apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I am so jealous! I have always wanted a space like this so I can build the rooms in huge boxes (with an appropriate wheel system to move them, but not flimsy so that they move it you get jiggy with someone) and that way I can change the layout whenever I want, move the rooms to one side for a huge party. ;-)

Would he be ok with curtains on wire? It would probably be the easiest (and safest, in LA!). I've always liked the look of sheer curtains as a room divider, maybe with shelving to separate the work area. He could put backing on the shelves to make them seem like walls.

I'd put the living room in the brightly lit area to the left of the kitchen, put a dining table/island in front of the kitchen and the bedroom to the left. Maybe set up some kind of foyer right by the main entrance and then use the rest of it as work area. Then no one has to walk through his work or his bedroom to use the restroom.

BIG BOOKSHELVES

I find that carpets/rugs can help define areas. Since it's such a HUGE space he might look into buying some carpet remnants and having the edges bound.

Generally, I'd look at the Feng Shui Bagua - and use that as guidance for placing your living, dining, sleeping and work zones in the areas that are most beneficial for those types of activities, but also make sense with the fixtures that are in place.

Since your bathroom is on the left - I'd place the sleeping zone on the far left (Wealth/Prosperity). Your kitchen is in the center-back - which is rather auspicious (Fame/Reputation - symbolized by Fire) so place your dining area here. Your far back right is Relationships/Marriage, so don't fill this up with boxes and samples: best to use this as an intimate lounge space.

Since your career is an artistic one, I'd place your main workspace in the middle right (Creativity). Your front right is Helpful People/Travel - this might be a good workspace for collaborators who come in to work with you. Perhaps use the far right wall of this area for storage of your finished products.

Your central left area is your Family area - another good place for a lounging zone - and the front left is your Knowledge and Wisdom area: This is a great space for a library and sample storage.

Your central front area is your Career/Lifepath zone - perhaps another good workspace or meeting space?

Finally, the Central area is your Health zone. Never clutter the health zone: Leave it as open as possible so that you'll maintain good health.

This is fantastic! What an amazing space, have fun with it!

I've actually heard of people that have put an Airstream trailer in spaces like this to serve as a private area, a bedroom or office.... that is, if the concept or design of an Airstream or Spartan trailer is one that tickles your fancy.

Bepsf, that is great info there..... I just put my first month and deposit on a 1200 sq ft space (drwarfed by what we see above) and need to divide up the spaces into work/create/paint, office/meeting, and lounge/living. Thanks a ton for that!

~B

With a space so vast, you will likely need to live in the space for a short time until you decide how you like to use it. You could also change your space several times before you settle on a satisfactory layout. Therefore, you might start by getting a big roll of masking tape and layout the living, working, sleeping, etc. areas you would like to have in the space, then when you move, place your things in the designated areas. Once you're happy with the layout, use shelving, furniture, rugs, ceiling fabric, lighting, etc to further define the spaces.

btoddster --

Glad to help - Here's a link to a Bagua w/ more info on symbolism, elements and colors:

http://www.fengshuipalace.com/bagua.php

btoddster, i LOVE the idea of the airstream!

I would put the bedroom space next to the bathroom and the work space on the middle right wall, keeping the main living areas (the dining place and the living space) in the center of the apartment. I would also transform the back right corner into a personal lounging space: a place for reading, sketching, writing and some extra greenery.

I also think that shelving units used continuously to divide space can be a little overbearing for a studio apartment. For some of the "walls" why not use curtains hung from the ceiling? That way the owner is still able to open up his space when more room is needed in a certain area, such as his office, and he would still be able to have his privacy when he needs it as well.

He's going to need a scooter to get around in there.


So jealous.

I'd look first at how the daylight comes in/where the windows are and work your way from there.
You would want to sit where there is the most daylight.
Furthermore, it could be nice to go 'vertical'. Work with different heights for different areas, for instance build a big platform or some smaller ones.

You could also try closets and cupboards on wheels for flexible walls. Or you try out curved walls! Or you could put in rollerskating disco or some hoops! Or build huge offscale furniture! I also love the airstream idea.

Hinke, I immediate thought of rollerskates. What a great party!

Think more in terms of tasks rather than rooms. What does he need to *do* in the space? Sleep, eat, cook, watch TV, etc., etc. Then make sure everything has a place.

This kind of reminds me of the Alhambra with its support columns in the middle of the space. What are his/her needs? Single, married, family? Artist? Musician? Damn I am jealous! One thing though, you can't put up too many divisions and maintain the natural light coming from the area near the bathroom. The center could be too dark during the day, and as always, natural light is the best!

oh my god what i wouldn't give to live there!.

Don't forget lighting to highlight parts of the space and downplay areas that aren't getting much use. That will make it feel more cozy too.

Please share pictures when the space is complete!

I live in one of these. We use movie walls--canvas stretched on big frames-- to define spaces. Also free-standing Expedit bookcases, and large rugs.

My neighbor, a photographer, used the movie walls on tracks as doors, and put Metro shelves up the entire length of one wall, with the sliding doors all the way along. The doors, framed in wood, can support some light art work, and as the closets are only about 4 feet deep, he doesn't lose much total area.

Air stream? We have an industrial elevator, but it's not that big. VW bug maybe.


Our bathroom does have permanent walls, thanks to a previous tenant.

Wheels on everything. When I lived in a space like that I liked being able to move my living areas around. I used groupings of furniture to create "rooms." As far as the work space, I think moveable walls or screens could be used to hide the evidence.

What a kewl space! I have an open space of about 800 sq ft and built a wall to define the bedroom area. The rest...I just left open with groupings of various sized things everywhere. It kind of self defined itself. Please come back and share with us what you do!

I think John H has a point there, I am one to first feel the space and see how I live in it before I make any commitment.

Tape on the floor is even used by designers to help "see" the furniture before moving things around and buying stuff.

I think Hinke has the best suggestions. Let light and the way the sun moves guides you. Sleeping areas away from the morning sun, work areas close to the day sun, and so forth.

I have casters on everything in a similar but smaller space and it works brilliantly.

I would think bedroom nearest the bathroom with maybe some wardrobes to separate it from the rest of he space (or track system with sheer curtains). Then maybe the work area followed by the dining room and then the living area on the furthest side of the apartment from the living room. At least that's how I would probably set it up.