Cocktails – Gin & Tonics, Martinis, Scotch & Water, Wine
First Course	Baby salad greens, red, orange and yellow peppers with balsamic vinagarette	White Wine – Chardonnay
Entrée	Marinated rosemary beef tenderloin, twice-baked potatoes and grilled asparagus	Red Wine – Cabernet Sauvignon
Desert	Grapes, strawberries, lemon bars and fudgy brownies	Espresso coffee and After Dinner Drinks – Port, Sambucca, Limoncello, Cognac

Entertainment/Activities. Conversation and food are the entertainment/activities at a dinner party. To keep conversation lively, I like to bring up a few topics of interest for all guests. Its good to have a mix of subjects, some humorous and some involving current issues. It’s also nice to focus the conversation with a toast during the entrée. This can be a toast to the guests or a celebratory toast recognizing the accomplishment of one individual.

Staging and Flow. When throwing a dinner party, plan on using three rooms: the living room, dining room and the kitchen. The beauty of a dinner party in a Jewel Box Home is that all these rooms are close together, so guests never feel neglected and you are able to be part of the action.

Good luck with your next dinner party and let me know how it goes!

Genevieve

Scenes From My Sister's Jewel Box Home

Happy Holidays! I've just returned from Thanksgiving with my sister - Kelley's - family and wanted to share the wonderful Jewel Box elements she has in her home.

A Cozy Window Seat. My sister chose to build a window seat in a tight and awkward corner of her family room. This space is not only beautiful, but functional. It provides storage and a comfortable place for her children (she has three) to relax. Notice her use of photo frames as black accents, and the sunny yellow wall that beautifully complements the green pillows and seat cushion.

A Mirror on the Fireplace Mantel. A fireplace is an ideal spot for a mirror. It reflects light and adds life to the room by showcasing family life. Make the the mirror the focal point and add accents for interest. Kelley has done an expert job of adding detail with accessories without creating clutter.

Wall Art. Accessories and wall art are the finishing touches for any beautifully decorated space. The right accessories can bring a room to life, the wrong accessories will destroy an otherwise beautiful space. In her home, Kelley has followed a simple design trick and placed her wall accessories in groups of threes. Objects grouped in odd numbers, are more pleasing to the eye. Kelley has also chosen wall accessories that reflect her personality. The stars highlight her preference for an American Cottage feel and the photos in the basement hall showcase her dogs and cat. It all comes together beautifully because Kelley has shown restraint and refused to clutter the walls with oddly matched frames or wildly random photos.




































A big thank you to Kelley for her hospitality over Thanksgiving and the chance to show off her lovely home. And it looks this good even though she has a husband, three children - aged 9 through 17 - two dogs, a cat and fish!

Warmly,
Genevieve

Make Your Home Look Fabulous For the Holidays

Hello,

In just 1/2 hour I'll be in the car, with my two teenage sons, husband and dog, driving to Iowa for Thanksgiving. Its at least a six hour ride. As you can imagine, this is not one of my favorite things to do. An extended drive with two teenagers takes nerves of steel, especially when the car is not equipped with video and TV hook-ups, which ours is not. As a dear friend reminded me, even the best teenagers are horrible people, particularly when forced into making a long boring drive. But I am excited to see my sister and her family who live in Iowa, in my childhood home. I plan to take some pictures and have them up on the blog or website next month.

For those of you who want a Jewel Box look for the holidays, here are some tips - both big and small - to add warmth, beauty and functionality.

Creating the Jewel Box Look

1. Put rooms on a diet. Too much furniture is a common problem in small homes. Get rid of pieces that aren’t needed to satisfy the main purpose of a room. This opens up natural walkways and creates space so that a room can harmoniously function as intended.
2. Downsize furniture. Oversized pieces might look good on a showroom floor, but they will overpower a small area. Proportion is the key. Smaller pieces for smaller rooms. They also are less expensive. For seating, use a love seat instead of a sofa, and for an entertainment cabinet, use a buffet instead of an armoire.
3. Keep color in its place. Color is the background for a room, not the focal point. In a small home it is best to use a neutral color throughout the house or a variety of shades from the same color family. This way your eye flows naturally from room to room making the space feel harmonious.
4. Add a little black. A little black is an important element in any room. It creates a focal point and makes other elements in the room pop. A black lampshade or black leather chair seat can add the perfect touch.
5. Flower power. Flowers are an important, often overlooked accessory. These are living works of art that automatically add color and beauty to any room. Find at least one place in your home for fresh flowers and plan to change these often.
6. Mirror, mirror on the wall. A well placed mirror adds depth to a room and reflects light; making the space brighter and appear larger. Just make sure the mirror reflects something other than a blank wall. Try a large rectangular mirror over the dining room buffet, or a floor mirror in the living room beside a favorite chair.
7. Show a little leg. Let the legs show on all your upholstered pieces. This creates a feeling of space and light by allowing your eye to travel across the room and see ‘through’ furniture.
8. Accessorize with care. Use a light touch when adding accessories. Be selective, put out only your favorite things. Cluttering the room with accessories will destroy otherwise graceful proportions. No more than one to three decorative objects on any table surface. One pillow for each chair and two for the sofa is enough.
9. Don’t overdress windows. Keep window treatments simple and clean so that natural light can fill the space. Use sheer fabrics rather than heavy draperies. To visually enlarge a room, hang curtain rods above the window frame. For an elegant clean look, choose a beautiful curtain rod and drape fabric only over the rod.
10. Let there be light. Good lighting is critical in a small home. The key elements are soft diffuse lighting to create warmth and focused task lighting for functionality. Use dimmer switches for overhead lighting to prevent harshness and glare. Try a pair of tall candlestick lamps on the dining room buffet and create a focal point in the living room with a beautiful lamp on an end table. Create different looks by changing lamp shades.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Genevieve

The Jewel Box Home Gets Some Press

On November 8th, the Pioneer Press, a local Chicagoland newspaper featured the Jewel Box Home in its Home & Design section. It has been a pleasure to hear from so many of you who also appreciate and enjoy small home living. The link to the complete article can be found at http://www.pioneerlocal.com/636047,on-jewelbox-110807-s1.article


Warmly,
Genevieve

Flower Power!

I'd rather have roses on my table, than diamonds on my neck.
-Emma Goldman

The two hallmarks of the Jewel Box Home are its size - under 2000 square feet - and its beauty. One of the easiest ways to bring beauty into the home is an arrangement of fresh flowers. These are living works of art that automatically add color to any room. Find at least one place in your home for fresh flowers. The best spot is near the entryway where they can be enjoyed by anyone who visits. I buy my flowers once a week when I go to the grocery store. One or two dried arrangements are also nice. Don't pay any attention to design divas who turn down their noses at dried arrangements. I love Oprah's pet interior decorator, Nate Berkus, but his strict rule against dried flowers is ridiculous. Not only can dried arrangements look gorgeous, they save money! To the left are examples of arrangements I have used in my home. The lilies are at the front entrance and the dried pomegranates and artichokes are in the living room.

Cheers,
Genevieve

Who Says You Need A Big House? Celebrate The Jewel Box Home!

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.