Who Lives Here: Andrew + 1 + cat Location: Williamsburg — Brooklyn, NYC Size: 700 square feet
What is your favorite element of your Small & Cool home? Our favorite element in our small, cool home is the the airy and open layout of the apartment. The absence of a door between the living area and bedroom provides a very different flow to the whole apartment. Additionally, the very high ceilings, and a whole wall of 10 foot windows, make our overall space feel significantly larger than the compact 700 square feet it actually is. The exaggeration of proportions helps make our overall space feel very loft-like. In order to maintain this, we have retained the clean, white walls and added significant pops of color, artwork, and accessories throughout.
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What was one of the biggest challenges you faced in furnishing your Small Cool home? One of the biggest challenges we faced was the utilization of physical space, especially in terms of storage. Despite our apartment being a new build, we only had 2 closets, one of which is in the bedroom. Therefore, we had to to be clever in respect to maximizing our main, living area closet. When we bought the apartment, this space had been designated as a coat closet, But, that didn't suit our needs, especially in such a small space where we were both adamant that our television set should not be on permanent display. We also wanted to ensure the remainder of our apartment wasn't cluttered with additional storage units for our books, CDs, paperwork, etc. So, we designed a closet conversion that would turn a badly utilized space into a multi-functional media center, storage unit, bookcase, and pull-out office space. We love its functionality, simplicity, and the fact we can hide everything when necessary.
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Ingenious storage! Love when anyone takes the time to custom-design their own solutions. THUMBS UP
Very creative storage, that is such a great cabinet closet design instant value to this place. I love the little built in table/desk nook next to the cabinet.
Your place is very airy and its like citrus and so clean.
The clear stools were a great idea in keeping things light.
The space is super, even the columns which are pain to work around make the space more loft like.
My only question is how do you live without a coffee table, I know there are two schools of thought but it looks like the sofa and chair are begging for one. The CB2 peekaboo might be the one.
The storage design is excellent.
Kudos for your storage solution! And the rest or your apartment is just as skillfully designed. Warm and modern!
This has got to be my favourite so far. I love your choice of color.
The storage is amazing. I want something like that in my apartment. Who designed it?
Wow, I have dreams of living in a place like this!
One quibble: need a pic of the cat.
How about pulling the uphostered chair to the other side of the column where small chair is now located but not pushed right up to the wall/window. Have it floating in the room a little and angled toward the sofa. Things look a little tight the way they are now. Only downside is it would face away from the TV...
I love those little high shelves!
Great solutions and very well decorated. It almost has a european aesthetic.
I would edit away some of the vases/decorative objects that clutter your otherwise very nice space.
I love your place. Is the rug at a wonky angle to accommodate the pole or is it just me? I would either straighten it up or exaggerate the angle a little more.
Great use of colour!
Holy transformer Batman!
Small (ish), cool.
Finally! A winner.
This contest is about elegantly and creatively redesigning a small space, right? Well here it is.
The kitchen is the perfect size for any home.
Not too big, not too small.
I would add a dining table behind the couch area if I were you. Cause this place is too gorgeous not to have dinner parties.
Love the custom glass integrated with the storage.
Genius!
I really appreciate that you designed a way to hide the TV.
That needs to happen more.
this is one of my favorites, but there are 2 things nagging at me about it.
1) The chair and couch seem way too close for comfort. The chair seems forced into that space.
2) The space behind the couch seems really inaccessible. for a small space, it pains me to see an area that is seemingly cordoned off.
Overall, this is in my top 3 though. Amazing decorating sense, and beautiful artistic touches that lend a cohesive air without being TOO tied together.
very nice
love the storage space you created! interested in how it was done if you can share any details at all!
Simply amazing... kudos to you and your partner for your ingenuity and style! :-)
Brilliant. Your storage solutions make me realize that I actually could actually live in a smaller space! I am drooling over the media/storage cabinet. Well done.
perfect storage solution, wonderful small cool home. one of the very best this year.
I LOVEEEE your blacksplash!! do you mind me asking where you purchased it??
I really hope you guys get to the next level - we need more pictures! Let's see... bathroom, kitchen and of course, a gratuitous(?) shot of the cat! The cat shot alone should get you to the finals. :)
*drools* I needs that hide-away bookcase!! I'm guessing you don't rent to be able to custom install this?
Also love the pops of color in your living room. I keep trying to "where's waldo" your kitty, but maybe he/she is shy.
Hi everyone, and thanks SO much for all the comments, critiques, and words of encouragement.
I'll try and answer a few questions best I can.
The leather chair sadly has to go in that space because of the pole and the closet. Also, due to the chair's size, if we put it on the other side of the pole it would block access to the bedroom. I think perhaps the angle of the photo makes it look a little tighter than it is. It doesn't pose any issues for us.
We agree about editing some of our accessories for the pics. Again, in reality though, because of the height it doesn't look as busy as it does in the photo.
The closet was a very big job, and something we totally underestimated in terms of time and construction issues. We designed it, very specifically with our space and needs in mind. It took a lot of work to do the design and accommodate everything we didn't want to buy additional storage units for. We have so many books, cds, dvds, etc. Then we contracted out the work to a local guy. I do have pics showing the phases of construction, and our designs. Not sure how I would share them though. Perhaps apartment therapy will include will let me upload them here, I don't know. And yes, we own, so that's why we could make such a big investment.
The dining table issue was tricky. We have such a tight space, but we came up with the idea of converting our console table into a dining table (of sorts) by overlaying a piece of wood on top of it. We hide that piece of wood away when not needed.
A lack of coffee table is something we said we'd try and live with, and see how it worked. So far, so good. We have the small side table, and that surprisingly has worked really well.
The backsplash? Do you mean the green artwork on the wall or the kitchen backsplash? The green artwork we made ourselves, and the kitchen backsplash was part of the kitchen installation when we bought the place. It's tinted glass (very easy to clean)
Our cat (Graycie) was in a few of the pics but the shots of the apartment were less good. Not sure if I get to upload new pics if we get through to the next round or not.
Thanks again everyone, it's very encouraging seeing our tally increase and all the great comments.
i couldn't figure out what was 'odd' about the different angles of the custom storage unit until i realized that the wall behind the built in desk is glass! so the storage unit appears to float. is there a dining area the space behind the sofa or only along the counter adjacent to the kitchen? fantastic choice to paint the wall white. brilliant!
love this!!!!!!!
I love this space. Though I personally go for antiques, I love to see modern done right... and to me, this is it. I'd love to live someplace this well thought out and designed. I'm also a big fan of the fact that you hid your TV - I hate TVs in living rooms but it seems like they keep getting bigger and more prominent. So kudos... Wonderful job.
The dresser and console table behind the couch bug me - it makes it look cluttered. I'd keep the dresser and ditch the console table since a dresser can also work as a console table. Then the couch could be pushed back probably at least a foot or two and make more room for the chair.
I respectfully disagree about the sofa table/console, but agree the orange chair seems a little wedged in.
And while this may not be the sexiest "decoration" entry, it is crazy smart in how it uses the space.
great colors!
For the record, I *do* love how it's decorated... didn't want that last comment to make you think otherwise, Andrew!
Very clever use of space and storage.
This is a really great use of space. I love color palette and the layout. I do wish some of your accessories were bigger (and fewer) because I think that would give different levels of height to the place.
But, the best part is your closet. WOW!! How ingenious and efficient. I love how you have a mini office when you pull ot the orange section. Very smart.
I'd love to see your walk in closet, and see if it's as ingenious.
I agree wish most of everything posted. Your design aesthetic is wonderful. The crisp, clean colors really make your apartment look big. I keep going back to your floor plan and seeing if the folks who thing you should move the chair are correct. I don't see any other way, with the current configuration, how you could do it.
You could reverse the layout though, and have the TV on the opposite wall (but I know that's not what you wanted)
Anyway, I love it. I want you to design my storage.
Love the apt. and the colors. Very nice. 2 thumbs up!
I love your space and color choices, def got my vote! Are those vapor barstools form CB2?
I love your coffee table.
Oh wait?
You don't have a coffee table.
The colors and the pieces are nice. It's the layout that kills it.
1) Awkward sofa and chair positioning. Maybe try the sofa facing the window but leave a space behind for the bar stools. Leave the beautiful red chair near the window and pair it with the side table. I'm sure the living room is not designed for TV so it's ok that your sofa and chair do not directly face it.
2) I suggest that you get rid of that console table (too forced in the space) and let your credenza shine. This will also utilize the dead space and improve the flow.
3) With the sofa and chair facing each other, and the annoying console table gone, you can put a coffee table now perhaps?
4) the green artwork is placed too high on that wall. Try hanging it between 6" - 12" above the credenza. See what looks better. It's ok if your lamps and stuff cover it partly.
I love your space!
Is the orange chair the petrie chair from Crate and Barrel?
Where is your couch from? I really like it.
Thanks!
Thanks for sharing your home. You've given me some great ideas to use in my home.
Please can you tell me where you purchased the green bird, on the shelf by the window?
Thanks again for the comments. Subch shame that some people feel the need to post negative and sarcastic comments, but the constructive criticism is appreciated and I will play around with some of the suggestions to see what the space looks like.
Thanks again to those who refrained from the unnecessary, sarcastic comments.
@Caradcara - The chair is indeed Crate and Barell Petrie and the Sofa is the Jasper from Room and Board.
@ AngelaDee76, the green bird is from a local store here in Brooklyn called A&G Merch. I know the company who makes the bird is called "stray dog designs". They do a ton of similar items, that are all very virant in color.
@KM, yes the stools are indeed Vapor from CB2
Andrew - Thanks for the kind words from you and your 1! You guys live in a way cool space in a way cool city.
Andrew thanks for coming back to me about the bird.
Have fun it that gorgeous apartment of yours!