- Name:
- Andrew & Toni
- Location:
- New York, NY
- Square Feet:
- 380
- Division:
- Teeny-Tiny
- What I Love About My Small Home:
- After our wedding, instead of finding a completely new place, we decided to renovate Andy's studio and make it livable for two freelance artists. This was challenging, as Toni used to live in a large two bedroom apartment, and we both do a lot of work from home! We love that our apartment is multi-functional and serves as the perfect space for living and working together. The key to making this space work is the king size loft bed. With a friend's help, Andy designed and constructed it to serve as our bedroom, while providing ample storage space. It had to be aesthetically pleasing, structurally sound, and functional. Within the unit there are hidden closets for clothes, instruments, music, and space for photo, video, and audio gear. We love the acoustically treated and soundproofed room (formerly a big closet) which serves as a practice room and voiceover booth. Our big eBay find was the Togo sofa; when we need to change the apartment layout, we simply pick them up and move them.
- Biggest Challenge of Living in a Small Space
- The biggest challenge of living in a small space is twofold. The first challenge is combating the clutter of random accumulation -- just a few things lying around and the space gets small, fast! Our solution is to have an assigned location for things -- similar to the way a ship is designed. The other challenge is finding ways to separate work life from home life. With computers so nearby and accessible, it can be tempting to check email or work on projects. To avoid this, we make sure the computers are powered down when work time is over. A minimalist approach to life is challenging, and we have to remain conscious about deleting the unnecessary. We have a rule that whenever we absolutely must buy something, it must be truly needed, of high quality and well made, and built to last.
Categories:
Style,
Main,
2012,
New York,
Small Cool,
Small Spaces
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Great use of space. I wish I was young enough for a loft bed but my joints would protest.
I am jealous of that lovely loft bed!! if only my ceilings were taller
you did an amazing thing here. You used your space so wisely. Great bed space and storage space. 380sq ft and two people and your office space? You rocked it out! Congratulations!
Love the mindfulness, the frugality, the togetherness.
Love, love, love.
What are those sofas? Tell me they're not the super high-end sofas from Italy.
Katrinh - they're not super high end sofas from Italy, they're from France. Produced by Ligne Roset.
In the pics, the medium tone of the wood floor and the black seating with complete contrast to white walls and some of the furnishings make the room look bottom heavy. Have you considered painting the celing in between the beam a well-chosen color? A mobile [would be appropriate!] or decorative pendent hanging as a focal point would be a great additon.
no picture of the kitchen, no picture of the bathoom, no picture of the bedroom = no vote from me.
@coletta (rhymes with velveeta) I totally wanted Andy to post a pic of the bathroom that he expertly remodeled. He thought it was more important to show the majority of the space and to demonstrate how we use it. The bed is on top of the loft and is simply white sheets with white duvets. No wall art or decoration. You'd risk falling asleep if you saw it:)
I don't even like myself enough to live in that small a space. It must be true love. Great space design and I covet the white office chair.
Wow...great job! Love it
Really great use of space! I love the artwork above your sofa...any more info on it?
@stevenj Thanks for the comments! Hanging a mobile would be cool, but we need to keep the airspace clear for our crazy photoshoot configuration!
This is amazing! I wish I had those chairs!
@designasaur Thanks, we also love the artwork!! The photograph is by NYC photographer Carsten Fleck.
A fantastic use of space. And really stylish to boot. I love it!
Your apartment is all about Apartment Therapy! Imaginative, resourceful and challenging!
If I were the judge, you would win hands down for use of 380 sq ft to live and work in for 2 people. It looks effortless-can you tell I love it?
The last time we saw the apartment was on your wedding day,you two did a great job with that little place.
Laurie Nichols
It is unbelievable what you have done with 380 sq. ft. and to think that two people live in such a small space -- you did a fantastic job and get my vote.
I love that you showed a photo of the space at work. On first glance, I saw the last pic (the photographer shot) and thought "You only get to post 5 photos. Why waste one on THIS?" ...and then I realized how much it made perfect sense. It shows the space to be more that just a place to relax. Marvelous job!
Wow! Really well thought out use of space. The design and finish of the loft bed looks incredible. Would have loved to see a close up of the painting over the sofa. Is it a watercolor? Artist?
@gwalters415 That is actually a really cool photograph taken by NYC photographer, Carsten Fleck. It is from his series of Ink in Water. You can find more about him and his work on his website www.carstenfleck.com
This is the best space I've seen so for for creatively optimizing every square inch. Love it! Definitely gets my vote.
Also...I'm a french horn player and I'm curious about the subjects of your photo shoot who are all holding french horns with *painted bells*. Amazing! Do you know if they came that way?? I would worry that it would compromise the sound if you did it yourself.
Amazing! What great attention to detail and functionality. This represents an achievement driven by both art and design. After a long day at the office just go offline, turn around to an inviting space, and get started with your evening. Very well done. Work and clients during the day, and friends and family in the evening. This space does it all.
You've done an amazing job there with a small place. best of luck
Ashley
Incredible!
Great use of space!
Good luck! Very impressive!
@Leah_M
The awesome french horn bells are "painted" with colored lacquer, so the addition of color doesn't have any adverse effects on the sound! (Brass instruments are usually lacquered with clear lacquer showing the metal underneath.)
You can find more info here:
http://www.otto-horn.de/epages/298852.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/298852/Products/90002
By the way, the horn players are a quartet called Genghis Barbie. Check them out.
what a wonderful apartment, it is so cozy i would love to live there. Its very inviting, and well organized.
The horns were made this way for Genghis Barbie.. the Dieter Otto Barbie edition! But you can get the bells lacquered with any color for any horn.
We had such a great time working with Toni and Andy in their amazing tiny apartment, check out more photos from the shoot on our facebook page.. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Genghis-Barbie/109651785724992
The are truly creative and efficient!
This space is wonderful!! Is Andy a tuba player? And also, Genghis Barbie!!
I wish you showed more of the practice room. It reminds me of the movie Panic Room and how you have a little soundproofed room. Do you have a phone in there or some type of outward communication? Not being accustomed to living in NYC, what you have done to make this a livable space for two is extremely impressive. Functional and comfortable.
this space works excellent as an office and it shows like one. It hard for me to imagine two people actually using it as a living space fulltime. From the pictures it has none of that feel. it would have been nice to see any pictures of the loft, the dining area, the kitchen.
@RoccoAnthony Yes, inside the practice room we have a phone (landline), 4 power outlets, and audio connections.
@Indigosailor We totally should have shown the dining area better! It was so hard to choose what to show, so we tried to include photos that could display as much of the whole space at once. The sleeping loft simply contains a large mattress (natural latex, custom size, 1 inch smaller than a king size) (with white pillows and comforters), a reading light and a fan. Super comfortable, simple, and perfect for sleeping!
Amazing- guys- seriously! Your loft bed is genius and you managed to create something so functional! We have been thinking of making something exactly the same for our teeny bedroom but it's difficult trying to plan it. Is there any way we could find a plan for the same kind of loft bed? Did you build it yourself after your friend designed it? Again- amazing!