Personal Space: Alison Mazurek and Family Know How to Think Small

Her blog is still called 600 Square Feet and a Baby, but Alison Mazurek’s life looks a lot different from when she started documenting her passion for small spaces 10 years ago—but, to be fair, “900 Square Feet and Two Tweens” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.

Since 2021, Alison and husband Trevor, an occupational therapist, have lived in a 900-square-foot split-level apartment in Kitsilano with 12-year-old Theo and nine-year-old Mae. “We were great in 600 square feet, but in the pandemic, we lost all of our third spaces—I couldn’t go to the cafe to work, we couldn’t go to Science World, we were just in the apartment on top of each other all the time,” Alison explains.

Despite the extra room to breathe, it’s still close quarters for four people (including an enthusiastic young breakdancer), but after years of practice in their cozy Mount Pleasant one-bedroom, no one is better equipped to optimize every square inch of this one-bed-one-den-one-bath home for both function and style.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: How to Raise a Family in 600 Square Feet

With its white-and-wood Scandinavian-chic palette (“I know there’s a backlash against white spaces right now, but I stand by it; I like the blank canvas,” laughs Alison) and clever space-saving solutions, the home feels comfortable and uncluttered—though certainly not devoid of personality. Paintings from Canadian artists hang on the wall, as does a floating bookrack displaying the family’s favourite reads. The living space transforms throughout the day to accommodate different needs: you might find Trevor exercising here, Mae playing the keyboard, or guests crashed on the deep custom sofa that Alison commissioned to fit an Ikea twin mattress. It’s also the spot for movie nights, when the family fires up the projector to play on the white space above the fireplace.

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Down the narrow stairwell, Alison and Trevor sleep on a wall bed from Resource Furniture that folds away to create an open playroom when the kids’ friends come over. Through the French doors, there’s a long, low-ceilinged den space that’s been converted into a shared room for Theo and Mae; the kids’ private spaces are separated by an Ikea shelving unit. Sure, the set-up means that the family shares a clothes closet (and one busy bathroom), but they’re happily making it all work, with minimal kid complaining along the way. (“I want to be able to see my clothes!” pines Mae.)

Though design is Alison’s domain, in a space so cozy, every decision is really a family affair. “I have functional ideas and then they have to pass through the filter of design,” says Trevor, “but it usually takes some time for it to seep in.” Jokes Alison: “He’s got a great idea every now and then.”

Sweet Dreams

The sofa in the living room is custom. “I got an Ikea twin mattress upholstered, and then got back cushions made to match, and then we made the couch frame to fit the twin,” Alison explains. “If there are two guests, someone has to sleep on a mattress on the floor, but sometimes our friends still like to snuggle.” The low wooden frame even has a built-in side table… though it’s bruised a few shins over the years, Alison admits. “I get criticized for that ledge. Everyone’s hit it once or twice.”

Mix Master

Around the Skagerak dining table (“We’ve had it for years; it can take a beating”), Alison has paired Hay Rey chairs in icy baby blue with a low bench and mismatched stools from Vancouver brand Sundays. A painting by Rubeena Ratcliffe is on display.

Multi-Purpose Magic

A mobile from the Finnish Design Shop hangs in the high-ceilinged primary bedroom. When the wall bed is folded up, the kids can pull beanbag chairs into the room and use the projector to play video games.

Child’s Play

Though they used to share bunk beds, the kids now each have their own side of a long, rectangular room, split by a shelving unit. (“It’s the only open shelving in the house, because I find open storage can get so visually busy,” says Alison.) On Theo’s side, you might find him working away on his Chainsaw Man costume at his desk, while over in the Mae zone, she displays her stuffed panda collection with pride.

Blank Space

Contrary to what most small-space dwellers would do, the Mazureks removed existing shelving around the living room fireplace. The blank wall here is where the family watches movies with their projector, which has strong enough lumens to work well even during the day. (The other big renovation when they moved in: pulling up all the mismatched flooring to put in engineered white-oak boards.)

What’s Cooking?

The kitchen got a light makeover, too. Cabinets were refaced and the glass mosaic backsplash was replaced with matte-white square tiles. Local millworkers made circular maple cabinet pulls that keep the cabinet faces flat but add both visual interest and function.

Frame It

Mazurek’s home is filled with Canadian art, like this piece from Calgary-based artist Tannis Marshall.