Tiny homes may be trending in 2021, but the idea of living small€”especially in forever-overpriced Vancouver€”has had appeal for decades. Back in 2001, we ran a feature on a trio of sub-1,000-square-foot lots (bottom right), with homeowners who managed to squeeze Japanese sculptures, chandeliers and, heck, even a kid into spaces that looked far roomier than the floor plan would have you think.

Credit: Martin Tessler/Western Living September 2001

In the ensuing years, Western Canadian architects and designers only further honed their gift for thinking big with a small footprint as laneway homes increased in popularity. Take this asymmetrical, open-concept stunner from Campos Studio, with clever storage and a flood of daylight, clocking in at just 592 square feet and punching far above its weight: It's a pocket-sized dream home that inspires us all to rethink what it means to live large.

Credit: Ema Peter/Western Living Condo Fall/Winter 2016

Credit: Ema Peter/Western Living Condo Fall/Winter 2016

The best small spaces offer flexibility. In the Campos Studio€“designed laneway, custom-cut upholstered foam turns built-in millwork cabinets into a cozy L-shaped sofa by day, but remove the back cushions and you€™ve got a guest bed for the grandkids.

Credit: Ema Peter/Western Living Condo Fall/Winter 2016

Credit: Ema Peter/Western Living Condo Fall/Winter 2016

To read about more great people, designs, homes and innovations that shaped Western Living, click here.

Western Living

Western Living

The editorial team at Western Living loves nothing more than a perfectly designed space, place or thing: and we’re here to tell you about it. Email us your pitches at [email protected].