Our finished built-in wall closet using Ikea base cabinets with Semihandmade door fronts. When I began building our house I had a lot of grand ideas. One of these grand ideas was to create a built-in closet in my bedroom. I’ve had walk-in closets in the past and I just feel like they are a poor use of space. I wanted a built-in closet that was simple, affordable, efficient, and most important, functional. One of the challenges I faced, aside from affordability, was that I had no idea what I was doing! But, I was determined and willing to make mistakes along the way. (Phew…Because i’m ridiculou ..read more

I’m so excited to finally share my closet with you! It’s only taken me a year (pandemic motherhood shifted my timeline!). It also took me so long because I built this wardrobe with Ikea Sektion cabinets and Semihandmade doors. It was a learning curve for me but I’m thrilled with how functional and streamlined they are! Today I’m opening my closet doors and drawers to share how, what, and where I keep my clothes (and a few other non-clothing items ;). My husband and I share this entire wall closet. He has the two cabinets on the left and the I have the two that are open in the photo above In ..read more

The bathroom tour is the first full room I’m sharing of the #raisingsimplehouse since we moved in. I’m excited to finally begin sharing what I have been working so hard on for 2 years now. Good things take time as they say and this simple master bathroom is no exception. My kids and I moved in 5 months ago and it’s been so rewarding to use the space I designed. There are a few things I would do differently but nothing major. It’s all part of the learning process. Also, I should mention there was drywall dust on my floor when I took this photo-hence the light areas shown on the tile. Now on th ..read more

This month I joined three of my favorite Minimalist Mamas, Denaye from Simple Families, Rachelle from Abundant Life With Less, and Erica from The Life on Purpose Movement, for a minimalist coffee chat. Simple Holiday edition of course. Minimalist Coffee Chat: Simple Holiday Edition If you are striving to simplify the holidays this year, take a listen to our chat on the Simple Families Podcast or watch the video below. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did! Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android |   ..read more

A simple holiday is all about being intentional, with the activities you do, with the things you buy, and with the people you spend it with. It’s about valuing who and what you spend your time on. 15 Simple Things Sometimes, the holiday season is seriously harder than it need be. It’s easy to get distracted and caught up in the holiday frenzy. There is a short list that helps me keep my mind and perspective where it needs to be. I hope this short list encourages you too. Angel Chernoff — Marc & Angel Hack Life 1. I think as you grow older and wiser, your holiday gift wish list gets smalle ..read more

I had been looking for almost a year to purchase a house, or even just land in the “old town” district of the town I live in. It’s the kind of area where property in any condition fly off the market. Most of them never even make on the market. My dream was to build a home for my kids and I. A “right-size home with a minimalist modern feel to it. Free of subdivision with rules that dictate what color your front door can be. Last year, I was fortunate to purchase a small plot of land with a small house on it. Unfortunately, the house was a tight squeeze for my kids and I. The thought of tearing ..read more

This year, I had the opportunity to follow the progress of one family as they simplified their home with the help of Uncluttered, a 12-week online course intentionally designed to help you own less and live more. The course includes videos, live webinars, interviews, weekly challenges, practical tips and articles, accountability and an engaged community. As a member of the Uncluttered community for the last three years and his new co-host, I’ve heard story after story of how this course has changed lives, but it was fun and extremely rewarding to visit this family in person. While I was c ..read more

“Your home should be the antidote to stress, not the cause of it.” – Peter Walsh Do you ever look around your home and think: there is stuff everywhere, I’m overwhelmed, or there isn’t enough room? As a mom of four kids, I’ve experienced seasons of clutter, my own and that of my loved ones who’ve passed. I have also lived in more than 20 homes during my life. I know how it feels to be overwhelmed, stressed, and alone in the mess of it all. And yet, I know I’m not alone. It’s science; clutter can actually cause you stress. Research from a 2009 study out of UCLA’s Center on Everyday Lives of Fa ..read more

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Erica of The Life On Purpose Movement. I’ve never been on a road trip where I didn’t come home with a clearer perspective and a renewed energy for living with purpose. (Except maybe for that one time our 18-month-old yelled from San Francisco to Portland, but that’s another story.) It’s like climbing a mountain or taking in an incredible sunset: Time away from the minutia of our lives helps us see the big picture again. These experiences also provide a break from the hard work of being a human—all of the doing and the becoming—and give us a much-needed ..read more

In my early years of motherhood, I didn’t give much thought to the clothes I purchased for my kids (or myself!). After simplifying my kids’ wardrobe, and bagging up the excess, I knew I needed to make some changes. I wanted my kids’ wardrobe to be more sustainable and ethical. You may be wondering exactly what a sustainable and ethical kids wardrobe looks like? Is it a carefully chosen mix of organic or fair trade clothing? Sure, it could be. In our home, an ethical and sustainable wardrobe has clothing that was acquired with consideration to its impact on people and our planet. My goal isn’t ..read more