A 650-Square-Foot Bungalow Is Small But Incredibly Efficient

Name: Kate Carter, my dogs, Duke and Bash
Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
Size: 650 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years, owned

I am a former architect who works in construction, so buildings are really an interest of mine. This house has been my dream since I was a kid. It’s efficient but packs a punch of style and history. My realtor claimed it was the smallest house in Manchester, and she couldn’t imagine why I loved it so much! It’s 650 square feet but feels much larger, thanks to smart layout choices and some key elements like the breakfast bar and large bedroom. It’s built in 1946, so I like to imagine a GI coming home to build a perfectly square one-bedroom home. My dogs (Bash and Duke) and I love nearly everything about this place.

What is your favorite room and why? My kitchen is my favorite. I initially hated the southern yellow pine cabinets, but I tried to pick a paint color that would really improve their look (thanks AT!) and play down the orangey tones. Everyone told me a dark blue, nearly-black kitchen was a terrible choice, but I’ve never regretted it. The kitchen is tiny but so efficient; I’ve had apartment kitchens twice this size that were much harder to use.

If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? I LOVE “living small” but I would love to offer guests a real bedroom, rather than a pull-out couch. It’s comfy, but it’s not ideal.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Sunny mid-century bungalow

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? I bought this arc lamp from West Elm, in an apparently discontinued oil rubbed bronze finish. The living room gets great quality northern light, but it needed a boost. This lamp is gorgeous and also casts a very diffuse light that works in this specific space.

Any advice for creating a home you love? A home you love is fueled by a life that you can love, so I’d say buy below your means if you can. Buying a smaller, more inexpensive house has allowed me to do some other great things in my life, and my home is a reflection of that. Fill your life with things you love, invest in yourself, and your “style” will come naturally.

Thanks, Kate!

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