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11 terrifically tiny homesThese functional-but-small houses prove that bigger is not always better.
21 knockout built-insThese clever features can expand your existing space.
6 tips for tiny gardensThis petite patch of green is bursting with space-smart solutions.
10 tiny houses you'll love big timeYou can find huge savings in these small living spaces.
5 reasons to buy a small houseLearn some of the benefits of living in less space.
Make a small home work for youLearn how you can live comfortably with less space.
Big ideas from Japan's tiny housesSmall spaces don't always mean squeezing, as these scaled-down homes show.
How to live large in a small spaceHere are 10 tips for making the most of tight quarters.
Big ideas for diminutive dwellingsThese owners and renters have made tiny living spaces work.
© Thomas J. Story
© Thomas J. Story
© Thomas J. Story
© Thomas J. Story
© Thomas J. Story
© Thomas J. Story
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To Chris736
That depends on where you live. In most places in the US there is lots of room to expand or as you said buy a bigger house. However if you want to live in the heart of LA or really any big city you don't have the option to buy a bigger house. Bigger House=far away from the center of the city & a long traffic filled commute. In LA a lot of the older charming houses in the center of the city are small or millions of dollars. It's all about location!
6 design tricks for a small home
By Jess Chamberlain of Sunset
Raise the roof
When Mark Egerstrom and Brian Grosdidier bought their 600-square-foot cottage on a tiny lot in West Hollywood, Calif., years of neglect had stripped away all of its original 1920s charm.
"There were aluminum windows, torn-off siding … there was literally a crack pipe in the closet," says Egerstrom, an interior architect. "But it was an amazing location" — near the Pacific Design Center — "and a great deal." Egerstrom, who oversaw the two-year remodel, opened up the formerly choppy floor plan, adding glass walls, a loft room and a roof deck "backyard." With its square footage doubled to a still-modest 1,200, the two-bedroom house now feels more like a hunting lodge than a cottage, thanks to the warm wood-and-neutrals palette and a few design tricks Egerstrom had up his sleeve.
How did they expand their space? Because of building setback rules in West Hollywood, "we couldn't go out any farther," Egerstrom says. "So we went up."
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6 design tricks for a small home
Borrow from outside
Glass walls seem to bring the plants into the room. It's a twist on the usual Los Angeles take on outdoor living: sliding doors opening onto patios. "We're tricking the eye into feeling there's more space than there is," Egerstrom says.
- On our blog, 'Listed': Yes, you can build a home for $20,000
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6 design tricks for a small home
Define your spaces
On the wall: A bright, geometric painting by Grosdidier anchors the part of the great room that serves as the dining room. In a house this small, it gets plenty of use: Egerstrom and Grosdidier eat at the table nearly every night.
On the ceiling: Recessed light boxes create the illusion of skylights.
On the floor: Despite their dark color, a glass-topped table and spidery chairs keep the space light and airy.
- Tell us on Facebook: What do you think of this home?
 | Design center Get ideas for your home with our inspirational rooms and direct access to real products. Click here to begin exploring. |
6 design tricks for a small home
Think in three dimensions
In the living room, the ebony-stained cedar fireplace wall rises 20 feet to the ceiling. This view is looking down from Egerstrom's loft office.
- On our blog, 'Listed': Yes, you can build a home for $20,000
- MSN Lifestyle: Vanilla Ice's awesome home-decorating tips
6 design tricks for a small home
Use your light wells
A door in the far shower wall leads to a small patio bounded by the wooden fence that surrounds the property. In addition to letting lots of natural light into the bathroom, the space is a great place to bathe Egerstrom's and Grosdidier's dogs, Roxy and Buddy.
- Tell us on Facebook: What do you think of this home?
| Design center Get ideas for your home with our inspirational rooms and direct access to real products. Click here to begin exploring. |
6 design tricks for a small home
Put your outdoor space upstairs
"We've got a backyard — it's just on the roof," Egerstrom says. "It feels like a treehouse up there above it all."
- Sunset: Small homes with flair
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