I’ve Thought About This Family of 5’s 1-Bedroom Apartment Weekly for 3 Years

There are small apartments, and then there are those that make you do a double-take — especially the Manhattan home that Jenny Davis rents. At first glance, Jenny’s setup doesn’t seem like it should work at all: only 650 square feet, one bedroom, and, oh, the fact that the space is shared between five people. But somehow, it does. 

For starters, Jenny and her husband, Cory, sacrificed the only bedroom so their three children could share it. Although “sacrificed” might be too strong of a word. The way they’ve configured their layout offers privacy and ease for all family members, and it just makes sense. Three main elements made living in this small home possible.

A long-time staple of small-space living is a Murphy bed. However, what makes Jenny and Cory’s Murphy bed special is that it’s actually situated in their entryway and, when closed, looks like a traditional cabinet. However, when it’s open, there’s a whale-patterned drapery hung above the bed, which makes it even cozier. 

The three children are in the primary bedroom, which is outfitted with a gorgeous bunk bed situation. Initially that could have posed a challenge, because the apartment’s only bathroom is accessed through the children’s bedroom.  

So they installed a secret bookcase door in the living room that leads to the bathroom. This way, they can access the bathroom while their kids are asleep, plus the four built-in shelves offer clever book storage. It’s such a fun detail that also serves a practical purpose.

When designing the home, Jenny decided to view each space not as a traditional room but as a “zone,” which helped her include more areas in one room, making it feel larger. “A zone is any space — a room, a nook, or even a wall — that can be visually separated to serve a function,” she explained at the time of the House Tour.

So, while focusing on the flow of each space, Jenny designed multipurpose rooms. For example, the kids’ bedroom is also their desk and crafting area, while the entryway (which, as you know, is the primary bedroom) has an office (in the closet) and functions as a “LEGO-building station.”

Since seeing Jenny and Cory’s apartment for the first time three years ago, I haven’t stopped thinking about how they seriously maximized every square inch of their home. It’s a great reminder that just because you have a small apartment (I’m speaking from my current experience) doesn’t mean it can’t fit all of your furniture, family, and dreams.