
thumbs up
Who Lives Here: jedigras, wife and two Dachshunds
Location: Upper West Side, New York City
Size: 240 square feet
What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home? I think our queen size Murphy bed is the best element of our home. After a long day of work, it's nice to come home to a really comfortable bed and relax. Of course, there's so many interesting elements of our apartment from the special dishwasher, low profile fridge/freezer, embedded shelving in the bathroom wall, and full home theater system with separate hidden subwoofer.
Give jedigras a THUMBS UP if you think this home belongs in the finals!
Thumbs Up Voting is only activated for 48 Hours — so don't delay!
What was one of the biggest challenges you faced in furnishing your small home? The biggest challenge was fitting our lifestyle into our space. We had to design every portion of the apartment to meet our needs. Apartment Therapy provided very useful ideas which we tried to incorporate during our renovation. One problem that we found was that most products in the USA are designed for large spaces. To counter this, we looked abroad to Europe and Asia for small space inspiration and product ideas. We also had to be creative with the space. You should see the insides of our closets...they are between 16"-18" deep which is non standard. Yet after everything was done, we ended up being able to keep everything except for our bikes in the apartment. Can you guess where the snowboards, golf clubs, tennis rackets, roller blades, ice skates, fishing poles, and balls are hidden? Some of the vendors which we found useful include: Murphy Bed Center of Cliffside Park, The Container Store, Kitchen Aid, ConServ, Yamaha, SoundMatters, Cradlepoint, Sony, HP, LG, Winegard, and lastly our design consultant Paula McDonald.
Give jedigras a THUMBS UP if you think this home belongs in the finals!
Thumbs Up Voting is only activated for 48 Hours — so don't delay!

Do you have a Small Cool Home? Enter Here by April 13th!
I am so glad small cool is back! This is my favorite time of the AT year. :)
view serialsquares's profile
This is impressive. I love the shelves in the kitchen, its a good way to utilize space. I think the murphy bed is what makes this tiny place seem roomier.
view desertflower's profile
What exactly is that shower stall?? Is it like a shower, sauna, tanning both all-in-one? That's what it looks like! Either way it looks like the perfect multipurpose shower stall for a teeny tiny bathroom. :)
view sparkle's profile
Which model ConServ fridge is that? I like how it just blends into the wall.
It's very nice to see comfort/luxury amenities worked into such a small space.
view heather77's profile
That shower looks like if you get in it, it will freeze your body and you will then unfreeze in the year 2200, and robots will rule the world and stuff.
It looks like fun though!
view molotovnights's profile
This is the ConServ CT380Z fridge. Purchased directly from Equator Advanced Appliances (The manufacturer/importer) in Houston, TX.
view jedigras's profile
thanks for the ideas!! I'm looking to buy a small bungalow that was split into two units. Your kitchen looks very cozy, but at the same time highly functional!
view cinema's profile
Love your murphy bed--did it come with the sofa?
view taracakes's profile
The shower includes the massage jets (which we don't use), it had a optional steamer (which we chose not to install), a rain shower head, a hand held shower head, and an FM radio. It took us a while to find a unit which fit the space and we like the result!
view jedigras's profile
FYI, my wife is a chef so the full kitchen was a requirement for us.
view jedigras's profile
Love the bathroom. And kudos to you for fitting all that stuff and two people and dogs into such a small space and keeping it looking that organized!
I feel like the area with the murphy bed needs a little more personality, it feels rather bare to me. Maybe some art on the wall or shelves or something? This is just my oppinion though - or maybe you're working on that or already tried it and it didn't fit?
view amazonikon's profile
I love the idea of the baskets above the cabinets. I could use something like that. Where did you get them?
view dmstudio's profile
Good idea on the murphy bed space...we haven't tried decorating that wall yet. Also, the space above the TV might be a candidate for a picture.
view jedigras's profile
Baskets are from Ikea.
view jedigras's profile
Your space is beautiful, I am jealous of your organization skills!!
view sassydo's profile
Your apartment is very well organized, and I love the blue colour!
view pikku.sukka's profile
me likey your apartment
view takbau's profile
Awesome apartment and great use of space!!
view giapets's profile
Taracakes, we customized the sofa to fit the space. This was managed by Murphy Bed Center of Cliffside Park. We purchased the leather and sent it directly to the couch factory in Florida. It's "backless" so the bed folds down over the couch. Money well spent! Cheaper options included microfibre/cloth.
view jedigras's profile
This is so awesome! I absolutely adore this apartment.
We live in a 400 square foot apartment in mid-town Sacramento and would love to move into something smaller. This has give me a lot of ideas. Thank you!
view RowdyKittens's profile
Where ARE all the....bikes, snowboards, golf clubs, tennis rackets, roller blades... hidden? Balcony?
view AZkathy's profile
Very nice! I like the folding dining table, high base and cornice and the mix of tiles in the bathroom and kitchen.
view sytong's profile
AZKathy...they are REALLY hidden. For instance, we have two tennis rackets in the gap between the kitchen wall and the last cabinets. There was a 5" filler section which is hollow, so we are using it. It's accessible from the top.
view jedigras's profile
I like the sheer cabinets.
view rhianna's profile
Dogs plural? Well, you've selected the right size dogs for your space! Yes, do tell all about where you've stored all that other stuff besides the tennis rackets.
view Pixie's profile
@ molotovnights -- i have fallen in love with you based on this one comment. marry me NOW.
@ jedigras -- this apartment is pretty dang amazing. i agree that the murphy-bed cabinet would look better if you had a little fun with it, though. it's a big white canvas just waiting for a magic touch.
also, in the next photo shoot, maybe you could sneak your wee weiner dogs onto the shelving and see if anyone notices. just politely ask them to stop wiggling for 30 seconds. i'm sure they'll agree.
view rosenatti's profile
as a fishing magazine editor, i'm still trying to spot the fishing poles! do tell, because mine are stacked in a corner of my living room :-D
view stephanie in orlando's profile
holy moley! (sp?) This is a small, cool apartment. 240sq ft.? What? I'm impressed - well done. --Tara
view tara1979's profile
Space... well, what you can't see is the insides of the closets which go up to the ceiling in height. There is also a built in wall storage in the bathroom which is literally the wall hollowed out and framed. Those bathroom shelves are 12" deep and span about 4' wide and 5' high if I remember correctly. Much of the gear is stored in baskets on the shelves. The snowboards are in a bag on top of the baskets above the kitchen.
view jedigras's profile
Stephanie, the fishing poles are hidden in a small gap next to the shower. You can't see it from the angle in the pics. They are visible from within the shower if you are looking for them.
view jedigras's profile
Wow - this is a great, well organized space!
I am curious about your dishwasher. Where is it hiding??? And what kind is it?
view peaceami's profile
The dishwasher is the KitchenAid Briva in-sink washer. Google it for pics and specs. It works wonderfully and also leaves space for our dog stuff under the sink!
view jedigras's profile
yay... small cool again :) and what a great bright start!
view aad's profile
Great job, jedigras. I look forward to seeing your excellent little apartment beat out some 1,200 sq.ft monster.
view typicalstudent's profile
It's too claustrophobic for me and I live in a small space (500 sq ft). But, hey, if you like it -- good for you.
view Mr. Dangerous's profile
Inspiringly organized and compact.
view luckypeach's profile
Mr. Dangerous, yes it is small. But surprisingly, it doesn't feel claustrophobic at all. It helps that Central Park is only a block or two away.
view jedigras's profile
your space looks so neat! i love it! i really like the bathroom. good luck!!!
view allysonmaedesign's profile
Hard to believe that two adults and two dogs fit and function in this small space so well. Congratulations on a very well planned teeny, tiny space.
view kaimuki's profile
great work with such a small place. love your spaceship like shower!
view Melton's profile
I hope your apartment makes it to the finals because I'd really like to see more pictures. Two humans and two dogs in that space is impressive.
view palindrome's profile
The multifunctional kitchen is amazing. It took me a moment to realize all that shelving is also where the fridge lives! Some people do less with three times the space. Nicely done.
view roxybaby's profile
Love the place!! Reminds me of the Pod Hotel in New York where I stayed when I seeing New York. I had a murphy bed back in college too. Works like a charm!!!
view nnowack's profile
view jedigras's profile
Amazing use of such a small face. Two dogs live with you??
view ftpansy's profile
wow, that's dense (in the nicest way possible) ^_^
view jyeee's profile
Love the paint color here! And I hate light blue!
view Lilli K.'s profile
your place is awesome!!!! have you always been that amazingly organized..like growing up? i can improve in that for sure!
view iluv10s's profile
i just looked at the other entries...you should win by a landslide...incredible what you have done in such a tiny space..a fraction of some and clearly nicely done!
view iluv10s's profile
We really wanted to work in pics of the dogs, but they wouldn't stay still. And yes, we have 2 cute little dogs :)
view jedigras's profile
Thanks for all the kind comments... And no, *I* am not the organized one... I think the credit for that goes to my wife and how much she yells at me? Lol.
Actually, the space is so small, I don't mind cleaning up. It takes me 5-10 minutes to vaccum the entire apartment with our hand held dyson. It's just like cleaning your bedroom once in a while; with a small room it's not really a big deal.
view jedigras's profile
hot diggity
view victor715213's profile
hahaha that victor715213 guy is funny
view mrhsu's profile
I don't get this, or the over appoving comments at all.
Iluv10's "they should win by a landslide based on the other entries..." you do realize this is the only entry in this category so far...
Every year the weakes entries always come first and i hope this is true this year or else this contest will not be up to par with other years. This space feels cluttered and cramped. The space saving solutions are impressive, but the decor is atrocious. Anyone with a little bit of money can purchase space saving appliances, there is no imagination in that! This apartment is like buying a 1990's wood paneled Chrysler van, yea it can fit our 20 kids, but so can a Porsche Cayenne. Isn't this contest about the double threat?
Also, what with the owner's commenting every two seconds? isn't that what the blurb above is for? Great apartments don't need such hardcore campaining.
view threadphiladelphia's profile
See, if I lived in NYC I would want to live on Park Ave. and have a penthouse view. (Like Lisa Douglas!) Living on some sidestreet -- in what appears to be an oversized closet? No. I came out of the closet a long time ago. I'm not going back in it just to live in NYC.
view Mr. Dangerous's profile
The kitchen and bathroom are great. I couldn't get used to the small sleeping area. Two dogs in such a little space! That is amazing. Overall, very imaginative and stylish.
threadphiladelphia Chill Out. He is answering questions and is probably excited and proud of his space. Good Luck.
view EChaz's profile
It's not for me, but thanks for only using the space that you need and not buying a McMansion. That's what I love about Small Cool.
view mjs7640's profile
I love the color of the walls! What is it?
view TAHbKA's profile
Cute and creative! I can see you've balanced the needs of both of you in a truly small space.
view KatieD's profile
Wow, that really is a small space but you've done some great stuff with it. I love the kitchenette! This really inspires me to look at smaller spaces next time I move or to buy a small space in the future. The great thing about places like this is you can generally fix them up really nice with a fairly small budget and you can splurge on nice features, appliances and furniture. I gave it a thumbs up!
view sauceykat's profile
amazing how you've managed to fit your lifestyle in such a small space. i think that's where the creativity is threadphiladelphia. not everyone can afford to live in a mansion, sometimes people have deal with what they can get and somehow manage to live.
view greenellephant's profile
I guess I commented too much... Oh well, if someone asks a question I am going to answer it.
Hopefully everyone enjoys our space. Feel free to ask questions about appliances or workarounds. I kind of think that it's our job to share our experiences since our place came together (not design wise, but functionality wise) so well.
Btw, we are both the nerdy type so you can ask us techie questions too.
view jedigras's profile
Truly designed for a tiny space! The shower is very 'beam me up, Scotty', yet the kitchen area across from the appliances feels home-y and lived-in. Strikes a nice balance. Great job!
view s_boston's profile
Jedigras, don't apologize for responding to questions. We love it. If I had a space this well put together I'd be excited too. My only questions are WHY don't you use your shower massage jets? (I am so sore from painting, I'd be in there twice a day, full steam ahead?) Also, where do you keep your clutter? At work? Rental storage? Nice place. Good luck.
Lisa
view housefulloffur's profile
I think you've done an amazing job in such a tiny tiny tiny space - I think you desevere an "extra teeny" category all to yourself. And I think it's great that you're answering questions, obviously people want their questions answered or they wouldn't have asked.
view idontdobeige's profile
Jedigras, has the ConServ fridge been reliable? I looked up the model number you provided (thank you) and saw that at least one retailer had decided not to offer it anymore due to "customer service issues".
view heather77's profile
Heather, the fridge has been rock solid since we got it. I can't comment on customer service until it breaks. There are other fridges in this size range which are more expensive but may have better warranties / customer service.
Read the comments in this AT thread. Subzero / Liebherr have 2-4k options...this one is closer to 1k and can be had for less if you're willing haggle.
view jedigras's profile
Wow, talk about Hidden luxuries. I cannot find (see) the folding dining table, that someone mentioned in a previous post. Is it right in front of me? Love the space.
view BonnieSchulte's profile
Oh, I take that back. Found it in the kitchen. Thought it was part of shelving when I first looked.
view BonnieSchulte's profile
wow, amazing things you can do in such a small space. I live in an apartment about your size which is a reality in new york city. Very inspiring. Use of light colors, storage space that blends into the space... well done!
view dzyn's profile
I absolutely love your place. I give you credit for doing such a great job organizing all your possesions in a small, teeny, space. It's true less is more.....You have everything you need in a smaller space....Great work.....
view eppie18's profile
I look at tiny apartments like this and think of those Jacob Riis photos of immigrant living conditions circa 1900. I suspect in a 100 years, people of the future, will see photos like these and say, "Look at how people used to live. This is what it was like before it was outlawed."
view FilthyMcNasty's profile
Amazing use of small space... but not sure I could handle SUCH a small environment. I guess that's why I choose to live in Brooklyn. For that extra 6 sq feet or so I can afford.
view homesweethomewrecker's profile
i like the kitchen and the baskets in a row on top
view brocktontriangle's profile
That shower stall is quite the thing. I love it!
view boliyou's profile
there are such awesome elements in this apartment!
view Oneformybaby's profile
so tiny but efficient!! it took me a couple looks to understand how everything fit, but it looks great :]
view kokoichigo's profile
I love the steam shower you have. Could you tell me more about it? (brand, features, etc.) I saw the comment where you listed the features..and it looks great. My mom is moving into a 350 s.f. place and wants a shower like yours.
view sunny's profile