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Name:

Ryan & Alana

Location:

Brooklyn, NY

Square Feet:

550

Division:

Tiny

What I Love About My Small Home:

Everything has its place. It's like living on a boat or a submarine. It forces us to be very particular about our belongings. If we want to bring home something new, we have to really love it because it means we have to get rid of something old to make room! With time, you end up with a very well-curated space containing only things you love.

Wherever you are in the country, there's a sale or shopping event to get you out of the house this weekend. From the Modernica Factory Sale in LA to the Renegade Craft Fair in Austin to a host of Design Week events in New York, there are plenty of reasons to get out and freshen up your home. Check it all out in the Weekend Guide, pass it on and be sure to send us your own sale or event.

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Name:

Jason

Location:

New York, NY

Square Feet:

475

Division:

Tiny

What I Love About My Small Home:

I like to think our home has the most stuff in the smallest package. 18' ceilings, wood burning fireplace, loft space, Juliette balcony, and original mahogany millwork are what make it so special. As a designer these are the charms that are hard to recreate so it was a pleasure to make them shine.

They say you don’t really know someone until you’ve taken a trip together. I say the true test of the patience and kindness in a relationship occurs while holding up a heavy shelving unit and trying to affix it to a seemingly stud-less wall. I know, because it's happened to me. That day, I needed both an actual and an emotional anchor.  

Back in 2008, when Ainsley Ryan and Chris Showalter bought a fixer-upper loft in a former Ex-Lax factory in Brooklyn's Boerum Hill neighborhood, they commissioned an architect to design something a little unusual — an OSB-clad 'pod' containing a master bedroom, a bathroom, and a little nook for their infant daughter. 

New York apartment dwellers know all too well what a challenge it can be living the dream on a budget. Sometimes all you can afford is the lower level railroad apartment without direct sunlight. For Alex, the plus side to this is having backyard access to plant a garden and express his love of horticulture. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to catch Alex’s garden in full bloom because he is moving soon (but staying in Bed Stuy), so he submitted some outdoor photos that friends have taken in summers past. This house tour is a little farewell to Alex’s garden floor apartment on Putnam Street.

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Name:

Kerry

Location:

New York, NY

Square Feet:

287

Division:

Teeny-Tiny

What I Love About My Small Home:

I love that this is the first apartment that I don’t have to share and is truly my own. For that reason, I was thrilled to have a blank canvas and loved having the chance to make my studio a reflection of my style and personality for the first time. When I first moved in, I had to pare down my possessions to only the essentials since at 287 square feet, there just wasn't room for anything else. Every item in my apartment is something that I chose carefully or that has personal meaning. Downsizing to such a tiny space has taught me to minimize waste and forced me to be more mindful in general about all of my purchases. When decorating, I tried to incorporate accents and pieces that create a relaxing, cozy and curated space, without over-decorating or creating an overwhelming space. I love that when I come home at the end of the day, my apartment is a place where I can unwind, relax and be surrounded by things that make me happy.

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Name:

Joy

Location:

Brooklyn, NY

Square Feet:

375

Division:

Teeny-Tiny

What I Love About My Small Home:

I think the flow of my space lends itself to feeling like a whole home. It has everything a girl could need from a kitchen table to an office area. It may be 375 sq. ft. but I still have a queen size bed and a fairly decent sitting area, none of which feels cramped. Even my dad's 60 year old desk fits when I added storage underneath. Less is definitely more in the main room as it can feel really cluttered quickly. I kept mostly only the things that I love, so while there is a lot of stuff, it is all happy stuff. I love the calming pale grey shade on my walls. I added mouldings and thicker baseboards when I moved in, which makes it feel more finished. I changed all doorknobs and hardware to glass so that it reflects the natural light from the three windows that make my apartment so bright. My walk-through closet is great because it holds all the things that I need to keep, but do not necessarily want to display.

Name: Molly and John
Location: Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, New York
Size: 1,200 square feet
Years lived in: 5 years; Owned

When Molly and John moved into this apartment five years ago, they were the first buyers in the building. The property had a few issues at the time, but Molly and John took the leap and were glad they did. The building has since filled up with young families, who have created a very tight-knit community.