Mother Stories
Vancouver Mama Alison Mazurek on Raising Two Kids in 600 Square Feet
Written by Erin Feher
Photography by Modern Nest Photography
Apr 16, 2019
There are the things we think we need, and then there are the things we actually need. Alison Mazurek has grown incredibly familiar with that distinction. She and her husband were perfectly happy with their 600-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment, with its soaring ceilings, generous natural light, and close proximity to Vancouver’s cool restaurants and shops, but when they learned they had a baby on the way, their initial thought was that they would surely need more space. But when baby Theo arrived, he was just as content with their cozy home. With each new milestone—Theo toddling around, the arrival of baby sister Mae, both babies growing into running, jumping little kids (now 5 and 2)—Alison heard that familiar refrain: “But surely now you’ll need more space.” Turns out, they didn’t. Today, Alison has become something of a small-space evangelist with her blog 600sqftandababy, where she shares all the details of her dreamy, efficiently designed home, and muses on why living with less is what’s best for her and her family. Alison invited us over and gave us an up-close-and-personal look at how four people co-exist peacefully in a petite apartment, and how small-space living has informed the way she mothers. Click through for the full tour!
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“We’ve lived in our current apartment since before we were married. We chose it for the neighborhood—Mount Pleasant—the high ceilings, and big windows. We never would have guessed we would still be living here years later, but here we are!”
Modular sofa by Article.
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Alison wears a Suunday Dolman dress. Mae wears a Petits Vilains dress. Theo wear Petits Vilians linen harem pants and shirt.
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- “Our apartment is 600 square feet with one bedroom, one bathroom, and a small outdoor patio. The bedroom is the kids’ shared room with wall-mounted bunk beds that fold up and down. In an extension off the living area, where most people would probably put a dining area, we have a bed that folds back into the wall for ourselves as well. Our dining room is now in the kitchen. It’s cozy but we make every inch count!”
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- “We haven’t done any major renovations beyond installing the wall beds and opening up some closets.”
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- “Yes! With every new stage in each of our babies lives we thought we might need to move. We thought, ‘Oh when Theo starts walking we’ll have to move,’ or ‘When Mae’s cry gets louder we’ll have to move,’ or ‘When Mae starts walking…’ But we kept checking in with each other, and it was always O.K. There may have been a few bad weeks here are there, but we’ve adapted, and ultimately we love our space and what it teaches us about ourselves.”
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“When we had our first baby, Theo, he slept in a mini-crib in our living room, but after about four months of tiptoeing around in the dark at night, we realized we wanted our home back. So, we ordered a wall bed and installed it in our living room. We felt like we got our apartment back and were able to stay up, listen to music, and even have friends over. We have made small adjustments to our space at each stage, making sure to never have too much baby gear or too many toys, and trading or donating things the moment we are no longer using them.”
“We’ve added an extending dining table, smart entryway storage solutions like low wall hooks and narrow shoe cabinets. Also, we added an almost inaudible dishwasher because we sleep next to it.”
“When we had Mae—almost 3 years ago now, sob!—we weren’t sure that our space could still work for us, but we were game to try. We opted for bunk beds that fold back into the wall when not in use, as I had some guilt over the kids not having a playroom. As we accumulate more things for the kids, we try to edit what we have for ourselves. Storage is at such a premium in our space we want to make sure we are only storing what we truly need and love.”
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“I love that I always know where the kids are—that may sound strange, but it’s comforting to me. I love that the kids have to learn to share and cooperate because they share a room and all their toys. I love that we all need to communicate with each other—there’s no room for resentments or unsaid things in 600 square feet. Eye rolls are felt across the room. Trevor and I have to talk through whatever issues we have and get on with it. I love that.”
“I also really love traveling with my family. Traveling with kids isn’t really a vacation but it’s always an adventure. Living in our small space lets us have the best of city living and the extra means to travel more than we would if we had a bigger mortgage.”
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- “Alone time is a real challenge in a small space. I’m an introvert and need to be alone to feel refreshed. This can feel impossible in a small space at times. I have learned to ask for what I need from Trevor, my husband. Often, it means I have to get out of the house to get some alone time. Or sometimes at home but with headphones in does the trick and helps me get the ‘space’ I need. But I can count on one hand the amount of naps I have had since having children—an adult nap in 600 square feet is nearly impossible.”
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- For Alison, living in a small space means only the prettiest objects make the cut.
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- “Hmmm…maybe modern minimal with some warmth? I like to keep our space bright and white so it feels as big as possible, and also I just love white walls. And then I add color with light woods, art, and neutral, natural fabrics. I’m grateful for closets and cabinets that can hide the messier parts of our home, keeping the overall feeling calm and clean. I’m really drawn to Scandinavian design, so some of my most treasured things are from places like Hay and Menu.”
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“Having a wall bed in our living room is the best thing we did for our small space. I covered it with plants, well, mostly because I didn’t have many spots to put plants and the natural shelf of the wall bed seemed like the best spot. The wall bed is where a dining room would logically go in our space, so instead we removed our kitchen island and added an extending dining table parallel to our kitchen. While we don’t have a bedroom to escape to, we do have a comfy mattress and linen bedding that makes our little corner feel like a retreat as much as possible.”
“For our living room I chose a big couch to fit as many people on it as possible. Even though our space is small, I always want there to be room to have people over and have everyone be comfortable. To make more space, we don’t have a coffee table and instead have a side table we move around where needed or use the window ledge for drinks.”
“We got rid of our TV a few years ago and never looked back. Our sideboard in the living room, which we had custom made extra narrow and short to fit our wall, holds a vintage record player and our records. We recently invested in a projector that we use for movie nights where we all cozy up on our modular couch—we pull the ottoman around to make a couch bed—and watch the movie projected onto the wall bed. Our space may be small but we don’t want for very much.”
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“While we don’t follow it perfectly, the rule of ‘one in one out’ is always top of mind for me when I am considering a new purchase. If I am bringing something new into the home, something else has to go. If I want to buy a new pillow for the couch, then which one am I giving away? And if I really love all my pillows then I probably don’t need a new pillow…so put it down or close the online cart.”
“I believe less is more but not in a stifling, impossible-to-live-up-to minimalist ideal. More of ensuring that the limited items in your small space are things you truly love, that they are of high quality—which doesn’t always mean expensive—and serve multiple uses. For example, if you have a small space and know you are going to spend a lot of time on your couch, and that is mostly where everyone will gather, it better be big and comfortable and hard-wearing.”
“Also bins, boxes, and baskets are best for corralling toys and odds and ends that can quickly make a space feel cluttered. And even two year olds can put things back in a canvas bin.”
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- Alison demonstrates what bedtime looks like for her and her husband—their space-saving bed folds down from the living room wall.
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- “Our painting by Rubeena Ratcliffe, the sideboard custom-made by a local millwork company, and our linen sheets from Last Light Collection. Does our Westy count? Our red Westfalia van we use for camping adventures is one of our best pieces and is probably only possible because we live small.”
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Alison wears a Madewell t-shirt and Madewell chambray skirt. Theo wears a Petits Vilians knit shirt and pants. Mae wears a Petits Vilians top and pants.
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- “The kids play everywhere in our home. Nowhere is off-limits, and we allow jumping on the couch and climbing, basically everything within reason. As much as I try to make their room the best spot in the house, they still do the majority of their playing in the main room. All their toys and things are stored in their bedroom in bins, baskets, and drawers. While the house can look like a disaster at times, it can also be cleaned up pretty quickly.”
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“It's hard to say…we are thinking of staying here for another year or more. We’ve already stayed much longer than we ever expected. We have started looking at two bedrooms and have found that for what we would need to pay—$200,000 to $300,000 more for a second bedroom—we aren’t gaining much beyond another bedroom. There are so many features we love about our current apartment. It’s hard to find similar features in the right neighborhood. Our high ceilings, natural light, outdoor space, and decent closet space are features that are hard to find elsewhere.”
“But if we were looking seriously, we would like one more bedroom, outdoor space, and to be on a quieter street, but still in a similar walkable neighborhood. Theo would like stairs, as he tells us quite regularly.”
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“I think living small has informed my role as a parent in quite a few ways, like valuing time over things, getting outside and using our city as our backyard. I had to learn quickly how to navigate the busy streets with a toddler and a baby. And now with two kids on scooters.”
“We talk a lot with the kids about not needing lots of things or toys to be happy. We try to model choosing activities or travel over buying something new. We aren’t perfect by any means! But the reality of not having room for that giant remote control monster truck made it easier to stick to our ethos of ‘experiences over things.’ I hope that if we ever move to a larger space that we will carry these lessons with us and not fall prey to over-consumption just because we can.”
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“Watching these little humans grow into the people they are meant to be. I used to think that as a parent you could have a choice in who your kid is. I was so naive. I now know they come out an entire person on their own, with their own personality, and we as parents are just here to guide them and help them become the best version of themselves—not the person you thought they might be, or a version of you.”
“I love so much about being a mother. I love seeing the world through my kids’ eyes. I love that they’ve taught me patience and to slow down in a way I could never do for myself. It’s also been the most humbling experience, and has brought me to my knees many days—whether it’s been the loneliness of motherhood or feeling out of control of my kids' behavior.”
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- “I feel nervous about the role technology will play in their lives, and not fully understanding or being able to prevent the negative impacts of it. I was the last generation to grow up without a computer—we got one in grade 10, I think—or cell phones. My kids will never know a world without smartphones. We adults can’t seem to control our own addiction to our phones. How are kids supposed to manage these devices? Not to mention raising teenagers with the internet and social media—this terrifies me!”
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- “My husband is half First Nations (Tahltan Nation), and we wanted to honor that heritage in our children’s names. There is a traditional naming ceremony that normally happens in his village. We couldn’t travel to the village, but luckily an elder was willing to give the kids' their traditional names and we chose to make it their legal middle names. Theodore (Theo) Kooshtee Mazurek—Theo’s middle name is after a famous warrior in their clan, which if you know Theo, is very appropriate. Mae Eshko Mazurek—Mae was given the name Eshko, which is the name of an elder from a previous generation. Tahltan is a matrilineal nation which makes this even more meaningful to me.”
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- “Theo is 5.5 and Mae is 2.5. Mae is mostly into whatever Theo is into, as he is her hero. They love scooting and biking and going to all the parks around town. They are very much into drawing and legos and playing various fighting games like ninjas. They also love dressing up in costumes and making up elaborate rescue scenarios. They really get along, and I hope it stays that way!”
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- “I did always know I wanted to be a mother. I feel very lucky that it came true.”
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- A big cozy sectional anchors the living room, and serves many uses.
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- “I was lucky to have two healthy pregnancies, though I can’t say that I loved being pregnant. I’m quite short, five-foot-two-inches, and carried quite heavily—is that a thing? Basically, I gained a lot of weight at the end, so I was quite uncomfortable. I had two emergency c-sections and am very grateful for modern medicine, as I’m not sure I could have given birth naturally.”
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- “I did. We are so fortunate in Canada to have the option of year-long maternity leave if you are employed. I took the full year with both babies, and it was the best decision for me and our family.”
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Alison wears a Lacausa shirt, J. Crew pants, and A Dutch Life earrings. Theo wears vintage overalls from Play Kids Clothes and a Thrasher t-shirt.
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- “I didn’t read many parenting books, as I found most anxiety-inducing rather than helpful. I preferred to follow my own instincts and ask my mom or friends I trusted, or listen to podcasts. But a couple that I loved and still refer to are How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids will Talk and Bringing Up Bebe. While some of my best intentions to be a more Parisian-style mom have failed—ahem, my kids eating everything and sitting quietly at the dinner table—I am the mom that sits on the bench at the park while my kids play.”
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- “My own upbringing was suburban, in some ways typical, and in others a bit unique. We didn’t have a lot of money but there was a lot of love. My brothers and I were all in competitive sports—figure skating and hockey—and my parents did everything to ensure we had a happy childhood.”
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- “I think I’m still finding my footing as a mother—maybe I always will be?—but I try to let them be as free as possible to express themselves and be who they are. I like to get out of their way so they can have natural consequences to their actions. But I intervene if they are harming themselves or others. And I also can’t stand rudeness or entitlement, so we work on manners and kindness everyday.”
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- “The current political climate has really woken me up to my own privilege. I am privileged for so many reasons: that I was born in Canada, and that I am a white woman. I feel immense pressure to ensure I am using what I have been given to teach my kids and myself humility, and using our gifts and privilege to help others.”
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- “You already have everything you need to be a mom within you. You can do this...it will be hard but wonderful. You can do hard things. And don’t forget to ask for help!”
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- “I don’t think so…”
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- “Oh thanks for saying that! Theo has been asking to paint it green—which makes me start sweating!—so I have been trying to incorporate more color with their artwork where I can. It’s quite a small room to start with, and I was nervous about filling it with bunk beds and losing all their play area. So, we opted for wall bunks that take up a smaller footprint than normal bunks and can be folded away when we have a bunch of kids over. Yes, sometimes we have a bunch of kids over and it gets very loud! I took advantage of the high ceilings by mounting Ikea bookshelves the height of the wall, and added an oversized globe light.”
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- The kids have their own flip-down bunks in their room, and have some serious ladder-climbing skills.
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- “I currently freelance for two interior design studios as a creative project manager. My background is in construction and design-project management, and I left my full-time job about two years ago to have a more flexible schedule and be more present at home. I have a great love of beautiful spaces and a desire to solve problems and get things done. I also have my website, 600sqft.com, about living small in the city with kids. It is a great passion of mine to help others live small and feel good about it.”
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- “I grew up in the suburbs of Vancouver and went to Simon Fraser University where I got a degree in Political Science and International Relations. I worked in restaurants and then got my certificate in project management. I worked in design and construction project management for a restaurant group. I’ve lived and worked in and around Vancouver my whole life, but have been fortunate to travel often.”
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Mae wears a Petits Vilians dress. Theo wears vintage overalls from Play Kids Clothes and a Thrasher t-shirt.
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- “I left my corporate job, where I was working much more than full time and was expected to travel a lot. I was missing my kids and felt that my career path wasn’t aligning with who I was as a person. I wanted to feel in control of my life and have more time with my family. I haven’t quite found my footing, but I now work in a more creative field surrounded by inspiring women. And I get to walk my kid to kindergarten most days and spend at least one full day a week with my 2 year old. It’s still a process, but I am heading in a direction that feels like my work is more meaningful and in line with my life’s goals.”
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- “We have a wonderful friends that all live nearby—also in small spaces, ha!—and that we get together with regularly. My dad and brothers live nearby and help out with babysitting and visits. My mom lives on Vancouver Island, but is a big help when she visits or when we go see her, which we often use as an excuse to go to beautiful Tofino, BC. Trevor’s parents live in Northern BC and we see them a few times a year.”
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- When the bunks are folded up, there is plenty of room to play, not to mention lots of wall space for art!
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- “The best advice I received from a friend and try to live by: When you are at work, be working. When you are with your kids, be with your kids and be present. Don’t try to do both because you will inevitably fail at both.”
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“Daily. Mom guilt is a daily thing for me that I am working so hard to fight. I have guilt about everything. When I am working, I miss my kids, when I’m with my kids, I feel guilty I am not working. It’s a vicious cycle that I am trying too hard to combat. I think modern expectations on parents are ridiculous, and I’m constantly trying to remind myself that I am doing my best and I can’t do everything perfectly. My kids are loved and they are safe and really those are the basics that matter.”
“I also want to mention that just because we live small and share about it doesn’t mean that you are doing anything wrong by living in a larger space or having lots of things. We all make choices that are right for us and our family. Our way of living works for us, and maybe you can find some value in hearing about it, but please, never feel pressure to be like anyone else. I love the Amy Poehler quote and think of it often, ‘Good for her, not for me.’”
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- “I think so, but most importantly I want my kids to see me being a kind person. I don’t need to be the most successful or important, but I want them to see me caring about them and others.”
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“Oh gosh, that’s tough to answer. My closet is pretty casual and I need to be able to get on the ground with the kids, hang out at the park, and then fit in a quick business meeting if I need to. So, all my outfits need to carry me through. I like clothes and I like to feel good in what I’m wearing. I’m often in wide leg pants and a striped shirt or a jumpsuit.”
“I try to be as ethical as possible with my clothing purchases and really consider the money I spend to be my vote in where I want the world to go. When I can’t afford all ethical and sustainable choices, I make sure I am buying clothes that fit well and last so I get as many wears as possible from the pieces I have.”
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- “I am much kinder to myself since becoming a mother. I don’t want my kids to ever see me being hard on myself about my body or my looks. I’m also much more forgiving of myself and my body. It seems cliche but knowing what my body did to carry two kids and that it gets me through the long days now…I wish I could have been this generous with myself when I was younger.”
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- An orderly entryway where everything has a place.
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- “I wear a lot of Madewell as it fits me well and stands up to many wears. I hope they will become more transparent with their manufacturing practices, as I believe the industry is heading in that direction and consumers want to know. For shoes I really love Nisolo, and have recently been wearing a pair of Converse. My Babaa cardigans have quickly become a staple in my wardrobe, as I love the fit, the feel, and the brand. A few other brands I have and love are Suunday, Lacausa, Devons Drawer, Amanda Moss, and Everlane.”
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“I don’t have much of a beauty routine. I wash my face in the shower in the morning and always make sure to wear moisturizer. I put on this natural mascara I love, liquid eyeliner, and Glossier concealer under my eyes. That’s about it. Oh, and if I really want to feel special, I add Ilia Kokomo lipstick.”
“I’d love to incorporate a bit more self-care in this area, especially more skin care as I’m getting older, but haven’t made the time yet. I am proud of the switch I made to natural deodorant a few years ago—K'pure Naturals Get Closer is my go-to.”
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Alison wears a Babaa cardigan, Lacausa shirt, J. Crew pants, Nisolo mules, and A Dutch Life earrings. Theo wears a Petits Vilians top, Blundstones boots, and a MEC Fleece. Mae wears a vintage jean jacket, a Petits Vilains dress and culottes, and hand-me-down Converse.
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- “I love that we walk almost everywhere. I love that there are mountains and beaches and old growth forests. I also love that there is good food and coffee on most corners. I love that we have every season and I even don’t mind the rain, it really makes you appreciate the sunny days more. I also love that Vancouver is very multicultural and progressive, so the kids are exposed to all kinds of people everyday.”
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“Oh gosh, too many to mention. My kids have been raised in coffee shops. I don’t know if coffee shops realize how much they saved my sanity in those early newborn days, and to be honest, still today. Knowing I could get out of the house and have a destination to treat myself to a coffee.”
"In our immediate neighborhood I love Federal Store, Elysian, and Liberty for coffee breaks; Collage Collage and Science World for kids’ activities; Pacific Spirit Park, Lynn Valley, and the beach at Spanish Banks for getting out in nature; favorite shopping destinations are Much and Little, Woo to See You, Charlie and Lee, and Still Life; and for good food and drink we love 33 Acres Brewing Co., Juice Bar, Ahn and Chi, Sal Y Limon, and Don’t Argue Pizzeria.”
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- Favorite neighborhood cafes serve as alternate living rooms for Alison and her crew of little explorers.
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- “We would! We have considered Victoria, a smaller city on Vancouver Island, or possibly Europe. But as far as Canadian cities go, we feel very lucky that we are in Vancouver, even if the housing prices are crazy.”
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- “I usually need to get out of the house to get time to myself. It is usually my workouts, or I head to a nearby coffee shop and write for the blog. Oh, and without a doubt, one of the best things I do for myself is to sit down with a good friend over coffee or wine. I am much better one-on-one or in a small group. Connecting with other women and mothers fills me up. I’ve also managed to get away for a girls trip about once a year, which I highly recommend.”
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- “I manage to workout twice a week at Dailey Method, which I also use as a set time to see friends. We workout and then go for coffee or dinner. It’s the best thing I do for myself, and when I miss a workout or time with friends I really feel it. And my gym just closed! So, we are frantically looking for a new workout routine so we don’t miss this important self-care ritual. I’ve also found podcasts to be a great act of self-care when I am walking to work or needing a bit of quiet time for myself.”
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- “We really want to plan another European trip with the kids in the next year—Copenhagen is calling my name…”
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- “I really want to help others embrace living small, especially with kids, so I’m trying to figure out how to combine my various experience and skill set to help people with something more tangible—maybe a guide, consultations, or a book.”
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For more on Alison, her cute family, and some major small-space inspiration, be sure to follow her on Instagram!
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obsessed with alison and her blog! such a great interview and gorgeous photos.
More space just means more to clean. We’re currently renting a 2000 sf house and it’s way too big for our family of 5. Our kids (3,4 & 6) all insist on sharing a bedroom, so our 3rd bedroom (that we thought we would need) is basically a miscellaneous toy, junk room that is forever a mess. We’ve been searching for something smaller to rent/buy, however the housing market where we live is very slow so we may be in this mansion forever. I love that this family of 4 is making it all work in 600sf. Bigger does not always = better.
Beautiful photos and interview with the loveliest family ♥️