Living Large In Small Spaces - Baix Empordà, Spain Stone Cottage

A fabulous stone cottage in Baix Empordà, Spain is this week's Living Large In Small Spaces featured home.



Welcome to the ninety-eighth post in the series
"Living Large in Small Spaces".

Nothing brings me more pleasure than to discover small homes from other parts of the world to share with you here at A Joyful Cottage.  From last week's wee cottage -- a new build in Scotland -- we travel to Baix Empordà, Spain for a look at a stone cottage literally raised up from the ruins of an old barn by architect Lluís Auquer.



Stone walls and plenty of wood (including the beams original to the barn) create a rustic backdrop for the eclectic furnishings. The addition of skylights, windows, and doors that allow a relationship with the outdoors, bring natural light and cheerful living to this space.




One great room serves as living, dining and kitchen. The custom dining table, which doubles as an island, was sized for the space. Floor pavers are traditional tuff made in La Bisbal.



The countertop -- made from a pile of recovered antique marble-- was designed to complement the restored marble sink.



 The bathroom is so charming. I wouldn't change a thing.




The arch is original to the barn. Sliding doors divide the space for a second bedroom.






Glycine, a deciduous plant, creates shady outdoor living on this pretty porch. 



How could you resist this spot?
After our lunch settles, let's head for the pool.


Whatever activity one chooses, living in this cottage would be lovely.
Enchanting, wouldn't you agree?

Read more about the stone cottage on El Mueble here
Architect: Auquer i Prats.


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.

By Nancy at 35 comments
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Living Large In Small Spaces - Wee Scottish Cottage

Located in the Village of Drongan in East Ayrshire, Scotland, this week's featured cottage may be wee, but it's big on comfort and style.



Welcome to the ninety-seventh post in the series
"Living Large in Small Spaces".



This home is owned by Jennifer Higgins, and was the prototype for the The Wee House Company, a family business established by Jennifer and her father Ian Hope. The company educates and involves young people in the building of their homes through hands-on training, alongside their own experienced craftsmen.

 Built in 2013, the exterior of the 430 sq ft timber frame cottage is painted a beautiful deep dark blue with crisp white trim. Flower boxes welcome visitors to the front entrance. 

 A charming mudroom, that includes a lift-up lid bench and a shelf with hooks for hanging outdoor wear, leads to the interior.



The living room is painted a creamy white. Corner shelves provide storage, as well as a place to display favorite objects; a good way to conserve floor space.




Natural light floods into the room through the french doors and large window. 



Neutral upholstery, window coverings and the painted floor keep the room bright and airy.



I like the way Jennifer introduced color via the rug, cushions and artwork. Easy, inexpensive color changes can be made to the room at any time.



Tongue and groove paneling used throughout the home adds so much character. The kitchen walls were painted Blue Ribbon from the Dulux Heritage collection by Dulux Trade, a UK company.


The white kitchen cabinetry makes a nice contrast with the blue. Leaving the wall above the sink open makes the room seem more spacious.


I've always liked dining near a window. This little vignette is very inviting.



Between the living room and bathroom a sizable closet keeps necessary household items organized.


For a home this size, I have to say the bathroom is a nice surprise -- spacious and nicely appointed.



The blue and white theme continues into the bedroom with the use of Swedish White and Oxford Blue from the Dulux Heritage collection. Quite striking. The wardrobe units on either side of the bed were custom designed by Jennifer and made by her carpenter. A very clever and attractive solution for a small space.

This is a very relaxed room. Streamlined, but not sparse.


French doors provide lovely views of the countryside.


The french doors in the living room open to a delightful terrace. 


Located on land at the end of her parents’ garden, Jennifer has created a warm and welcoming wee cottage.



Read more about the cottage on Houzz here.
View the floor plan on The Wee House Company website here.
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.
By Nancy at 26 comments
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Cottage Life - Signs of Spring

The crocuses in my garden testify that our long, bitterly cold winter is nearing its end. I hesitate to say it's over, for just as Mark Twain said, "In the Spring I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours."






“And the Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
Rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.” 
― Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Complete Poems




“Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world.” 
― Victor Kraft


My latest rug is finished and waiting removal from the loom. It reminds me of a spring garden.




“Despite the forecast, live like it's spring.” 
― Lilly Pulitzer


Thank you to Kris of Junk Chic Cottage for hosting the Hello Spring Giveaway. The tote I won expresses perfectly my sentiments this morning (even if it's not yet officially spring).


By Nancy at 24 comments
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Living Large In Small Spaces - Oregon Beach Cottage

This week's Living Large In Small Spaces feature is a charming cottage on the Oregon Coast.




Welcome to the ninety-sixth post in the series
"Living Large in Small Spaces".


This beach house on Oregon's Rockaway Beach is the weekend getaway of Seattle interior designer Barbara Hyde Evans. Move-in ready when she purchased the home, a few personal touches made it her own.

The original front door with a porthole window sets the interior's nautical tone. 

The woven chair cushions are covered in indoor-outdoor fabric which makes using them on the deck an option. The antique trunk came with the house.




The dining table was specifically purchased for the cottage. Hyde Evans brought the antique chairs from her Seattle home, painted them white and reupholstered the seat cushions. Note that the chairs have a shell design, which makes them and the driftwood chandelier perfect for a beach cottage.



The centerpiece bowl holds shells collected on visits to various beaches.


Photo by Hyde Evans Design





It's not surprising that the delightful kitchen with its butcher block countertops, beadboard cabinets and glass cabinet doors is what sold Hyde Evans on the cottage. 






The TV room on the second floor houses a large, deep sofa that belonged to the home's previous owner. Rather than remove it, Hyde Evans slipcovered it in a linen-like indoor-outdoor fabric and left it. Guests find it comfortable to sleep on, so the room can serve as an extra bedroom, if needed. 

The master bedroom is soft and serene. Hyde Evans designed the custom bedding and window treatments. She brought the marble lamp and side table from her full-time home, and the vintage dresser came from a local shop. The vintage oar in the corner is a nice touch.



 The second bedroom is more rustic with flour sacks and an antique blue trunk. A row of coat hooks created by the designer make a charming statement.



I could easily live in this fetching cottage.


Read more about the cottage on Houzz here.
Photos by Nik Johnson and Sam Hyde Evans

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.

By Nancy at 29 comments
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Cottage Life - A Lenox Vase, An Empty Inbox and Chocolate

On Monday my friend Mary and I went thrifting and had lunch.

 Since I've been on my decluttering mission there wasn't much at our Soroptomist thrift store that tempted me. That is, until I saw this pristine little bud vase.



I love anything with pink roses, and it was only $1. When I turned it over and saw "Lenox" on the bottom my mind was made up. It came home with me.
I like the way the roses twine around the base.


This vase "sparks joy". Which, if you've been following my decluttering journey, you know is now a criterium for having something in our cottage.  Well, that's not true in every case. I'm not sure Bandaids and laundry detergent spark joy, yet I do have those in our home out of necessity.

 Since my last decluttering update I did dive into my paper pile. 

 Ugh. 

 Let's face it, going through clothes and books is a lot easier than dealing with paper. (At least it is for me.) I took a break from the ugh job one afternoon and attacked my email inbox, eliminating over 2,000 emails. (I am not kidding.) When I reached the point where there were zero emails in my inbox I made a cup of hot chocolate and celebrated my achievement. 


For me this was a big deal, my friends, and I can't tell you how good it feels to now open up my email every morning and see only a handful of new notices in my inbox instead of hundreds of old ones. I'm determined to keep on top of this because somehow this one simple task has freed my mind for more joyful pursuits.

 Now if I can just get through those pesky papers. I'm afraid that undertaking is going to require more than the reward of a hot chocolate upon completion. 

 It just might be a two cupper job.




By Nancy at 24 comments
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Living Large In Small Spaces - Little Bear Cabin

A charming little cabin in the heart of the Weald Downlands in West Sussex is this week's Living Large In Small Spaces feature.



Welcome to the ninety-fifth post in the series
"Living Large in Small Spaces".



 Nestled in ancient woods, this sweet little cabin is a true retreat from the world's clamor.




You won't find television or Wi-Fi here, which, truth be told, sounds pretty good to me.





The architect-designed cabin has an open floor plan.





"Rooms" are defined by the exposed structural beams.





Large doors open to the sights and sounds of nature.





Though rustic in design, the cabin is anything but rough.





Furniture and textiles are soft and inviting.




Very cozy. A  perfect place for reading and lounging.





And who could resist that luxurious bed?







The bathroom has a beautiful walk-in shower and a warming towel rack.





The sink is in keeping with the rustic design.





A secret hideaway is found in the loft. Windows offer splendid views of the environment.




The patio is charming.




As I'm writing this I'm looking out at the last remnants of our snowy winter and imagining how lovely it would be right now to stretch out on this lounge with a good book.



Or maybe soak in the hot tub.






Beyond the cabin the woods invite nature walks.





The wildflower meadow is stunning.



I feel a bit revived just looking at this magical place. I love it!




Little Bear is a vacation home available for rent from Unique Home Stays, www.uniquehomestays.com +44(0) 1637 881183.
Images © Unique Home Stays www.uniquehomestays.com +44 (0) 1637 881183
All images are owned by Unique Home Stays and were used with their permission.
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.










By Nancy at 27 comments
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