Come behind the scenes at Big Red Kitchen for a #KitchenTour and see Robin's kitchen in Williamsburg, Virginia.

It's small. My former kitchen was huge- thus Big Red Kitchen. But two years ago we decided to downsize from our 4100 square foot home in Northern Virginia to our current 1100 square foot home called Manderley Cottage here in Williamsburg. We are a family of five, so we are definitely cozy. The smaller kitchen has made me focus on the kind of cooking I want to do. So in a sense, I downsized how I bake- no more cupcakes (too many gadgets!), and I had to ask myself which tools I use most frequently, and if it is something that is used only once or twice a year, well then it had to go. Smaller kitchens while difficult to cook large meals in, do lend themselves to clean up very quickly. Big Red Kitchen took hours to clean, and this little kitchen is almost fuss free.

Come behind the scenes at Thrifty By Design for a #CraftRoomTour and see Denise's multipurpose room (aka all in one craft room / office / living room) in Vancouver.

(Photo by Julie Larsen)

I've managed to create an eclectic, warm, inspiring space that is very me. It's filled with finds from the dump, the thrift store and garage sales. Plus free stuff friends and random people have given me. My space brings together all the things that make me a very happy person - inspiring quotes, photos of my family, my adventures and my husband plus colourful pieces like swanky pillow covers, vintage lamps and low maintenance plants.