Sometimes things don’t turn out as expected.
One morning on the way to our now second home, Lowes, I asked, “Can we brainstorm some ideas for a tiny house name?” (Here in the South we name everything—RVs, cars, property, and tiny houses. It gives us the opportunity to feel all warm and fuzzy about things that are anything but.) It didn’t take long for Brian to blurt out “Lil’ Red Writing House.” Immediately, I began scanning the Internet to see if the name was available. I wanted to claim it as my own because that’s what only children do. It’s our love language.
The Lil’ Red Writing House was perfect, except for the fact my tiny house would not be red, or even close. I had envisioned a white Folk Victorian with all the fancy trimmings, reminiscent of my great-grandmother’s home. Hers sat on the corner of a Mayberry look-alike street with the town’s country store next door, which worked to my advantage on Thanksgiving afternoons when my cousin and I traded coins for candy.
The name Lil’ Red Writing House could work if I incorporated a red item—sometimes obvious, sometimes not—in every Instagram post. Red plastic tape outlined the dimensions of the house, a red clipboard clamped down design drawings, and a red arrow pointed to the mantle stored in our barn.
In addition to the red snippets of color in the tiny house images, I considered painting the front door red. Surely that would nip the my-tiny-house-will-never-be-red issue in the bud.
But there’s something about a front door. It’s the first thing the eye is drawn to when looking at a house, especially a tiny one.
And this front door wasn’t just any door. For the sake of energy efficiency, it was one of only three vintage exterior pieces that Brian agreed to install.
Vintage doors sell locally, but during a prior visit to my favorite salvage store in Brevard, NC, we discovered a covered outdoors section full of old doors and windows. We took note of our find. A few months later, we returned to select and fetch our door.
Along one long wall, doors lined up stiff and straight like soldiers. I knew what I wanted in a door, and Brian knew what we needed. Glass and character topped my list. Door width and price topped his. Details, details. Because the space along the front of the tiny house is tight, the chosen door needed to play nice with its only neighbor, a black-paned antique window. From the window’s size, unique design, and well-worn texture, it was obvious that she was accustomed to attention, leaving little room for the practicality of a common door.
The wall offered up a nice assortment—ornate doors, ordinary doors, and even 1960’s doors with the three tiny rectangular peek-out windows arranged like stairsteps. After flipping through dozens of common-colored doors, a barn-red “soldier” stood to attention. Her size was spot-on, the price was better than expected, and the top-half, divided into four glass panes, paid homage to the past.
We loaded our find in the van and headed home down the windy mountain roads. Oblivious of the amount of time it takes to build a tiny house, I assumed the door might spend a month or two in the barn—not the time required to bring life into the world.
In the weeks that followed our trip to Brevard, one truth became apparent. The door felt like home, but the color choice felt forced. Though a catchy name, Lil’ Red Writing House never captured my heart. It’s not that I have anything against the color red. I love the color red in ripe cherries, rubies, and red velvet cake, but not so much on the vintage door I planned to enter every morning.
When I walk up the hill, unlatch the iron gate, and step onto the front porch, I want to see a color that not only catches my heart but also makes it downright giddy.
From past experience, I knew this color to be chartreuse. I’d chosen it for the back door of our former century-old home. Without fail, this whimsical color made me smile, even on the grayest of days. If I still wore my mood ring from the 70s, it would morph into pink at the sight.
Months after our trip to Brevard, the day finally came to rescue the red-door-no-more from the barn. A forecast predicting several inches of snow encouraged us to build the frame indoors. New doors come with their own frame, but the oldies don’t. In this moment, Brian second-guessed our decision to go vintage.
A kit from our local building supply store helped, but like most vintage finds, the door was quirky. Both the locking mechanism and hinges were topsy-turvy. Brian removed and adjusted the hardware so the door would swing inward from the left, opening up to the main space of the tiny house.
The following weekend, we took the red-door-no-more off the hinges and hauled her down the hill. She had an appointment with Sherwin William’s Frolic SW 6703. With one dip, the paintbrush took on the appearance of a lemon-lime Popsicle. Slow and steady, every crack and crevice filled until she became what she was meant to be—a vintage-chartreuse-half-glass-chock-full-of-character front door for the Tiny House on the Hill.
Giddy up!
Alas, she only wears one coat of paint, but soon there will be two.
Have I told you lately how much I love having you along on this journey?
Well; now I know what color chartreuse (or at least Sherwin William’s Frolic SW 6703) is. Thank you for bringing me along in your and Mr. Brian’s journey. What a blessing!
Thank you for coming along on our journey, J.D.! It means so much. And isn’t Frolic the best name ever for that color? Ha! Blessings, friend!
Fun story taking us on a journey through your thought process. You write with passion about your project!
Thanks so much, Candace. The excitement is hard to contain. 🙂 I love sharing this journey with you!
Your writing style is a delight to read. Write on!
Thank you, Carolyn. By the way, I loved seeing you in Latan’s pictures at the recent Taste and See Conference. I’m sure the audience was blessed to have you as their guest speaker.
Love the new color! I cannot wait to see the window box a wreath with the perfect hint of chartruse! Love being a part of this journey!
I love you being a part of this journey, Tammy! Happy you like the new color. I think the window box and wreath will make everything pop. 🙂 Blessings!!
Love the door, the front porch and everything else about the Tiny House on the Hill!❤️
Thank you for joining the journey, Connie!! It wouldn’t be the same without you.
I love following your tiny house adventure and look forward to a day in the future when perhaps I’ll be in your neck of the woods and sit a spell with you on the front porch before meandering through that beautiful chartreuse door and writing something beautiful in the beautiful tiny house. But you have me curious now. What name did you pick for the tiny house now that the little red writing house is out?
I would love that, Josie!!! Bring a book too….there’s a reading nook. 🙂 It’s now the Tiny House on the Hill. I sure will miss seeing you at Blue Ridge this year.
Love the yellow door! And yes I love doors and the door bell-it means someone is coming into my house for coffee, conversation, a meal. Love doors! Thanks for sharing yours from a distance.
Thank you, Marilyn! I look forward to you coming up for a visit when she’s finished. 🙂 Blessings, friend.
The only thing I don’t like about your tiny home…. is waiting for the next blog update!
Tell hubby he had it right but I tweaked it a little. “Lil’ Read Writing House”
See you soon!!
Aww, thanks, Daphne! 🙂 I’ll be sure to tell the hubby of your tweak. Ha! Can’t wait to see you at Blue Ridge.
I just love the color you chose for the door, very warm and inviting, just like you Cathy. Always inviting your readers to share their thoughts, comments and even opinions. It’s been fun watching the Tiny House being built. Looking forward to seeing the wreath you choose. May the house be a blessing as you sit and write and may it be a blessing to all those who enter it.
You are kind, Elaine. Thank you for taking the time to share, and especially for your blessings. It’s a joy having you on this journey with me (wherever you live! *wink*). Blessings!
Love everything about this! Your writing, the sweet house, the whole project. Brilliant!
Thanks for the encouragement, Susan! To God be the glory, that’s my desire. Blessings, my friend.
Counting the days until BRMCWC! Building anticipation until I get to share tea and writing critiques in the Tiny House with you. ❤️
That sounds lovely, Jan! I’m counting the days for both. See you soon! 🙂
You always inspire me with your beautiful posts. We’re sisters in Christ and kindred spirits too! No wonder I always smile while reading the Tiny House on the Hill stories. It’s interesting you chose yellow for the door. I loved my yellow dining room in our first home. The cottage, and garden, left their imprint on my heart forever. Yellow is a color that greets you like a hug. Rain or shine. The fact that you found the door in Brevard is another thing that makes me smile. I LOVE Brevard! My best friends live there. Can’t wait to see you in a few days. Love you. 🙂
Thank you for the kind words, Joann. We are indeed both sisters in Christ and kindred spirits! I was hoping you would be at Blue Ridge this year. 🙂 See you soon!
What a lovely story! Love the colors, love the tiny house. Did you paint the little watercolor? Can’t wait to see it all complete. 🙂
Thank you, Angie! I’m glad you love these things — makes me smile heavenward. I didn’t paint it. My husband drew it and someone on Etsy finished it for us. Best money spent so far (except on the house itself – ha!!) I thought of you on Mother’s Day. Thank you for taking the time to share. Blessings, friend.
Sometimes a change of direction leads us to the perfect destination. The house is just adorable! I know you’re anxious to put on the finishing touches. I’m so glad you’re sharing the story in lovely words and pictures since I’m not able to see it in person.❤️
Thank you, Teresa. And you will see it…hopefully often. Love you!
Cathy, I love your writing! It takes me there – as if I was right with you on your journey. Thank you! And I love the color of the door. (Much better than red). I hope to see this tiny house in person some day!
In a very real way, you are right here with me on my journey. Thank you for your encouragement along the way. You’ll definitely see it in person one day!! I would love to write with you side-by-side. Praying for your upcoming launch!
Your tiny house is gaining more character with every change and addition! I love the color yellow for the front door! Great choice! Glad to be along for the ride! God bless you & Brian as you are winding down the adventure of building your tiny house! ❤️
I’m glad you like my bright *tiny* door, Sheri. 🙂 It’s sure to bring a smile to my face every morning I make my way up the hill. We still have another couple of months to go but you’re right, we’re definitely seeing the end to this very long (but loving) project. 🙂 Thank you for joining me on this journey!
I really enjoyed reading this. Such a cute idea too. You really are talented at writing. I sometimes lose focus when reading and end up skimming things but I pretty much hing on every word. I totally subscribed lol
Okay, you clearly just made my day, Valerie! 🙂 Seriously, your comment is such an encouragement…thank you, and I’m delighted to have you a part of this *tiny* community. Blessings!
She looks sublime in chartruse, Cathy. Her color, your smile, and God’s purpose are clearly a divine reality. Your Tiny House on the Hill may be small in size, but she is immense on potential. Look at what she has accomplished already. Friends gathering in anticipation of her birth, memories of Brian’s and your weekend warrior escapades, and joy; the joy of celebrating a dream coming true for you, friend. Your journey gives hope to others who hold dreams and wonder if possible is a word on which to cling. I think we all look forward to the BIG things the Tiny House will inspire.
Oh, I’m glad you like the chartreuse door! 🙂 Your words made me smile as I played back those memories in my mind. I look forward to the day we’re sitting side-by-side in the tiny house with a cup of tea in hand. 🙂 Won’t that be fun? To God be the glory!!!
Yes, it will! I sincerely look forward to that day 🙂
Love watching the progress of the Tiny House!
Thank you!! I love having you on this journey. 🙂
I was thinking “Little READ Writing House” …. catching up on your THT
Love it! I kind of wish I’d thought of it. Ha!