Lessons From Small Space, Big Style #23 Part 4

The lesson for me in this one: Remote-controlled hydraulic tables paired with curved sofas are surely drool-material for years to come LOL.

Lessons From Small Spaces, Big Style #23 Part 1

Lesson 1: One unifying element makes a world of difference!

Lesson 2: One unifying element also allows more variety, which is so much more fun and livable than stark minimalism.

100 Square Feet of Bliss Video

I actually think that a bedroom designed to be just large enough to fit only the bed is a more comfy, dreamy space in many ways than one like we'll have that is designed to fit more. Manina and I had friends living in Albany, NY at one point who had a bedroom that could only fit a bed. It was a little awkward in terms of getting on the bed, but it also felt like entering a room of fluffy clouds. Lovely!

Lessons From the Nate Berkus 250 Square Foot Makeover

Here is a fun link to a re-designed apartment by Nate Berkus:

http://www.oprah.com/home/Nate-Berkus-250-Square-Foot-Apartment-Makeover-Video

When I see stuff like that, sometimes I can't help but think, "yeah, well, try that kind of a challenge with a family!"  I'd love to challenge Nate Berkus with my own family's apartment.  But I guess in a way, I'm facing this challenge myself.  Too bad I am not nearly as capable as Nate Berkus.

Anyway, while the style of this particular apartment is not my own style, I really love the creativity and the nod to an antique method of room decoration.  It totally seems to fit the woman who actually lives in the apartment, which is the whole point of good design, I think.  Not to mention that the chandelier really is gorgeous (and I'm not even much of a chandelier person).  Even if nothing else had been done, that chandelier would have been lovely.

So lesson #1 is that one well-planned piece (like a chandelier) can really help transform a space.

The second thing that occurred to me as I watched the video is how much clothing this woman has.  You may recall that we have designed to take seven outfits each.  This move is about sustainable living for us too, and having seven outfits we like will be enough. 


Lesson #2 is perhaps the most important lesson I've learned yet in this journey.  The lesson is that the problem with moving into a smaller home isn't needing more space, it is needing less stuff.  The less stuff you have to store, the more room you have to live.  I am eager to start living!

Engineering Eye Candy

Before getting serious again, here is some more engineering eye candy...some folks, apparently, can make walls move and automate their entire space.  I'll be dreaming on!



Oh, and similarly, here is a link to a well-designed space that would work only for homeowners who can build their living areas according to their own specifications.  Another reason for dreaming on:

http://www.dwell.com/articles/stow-aways.html

In Limbo

We have been assigned a three-bedroom apartment in student housing.  Unfortunately, I went to look at the complex, and I ended up having many concerns about the buildings and grounds, so in a couple of weeks I will be going to look at the complex with only two-bedrooms so we can decide whether to ask to be switched. 

The big difference between the two apartments, in my head, isn't the third bedroom (although I realize for my kids, especially my daughter, that is the big difference).  It's also not the lower square footage, although I think to Manina that makes a big difference.  If anything, I am in a "less is more" mood lately in terms of square footage.  For me, the difference is whether we have a dining area.

Here are the floor plans, for comparison.  I'll keep you posted on what we decide.

The apartment we have been assigned.

The alternative option under consideration.