Living Large In Small Spaces - Stone Cottage in Spain

I must confess my pulse quickened when I discovered this enchanting stone cottage in Spain. It has great design that doesn't sacrifice function, lovely outdoor spaces and loads of charm. 

Welcome to the fifty-fifth post in the series

"Living Large in Small Spaces".

It's hard to believe this cottage began life as a stable; the rehabilitation is just amazing. Come tour it with me and see if you don't agree.

Walking through the front door we enter into a living room filled with natural light and wonderful architectural details. The deep well windows and exposed beams give it so much character. A cozy reading corner invites snuggling up with a book from the built-in floor-to-ceiling library.

A soft color palette and plush furnishings create a relaxed mood. The big picture window invites nature to come in. I'm crazy about the shutters on all the windows. 

The rosy pink dining chairs are a delightful burst of color.

There's a refined rusticity to this home.

Who wouldn't like to cook in this stunning kitchen? Even if you don't like to cook, just standing at the sink would be enjoyable.

The girls' bedroom is like something from the pages of a story book. Built-in bunks are so charming. (Notice the storage drawers under the bottom bed?)

The master bedroom is breathtaking. Everything about it spells romance.

Living space is expanded through the creation of outdoor rooms.

Arranging intimate outdoor spaces invites sitting in quiet meditation or relaxed dining with family and friends.

Sometimes all that's needed is a bistro set on the lawn.

Here the children have their own outdoor space. . .a red playhouse.

In my book this is a small home with characteristics that make it live very large.

Is there a particular feature in this cottage that you'd like to incorporate in your own home?

Photos courtesy of myzestyliving.com

Published under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License

Enter my Giveaway!

Heads up! There's still time to enter the Parrot Uncle lighting giveaway I'm hosting.The winner will receive a new lighting fixture valued at $50. Click here to go to my giveaway post and enter for your chance to win! The winner will be announced on November 6.

This Parrot Uncle wall sconce is one of my favorites.

Retro Industrial Wall Sconce

Join me next Saturday for another post in the special series

 Living Large in Small Spaces

See more home tours in the 

Living Large In Small Spaces Series here.

From the comments I've received, many

people have been encouraged by the homes and lives 
shared in this series.

If you live in a small space I'd 

love to feature your story, too.

Send me an email and let's collaborate.

(See the "Contact Me" page for my email address.)

The Right Size Chandelier and a Lighting Giveaway

Hello Cottage Friends,

When we were designing our cottage I spent a lot of time gathering information on interior fixtures. One area, in particular, was lighting. It's pretty easy to choose home lighting that looks great. There is, however, much more to lighting decisions than simply zeroing in on a preferred style. Knowing what size fixture to install for the task is just as important.

Take dining for example. Did you know there's an easy formula that can help you determine the right size chandelier to place over your dining table?

This post is sponsored by parrotuncle.com. The topic, content and opinions expressed are my own.

Tiffany Chandelier Lighting

According to lighting experts, the chandelier diameter should be one-half to three-quarters the width of the table. This means if your dining table is 34" wide, the chandelier diameter should be at least 17".

As a rule, the bottom of the chandelier should hang approximately 30" - 32" above the table. This is primarily in a room with an 8' ceiling. If the ceiling is higher, raise the chandelier 3" for each additional foot.

Of course, there are always exceptions. In our dining area I chose a 12" pendant to hang over the 34" wide table because a larger fixture would have dominated the small space. Still, these tips are a great place to start.

If you're in the market for lighting, I've got good news for you. ParrotUncle.com has a remarkable Holiday Sale going on right now until Christmas -- save up to 50% off their already discounted prices. And they offer free shipping and free returns, too. Parrot Uncle ceiling light fixtures are just one category in a plethora of lighting options. 

A big sale. . .what a perfect time for them to host a giveaway for my peeps, right? Entering the giveaway is super easy. Click here to go to the Parrot Uncle web site and view their lighting. Then come back and leave me a comment. Just tell me which product is your favorite. The winner will receive a new lighting fixture valued at $50.

This giveaway is open worldwide, and you don't need to be a blogger to enter. Make sure I have your email address, though, so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner. I'll announce the winner here on November 6.

Now get crackin' and good luck!