topic Re: NARROW HOUSES in Home

NARROW HOUSES

Oznell — Sat, 30 May 2026 12:32:11 GMT

First, I came across a Baltimore row house, with interiors by Bria Hammel, and then another, smaller row house, done by Melissa Colgan. Both tackled the dilemma of relatively narrow rooms.

Baltimore:

The outside, although very tidy, seemed a little bit forbidding, but look what they did inside--

The entry, as well as the entire house benefited from the owners' collection of lovely antique art and objects--

It was the kitchen that wowed me. I think they tempered the narrowness by having the windows go clear across that back wall-- seems to stretch the space. Pro tip-- corgis always bring warmth...

Love all the storage it has--

The dining room is right off the kitchen--

This very old heirloom seascape of the owners just mesmerized me. I don't think they needed two chandeliers-- one would have been fine. All eyes should be on the painting, anyway...

In the living room, it was smart to have the window treatment go right across-- again, a widening effect. I like the eclectic light fixture, tree, and art-- helps relax the room.

Cute table lamps abound in the house. Gorgeous rug, with its lighter and then inky blues...

I love their accessories-- more darling lamps, pretty fabrics and art, mirrors--

..... and of course, this little cutie--

While rather narrow, the house has four floors, so room for bedrooms! Would be great, providing an elevator comes with the package....

Then this row house, which I think is in Washington. It definitely wins the curb appeal contest:

This house is even more narrow and petite--

Love the velvet couch, pillows and brass light fixture. It was smart to have a skinny coffee table--

Cute, colorful dining room--

French doors let maximum light into the charming galley kitchen-

The house has been given a sprightly, cottage feeling in the city--

Re: NARROW HOUSES

DREAMON — Sat, 30 May 2026 12:56:39 GMT

I grew up in a Row Home and I never remember thinking it was narrow in any way...I liked it.

Both of these homes are lovely. I don't care for the elaborate chandelier in the first home but do like the entire space.

The second home looks very narrow in the first photo but the additional rooms do not look nearly as narrow...maybe its the camera angle.

The exterior is really pretty.

Re: NARROW HOUSES

Neetgal2 — Sat, 30 May 2026 13:04:30 GMT

I love row homes! I was always fascinated by them in the city where I worked and had coworkers who lived in them. Many years later I owned one in the town I grew up in. It was the best home I ever lived in. Moved out to take care of my Dad, in a rancher, which I now live in. For the best, no steps and at the shore!

Re: NARROW HOUSES

CarolinaGirl88 — Sat, 30 May 2026 13:06:57 GMT

They did a beautiful job with these homes. I especially love both of the kitchens. These houses remind me of what we call shotgun homes here in the south. The arrangement can be tricky, but they can also be so charming and cozy.

Re: NARROW HOUSES

Patriot3 — Sat, 30 May 2026 13:07:30 GMT

Love these pics. That kitchen is to die for. Yes, with 4 floors, there better be an elevator!!

Re: NARROW HOUSES

Somertime — Sat, 30 May 2026 13:27:53 GMT

My son owns a Baltimore row home. Normally in the kitchen (which is in the back of the house) you have access to the backyard but in this one there is none because the windows are across the entire back wall. It's hard to tell if the entire wall of windows are across the back of the house as well. It says 4 floors, does that mean there are enclosed rooms on the 4th floor or is the 4th floor roof access for outdoor living? Just curious!

Re: NARROW HOUSES

Bonkers1 — Sat, 30 May 2026 13:32:12 GMT

The first house is 100% a go. The second is 100% a no.

Re: NARROW HOUSES

wagirl — Sat, 30 May 2026 14:05:44 GMT

Fun to look at different houses like that--but narrow means stairs---too many stairs for me. And really no amount of decor /paint will camouflage what they are --too narrow and small.--for me anyway.

Re: NARROW HOUSES

DSD2 — Sat, 30 May 2026 14:09:31 GMT

The first has a lot of curb appeal. The kitchen is beautiful; gorgeous chandelier in the dining room. The bedroom is visually appealing and cozy, LOVE the rug, the green chest and of course the adorable Corgi.

The outside of the second house is stunning. Although I prefer the kitchen in the first, there are abundant striking elements including that sumptuous blue velvet couch, the colorful blue wallpaper in the dining room, lovely bedroom. I wonder what the room dimensions are though. It seems far narrower than the first. Too narrow for me.

Thank you @Oznell

Re: NARROW HOUSES

Ronettes — Sat, 30 May 2026 14:38:52 GMT

I definitely prefer smaller homes, they are so much easier to keep clean, and less expensive to heat and cool.

I grew up in a huge house, yet prefer the cozy small homes.

Re: NARROW HOUSES

Q-Checker — Sat, 30 May 2026 14:55:46 GMT

I love both of these homes. Cozy and tastefully decorated

Re: NARROW HOUSES

Kachina624 — Sat, 30 May 2026 18:20:04 GMT

They certainly have taken maximum advantage of their confined space. In fact, it doesn't really seem narrow at all. The furniture and fixtures were well chosen and appropriate for the size. It seems light, airy and spacious.

Re: NARROW HOUSES

stevieb — Sat, 30 May 2026 23:03:50 GMT

You haven't seen narrow until you've seen this little doll in the Old Town section of Alexandria, Virginia...

It's a 'spite' house, built to confound noisy neighbors and those using the alley behind the row of houses inappropriately.

Re: NARROW HOUSES

bmorechick — Sat, 30 May 2026 23:32:18 GMT

@Oznell That looks like a newer "townhouse" but of course, it could be a refurbished row house. This is a picture of the true, original Baltimore row house I grew up in. Built in 1890 - 90 feet long, 10 feet wide. We played in the alley to the left. Had a tiny basement with a "summer kitchen" which was nothing but a gas stove. It was cooler down there in summer. No AC until we were teenagers. Soooooo hot upstairs.

The person who was the last purchaser of the house totally revamped the inside. Left the front as original with a few tweaks. We went through it when it was for sale. We cried because it looked nothing like "our house". Too modern and sterile and the whole house was flipped around inside. We had a tiny circular staircase inside the wall to the second floor - all of it gone.

So many memories...

Re: NARROW HOUSES

Oznell — Sat, 30 May 2026 23:55:34 GMT

@Somertime , I seem to remember that, interestingly, the floor in the Baltimore house that has the kitchen and dining room is the second floor up, therefore no French doors in the kitchen. Don't quote me, but for some reason that's my memory...

@stevieb , what a fun history on that spite house! Beautiful Alexandria must be a fabulous trove of old houses, dreamy. Our late neighbors across the street told us about spite houses, b/c they had one next door. It was skinny, but not as skinny as the one you showed! It has a tiny bit of yard. It's cute, but of course has no room to have a garage or anything, which limits its appeal to prospective buyers...

@bmorechick , thanks so much for the wonderful picture and sharing your precious memories of life in your row house growing up. And everyone with various experiences of them, @Neetgal2 , @DREAMON , and @Somertime-- very interesting!

Re: NARROW HOUSES

just bee — Sun, 31 May 2026 04:46:22 GMT

Lovely, yes, but where does one wash the dishes? How do you clean the big pasta pot?

Re: NARROW HOUSES

just bee — Sun, 31 May 2026 04:49:15 GMT

@bmorechick

There is just something about this. I can't stop looking at it.

Re: NARROW HOUSES

Judaline — Sun, 31 May 2026 12:16:46 GMT

We have where I live what they call shotgun houses. One room after another after another, etc. I think they'd be fun to have but we never took the chance we might not like it after we had it, lol.

The ones shown here are gorgois! One room was a little claustrophobic for me, but the decor is just perfect. I still don't know. I think I would stick with my rambling ranch home. But it's great seeing these because if I saw one where we live I would definitely want to see the inside.

Re: NARROW HOUSES

bmorechick — Sun, 31 May 2026 14:08:16 GMT

@just bee Baltimore City is full of these cozy homes from small to a little bigger. Sadly a lot of them have been condemned in some parts of the city due to slumlords or the city just abandoning the ones they own.

A lot of folks bought them and restored them to original look, but many have been modernized inside, some to the excess. Our "backyard" was a 40x60 (maybe) concrete slab with a high wooden fence and a gate leading to a back alley - no grass. My mom had a clothes line pulley that was attached to the brick wall near the kitchen window and the other end to a pole. She would lean out the window in winter and pull the line to her and hang clothes out the window! We finally got a dryer as we got older!

Re: NARROW HOUSES

just bee — Sun, 31 May 2026 18:17:00 GMT

@stevieb wrote:
You haven't seen narrow until you've seen this little doll in the Old Town section of Alexandria, Virginia...

It's a 'spite' house, built to confound noisy neighbors and those using the alley behind the row of houses inappropriately.

@stevieb

Thank you for sending me down an Internet rabbit hole looking at spite houses last night.