5 People, 1,000 Square Feet, No Problem!

Moving your family cross-country is challenging enough. Brooke Christen also had to figure out how to squeeze everyone and everything into a 1950s cottage in Fairfield, CT, that barely topped 1,000 square feet — less than half the size of their South Jordan, UT, house. “Money doesn’t go as far in Connecticut as it does in Utah, and we wanted to be able to live in a walkable town close to the beach,” says Brooke. “It was hard to part with some pieces. Then it got exciting because I could get new things!”

Happily, the house needed only a few choice updates, like wood flooring upstairs and a kitchen refresher. Brooke, who managed an interior design store in Utah, put her experience to good use, figuring out what to ditch (so long, sectional sofa that never felt comfortable anyway) and coming up with furniture arrangements and stylish accessories that are both functional and cozy, as befits a cottage. “Downsizing was totally worth it,” says Brooke. “Our home is little, but we love it — we wouldn’t trade it for a mansion!”

Brooke and Kevin with Finn, 1; Lola, 6; and Ella, 9

A big selling point for the house: the charming built-ins, which offer storage for vases and knickknacks, along with a window seat. “I found out after we moved in that the panel beneath is a drawer!” says Brooke. It’s where the Christens keep their games. An oak sideboard by Hooker Furniture, imported from their Utah home and painted white (Pure White by Annie Sloan), almost fades into the background. At 7 feet wide, a blue tufted Chesterfield sofa by Sam Moore seats two adults and two kids. “We just move the ottoman out of the way when the girls have dance parties,” says Brooke.

The former kitchen had dark wood cabinets and a beige vinyl floor, which made the space seem cave-like and dated. Brooke replaced the raised-panel doors on the cabinets with simple Shaker-style ones for a clean look. Extra-long brass pulls (they’re 7 inches) by Amerock look sleek, while an apron-front farmhouse sink from IKEA offers lots of elbow room. For the floor, Brooke installed black-and-white cement tile by StonePeak Ceramics. “Since the kitchen is separated from the other rooms, I wanted to have fun in here,” she says. “Even a small area can have impact.”