Where is the refrigerator in the "big country kitchen"???? I love the video until I realized there was no refrigerator shown. Is it one of those dorm refrigerators hidden in the lower cabinet?

I think these look great, but ditto on the refrigerator. I don't know how realistic they really are, as I also can't imagine having my bedroom in the living room and sharing a single bed, AND having kids.

In our apartment home, in the south east of France, we have a galley kitchen that is about 15-18 feet long. It is also about 40 years old. When we move back there I have intentions to renovate both the kitchen and bath and I will be using Ikea to make those renovations. I just can't imagine why I would use any other manufacture when they all have the same gaurantee of 20 years. By the way, the cabinets that are in the kitchen now are ikea from 40 years ago.

I think that some of these solutions work better for design than for living. A drying rack over the tub seems impractical if you shower daily. Likewise, lots of open shelving and storage may look pretty in a picture but I think it would lead to a lot of clutter that would only make the small space feel more claustrophobic. I would also have chosen a light fixture in the bathroom that would lie flat against the wall, rather than jutting out and taking up more space.

I really like how the kitchen looks but yes, there is no fridge. I need my nice big American-style fridge.
Also, where do they put their dishes as they are drying? There doesn't look like there is much space next to the sink. Also, since they are using butcher block countertops near the sink, I can see that getting warped/damaged very quickly, especially if you have guests/family members who aren't careful.

Some of the comments show why those designers are working for Ikea in their field and some of you are not. Great ideas.

I think the fridge is behind the doors to the right. It looks like a cupboard for food but if the drawers under the open cabinets are of the deep kind the food is probably stored there.

As for a drying rack above the bath that is something that is standard in Sweden. We had it in my childhood home and I have one now. Usually clothes will dry overnight. If you hang them in the afternoon you can fold them in the morning before taking that shower.

Our fridge (in our US home) is in the back hall where the original ice box was (the drainage hole is still there). If you go into our kitchen, you will not see a fridge. There are different ways to fulfill expectations--open minds can go a long way. I find the Ikea approach fascinating--maximizing the space you have rather than buying more space.

riffraffa, I agree, plus it shows how very American their perspectives are.

I agree with riffraffa. I grew up in the UK where we had a tiny galley kitchen with a drying rack above the hob and no room for a fridge, so instead it was in the dining room. However, the kitchen was well utilized, with the washing machine and dryer below the hob and a double oven below the stairs that fitted perfectly, (still within the kitchen). Then in Hong Kong it was normal to have a drying rack above the bathtub, I got so used to living within such small spaces. I think the solutions presented are super useful and awesome, but foreign to the North American market, especially here in Calgary where most homes have the space to have their own laundry room, and the massive fridge/freezers. Nevertheless with the problem of urban sprawling, we need to realize the reality of just how much space a person really needs.

Yeah Americans are totally delusional when it comes to how much space they think they deserve. No offense. Born in Sweden, but grew up in the states. Seen and lived both sides. Am completely thrilled to see the trend towards downsizing on this side of the pond. Let IKEA and AP light the way.

Sorry, I meant AT, not AP.

These videos and the whole focus of Ikea's catalog theme this season has inspired me to recommit to small space living even as I transition from bachelor-pad renting to home buying. And guess where I'll be doing most of my shopping for my little <300 sq ft space?

We have a small fridge, and I've always cooked for a family of 5 (including hungry teens), plus the numerous friends who drop in for dinner unexpectedly. You don't need that much kitchen space, even for a large family. I do shop every day (it takes me 10-15 minutes instead of hours in the supermarket.)

I found the small kitchen particularly impressive, I would have thought a kitchen that size and shape would have to be an L shape.

As for dish drying, you can see there is a fold-up dish rack to the left of the sink. Presumably you put it on the counter in front of the sink, with a towel or tray under it, and put it away when you're finished with it.

I also agree that the fridge is probably integrated in one of those tall cabinets on the right, something like this http://www.ikea.com/ie/en/catalog/products/90199505/.

I have to say, slavish devotion to American style tank fridges does limit your kitchen options just because they are so big.

My favorite space is the last one I think it's very creative with the loft bed and concealed cupboards although I can imagine living there with children would actually be a nightmare!

@B from Stockholm. I live in New York City and I don't have a clothing rack, but I dry my clothes on the shower curtain rod. I have a set of hangers that I keep just for that purpose and I hang clothes to dry between showers. Works like a charm.

I have thought of getting a clothing rack, but the hangers are easier to store and they work just fine.

@SpotOnEarth, no need to be snarky and overly-generalize. It would be like saying all Europeans are against top sheets. Alot of Americans (including Canadians) don't like excessive square footage to deal with and are fine with smaller spaces.

Zenezie - I wasn't being snarky -- just a little flippant. I'm pretty sure it wasn't a generalization, though. I meant it pretty literally and I'm fairly confident that what I said can be backed up by statistics and facts. In America people use more of everything (more energy, more oil/gas, more space). And I would venture to guess that the reason for that is probably because we feel we deserve it and feel entitled to it (or to put it less flippantly -- we feel we "need" it, and haven't really thought it through because culturally we are not conditioned to question the ethics of "bigger=better"). Hopefully the trend towards downsizing is not just a trend but a true change in our value systems and thought processes.

it is interesting to me how many people are pointing out that a large fridge is absolutely necessary. when i lived in ireland, i was living with two roommates in a small 2 bedroom apartment and we only had a 'dorm-sized' fridge to share. it was slightly difficult at first because each individual had separate groceries, but we learned that you don't really need that much storage if you go to the store for a quick trip every other day or every few days. people are rely too heavily on buying many things at one time. it's foolish because often times you forget what you even have. our kitchen had a tiny stove, tiny refrigerator, AND a washer that also was a dryer. miniature, but very convenient.

**and -- pearmelon, i like your style. :)

@SpotOnEarth, I've never once heard an American say that they deserve a separate laundry room or a bigger kitchen. Yeah, lots of Americans want those things but to suggest that we all feel entitled to them is not flippant or snarky, it's just flat out wrong.

Please do provide your statistics that show Americans feel they deserve more space.

I would disagree with the entitlement part of your comment. I think Americans use more space because we're accustomed to it and it's normal for many of us, not because we think we simply deserve more space than others. It's a big country with lots of room to spread out and I don't have to squeeze into a tiny little apartment with three other people. There are plenty of very spacious and affordable apartments available to me. I don't think I deserve more space than, say, a Danish person, but there is more space available to me, so why should I confine myself to a college-dorm-sized fridge when a large one will fit just fine in my apartment kitchen and be far more useful? (And yes, it uses more energy, but I conserve on gas when I’m not running to grocery store every day because my fridge is too small to hold anything.) I think you'd find the same attitude amongst many Australians and Canadians and other residents of countries where space abounds.

I do love the trend of downsizing because it makes us reduce consumerism and energy use, which is a great thing and something many Americans are trying to do. I just hate that people so often frame small-space living as this really virtuous thing that Europeans do because they are such awesome people, when the real story is that they've been forced into because they don't have enough space. I think it’s the rare person who would choose to sleep in a loft bed above his living room if a comparably-priced space with a dedicated bedroom was available to him.

Hear hear Allie J!

@Allie J
Actually Sweden has more space per capita than the US. Our gas prices are a lot higher than yours as well. I usually walk to the grocery store.

I think a lot of the problems with American over-consumtion lies in lack of proper infra-structure (sidewalks, subways, railways et. c.) and insane city planning. Plus most people here cannot afford to use a car the way you do it. We have no choice but to live close enough to our jobs and grocery stores that we can get there by bus, bike or train.

If my kitchen looked like that cute little thing, I wouldn't mind if my fridge had to hide in the bathroom. And I say this as a person who cooks AT LEAST once a day. I have seen huge kitchens with all the best materials that don't have half the amount of charm as that one does.

Miklak: You clearly misread my post.

AllieJ: There is a third option. Walk or bike to the store.

I grew up in Brooklyn NY in the '50's and my Dad had built out of wood the same over the bathtub clothes dryer that they show here. It was on a pulley system as well. Washing machine was in the kitchen, no dryer. Of course we had the occasional accident when the drying rack was pulled to the ceiling and we forgot to look and turned the shower on, but it was so worth it to not have to go to a laundromat.

I can see both side of the argument but to be able to live this kind of lifestyle requires living in a kind of dense urban area with access to resources and stores that's not as common in North American cities as it seems to be in European ones. My city was built on oil money and most households live in single-family, stand-alone structures with at least one car in the driveway. I live in the very centre of my city and have a 20 minute trip to work by train, but even so, there's no way I could go shopping every day for groceries. A slight detour to the store adds at least 45 minutes to my day even though it and my home are on several major transit routes.

I'm saving up to move next summer and if there is one absolute must-have in my new apartment, it's a full-size fridge and freezer because I want to be able to cook meals and freeze them in individual portions. Right now, if I put one bag of veggies, some soup and a pint of ice cream in the freezer it's practically full.

I love these videos! Watching them makes me realize how much unused space I have in my two bedroom apartment.

I agree with some of the other commenters that Americans use more space because it is available and the norm. Most of the US is suburbs. I grew up in rural PA in a family of seven. My school was over a half hour drive away and any grocery stores etc. were even further. Going to the store everyday was out of the question so we needed a larger fridge. Now I live in KC and I love walking and biking places now that I can, but that just isn't possible for everyone.

Where have you been all my life.

After watching the walk-in-closet tutorial earlier this year, we thought, "why not?"

It takes two people (sometimes three) to assemble the hefty Pax wardrobes, but $600 later we have a giant walk-in closet where unused space once was.

These ideas are great even if you don't use them quite the way that they have.

I'm thinking if I end up moving into a place with a larger kitchen, why not make a walk in pantry instead of a walk in closet(or both :))

I so want an IKEA. The nearest one is a twelve hour drive away. (I'm one of those 'wide sky' midwestern Americans without access to either public transport OR Swedish flat pack furniture LOL)

We need an IKEA in Kansas City!!!

@Spotonearth, you've written twice that Americans feel they deserve more space. What have I misunderstood?

If you're right provide some evidence.

@Threadbndr

When my parents lived in Norway they had IKEA deliver a lot of furniture and most of their new kitchen. I don't know how much they want for delivery in the US but over here it's very cheap.

Miklak:

Here's what I said: "In America people use more of everything (more energy, more oil/gas, more space). And I would venture to guess that the reason for that is probably because we feel we deserve it and feel entitled to it..."

Then you asked for PROOF that Americans think they deserve more space. You combined my two statements -- I never said there were statistics to back up my guess. That's what it means to say "I would venture to guess." Statistics for the first part of my statement (about American over-consumption of resources) are everywhere and it's really not my job to find those for you.

@Spotonearth, you're getting your own sequence messed up. You said "Yeah Americans are totally delusional when it comes to how much space they think they deserve."

When Zenezie called you on it your response was "I'm pretty sure it wasn't a generalization, though. I meant it pretty literally and I'm fairly confident that what I said can be backed up by statistics and facts."

It was only after that you tried to suggest that you were talking about how much stuff Americans consume.

Apartment Therapy offers a lot of great advice on how to make the most of small spaces but I've never heard AT claim that wanting a larger space is immoral.

You provocatively suggest that Americans are delusional, entitled, and gluttonous, but can't support any of those value judgements with evidence.

If you said that many Americans crave big houses, or that they use more gas, I wouldn't have a problem with those statements. But when you use words like delusional and entitled and deserve, you're bashing Americans in a way that is totally unsupported.

I need to communicate more clearly and specifically. It is my opinion that Americans (as a culture) are delusional (definition: having false or unrealistic opinions) about how much space we feel we deserve (def: have claim to). It is my opinion that there is a sense of entitlement in this country regarding consumption of space and resources (sprawling strip malls and McMansions come to mind, as do our driving habits). The above OPINIONS are based on statistics which clearly show that Americans ACTUALLY DO consume more resources (space, gas, etc) than people in other nations. But, and here's the rub, my friend: I'm not BASHING anyone. I don't think delusion and entitlement makes someone immoral or bad (immoral was YOUR word, as was gluttonous). The negative connotations are completely YOUR OWN projection. I actually find the attitudes regarding space/consumtion to be confusing at WORST -- everyone running around with oodles of debt and sky-high mortgage payments instead of re-thinking their wants/needs. I just don't really get it - aren't we supposed to value freedom here?

* Probably should mention that I'm fully aware that McMansions are based on European castles, so the ruling classes across the pond started all this nonsense.

*Should also probably mention that at AT it's like preaching to the converted. The audience here (for the most part) is NOT your average American.

* Probably should also mention that I realize that nothing is true 100% of the time or for 100% of people. Seems like a given to me, but then so did all the rest...

I thought the ideas were great. I think small living spaces are cool. It filters out the junk, easy to clean, and it keeps the freeloaders out. ; )

@Spotonearth, you were the one who suggested that this was an ethical issue. You wrote that culturally Americans not conditioned to question the ethics of "bigger=better". You go on to write that you hope Americans will adopt a new system of values.

You can't claim that you're not bashing a group of people when you accuse them of being delusional and entitled and say they should change their culture and values to be more in line with your ethical expectations.

The disdain in your statements has been communicated very clearly. But you haven't even come close to providing a logical connection between consumption of resources and this delusional sense of entitlement you claim Americans have.

Now you say that it's just your opinion, but you started by claiming that there were all these facts and statistics to support you. Now I guess it's just that there are McMansions in America and it's a fact that McMansions are horrible. I wonder what percentage of Americans live in McMansions? I wonder what percentage of American's live in the suburbs so that they can use a lot of gas driving to work? I wonder what percentage of American's by a 4 bedroom house instead of a 3 bedroom house just so they can have a gift-wrapping room? I think those percentages will correlate to the percentage of Americans that are delusional about the amount of space they think they deserve.

Wow. Are you serious? The word "ethics" itself can be either positive or negative (definition of ethics: that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.).

As you can see, it completely depends on the person and/or culture. Now, as you've noticed, it IS my PERSONAL opinion that people (especially Americans) could stand to question the ethic of "bigger = better." But it could just as easily be someone else's opinion that people should question the ethic of "smaller = better" (some posters here obviously think so, and I would imagine that anyone keeping animals or anyone with a large family or whatever would definitely want to question the "smaller = better" ethic, for example.).

When I initially posted I was doing what EVERYONE else here does. I was stating my opinion. When someone jumped on me and accused me of "generalizing," I responded that I wasn't generalizing -- I explained that I believe my opinion is justified (which I think is how most people feel about their opinions). And I went even further to offer that the reason I think my opinion is justified is because of statistics. (definition of justified: to defend or uphold as warranted or well-grounded).

Since I'm so busy explaining words to you I might as well do some homework for you, too, here are some stats and interesting articles:

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/ene_oil_con-energy-oil-consumption

http://knol.google.com/k/u-s-energy-consumption-the-big-picture#

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2029899,00.html

and here's the link you need the most:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/webster

OK, do you two think you could stop sniping at one another, agree that there is a difference of opinion, and move on? It is disappointing to read arguments over nothing on these boards, especially when if folks were to talk rather than write to one another, you'd find you have more in common than you may imagine. As Americans, many of us are dismayed to discover that our consumption habits are in stark contrast to those of people in other parts of the world, and may in fact, cause us to appear to be a bit witless and greedy. Many of us who were raised in an atmosphere of plenty are beginning to re-evaluate the values we were raised with. It is possible to live very well with far less than we have become accustomed to. It is difficult to imagine how consumer-based economies will adapt as we adjust our habits. This is food for thought - it is too bad some have found it food for controversy.

Regarding the great refrigerator debate: I think Mlle Kate had an interesting point that rural areas are very different from urban areas in terms of distance and time to get to a grocery store. Middle America is still quite rural, even as cities continue to grow, and it may actually be quite practical to own a very large refrigerator.
I know many farmers in Iowa who own a separate freezer (gasp!) to store extra veggies from their gardens and meat from their animals. That being said when they do make it to a grocery store they usually try to stock up so they don't have to make several trips a week.

Going along with this idea rural life doesn't require you to live in a small-space structure and in contrast probably encourages living in a larger place since there are large plots of land. Farm families for generations were larger because many people were needed to accomplish the work necessary to run the farm, so a big house made sense (the need for large families has decreased with technology, but many of the same houses remain). The relative distance from towns also encouraged larger houses since visitors would often come and spend more than just one day, and without hotels for them to stay in they needed to stay with the families they were visiting. Many rural people view living in close enough proximity to walk/bike to the store as a luxury; it is simply not feasible given the distance involved. Those of you trying to understand this should consider Texas as an example: it is just one state but it rivals the size of other countries in the world.

On the flip side, living in a city makes getting to and from the grocery store easier as there are simply more stores, and in turn they are well located based on population.

If the above is true, then one could conclude that viewpoints on size of living space etc are more closely influenced by population and immediate geography (or at least historical population and immediate geography even in the not-so-distant past) than on what continent one resides. This is purely my thought process....it could be wrong:)

That being said I am fascinated by making small space living work for my needs, and I look forward to seeing what new products/ideas IKEA comes up with! I don't think I'm alone judging from the checkout line on a Saturday afternoon!

For the Record: I am an American whose Swedish great grandparents came to America so they could own their own land....(and who knows....maybe a bigger refrigerator;)

I want the pot rack/rod in the kitchen video - so smart! I can't seem to find it on IKEA's website. Anyone have any luck finding it?

nobody can deny ikea makes you think about space usage and storage options. love these videos.

Richmonder-It's called Fintorp. It's a series of kitchen rails available in the kitchen department.

Also, in Europe, IKEA makes integrated refrigerators that are counter height. I would imagine that is what is in the kitchen in the video.

As for the use of space in the US, we love our sprawl! In Europe, cities are confined and the space is used in creative ways to get the most out of it without spreading out. When you leave a city in Europe, you are immediately in countryside. Even the outlying cities in the country don't sprawl, they are nicely contained. Buildings are reused, thus it is common to stay or live in a building that is hundreds of years old. Here, we abandon the old and build new and spread and spread. We keep using up the farmland and soil once used for crops to build subdivisions and strip malls. Just because we can, doesn't mean we should. Europe has places to purchase fresh food everywhere. It is nigh on impossible to commute without passing a place to pick up food, rather than the way we push our grocers into strip malls and make them beasts that require time to navigate the massive space. Further, Europeans create far less waste. They buy fresh food daily, thus avoiding spoiled food. Their waste (which is less to begin with) gets recycled or composted, eliminating need for huge trash cans.

I think we have a lot to learn from the Europeans in terms of re-using and reducing our footprint. These videos show that you don't have to have square footage to live well.

We grew up with the parents in the living room, and the kids in their own bedroom. We were from Delhi. To have a bed of our own is luxury enough, a room is sometimes a dream. But that was there, and now we are in USA. No judgment.

Next question.. since I am considering this.
How do we secure the closets to the ceiling in the bedroom video?

As an American living in Europe, I find some of these comments totally offensive and ignorant. There are millions of Americans who do live in large cities and in very small spaces. I do not think that the generalization is accurate that we as Americans feel entitled to more and biggers spaces. I agree with the poster who stated that the reason we like more space is because it is what we are used to. I also feel that if someone chooses to and can afford (within their means) a McMansion that is their choice, though it may not be mine. While I can attest to the fact that after growing up in the suburbs of the states in large homes all of my life, it was VERY difficult to move into a 50 sq. meter apartment. However, that experience helped me to realize that less can be more. I will be honest and admit that I still do not like the miniscule fridges that are in most places, I now see that an industrial size fridge is not the solution either and drying racks look terrible in the middle of your living room period. One final comment to 'SpotOnEarth': you are entitled to your opinions about Americans, however, bear in mind that this very website that you are reading is based out of the good 'ole USA and perhaps you should consider that your comments are offensive to many readers. What I love about Apartment Therapy is that there are readers, bloggers, interviews, houses shown from all around the globe and the majority of the international population that contributes to it add positive, interesting and creative ideas, opinions and experiences without being offensive.

When surfing for interior design blogs, I came across apartment therapy and although I design mostly homes and offices, found some great information here. In fact, the "small spaces" video was especially interesting. I am sure my clients would also agree. Thanks for providing a great service to a large population who live in apartments and condos. Many of these ideas are good for single family home owners as well.

With much thanks,

Solange Boice
Design is Everywhere Online

In light of these comments, it is funny that the first video is about a walk in closet. I guess Americans do have something Europeans want.
I like the videos and ideas. I live in something small against a McMansion scale and large against an urbanite scale. And I like it that way.

These clips can also be seen in the Ikea Catalog App for iPad. I don't know if there is an Android Catalog App but it's worth finding out.

Oooh I want to make that walk in closet! Looks very cozy.

mlw1975: I live in America and have since I was two-and-a-half years old -- this is my home. In fact, "this very website" as you call it, is located just a stone's throw from my house. Do you have any other advice for me so that I don't offend any more of my fellow USA dwellers? I can think something and say/write it, someone else thinks something else and says/writes it. Doesn't mean anyone has to get offended. For goodness sake, just LET FREEDOM RING, okay?

Regarding the loft bed; it looks nice and I would actually consider having one in my living room, BUT am wondering how easy changing the bedsheets would be. Has anyone experienced this? Also, as an older person, I kind of worry about climbing up and down ladders, especially in the middle of the night.
And, regarding the U.S. consumption vs. that of the rest of the world, I have to say that, when I was in Spain (where I lived, briefly, while studying Spanish) people seemed to have larger apartments, on average, than those of people who live in Boston (where I live now). Also, they had full-sized refrigerators, nice furniture, etc. That was back in 1996, in San Sebastian and I know the economic situation in Spain has changed, but my point was that people there seemed to have a lot of space indoors, similar to Americans.

The comments are funny, but I do appreciate the video links! We are in the process of downsizing 2 adults and a teen (plus another adult child who comes home for long stretches) from 1600sf to 1000sf. It's a challenge, but also a great experience. The kitchen in the new place is small (although not as small as above), and we will probably put an apartment sized fridge in to save space. I thought the bathroom/laundry room was brilliant, and all the videos gave me some ideas.

@olderworker, I had that exact bad for years as a teenager and can tell you the sheets were kinda a b*tch to change. I'm sure if you had an actual loft it would be easier, but basically you have to be on the bed to change the sheets, and being on the bed makes it hard to lift the edges to get the sheets under.

That said, I loved that bed so much. My apartment looked a lot like that living room when I moved out the first time into a bachelor pad. It rocked.

@renewbee, I agree with almost everything you wrote. I'm encouraged to see people questioning not only how much space they want but how much space they need.

What I love about AT is that it helps me figure out how to fit a family of 4, a cat and a dog into a 750sf house. I love my house and we're making it work, but there are days when a couple of extra square feet would feel great.

I don't think that SpotOnEarth and I are having a difference of opinion. S/he made comments that I found to be anti-American and I feel it's my prerogative to defend my country-people. I'm OK with someone saying that American's use more resources. I'm not OK with someone saying that we're delusional and that we think we deserve more. That's offensive to me and I don't think it should go unchallenged. SpotOnEarth hasn't been able to support that opinion with any data.