Is it Cozy or Cramped?

Ron and I have this ongoing argument  discussion about furnishing our mountain cabin.

Is it cozy or cramped?
Charming or cluttered?

We're both proponents of simple living but realize this means different things to different people.

Do we live with the bare necessities or simply do without those things we really don't need?

Maybe it means we stop holding onto things in case we might need them someday?
If it gives you pleasure, is it OK in a crowded room?

What does simplifying mean to you?

Since I love French Country style, I prefer a casual/elegant look with comfy, cushy seating, a soft rug on the floor, chunky throws, warm comforters piled on the bed and vintage accessories --

more like in our guest room here at home. 

Ron, on the other hand, prefers a more simple look with, well, just the basics. 

Maybe an antler here or there.

I wouldn't call him a minimalist though because he also loves collecting
quirky old toys and 1950s memorabilia.
But in the cabin he's satisfied with a chair or two and a table to hold a beverage and a sandwich.

I think the trick here is to sneak, I mean mix, in a few things that I think will make the cabin
feel personal and inviting such as this black crow decoy and vintage child's dress. 

I've had this vision for the cabin bedroom in my mind
since we purchased this cabin four months ago.
There's a spectacular view out the bedroom window that looks directly at a massive mountain.

I kept thinking I needed a small writing desk at that window where I could look up from a
magazine and contemplate this impressive mountain in between sips of hot tea.

I hadn't had any luck finding one and then,
I came across just the table I'd dreamed of in an antique store. 

And it was 50% off!

I was attracted to the unusual "peanut" shape of the little desk 

and knew it would fit perfectly under the window.

But the desk and chair made the small room seem a tiny bit crowded
with a rocking chair, bed and chest of drawers in there.

I remembered my self-imposed rule of "buy something new, get rid of something old."

In this small space, I knew I couldn't get away with just recycling a paperback book.
So instead of getting rid of something, I decided to try moving something.

 I tried shifting my Dad's lovely old rocking chair into the living area, and although 

I thought it looked welcoming and cozy, Ron proclaimed it was too cramped. 

Therefore, with compromise on my mind and love in my heart,
I thought about taking it back home.

One thing I have learned in this small 336 square-foot space is that every inch counts,

whether you're creating a cozy room or building a strong relationship. 

Today we have the tiny home trend to help us think about using space in a different way 

and perhaps living a little more simply.

Not that I'm giving up on adding my own personal touch to our tiny cabin. 

And even Ron agrees this pretty plaid loveseat is cozy, not cramped!
Here's a photo of the space without the rocker. 

So, for now, I'm living with the chair in the living room (first photo).
I'll take some time to mull it over before making a decision.
Cozy or cramped?

I still think that rocking chair looks welcoming and cozy!

I'd love to know what you think.

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