Home as a Theme . . . Mine, Specifically

NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) has gone monthly (versus annually). The theme this month is home. The requirements are a daily post, tied to the theme or not.

To kick off the month then, I'm sharing reflections on my current (physical) home. 10,000 square feet of land in Palo Alto. About 1800 square feet of house on aforementioned land. Yes, this is a 1950's sized space and, indeed, our Eichler is a mid-century modern structure.

We came to this house with favorite things. Our modern furniture (B&B Italia, Ligne Roset) fits well. The artwork is all contemporary and complements the space. The back of the house is all glass. It's strikingly beautiful and simple.

Not surprisingly, we lack storage space. I often miss a basement, attic and large closets. We're slowly downsizing and shedding to fit the house. I have refused to part with our many, many books. Our garage is part library.

Storage aside, the smallish, single-floor space is definitely liveable. Two kids, two dogs, two parents all fit snugly and, generally, happily.

Home is, for us, less about the structure and more about the life in it. More in the coming days and weeks on those aspects of our existence.

Small Changes

This is going to be a year of progress. We're making small changes around the house that add up to greater beauty and a more positive frame of mind.

We live in an Eichler, a mid-century modern ranch-style home, in the San Francisco Bay area. Apparently one either loves or hates these houses. We display both attitudes, depending on the day. We would dearly love to just renovate this place, top to bottom, but that's not an option right now. Last year, we took the first step and installed bamboo floors throughout the house. It was a good start.

So far this year, we're making friends with paint, embracing color, and updating fixtures. It's amazing how changing out an old fashioned light switch to a smooth Lutron one can please the eye and the hand. The same holds for casting off the old bathroom light, scratched mirror and plastic (!) towel racks; welcome, brushed stainless steel accessories and energy saving lights. And color, too. The kids/common bath is now yellow, a happy color indeed. There's a new floor there too. The master bath area is now a serene celadon (if you know Eichlers, you'll smile at just how modest "master" can be) . The living room will soon be sporting a stunning red wall. There's still more to come.

It helps to have an incredibly handy husband around to make these changes happen (see photo above). I am a willing set of hands but am continually surprised and delighted with how he can solve problems and tackle new challenges without hesitation. It should be a satisfying 2008 as we improve our little piece of Palo Alto.