In case you were wondering...

In case you were wondering...

This blog exists to encourage all those who have ever wanted--and needed!--a tiny getaway close to home. A workshop, playhouse, garden shed, sanctuary, mini-greenhouse, studio, home office; whatever it is you need, it IS doable, with some sacrifice, imagination, and compromise.

It helps if you're handy, too.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Perceptions can be deceiving in a small space...


When I first got my comfy chair for the shed I thought "wow...um...it's BIG."  But so infinitely more comfortable, I figured it was worth it.

Then, I wanted my husband to be comfortable, too...and once he'd sat in my chair a few times, he finally agreed.  One of the main uses for our little space is a place to dream, read, rest, make music, meditate, and sitting in a folding camp chair just wasn't conducive.

Soooo...we got him a comfy chair, too.  Bought it the same way we did mine--hit the secondhand stores and antiques malls, and let him sit in everything they had.  When that beatific smile spread across his face--a twin to the one that lit mine up when I sat in the crazy rose chair--we knew it had to be his.


Of course if ONE overstuffed chair seems to fill a 10-foot by 10-foot space, imagine what TWO of them do.

But you know what?  Both of these chairs SWIVEL.  You get a panoramic view, instantly.  You can look out the French doors, then swing to the back window and check out the feeder birds, then look up the hill, each time with a different view indoors, too.  I can reach my desk, the kitchen corner, and the bookshelves, instantly.

I was astounded.  It's like the space expands, exponentially.  You're not trapped in a big old chair pointed in one direction, the space just opens up.  When I walk around in the shed, there's room between them.  If I need more, I swivel one out of the way.

Sure, if we wanted to have a barn dance, it might be a bit snug. (We don't!)  If  I had planned a bed and shower in there, it would be overcrowded    But there's room for a bedroll against the wall, if we want (currently one is rolled up under the bottom shelf behind my chair), and a shower's right out anyway, since we didn't put in any kind of plumbing other than the big copper cistern at the bottom of THIS post.  (Since we now keep the shed in the 40s at night, water doesn't freeze except the cat's water on the floor, so there's always water.)  The house is right next door, so that's not an issue...

It's working beautifully...AND comfortably! 

12 comments:

  1. It's good to be comfy or you would stop going out there. Wonderful painting of your chair.

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  2. Never thought of how the swiveling chair would be such an advantage--and they both do. Cool! Love you beautiful impression of the flowered chair, too. :)

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  3. It never occurred to me, either, Rita, but the other day I was out there and realized how spacious it felt to be able to see in all directions, so quickly! And thank you...

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  4. Oh, they both sound fun--love your painting of that rosy one, Kate! Awesome!

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  5. "beatific smile" --- that sort of says it all! Love that they both swivel for complete views all around.

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  6. It really looks cozy and inviting.

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  7. Thank you! I've very pleased, AND relieved. I really did think it would feel crowded. Of course we haven't had any other visitors since we got these, need to see how it feels then. :-)

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  8. Priceless! Swivels and wheels.... musts for small spaces.
    The thought of you two dreaming away, snug in your chairs warms my heart :)

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  9. Thank you, Pam! It is pretty wonderful...I do a LOT of my illustrating and editing work in that chair now. (Also you need lots of shelves, nails, hangers, and Shaker pegs...we hang a LOT of stuff up.)

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  10. What a great post, Kate. I love hearing your latest thoughts about your little haven. And that sketch of the chair is to die for---just lovely.

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  11. Thanks, Miss Laura! I'm just glad I didn't graph it out first, I would have missed the magic of swiveling to get the full panorama! OK, maybe that's a grand word for a space 10 x 10, but you know what I mean!

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