August 31st, 2006
Small spaces
Designing small spaces is quite challenging and it requires more time and energy than larger spaces. Here is a case study about the design process and results for a small home.
Building:
- 3 storey townhouse
- Area: 95 sqm
Problems:
- There was not enough storage
- Main bedroom was too small
- Kitchen was too small
- Needed a home office - with lots of storage..
Solutions:
On the ground floor there used to be a garage, a long corridor and a small bedroom. Most of the garage area and the small room got converted into an office that is lined with wall-to-wall cupboards. In the hallway, along one wall, some cabinets got installed for extra storage.
On the first floor there used to be a sitting/dining room and a separate kitchen. The wall between them was removed and there is now one living/cooking/dining space. We designed a wall of units (using just upper cabinets) rather than installing normal upper and lower cabinets - this not only provided more storage but created the illusion of more space.
We also zoned this wall of units - there is a juicing zone and a tea/coffee making zone - right next to them there are cabinets for the necessary equipments. All appliances and deep cabinets are installed on the opposite wall - there is long worktop (rather than the usual segmented worktop) which becomes a breakfast bar as it protrudes into the living area. In the living area there is not much furniture.
The sofa doubles as a guest bed, while the coffee-table has a concertina-like mechanism rising and opening to become a dining table. There are two cubes that can be used as dining chairs or seating for guests. Several lighting systems can create different ambiances - some are hidden in the skirting, or behind a framed installation.
On the second floor there are two smallish bedrooms and a bathroom. The bathroom was made to appear bigger by installing a full-size mirrored sliding door, streamlined fitted vanity cabinets & floor-to-ceiling tiles. Also, the toilet bowl and vanity basin are cantilevered to make the room feel more spacious.
The main bedroom is panelled and painted white to make it appear wider. The bed is built-in, and the areas around the mattress are utilised for storage - under the bed there are two full length drawers; the bedstead doubles as a chest; next to the mattress there are chests with lids; above the bed there are some “floating” cabinets. Everything is panelled to unite & hide these storage boxes. There are four different lighting systems, hidden in the cabinets, to suit different moods. The floorboards are also white, connecting the hallway to the other bedroom - along one wall of the hallway there are floor-to-ceiling wardrobes.
In the other bedroom a wall-to-wall day bed was created that can double as a guest bed. Underneath there are deep plastic drawers, covered simply with some linen at the front.
If you’d like to get more information about this project or would like some advice about transforming your small home, please email us.