All of these changes, Patti explains, have changed not only the house, but her, thanks to how they shape her everyday life. “The back door opens up with the lake view in the distance and mountains and the apple orchard, and my garden as well. So you open up and instantly there’s abundance and expansion.” Even small things, such as what you see first when you arrive home, can have an impact, she says. “It has incredibly opened up my awareness of how we live.”
Approaching the home gradually has had numerous benefits, Patti explains. Taking things in several stages has not only allowed her to work with her budget, saving up and then completing work, it has also allowed her to understand the space before making significant changes. “It takes time to grow into a home and a home can shape you in that time. It also allowed me to learn and gain experience as I worked on the different elements and materials in the cottage.”
Another aspect of this home that she loves is its connection to nature. She has used natural materials including clay block, and natural insulations such as sheepswool, woodfibre board and foam glass gravel. “I feel I can fully recharge my batteries and raise my spirits in this safe and natural environment.”