Today we are peeking into the home of Londen who shares her home over on Sixth Fifth Avenue on Instagram. They are a family of three living in an 1152 square foot 1940’s home in Chicago. They have two bedrooms and 1 1/2 bathrooms. I really enjoyed seeing how Londen maximized all their small spaces and so beautifully and simply. That is what really caught my eye, she has nice pieces that make a statement. In small homes a lot of little things can feel overwhelming, I am constantly working on that in our small spaces. Notice how she uses real plants as the decor, my favorite way to accessorize, also it is something you don’t to store as the seasons change.

 Make sure to watch the video tour at the end! Such a good way to see this amazing home and smart use of space. Let’s go inside, but first the Home Moto. Do you have one yet?? 

Home Motto-

“There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” -Jane Austen

Why a smaller home?

Before we bought this house we had a contract on a much larger home. It wasn’t in the neighborhood we really wanted, and it just didn’t feel right for our family. When this house came on the market as a fixer upper in the location we wanted, we went for it. We have been pouring our love into the old girl ever since. Looking back, it was the definitely the best decision for our family. 

Kitchen:

Where do you keep all of the small appliances and do you have a pantry?

We have a small microwave and coffee maker on the counter. The toaster, slow cooker and blender are in a lower cabinet that has a lazy susan for easy access.

Do you have a pantry? Where is all the food?

No pantry. All of our food is stored in the cabinets. Items we don’t use regularly are on the top shelves. I don’t mind using a stool to get them down when needed. 

Kids and their Stuff:

What is your approach to kids toys? 

Our daughter is twelve, so the toy storage struggles are over. Now we have a serious book collector on our hands. 

How do you store or keep games organized?

We do have a lot of games that we store on a shelving unit in our unfinished basement. Its right at the bottom of the stairs, so they are easy to get to.

How do you keep the kids clothes organized?

Most of our daughters clothes are in a wardrobe. She has a small walk in closet but prefers the easy access of the wardrobe for now. 

Closets:

Are you able to fit all your clothes in your master bedroom?

Yes! We have a small walk-in closet that my husband uses most of. I do keep out of season coats and clothes in there as well. For my clothes, I use two Ikea Pax wardrobes. I had one at our previous house and loved how functional it was. We also keep our TV in one of the wardrobes, so it doubles as an entertainment center. 

We don’t have a linen closet, so I use the dresser in our bedroom for all our linens. 

Small Space Living Rapid Fire Questions-

SEASONAL DECOR– I have a couple bins of Christmas decor that is stored in the basement. I mostly use fresh evergreens and garlands, so that is one less thing to store. I do have quite a few vases and planters that I keep in the kitchen banquette as well. The seats lift up for storage. Anything else is kept in an antique dresser in the living room. For example I have stationary, candles, florist foam, and flower frogs in there. 

SENTIMENTAL ITEMS- I have a pretty storage box where I keep special cards or notes. My husband on the other hand wants to keep everything ever made or given to him. We are a work in progress. 

CLEANING SUPPLIES-  We have two closets on the main floor, the coat closet by the front door and one in the powder room. I store our vacuum and mop in the powder room closet. I also keep cleaning supplies and paper towels in there as well. 

PAPERS, BILLS ETC.- We are mostly paperless and pay all the bills online. For important or pending paperwork we keep it in a mail box that sits on a ledge between the family room and kitchen. I go through it periodically and get rid of anything that isn’t needed. 

ENTERTAINING- We love to have people over. We eat most of our meals in the kitchen, but if we have friends and family over we use our dining room. Day to day, we use that space for crafts and occasionally my husband uses it as his office. We also use our patio as an extension of the house in the summer. 

HARDEST PART- Not having a dedicated office space. I try to find furniture that has more than one function. The card catalog in our family room works as an end table and all the drawers come in handy for things like everyday tools, magazines, paint swatches and batteries. 

BEST PART- I love being able to clean our house quickly. As long as clutter doesn’t start to take over, its a breeze! Also, it just feels cozy and fits our family perfectly. 

Thank you Londen for sharing your charming home with us and how you organize your Small Spaces.  I still can’t get over your exterior! You can see more of Londen’s home HERE

Catch up on all the Small Space Living Features HERE!

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