Making Room for What Matters Most

Living beautifully in 1300 square feet—through home decor, thoughtful routines, seasonal recipes, garden joy, and stories from the heart

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Latest on the Blog
A watercolor illustration of a French Country Christmas Tree, decorated with snow-dusted branches, blue and white ornaments, and a shining star on top, standing on a snowy patch against a white background.
Winter Posts

A watercolor illustration of a window with white curtains, snow on the sill, a potted plant, and a blue bird outside. Snow falls gently against a pale blue sky—perfect for Living Large in A Small House.

Explore By Category

decorating
entertaining
recipes
Outdoor living & garden spaces
organizing
Seasons
Two beige winter boots with white cuffs, decorated with pine branches, pinecones, and snow, sit side by side on a white background—an inviting touch for Living Large in A Small House. Some greenery and a pinecone rest beside the boots.
Podcast

“Two Porches & A Pour”

Two friends separated by 2,000 miles but united by our love of home, garden, and gracious living. Through our blogs and this podcast, we share authentic conversations about decorating, entertaining, and cultivating beauty in everyday life. Join us for heartfelt chats filled with practical tips, real-life stories, and plenty of laughter as we navigate the joys and challenges of making a house a home.

A promotional image with "Co-Hosts" written at the top. Below are two photos labeled "Wendy McMonigle" and "Lynn Vogeler." Wendy, known for her role in "Living Large in A Small House," sports light hair in a light-colored top. Lynn dons long hair, glasses, and a cozy turtleneck sweater.

Watercolor illustration of a brown house with a wreath above the window and a snow-covered evergreen tree beside it, set on a snowy ground with a white background—perfectly capturing Living Large in A Small House charm.

My Favorite Projects

side view of the front door, new rug, and pots on my front porch

Our Exterior Renovation

Crazy Before & After
peeking in the door after out small laundry room makeover

Laundry Room Remodel

Laundry Room Reveal
my kitchen after the 30 day cleaning & organizing challenge

Kitchen Renovation

My White Kitchen
the chair the I reupholstered

New Office/Guest Room

French Country Office
A watercolor illustration of a stack of vintage books with a blue cupcake topped with white frosting and sprinkles sitting on the top book, capturing the cozy charm of Living Large in A Small House, all against a white background.

Meet Me

My name is Lynn. I live in the suburbs of Chicago in a 1,300 sq. ft. home with my Handy husband, Keith.

I’m an open book about my life on my blog. You can find out more about me by visiting my “About Me” page.

about Me
A watercolor illustration of a light blue and white bird perched on a bare branch, with a small blue ornament hanging from it. Perfect for those Living Large in A Small House, the simple white background adds charm and elegance.

Lynn’s Recollections & Reflections

I have a series on my blog where I share some very personal parts of my life. It is a work of fiction as it relates to other people, as it is my recollections of my life story. It started out as a journal of sorts for my kids to know more about me and how I grew up. Not only that, but it has become bigger than I expected. It has helped women to get out of harmful situations and also be a comfort to know they aren’t alone.

START WITH THE FIRST ONE HERE
Watercolor illustration of a pair of blue and white mittens with beige cuffs and bows, hanging from a string. Perfect for adding cozy charm to any space, this artwork captures the warmth of Living Large in A Small House.

Things I’m Loving for Winter Decor

Click on the Picture Above to Take You to the Link

A watercolor illustration of a French Country Christmas Tree, decorated with snow-dusted branches, blue and white ornaments, and a shining star on top, standing on a snowy patch against a white background.

Become a Friend of Living Large

And be the first to see affordable decorating ideas, easy recipes, gardening tips and tricks, along with great organizing and entertaining ideas.

A watercolor illustration of two brown boots filled with wildflowers, including blue and pink blossoms, captures the charm of Living Large in A Small House.
A wooden rocking chair with two patterned cushions and a gift box tied with a ribbon on the seat, illustrated in a soft watercolor style, captures the charm of Living Large in A Small House on a white background.

Do you know I have a YouTube channel?

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel

Heck yeah!
A stack of pastel-colored gift boxes, mostly in beige, blue, and cream, each tied with ribbons and bows. Perfect for Living Large in A Small House, these polka dot boxes are neatly arranged against a white background.

Are you looking for Something?

A watercolor illustration of a stack of vintage letters, evoking the charm of Living Large in A Small House. The top envelope is adorned with a holly sprig and white berries tied with twine, while the worn edges add a touch of nostalgia.

Featured

  • Logo for "the spruce" featuring a simple outline of a house in light blue with an open door and neutral Halloween decor elements, followed by the text "the spruce" in a stylized gray font.
  • Black and white logo featuring large "ORC" letters above "ONE ROOM CHALLENGE," capturing the bold spirit of the One Room Challenge event.
  • Black text logo reads "Taste of Home" in a serif font on a white background, evoking the warmth of a Farmhouse cottage.
  • A minimalist green line drawing forms the outline of a house, with the words "re design" in bold black text inside the shape—perfect inspiration for your next Saturday Shopping adventure.
  • The image displays the words "BOLD JOURNEY" in large capital letters—"BOLD" in a bold, dark red font and "JOURNEY" in a smaller black font on a white background—capturing the excitement of a Saturday Shopping adventure.
  • The image features the word "WANDER" in large, bold letters, evoking a sense of recollection. Below it, in smaller text, are the phrases: "LIVE WELL | EAT WELL | TRAVEL WELL." The entire text is set against a plain, light background.
  • Hometalk logo featuring a blue house icon to the left of the word "Hometalk" in black, rounded font—perfect inspiration for sharing cozy recipes like Potato Broccoli and Leek Soup.
  • The word "SIMPLIFY" is written in all uppercase letters, with the letter "I" and "L" replaced by the number "1," on a teal rectangular background—perfect inspiration for anyone looking to make a faux topiary and keep things straightforward.
  • Orange logo with a house-shaped icon containing a white fork and spoon, followed by the word "Foodtalk" in bold orange text—your go-to source for tips like how to use Javy Coffee for Spring Coffee Drinks.
  • Boutique Rugs logo featuring a red geometric pattern beside the words "BoutiqueRugs" in bold black and gray text on a white background, perfect for pairing with stylish Peel and Stick Wallpaper in your home decor.
  • Logo with two interlocking heart outlines on the left, followed by the text "LOVE vs DESIGN" in a modern, clean font—perfect for a brand specializing in stylish Peel and Stick Wallpaper.
  • The image shows the text "CANVASREBEL" in a clean, dark blue sans-serif font on a white background, evoking the spirit of Living Large in A Small House with its minimalist yet bold design.
  • Colonial Candle logo featuring a circular emblem with overlapping "C" letters above the brand name "COLONIAL CANDLE" in uppercase serif font—perfect inspiration for cozy moments, like learning how to use Javy Coffee for Spring Coffee Drinks.