apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Hi Maxwell,

I'm so happy that you've posted this... I've heard rumors that your apartment was very small, but never did I think it was 265 sq ft. Wow, you're my idol!

Your proposed changes look great. I do have a question though because I can't seem to figure out the answer on my own so I'm just going to ask you.

Why did you install a raised floor in your bedroom. Storage or? Just curious. Do you have photos of it because I can't visualize it.

Thank you again for this post!

Holly

Congratulations! - and thanks for sharing your plans with us. The sliding felt door you mention grabbed my attention - can you provide more details, if you have them? Thanks!

I love that you have the crib being about the size of a diaper. Or are you guys having a Cabbage Patch Baby?

Dear Maxwell - I wish I could adopt you and your family. It pains me to think that you are living with a newborn in 265 square feet of space. What will you and the wife do when it's bad weather out and the baby is endlessly crying? You should devise your escape strategy now. Corner bar? Barnes & Noble? Something so you don't get on each other's nerves.

Does that mean the crib will be on top of the storage cabinet? I assume you mean bassinet right (I don't think a crib would fit).

Maxwell : You are indeed doing very well in your space. I and two of my other siblings grew up in a 500 square feet for the first 10 years of our life.

Following were the strategies that we adopted.

* Buy ONLY things that one need.
* Do not buy things that you need 2 years later.
* After doing the laundry - wash and fold and keep it back in its place. Do your laundry regularly - once a week so that clothes don't pile up and one does not go to the shop to buy one more shirt to wear.
* We had a trundle bed.
* No buying when there is a sale - even if it is the biggest deal that one ever saw.
* Recycle, Reuse, - We did this because we never had a big budget - Necessity was the mother of invention for us

Hi All
I have been obsessed w/ this website for weeks now. My problem is that I just purchased my first apt in NYC. Needless to say there is not too much $$$$ left for renovations/ new furniture/ decorating. I am upgrading from a 375 square foot apt studio to a 550 square foot studio that can be converted into a 1 bedroom. There is pretty much no kitchen cabinets or storage. Also there is no window or storage in the bathroom as well. Here is the layout. Any help would be appreciated.
[url=http://www.freeimagehosting.net/][img]http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/12c8a2cd56.jpg[/img][/url]

It's interesting that there are only 3 real spaces being changed directly for the baby- the baby station, the crib and the rocker. Babies really don't need much and it's not like 18 years from now, the kid's going to say, "Where was my nursery, goddamiit?!?" But I do have 2 questions: Like Matilda, I'm assuming that's a Moses basket/bassinet, not an actual crib. Don't babies outgrow those pretty quickly and need an actual crib? Second question- where's the desk going? Or is it somehow integrated into the baby station so you can change diapers and blog at the same time? The ultimate in multitasking!

All the stuff you had stored under the floor in the bedroom? Where's that going to go?

Ruth,

I have been investigating the crib question, and apparently, there are many, many babies and toddlers in NYC who have only slept in Pack and Plays (or however you spell it). Those are small and compact and a crib doesn't really seem to be needed. In fact, when I mentioned this to a friend in Florida, she said her two-year-old daughter always sleeps in hers at her grandmother's and loves it.

So if that's Maxwell's plan, he really won't need that much more space even with a toddler. (No idea when they outgrow them.)

We just left our 375 SF studio in Manhattan because we were TIRED of FIGHTING THE SPACE!!! We'd done so much designing on paper and building triple-tasked furniture and storage, and editing our belongings religiously. I was most proud of my designs for our baby center with crib :: Kid-Shelves :: which would have taken up a small part of the living space.
Then... after confirming our pregnancy, I admited defeat, and we left our beloved neighborhood for 950 SF in Brooklyn. It's a well worn path, and we wimped out, but it's really liberating not to have to measure to the closest centimeter for everything that enters the front door. Yes, we could have done it, but I'm not sure I could have been as happy. I applaud your efforts and will live vicariously -- I know if anyone can make it work, you can, and it'll be fun for us to watch.

Link to Kid-Shelves = http://www.flickr.com/photos/21671236@N00/177276882/

three things for you to consider.

Keep the desk as a desk worksuface. Maybe configure storage that rolls in and out of the existing leg room area for baby stuff, but could be rolled out by the door for when you want to work etc. Without the desk the only other place to do stuff is at the table and constantly setting up and down gets old. Baby's can be changes anywhere, floor bed table

Something that rolls that could be configured to as a baby sleeping area on top and storage under. At some point in time you will probably want the baby out of the bedroom. The crib could be rolled into to corner of the living room area by the table and still be close and into the bedroom when you are up and about and baby needs to nap.

A small chest instead of a table only as the landing spot, just to give you some extra storage options.

Fiona - Pack and Plays are neither small nor compact. They are about 3' x 4' and the mattresses are really thin. They are good for an overnight, but not comfortable for daily sleeping. They won't have room for a pack and play in that apartment, unless they forego the rocker or the kitchen table, and then the baby would be in the kitchen which wouldn't be great. And still, the p & p would be a major thing to step around.

Matilda,

All I know is that several children I know sleep in Pack and Plays every night and seem to do fine. And I have no idea how it fits in Maxwell's house, but it's certainly smaller than a crib.

I agree that it isn't necessary to give up the desk for a changing station--if that's what it is. Instead you could build a platform over the tub: that way the smell of the diaper pail (or garbage) will be contained and away from your sleeping area!

Here's a wacky thought: what about finding and installing a fold down changing table: like the ones in gas stations and washrooms in malls? Now that would be a super cool space saving device! You could put that in the bathroom too, I bet.

Thanks for the floorplan: it makes visualizing things so much easier!

Sorry about the double post--and remember--once juniour is about 18 months-2 you can change him/her standing up!

A fold down changing table is a great idea!!!! I bet you can buy one from a restaurant supply place. Just keep diapers and wipes handy in a fun tote bag or something.

I'm very interested in learning more about the sliding felt door - we have 2 children under 2 and are looking for creative ways to close off our dining alcove.

another crib option is to get a mini or portable crib - ours is from delta enterprises - we bought it at babies r us for $100. it's like a regular crib, only smaller, and it can fit a baby up to 34 lbs and 34". wish we had done this from the start instead of the bassinet and then pack & play. baby is so comfortable now, sleeping through the night.

Holly,

I think this is the video where Maxwell shows his raised floors.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/weekend-therapy/weekendtherapy-maxwell-steps-up-008478

I'm sure the baby will be in bed with you more often than not so forget the crib idea. A basinet would be nice for naps but when the baby gets bigger you'll have to think of something else.

While contemplating a folding wall-mounted changing table we found this at Ikea http://tinyurl.com/lo82z, though now it seems it's not available in the US. Other folding options (sturdier, more like those found in public restrooms) can run from 175.00 to 350.00 and are available through commercial and restaurant suppliers: http://tinyurl.com/g9286 or http://tinyurl.com/g6qxp. There is also the option of stashing a contoured changing table mattress under the bed or elsewhere and using it on the bed or floor (though this can cause some back pain after a while). Alana's idea for a changing station/platform over the tub is intriguing as well. Would there be room for a wall-mounted system in there?

You know, you could just join the whole diaper-free baby movement and forgo the whole changing table issue completely. You'd both have to learn elimination communication.

http://www.diaperfreebaby.org/

I say keep the desk and forget the changing table altogether. All you need is a washable rubberized (plasticized, whatever) pad to lay on the floor or your bed or wherever. That kind of thing can even travel with you in the diaper bag. We once changed our daughter's diaper in Elvis' TV room at Graceland on just such a pad, thanking the young tour guide profusely for holding the next tour at bay for a moment for us.

Regarding cribs, there are small foldable ones that can lean against a wall when not in use. It also makes the baby more portable--he/she can hang out in the living room in it, being part of the action without getting into mischief when awake.

Congratulations and good luck. You guys will do great.

Interesting link, Ruth. My mom and her siblings were potty trained by 6 months, as were all her peers. Why? Because they lived in the middle of nowhere (in Australia) with no electricity and the mothers had to boil water over a fire to wash diapers (and everything else). Now that's motivation to get your baby toilet trained.

I've had Americans tell me that it's impossible, but it's the norm in many parts of the world even now. That said, I'm not pro or con, but it's not impossible!

You know, I am a big fan of your work and usually I think your advice is spot on, but this plan seems like you are almost in denial about the changes a baby will bring to your life. I mean, you are going to have to move eventually when the baby gets older. Why make expensive renovations (to a RENTAL) that will only serve you for a couple of years at most? If it were me I'd save the money for an down payment on a larger apartment.

Maxwell:

Here are a couple of items for you to mull over:

- A wallhung changing table, which later converts to a child desk (you might have the idea knocked off and have a cabinet maker build you one -- perhaps to match your kitchen?)

http://www.timkid.de/english_htm/fraset2_eng.html?http://www.timkid.de/english_htm/wickel_eng.html

We tried doing without a chaning table for 5 months, and we both regretted the pain and damage it did to our backs. We tried changing on the floor, the bed, but nothing was comfortable, and it was always a pain to drag the supplies around. So that it why I think even in your tiny space a changing table might be worth it.

-Have you considered getting a European crib? They are much smaller than North American ones, and I believe that babies sleep better in more confined spaces (I think a lot of babies -- at least at the beginning -- are overwhelmed by the empty space in a big crib). IKEA cribs are small, but I don't find them very sturdy or attractive. I know it may be a bit pricey (although nowhere in the league of a David Netto crib for example!), but you might want to consider a Stokke Sleepi. It goes from a very small bassinet to baby crib to toddler bed to seating:
http://www.stokkeusa.com/sleepi3.htm
It is sturdy and attractive, and you can also get a matching drawer that fits under the baby crib or toddler bed size (forget which). I think it may come in different finishes too.

Since my cousin lived in a tiny studio apartment with her husband and baby for a number of years (her son was at least 6 by the time they moved), I don't find your decision to stay in a 250ftsq apartment shocking or undoable. Small spaces are the norm for Europeans; you just find a different way to live. You don't buy as much, and every purchase has to be carefully planned and considered. (my cousin btw boiled cloth diapers in a pot on the stove because she did not have a washing machine).

And as for early toilet training, everyone from my country gets toilet trained by age 1; it is a variation of the diaperless movement discussed above. The thing people need to keep in mind is that a 6 month old or 1 year old is not really toilet trained; their parents are trained in when the baby needs to go to the toilet. It also requires a very circumscribed and limited daily routine, one that I think would not be practical or desireable for New Yorkers to try to adopt.

Oh! And don't let the rounded mattress of the Stokke Sleepi phase you -- Gus and Max do great bedding sets to fit them:

http://www.gusandmax.com/

Monika,

Yes, obviously the only people who can do early toilet training would have to be stay-at-home parents! Wasn't trying to imply otherwise, but hearing the nightmarish story my friend is going through training her two and a half year old, I wonder if there aren't advantages to training (if you can) earlier to avoid the resistance a more strong-willed older child can put up.

I think it's quite common before you actually have a child to have great ideas about saving time/money/space like no changing table, use pack and plays, and early toilet training. I was full of brilliant ideas like that and there was NO WAY my life was going to change dramatically, my child would just fit in with the way we lived our lives, but then I actually had my child and my illusions were totally shattered!

Essentially, I'd like to have a report from Maxwell when the baby is six weeks old and see what they will be doing then. It's impossible now to predict how everyone will feel and will have adapted. Just please don't feel like you have given up if you decide to move, or get a full sized crib, have problems with breastfeeding, or use disposable diapers.

Matilda,

Maxwell isn't talking about any of these ideas. We are on the thread, and I think it's just throwing out ideas that people have either used or heard of, in order to be helpful.

If you read what he wrote, he's certainly not militantly stating what he WON'T do, just what they are planning to do--and that will probably evolve. He also doesn't sound like he think everything will be a breeze. It's just a discussion, that's all.

All I know is that I couldn't live with my spouse in 250 sq. feet and Maxwell managed it, so I am interested to hear how the baby fits in. I'm sure we will how hear how it goes over time.

"it can fit a baby up to 34 lbs and 34"

I was 24" long when born so that crib would have lasted all of a few months - babies are actually a lot bigger than you think even when newborn!

Violetrose - which crib are you referring to? The Pack'n'play? The basic Stokke crib is 50" long and 29" wide, and should be good until age 5 or so (as a toddler bed), when there is an extension piece which makes the bed 5 1/2 feet long, and turns it into a junior bed. Without any of the straight pieces, it is a bassinette (32" x 25").

forget the crib. let the little one sleep with you. my grown son slept in the family bed until 3 years old. he went right to his big-boy bed. family bed is great for feeling secure and for ease of nursing and for sweet family times when both parents work all day. just put a tarp over the mattress and be prepared to wash bedding frequently.

pregnancy is critical moment in a life of a women so the concerned person should be very careful.