Name: Cristian
Location: Bucharest, Romania
This is my small studio apartment (around 38 squared meters) in a typical socialist apartment building located in Bucharest. I bought it almost 7 years ago, but only recently I had the time and resources to give it a makeover.
The first thing I did was to remove any interior wall that divided an already small space in different even smaller rooms (living, entrance, kitchen). I really love the open floor plans and I don't mind at all that every space is in plain sight. It just motivates me to keep everything clear, ordered and un-cluttered.
The kitchen space is visible from every part of the studio, therefore I wanted to be as least "kitchen-looking" as possible. However, the simple, basic kitchen is just enough for my minimal cooking, vegetarian diet.
Apart form the kitchen space, everything else can be easily moved, so the space always looks different. I never get bored of moving things around and reconfiguring the plan.
In general I am really fond of Scandinavian design, yet I hope that my space will, in the end, look a bit more eclectic. The decoration is not yet complete, but I like the fact that my small studio is a work in progress.
Thanks, Cristian!
(Images: Cristian Branea)
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Love it!
Very well done! I love the layout.
Does anyone know how many square feet is in 38 square meters?
It's beautiful!
@aloha7: I think roughly 409 square feet.
Very nice! The use of white makes it very light and inviting.
Lovely and inspiring. @aloha7: When I lived in a country with metric, multiplying by 10 was always a good rule of thumb.
VERY nicely done!!!!!
Super impressive. Clean, warm, lived in, smart. Just a great use of space.
Christian your apartment is lovely! I especially like the short floating shelves next to the window to make a skinny bookshelf; great use of a small space. I also like how you decorated the 'kitchen' wall with a shelf of art and the mirror; very unique!
Very very cool. It's very much my style.
Methinks Christian's measuring tape must be off, this looks way more than 39 sq.meters ;-)
What a wonder of taking out a wall will do. This place looks fantastic, thanks to being absolutely ruthless in keeping it clean and uncluttered (wish I could be like that in my space). Just goes to show, the less space you have, the less stuff you need. Nice!
It looks like the owner of the apartment is named Cristian, no "h". Might be nice to edit title to reflect this. :)
What a fabulous job! I love Scandinavian too--you've managed to make it both open and cozy. Please enter the Small Cool contest this year.
I love,love,love your kitchen wall with the mirror and that shelf with the art work! Just perfect!
Nice job!
WOW! i absolutely love your place!! what a great apartment!
Can i visit!!???
Nicely done!
I love the narrow table (?) over the bed!
Love the whole thing! The kitchen renovation with the mirror is fantastic!
What is in the area beyond the bed, near the windows?
Lovely job! Also nice to see something from my native country :)
Please where did you get your rug (the white and black)? Thanks in advance.
Great job! Love all the white, and the open plan-ness :)
Ikea Lappljung Ruta Rug :)
Wonderful job! Love all the details and the way you managed to give your apartment a clean and smart scandinavian look. I am curious if you bought your items from Romania (ex. black table). I just bought a small apartment and this info will be very helpful.
beautiful space; truly lovely.
i have a question for studio dwellers: do you let guests sit on your bed, since seating might be fewer than the people in your space? or is it off limits? or can guests sit on the bed, but no food/drink allowed? are there guidelines around that? i've never lived in a studio, and i've always been curious about it.
Very nice and bright. I notice you've taken the balcony into the room-- that area is perfect, in continuity with the rest of your space. Very thoughtfully divided space, liked that.
Felicitari!
Nice to see Ikea taken out of it's impersonal, globalisation ready design and put into a home. Where from are the chairs of the sitting area and sofa?
Ahhhh! You get an top honors.
incredible job!
This is a great small cool space! I'd vote for it. Well done.
Really cool your space!
I love the deer on your nightstand. Where did you get it?
Beautiful!! something about white floor...i love it. I wish I can paint my floor white too.
Awesome job! 38 mts2 and doen´t even look like. I see a nice bookshelf...third picture.
Keep on with your great work!
wow. love it!
This is a beautifully arranged room, great use of a small space!
So bright and happy! I love the couch pillows. I love all the white. I love the whole thing!!
approx 114
Cristian understood something quite simple but not obvious: white makes places look bigger? If you don't have much space, go for light colours, keep you place clutter-free and get the lighting right, it will look much more spacious!
http://egiavarini.blogspot.it/
Gorgeous.
Love!
I love the white floors and I also like that you didn't attempt to hide the bed. The apartment looks open, airy and comfortable. How do you use the table over the bed? I couldn't figure that out. Please enter your place in Small Cool this year!!
I was so surprised that you said your apartment was small when I saw your amazingly organised and spacious kitchen I thought your bed would be one that doubled up as a table or popped out of a cupboard,I really think this could be a new job for you.
sooo nice. really love your idea:)! I.m looking for an apartment of 50 squared meters, but after i saw yr idea, i think 38 is more than enough for one person...and i could save some money:)! Thx&Congrats !
Love this space. Really flows. I love the narrow table over the bed too - where is this from. I've seen it before. Ikea?
It hasn't really come up for me, but I guess it would depend on how one prioritizes entertaining guests at home. I wouldn't mind, but I've basically budgeted sufficient seating so far that I'd be the only one sitting on the bed. And I have small tables that can be easily moved if they needed to put their drink/food somewhere. But I do also have a table that would accommodate up to 6 for dining (and folding seats for that purpose, but not regular "sitting around chatting" purposes).
Thanks!!!
409 square feet according to an online converter
I like the beige. I think the color and the open space make the place larger, as if it was in a vacuum. I would love to live here. Charming.
Cristian you are incredible, wauuuuuuuuu I was born in Romania
super ma bucur sa vad asta in bucuresti :)
Such a great use of a small space - I love how you've kept the room fresh and uncluttered but you have just enough accessories and artwork to add interest. The perfect mix
I'm the Houses Editor for IKEA live magazine and would love to consider the apartment for publication. Cristian, if you are interested please email me homes@ikeafamilylive.com and I can explain the details. We've just launched the magazine in Romania so am looking for new submissions.
job well done with such a small space! Congratulations!