The Best Tricks for Small Spaces

Tricks for Small Spaces

Most new homeowners, seeking to add their own personal style to a house, find themselves rearranging furniture and repainting walls. Not so for the owners of the historic shotgun house. First, they had to make the structure habitable by putting in electricity and plumbing. They also wanted to alter the traditional layout -- a series of small rooms, one after the other -- into something more appropriate for modern living.

The homeowners removed doors that closed off each room and had a wall torn down between the dining room and kitchen. Now, the long, open space is casual and comfortable, a perfect example of how to maximize minimal square footage. From the front door, visitors can see the dining area, kitchen, and even the back door.