RIGHT SIZING - FINDING A HOME TO FIT YOUR LIFE
You know him from HGTV’s Love It or List It, Vancouver – but what you might not know is he lives in a 1,200 square foot home. We were lucky to have the chance to chat with Todd Talbot about an exciting new concept that he calls ‘right sizing.’
The idea is that you really think about what you absolutely need in a home, and find a home that fits just that. Todd thinks the idea of a ‘dream home’ only makes people think it’s something they should have, and creates a constant yearning for the next best thing. Right sizing gives you an opportunity to be content and happy with exactly what you already have. The trick is figuring out your lifestyle first and finding a home to match that, not the other way around.
Moving from a home that was 3,000 square feet to a home that is 1,200 square feet brought Todd’s family closer than ever. His two children share a bedroom and bond over their shared space. Without a dedicated play room, the kids play with their toys in the same room as their parents. Homework is done in the kitchen while dinner is being prepared. All of these changes create something we all long for – much more quality time spent with our family.
Being as busy as he is, you would think Todd has an extravagant office with tons of storage and a huge desk. He did in his old home – and never used it! He found himself working in his bed more than anything, again coming back to wanting to be around his family. Now, his bedside table functions as a desk as well, so he can work from his bed without feeling guilt for not using his office.
Dual functioning furniture is a major part of right sizing. His bed folds up to reveal storage underneath, the bench at the kitchen table also has storage, and underneath the stairs functions as a reading nook for the kids as well. They can only keep things that fit in their home – there is no opportunity for clutter to amass, and his children have learned to reduce, reuse, and recycle. For toys, it is a matter of cycling through a few of the kids favorites. This way, they actually play with what they have!
There are so many spaces in our homes that rarely get used and are mainly just to show visitors when they come over. Eliminating these spaces creates a home we will actually use every inch of, and also leaves room in the budget to spend more on finishes. Flooring and tile is something that can get expensive quickly in a large home. With less square footage, you are able to choose top of the line products that you love. Less cleaning also means more time left over to spend time with your family, which is ultimately what we all want at the end of the day.
Catch Todd at the Edmonton Fall Home Show, October 26th to 28th at the Edmonton Expo Center.
