Wednesday 30 January 2013

Cabin Renovation: Simple Green Living | this time - this space

Umbrellas-PublicDomainThirty years ago my husband and I were city dwellers still spending most of our time working? for someone else.? Then we made a life changing decision, a decision to make our simple dream come true.? We moved to where we wanted to live,? purchased a home, committed to voluntary simplicity and built our own business from the bottom up.

A decade later we purchased a larger piece of land and built our own green home and business space on it in the same building.? Throughout two decades we repaired and painted as every home owner does, until last summer when my hubby announced it was painting time. Well, that project morphed into Green Home Renovation Lessons?Learned.

This summer we will be helping another couple with their green home? renovations on their small summer cabin.? They are also into simple green living. And,? I?m using the royal ?we? as my hubby is a qualified carpenter and tradesman, who has building skills that I don?t have. I?m merely a consultant and assistant but we work very well together and we come as a package deal.

cottageOur friends won?t expand the square footage of the cabin beyond adding a covered deck but they will make better use of the space they have.? There are non-bearing walls that will be removed to create an open house plan. There will be major changes when it comes to flooring, solar panels, heating and lighting.

As winter rain drips down my friends are sending us green renovation ideas and concepts from many sources. We are discussing them by email and? telephone and longing to store our umbrellas so we can get to work. This summer is when the project will begin but I?m looking forward to spring. That?s when we will be traveling to view some other green cabin renovations and incorporating what we can into the green cabin reno project.

Graham Hill, Writer, designer is the founder of TreeHugger.com travels the world to tell the story of sustainability. He asks: Can having less stuff, in less room, lead to more happiness? He makes the case for taking up less space, and lays out three rules for editing your life.

Graham Hill: Less stuff, more happiness

We?ve got to cut the extraneous out of our lives, and we?ve got to learn to stem the inflow. We need to think before we buy. Ask ourselves, ?Is that really going to make me happier? Truly?

1.? Edit ruthlessly ? cut the extraneous from your life.

2.? Recognize small is sexy and space efficiency is key.

3.? Multifunctional spaces, furniture and housewares.

Some inspiring articles:

Declutter 101: Where Do I Start?
Declutter 101: Strategies To Cut Clutter
Declutter 101: Staying Clutter-Free
25 ways to make the most of a small space
5 Strategies for Decluttering a Small Space
Ultimate Pallet Furniture Collection: 58 Unique Ideas
Cabin Renovation Ideas


Our green renovation priorities were keeping it simple by improving comfort and flow. Our friends are setting the same priorities for their green cabin renovation. When it comes to renovating your living space what priorities will you set?

Source: http://thistimethisspace.com/2013/01/29/cabin-renovation-simple-green-living/

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