Property of Mr. and Mrs. Chalfant Head | Los Angeles, California | Architect Chalfant Head | Photos Julius Shulman

The story of the house narrated by Mrs. Chalfant Head for The American Home Magazine:

Despite alluring ads recommending ourselves as ideal tenants, we soon realized that a fourteen-year-old son and a dog were definite handicaps. No one rushed forth to offer us a roof over our heads. Yet we were fortunate in one respect-we did own land in a pleasant residential area. We applied for a priority and waited. Eventually we were given the go-ahead signal only on condition that our new house be really 'minimum'. That meant living-dining room, two bedrooms, kitchen and bath. It really added up to a three-room house. For a while we dreaded a sudden attack of claustrophobia! Our architect friends shook their heads sadly at our mad decision, but in spite of their gloom, ground was broken in December, 1945.

Architecturally speaking, the bugaboos of the problem child have always been lack of proper closet space, lack of privacy, a cramped floor plan, and lack of any feeling of spaciousness.

All these had to be licked for family comfort. We had picked the hardest time in the world to do it, when priorities allowed us the very minimum of critical materials. Both adults in the family were convinced that a house of modern design was our only hope in creating a sizable living space. We were determined that ours must look like a home rather than a Pullman section. Though it was conceded that both bedrooms had to be small, they must comfortably house twin beds. To meet this latter requirement, most of the house had to be a pleasant living-dining area for family living. The garage was placed at the front of the property with a small motor court in front of it. Our street is a rather busy one with plenty of traffic. Hence no part of the house should look out onto the street. For maximum privacy all living quarters were oriented to the rear or side. Incidentally, the garage between house and street serves as a baffle for sound as well as offering seclusion. Both bedrooms were placed at the front, however, with high transom windows for ventilation from the west yet without a street view. The high windows, incidentally, provide ample wall space for more flexibility in bed location and furniture placing.

In the master bedroom, twin beds are placed along the wall, but can be pulled out on a runner for easy making up. There's a spacious desk built into one corner of this room and, with an arm- chair added, the room is completely furnished. Wardrobes with sliding doors reveal every square inch inside for clothes storage. There are shoeracks, hatracks, low, built-in trays for clothes storage, and a high storage area ten feet long and two feet deep above the wardrobe. This holds extra bedding, suitcases, and serves as place for little-used clothing. The boy's room has the same type of wardrobe with overhead storage and built-in trays for extra clothes. A diagonal desk, shelves and built-in radio give plenty of room for the oddments dear to that age. A very tiny bedroom hall is la enough to hold a telephone shelf and chair. There's a deep clothes closet here, too, for use of guests or little-used family wearing apparel.