It seems that today, being Memorial Day, is an appropriate day to post about how wartime homes can positively influence the evolution of small and/or affordable housing, at least in terms of interior space utilization. You see, once upon a time in the post-WWII era, the family home tended to be smaller, forcing the people who lived therein to make the most of all available space.

“In the same way that the proud new householders of wartime homes made numerous accommodations and undertook several modifications as a means of coping with the small size of their residences, so too can designers of contemporary affordable housing devise methods of living comfortably in a space no larger than 1,000 square feet,” state [Avi Friedman and Maria Pantalopoulos's in "The Wartime Home as a Paradigm for Today's Affordable Housing Design" (1996)]

I have a personal interest in this sort of thing, because my own home (which measures in at 1,100 square foot) was built just after WWII. While it’s not quite affordable housing, it is on the smallish side, so The Beard and I do what we can to keep our little cottage tidy and clutter free. We do a good job, too, though I can’t say we are quite so thorough as the homeowner in this wartime home case study:

One Affordable Housing Research Project drew the following conclusions from Friedman and Pantelopoulos’ article:

SPACE
There are numerous ways a space can be designed so that it feels more comfortable and inviting. The relationship of rooms whether they are adjacent or removed can interrupt or guide the circulation patterns in a home. The amount of natural light that enters a room is also important. Usually, a space will feel larger when there is a plentiful source of natural light entering the room. Floor space is extremely valuable in today’s compact houses. Built in furniture is an excellent way to maintain maximum floor space, especially in bedrooms where built in furniture eliminates the need for dressers and desks.

STORAGE
Abundant storage is necessary in the design of today’s compact houses. Storage is a key selling point, because families accumulate more and more belongings the longer they live in one home. Therefore, the designer must be receptive to the demands for ample storage when designing a small, compact house (Friedman and Pantelopoulos, 1996, 191). There are many ways unused spaces should be used for storage, such as in the corners of rooms, and areas near the ceiling. Attics and basements are also ideal areas for adequate storage space.

Yes, yes, and yes. Then again, is it just me, or does this all seem like common sense?

So, does anyone feel like giving me a crapload of money? I mean donating DONATING… yeah, that’s the ticket… a crapload of money to, uh, a foundation promoting, er, beauty and culture in, um, my house? Because I need NEED to replicate Jenny B. Allsorts’* creative studio in my own home. For reals

What’s that? No one is raising their hands? Shame, that. I guess I’ll have to wait and try to finagle something almost as keen using the stuff I already have. Oh, and hope that Ms. Allsorts doesn’t come after me for using her photo without asking. It was just too amazing of a space not to show off immediately, and maybe if I pimp her Etsy shop, it’ll make things all right?

*The alias of one Jenny B. Harris, talented children’s book illustrator!

Somehow I don’t think one could ever be truly unhappy in this house belonging to someone by the name of Jolante (who, coincidentally, took these photos). A little glum on a rainy day? Sure. But seriously depressed? The only depression that I feel when looking at these interior shots is that caused by my wishing I had the time to make my own home look equally put together.

Oh man, would you dig that sunroom? And that light fixture? And the ottoman thingy with the plants on it? Gorgeous!