Check out one of Chicago's tiniest (and oldest!) houses

Small, affordable houses may be all the rage right now—but they’re not an entirely new trend.
To wit: This picturesque tiny cottage in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood was built after the Chicago Fire of 1871. Despite the fact that it's nearly 150 years old, the home still feels modern, thanks to smart design and decor. 

Let's take a look inside!

After the blaze decimated huge swaths of the city, more than 100,000 people were left homeless. Thousands of “relief shanties,” or small prefab homes, were sold for about $100 each, as the New York Times points out. 

                                                                                            
This house, clocking in at 780 square feet, is one of the few remaining examples that haven’t been renovated beyond recognition. Instead, it uses sleek finishes and a smart layout to maximize its space.

The home feels airy thanks to ceiling skylights and an open floor plan that combines the living, dining and kitchen area. A fireplace that resembles a wood-burning stove pays homage to the houses’s 19th-century roots, while Craftsman-style cabinets provide ample storage. 

The bathroom matches the rest of the home's finishes in a manner that combines rustic and modern elements.

The bedroom, located at the back of the house, also seems spacious because its French doors open onto a private brick terrace. 

"With big gardens in front and in back where I dine or sit and talk to the neighbors, it doesn't feel like too little space," a former owner told Crain's Chicago Business. 

Perhaps the home’s only drawback? Being vulnerable to paparazzi. A previous owner told the New York Times that tour guides and curious passersby were always stopping to check out the “cute little house”—and once caught him in his skivvies, trying to retrieve his newspaper.