apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

This is fantastic. No clutter but still manages to have personality in such a small space. This is such a great reminder of how little we actually need. He cooks, reads and has a magnificent view of Times Square? A++ :)

It's beautiful! We should all learn to live with such simplicity.

Very inspiring! I love the contract between his place - fun, simple, relaxed - and the TS madness below.

J

contrast

J

this is quite an acheivement. i mean, we all talk about simplifying, and decluttering, and all that. and this guy has not only done that, but done it well. the space is orderly and functional without being austere. he has everything he needs, nothing he doesn't, and his space looks perfectly filled, neither cluttered nor spartan. it doesn't look like a storage unit. it doesn't look like a dorm room. it looks like a home. which is difficult in a space like this.

it's striking how much this apartment reminds me of the MFA studio spaces at Hunter College, which are in the same neighborhood.

i have to say, though, that i knew Jack was a guy when i saw the shower -- one bottle of Dr. Bronners and a toothbrush. a picture is worth a thousand Y chromosomes...

oh, and one more thing. love love love the eating space over the sink idea.

I am printing these out to get me motivated to finally complete my stalled-out declutter fest.

Just wonderful. How amazing that so limited a space can feel more like a home than room after room after room in others. A tremendous inspriration. Perhaps AT can repost the link to the slideshow once the next Cure begins -- as a sort of touchstone.

Well done! I love everything you've done with this space, it looks so cozy and functional.

That looks a lot like my first Columbia apartment on Bway and 113th St, except that I had to share a kitchen down the hall, and it wasn't nearly as nice. I think my apartment dimensions were 9' x 14'. I lasted two months before I found an apartment share with a real bedroom across the street.

*sigh*

Does everyone have an apartment story about a first tiny/yucky/dirty/scary NYC apartment? Sounds like a great, new AT series to me. Call it "My first NYC apartment." Oh, and that'll be $250 for the idea, thanks. I take PayPal.

Wow! Jack, you are an inspiration.

The location of that apartment ain't so bad either -- practically on top of the "A" train and right in the thick of Times Square, plus the outside of the building is very cool.

A few years ago I went to a couple of art exhibits in the lobby of that building, which were kind of fun, too.

Very impressive!

There are days when I think it would be really cool to have the self-discipline to live like that. The urge goes away for a lot of reasons, but I admire people who make it work for them with such sleekness and charm.

Definitely inspiring. I want to go home and declutter right this minute.

fantastic - well done. very inspiring. feel like leaving work right now and running home to get rid of more stuff/things (in the middle of packing for a move to a smaller space)...a personal thanks to jack for the very timely and necessary inspiration.

one question for jack: do you entertain in your space?

Wow, that is amazing! Good job!

Great place! Love the white pencil/office organizer on the wall. Can you tell me where you got it/who makes it? Thanks!

that's great. what a view! and it's not like I don't eat most of my meals over the sink anyway, so why not have an eating space there? brilliant!

Simplify, Simplify, Simplify...Out of the clutter, find simplicity
I'm so impressed! You know, why is it so hard for me to just get rid stuff. Stuff I don't even look at pack away taking up life in my apartment. So, this is what a little courage and a lot creativity can do to give you that breathing space you crave. Your place has truly given me the kick in the BUTT that I needed. Thank you for sharing and for helping me see what the bare necessities is all about! Awesome view too.

i hate being this rude but---how much is the rent?

amazing view!you are a minimalist god.

And I thought *I* lived in a small space. I've just gotten rid of a bunch of stuff, but this is very inspiring.

I'm actually kind of jealous.

Great place, Jack!

This is truly amazing. We're all completely charmed. Your use of space is phenomenal... one shot that showed how cramped the bed, kitch and table really are was pretty shocking... but you've also managed to start collecting some great pieces. And that last shot of the view totally Rocks the Casbah.

Maxwell, this guy deserves an honorary smallest coolest prize... And his space should be added to whatever eternal pantheon of design inspiration there is here at AT. Just because.

I will never, ever complain about not having enough room again. Ever. You are a far braver soul than I, Jack.

Hey! Jack Early here.

The wall organizer was designed by Dorothee Becker. Found it at Moss.
I entertain a bunch. Sometimes everyone brings an instrument! ItÂ’s all about being together. I serve bottled drinks mostly and if I make coffee the mugs that double as my shaving razor mug and toothbrush mug have to be rinsed while no one is looking. Thanks for the comments.
Jack

Very inspiring!

I love love love the polished wood trunk paper/pen/stuff holder with a drawer!! Where did that come from?

solves the desk dilemma quite nicely,

thanks

I echo the kudos and also love your three words to describe your home. Great words to live by.

You shamed me into cleaning up my office, which is about the same size as your fantastic home. My boss-friend walked in, looked around and said, "you've been on that design blog again haven't you". Yes boss, yes I have....

Jack :
How many million times do you think before you buy something ?

How can you restrain yourself when you want to buy something so badly and can afford it but have no space for it ?

OUT with the secrets jack -

Can you believe how small that place and how good it looks?, Not only is his decorating good but check out his band and all the great music he much have written in that little space. Go to his MYSPACE account:

http://www.myspace.com/walterjacksonearlyjr

You wonÂ’t be sorry!

it's funny how you can seeming see the person so much clearer when the veil of clutter and excess isn't present. so free.

great space.
nanette

Do you mind if I ask where you got your rocking knee chair, or where I can find something similar? Thanks!

Wow. I could not live like that. I'm impressed with how workable it looks.

All I can say is... WOW! Your place is the essence of simplicity AND functionality.

As soon as I leave the office I'm buying a box of heavy duty trash bags and get to purging when I get home.

Well done Jack!

This wonderful; I love it.

When i first came to NYC in 1995 I lived in a very small room at the hotel Martha Washington. I had a bathroom down the hall and the room had a sink and just enough room for a twin bed. I lived there for over a year and i really loved it!! Everyone-women only (MW hotel policy) who came by said it was so cozy and comfy. Everything was multipurposed. My desk had a slide out arm that became mini dining table and food prep. The twin bed was covered seating. I made everything myself. The ceiling was very high so I built a stacked closet. And I had a big window with a view of Park Avenue -- that always helps.
Even now i miss that little room sometimes. It just came together so well. Wish i still had photos.
And the hotel had many unusual occupants-all female- but some a little "charactery" So I hung an art show of various portraits I created around the hotel floors on nails left from missing decorations. They were all "collected" by the other neighbors. Interesting experience

Nice place Jack!

what is the provenance of your white bedside lamp?

Jack, I live in about the same about of space in upstate New York. I've been lurking around this website again for about the past week looking for inspiration and you definitely provide it. Thank you for sharing your place with us. I'm don't work in the creative arts or have an interiors/design background (and don't know if you do either); but I like what I see.

You have obviously put some thought into your space, what you need, what you don't, and how to organize it. The individualism of your space shows. A real person lives there. As someone noted above, I like the eating space over the sink; and also like the portable closet as divider. I also find it interesting that you have chosen not to use some of the usual solutions to a small space- i.e. making the bed look more like a sofa, and hiding away everything behind doors/curtains/whatever. The danish valet is a cool touch and I am envious of the powerbook (maybe next year). I've bookmarked this page and am going to look your photos and web page over more closely after work tomorrow to see what ideas I can scam!

I hope to see this entry again next year, if allowed, in the Smallest/Coolest contest.

Walt

I had that same white tube lamp when I was in 7th grade!

Good God Man, clean that shower floor! Yuck.

Jack--Did you ever think about replacing the bed with a futon? That way the space could be used for bed- and living room!

Great flat. Beautiful office chair and desk. where did you find the chair?
btw, a murphy bed would give you tons more space.

Just wanted to provide a link for the chair for anyone interested. I don't own one but I have sat in one and they are fabulous.

http://www.backinaction.co.uk/kneeling

I love how you finish the slideshow with your view!

You make great use of the wall/desk organizer, but my favorite thing, for practicality, are the super thin coat-hangers. I bet you fit twice as many garments in your closet space just by using those. What a great job.

I also lived in a really small space.

I see your priorities are the open space above your desk, and having a big full size bed.

Having a twin would give you a few more square feet, but maybe is not good for you.

Putting the orange closet in that spot, does that mean that you have to move the closet or squeeze around it each time you go to the bathroom?

I would suggest putting the bathroom door back on. And, finding another solution for your clothes. You probably don't have too many clothes, but maybe use the space where that red thing near the bathroom is to hang up what yo need to hang up, get rid of the big orange monstrosity of a closet, and fold some t shirts, on the shelves above the door.

i like that you don't have ikea like shelves everywhere above the desk, and that you have kept open space, but i think that orange thing is too big. if it fit in perfectly into a corner it would be ok, but i think there must be a solution around it.

use the money from the powerbook, and spend it on rent .:)

i lived in a tiny 325 square foot studio divided with walls into 2 bedrooms and a kitchen. each room was like 100 sq ft. now i moved into my own 325 sq ft studio with separate kitchen. hopefully, my next move will give me a real bedroom, even a small one.

good luck.

I am so impressed. (I never post comments but you've drawn me out of my shell!) Jack, you have great taste and style. You did so much with the space. I LOVE the poster. Both of them, actually. Just think how much fun you'll have one day when you move to a bigger place. But for now it looks like a happy place to live!

LOVE IT!! In particular, I think that it is great how you've maintained a sense of personality despite the minimalism... so many McMansions seem so damn anonymous--despite the space availble for personal, defining items--but your space really seems like it belongs to a specific person. Right on.

(and I say keep saving money on rent till you have a retirment fund and money to buy your own place--too many people in the city spend waaaaay too much on rent)

Karmin,
I just sorta found the what I call Hippie Pencil Holder. I love it too “man”. There are arts and crafts shops that have this sort of thing. I have seen a few in Manhattan. I will find out some details and get back to you.

Shannon,
A link to the Kneeling rocker was posted by Ashley. Thanks Ashley.

irksomecushion
Here is the link for the lamp. They come in these cool boxes that say SWEDEN in big blue letters on them.
http://www.classic-modern.co.uk/light3details.htm

I think your place is awesome! You have everything you need within arms reach. And a million dollar view!
I used to live in Hotel 17 on 17th st. between 2nd and 3rd ave. Is it still there? It was cool. I think if I had stayed there I probably would have made it a little homier. Live in Miami now. I'll trade you my house for that view any day! Good luck dude...
P.S...this is what AT is all about!

Jack,

would you like to rent your place for one night - New Year 2007? i've always wanted to celebrate new years at times square but dont want to stand around in the cold - so this would be prefect.
i've already made plans this year so Seriously would you consider it for next year?

I knew there was a Kartell fetishist out there somewhere! I could never live in this small of a space, but kudos to the person who doesn't live beyond their means. This place is tidy and the collection of objects is interesting...

great work jack, this is perfect inspiration for any size space.

Jack-

Excellent! Really like your place. What's the arrow piece in the bathroom. Is it in front of a window or is it lit? Really like that. The other window is nice, too. Is all that frame work on it something you did? We'll talk more. Ric

Hey Ric,

ThatÂ’s a traffic sign with an arrow you see in the bathroom. It is reflective.
The historical building I am in has a string of top floor windows all with the neat arch and old ironwork.

Thanks man.

Old friend, Jack! Nice work!
Erwin and Sim

This is so lovely and amazing. Really nicely done. I love that you found room enough for your robot. Priorities! :)

Where is the bathroom...? I'm designing an apartment that is 13'x13' ... with a bathroom...

Ah, found it, cool...

my husband and I live in 1200 sq ft. in a French village we feel short of space ....Jack has shown us the way. Cosy,tasteful,homely.

Is that a PICKLE you got in that bowl with the bananas?!

Re: Uta Barth, following should give you an idea:

http://www.albrightknox.org/acquisitions/acq_2001/Barth.html

fantastic space! what kind of coat hangers are those?

Brilliant! HGTV's SSBS would love to show your place.
I'm also using my cutting board for more than one purpose but my hat's off to your version.
And, I love your orange closet. Can you tell me where can I find them? I love the color. Or, did you dye yourself? :o

Great space! I'm tiny, though, and I love small spaces. My current apartment is dirt cheap but honestly much too large for me.

WHere can one purchase that white pocket hanging organizer hung on the wall adjacent to your office space next to the front door?

hello Jack Early here.

i found the orange closet in 2001 at a place on Hudson St. in new york called Room. Room is no longer around. and it has no marking other than a Room tag.

the hangers have no mark on them. i found them in an abandoned AFrame house in the woods! - sorry.

Jack, everytime I come on this site I look at your apartment. Great job! Definitely takes creativity and knowing what works. I am new to NYC, an undergrad international student who is renting a very tiny apt. in Brooklyn probably a smidgen bigger than yours. My taste is all over the place and I am so not creative, but I do know I like color. I need it to feel homey, not just a space I'm occupying. Do you know of anyone that would be willing to look at it and help me decorate at a budget?

I think it's hilarious that the bathroom is handicapped accessible, since the apartment itself hardly can be.

This place seems to be working out for Jack, which is great of course. Housing for all. But to celebrate his "success" in living in such a small space is going a bit far, don't you think? Would anyone want to trade with him? It's a successful home if Jack resolves to live like a monk. There are convicts who probably have clever storage solutions for their cells (AT Feature, hint!), but I think we would stop short of celebrating their management of small spaces. Good for Jack, but in terms of housing -- we can hope for better.

Perhaps he has another home in Woodstock or somewhere nice upstate.

where did you get that poster?

Def don't have to go far to wash the dishes after dinner. Thats a plus. Great use of a small space

Wow! This is really a small apartment. I would have to get rid of all but a few possessions to squeeze myself into this place. Maybe I could rotate my possessions in and out storage. But then again with the price of storage, I could probably afford a bigger place.

This is a very interesting apartment though.

Hey Jack,
you have some cool stuff going on here- i love the stainless(I think?) desk/table. would you mind sharing where you got it?
thanks!

That view is fantastic. You've done a great job, a really great job with your space. I like the futon idea a lot. I would probably remove the shelves above the kitchen sink area. They look visually heavy. In their place, I'd put just plain shelves, not open cabinets with a back, but maybe a light wood shelf or light gray painted wood shelf or something, or stainless steel. I think that would go a long way to lighten that area up. You also may want to put some books horizontally on the shelves and some books, maybe of the same height, vertically, alternating them, to create an interesting pattern. Just a thought.

I think, most of all, your place shows a strong spirit. I feel it.

Rick - WHAT?!?!?

Would any of us wan to trade with him? Are you kidding? I love my apartment dearly, but I'd swap in a heartbeat! Jack lives in the heart of NYC! The city is his home.

So many people live in huge spaces, but they fail to realize how their spaces become a trap. People move further and further away from each other in search of bigger apartments and bigger houses. And then we wonder why studies show more Americans are lonely today than during any time in our nations history.

We absolutely should celebrate small spaces that inspire big lives. I have no doubt Jack's space does exactly that.

Hey Jack - want to move to Portland? I'll trade my Apartmequarium for your Times Square perch!

Cheers!

A P.S. to my above rant...

I dream of finding a way to live in NYC. If I somehow landed a space like Jack's, I'd have to sell nearly everything I own - but would I really miss it?

Stuff is just stuff.

I sure do like my stuff! I've got some great stuff! But stuff is not life.

Again, I'm more than happy to celebrate small spaces. And Susan said it perfectly. She said (to Jack) "I think, most of all, your place shows a strong spirit. I feel it."

I feel it too.

Apologies for the rant, but the idea that small spaces aren't to be celebrated really really bugs me. My life has been so much richer since I gave up the 1,000 square foot suburban apartments in favor of spaces half that size in the heart of city life. And I'm sure I'm not the only one to make such a choice.

The valet! The valet! The valet! How über cool is that?! Please give us a hint,at least, as to where you acquired it...oh please not in the woods! It is a thing of beauty, Jack. Your taste is impeccable and ooooh, what a view!

OK, Lets not go overboard and say that he has impeccable taste. I used to live in a space as big as his and when it is your only option you make it work! He has a few really cool items (valet, desk, closet)that make his minimalist thing really work for him and I applaud him for that. You really can't beat the view and the location.

Stuff isn't always just stuff. Stuff is life, too. My current apartment isn't the largest in the world, but I totally wanted an extra bedroom so that I could put all of my music stuff in there, so that I could get it out of my bedroom, so that I could relax when I sleep, instead of feeling crowded. I would be in a foul mood if I had no place to put these things that feed my soul.

Bravo! Love it... what a great view as well.

I like seeing this place again. I am not giving up my just under 1000 sq. ft. condo anytime soon, but looking at this apartment makes me think about what I can let go.

Congratulations Jack, on being able to pare down to your just essentials, letting yourself focus on what's really important to you.

hey, haven't we seen this before? why are you recycling?

Love the valet (almost like artwork; changing piece of artwork depending on what he hangs on it). Also love the R2D2 robot and toy VW bug -- adds such personality to the place.

And the punches of red (wall phone, stool, etc)wake up the room.

Great place, Jack. How in the world do you get it so clutterfree?

This seems to be a little posh for a homeless shelter. I certainly hope my taxes aren't subsidizing Jack's homeless chic. And maybe if Jack spent more time looking for say, A JOB, instead of color coordinating his hovel, he wouldn't have to live in what is essentially a cubby hole.

Whoa. This is no homeless shelter Edina. It's affordable housing.

Wow. That's the most cold hearted and just plain downright rotten comment I've seen in a long time.

Anon,

Thanks so much.

Yeah, I live in a pretty neat place. Anyone who is interested should look into Common Ground. Common Ground is dedicated to those with out a home, those with special needs, and many people working in the arts. We call it a mixed community, we all help each other by living together.

Jack,
Everything about your place is WONDERFUL! I am inspired. We all know, MEAN PEOPLE SUCK (EDINA).

I was wondering about the photograph above your desk, it's great!
Who's the photographer and can you tell me where you got it?

Thanks,
from 550

Charyn,
Have you found anyone to help you with your space? if not i will take a look at it for you.
Brooke,
the desk is made of post consumer aluminum. sold by Muji. Beware it dents really easy!
Asli/550,
i wish i knew who took the large photograph with the cars. i have asked alot of people.
Rob,
i like what you had to say. stuff is just stuff- you have to dust it and then it dents.
K. i was given the valet as a gift.
Samanthalous,
i found the poster at Good Will.
Thanks Guys!
Jack Early

I think that in this case SRO doesn't stand for "Single Room Occupancy" but for "Standing Room Only" Har!

Regarding the comment, above, from "Edina Monsoon" since that's the name of a rather condescending and cutting character on "Absolutely Fabulous" I'd guess the comment was probably meant as a spoof, in which case you all got "punked"!

oh. my. goodness.

WOW this place is absolutely phenomenal.

i feel so...guilty after seeing this slideshow. I was blown away by maxwell's space but this place is just mind-boggling. Just to illustrate the extent of my brattyness- my husband and i live in a 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment, and i still somehow find room to complain for the lack of space (it is graduate housing).

time to donate some junk!

hmm, here is a comment all the way from hong kong, i am living in a 120sf apartment 24/7 and yes, cant really have much stuff put in, but hey, what else more you need, when i looking for places, i even ready go for 50-70sf with a very small bathroom and mini mini kitchen, but you adapt into it! small is good, just wonder in US, do they sell this type of small space, and wonder how much it will cost, i don't mind to buy one, and how to decorate it, is definitely a challange!
cheers

Jack, you are a far better person than I. I've lived in close quarters, but they would appear spacious beside your home, which is an inspiration. And before I complain about my rent going up $100 a month in November, I'm going to ponder what you probably pay for your pigeonhole at Times Square. Kudos!