Whoever said good things come in small packages may have been talking about Milan apartment living. Robbie Galbrotti gave us *** tour of his family home. This is the living room. Obviously spaces are very different from the US. Take the bathroom where laundry day means logistics, sheets and clothes. Maybe you have to do more cycles, but the washing machine, it’s interesting, it’s in the bathroom. We usually tend to keep all the water-related things together like the shower, the washing machine. So you might be wondering, well, where’s the dryer? Well, this would be it in most Italian households, *** clothesline typically outside, some of it is for conservation. *** lot of it is just for space. So now we go upstairs. That 2nd floor in *** multi-story building is unusual. Not many people have *** two-story apartment, but we are lucky enough to have one. There’s *** room for ironing and storage, and this is where Robbie sleeps and works as an artist. We have the kitchen over here. Say hi, Pappy. Speaking of poppy, many of my friends still live with their parents, and opposed to the US, they tend to leave earlier. Robbie is 28. Kids often don’t move out until their 30s, but sometimes it’s very suffocating. Maybe suffocating parental amore. Well, maybe we’re not so different to the Italians after all. OK. OK. Let me. What do you need? Or do you want us?
Milan’s compact living spaces offer unique charm and challenges
Updated: 3:57 PM MST Feb 7, 2026
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Whoever said good things come in small packages may have been talking about Milan apartment living. More than eight million people live in the greater Milan area, where big city living often means residing in tight spaces.Robbie Galbiati, a resident of suburban Milan, gave a tour of his family’s home. “Obviously, spaces are very different than the U.S.,” he said.Laundry day requires logistical planning. “Sheets and towels. Maybe you have to do more cycles,” Galbiati said. He pointed out that the washer is in the bathroom, “We tend to keep all the water-related things together. Shower, washing machine.” The dryer is typically a clothesline outside for conservation and space-saving.Galbiati showed the second floor of his multi-story building, an unusual feature in Milan. “Not too many people have a two-story apartment, but we are among the lucky ones,” he said. The second floor included a room for ironing and storage. Galbiati’s bedroom and art space are also upstairs.During the apartment tour, Galbiati noted that many of his friends still live with their parents, unlike in the U.S., where young adults often move out earlier. At 28, Galbiati said, “It’s a nice thing, but sometimes it’s very suffocating, maybe.”Despite the challenges, these small apartments are turning big profits during the Olympics. Airbnb estimates 160,000 visitors are staying in rented homes across Italy during the games.
Whoever said good things come in small packages may have been talking about Milan apartment living. More than eight million people live in the greater Milan area, where big city living often means residing in tight spaces.
Robbie Galbiati, a resident of suburban Milan, gave a tour of his family’s home. “Obviously, spaces are very different than the U.S.,” he said.
Laundry day requires logistical planning. “Sheets and towels. Maybe you have to do more cycles,” Galbiati said. He pointed out that the washer is in the bathroom, “We tend to keep all the water-related things together. Shower, washing machine.” The dryer is typically a clothesline outside for conservation and space-saving.
Galbiati showed the second floor of his multi-story building, an unusual feature in Milan. “Not too many people have a two-story apartment, but we are among the lucky ones,” he said. The second floor included a room for ironing and storage. Galbiati’s bedroom and art space are also upstairs.
During the apartment tour, Galbiati noted that many of his friends still live with their parents, unlike in the U.S., where young adults often move out earlier. At 28, Galbiati said, “It’s a nice thing, but sometimes it’s very suffocating, maybe.”
Despite the challenges, these small apartments are turning big profits during the Olympics. Airbnb estimates 160,000 visitors are staying in rented homes across Italy during the games.
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