Good Question: Has Anything Been Written About Small Studios?

2004_7_question mark.jpg This is the million dollar question in NYC, or should we say the hundred dollar question?

Has anything been written to give me ideas on living in a 12' x 17' studio room in a residence for seniors? I have looked at the Small Spaces website but find nothing really close to explain my predicament. Thank you.
Marilyn

Our main advice? Create as much flow as possible by having as little as possible in your room and keeping large furniture away from the walls and windows. We believe that Marilyn means Small Spaces on HGTV, but there is also the DIY Network's Small Spaces resource and we recommend staying away from the countless tips for ORGANIZING small spaces. The goal should be making the room beautiful and healthy with organization following from that. Only garages and closets should be referred to as ORGANIZED. MGR

Comments (37)

I love your place, and I completely agree about editing. I've inherited a lot of my furniture, and I always thought that I would buy more once I had a new place. In truth, I've either replaced, rehabbed, or gotten rid of most of it.

My bedroom is about the same shade of blue as yours, and I'm looking to do a similar thing--lots of white on blue.

I also love the dresser as the TV stand. I have a smaller TV, and I'm looking to get a funky sofa table or dresser to use instead of a traditional TV stand--which are lower to the ground.

Great job!

Very pleasant and inviting!

It's very serene...

I like your desk. I prefer your dining table without the tablecloth;the table's colour complements the wall's colour and gives it more depth.

Nice and bright.

I love the kitchen table. What is that style of furniture called? With chunky legs and angled edges...

Are you a South Ender? I'm trying to figure out your neighborhood by looking out the window. What a view!

Cozy and cute!! :)

Oh, this is so how I want my apartment to look one day. So my style! Love it.

hard to say what I like most but, really like the use of space and the character of the office.

I agree...uncovered table is best.
You've done a great job with a difficult space.

wow. Just wow.

I love the pot rack in the kitchen! I'm looking for something exactly like that for my place, where did you get it? Also, love the colors, very pretty.

Very cozy feeling with lots of light. Love the floor plan too!

This is the most adorable apartment I think I have ever seen. I love that you have a separate study and bedroom. In 350 ft2 I wouldn't have thought it possible!

Oh those windows!! So jealous!!

Nicely done. :)

The floating shelf inside the open shelving is interesting! I really like the orange rug. :)

I love your desk! And I've very fond of the colour in your bedroom and office. Can you please share the name and brand?

I too am wondering what neighbourhood you are in...looks like it could be the North End, which is where I live!!

Love your fabric patterns.
Especially love the rug in the office area.

My most favoritest of the entire apartmenttherapy site for years I've been reading everyday, is this place! Makes me want to live there, only time I've felt like this.

Woah I need that desk! You have done such a great job here, it's almost shocking with that square footage [I've only go 50sqft over you and I can't pull that off]. I have a suggestion though: placing the bed in the upper corner of the room might give you a bit more walking space. Looks great though!

Love this! And ditto on that orange rug - where'd you get it? Your decor really suits the apartment and makes great use of the light.

Thanks everyone!

JD617 and glitchgirl - i'm in beacon hill actually. The view is of the west end. I'll check on the paint color and get back to you - can't remember off the top of my head.

The orange rug is a family hand-me-down. I love it too!

I love the light! its so sunny, the library, sofa and drawer are beautiful.

The apartment looks great Audra! F

Great place, Audra!

So light and airy! Love the couch and the end table, so beautiful! The kitchen table looks so pretty, would love to see an exposed table top. The low placement of the knives is a bit scary, but whatever works for you! Thanks for sharing!

Instead of cramped, this looks intimate. I imagine it has a great feel when you're in it.

I can totally imagine kicking back on the off-white chair resting my feet on the ottoman with a good book and occasional glance out the windows at your excellent urban view!

whoa! this looks WAY bigger than 350sq. feet! i'm impressed! nice work :)

You have a great place. I love your floor plan. There are some ideas there that I would love to put in my house if that's okay with you.

I love the idea of a dresser for a TV stand - I imagine you could even poke small hole in the back of a shelf or two for cable/dvd player cords. It adds such charm to the room!

lovely ,one of my favourites so far.

So cute and so lovely! Though I must add, I laughed at the knives next to the dining table!

i love it already. your space is very pretty =)

Superb layout, location and quiet? You've scored a hat trick, city-living style. Well done!

I love the space overall, but I really like the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. What a great idea!

Where did you get that desk??!! I want one.