I'm having a hard time figuring out the space without any furniture blocks in the layout to get a sense of scale. I think the basic ideas of how to use the space all make sense. The one thing I can envision is your closet becomes a semi-public space because you have to walk through it to get to the bathroom. So, I would put your bureau in it to the right with a mirror above and the door partially will cover the area to the left but you might consider putting up ceiling to floor curtains to cover your clothes on that side. Likewise, I would probably either use curtains or a big bookshelf to demarcate the edge of your bedroom from the outerwall in - to give a sense that the bedroom is not part of the main space. The living room is large enough that you might even end up having two seating areas. Or, a desk/work area and tv/sofa area.

i would make the 'living' area the bedroom and sleeping area the living room. gl with arranging!

I found this info on Pottery Barn's website very helpful. Print the PDFs and replicate the floor plan on their grid, then they have furniture and rug cutouts that you can move around in the space to see what fits best.

http://www.potterybarn.com/stylehouse/tools/roomdesign/index.cfm

Wow, that layout would be perfect for some sort of room divider separating the sleeping area from the living room.

Though it would be far away, I'd almost would want to put the dining area in the sleeping area since it will be a public space since everyone has to pass through it to use the restroom. The living space is obvious - use it as a living room and you probably have room for a home office area too. I'd then make the dining area the sleeping area - hang a curtain or something to separate it from the living area and if that isn't a door in the wall to the cushion, add another curtain there.

Another choice would be to just put the dining area and the living area together, make a home office or guest space by the closet, and use the dining area as your bedroom again.

You actually have quite a bit of space for the pieces you have. Here's how I would do it.

Dining area: Keep it simple and center your table and chairs. If you require office space, set that up in the dining area and move the dining table down in front of your balcony.

Sleeping area: Buy some tall bookshelves and arrange them in line with the living room wall to create a division for your bed. Place the bed against the backside of the shelves, facing the exterior wall, with space on either side. You may also consider a drape that draws across the width of the opening and runs between the headboard and bookshelves. Your chest is very wide. Given the large closet I would replace the large chest with something narrower and place it adjacent to the closet door.

Living area: Let the space along the kitchen wall be clear for traffic flow, so that traffic does not go through your living room furniture arrangement. Place the couch with its back to this traffic area and the TV console against the closet wall. Poang chair could go in the corner next to the bath wall.

I printed your floorplan and sketched this out on it roughly, and you still have quite a bit of space to expand/have fun. With all that space it's too bad that they made the kitchen so small. Good luck!

i actually think the way the floor plan is currently labeled makes a lot of sense. my suggestions (hard to do as home body said without sense of scale):

- keep the bedroom area as is and think carrie bradshaw sex in the city. so the head of the bed would go against the long wall with night tables on either side.

- some kind of large artwork or gallery style artwork over the bed.

- a long mirror on the wall to the right of the walk-in-closet.

- the 6 drawer dresser on the wall to the left (looking at the plan) of the balcony door. styled casually on top with perhaps a tray with some perfume and a vase with flowers so it feels less like bedroom furniture.

-i'd place the sofa along the closet wall with the entertainment unit across from it. perhaps add in the ikea poang for a casual set up for guests.

-of course a rug in the living area to group that space together.

- the dining area=dining area. but if you don't ever eat at/use it perhaps get rid of it and turn that area into a home office? with a desk and shelving for books?

- along the long wall the door is on perhaps a console with some covered storage baskets underneath and a mirror above to bounce light around from your window? or some other kind of focal.

hope some of this is useful or gives you some ideas.

also, i'm reminded of this small space house tour from the past - perhaps you'll get some ideas.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/small-cool-2008-east/east-14-kristins-cozy-village-studio-047734

Got bored - rough sketch -- might give you a few ideas. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/evilgirldawn86/ApartmentTherapy.jpg

Kiwi-- thanks!! The link you provided is VERY similar to my place. I love the arrangement of frames she has above her bed.

What are everyone's thoughts on area rugs over carpet? My place is carpeted in the typical neutral carpet color. I want an area rug to help 'identify' the living space as it's own but is that totally weird?

I agree with Jess. AT just posted about a bookcase as a room divider, this would be awesome between the living room and sleeping area.

First, I'd start by placing the bed against the far wall of the bed alcove centered against the wall - on either side I'd place a pair of nightstands with matching lamps.

About 18-24" feet from the foot of the bed and centered on the bed, I'd float a new 5x5 IKEA Expedit as a room partition (might want to put some drawers/doors in in the lower section facing the bed for more enclosed storage) Place the back of the sofa against this, the coffee table in front, and a couple of lamps clipped onto the Expedit for reading while on the sofa. On the far wall of the "Dining" alcove, place a matching IKEA Expedit Entertainment unit - in between the sofa and this, float your Poang and another to match. With a large area rug to unify these spaces and a small side table in between, the two chars can be turned to face the TV when it's movie night, or the sofa when it's time for cocktails and conversation.

On the wall to the right of the bed alcove (as you're facing the bed) place your dresser with a mirror and a lamp - in the center of this space, place your dining table and 4 chairs with a hanging lamp swagged above. (Rather than placing the chiars like Compass points with their backs to the walls, place the chairs at the NE, SE, SW and NW points of the table: There's more room at the corners to get around) On the far back wall, get a vintage credenza from a thrift shop or Craigslist for more storage and to act as tyour landing strip - place a great big mirror above to reflect the light from the windows and a couple of large matching table lamps on either side. The wall to that backs up to the kitchen is perfect for large artwork. You could even place a couple of stools here to pull out as extra seating for parties.

Jeff/Penny- do you mean sticking outward perpendicular to the wall in the living room, or as a continuation of that wall?

I messed around and drew up a sketch for you. If you'd like to see it, email me at kateespears@gmail.com and I'll email it back to you. I'm definitely thinking something like sex and the city. have the bedroom cute enough and it'll be nice that people see it!

if it's a neutral coloured carpet i see no issue in having a carpet over it to define the space. i've seen it done tons and it looks just fine.

Hi, Robin!

Congratulations on your new studio! I have been thinking about it and here's what I've come up with:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/3444211677_cbd6f70140_o.jpg

In the picture, the bright blue pieces are the furniture you told us about. I think the drawers would make a great buffet for the dining area.

My living room is only 10 feet wide and I have the couch, coffee table, and TV set like in the picture and it is not a problem that traffic goes through the arrangement. I thought that would bug me, but it doesn't. It works fine.

I, like others, thought of partitioning off the bed from the rest of the place. I'd get some cheap bookcases or something from Ikea and hang a curtain from the bookcases to the wall.

You have room for some shelving on the little wall opposite the front door which would be a nice place for keys, mail, etc. and there is space next to the TV console for shelves, too. I'd put an ultra giant art piece on the same wall as the front door.

I put a side table in the corner between the couch and chair and I think there is room for another chair if you wanted.

The light blue areas are the rugs I would lay. I hope you enjoy your new place!

Thanks Kikajess!! I appreciate all of the time you spent on this!!