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Maximizing Space on the Upper West Side
The New York Times 9.14.08

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Gwen Calderon's Upper West Side apartment packs a punch. The New York Times shows us how Calderon's careful renovation takes every opportunity to make the most of her 1,300-square-foot apartment. In the kitchen, she stacked four appliances — a steam oven, an espresso maker, a convection oven and a warming drawer — in a tower to maximize space...

 
 

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Calderon also "mirrored the sides of the cabinets that border the window over the kitchen sink" — a smart detail to take full advantage of natural light in a narrow space. Read the story of her renovation and see all the pictures: A New Start, With Nod to the Past on the Upper West Side.

Pics: Annie Tritt

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real estate, kitchen, renovation

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Comments (17)

Wow - she really uses every square inch. Packed a little tight for my taste. Her deck is amazing.

posted by amt230 on September 15th 2008 at 5:31am
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Meh.

posted by Griffin on September 15th 2008 at 5:31am
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give me a break. 1,300 square feet? that's considered palatial to the majority here in NYC. never mind that her terrace is 1,000 square feet. if posting about new yorkers, at least show us folks with REAL design/space issues like those families of four in 800 square footers or individuals living in 400 square foot apartments.

posted by *heather leaf* on September 15th 2008 at 5:38am
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Wow, she managed to make 1300 square feet look like 600!

posted by Anna at D16 on September 15th 2008 at 5:53am
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I wish we could see the bedrooms and bathrooms. :-(

posted by Monica on September 15th 2008 at 6:21am
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Meh, indeed insulting to middle class new yorkers, and for some reason the finishes she chose register on film as if the whole place is clad in cheap linoleum.

posted by FJ!! on September 15th 2008 at 6:22am
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So she has 1300 square feet inside and another 1000 outside in NYC? That must be nice. It's a nice looking place, wish there were some more pictures of it though. And I agree, it almost does look a little cramped in there. Think she could do with getting rid of a couple pieces of furniture and open the place up a little more.

posted by tgfoo on September 15th 2008 at 6:39am
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i actually think the place looks incredibly cheap

posted by duckumu on September 15th 2008 at 7:55am
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and boring.....with the exception of the terrace which we can barely see... but envy nonetheless.

posted by btfabt on September 15th 2008 at 8:32am
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The furniture in the main living area just feels a little too big (both size-wise and visually, because there's so much black!) for the space. But she certainly has some nice touches and a beautiful built-in bookcase behind the dining table.

posted by Steven Michael on September 15th 2008 at 8:48am
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It's hard to tell with the handful of pictures, but it seems like the biggest problem is the lack of a cohesive color scheme. Everything is very neutral, but not dramatically in the way an all white room would be. It's just begging for some bright throw pillows or a little paint on the walls. (Of course, as a renter, I will always envy people who can paint!)

posted by lurker2209 on September 15th 2008 at 8:51am
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I officially "don't feel bad" for anyone who has to maximize a space of over 1,000 square feet.

Wow, can't imagine my biggest design issue being having to save space by stacking my plate warmer and espresso maker!

posted by Marie on September 15th 2008 at 9:27am
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Ditto to all the above. I have a family of four in that amount of space -- and without a terrace -- and our place doesn't feel nearly so squished.

posted by Lisa (Montreal) on September 15th 2008 at 9:29am
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why so many cynics on apartment therapy comments pages? everyone has different tastes and ideas of what constitutes a small space. accept what is, be positive, and move on.

posted by Reg on September 15th 2008 at 12:04pm
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To each his own, but this place already looks like its 30 years old.

posted by Volvoguy on September 15th 2008 at 12:41pm
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Her furniture is too big for the space...there is absolutely no available traffic pattern...you have to squish between the furniture and hope you don't have permanent bruises. This place would drive me nuts in a very short period of time.

It does look 30 years old. It all looks like cheap linoleum or peel-and-stick! Even here in Chicago, 1300 sq ft PLUS 1000 sq ft outside is NOT small. Maybe in Texas...

posted by amiencc on September 20th 2008 at 7:29am
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my entire apartment is smaller than her living room.

posted by twitteringbirdie on April 28th 2009 at 3:49pm
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