- Name:
- Michelle & Howard
- Location:
- New York, NY
- Square Feet:
- 750
- Division:
- Little
- What I Love About My Small Home:
- Our south facing home is constantly filled with light. Our view is of a small historic cemetery filled with huge trees, many birds and squirrels. The advantage of a small space is that we never have to go far to get something we need. We are hoping that when the little one arrives (any day now!), we'll be comforted by the fact that we'll always be just a few steps from the baby. Although the plan is open, our home is organized into distinct zones that frame different activities. By the windows are our desks, from where we both occasionally work from home. The living room takes up the center of the long main space and the kitchen/dining area is contained near the small entrance hall. Each of these areas is made distinct through color, material and lighting, making our home feel larger then it is.
- Biggest Challenge of Living in a Small Space
- Living in a small space has forced us to prioritize and thoughtfully organize our things. Over the years, in order to de-cluttering and making room for 2 (and soon to be 3) people, we have made lots of custom furniture and built-in cabinets. As a pregnant woman, I probably should have sat back and relaxed in these last few months, but instead I've continued to build. My friends refer to what I'm doing as "extreme nesting". For instance, to hold up the shared desk, I built a low shelving unit with space for oversized books and an amp. In the bedroom, I made a platform bed and headboard to fit snugly in an awkward alcove. For the bathroom we assembled a 5'-0" long cabinet out of mahogany and embedded it into the wall. My most recent piece is a table top designed to go around the trunk of a small ficus so that the potted tree can now function as a side table in the living room.
Categories:
Style,
Main,
2012,
New York,
Small Cool,
Small Spaces
Like this Small Cool 2012 contest entry? Favorite it below!
The Ultimate Used Furniture Cleaning Kit
Ana Creates a Community at Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
Recipe: Spring Fruit and Nut Tabouli
I could live very happily in this home. I especially love the brick wall in the bedroom.
pretty perfect...
A favorite for sure.
Looks great! Always more interesting to see a child in the mix of these smaller places. Where will the child sleep once they are older?
Very comfortable!
@AlainNotebook - I imagine that they'll move in a few years. The square footage probably wouldn't be an issue, but only having one bedroom would be.
This place seems really relaxing. I like it all other than the size of the rug under the dining room table...it's a tad too small.
I just want to give a shout out to the Deva Curl shampoo & conditionerthat i noticed in the shower .......as a hairdresser I will tell you that they are the best products on the market for curly hair!
p.s....the apartment is great too
very well organized. love the double desk and all the plants.
What an amazing place. I love the plants all along the windows, the way you've got storage sorted out and the fantastic workspace desk with bookshelves at the end. You're small space geniuses! (I loved living in a small space with a baby, as you've anticipated, it's great to always have them within reach.)
Love the ficus table!
The mural around the two windows is the best treatment I have EVER seen for a small space...it's gorgeous.
i've been looking for a sofa like the one in the living room! can i have the source? please? :)
I have never EVER seen a space so well organised + simply beautiful + intelligent + personal + DIY-gifted + + ! We raised our first baby for her first two years in a tiny mountain chalet, rather smaller than this, and I agree with Inchhigh - a small space is completely do-able with a little one, and is a great bonding aid! Best wishes to all three of you in this perfect place.
seriously smart.
you've attained tranquility.
Amazing mural in the sitting room!
I also noticed the Deva Curl products -- too funny!
I love all the built-ins. I also enjoy the plants, the openness, the light, and the great rugs. This looks like a real home, inhabited by people I would like.
The apartment looks homely but why is it in the small cool contest?
Looks great. The new carpet fits in nicely. The baby will love it !
so many sweet little details. I am a fan of the ficus tree table and especially the possibly easily overlooked cup/glass holder on the well next to the eames lounge chair!
I need a tall thin frig. Where did you get yours?