(Photography by Gary Friedman for the LA Times)
Shortly after my wife and I got married, we bought a 770-square-foot home in Boulder, Colorado. It had a living room, a kitchen, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. We loved it, but I always thought that if it had been any smaller, I would have felt the squeeze. So I have deep respect for this family of three (plus a dog) who live happily in a 380-square-foot house in Echo Park (near Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles) that rents for $1000 a month. They were recently featured in an LA Times photo essay by David Keeps (photographed by Gray Friedman).
The house does not have a bedroom. Instead Kelly Breslin, Ryan Conder, and their 9-month-old son sleep in a queen sized bed in the main room. A red Formica counter divides the kitchen from the living room. The overall effect reminds me a bit of a Japanese apartment — lots of wood and textiles and efficient use of furniture.
Wisely, the parents didn't buy a bunch of baby gear that would have cluttered up the place. "People tell you need all this stuff for a baby," Breslin says. "All you really need is diapers, a place to change him and boobs."
Mark Frauenfelder Credit.com contributor, editor-in-chief of MAKE magazine and the founder of the popular site Boing Boing, Mark was an editor at Wired from 1993-1998 and is the founding editor of Wired Online. He covers creative DIY projects and how-tos that will help you make the most of your money.
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We just rented a 2 bedroom duplex with a garage and a big yard for $1400 in Echo Park.
Rents have gone down – they need to take a look on Craig’s list.