Small Kitchen Idea - Nesting Bowls

I think these are a great idea for a small kitchen:

You have several large bowls, a collander, measuring cups and spoons all withing the space of the largest bowl.

Depending on you design aesthetic you may love the colorful combination or wish for something with a little less pop.  Either way these could be a colorful solution to minimal storage space. 

Travel Quote

He who must travel happily must travel light. 

 ~ Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Minimalist Travel

A friend of mine who I've been sharing my minimalist habit with lately had a 4 day trip coming up.  She said that she would usually have a checked bag and a full sized carry on.  We've chatted about capsule wardrobes, basic colors, mixing and matching, etc. in the context of work clothing but I got this email and caption:



So impressive to be able to shrink your baggage by a third! 
Truly freeing and so much easier to enjoy your trip without having to schlep around so much weight!

Minimalist Travel - Accessories

I saw a link to MUJI on the ZeroWaste Home blog and I remember seeing their items in the MOMA in New York. 

Take a look at their travel accessories - Great prices on containers to avoid those little baby plastic bottles and let you transfer your own preferred products into these travel containers.  Buy à la cart and save on the pre-packaged bottles. 

I use similar acrylic pots I found in a craft store to hold jewelry and pills.
 

Microwave Oven Combo

Using a wall oven with microwave can create a more ergonomic cooking experience.  I like them because they free up the space below the range for storage of cooking ware and accessories and I like the height that the built in gives you. 
In a single wall kitchen I would have this full height casework on one side of a counter and a built in refrigerator at the other side to balance out the design.

Contemporary Kitchen design by Calgary Design-build Fifth Element Homes

I think this combo unit that includes a small refrigerator and a coffee maker is a create space saver for a small kitchen that still wants all of the gadgets built in:

Asian Kitchen design by Toronto Interior Designer XTC Design Incorporated

Ultimate Multi-Tasker: Smart Phone

I love being able to replace two things I need with one that will do both jobs.  My smart phone really does keep my life together. 

• It wakes me up in the morning - replacing an alarm clock
• It reminds me of meetings, lets me check my email, even see what the weather forecast is and read the news - replacing, for me at least,  newspapers and the need to catch the news for weather
• It holds all of the phone numbers, email addresses, physical addresses, other contact information and birthdays of friends and family - replacing a physical address book
• It does math - replacing a calculator
• It is my main music player, especially since getting the Big Blue Live Bluetooth speakers - awesome - it even replaces a stereo system for me =)

• It keeps track of kitchen timing duties - replacing a kitchen timer
• It holds all of my recipes - replacing cook books or recipe cards
• I have a case that holds a credit card and my ID so for me it goes along way to replacing my wallet (although I still need to carry lip gloss)

I know we often bemoan the advance of technology as somehow complicating our lives, but used correctly I think it can help us simplify. 

Heaven help me if I ever lose it though!
 

Simplify Nail Care

I was looking for ways to simplify my nail care and these were some great suggestions:

• Start by getting rid of all of those half empty old bottles of nail polish
• ...or...avoid polish altogether and just buff your nails
• Invest in a ceramic file that will last forever and throw out all those old ones
• For white nail tips apply hydrogen peroxide with a Q-tip (eliminates whitening pencil)
• Use a good hand cream rather than a separate cuticle oil
• Make a foot and hand scrub out of brown sugar:

For an easy sugar scrub mix equal parts white and brown sugar then add a small amount of olive oil to create a paste.  You can add essential oils or food flavoring extract. 

Minimalist Gifts

I have a birthday coming up and struggled with what to give without adding to the clutter of someone else's life or my own.  I came up with several ideas:

• Experience Gifts.  If you are close to the person it may be more personal to take them out to lunch, have coffee with them, go ice skating, or give them a gift certificate for hot air ballooning.  Experiences are what make life rich. 

• Consumable gifts.  This is what I really prefer to receive.  I'll never turn down a bottle of wine but I really don't want anything that I have to keep.  If I need it, chances are I have it already; if I don't already have it, I probably don't need it.  Wine is my go to but if it isn't appropriate for your recipient consider homemade or luxury items. 

• The easiest and most appropriate thing in this instance was a gift card or cash. It may seem impersonal, and it may not be right for certain people, but for other occasions it may be the most appreciated option.

• If going with a gift card I like to add a little note that indicated what I though they might like so there is a personal connection. A gift certificate to a book store with a suggestion for a book they might enjoy can be as personal as getting them that book without having to worry if they have already read it or if it just isn't their style. 

• Wine
• Local honey and fancy tea
• Homemade cookies or treats
• Crackers, cheese and meat combination for an easy appetizer or a cute picnic
• Ready mix soup or hot chocolate gifts - check out http://www.womensbeanproject.com/
• Handmade sugar scrub or other beauty product

Paper Clutter

According to Natural Health Magazine 50% of the clutter in our lives is paper.  With all the talk out there or paperless office, paperless bills, paperless receipts, paperless travel you would think that statistic would be much lower. 

I am trying to reduce the amount of clutter in my life and I think 50% might be a little high for me but it would still be a huge benefit to simplifying my life.

Steps I can take:

• Avoid printing items.  Instead ask if I can email, save to PDF, travel without paper documents
• Call mail distributers and ask to be removed from their mailing lists
• Sign up for "Do Not Mail' Lists (http://www.directmail.com/)
• Sort what I do have (Sentimental, Practical) and get rid of the rest
• Make use of the programs on my smart phone to avoid scratch paper (Notepad, Evernote)

I plan to track the paper that comes into my life in February and what is done with it.  My goal is that only critical items are kept (car registration for example) and everything else is dealt with appropriately. 

Quote: Simplicity

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
    ~  Leonardo da Vinci

Multi-Tasker: Black Soap

I stay with a friend every other weekend or so and I wanted to be able to leave a few personal care items at there without being a burden.  I usually have my make-up case with me that is vey small and easily portable and also includes a deodorant, a toothbrush, travel sized toothpaste, and a nail file.  This basically takes care of the necessities as well as make up and lip gloss (which I consider a necessity)  but I also get ready for work there and needed body wash, shampoo, conditioner, etc. 

We were shopping in Whole Foods one day and found this product.  
I don't mean to promote one product over another, and I am sure there are more authentic products out there, but I love everything behind black soap. 

Black soap is a made from burning leaves from natural plants including banana, plantain, palm, shea and cocoa plants.  The ash is mixed with water and oils from other natural sources and left to dry in the sun.  Many products are fair trade and help support women in developing countries. 

Read more at http://shakara-naturaltips.blogspot.com/2012/02/what-is-black-soap.html#cQUUFfVySIhDX62O.99

What I love is that it is an all-in-one product.  This particuar product actually gets my very oily scalp clean, conditions and softens my hair, work beautifully as a body wash as well as a shaving cream.  I even wash my face with it and don't feel the need to follow up with a secondary wash as I often do.  I really love this and am almost considering replacing my other products.... almost. 

I really do love it for a weekend replacement.  It's the only thing I need besides the items I carry with me every day anyway.  And it smells great!

Ultra Small Appliances

I Love These!!!
Appliances in miniture. 
This is a KitchenAid product but as far as I can tell it is not available in the United States. 
Wouldn't this be a great addition to a minimalist kitchen or an efficiency appartment?

Found here:
http://www.houzz.com/oven-microwave/p/8

Services vs Products

Minimalism can mean different things to different people, or different things in different areas of your life.  It may mean owning less, or spending less money, or simplifying the things you do as part of your daily life. 

I've been working on clearing out my nail care items and it has been a balancing act for me to find out what I am comfortable getting rid if I am trying to reduce the amount of  money I spend vs. what I am comfortable getting rid of if I allow myself to splurge. 

At first I assumed that being minimalist meant that I should avoid paying for services, especially those I could conceivable do myself, like a manicure or pedicure.  So I slowly tried to reduce the number of nail polish colors I had but I wanted a red one for a more classic look and a dark one for a more formal look in addition to my standard nude colors.  But even getting down to three or four colors I noticed that I still had nail clippers, nail files, nail buffers, callous removers, pumice stone, cuticle sticks and cuticle oil, and nail polish remover in addition to the actual polish. 

If I planned to have a pedicure once a month or every six months I could get rid of the callous remover, although I decided to keep the pumice stone.  If I planned to get my nails done every three weeks or once a month I could get rid of the cuticle sticks.  And since I'm planning in a trip to the nail salon I can work that around when I would want to have a darker color so I can now get rid of the other nail polishes.  I could consider ditching the nail polish remove since I really don't change my color very often but I like to have it just in case.  I did switch from a large bottle to prepackaged wipes.

I realized that I had to define what being a minimalist meant to me in this area of my life.  I knew I didn't want to go extreme and swear off all nail polish.  I really would like to own less "stuff" but I enjoy getting my nails done.  I didn't see it as a chore I wanted to eliminate, although some minimalists might.  I decided that for me it made more sense to get rid of some things and allow myself to utilize and pay for a service that I enjoy. 


In the end I ended up keeping a clear base coat, a nude color, nail clippers, a nail file and cuticle oil. 
That's it! 

It also got me thinking about other services to consider or reconsider in my life:  haircuts, hair styling, waxing, eyelash or eyebrow tinting, facials, massage.  Do they or can they fit into a minimalist way of living?

Go Green: Ditch the Paper Towels

This was a really hard decision for me to consider.  I hate laundry - wouldn't I end up doing twice as much without paper towels? 

I really did want to reduce my waste so I decided to try it.  Turns out my load of whites was never full so adding two or three tea towels didn't put me over the top into constant laundry.  I didn't go   through them as often as I thought.  Most of the things I was using paper towels for was not dirty tasks like wiping up messes.  I switched from putting a snack on a paper towel to a real plate.  Drying my hands after doing the dishes didn't actually dirty the towel and even wiping down the counter left the towel fairly clean.  I ended up switching out every other day or so.   

I love it and haven't looked back; plus it's nice to not have to shop for paper towels anymore.
 http://www.lushlee.com/2009/02/lovebirds-tea-towel/

Kitchen Multi-Tasker Idea: Strainer / Dish Drainer

I ran across this article on house logic:
http://www.houselogic.com/blog/kitchens/minimalist-kitchen/
And she has a great idea about using a strainer as a dish rack. 
There are several in sink dish drainers you can buy but why not use a strainer that can double duty when you make pasta. 

Genius:


Other ideas on saving space with the dish drainer:

In Sink Drainers:


Hanging Option:




Fold Up or Roll Up Options:



Other Minimalist Options:
 

Quote: Simplicity

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
     ~ Albert Einstein

Book Review: Twelve by Twelve

A friend of mine recommended this book and when I saw it at the library I picked it up.  I  think I expected more practical tips for minimalist living but this ended up being a really beautifully written book exploring the broad ideas of minimalism, if not the everyday aspects. 


Twelve by Twelve is written from the perspective of someone experiencing the culture shock of returning to America and all of its consumerism after spending time in developing countries, who meets a woman who lives almost completely off the grid.  Her perspective seems to be minimalism for the purpose of activism.  She accepts only $11,000 a year as salary at her position as a doctor so that she does not pay income tax.  The house she chose to build in an eclectic neighborhood was limited to 12'-0" x 12'-0" to avoid real estate tax.  It also means that it did not receive electric, water or sewer lines from the city. 

If you are interested in going "all out" minimalist this might be a step by step guide.  He briefly explains the solar shower, the compost toilet, and the agriculture that supplied a bulk of his food. 
But that really isn't the focus of the book.  He shares his interaction with the neighbors who all have a different view of what it means to be a part of this unique community.  He delves into what it means to be by yourself, to settle into what he calls a "warrior presence."  What really resonated with me was the theme of "Enough."  What that meant to different people and what that can mean to us at different parts of our life. 

Two of the most interesting ideas he touched on was "Planned Obsolescence"  and Household Economy as Protest:  the idea that every penny you spend is a vote, an affirmation that you believe in this product, the process and the means in which it was produced.  These really helped me reevaluate my impulse to purchase. 

My favorite quote:

• By stripping myself, at the 12 X 12, of some of the manifestation of independence - a car, a phone, electricity, piped water, a home - I'd come to "love my very insufficiency." in 12 X 12 simplicity, I discovered my nothingness and began to love it.

Disclosure:  This book may want to make you give up chicken, at least the mass produced, package processed kind.

Multi-Tasker: Yoga Towel

I love items that can serve dual purpose.  My yoga towel serves multiple purposes for me.  Yoga towels were created for hot yoga where you sweat buckets (not my preferred style) so I actually don't use it over my mat very often.  Instead I keep it in the back of my car and use it when I have inadvertently left my yoga mat at home.  It works great for a mat even if it doesn't provide the cushion I'm used to.  What I really like is that it can be used for a towel for the gym when I shower there; it can be used for a beach or a picnic laydown; I can throw it over my seat if I end up muddy.  And then I just throw it in the washer! 

Here is my favorite:

Single Wall Kitchen

I've been sketching up kitchen options for small apartments (I'll post sketches soon)
The most efficient layout is a single wall kitchen.  Most research notes that an I shaped kitchen, sometimes called a pullman kitchen, eliminates the traditional work triangle.   True - but if you add an island, either movable furniture or built in casework you can create a type of work triangle that keeps everything within arms reach. 

I really like the idea of having a movable piece because it would allow you to modify the space and add a dine in table or a bar height element that would allow casual dining in the kitchen. 

I would much rather upgrade the finishes and appliance then have a larger kitchen and I think that the island creates a nice visual and plenty of work space.

 

Here are some of the better resources I've found for single wall kitchens:

http://www.houzz.com/i-kitchen
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/4128/list
http://www.diynetwork.com/kitchen/8-ways-to-make-a-small-kitchen-sizzle/pictures/index.html
http://www.channel4.com/4homes/rooms/kitchen/planning-ideas/along-one-wall-kitchens-gallery-08-06-04/display/image/36-SE4004-l
http://glo.msn.com/living/tiny-kitchens-with-big-results-7416.gallery
http://www.kitchens.com/design/layout/common-kitchen-layouts/one-wall-kitchen/

What's Important to You?

Today at work we were discussing what people are looking for in a home.  I think as designers we often start from a bias of what WE are looking for in a home or what we THINK people in general are looking for or, worst of all, what stockholders in the development company are looking for in a home.  But that isn't necessarily what most people want or what would fit the target clientele's lifestyle. 

For example:  half of the households in Manhattan are single person households.  But the housing market offers predominantly one and two bedroom units.  If they really listened to their market there would be a dramatic shift toward smaller units, either studio or efficiency units so that people can afford to live in the city, so that their environment fits their lifestyle. 

Here is my ideal apartment:

• Urban (Ideally with good public transportation options so a car is unnecessary)
• One bedroom or preferably a studio that could be subdivided with partitions or furniture
• Open floor plan and high ceilings with some outdoor living area or large operable openings
• Small kitchen along single wall with high quality finishes and appliances and microwave
• Space for freestanding island / eat-at-bar furniture
• Bath with full height tile and open shower or glass partition, single minimalist sink
• Washer is important but I would prefer space to line dry within my apartment over a dryer
• Walk in closet but I am willing to give up square footage in the bedroom since I don't need a dresser
• Energy and water efficient heating, cooling, fixtures and appliances with smart control
• Larger gym chain or yoga studio in building opposed to standard apartment gym
• Coffee house in building
• Bar in building or nightlife within walking distance
• Grocery in walking distance (also prefer a library within walking distance)

So.....
What fits your lifestyle?

• Are you in an urban, suburban, or rural situation?
• Do you prefer a house, townhouse, or apartment?
• How many people are in your household?
• How many cars are in your household?
• How many bedrooms do you prefer? 
• How many bathrooms do you prefer?
• How important is outdoor living area? 
• How many evenings do you spend at home vs. out?
• How often do you cook?
• Would you prefer more kitchen space or higher quality appliances?
• How important is having a dishwasher?
• How important is having a built in microwave?
• Do you prefer an eat-at-bar counter or a separate dining area?
• Do you entertain often?
• How large of a TV or entertainment wall do you require?
• Do you prefer a master bedroom with bath or a bath that is accessible from outside the bedroom?
• Do you prefer a bathtub or a shower?
• Does it make more sense to have the sink in the bathroom or outside of the bathroom?
• Would two sinks be beneficial?
• Do you prefer more space or higher quality materials?
• How high a priority is having a washer and dryer in your apartment?
• Is a coat closet near the door important or would you prefer more open space?
• How high a premium is a walk in closet?  Would you pay more for a walk in?  Would you sacrifice square footage in the bedroom?
• How high a priority is having a parking available?
• Is a pool or barbeque facilities important?
• Would you pay additional fee for a dedicated parking spot?
• Would you pay more for granite countertops?
• Would you pay more for higher ceilings?
• Would you pay $100 more in rent if your utility bill was cut in half?
• Would you pay more for energy or water efficient measures?
• Would you pay more for upgraded (stainless steel) appliances?
• Would you pay more for smart unit control (iPad heating, cooling, lighting control?)
• Would you pay more for higher security?
• Do you prefer a doorman or a security system?
• If you could have a typical apartment complex gym included or a national chain gym that required membership but offered more amenities within the building which would you prefer?
• What retail or service options would be highly desirable on the ground floor of  your building?
• What retail or services are you looking for in walking distance from your home?

What is your priority?  What are you looking for?

Smart Storage - Q-Tips and Cotton Balls

I love the idea of using practical items that you need anywhere as decor.  These beautiful glass containers for q-tips, cotton balls and bath salts are a perfect example. 

By putting the items you use everyday out in the open you not only simplify your routines, you provide a solution to a storage need. 

I would love to find some tall glass bottles with pump tops for shampoo, conditioner, body wash and face wash.  I could save money by buying those items in bulk and transform the shower into a spa.

Minimalism - Digital Receipts

When I am buying something and am asked if I want a receipt I almost always turn it down.  I don't itemize my taxes and most things I purchase I don't expect to return.  But I am always so disappointed to see the cashier crumple up the paper that automatically prints from the register. I didn't save any paper by my request I just transferred the responsibility of dealing with the waste from me to the cashier. 

Yesterday I stopped in Office Depot to pick up a new notebook.  While checking me out the cashier asked if I wanted a paper or digital receipt.  I am so used to answer this question with a simple "no thanks" that I confused the poor guy.  I hadn't seen a store offer a digital receipt before but I think I really like the idea. 

I'm not 100% sold yet, you do have to provide your email address, which they will probably use for marketing purposes, but I bet that the benefits outweigh that negative.  I look forward to the day I never get a piece of paper in the checkout line.  Wouldn't it be great to always have the receipt you are looking for just be searching your inbox?  With more and more stores offering it I may set up a separate email account or a filter for any receipts. 

One less piece of clutter to deal with.  Now if only I can get Safeway to stop printing me a three foot long receipt with every purchase.

Websites and Blogs for Creativity and Minimalism

There are those websites and blogs out there that you find and read all the way back to their first post.  I've been very lucky this past year to find a few that gave me the perspective I needed. 

These are some of my favorite:

http://www.houzz.com/  - An amazingly vast collection of ideas for design, landscape, decor, and humor.  I love their feature where they will send you a recap email once or twice a week, it's a great way for me to keep up on it because it sits in my inbox as a "to do."

http://pinterest.com/  - Enough said.

http://www.everydayminimalist.com/  - I love this blog based on minimalism and living the life you dream.  Everything she talks about resonates with me.  Great blend of useful tips and though provoking insights. 

http://unclutterer.com/  - I make sure to check this blog every Wednesday for their series "Unitasker" that presents the funniest of products you can definetly do without.

http://www.zerowastehome.blogspot.com/  -  I am absolutely floored by this blogger.  She went from living a typical American lifestyle to reducing her waste to a handfull of items a year.  Inspirational.

Quote of Perfection

Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

          ~Antoine de Saint- Exupery

Small Living and PreFab

I love the idea of small living:  less to purchase, less to pay taxes on, less to heat, less to cool, less to clean.  There are so many amazing ideas out there but one of the ones that compliments small living best is PreFab. 

If that word brings images of track housing or mobile homes consider some of the work by Hangar Design Group that designed a beautiful portable structure that looks very 'high design."




Creating a house, or any building, on a site requires everyone to travel to the job site, bring their materials to the job site, and to somehow remove the waste materials.  Construction is one of the most wasteful industries.  But creating a building in a controlled environment allows the economies of scale, streamline processes and assembly line and manufacturing quality control. 

All of that and a beautiful design!

Read more about this house at http://www.arnewde.com/architecture-design/prefabs-house-design-by-hangar-design-group/

Razors: Reduce Reuse Recycle

I just bought a new disposable razor and threw the old one in the trash.  Yet another thing headed to the landfill.  There has to be a better way, even the replacement blades are wrapped in so much packaging that they can hardly be considered ecological or minimalist. 
I started to do some research and found several options:

·        Go “au natural” – verdict:  ecological, economical, minimalist, and NOT going to happen

·        Laser hair removal – verdict:  too costly but an ecological and minimalist solution if it was a truly permanent solution

·        Wax instead – verdict: ouch, costly and not minimalist

·        Electric razor – verdict: more ecological, it could be more economical in the long run.  One less thing to buy could be a more minimalist habit than a disposable

·        Use a more ecologically friendly disposable – verdict:  greener, but possibly more cost, same amount of product to buy, dispose of packaging etc. so no more minimalist really

·        Make my disposable razor last longer – verdict:  could be more ecological, definitely more economical and less packaging, one less thing to buy on my monthly shopping trip.  Sounds like a win/win/win IF I can figure out how to make a disposable razor last without sacrificing quality of shave.  I really don’t want to spend the money and carbon I’m saving on band aids. 

So – how to make a disposable razor last longer?

·        Amazing there are many products for sale but I don’t think buying something else is really going to serve my parameters of being more ecological, more economical and more minimalist. 

·        Store the razor in alcohol or mineral oil – seems to be easy enough, somewhat cost effective and ecological.  I could give this a try

·        Sharpen the razor against an old pair of blue jeans – according to wikiHow, if you drag the razor in the opposite direction against an old pair of blue jeans it will sharpen it and lengthen its life.  Interesting.

·        Dry the razor – I never even gave it a second though but if it can make a typical disposable razor last 6 months; run it under your blow drier for 10-15 seconds after a shower – I have mine going for my hair anyway so there is nothing to lose. 

·        Rub the razor against your forearm – opposite direction of the blades.  I am not suggesting you start shaving your arms. I saw this option on several sights and it seems to have no drawbacks.  I think I will try this option first since it seems to have no negatives.  We’ll see how long this razor can last me – I would be happy with March or April.

The best products I found were a Braun Pulsonic Shave (an electric razor that boasted no cadmium, lead or mercury and an efficient charging system) and a Recycline (a disposable razor that was made from recyclable plastic.

Simplify: Email

I have a work email and a personal email and besides the very different user interface they look very different in a more significant way: 
My work email inbox (Outlook) has only messages that require action on my part - and is flagged if it is time sensitive.   Most of the time, I can see all of the messages in it without scrolling.  I am definitely more on top of filtering and sorting my work email. 
My personal email inbox, on the other hand, hasn't been cleaned up since the day I started it.  So as part of my resolution to simplify my life I decided to tackle the huge numner of emails sitting in my inbox.

Here is how I started: 

• Select the first email type that you don't really want clogging your email inbox but you might want later
• In he top bar select the pull down arrow under "More" with select "Filter messages like these"
• It defaults to search from the address it was sent but you can add or change the search options
• Select what you want to do with this type of email - Send to archive, send to spam, flag as important, etc.

I am hoping to see the amount of emails in my inbox reduce significantly.

Small Kitchen Ideas

Eclectic Kitchen design by Dc Metro Interior Designer Lauren Liess Interiors

I want to explore living with less but living better with less.  My ideal kitchen would have no upper cabinets and use open shelving.  My mother has warned me about dust collecting but if you only have items that you use you wash them often and eliminate the issue.  I love the white dishes in this image!

Another Item that can save space and keep things at arms reach is a magnetic knife strip.  Save the space on the counter and I happen to like the look.  Just remember to keep out of reach of little hands.

Traditional Kitchen design by Sydney Media And Blogs A Beach Cottage

Fresh Start

I love New Year, a fresh year with only possibilities, no regrets and no mistakes – Yet!

This blog is part of my new year’s resolution.  Learn something, do something new, share with others.  I know I will make plenty of mistakes (many of them spelling and grammar) but the mistakes awaiting us in 2013 are worth the reward of moving forward and growing.

2012 was an interesting year that taught me a lot about accepting changes and challenges.   Luckily, I discovered minimalism and some amazing blogs just in time for a major move.   I believe that I am moving into this fresh year with an outlook that is less focused on stuff, less focused on quantity and more focused on quality.

So in 2013 I am resolving to try to become a minimalist. I own more than 100 things, I have a car, I commute to my job as an architect and I buy things that I need, probably  things that I don’t need too, so I am not a radical minimalist.  My goal is to change my perspective and maybe share that with a few of you.   

I will try to post daily and stay with a fairly regular schedule of topics ranging from books and other blogs I’ve found insightful to minimalistic products or processes to my sketches for ideas for living in smaller houses and apartments. 

 Please let me know what you think, and Happy New Year!