Winter Topic: Maximizing Your Space in a 1300 sq.ft. Home

February 2014

Bungalow Friends,

It has been a very cold winter!  The polar vortex storm brought weather in the negative twin digits to Indianapolis--with record cold temperatures and wind chills below -30(F)!  New wall insulation has really helped seal up the bungalow and keep the cold out!

Needless to say, we've spent a great deal of time indoors!  What have we been up to? ...

...Glad you asked!

Some would find it challenging to live in a 2-bedroom, 1300 square foot home with children.  How do we do it?

Pullout Sofa in the Child's Bedroom.  This allows for dual-function use of the room.  It is a playroom by day, and a bedroom by night that can be shared by a couple little ones.  It also doubles as a guest room when family comes over.

Toys in the Corner of the Bedroom Which was Once a Study.
Even the dresser has multiple uses, doubling as a pull-out desk.

Bedroom/Office/Den concept in the basement allows for more guests, assists in working from home, and provides a casual atmosphere to lounge, watch movies or play.  It would also make a nice room for an older kid or someone staying with us for an extended period that needs a separate living space.  It is not finished--but is is furnished as though it is, and has the necessary electrical outlets to handle requirements of an extra bedroom.

The study is relocated the mixed use basement.

A bed in the basement is great for older kids who want a little more privacy, extended stay guests or a friend who needs  a place to crash for the evening.

A media and play corner provides a refuge to watch movies and play with toys.  It also doubles as a study on days that I work from home.

All-in-all, the room gets a lot of use!

Basement built-in-closet and side room provides storage for off-season clothes and decorations.

Could you do it?  Can you fit five in a 2-bedroom home? Yes!  Your grandparents probably managed.

All for now,

-Ryan & Kayla-

Spring Cleanup and Community Engagement

April 2013

Bungalow Blogger Friends,

What a year it's been!  We've spent the last year enjoying watching the little one grow up and realized how much we have neglected this blog.  But that's OK, because it means we are enjoying the outdoors, family and friends, and that is nothing to be ashamed of.

As I looked back at some of the posts, I realized we needed to dedicate a post to our neighbors, because living in an urban neighborhood in the process of revitalization does, from time to time, have its own challenges.  But we have been fortunate, in that our community sticks it out together through thick and thin which makes it all worthwhile and very rewarding.

This past April 2013, our neighborhood of approximately 900 homes held a bi-annual neighborhood clean-up and beautification.  Neighbors get together in the morning and enjoy breakfast together, and then break out into groups.  Some clean medians, plant flowers and trim trees.  Others clean alleys of the debris which has accumulated during the winter.  This is back-breaking work, so we enjoy the company of one another and have a cookout afterwards.  This is a neighborhood ritual that's practiced as regularly and attentively as Easter and Christmas celebrations might be in some of your families.

Below are some pictures dedicated to these tough folks!

Above, Neighbors Take a Quick Photo Before Breaking into Clean-up Groups

Alley work is back-breaking, and three generations of residents help with this work!

Above,  Neighbors Haul Away a Mattress

Above, Neighbors Clean A Main Street Leading to the Neighborhood

After the Cleanup, We Celebrate with a Cookout!  Kids are rewarded with a plaque for their help; we hope this day teaches a sense of civil duty.  We might have the next mayor or councilwoman with us!

This event was sponsored by Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Department of Public Works and the Mayor's Office.  Above, the Mayor's Neighborhood Liaison Paul Ross joins us for lunch!

DPW Workers assist neighbors in the clean up effort.

Above, the plaque which we presented the retiring individual who has helped coordinate the cleanup and other neighborhood events for many years.

  All for Now,

Ryan & Kayla