Name: Jake & Anne
Location: New York , NY
Size & Type: 245 sq ft Studio
Favorite resource: Dwell, Ebay, lots of books (obviously)
Pitch: We've designed our apartment to be as open as possible. One side of the studio is a storage system that houses books, dressers, electronics and bar. The kitchen has open shelves above and a built-in wine rack. The bed is a murphy, and its nook is decoupaged with New Yorker covers...

Pitch Cont'd: With a small apartment, it's important that things serve more than one purpose--our coffee table doubles as seating, the desk and dining table are one in the same, our door is a blackboard etc. Our aesthetic blends classic details, such as the picture rails and Venetian plaster, with modern sensibility.

Your favorite element: The storage system. It serves as our bookshelves, our entertainment center, our dressers and our bar. Without it we'd be lost.



Sprout Side Table
excellent little kitchen, love how it's built in. looks like quite a nice view as well!
Love you kitchen!
45 Sq. Ft? I don't think so.
Oops, the square footage is listed wrong.
Hi, There's a mistake in the posting. Our apartment is 245 sf, not 45. It's small, but not that small! -Anne
Oh dear, meant to say "Love your kitchen!"
I love this. You've mixed styles quite well.
It still looks fabulous at 245 sq. feet.
Anne, it's bigger than that - it's 315 sq. ft. (21 x 15). See, you have more space than you thought!
I love your little kitchen. It's great to see more tiny apartments this year.
Nice job
Anne, it's bigger than that - it's 315 sq. ft. (21 x 15). See, you have more space than you thought!
LOL.
Someone needs to go back to 7th grade!
*joke*
This is incredible! I wish my kitchen looked as lovely as that one. Just imagine how much money I could have saved on furniture; a sofa, two tables and a chair. Wow. Stellar!
Where did you get the shelves in your living room at? Or are they built in?
Tudor City apartments are usually challenging -- but this is a fine solution!
Wish there was a better photo of the storage system but the the limit of three, understand why there isn't. BEAUTIFUL place!
beautifully organized space. Everything is perfectly organized and nicely composed. well done!
Nicely done! Thanks for sharing floor plans that show both the "bedroom" and "dining" configurations.
Wow! Love, love, love the kitchen. Love the space plan too.
love it... this is what small cool is about
What is your table? I wish we could see a more detailed picture. I love the castors and the stainless steel.
I love the use of dark wood and think the decoupage of the New Yorker covers is a classic DIY solution. I can't imagine working with a kitchen that small, but it certainly looks great and I wouldn't want to give over any more space to it when the apartment is 245 square feet. And, Archie, I have to point out that it is 245--the main volume is 21 x 10 (210) and the bathroom is 5 x 7 (35--though the 7 is a guess but that is a very standard size for NYC). And before anyone who is more of a stickler than I am jumps in, there is probably a few extra feet to be found in the murhphy bed and kitchen nooks.
In any case, I think this is a great solution for a truly tiny space.
I was astounded when I read the word "ours" and "we." Amazing that two people live here. You must have a great relationship and be very respectful of each other. Though I don't usually like Murphy beds, this one is rather well placed. I really love your little kitchen nook. This place is very well organized, but I think lacks a little pop of beauty (although the rug is beautiful). I think you need a lamp and a vase, but nothing more than that.
very nice use of space - well done murphy bed, especially the new yorkers...i love how warm your space appears to be - neat, but not staged feeling, and very personal. if my place makes it into the contest, you'll see that i am dealing with a similar amount of space so i fully understand the challenges or living in a small space while wanting the maximum openness.
Very warm and beautiful.
I think my calculations are right, archie. Their floor plan shows a 21 x 15 ft. space. What did you come up with?
If it has an Eames, it got my vote! ; )
Nice space.
Joel
Hi Anne, it would only be 315 if the bathroom was the same length as the whole apartment. Instead it is (21 x 10) (5 x ?) (length of bathroom), so 245 seems right to me!
The kitchen is my favorite spot. <3
I love this whole design, but especially the thought that has gone into dual usage spaces. Looks fabulous, too!
That kitchen is amazing, love the wine cubby holes rather than the usual criss-cross design, or rippled-looking shelves. Gorgeous!
Wow--245 square feet and you actually have books. You are my heroes. The New Yorker headboard/niche is genius. This is great, neat and controlled but also warm and snuggly.
Well, this is easily my favorite space so far (in any region). The thoughtfulness evident here, and the respect for the materials and style of the original building, is inspiring. That there are two of you living here (and that the space doesn't feel compromised to death) is amazing. Beautifully done!
Beautiful! Not cluttered and so efficient. I agree about how amazing it is that two people could live in such a small space but congrats for making it work.
It's very warm and cozy, and livable. You've proved that you can have Stuff without it looking cluttered or overwhelming. Great job on organizing the space and making it feel like a home, not just a place to live.
This is a great use of space - designing features that give warmth and openness with little jewels of detail - I also love the windows and the light that washes the room!
Holy cow. Small for 2. I'm impressed with the space planning. Once I "got" the entire visual in my head I thought "Neat and orderly folks".
I love the kitchen - ok, well, who doesn't? It's wonderful! And now I wish I could see what you've done with the bathroom.
I do not, however, like whatever that is behind the murphy bed, but that's just me and it doesn't take away from anything.
Amazing what you've done with the orderliness of this space.
I love this apartment. Very warm and inviting. I love that books are the main decoration.
I could not live with that much open storage, but a really smart use of the available space overall.
That is the sweetest little kitchen I have ever seen. The whole space is really lovely.
This is definitely my favorite so far, I would love to live here. I love your shelves and the fact that you have happily incorporated all those books into such a tiny space. And of course the kitchen. I'd really like to see a closeup of the inside of the Murphy.
Now, this is a place where I could see MYSELF living-- love it! I can't believe you get two people in there though. This one's my favourite so far.
Wow, two people in that space?? I am amazed. Love the kitchen nook and the storage wall--you seem to be getting the best out of open storage. I don't feel like I'm looking at clutter or stuff; it's more a feeling that there are all your favorite possessions right in front of you. But then I am a big fan of books and when I pass open windows here in NYC I always stop and admire when I see a nice big bookcase.
What kind of shelving is that wall unit? Is that a tension pole system?
WOW! That's tiny! I absolutely love what you've done! Love the kitchen especially! Great job!
Nice Job. Love the kitchen and the warm wood flooring.
Invest in a colorful, more comfortable chair for your desk.
Wow! I love the kitchen and the murphy bed and the shelves of books! Insta!
Other Patrick -- You could probably install pull-down/pull-up curtains (I don't know what they're called) on the shelving. Voilà -- closed storage!
The kitchen is stunning. I'm glad to see so many apartments that are *really* tiny this year.
Thanks for sharing.
what a lovely place, well done. and books is always a plus. did i mention the beautiful kitchen cabinet?
good luck in the competition :)
i love the dark wood. especially in the kitchen. and i love those shelves in the kitchen.
I am in absolute love with the kitchen nook!!!
This is what I think of when I think 'small space' and 'studio.' Not super high end, not decorator city, it's homey. Awesome place.
Love the kitchen. Great double-use of the coffee table/bench and desk/dining for living and dining setup versatility.
I can't believe that two people live here. I think you have done a really amazing job fitting everything in here and being organized. Good showing!
I like the efficiencies made with the kitchen, the storage and the murphy bed, but for some reason the mix match of woods it bugging me. Any one or two of these elements by themselves are okay, but the whole thing doesn't quite gel for me. Close though!
Holy MOLEY that's teeny. I love how the kitchen nook echoes the Murphy bed (a Murphy kitchen?). Well done!
I love it, Anne! Well done Jake. Of course, you know I am a sucker for a murphy bed. And your adorable kitchen reminds me of the built in bar in a fancy hotel. Are their mini-bottles in the fridge?
The photos and layouts really give us a sence for the whole space and all the neat things that you have done with it. Great job!
Kudos on efficiency & great view!
The table actually came from a professional kitchen supply shop on the Bowery - you can get them custom made to any size you want, including casters - it ended up costing less than $400 - delivered. The storage system uses pieces from a company called Rakks (www.rakks.com) and a local dealer, Shelfshop (www.shelfshop.com) fabricated all the cabinets from our design. It is indeed a tension pole system.
As for the mini-fridge, yes - it may contain a few mini-bottles. But I'm not at liberty to confirm or deny that.
Thanks for all the great comments everyone!
Lordy, now this is an entry!
Your kitchen nook will inspire me for ages.
I like taht the coffee table resembles the radiator.
You deserve top credit just for being in a place that small!
Feels dark and slightly oppressive for me. I like light.
Great use of the space though.
It's lovely, and it also looks entirely livable. Hoorah!
Liking it. Effieciency exemplified. It's got some character. Love the kitchen too.
Wow! I'm amazed couz and couz to be. You've turned an INCREDIBLY small space into a very livable home. Your apt. would fit into my living room, but that just means I have more crap to clean!! Very cool. Very cozy. Very well done. You two must REALLY like each other :-) Good thing, huh?
what an amazing kitchen!
That kind of kitchen carpentry & NYC street smarts could only be accomplished by a Nipponese ShimWolfian!
Bravo Hiroyuki! & Jakey pooh too!
And in terms of Shanghai square footage, you could fit a family of 6 including both grandparents w/ alzheimers!
Your place is fabulous and efficient. I love the "product" placement of the Tabasco and Zatarain's. The only thing missing is some Jack's Tiger Drive Inn decor. However, Leo & Jesse, two kool kats think that your space too small. But then again, they roam a 4BR,3bath,kit,den,liv.rm,din.rom, & foyer.
Brilliant use of a small space! Kudos! I hope you do enjoy your place.
Nice place. Where did you get the rug?
Thanks - the "rug" is actually 12 FLOR tiles from Interface(from the "Thick and Thin" line). They're very inexpensive, easy to clean and easy to replace in case of irreperable staining.
Well all i can say is Wow! For a nyc apartment it is beautiful. Although the couch is a bit out of place in such a size. As a small NYC apt. dweller myself(279 sq ft not including the 39 sq ft bathroom wife and dog) we can attest to trying to make the best of a small space. I have one quibble only-since we cook every day, and only take away once in a while, the kitchen would be a tad too small to be useful to a proper cook. But it is fab nonetheless. Tell me something, where did you get the murphy bed? Did you buy it or build it? We're looking to minimize space even more by either building a murphy bed or a loft bed, only problem is we have a 60 lb. golden mix and he LOVES to sleep in bed with us......
Anyway kudos on the work- oh and i also love the bookshelves!!! books in a nyc apt is not something one sees every day, especially in a small one.
I love the kitchen and the bookshelves.
Really nice.
Like everyone else on AT, I love the tiny kitchen nook! - But knowing myself the way I do, I doubt I would ever be able to find it useful because I cook all the time. But hey, I guess if I lived in NYC I'd be eating at all of those amazing restaurants.
On the whole, I love this place. Excellent job you two!
Wow! I'm sorry I didn't come upon ths sooner. I love it! My apartment is the exact same layout but with a separate 5x5 kitchen. (It's actually very similiar, down to the radiator and the little edge on the corner wall - are you sure you're not in my building on the UWS? :) So I'm very impressed with what you've done.
I would love to see more photos of your apartment. I wanted to ask two questions about purchases. Where did you find the coffee table/bench and where did you get the dining table/desk? I already have a similar wall unit and couch. Love your layout idea so I'm going to copy, hope you don't mind! Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!