My (comparatively) small lake house is the inspiration for this blog, so I’ll tell you a little more about it. While I call it a lake house, it’s not a vacation home — it’s my full time residence. I was fortunate enough to find it in June of 2020 just as the market was heating up. It was a bit of a fixer upper in a semi-rural community, and I was able to purchase it for under $300k, which is low for my area–the East Coast of the U.S. I was pretty hell bent on finding waterfront or waterfront adjacent property despite having a limited budget, and I feel very lucky to have found this little gem in a quiet lake community.

My house is 960 square feet, which is about half the size of the average home in the U.S. I live here alone, which makes the space feel almost palatial at times, but it can still be difficult to really maximize the space and keep it clutter-free and intentional.

The first year or so of homeownership was rife with overwhelming and relatively invisible projects including replacing the furnace, hot water heater, and well pump; cleaning smoke tar off of the walls and ceiling; and other unpleasantries. (Knock on wood:) I finally feel I can tackle the challenges I enjoy; decluttering, rearranging, organization, and small cosmetic renovations such as painting. I’m not big on renovations for both financial and sustainability reasons, so you won’t see dramatic new kitchen reveals or fancy additions here, but you may see some satisfying before & afters.

I’ve really enjoyed following bloggers and vloggers in the minimalism/home decor/decluttering space and have been wanting to join in the conversation. The advice I’ve encountered has enhanced the experience of living on my own in my first purchased house. Some of my favorite bloggers, vloggers, professional organizers, and influencers include:

• 600 Sq Ft and a Baby
• Benita Larsson
• But First, Coffee
• The Casa Verde
• Erin Elizabeth
• Maximizing Tiny
• Minima
• The Minimal Mom
• Natalie Bennett
• Simple Happy Zen

I hope you find inspiration from them–and from me! I’ll be sharing tips and tricks, musings, and maybe the occasional book review (I’m a librarian by trade).

When I’m not writing, I enjoy hiking, reading, trying new cideries and breweries, singing, and spending time with family and friends.

Thanks, and come visit The Little Lake House again soon.