Sunday, November 8, 2009

By Leslie Linsley Special to The Citizen

Many couples are experiencing the effects of emptying the nest. Their last child has flown the coop, either because he or she has gone off to college or has gotten married or moved to his or her own first home.

Whatever the case, the big family home (away) may have become cumbersome for just two and you are thinking about downsizing to a little Conch house here in Key West. This can be quite a liberating experience, almost like starting over with a first home, only better.

I say liberating because you can get rid of excess and there is much less to take care of. It's also fun to go into a new phase of one's life with the opportunity to make it as good as possible.

Experience has taught us what we like and don't like about past houses, and outfitting a new home with new things can be quite exciting. Many people don't take this opportunity because they can't imagine what to do with all the things they have accumulated over the years. However, those who have taken the plunge report that it was the best decision they ever made and feel like newlyweds with a house full of new things that are up-to-date and modern, and this has infused them with a sense of youthfulness.

The following are some tips for downsizing into a small, chic, charming, comfortable -- and yes, small -- space.

Designer Albert Hadley said, "The key to a small space is making it spare and chic." When downsizing from a large family home to a new, smaller house, essentially it is the things that mean the most and fit the best that one should take along.

Small kitchen: You can pack a lot into a small kitchen without making it feel cramped. Here are some tips: Make refrigerator drawers instead of a huge refrigerator. One drawer might be a fridge, the other a freezer for compactness and efficiency. For two people this can work, if not for a family.

Open shelves: Open shelves take up a lot less space than cabinets. Upper cabinets make a small kitchen very closed in. Open shelves hold just as much as cabinets and allow you to see what you have. Also it enables you to streamline and keep everything handy.

Arranging things: When you have open shelves you have to be more orderly. If you buy everything neutral -- all white chinaware, for example -- the items look good when arranged. Group like objects such as bowls, dishes and cups rather than spreading them out and leave small spaces between to delineate each group. A jumble of color will make open shelves look messy no matter how well they are arranged.

Artwork: Introduce paintings in the kitchen, even framed photographs or a mirror to make this room part of the rest of the house.

Light Colors: Light wood and pale wall colors make a kitchen seem larger and feel more spacious, but there are many interesting shades of pale, historic colors, for example. Light doesn't always mean white.

Efficiency: A small kitchen can be extremely efficient to work in because you can reach everything without moving very far. Go for high-end, efficient and good-looking appliances since they will be most noticeable in a small kitchen. They basically give the kitchen character and will last a long time.

Vintage look: Even in a sleek, modern kitchen it's nice to have something a little bit old-fashioned to give the room a homey feeling. A farmhouse porcelain sink, for example, or traditional faucet fixtures, even the drawer pulls, can add just a touch of personality.

Storage: Most small house owners become experts at finding clever ways to store things. Up is where you'll find space, say many people. For example, shelves that go all the way up a high-ceilinged room can be accessed with a library ladder on rollers. When shelving like this is prominent in a room, everything on it must be good-looking.

Bedroom: A high platform bed with built-in storage below is a good bedroom storage solution.

Hidden storage: Corners can be dead space. Consider a decorative folding screen behind which you can store off-season clothes in wardrobe boxes. Or put hooks on the wall behind the screen to hang clothes.

Chairs: If your dining chairs are good-looking, consider hanging the ones you aren't using on the wall, Shaker-style on hooks or a peg rail. Even one occasional chair for the extra guest in the living room might look good as an accessory.

Double-duty furniture: Use a trunk as a coffee table, plate rakes on the wall or pretty storage boxes stacked as end tables. Build shelves inside linen and closet doors. Use hooks to hang pocket books.

Looking up: High kitchen cabinets are often underutilized. These hard-to-reach cabinets are good for storing vases, punch bowls and less-used seasonal items. If there is space between the top of cabinets and the ceiling, line up good-looking storage boxes to hold things as well.

Keep it bare: Some people think that bare floors and windows make a small space seem larger. If you must soften windows, opt for cafes or valances. Painted floors often make the living room more interesting, such as a soft grey or putty color.

Cherished things: Even though it's important to weed out superfluous things when you downsize, it's equally important to keep the things with you that you've always had and always loved. By editing the stuff you don't absolutely want to keep, you can showcase the cherished items in a better way.

Leslie Linsley has written more than 50 books on crafts, decorating and home style. She resides on Nantucket with her husband, photographer Jon Aron, and has a store on the island that specializes in her one-of-a-kind creations. Her latest book is "Key West: A Tropical Lifestyle" (Monacelli Press), with photos by Terry Pommett.