LIVING SMALL by Laura Fenton

The best-selling author and interior designer shares how to make the most of a smaller space. Welcome to Small Talk. In this column, I talk to design pros about how to make the most of a small-er space with a real-life budget. I was thrilled when interior designer and author Amber Lewis agreed to answer my questions this month. There are some designers who are well known within the industry and then there are ones like Amber whom even my least design-y friend knows.

In the past few years as my interest in gardening has grown, I’ve often felt stymied by the fact that I only have limited time to try to cultivate a garden. Seeking the best strategies for a time-strapped gardener, I checked out two different books from the library titled The Weekend Gardener and bought a used book called The American Weekend Gardener. None of them offered the advice I was seeking. So, I called up a few seasoned gardeners to ask for their advice.

I know I should be focussed on the wild violation of ethical norms relating to Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding party, but reading about the event, I just felt sorry for Junior. I can’t imagine having my own parent skip my wedding day. And I hope for his and his wife’s sake that the Russian oligarch didn’t exert too much influence over the party he hosted.

I’ve been meaning to write about responsible decluttering since the beginning of this newsletter, but because it is complicated, I’ve avoided it. If you’ve been reading for a while, you know that I believe that ridding our homes of excess is key to a smooth-running, calming, and attractive home. Decluttering is worth doing, but some people struggle with letting go because they want to declutter in the most responsible/sustainable way possible.

The black sleeveless dress that I wore to the office every week no matter what the season is covered in tiny snags and pills. A beloved cream silk blouse has the faintest outline of pit stains. My wedding dress has not seen the light of day since I zipped it into the garment bag in 2011. Why yes, there are three jean jackets in the photo above. What are these things doing in my closet? Closet decluttering is on my mind after a recent interview I recorded for later this fall (more about that later).

The goldenrod is blooming. The days are getting shorter, the evenings cooler. Most kids are back to school in other parts of the country (mine’s still got two weeks to go!). My inbox is filling up with invites for product launches, book parties, and store openings. Texts about the approaching midterms are landing fast and furious. It’s time to return. To school, to work, to politics, to the city—to all of it.

For the last three years, I have run an ‘ask me anything’ newsletter for my birthday. Last week I gave paid subscribers a chance to ask me their pressing questions about living small. I also offered readers 20-percent off of an annual subscription, which expires on August 22nd. Below you will find the latest installment of this annual tradition. I always enjoy receiving your questions and trying to answer them as honestly and helpfully as I can. I hope that you enjoy reading my replies.

For the last three years, I have published an ‘ask me anything’-style newsletter in August to coincide with my birthday. It’s now officially an annual tradition; here’s last year’s Q&A, 2024’s edition, and 2023’s installment. Once again, I am giving paid subscribers a chance to ask me questions. Sometimes these questions are purely practical, like someone who wants to know how I store seasonal bedding. Other times the queries are more big picture.

“40+ Yard Sales!” the advertisement in the local paper boasted of the community yard sale last weekend. The idea was that everyone in the neighborhood where we own a vacation home would have yard sales on the same day. Dozens of households registered to be on the map of sales. The organizers placed the ad promoting the big day and made official signs pointing the way.

Today’s newsletter landed a little later than usual, but that is on-theme with this week’s topic. In recent days, my work life has been busy, my spouse away, my childcare interrupted. I spent considerable time wrapping presents and baking cake. And there have been other unexpected hurdles (more on that below). In short, it’s been the usual glorious mess of being human. Last night we took my son to see his first real concert.