A Super Small 375-Square-Foot Studio Is Masterfully Arranged

Found her: A witty and talented writer who magically fits a kitchen, living room, bedroom, kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and storage in 375 square feet—including the closet. Meet Madison Malone Kircher.

Madison’s an Associate Editor at New York Magazine. And she’s also the wonder woman behind this apartment design and the hilarious answers below.

My Style: Is middlemalism a thing? Can I make that a thing?

Inspiration: When I moved into this apartment I didn’t really own any furniture beyond my bed. So my place was less designed by inspiration than immediate necessity. My uncle, Jim Malone, is a Chicago-based designer and kindly came to Brooklyn for a visit and helped me completely make over my home in just a few days.

Favorite Element: The six, framed Madison magazine covers hanging on the wall in my kitchen. (The magazine only ran for a brief period in the early aughts.) I actually had about a dozen of them in my childhood bedroom growing up, but when my mom mailed them to me here the package was stolen. She tracked down these replacements on eBay. Hanging them was a total pain, but I’m really pleased with the final look.

Biggest Challenge: Making what is essentially one big room feel like multiple, defined spaces. I really didn’t want to have a sideways bed, but it ended up being the best way to facilitate this. Also storage. You have to be careful when you use my shower because there’s a tower of shelves tucked in it where I keep products and linens. When you live in such a small space every square inch matters.

What Friends Say: “Madison… are you kidding me???” I’ve got one friend who recently admitted she has taken dozens of pictures of my place while I wasn’t looking and sent them to her friends.

Biggest Embarrassment: No two kitchen cabinets are the same shade and it drives me batty if I look at them for too long. Please don’t look at them for too long.

Proudest DIY: The thing about this apartment is it’s old and everything is a little bit crooked, including the floors. The front two legs on bar table in my fireplace have drawer pulls screwed into them so the table sits level. A coat of gold Sharpie marker helped them blend with the rest of the hardware.

Biggest Indulgence: Honestly, I’ve got a plant-buying problem. Which wouldn’t be so bad if I also didn’t have a plant0murdering problem. For the first year I lived here, I tried, and failed, to keep succulents alive on my dresser. Now, that glass bowl is filled with water and marimo moss balls—I call them Kate Moss, Elisabeth Moss, and Tori Amos (or Tori A. Moss)—which are almost impossible to kill. I also switched out the overhead lighting in my apartment. The previous fixtures were, well, ugly and one was hung so low if you were tall I’d have warned you to duck.

Best Advice: Before I moved in, I emailed my new landlord to ask when they were repainting the apartment and if I could supply my own paint. I showed up with several gallons of the exact, bright white I wanted on my walls and the painters used that instead of their usual, yellow-y stuff. I’m so glad I asked.

Dream Sources: Design Within Reach, Dusen Dusen, Article, West Elm, Furnish Green

PAINT & COLORS

• Benjamin Moore — Decorator’s White
• Benjamin Moore — Soft Chinchilla

LIVING ROOM

• Chairs, Couch, and Bar Table — Home Goods
• Marble Tray — Target
• Candlesticks — World Market
• Flokati Pillows — Home Goods
• Rug — Target
• Novel Pillow — Kate Spade
• Bookcase — IKEA (I added doors and door handles)
• Plants and Pink Pots — The Sill
• Curtain Rods — Target

DINING ROOM

• Table and Chairs — HomeGoods

KITCHEN

• Stand Mixer — Target
• Dutch Oven — Great Jones

BEDROOM

• Bedding — Home Goods
• Pink pillows — Kate Spade
• Dresser — IKEA (I also bought the glass top and added silver drawer pulls from Home Depot)
• Lamps — Target
• Lucite Shelves — Home Goods
• Dancing Underwear Ladies Print — Leah Goren
• Circle Mirror Tray — Vintage (It used to sit on my grandmother’s dresser)
• Floral Rug — IKEA
• Bedside Table/Filing Cabinet — Home Goods
• Lamp — Home Depot
• Wall Embroidery — Julia Carusillo (It’s a custom piece based on a picture of my college dorm)

BATHROOM

• Shower Shelf — Target
• Circular Wall Shelf — HomeGoods
• Boob Pot — Group Partner

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