Location: West Village
Size: 300 square feet studio
Years lived in: 3
After a couple of years of hanging out in a 1970's studio alcove in a 5-floor walk-up, the owner of this apartment called an architect for help. While he didn't have that much to work with, in terms of budget or space, he made up for it with some serious art and a strong vision.
He knew he wanted sleek lines, a floor with character, a few white walls for his art, and as much open space as a 300 square foot floor plan could provide. Lastly, the owner likes to cook but was non-negotiable on a kitchen that encroached on his living space — at all!
So, the architects and the contractor worked very hard to make use of every square inch that wasn't active floor area. They built up usable surfaces, primarily out of the existing awkward spaces that were casualties of a pitched roof.
The massive skylight, ample sun access, and great views of the west village's hideaway gardens make the five flight walk up much more tolerable. And the slate painted wood creates a striking contrast to the stark white walls. Using one material for all the doors and shelving unifies the space as opposed to cluttering it. The apartment's nearly blinding brightness is a welcome anecdote to the rickety staircase and dark and musty hallways that define the rest of the building. But this home stands on its own, like a well tailored suit.
Apartment Therapy Survey
Style: Simplicity.
Inspiration: Minimalism with quality workmanship but limited financial investment.
Favorite Element: The reclaimed floorboards from a nearby building. They are a natural fit albeit revisionist history.
Biggest Challenge: Making the floor level so the shelving would line up perfectly along the ceiling.
What Friends Say: It's open and airy, and a breath of fresh air after making their way through the rest of the building which feels like a dusty bed and breakfast.
Biggest Embarrassment: Winding the guests who have to climb up 5 significant flights of stairs to visit me.
Proudest DIY: Redesigning the kitchen to be much smaller than anyone thought possible.
Biggest Indulgence: Gaggenau Oven
Best Advice: Don't be put off by an ugly looking apartment when shopping around. Transformation is just around the bend.
Dream Source: Venice Biennale
For more details on the kitchen in this amazing gem of a studio, check out An Ultra Sleek Ultra Micro Kitchen.
Images: Jill Slater
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Very cool. Despite the 5 story walk up, it must be nice and quiet up there.
One thing I could never get use to is not having some sort of glass partition between the shower & toilet. Reminds me too much of a maids bathroom in Hong Kong.
LOVE this, the only draw back is how close the fireplace is to the counter, otherwise...fabulous.
Can I just say "wow!"? Congratulations on such a successful remodel.
great apartment- but where do you sleep? on the sofa? I think I would have given up some of my bookshelf space near the kichen for a little counter space/oven. maybe it suits your lifestyle, but I think it would be hard to sell it without a real kitchen.
Yes, where's the bedroom?
I love this - saving this in my style tray.
Oh, and I'll take that bathroom.
Can't believe this is only 300 sf.
Really dig this. Feels very modern, while still seeming comfortable.
ILoveUpstate- I think you're looking at a "before" picture.
I find this space very beautiful, but it wouldn't be practical for me... with no kitchen counters (how do you chop veggies?) and no bed (that I can see). The bathroom is especially gorgeous, though, and I love the shower solution.
Love this space. It makes me want to downsize from my own 450sf!
Are you trying to break my heart? *le swoon*
It's lovely.
I assume, unless the link is sending me to the wrong tour, that you sleep on the bed - photos 37 - 41.
There is something wrong with the prompts on this tour. It "ends" several times before it is over, you have to go to thumbnails, advance a picture, and then you can go into tour mode until it does the same to you again & you return to thumbnails to see if there are more photos (there are).
I like this but I also liked the original living room. The bathroom is fantastic!
i have a feeling that they lied when they told me my apartment is 500 square feet.
maybe they said cubic feet?
This one looks sweet!
That bathroom is uh-mazing. love the bedding. and that sofa. and the rug.
oh, and the floors. wow.
Very nice. It looks very spacious!
Love love LOVE IT!!
Wow! I LOVE this place.
Not sure how you get this far along on such a comprehensive project, with such a polished interior, and still end up with a bedside lamp on the floor!
Personally, I could not live with so much open storage, but it is, overall, a stunning apartment... I'd still move in!!
Perfection. This makes me want to sell everything I own. I love the palette, and the simple style paired with traditional-leaning furnishings. This is the kind of warm modern I like.
The slideshow ends about midway through the photos, so people can't see the bed, etc.
nice overall except for the bedside lamp and the rug in the living room.
@DB8L: Your comment "Reminds me too much of a maids bathroom in Hong Kong" is out of context here. Chill out...
Wow very, very nice apartment, got the wow here.
The 90" L Florence Knoll sofa caught my eye and I thought nice indulgent, then I see you have a Gaggenau oven which are amazing in performance as it is jewelry for the wall.
I love the bathroom.
I know not everyone needs or likes having coffee tables and end tables but a floating sofa always looks unfinished.
OK, now I see the bed.
That slideshow's a serious mess.
Is there an actual window out of which you can see?
@ greatfriend - there's a whole wall of 'em.
I don't like the fact that there is no direct view to the outside world at all, except for the skylights and something about this floor plan is throwing me off. The fact that the bathroom looks larger than the kitchen seems silly to me. The finishes are nice, but something is off....
Beautiful apartment. Are those shelves from ISS designs?
There's something wonky with the tour. In a couple of images, the "Next" button disappears, making you think the tour is over.
wow, I'm quite impressed
LOVE the new incarnation (everything about it: colors, furniture, artwork, layout), but I have to tell you, that old fireplace was some SERIOUS awesome. I would have left it as is. Those bricks would have been a nice balance (along with the velvet couch and the Persian rug) to some of the more stark modern elements.
Oh well, it's beautiful anyway.
On a side note, it's interesting to me that people are so divided on the open storage issue. Some people (me) love it. Personally, I think it really warms up and personalizes a space. Other people hate it with an equal passion; they just can't stand to look at "stuff." Just an observation, that's all. But I think it's one of the main reasons that people disagree about some of the decorating on this site--although not everyone knows how to put it into words. There's just "something" they don't like. Usually, the open/closed storage issue is at the root of that.
Yeah, you gotta go to the thumbnails to see the whole tour, but there are lots of pictures. Love it.
Something to keep in mind that people are always commenting on (here and other posts): a lot of people who live in NYC Just.Don't.Cook. They just don't. So in 300 sq. ft. of space, minimalizing the kitchen makes sense. It's all about how a space works for the person who lives in it, and if they can acknowledge that they don't need lots of kitchen space, and make the kitchen space they do have super beautiful and super efficient, then good for them!
PS The bathroom is a smidge minimal for me (even though I really like minimal), but I LOVE the tiles and the wood floor.
Very impressive. Although, I agree with Creative License about the old brick fireplace... it was awesome.
I've been seeing these kind of toilets all around AT, but what kind of toilet is that? I'm buying a home with a small bathroom such as this and that kind of toilet would work like a charm.
Your bedroom lamp is creep-tastic!
It is amazing that this place is only 300 square feet. Seems much bigger! I love the classic modernity of it all. Very, very nice!
this place would be so easy to live in--everything is well thought out & yes, it feels so much bigger than 300 sf. love all the shelving & bookcases. a really beautiful space. slide show is definitely not working.
bathroom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just perfect! I share the philosophy: "minimalism with quality workmanship but limited financial investment". Easy to say, but so hard to achieve...!
Love the floors and shelving. And the books. A room with books and fireplace is just like heaven, feels cozy and warm even to those people who don´t like minimalist spaces.
And according to the post in The Kitchn, the owner of this apartment really cooks in this tiny kitchen: the shelves by the counter are filled with cooking books, mixer, etc . I imagine that the table can be used as counter space if needed, but I would rather install a folding counter, a white surface that could be folded and disappear against the wall when not in use.
OMFG. Wow. I love this!
Hunter, some "next" buttons are missing in the slideshow, but if you click on "Show Thumbnails" all the pictures are available.
I love it. The air of confident restraint in this renovation (and decor) is almost intoxicating. I especially like the offset painting over the fireplace, the exposed pipe in the bedroom, the floors and the use of empty space. Oh, and the drawing over the table next to the kitchen is phenomenal!
The only criticism: if you are this person's Secret Santa this December, get him some bedside tables.
"Lastly, the owner likes to cook but was non-negotiable on a kitchen that encroached on his living space — at all!"
"But this home stands on its own, like a well tailored suit."
Jill, I realise that writing is the least important skill for an AT blogger (after contacts, design nous and photography skills), but seriously, this sort of thing is causing me pain. Please, have mercy!
Beautiful! Sleek, light, minimal. I love it!
Fantastic. I did love the original fireplace, because it reminded me of "A Little Princess." But I can see that wasn't what they were going for, and the new fireplace is pretty great, too. Like many others, I want to know where he plugs in that Kitchen Aid, where he chops garlic, etc. The table seems most likely, but someone so obviously resourceful might surprise us.
This is an incredibly beautiful apartment. I am shocked that it is only 300 square feet. The renovations are perfect, and I like their simplicity. However, the place does not look minimal to me. I'd like to see even more restraint exercised here to really push it to the max.
For example, the rug. I'd like to see something much more sleek, without a pattern. I'm struggling with all the books, they are creating visual clutter that I wish weren't there. I think lowered scaled display of the books might work better.
The fireplace is absolute perfection. Love the small kitchen and the airiness of the place. Overall a very pleasing design.
This is a dream. The kitchen is stunning simplicity and utility. I don't cook much either, and if I need veggies chopped, I buy them that way. So much wasted space in most kitchens/bathrooms.
The bedroom is so peaceful in such a small space. Your architect was paying attention.
The storage visible aspect does lend personality, and the objects and art are well curated. I never thought I'd admire a Koons as much as you have it displayed here.
Uh, and the lamp on the floor comment...some people just don't get minimalism. This is hardly severe. It is simply very tasteful and well worth a five-flight climb for me any day. Bravo for no extraneous junk.
A-maze-zing! This apartment illustrates the difference between design and decorating. Love.
this is one of the best house tours I ever saw on AT. every single inch in this app is sophisticated and gorgeous.
can somebody identify the table lamp?
this apartment though tiny, is exquisite the kitchen is miniscule and so is the bathroom you do not show the bedroom but it is all done in excellent taste love the use of space over the doors i did that myself in my younger days in a small apartment as well. thumbs up
I really enjoyed the tour. I couldn't live happily with such a small kitchen myself, but kudos for the design!
Your place is beautiful..stunning. I have a question on the wood in the bathroom shower area. What was it sealed with in order to prevent water damage?
Just spectacular! I love the color palette and the rug *is* perfect.
As for New Yorkers and cooking/not cooking. If you lived in a fifth floor walk-up with really serious stairs like is claimed, you wouldn't be so keen on schlepping bags of groceries each and every week. (Yes, I know the delivery guys will take bags upstairs.)
love the look but keep thinking about the TP getting wet during showers. ??
LOVE this space! It's the kind of minimalism I love, but can never maintain.
I especially love the shelving and the windows! Where is each from?
Getting rid of the counter and sink next to the fire place, is a huge improvement and makes perfect sense. I love the clever design of the kitchen. The money on the oven was well spent. I couldn't tell from the picture, are there wheels attached to the black table?
I love this apt. My only thought - which is a personal perferrence - is I would have kept the kitchen counter. Updated and scaled back on the counter width.
I do bake and cook so I would need a prep space.
Everything else is simplely well designed.
Such an awesome place!! The rug, couch, and floors: FANTASTIC!
I heart this bathroom.
Does anyone know where the kitchen cabinets are from?
hmm, I'm also not seeing a bed...
Could be something wrong with the links...
But the place looks great!
That sofa looks awesome in there. Never get rid of it!
Wow. Very beautiful place. Very tasteful. I am torn on the bathroom. It definately looks cool. But it is very similar to the crew's bathrooms on our sailboat (in format, not materials). I might get tired of scrubbing shampoo residue off the side of the toilet.
This space is a great achievement, getting so much in such a little space and looking so good.
The actual tour was a little wacky though. I had to click on "thumbnails" to get all the pics. Also, I would have liked to seen the second bedroom door in a wide shoot. Not to mention the actual closets. I would like to have seen, not just imagine, the whole open bedroom close closet, closed bedroom open closet.
Otherwise, this is a place I could only dream to have. Mixed about the bathroom, can see why it's awesome but not quite my taste.
Hoping the closet goes entirely across the room at the foot of the bed which would mean a decent walk in storage area.
Also, a simple cutting board across half of the sink would be an adequate prep area for most things, I'm thinking; even with a full kitchen, I find myself doing that.
Loved the very inconspicuous television placement!
The two chairs look alike and seem very versatile: dining, living room and, as shown, desk.
I love seeing every little detail and still I am longing for a floor plan, pictures of: pictures, closet, views out the windows, and the insides of the kitchen cabinets!
Thanks for sharing your realized vision and applause for walking up five flights daily!
Wowie, wow, wow! How gorgeous is this place! It should win the small cool contest!!
and lol @ hunted!
AT...PLEASE fix the tour so it is not such a pain to look at!
I agree with the other poster about the kitchen. I would have kept the old configuration and just updated the counter area instead of removing it...I have to have counter space.
WHERE did you get that wonderful couch from?
What kind of material is used for the hearth and is it inset or just sitting on the floor?
it looks like he had a very big budget
Nah, he cheaped out on the couch. Alcove studios in the West Village are pricey, though. No pity party for the sqft!
I give it a solid B
The sauna wood slats in the bathroom are pretentious and out of place. Cleanliness should be the operative word here.
The rug is gorgeous, but there is too much blue in the gray. It's cheesy. The gunmetal gray shelves are horrible. This does not look spacious to me at all, because the palette is heavy. The striped pillows work in a Georgian townhouse, but not a modern apartment.
Harsh criticism if you're inclined to accept it, but overall, it is tastefully done. But this person paid people and should have gone the extra $ distance and hired better.
Not a knock on the architect, though.
It looks much more than 300 square feet, and there is place for everything, that's very nice.
"The apartment's nearly blinding brightness is a welcome anecdote to the rickety staircase..."
hmm.
Like this apartment a lot, but I also liked the 'before' pic too, with the brick fireplace... mmm
Oh by the way, glad to see some 'small' spaces on AT again. Can't seem to get a gawk at the small cool entries these last few days
love love love love love. i love this style!
i wish i had hardwood floors instead of disgusting ferrett (previous renters) ridden, torn up, stained carpet!
Love it.
only 300 sq feet, wow this is amazeing. I live in 500 and your place seems twice as big as my space! love it!
LOVE IT
Love this place. Love, love, love it. 300 sq ft? Are you kidding me ? It has more function, comfort and style than spaces I have seen that are 10 times the size. Did I say, LOVE IT !
You want walls for art,What Art?
Your wall do not have to be white to display art!
I would climb the five flights of stairs for this.