We've seen our share of small spaces and teeny-tiny homes, but this one just might take the cake. This 178-square-foot apartment in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn belongs to 25-year-old Zach Motl. An avid collector since he was a child, Motl adheres to the "old decorating dictum that says the more stuff you put in a room (albeit artfully arranged stuff), the bigger it seems. More really is more."
He's pretty thrifty, too, incorporating furniture or accessories found on the curb or at a flea market. And who says a rental has to be limiting? Upon first moving into his apartment, Motl removed all the window panes, cleaned them, and reattached them to make sure they weren't leaking heat. He also chipped off the mirror tiles in his bathroom by hand, and built his own task lights for less than $200 out of components found at Canal Lighting.
See more pictures and read the whole article at The New York Times.
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(Images: Robert Wright for The New York Times, used with permission. Originally published 2010-02-16)
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If I didn't see an overall shot of the apartment I would have never known it was the size that it is. I can only imagine how small it actually feels when you are in it, but he's done a nice job of visually separating the space.
very homey feel... i like it
great small space ideas... keep it coming
WOW!! lets see a whole house tour - i love it!
That is the most adorable kitchen I've ever seen.
Wow - this is a great apartment. A little too cluttered for my taste, but very well done.
I think what makes this apartment really good is that it really does have defined areas even though it is so small. All the colors work well together, too.
Is the bathroom part of the 178 sq. ft.?
Very nice.
I wouldn't mind seeing a floor plan to be certain how it is all laid out.
Love the green in the kitchen. But I wouldn't feel comfortable, always being in danget of knocking something down or over. No rough-housing!
178 sq. ft. and still he manages to squeeze in spices he does not use, boots he does not wear, and a dead bird... amazing!
So much style packed into such a small space! I'm amazed that he even has a kitchen...even though it's tiny (love it!). I really like the bed that opens up into storage...very clever idea! Great job all around.
I love this so much . . . I wish I knew how to make my living room look this beautiful. What talent this kid has!!
I read the article on the NYT online avidly, and immediately thought, someone has to post this on AT! Completely "Small Cool."
This is truly inspiring. Does anyone know what kind of bed that is?
Does anyone know where the bed is from?
That kitchen is so petit that it makes me super sad. I am diggin how the 'bedroom' pulls itself away from the clutter of the living room and looks very neat and organized
The bed is a Charles P. Rogers, if I'm remembering correctly - www.charlesprogers.com - fairly certain that's right.
This was posted here like a year ago.
"the more you put in a room, the larger it seems". Really? Just looks crowed to me. Like 2 candlesticks on that little table? All those books could be put in a tall bookcase,eliminating the need for chairs & tables to hold them. Please put a solid color slipcover on the ugly couch, get rid of the ugly coffeetable,so you can actually walk thru your room,and put up a bamboo shade over the "kitchen".
Otherwise, its cool. And got to get that bed, going to their site now!!!!!
I have the same response I had last time I saw this...nice place, but more stuff sometimes is just more stuff. Or, as my mom likes to say "that is just too much of a muchness"
I love how even though his apartment is only 178 sq ft he has delineated podlike areas by function and made it feel so spacious. This is inspiring!
This is amazing, but I wouldn't know how to live here... Where do you put a glass of water on the coffee table? I guess it's truly a place for New Yorkers who are never home.
I disagree with previous comments. I don't think it looks spacious at all. It looks cluttered, and could use some editing imo. Sometimes more is really just more stuff piling on the furniture and crammed into a room. The bed storage is neat.
I live in the Midwest and the $944/mo rent seems astonishing to me for such a tiny, tiny apartment. Other than that, it's charming. :)
I agree, it is quite charming. Not a lot of moving space, but I do like the neatly stacked books on the bookshelf.
- Sir Thrift-A-Lot
http://www.sirthriftalot.blogspot.com
perfect.
Try a multi-purpose daybed or futon couch.
Store wardrobe in pull-out baskets under an elevated bed.
Rather than tables and desks, use your lap.
Replace paper, books, tv, stereo, alarm clock, etc with a handheld computer.
For kitchen space:
Try a large cutting board over an under-counter fridge, stove or sink.
Try a portable stove top and one-pot recipes.
Try a standard-sized, single-bowl kitchen sink.
Store stackable pans, dry goods and a utensil basket in one cupboard.
Use a pot as a mixing bowl.
Retain shelving for decorative dishes and glasses – stand plates vertically.
Store stackable pans in an oven.