This young family downsized to a 1950s Cape Cod and upsized their together time.
The moment I read it, Brooke says, I knew wed adopt it as our motto.
I find if you use bigger pieces, your house can actually look bigger.
Homeowner, interior designer, andNesting With Graceblogger Brooke Christen, with husband Kevin and kids Ella, 11, Lola, 9, and Finn, 3.Credit: John Bessler
Homeowner BROOKE CHRISTEN
A small house doesnt define you or your worthinessor even your wealth.
We just chose a different lifestyle.
Going small has simply meant getting creative in stylish ways.
Credit: John Bessler
It surprised me that really, you dont sacrifice anything in a smaller house, Brooke says.
We chose locationclose to schools and downtownover square footage, and couldnt be happier.
Anything is fair game for a paint job, according to Brooke, including her great-grandmothers piano.
Credit: John Bessler
This pink is pale enough it mixes well with any color.
Photos of the living room built-ins and window seat sold Brooke on the house before shed even seen it.
The large sofa (with a single cushion for a streamlined look) provides plenty of seating.
Credit: John Bessler
Brooke opted for a natural linen that wouldnt overwhelm the room.
BROOKE CHRISTEN
Dont waste space under your window!
Adding a window seatand built-in cubby belowgives you seating and storage in one.
Credit: John Bessler
And its such a charming detail to add to a room.
Although the Christens home had plenty of charm, one thing it lacked was a fireplace.
Brooke got creative in the living room, adding anelectric insertframed out by bricks.
Credit: John Bessler
To get an idea of scale, she taped off the area for the insert and mantel.
She landed on placing the mantel at about eye level to make the walls appear taller.
Putting it closer to the fireplace visually cut the room in half, she says.
Credit: John Bessler
Before, the look was dark and dated.
Now its light and bright.
For Brooke,remodeling the kitchenwas a game changermaking the space seem visually larger, which lifted her spirits.
Credit: John Bessler
New hard maplebutcher-block countertopsand brass hardware warm up the white cabinets, appliances, andsubway tile backsplash.
A patterned porcelain tile underfoot adds bold interest.
Brooke grabs storage space wherever she can.
Credit: John Bessler
Shes also ruthless about what lives inside the cabinets.
Theres only one mug allowed per family member, plus two extra for guests, Brooke says.
We venture to store only things we use daily.
Credit: John Bessler
Brooke wasnt afraid to reassign rooms.
When the dining room became Finns bedroom, she carved out an eating area in the kitchen.
Building a banquettewith a round table gave us space to do that, Brooke says.
Credit: John Bessler
The banquette provides storage for small appliances and the kids craft items.
Small floating shelves hold a few bowls and dishes.
I love to use everyday items as decor, Brooke says.
Credit: John Bessler
We get our moneys worth out of this room, she says.
Poufs work as a coffee tableor for seatingand are easy to move when converting the sofa into a bed.
Two types ofpeel-and-stick wallpapera bird print and faux brick motifadd textural interest.
Credit: John Bessler
Brooke broke with space-saving convention, nixing bunk beds for twin beds with storage.
Accent wallsdone with bold wallpaperusually peel-and-stick for installation easeare one of Brookes signature looks.
The wall behind a bed is one of the best places for an accent wall, she says.
Credit: John Bessler
For the girls room, she wanted a pattern (and overall look) that wasnt too childish.
The ocean-motif wallpaper nods to the rooms subtle beachy spirit.
She painted the legsone desk pink, one blueto personalize each piece.
Credit: John Bessler
Without a closet, the girls bedroom relies on drawers for clothes storage.
Brooke spotted this pink vintage dresser in a consignment store for less than $100.
I wanted something with character, she says.
At 1011 feet, the primary bedroom is far from big.
I really wanted it to feel cozy, she says.
The ceiling got a makeover with faux wood wallpapera relatively low-cost way to cover up odd tiles.
Homeowner Brooke Christen
To max out tabletop space, we hung sconces instead of using lamps.
The couple remodeled the upstairs bath after moving in, but recent changes have made it more livable.
A new larger vanitya counter, sink and base ensemble purchased online provides better storage.
Brooke spray-painted the handles gold to match the faucet and fixtures.
The shiplap-style walls are moisture-resistant PVC boards designed for exterior trim.
Wood coat hooks are a space-saving alternative to a towel bar.
The spruced-up backyard deck gave the couple something they desperately wanted:space for entertaining.
It feels like our home doubles in size when the weather warms up, Brooke says.
Concrete primer andbright white paintprovided a quick way to place blah-gray concrete steps in line with an updated railing.
The marble pebble walkway was a $30 improvement.
