Do we really need that much space

When I first arrived in Miri and stayed with my in-laws (still staying there till our place is ready next year), I said, "WOw, what a huge house! I will need to spend half a day cleaning it, and perhaps only cleaned some parts only."

Then my MIL decided to extend parts of the house after Jonathan was born. The living room got extended, the other part at the split level also got extended by taking in the balcony space (no more easy access to cat). the kitchen got extended, the landing area on the 2nd floor was extended by taking in the balcony and was converted into a bedroom, and lastly, in-laws room also extended by taking in a balcony. Reason: balconies are a waste of space coz too hot to enjoy them. We did save one balcony space to hang clothes, that was useful coz it provided an extra area to hang clothes in case they don't get dry during rainy weather.

After living there for 3 years, I am so used to the space. So when I stepped on the site of our new home ;two weeks ago, I was like, "Huh, how come the living room is so small? Can we have our small group meetings here? And the bathroom in the kidlets' room...it's even smaller than that in our Yishun flat." Correction...it's slightly bigger.

The contractor has poured and cast the cement for our new home, but without walls, our perspective was affected. I got Simon to go measure the area, just in case there's some mistake and we cannot rectify them once the walls are up. He did. They were good. So let's see when the walls are up, OK?

Oh yes, while the kitchen looks smaller on the ground than on paper, I don't mind, coz it looks like the size in our Yishun flat, even wider.

To think when we first met the architect last year, I said we shouldn't have too much built-up space. I wish for more open area for the kidlets to play. Then when the drawings were finalised last Dec, there wasn't much space left. The architect reminded us that we wanted bigger bedrooms. And we have 3 bedrooms plus a study-cum-guestroom in case families and friends come over to visit.

If we wanted more space, we could always build two storeys, he said. No.....I cannot spend half a day cleaning the house!!!! and we will stick out like a sore thumb in the nighbourhood of single storey homes. It will become like Serangoon Gardens or any private estate in Singapore, towering over the last standing single storey home. Architect continued, "It's more cost effective to build 2 storeys, coz the roof will be smaller (it takes a large component of the budget), and you get a larger living room as all the bedrooms will be upstairs." Noooooooooo!

Then I read this article on Apartment Therapy "Four people (and a dog) living in 180 sq ft". No typo. Check it out. Wow, that's cool. and only US$7,000 to build, and that's coz they hired a barge to deliver two trips to the island. Plus hire a generator and bought a truck.

No more comments about smallness of space in our new home. I think it's going to be quite spacious, if we do correct space planning....or if we cut down on the things I want, rather than need. OK, there goes that dream scrapbooking room, haha! Scrapbooking corner, can already, hor? Otherwise, I will hoard, and hoard....