'Being in charge of your own life, and making decisions based on what you want to do rather than what you have to do, gives you a rare kind of contentment and shows you that every ordinary day offers magnificent opportunities.' Award-winning blogger Rhonda Hetzel shares the day-to-day practicalities of a simple life and shows you how to rediscover the heart of your home. With a year of monthly projects that make household management easier, Rhonda encourages you to set up good systems, make what you need and appreciate what you have. Learn how to stretch money further, safely clean your home and cook from scratch with 40 favourite recipes, including step-by-step guides to baking bread and making cheese. Whether you're part of a family, living alone or thinking about retirement, this is an inspiring, indispensable guide to slowing down, taking stock of your life and finding pleasure and satisfaction at home.

Presents the stories of young city families, single people, and retirees across the country who have opted for simple homes and lifestyles, and includes photographs and descriptions of their houses and interior designs.

ALL the arts are modes of expressing the One Ideal; but the ideal must be rooted in the soil of the real, the practical, the utilitarian. Thus it happens that architecture, the most utilitarian of the arts, underlies all other expressions of the ideal; and of all architecture, the designing of the home brings the artist into closest touch with the life of man. A movement toward a simpler, a truer, a more vital art expression, is now taking place in California. It is a movement which involves painters and poets, composers and sculptors, and only lacks coordination to give it a significant influence upon modern life. One of the first steps in this movement, it seems to me, should be to introduce more widely the thought of the simple home - to emphasize the gospel of the simple life, to scatter broadcast the faith in simple beauty, to make prevalent the conviction that we must live art before we can create it.

A beautifully illustrated guide to creating a home interior free from clutter and the joy of keeping things simple. A beautifully illustrated guide to creating a home interior free from clutter and the joy of keeping things simple. The simple home is calm and uncluttered, with each item carefully chosen. It’s in tune with the current desire to buy well-made, well-designed items that will grow old gracefully, and to create homes that are sustainable and stylish. This doesn’t mean a minimalist home—it’s about living in comfort in a carefully considered space. The Philosophy of the simple home explores Mark and Sally Bailey’s design ethos. Their Colour scheme is inspired by nature to create a feeling of tranquillity. Materials are reclaimed or reused, and ethically sourced. Calm reigns in the simple home—a haven from the stresses of life. Craft embraces the artisan’s skill and the pleasure of owning items that will last. Recycling furniture and materials will give your home an air of individuality, with old and new objects living happily alongside each other. Comfort is paramount, with cosy textiles and warm wood. A rediscovery of old-fashioned Natural Cleaning methods will nurture your home—try the Baileys’ own recipes for cleaning products without harsh chemicals. Furniture is sustainable, with clever storage to hide necessities. Finally, Curating Your Home looks at ways to make your space into your very own museum of cherished possessions. The Baileys then turn to simple Spaces, showing you how to create welcoming yet practical Entrances and Hallways, versatile, convivial Cooking and Eating spaces and supremely comfortable Living spaces. Bedrooms are soothing places with possessions tucked neatly away, while Bathrooms are functional yet warm. Workrooms are a joy to furnish with rescued desks and fittings from old offices or former factories. Above all, the Baileys urge you to surround yourself solely with the objects that you really love and to enjoy the beautiful calm of an uncluttered home.

“Sweetwater’s simple style shines through . . . from a laundry hamper to a covered office chair and quilts for the nursery or the master bedroom.” —Quilts & More A house becomes a home with handmade touches added to every room. With inspiring designs from the mother-daughter trio behind Sweetwater, it’s easy to add expressive touches everywhere, from the dining room to the bedroom to the laundry room. Keep it simple and surround yourself with things you absolutely love. 35 beginner-friendly projects, including quilts, pillows, table linens, and accessories—many can be made in a day or less Fresh, modern ideas for making things pretty and practical Bring Sweetwater’s popular signature style to all your sewing and craft projects Learn simple, creative techniques for decorating with appliqué, stenciling, stamping, and embroidery “[A] lovely, lovely book. Actually, even though the projects are all fairly straightforward it’s one of the nicest quilting books I’ve looked at in a long while and the photos are fabulous . . . My favorites were the scalloped placemats, the lampshade, the work chair slipcover, tray liner, and some of the bags. All of these are straightforward enough for any beginner, but even for someone whose been sewing as long as I have they would make great additions to brighten up the home.” —Run Quilt Knit Write “If you like simple projects with a modern approach, a few (or a lot) of projects in this book will appeal to you . . . All of these projects are ‘beginner-friendly,’ which is nice for beginners but also nice for those among us who are looking for a fast project (need a quick gift?).” —Portland Modern Quilt Guild

Simple And Effective Ways To Incorporate The Elements Of Purity, Simplicity And Naturalness Into Modern Living, Creating An Oasis Of Calm. Purity And Simplicity Are Qualities That Can Help To Make A Home Comfortable, Peaceful, And Easy To Maintain. This Books Show How You Can Introduce These Elements To Give A Makeover To Every Room, Creating A Mood Of Calmness And Contemplation. The Pure And Simple Home Offers A Mix Of Practical Advice And Traditional Eastern Wisdom To Instruct And Inspire - An Antidote To All That Is Excessively Formal, Pompous Or Contrived. It Offers Expert Tips On How To Create An Environment Of Purity - A Banishment Of Clutter And Excess That It Thoroughly In Tune With The Spirit Of The Times. Section By Section, This Book Provides Imaginative Ideas For A 'Pure And Simple' Style In The Living Room, Dining Room, Bedroom, Bathroom, Kitchen And Garden, As Well As Through The Preparation And Presentation Of Food. Taking A Stunning New Approach, The Pure And Simple Home Transforms How We See Our Homes, And Shows Us How To Create A Look Of Calm And Timeless Beauty.