You had always wanted to build a Bungalow but weren’t sure if one would fit on your narrow lot. Luckily you found one that fits beautifully and you and your family have finally moved into your dream home.

As a freelance graphic designer you appreciate having a dedicated office off the back of the house and love working from home, except during summer vacation when the kids are also home all day. During those three months you spend more time yelling than anything else.

Like the time you heard horrible noises coming from the kitchen, which is open to the dining room with a large island in the middle and is normally a mother’s dream space. That is until your kids and their friends set up their little plastic bowling alley in there. Then the dream becomes annoying.

Or the time you were under a tight deadline and had to stop working because you heard a constant thud, thud, thud coming from the living room. You were none-too-pleased to find your son repeatedly bouncing a tennis ball into your gorgeous fireplace, and when he didn’t catch the ball, which was covered in soot, it left black spots all over your rug and sofa.

Then there was the time you were so fed up with your kids running around the house like lunatics, you filled a bunch of balloons with water, told them to go outside and “have at it.” That idea nearly came back to haunt you but luckily, when they came inside soaking wet, their wetness went no further than your mudroom.

Some days you take your laptop upstairs and try and work in your forward facing master bedroom. It’s calm and tranquil in there and you can sometimes actually get your work done. That is until the kids decide to jump rope or wrestle on the full front porch directly below you.

On days when you need to breathe and go to your mind’s happy place, you generally focus on the fact you have a laundry room on the second floor. This helps you get the chores done faster because heaven forbid anyone else in your house lift a finger to help. It’s not like you work full time, too!