How One Homeowner Lives Large in an Undersize Studio Apartment
This small apartment in Vancouver, British Columbia's tree-lined West End neighborhood has a lot going for it. It's an extremely diverse downtown area with many employment opportunities, yet it's within walking distance to the sea wall and beaches, and great restaurants and shops. Because of the areas high density population, residences are often small. But when Megan Baker, marketing and media manager for The Cross Decor & Design, found this 450-square-foot apartment for herself, she saw its potential and the expansive possibilities.
The apartment in on the fourth floor, with huge windows all along the side. “The windows, practically floor to ceiling, offer views of downtown and the ocean. They slide all the way back, bringing the outside in and making the room seem even more spacious,” explains Baker. “It was important to keep them uncovered so they could provide all the natural light available.” Baker kept the palette neutral and painted the walls a soft pinky white to open the space as much as possible. She then added accents of neutral blues and grays.
Sufficient storage is often a problem in small areas. Fortunately there were two useful closets in a front hall. Baker added a white cabinet in the dining area off the kitchen for dishware and a white Ikea dresser between the bedroom and living room for clothing. A small vintage trunk functions as a side table and storage for extra blankets and linens.
The overall space is divided into the “one-person” kitchen, as Baker calls it, and the living area on one side. The other side includes a small nook off the living room that became a full bedroom and a full bath. “The bedroom was a challenge. I wanted to indulge a queen-sized bed, but there was very little space,” says Baker. “I put the bed up against the window wall and was able to fit a small bedside table next to it. I found a pallet that had been discarded. I had it cut to size for a headboard, then sanded and refinished it in a gray stain. I attached a lamp to it so I could read at night.” Baker says there was no way to hide the fact that the bed was there, but she didn't want guests to feel that they were constantly in the room where she slept. “I bought a simple Ikea white dresser, ,changed out the knobs to glass for a touch of chic, then placed it in front of the opening between the opening between the bedroom and living room. It was enough to separate the two areas, but didn't completely block the bedroom space so the living room still felt open,” she explains. “And I could walk around it to get to the bedroom or bath.”
The solid gray sofa is L-shaped, providing lots of seating in a compact space. Baker also included a blue chair in the living room that originally belonged to her grandmother. “I initially reupholstered it in a cream velvet, but no one would ever sit on it! They were afraid of getting it dirty. So I upholstered it in a more practical white linen. Blue is much easier color to work with and it blends beautifully with the sofa.”
Even though Baker made plenty of practical space-saving design decisions, she is also a sentimental collector who makes a point to find room for the things she treasures. “Lots of things have been passed down from family,” she says. “I love my stuff. I think knickknacks are important, and I enjoy looking at all my pieces.” Baker also loves entertaining and feels that each of her collectibles has a story to share. “Friends visit and ask where I got teacups or the sofa table/ottoman in the living room,” she explains. “My pieces have provided the opening for many conversations, and I love that.” The teacups on the shelf between the kitchen and the living area were her grandmother's. The table is a Moroccan spice grinding stool from The Cross Decor & Design; it had intrinsic interest, but with a lovely blue cushion it became useful and versatile.
Baker says she is not a less is more personality. She feels collections should be displayed, but advises that they need not fill every single space. “A small room can be busy, but there should be some blank surfaces or walls,” she says. “If not, it can look cluttered and overwhelmed.” And she strikes the perfect balance in her own small studio. Written by Carolyn M Runyon. YHL