When my Carmel by the Sea home appeared in Apartment Therapy, San Francisco this spring, the interest in how I live from commenters/viewers was completely (and unexpectedly) overwhelming. Because I live pretty simply I hadn’t really thought it would be interesting. But apparently, there are others who share my style (!).

So I created a home set on Flickr to better detail some of my homes, way of living and the little things in them. The fantastic thing about Flickr is that I can tag photos to highlight items in them. You can ask questions there and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Also there is now a Home Tour Gallery on Hygge House, showcasing my last four homes along with (far too many) videos of my pets. I might do a video tour of my home soon, though, just to break up the fuzz! Enjoy!

I’ve always been a small space living girl – even when I took on roomates. My best-friend and I once shared a two bedroom, one bath flat with an assortment of people over a 1.5 year period. At most, we had 5 guys, 4 girls and a dog. Yeah, that worked for about 2 months. But when we got rid of everyone, we found that 800 square feet suited us both and all the space we had we used. And that’s when I began to really think not just about square footage, but livable space.

It makes sense; if I’m frugal about what I buy and consume, then I should really be frugal about what I live in.

In the fall of 2006 I purchased my first home; a modest 1000 square feet, two bedrooms, one bath 1941 bungalow. The price I paid was pretty high because I wanted that kind of home in a certain area. When people heard what I’d paid they kept telling me about the 4/2 I could have gotten five miles down the road. And I had looked at those places and each time I thought, I wouldn’t use any of those extra rooms. I don’t have the furniture for anything more. Who’d pay the electricity (this was Austin, Texas where you need to run the air conditioning 24/7 after all). The little home I chose had all the space I needed and didn’t overwhelm me. It also kept me from buying more than I needed because although the rooms were generously sized, there wasn’t a lot of them. I had only what I needed.

However, during this time I was still working in Los Angeles and going back and forth so I took up another home in Santa Monica again last spring in the same building I had lived in before I bought my house. The previous flat was small – unusably small. 700 square feet of pure hell small. Only one closet, no air circulating through because of how the windows were formed and a bedroom that felt like a cave. Don’t get me started on the washroom. So although this one bedroom one bath flat wasn’t all that much smaller than the house, it felt so much more because the space wasn’t designed well. And therefor, it couldn’t be used well.

But I loved the building that the one bedroom was in, I loved the location and I loved my landlords so when I saw the charming 2 bedroom, 1 bath 1300 square foot flat available, I was a smitten kitten. I had been used to living in a home and this flat felt like the closest thing. So many closets, so many windows, a front door, a back door, a hallway! It was the first home I’d actually fallen in love with, that brought out my style, that made me want to stay in on weekends, that instantly put visitors at ease. I was incredibly happy here but in December of last year I decided to move out. Why? I realised that it was too much space for one person and that the cost of rent versus what I was using wasn’t frugal.

The rent was ridiculous, even by Santa Monica standards. With the writers strike going on in LA, I had to really think my finances and ask myself who all this space was for? Was it for me? Although I loved it, the truth was, it just looked great. It looked like a flat I should have. Bigger is better, right? It seemed impressive. But then I asked myself, did I need it? And the answer was no, I didn’t. There was a whole dining area that went unused (and unfurnished) and a living room I almost never sat it. I spent my time either in the office, the bedroom or the kitchen. Actually, I spent most of my time travelling. And yet here I was with this huge flat and a decision to make. So I chose to move out.

Three days before Christmas I took on a Vacation rental which was also a 2/1 but was about 800 square feet. The kitchen was a nightmare to be in because it was so, so, so badly designed (and it was all brand new – they just didn’t think). Though this flat was smaller, it had good storage and I used all of the space I had (including a balcony). This flat taught me that a well designed kitchen is more important than a large one and that closets really are my BFF.

But then it flooded in March and since then I’ve been staying in various hotels around the world (thanks to my work) and in a room at a friends house (where my pets and boxes stay full-time right now). All these rooms average about 300 square feet (except for a couple of amazing suites I must write about here) and despite their small size, they always have what I need – a bed, a desk, a closet and a washroom. Of course, in the hotels I don’t have access to a kitchen which I need but other than that, the small space – if used well – works for me.

So as I begin my flat hunt in earnest, I’ve actually begun to take into consideration studios. I had one I adored in Vancouver, Canada and it was huge (walk in closet and separate kitchen) and I could do that though living in Los Angeles, I get way more company and have to take that into consideration. Guests at this age want privacy – comfort means something very different than it did at 18! But then I saw the layout of <a href=”http://www.hbo.com/city/interiors/carrie.shtml”>Carrie’s Flat from SATC</a> and thought perhaps there could be a work-around.

But in writing out a list of things that are important to me, livable, usable space is definitely at the top. As is lots of natural light, great closet space, hardwood floors, character, usable kitchen counter space and scenery (what do I see when I look out the window). These things weigh more than “Is it a 2 bedroom or 1?” It’s all about what I’ll use and what I love.

I’m frugal so having anything beyond my needs just doesn’t make sense – in clothing, food or square footage.

I was asked by Apartment Therapy, San Francisco to do a home tour of my Carmel by the Sea home. Since I love the site and their home tours, I said yes! Unfortunately, I said yes during a really difficult period for Carmel.

We were hit with severe storms which often left me without power, destroyed a lot of the town, and made the city dark almost 24/7. It left me with little light to photograph and because of damage my flat kept sustaining, left me out of it entirely.

Storm after storm hit until finally the damage to my home and things was so severe that it became unlivable and I had to move out.

Because I never finished photographing my home and because there isn’t anything left to take photos of now, I told Apartment Therapy I wouldn’t be able to participate in their house tours. They liked enough of what they saw any way and recently ran, Alex’s Carmel House Home Tour” on their site.

Although I’d only been in the home a few months and had really only planned to be in it short term, it was interesting to look back on it after the storm and seeing that, despite the lack of time, I made a home. Which proves you don’t need to put in a lot of effort or things to make something hygge. You just need spirit.

I’m not sure why buying a bed is so difficult in both terms of feeling comfortable owning one and then the actual process of selecting one. But despite having lived on my own since 18, I didn’t actually buy my own bed until I was 25. I literally bought on price (I couldn’t spend more than $400 at the time and needed something ASAP). I never slept well on it and when I left several months later was glad to donate it to charity.

Several years ago I had a big discussion about beds as I was determined to buy something that would help me really sleep since I average perhaps only 4 hours a night and some nights I go without. And I’m a huge bed lover sleeper girl so this just isn’t right.

In 2004 I began the search for a bed. After numerous recommendations (from friends, my chiropractor and online) I purchased a Temperpedic from Relax the Back since going in and out of mattress shops felt sleazier than buying a car. Plus, mattress shops wanted $2500 for the Temperpedic – Relax the Back sold it at a regular price plus a 10% discount when I was there.

I should have considered the source when listening to all the raves. I can see how this bed can work wonders for taller, heavier people with body heat – they can sink into it and it really will conform to the body. However, being petite with little body heat, the bed was always stiff and I would wake up even stiffer, tossing and turning every night. The elusive dream bed still kept me thinking.

When I moved into my new flat in 2007, I rang the Four Seasons, Los Angeles in desperation to order their bed (as I was currently sleeping on an Aero bed during the move). I always slept like a baby there, plus several friends had purchased from them with a great experience. However, they told me the manufacturer stopped making the bed that had been used but I was welcomed to come and try their (non flippable) version. But they were book solid for 3 weeks and then it’d be 6 weeks for delivery. I couldn’t sleep on an Aero bed for that long.

I thought of where I had my second best sleep and that was at Chateau du Sureau (in the room shown above). Their beds were Serta made especially for luxury hotels. When I called they were more than helpful with information on how to buy the bed (and bedding) however, their factory was closed for the summer so again I’d have to wait six weeks.

Then I thought about the W Hotel – always good. I did some research on mattresses and with the tips decided I’d go the W Bed Route. I found a coupon code (do a Google Search) that took $250 off so the bed, with shipping and a feather bed was less than $1000. Within three days I had the mattress delivered and was sleeping like a baby. Topped with some Shabby Chic bedding and I haven’t blinked an eye whilst sleeping in months!

Mattress shopping is a tricky, sometimes horrible business. When I looked years ago, going in and out of mattress shops was a far worse experience than car shopping. Brands have different names for different outlets and mattress salesmen will lie to you about everything. So this time, I chose to go directly to the sources of beds I had loved so that I knew exactly what I was getting. And without having to barter, haggle, or wonder, buy was easy, quick and painless.

And the sleep has been that way too.

Update: I stayed a few nights at the Four Seasons, Beverly Regent in March 2008 and just fell in love with their new beds. I think I’m going to have to go for it although they only sell theirs in King Size.

Update II: Danny Seo, the green Meister himself, has an eco-friendly bed available at JC Penny via Simmons. Sounds promising and affordable.

This has been my view almost 24/7 for the past week. So many projects going on, so many site redesigns, so many articles to write. I came to Carmel by the Sea, California for a short creative sabbatical and it’s worked!

I’m slowly working on updating the design and functionality of this site plus I’ve dozens of articles just waiting to be touched up and published. I’m excited because this is a small part of a bigger picture that’s taking place for me in 2008. Everything is slowly, but surely, coming together. I cannot wait to share everything that’s coming up including my upcomming trip to Ireland and then another to France for a special, special project.

So thank you for your patience, for signing up for the emails, coming to the site, emailing me or leaving comments. I do what I do not so I can hear my own voice but because I really believe in the power of sharing and community. Sometimes I hit the mark, sometimes I miss a little but with feedback and support, I keep going. And you don’t know how I appreciate it.