This Instagrammer’s 500-Square-Foot Apartment Has All Kinds of Smart Small Space Ideas

Written by

Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
For more than 10 years, I've led Apartment Therapy's real home content, producing thousands of house tours from around the world. Currently, I live in my maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with my partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
published Jun 18, 2019
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Patrick Janelle (you may know him as A Guy Named Patrick) might refer to himself as a professional Instagrammer in his bio, but he wears many other hats. The former graphic designer at Bon Appetit magazine has not only flooded the internet with the stunning food and lifestyle photographs he’s taken over the years, but he also co-founded The Liquor Cabinet, a mobile app described as the “on-the-go guide for the modern drinker.”

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But while food, drink, and travel (I love his city maps) certainly get top billing in his list of passions, interior design must be high on the list, as well. The proof is in the small NYC home (only 500 square feet) that he’s turned into his own personal retreat and a warm and welcoming space for entertaining.

He has shared some photos of his living room—an integral space for both relaxing and entertaining—and some of the ways he’s deftly dealt with a small NYC home. He also reveals some of his favorite products and even a favorite paint color below.

This living room is anchored by what Patrick calls “the most comfortable [sofa] I’ve owned”: the Irving sofa from Maiden Home. A comfy couch is vital for a cozy home, and in small spaces, it’s wise to be intentional with other furniture selections, as well.

“In general, every piece of furniture needs to be thoughtful because I have such little real estate to work with,” confesses Patrick. “A big coffee table would have taken up too much space, so I opted for two small round side tables that can be moved around. They actually were once stools that I found at a vintage store, and I had the seats replaced with marble tops. So they could double as seating, too, if necessary.”

Patrick says there are two important things worth doing to make a small apartment work better: Having lots of storage and getting furniture that’s built for the space. “I killed two birds with one stone when I had my floating desk/shelf/drawer unit built in along the length of one wall of my living room. It provides storage with the drawers, space to keep things underneath, and a surface for displaying books, objet, and my bar.”

The built-in, custom piece is a prime example of using floating (in other words, legless) furniture in a small space. “Forgoing legs maximizes the space by creating a sense of airiness. It also means I have space for storing things (on one end, I tuck my Away carry-on roller bag underneath, and it doesn’t feel like I’m storing my luggage in the middle of the living room).”

Furniture selection isn’t the only way Patrick has made his small living space work and look great. With white walls and neutral furnishings, Patrick adds energy to the space with an array of accessories and art placed around his living room. And he also added a punch of color in an unusual—and very architectural—spot: the window molding. “That was actually an idea I got from my friend Noa Santo, the founder of Homepolish. We worked together on some decor ideas when I first moved in, and I love that he wanted to highlight the size of the windows with the dark color. It’s like mascara for windows! I used the same color as an accent wall in my kitchen, Farrow and Ball’s Hague Blue.”

Looking at the photos in this post and the ones Patrick posts on his popular Instagram account, it’s hard not to notice that his living room changes often. From art that can go from leaning on the built-in to leaning on the floor, to the small coffee tables/stools that can be arranged for many uses, Patrick’s living room is a living embodiment of perhaps one of the best tools in a small space designer’s arsenal: flexibility.

Even though the apartment is small, I love to entertain and have friends over. From that perspective, I wanted my space to be flexible,” shares Patrick. “So rather than having an actual bar cart, I can create a vignette on the credenza that says ‘this is now a bar.'”

“In the cocktail app I created, The Liquor Cabinet, we organize cocktails by ‘The Basic Six’ and I believe in always having a bottle from each of the categories on hand at all times: agave, gin, brandy, whiskey, vodka, and rum. I can also create a buffet for serving food or set up lots of candles to give ambiance. The key is that everything I have has a place where it belongs, but it’s also available for mixing and matching to create the perfect space. Here are some specific items: five brass candlesticks, two brass candelabras, myriad books, and mismatched ceramic bowls.”


A few of Patrick’s favorite things:

  • This new chair, The Hayes, is also from Maiden Home; it’s so chic, simple, and comfortable. I was a little nervous about using white hair-on-hide as the material, but I absolutely love it.
  • I love my French Press, in matte sand, from Yield. I actually sold these at a retail pop up that I created awhile back, and I loved it so much I had to buy one for myself. I also have a Nespresso Creatista Uno for when I’m on the go or need a quick espresso pick-me-up.
  • I love collecting ceramics wherever I go. Recent favorites include MMClay from San Francisco, dishes from Shed in Sonoma, and dinnerware from East Fork in Asheville.
  • I’m pretty obsessed with everything Muji for storage. I especially love their stackable rattan baskets.
  • I only wash dishes with Mrs. Meyers Lavender Dish Soap.
  • Anything from Labour and Wait, like their Pot Brush.
  • I usually buy art on a whim and from artist friends. But I also love visiting Uprise Art to discover new artists.

See more of Patrick’s home (plus all his gorgeous photographs) on his Instagram account, @aguynamedpatrick. You can download his cocktail app, The Liquor Cabinet. You can even sign up for his weekly newsletter on his website, agnp.co