apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Loved seeing this home a few months ago and glad to see it in the smallest coolest contest!

Best of luck to you...

I love what you did with your apt. The change from the old plan to new one is amazing, a job well done. The place definetly looks bigger than 550, but I quess that's the beauty of it.

The first shot of the bathroom gave me the exact feeling that you described, then I realized this is one of the contestant's apt. wooww it is very very inspiring

great layout, looks so clean and organized!

Wow, that was quite a renovation. That bathroom arrangement is amazing.

Excellent new layout, witty and meticulous work. Colors, textures, scale of the furniture are not on same level, but - hey, if the owners are comfortable with it - that's what counts.
Bathroom reconfig is especially impressive.
Insta-finalist.

Not convinced about the bathtub in the bedroom, but it's a beautiful design.

Does the 3 day vote rule apply still?

Excellent new space plan!

the bathroom is very special and...sexy, if i might add. thinking outside of the box at its best.

Great conversion!

Is that the LG 24" refrigerator in your kitchen?

Aesthetically, I like the shower in the bedroom, but practically, I'm not so sure. What if someone wants to take a shower while someone's sleeping in the bedroom?

Also, is the toilet visible from the bedroom? And why is there a sink in the bedroom/shower area if there's one near the toilet?

Overall though, very nice. I'm just a little confused about the bathroom layout.

Great concept. I really enjoy what you did here. Photo 1 and Photo 2 got me excited.



However, photo three is kind of bad.The living room doesn't seem coherent. It looks cluttered. I will commend you for putting some major $ and man hours into this project. It turned out great, but I think more thought could go into the living room.

It's visually stunning.

But (and perhaps I'm just a prude) I'd be horrified to be on display while using the loo.

The bathroom is great and I am assuming this place is owned not rented. The place looks huge, and I guess that is a testament to their rearranging of the unit.

The living room doesnt seem to fit at all to me compared with the rest of the unit. It like that last photo is from a different apartment all together.

Oh, Ikea as a resource...yawn.

Overall, still pretty great.

It's beautiful, but as stated earlier, I can't imagine that it's too practical for when you have guests over (e.g. the horror of your mother-in-law showering while you're in the bedroom? Eeeek!)

I've seen this apartment before and I remember there being better pictures. I don't think these photos do the apartment justice. I've seen the others photos and the layout of the apartment is amazing especially looking at all the homes for each item. Great organization and great details.

Now that's a shower i can get clean in!

I can't even begin to say how much I enjoy the remodel. Tearing out that wasted hallway was BRILLIANT! I love the new bathroom! I'm not sure I get what looks like a second sink in the bathroom... but then again, maybe if I lived there, I'd get it in an instant.

Hallways are great if you've got space to spare, but when it comes to smaller spaces, a hallway is waste.

The loft we live in has a "redundant corridor" that eats up a lot of room. I find this entry an inspiring example of making all of your space useful. Thanks for sharing!

It's lovely but I can't stand it when I know someone can hear my bathroom business. I need doors.

So SC 2007 also begins with a strong architectural statement!

I think the break up of bathroom functions - loo and shower/bath - is fantastic. If guests need to shower, I am sure arrangements are easily made to provide them with privacy -- it isn't as if one is suddenly struck with the need to shampoo at 3 am, necessitating an invasion of the master suite! And that is what is cool about the renovation -- a real master suite in a small space. I would kill for a dressing room, and would love to be able to situate my tub near a source of natural light!

The skepticism expressed in some comments, however, point to my only concern -- how might future buyers react? (Did NOT influence my voting, of course, as this issue is not relevant to the nature of this contest.)

While I love the ideas going on in this space, I'm not convinced that they were properly executed.

I think I would have liked to have seen a better photo of the living room. I haven't seen this space before (unlike others, it sounds), so I'm not sure about the furniture. It's almost like the bones of the space are amazing, but the furniture/accents aren't quite up to par? I almost want to think, because of the size of the space, that its maybe too... cluttered? Or maybe I just don't like the arrangement of the furniture/use of space? But like I said, I can't really tell from the angle of the photo. :(

The bones of the space do look really lovely! And I LOVE all of the lighting.

Its remarkable how 550 sq.ft. can feel spacious. Excellent job. the bathroom design is gorgeous.

I hope someone from AT sees this: Is there a way to make the smallest coolest entries stay at the top of the page (for their three day voting periods) so that they don't become lost among the other postings? Or at least something at the top of the page that says "vote here for smallest coolest contest" and links to the entries?

I think visually the space seems to be stunning, but when it comes to practicality, and the fact that although we live in small apartments, we do get the occassional guest to stay with us. For that to work, it would involve the UN peace talks, to draw a plan on how does the bathroom gets used, while someone might be sleeping. Not a good scenario. BUT all this said, probably the couple doesn't have guests, and has not problem sharing the "loo" business as someone stated. Personally, that doesn't work for me either.

Great solution to the ubiquitous, superfluous corridor! Does that look like 2 bathroom sinks? Wow. I love the bathroom and kitchen solutions.

And do I spy the Premier Pro 24" SS range???? How do you like it? Would love your feedback, since it is my particular hang-up currently and I'm imminently buying that exact stove. I think.

Thanks. Great job. Good luck.

This is innovative architecturally, but it doesn't feel particularly homey. I don't see a lot of personality or decoration.
Aside from that red couch, where's the color??

Wow... what a sexy, sexy apt. The bathtub so appeals to the shy exhibitionist in me. :P

With that said, I can see why some people have issues w/ the bed/bathroom floorplan. It would be kind of strange to be doing your business and have someone potentially looking inside. I would probably place a half wall to obscure the view of the toilet. It could be a high ledge to place candles and other bathroom paraphernalia. Of course, that solution doesn't address the sound issue. But then again, even in my apt where there is a door to my bathroom, I CAN still hear everything. That's what the running water is for...

This floorplan feels more suited to a master bath/bedroom setup where there is also a separate bathroom for guests who might not be as unihibited.

But overall, I love , love, love this space. Great new floorplan and re-working of the corridor to make it more useful. It definitely feels like spa-living. BRAVO!

It looks like there is a door to the toilet compartment. Love the 2 sinks- very luxe in a small space!

wow, i'd love to see more pictures of this place. awesome.

I am sure the last comment is right--there must be a separate door to the toilet. Which answers what seems to be most people's reservations about the design (and separating the toilet and tub/shower is a great idea anyway). Conceptually, I think this was really well thought out and executed, and shows the power of addition by subtraction, but I agree with some of the other comments that the space is perhaps a bit reserved. But hey, I am not living there, and this is really just a question of taste. Great job with layout, which is the main challenge with a small footprint.

....looks like the owner makes quite a nice income....

I agree that the layout is amazing. I can see that there is a pocket door between the toilet and kitchen, as well as a regular door between the toilet area and the bedroom. It does look like you would not be able to go from kitchen to bedroom if somebody else was using the bathroom. As for the two sinks, very smart.... Most new construction offers the option of a second sink (space permitting) in the bathroom. It makes it easier for a couple to do their individual sink activities at the same time. (shave, make-up, etc...)

I agree also that the living room is a bit of a let down. The rest of the space is so beautiful, that I expected more in the living room. But that will come with time I am sure.

Laura,
If you look at the following link you can see a list of links to all the entries that have been posted.... The only problem is I can't seem to find any links that, well, link to that page. Considering that the "To contest page and all entries" link goes directly to the contest rules page, hopefully AT has something up their sleeves to remedy that.

BAH! The link didn't post http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/small-cool-2007-entries

The rules of this contest state that the pitch is supposed to be a maximum 100 words.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed that Stickler..... indeed you are one :P but with good reason!

For those people who have concerns forthe privacy while using the toilet. There is a barn door sliding back and forth between the first sink and the toilet. When it is in front of the sink, it conceals the first sink to form a cabinet appearance.

A couple of points I'd like to make here.

First, this apartment looks stunning. Second, as for the color comment. You know, who says that one needs color? In my apartment, I actually like mostly black and white. It pleases me the most. Yes, color can make a place look nice. But it is not necessary. I think things work quite well here even without splashola of color. It's like, people demand color, as if they're following some formula (ok, at least three walls need massive color work). This place is amazing. I would love to live here. Extremely well done!

But, I have a number of problems, mostly having to do with the contest. First, it doesn't say whether this person rents or owns. It seems like he owns, since quite a bit of structural renovation has been done. With that in mind, renters just can't do anything even close to this. Second, as evidenced by the fact that last year, no micro apartments (which I define under 300 sq. ft.) won any of the top 4 spots. It's easier to make a 550 sq. ft. place look stunning than to make a 300 sq. ft. one look that way. Are people keeping these two things in mind when voting?

Yes, SPOnaj, there isn't much point to having rules if someone is allowed to break them and not be disqualified. Doesn't seem fair to the others who've submitted entries and followed the rules.

Hmmm... I noticed the barn door separating the toilet from the dressing area. I love that! But can you still peek into the toilet from the bedroom area? I was looking at the first picture and you can see the toilet thru the shower curtain.

is there a rule about designing the space yourself? because this really is a showcase of an amazingly reconstructed apartment, rather than an amazingly decorated apartment.

don't get me wrong, i think its gorgeous - but i think the credit should really go to the architect (and electricians, and masons, and contractors) they hired (totally assuming they did use one) for designing and constructing a beautiful space rather to them for decorating it.

who knows- if they really did do this on their own, they may deserve to win..... but judging by their space i'd bet the $2500 could probably be used better by someone with less money - even though that isn't the point of a prize, is it? :)

To ChristineC,

What seperates the toilet from the bathtub is a piece of etched glass. The visible object you saw from the bedroom is the cabinet hung right adjacent to the glass. Since the toilet is positioned in the middle of the room, with the proper distance, the privacy is taken care of.

Chin-Hua, was there a particular reason for the second sink in the bedroom?

I LOVE the idea of having the shower in the bedroom. It's beautiful, it's practical, and how often does one really have showering house guests? I live in a studio, and I think having someone sleep in the same room as my boyfriend and I would be more off-putting than having to work around a shower space like this one. My point is that having house guests in small spaces is often awkward. I don't think the shower arrangement here adds unduly to that.
I wish the pictures showed more of the rooms, though. I don't feel like I have a good idea of the decor, especially in the living room.

Love this space and the shower in the bedroom is a great idea! This place really looks spacious and feels comfy.

To beamish,

To fullfill the privacy at different levels, the various configurations of doors' position allow the most comfortable situation to happen. Given the small space, also in response to the concern of guests' visit, the swing door to the bedroom area is closed in the midnight. At the moment, if the guest wants to use the toilet, they can just use the outside sink afterwards. In the morning, if both the guest and the host need to get ready at the same time, two sinks are perfect for the circumstance.

To minipanda,

Bingo! You got the model right!

Thanks for sharing the slideshow, Chin-Hua.

How do you like your stove?

To olga,

Functionwise, it so far suits me well. As for the look, I like the professional and clear appearance. It was the best I can find with my limited budget. However,as for the size, mine is 36" though.

Thanks so much!

I'm really not sure about entrants circumventing the three-picture rule by sharing more extensive slideshows housed elsewhere...

meg and others--

The contest always attracts a mix of renter and owner, designer and DIYer, big budget and low. The "advantages" of any over another have yet to yield any kind of pattern among the winners, at least any that I've noticed.

I believe one of the contest rules did state that the apartment (or at least what is put up for judgement) must be designed by oneself. Yes, this apartment looks like it was professionally done. But, that being said, Chin-hua could very well be an architect or interior designer and done it himself. Or, just spent a lot of time doing his research before tackling it!

The shower/sink space is amazing. I love the division of space with the glass and the fact that the shower practically disappears because of the light from the window. Well done and very smart.

I'm with Patrick (the other one) on this... I don't think you should be allowed to post more pictures than the three stated in the rules... but then again, maybe I'm just a stickler

I agree with others - looks like it was designed by an architect. Unless the owner did it themselves, its not quite impressive if you hired someone to do it for you. It becomes less about one's own design and more about the size of your pocketbook.

To Patrick (the other one),
Actually, last year, the apartments that won were all in the 500 sq. ft. range. I only remember a handful of finalists who had apartments under 300 sq. ft. (in fact, if I recall correctly, there were only two).

I am upset about this entry posting the link to their other pictures on this page, even though the other pictures were featured here on AT last month. That only means that anyone with a good memory and a quick look through the archives would have access to these. In fact, quite a few of the entries this year probably have also been featured on one of the AT sites already. It's just that posting the link makes it too easy.

So, to be fair to other entries that have not had the luck to be featured I suggest that AT delete postings of this kind. Especially since in this case, the entries were allowed to submit only three pictures but now anyone can view 56 pictures of this apartment!

Perhaps they can mention in comments that they were previously featured (meaning voters would have to go to the trouble of searching the archives if they wanted to view them), but posting the actual link just makes it too easy to sway voters.

Gene--
Ah, there may have been a size trend in years past, you are proobably correct.

I was just referring to what people have objected to here (and in contests past)... the issue of DIY and renter/owner, and budget (or lack of one!)

Amazing apartment, great layout. I love it esp bathroom with glass walls.

Wow! Love it!

I love the resort/hotel feel of the bathroom/bedroom mix, and think it's a great way to make use of the limited space. The old corridor was useless, this is much more sensible.

sleek! love the kicthen lampshades

What a fantastic use of space - love it!

I agree it doesn't seem fair to link to other pictures or use more than 100 words, at least to the extent that that could influence the voting. Maybe people voting should consciously avoid looking at extra pictures before voting.

As to the "pitch," in this case I would be surprised if it helped--the pitch read quite strangely. What does "the hospitality experience is rendered in a domestic setup" possibly mean? It sounds very jargon-y, like something a hotel consultant might say.

This is really beautiful.

Personally, I don't like bathtubs/showers next to beds. Reminds me of dank cottages in upstate NY.

Also, I'm wondering if these contents should be split: Smallest Coolest and then maybe Best Renovation of A Small Space. How do you decide a final winner when several are small spaces done by people with little money, and others are small spaces renovated by people with more money?

Also, the pitch seems lengthy and having access to more than 3 photos elsewhere seems to skew things.

IMO....

I just love it. Truly I love the whole thing. It's so well designed and so peaceful.

1. The bath: The WC is in the European style; separate from the tub/shower. I see how there is a door to close the WC. Brilliant!

2. The bath: I wouldn't have chosen the tub in the bedroom, but that was the owner's preference. A more private bath could have easily been achieved by using a wall rather than the glass partition between the bath and bedroom.

3. The kitchen is fabuloso. Want to re-do mine in that style. Thank god they used Ikea; I might be able to afford something.

4. Color: I LOVE monochromatic schemes. I love it when there is not much color. To me it's more restful. The red couch and the accessories in the kitchen bring in enough color. And I like the red very much.

5. The living room. I think the furniture choices are great. The slipper chairs are so versatile! The decor is very personal and gives me a very good idea of the apartment's owners.

6. The hallway/dressing room: Very good use of space, plus the mirror makes it especially glamorous.

7. I adore the bathtub. Where did you get it?

8. Who was your architect? The place is fantastic! I would like to talk with the architect designer; and if it's amenable to you, with you also, as I'd like to know some of the resources you used.

9. This is a brilliant reno. My favorite from another year was a duplex also designed by an architect, with a very distinctive staircase. Yes, it's more likely that professionally-designed spaces will look better than those done by amateurs (like myself). Still, so many people live in rent-stabilized places and intend to stay there forever. That is the case with me and I would adore doing my apartment up right!

Best of luck to you! This is brilliant!


PS: If you'd like to write me, I'm at tgraves12@yahoo.com. I truly would appreciate speaking with you.

Thanks for responding! I love the attention to detail that was put into this new configuration. You really seem to have gone over every possible contingency and allowed for it. Love the way you maximized your space, and I agree with you that the bathroom solution gives a resort/spa type feel. I might not want to see my tub from my bed but it's not about what I'd want, it's what you'd want, and how you went about achieving it.

A truly great use of space! Congratulations.

After looking at the other photos (the controversial link), the living room makes more sense, but it's still my least favorite element. I love the rest of this apartment. I love the double sinks and the bathtub in the bedroom and the shiny kitchen and the dining area.... I like bones (I guess -- I'm no decorator) of the living room; I just don't particularly care for how it's put together. Otherwise, sa-weet!

What is it about that living room...

Everything else seems so fluid, but the living room really jars me. Its just feels off.

That being said, the renovation IS quite innovative.

while the first pictures struck me as amazingly beautiful (architecture), i find the livingroom a little disappointing (decorating). but all together this is a beautiful apartment really.

good luck in the competition :)

Clean and modern and looking great!

Gorgeous bathroom design and I love the wall sconces!

Love the opening of teh corridor. Don't quite understand the double sink however. Is there a sliding wall into the bathroom for wc privacy? I didn't vote as an insta-finalizt, because aside from the bath area, nothing stands out to me as great design interior-wise.

But kudos on the entry!

p.s...love the lights above the dining table.

To velvetseas,

Yes, there is a barn door in front of the toilet.

I love it!

The open space in bathroom and corridor is beautiful

Fantastic! Well thought out, and so liveable.

totally! good job.

I was too late to vote, but I would've said Stellar! Insta-finalist! This is gorgeous. The dressing room is genius.

What a fantastic use of space. Narrow need not mean small. :)

The sofa you have in the living room, is that Lounge from apt-ny by any chance? I'm thinking about buying one for our spare bedroom and was wondering how comfortable it is.

Again, definitely one of the top three in this competition.

Yes, the couch is from apt-ny. So far I found it comfortable.
I like the depth it has so I can lay any way I want as I am resting in the room.

Thanks very much for the reply. Definitely hoping you walk away with the top, if not one of the top three prizes.

chin Hua I love everything about your place. I didnt see the link to your slide show but I'll search later.
I too have redeemed a "redundant corridor". I simply put my old vanity in the hallett next too the bathroom. Though not even close to stunnning, it connected the bedroom with the bathroom and provided an insta-dressing room with storage for undergarments and a larger mirror.
Your place is gorgeous!

I just wanted to say I like that the kitchen is now next to the living room. This puts the two "public" areas together for entertaining :)

I think your entry may have suffered by being the first one. It's awesome--great work on the configuration! If I could change one thing it might be the light source above the kitchen cabinets. Maybe it's the photography but it seems a bit harsh. Good luck!

**********************************************
Fantastic!

Love the bathing area!

**********************************************

I am so impressed with your renovation. Could you provide a reference for your architect/project manager?

To Chinju,

Thank you for your compliment. I am the architect/designer for the place myself.

I think this solution is really great!

I was wondering if Chin-Hua Huang would mind sharing his source for the bathroom curtain track. I have been looking at hospital track curtain solutions, but this one looks much nicer than the others I have seen.

Also, was the shower curtain handmade or did he have one of the track companies make it for him?

Nivriks,
Please see the following link for the hospital track I got.
http://www.cubiclecurtainfactory.com/products.htm
They do have curtain to go with the track. But in my case, I purchased the fabric myself from the fashion district and had someone in Chinatown sew it for me.

Hi Chinhua.
Do you offer your design services to others?

Sure... I have my own practice. You can drop me a note at chinh@berryplans.com