What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home? Our favorite element is all the built-in storage we have added to our apartment. We have figured out how to maximize our 520 square feet by using built-in cabinets which add loads of storage space without making the space feel smaller.
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What was one of the biggest challenges you faced in furnishing your small home? Being in a studio apartment, we struggled with how to create separation between the living and sleeping spaces, to add some privacy and coziness, without completely blocking out natural light from the sleeping space or making our apartment appear smaller.
We investigated many different ways to do this such as using fabric panels, wood slats, and even sliding glass doors, but ultimately decided on an open, floor to ceiling bookcase, which physically separates the space, lets in a bit of light, and still gives a measure of privacy and warmth in the sleeping area. In fact, the addition of the bookcase actually makes the apartment feel larger, AND gives us additional storage and display space.
Our most cherished resource in this endeavor has been our friends Shawn and Jann who design and build restaurants for a living. Their years of design work have enabled them to come up with affordable, practical, and elegant solutions to design challenges, and we are always picking their brains when we need ideas for our apartment!
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Such a great place. Where did you find the long storage unit with the white counter top? And those light fixtures! Fantastic!!
Gorgeous closet!!
There's not a lot of it, but every inch is quality. Kudos!
Also, I covet your impeccable closet.
Beautiful closet. Seems not an ounce of wasted space... Great Job!
Pretty Amazing use of space...same problem living in SF not enough storage space...Great Job
i love the lineup of those spine shelves or whatever they're called. and i think the span of frosted glass cabinets is just perfection. this is a really stellar space.
YES YES! Lucas... im definitely taking NOTES from your remarkable studio (living room--specifically) to convert my studio just like this! I already have eat-in kitchen so its not gonna be identical, ofc. THANK U for this revelation!
love the idea of a "chandelier" in the closet
What is that thing sticking out of the wall in picture #4?
Thank you all so very much for the kudos! Bernadette (my wife) and I have spent a long time working on this place, so the praise if very nice to hear.
@amybell74: The storage unit is actually 5, 36" Ikea sliding glass cabinets that have been bolted together and mounted to the wall (the feet have been added for added stability). Unfortunately, Ikea doesn't make then anymore. The top is custom made by Westbay Plastics here in SF, out of Staron, which is a "solid surface" product.
Amybell74,if you're wondering about the kitchen pendants, it's the Dora from Rejuvenation. I have a couple of them in my kitchen, along with the "Cove" ceiling fixture above the sink.
@Elizcrtv: The pink thing is the Zip Conveyer by artist Kristina Lewis. We are not allowed to post links, so you will have to search for her (she will probably be the first link in the results).
Positively beautiful! I love your chairs in the sitting area. Are they new and from where?
Stylin and economically spaced! Did you mention the views? An excellent place to have martinis.
Well done! In awe of the closet.
Beautiful wall color - can you tell me what it is?
I'm with sunan. Love the chandelier in the closet!
Fabulous! And I am GAY so I know!
Nice work. I like how the TV is not enthroned in the living room like so many are. It's very sophisticated.
The whole apartment is beautiful! and I too like the wall color- I would have been scared to use a color like that in the whole apt for fear that it would be too "cold" but it is gorgeous.
If that is a whole wall of those dwr cubit things, wow it must have been $$$$.
Can't type...want your closet...give it to me....:)
where are the goldfish I gave you guys two years ago this Thursday? I don't see them anywhere in the photos. omg.
The closet is by ELFA (from the Container Store here in SF), it is so efficient. The chandelier is from West Elm, and is make of Capis (sp?) shells. We got the chairs from an estate sale in the Berkeley Hills. The paint colors (blue/brown/yellow) are from Dunn-Edwards; I'll see if I can find the names of the colors and I'll post them. Thanks everyone for your wonderful comments, this apartment was truly a labor of LOVE....
note to leelanau: uh-oh....
Wow. How in the world do you keep it so neat and tidy!? Please come over and teach me!
Bravo - love everything and especially the blue paint and transparant bookcases. I'm not so sure about the leaning-towers of books, though. In eathquake country, they would make me nervous and they don't look very space-efficient. Have you considered a more substantial book-shelf system that would have more space?
You're inspiring us to pretty up our closets... Very nice. Sorry about the goldfish. =)
great colors and even greater closet!
love it. nice job!
especially love the use of colour.
this small cool series is fantastic.
That place "Frickin Rock's"!!!!! I love it!!
Very nice! It's stylish and cozy and the same time.
what color blue is that?
amazing small space. I am jealous. seh
Form and function at its best!
Nice blue and nice use of space. Like!
Perfection!
Wow - good use of space. I love how you separated the sleeping space from everything else - been seeing too many studios where you can see the bed. It looks larger than it is.
Awesome! I love the wall color - it seems to be an extension of the outdoors. I am totally amazed at all the wonderful built-ins. It looks very large.
Yummy, everything is just gorgeous. And where did you get that fun bicycle sign?
You guys have the best Tiny apartment!
Amaaaaaazing.
Todella hieno pieni asunto! Tyyliä ja malttia sopivassa suhteessa. Hyvä!
This is a wonderful use of space. I'm totally jealous of that closet space!
You have my dream closet.
Stunning. Artistic and practical. They must be very talented!
-- Cool spot
Wonderful flow and efficient use of space. It feels so much larger. I love the lighting in the kitchen and the book displays. Is this the gorgeous Hamilton building?
Why, yes it IS the gorgeous Hamilton building! We love it here, it is one of the very best places to live in the glorious city of San Francisco.
i love how organized this place is! just stunning! where is that bicycle sign from?
Hands down the best so far!
I'm drooling over your closet...
And the plastic bookshelf as bedroom wall is wonderful.
So is the composition of your standing bookshelf wall.
Oh yeah, and I love the kitchen countertop.
I love it allllllllllllllll!
The bicycle sign was painted by multi-media artist John Whitmarsh. John also created and installed the concrete countertops and installed the black glass tile backsplash in the kitchen. He's a multi-talented guy! John's website is at www.johnwhitmarsh.com
Commodity, firmness and delight!
This is like a dream I had once.
Does anyone else want to knock over the stacks of books? They bring out a mischevious spirit in me...
OMG! It doesn't look anything like it did when you bought it!! You and your wife (Congratulations!!) have done a phenominal job on your home.
Can we swap houses? I want a chandelier in my closet too. I don't know what it looked like before, but it's phenomenal--go team Rockwell! I
good job ! that is a beautiful place .I Love it all
can i move in there too ? :-)
of course you can, joey! you'll fit right in!! note to the masses: joey is an adorable little (monster) persian kitty cat.
well, joey's owner posted the comment....
wow I missed this one so beautiful and every space is well done. one of my favorites.
Yeah the divider is off the chain, your spot is out of control dope!
I LOVE the book towers. It's like saying, yeah there are earthquakes, but fuck 'em.
wow, nicely done! is the translucent bookcase/wall unit from dwr? it reminds me of the cubits. looking for something like this for the loft i'm moving into
@freelily: Yes, the translucent bookcase is the DWR Cubitec shelving. It took us 3 years to realize they were the perfect solution for dividing the living room from the bedroom. Well, Jann had to remind us that it would probably be perfect, and it is!
Thank you all so very much for voting for us, and for the amazing comments! We're thrilled you find our place worthy of this remarkable contest.
-lucas and bernadette ("the wife")
beautiful, i love those teardrop lights!
I love how all the audio & video equipment is racked up and hidden.
I would love to find out more about your undercounter refrigerators- I'm planning on doing something similar. Do you have 2 separate units? 1 fridge, 1 freezer? what brand is it? Gorgeous apartment, very inspiring!
Perfect example of less is more. I really have to try that. You really need to come do my place. My artistic ability is limited to beads, and soldering. I'm sorry I'm too late to vote. Did you get enough votes! I'll See you two in June! Love ya!
I love how creative this apartment looks. I live in NY and the apartments in Manhattan are tiny. You really have to be creative with your space so it doesn't look like a cluttered cubby hole.
Those "bookshelves" are idiotic. This alone doesn't make me want to give you my vote.
Oooh! That's the blue I want for a wall in my living room. Please find the name! (Lovely place, too.)
I was just being silly about the goldfish - they're still in my tub. I happen to have lived in a little 500 sf cottage for years. When someone - foolishly - moved in with me I had to chainsaw the bookcase/closet/kitchen wall in two. It's all about letting in the light. Nice work guys.