Recently we were cleaning out and organizing the bookmarks on our computer, and came upon Tracy Falk's wonderful 450-square foot studio in Vancouver. If you missed it when it was posted earlier this year, be sure to check it out. There are some great ideas for decorating small spaces on a budget...
Tracy fit a bed into an eating nook, and built a picture-rail divider to screen it off.
How cool is this chalkboard-painted entry?
Her budget? $1000.
We love this quote of Tracy's: I think studio apartments are a great challenge -- they definitely make you rethink how you live and what you need or don't need in order to have a home life that’s comfortable, expressive, and balanced.
• See more of Tracy's small space here: More Ways to Waste Time

Comments (20)
cool!
this.is.amazing
The dining area-turned-sleeping-nook is very impressive.
i don't think i can ever get sick of chalkboard paint. i think its so cool! when we buy a house (hopefully this summer) i want to do a chalkboard wall in my boys room, and maybe a small one in the kitchen- if theres a good spot.
love that pendant light in the first pic too!
cute home!
I love it!
It's smart class in black and white with a touch of kitsh humor.
Lot of good ideas made with style.
I could live in this little space.
very thoughtful with loads of style.
really well done.
don't know how i missed it the first time. i'll have to go check out the full house tour now. LOVE the photos above and the fact that she did it on a small budget.
Two Canadian homes in one day. Go Canada!
I love that picture rail divider! It just gave me an idea for how to display some family photos and little personal knick knacks :)
http://www.notyourgoddess.blogspot.com/
what a great home. If you haven't yet, check the full tour.
I especially like the color behind the bed.
amazing...
Perfect. I'm glad that people are willing to take on the challenge of studio apartments, and to do so well with them! I haven't quite gotten up the courage.
Emily
Wow, she is so lucky! As a New Yorker, I view that eating-nook-turned-bedroom as a proper full bedroom, making this home a one-bedroom apartment and not a studio anymore. Plus, it has a proper wall besides the one she created (thus cementing my one-bedroom belief). I live in a 400 square foot studio. That extra bit of square footage she has for her bed would make all the difference in my home were I to be so blessed!
Wow- it's not often that I'm impressed with a place on Apartment Therapy. Usually I like some or most of it.. Love this whole place. She should work for Design on a Dime on HGTV in place of the awful designers they have.
LOVE this place. And heather leaf is right -- in NYC this would be classified a 1 BR. (Heck, if the closet is good-sized, maybe a BR).
Very ingenious in the use of the space indeed. I've not had that luxury of occupying the space with little to no furnishings for a bit to see how the space use comes about so have had to make do and I've also not had the luxury of much, if any budget to work with but had what I had, which in the past was mostly a hodgepodge, today, I've grown beyond hodgepodge to a space that has some unity to it.
Today I have the ability to save and scrimp and to prioritize some of my limited funds towards the home and I think it's beginning to show.
Her idea of using neutrals is good, but also versatile colors that go with a variety of other colors can work too for a few of the major pieces however you definitly don't want to over do it.
Could you explain the shelf over the radiator please? I would like to do something similar. Does the shelf just sit on the heater or are there legs? Thank you.
so she has that landscape print/painting over the radiator *and* over the bed? ???
all - thanks much for the comments! i appreciate the feedback. i'm not involved much in the AT community so not sure of the protocol of replying here but will just go ahead ...
I know I definitely lucked out with that extra nook, other than the fact that I basically cook now in my bedroom it *does* make it feel more 1-bedroom-ish.
@thepictures - that's a LACK (sp) shelf from IKEA, I simply have it, not mounted, sitting right on top of the radiator, it's been there for a year now, so far no problems ...
@darlingcaro, yeah, this is an ever-evolving space :) things move around to keep me from getting bored and the photos they've used here were taken over a couple of months ... the landscape however, has found a 'permanent' home now above the bed.
The studio is delightful. Great flow!
However the quote "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." is Goethe not Murray.
Peace.