Archives for Small Spaces
The convenient Light Switch Rack
I spotted the Light Switch Rack in a recent Museum of Modern Art Store catalog, and immediately started to think about all of the places I could use it in my home and office:
The rack, which is designed by Paul Koh, fits over your lightswitch, and then you attach your switch plate to the front of it. I think it would be terrific to hang the switch next to a back door to hold a dog leash and all of those papers you can’t forget to take with you when you leave. You could use it in an office to hold out-going mail and keys to the bathroom. It would also be great to use as it is in the image to sort mail and hold car keys. The Light Switch Rack is a great way to keep from losing those things you need when you’re on the go.
Popularity: 10% [?]
Posted by Erin on Nov 4, 2009 |
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Sheetseat eco-friendly and ultra-storable folding chair
With the theme of Thursday’s Blog Action Day being climate change, we’ve been thinking more about green organizing and uncluttering. Even just rethinking everyday items can make a small difference, like the Lunch Skins that Erin posted about on Tuesday.
I’m always a big fan of new solutions to old problems, so I was impressed with Ufuk Keskin’s unique take on portable seating with his Sheetseat folding chair:
Folding chairs are certainly not a new concept — the idea dates back around 4000 years to the Middle Kingdom of Egypt — but Keskin’s Sheetseat is the first I’ve seen that collapses down to a thickness of a mere thee quarters of an inch.
The simplicity of this design and the use of little more than a small sheet of plywood make the Sheetseet quite environmentally friendly. And the fact that you can easily store seating for six friends inconspicuously behind a curtain or couch, or under a bed, is about as uncluttered as you can get.
Popularity: 9% [?]
Posted by Brian on Oct 17, 2009 |
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How I keep project clutter under control
I’m a project guy. It’s rare that I don’t have four or five small projects going on at once, and since I’m not a neat person by nature, it’s very easy for me to let clutter get out of control.
About six months ago, I replaced the shelf that I was storing my printers on with Elfa drawers. This created the opportunity for a whole new project organization system.
Several of the drawers on the left serve as storage for office supplies. Most of the drawers on the right are for my photo printer paper. And the drawers in the center are individual projects.
Each drawer slides all the way out, so when I want to work on a particular project, I can bring the whole drawer to my desk. When I’m finished, the entire project slides back into the cabinet. I never feel like I’m actually cleaning up, but everything remains much more organized than it would otherwise be.
The whole thing is on casters, so I can roll it out away from the wall when I’m printing with really large paper, or I can store unfinished paintings against the wall behind it.
Popularity: 9% [?]
Posted by Brian on Oct 7, 2009 |
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Rethinking the vase for a small space
I recently learned about the store-flat reusable Vazu vases and instantly thought about our apartment and small-space dwelling readers:
They are available in many colorful designs (some holiday themed, most are abstract patterns), and so much easier to store than their glass sisters:
Check out the product video to see the Vazu vase in action. I have one in red and adore it. These vases are simple, reusable, and perfect for a place with limited storage.
Popularity: 7% [?]
Posted by Erin on Oct 5, 2009 |
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Space-saving mobile dining table
The theme of both of today’s posts is “Wow, that is cool!”
This first post is about an amazing space-saving table that I spotted last week on BoingBoing. It’s a portable chest that transforms into a dining table, which appears to comfortably seat nine people:
I think this piece would be perfect for someone who entertains but lives in an incredibly small space.
(Looks like this table made it to BoingBoing via the French site TrendsNow. Images from Link-Design.)
Popularity: 11% [?]
Posted by Erin on Aug 17, 2009 |
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Color-coded storage solves bathroom confusion
Sharing a bathroom with a roommate, parent, spouse, or sibling can be a difficult task even for the most organized. One person might leave his things strewn about the counter, you might have more stuff than your allotted storage space, and your bathroom might look messier than any other area in your home.
The Rubbermaid company offers some terrific advice on their website for sharing a bathroom in their Back-to-School section. The article “Room for Two” talks about the whole dorm room, but one of their tips caught my attention and is perfect for anyone sharing a bathroom:
What’s mine is…blue
Identify what’s yours at a glance and avoid confusion by stashing supplies in color-coded containers.
One roommate can go black/blue and the other brown. Everyone who shares the space should go through their things to first make sure that only necessary items are being stored in the shared space, and then organize what is left into color-coded containers. It’s so simple I’m surprised I hadn’t thought of it before reading this article.
Popularity: 10% [?]
Posted by Erin on Jul 27, 2009 |
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Small space fun and games
While surfing through the Apartment Therapy website over the weekend, I found this brilliantly designed space-saving door/ping-pong table and knew I had to share it with you:
I especially like that when the unit is acting as a door you can remove the net and use the metal structure as a towel bar. (It’s more clear that this is possible in photographs on the AT site.)
This incredibly functional design comes from Tobias Franzel. I couldn’t find a retail outlet selling the doors, so you’ll need to contact the designer through his website for custom information. Even if you never buy one of these doors, it is still an inspiring and clever product design.
I love when people think outside the box … or, in this case, the door.
(According to AT, the images are by Marcel Koehler.)
Popularity: 14% [?]
Posted by Erin on Jul 13, 2009 |
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Outfitting a minimalist kitchen
Although I am a fairly adventurous cook, I find that I repeatedly reach for the same utensils, pots, pans, and ingredients in my kitchen. You probably do, too. We’re creatures of habit.
A friend who is getting married recently asked me what I think are the essential items in my kitchen. I first directed her to the “Creating a multi-tasking wedding registry” post I wrote last year. Then, I made a list of the 10 things I can’t live without in my space.
Making “essentials” lists is a risky endeavor. Obviously, the items I turn to every day aren’t going to be what other people use. It was still a fun experiment and I created my list by answering the question: “If my home were destroyed in a disaster, what 10 items would I replace first?”
The minimalist kitchen:
- 10″ cast iron skillet. The Lodge version and the Le Creuset enamel-coated version both get the job done extremely well. I prefer the enamel coated version because I don’t have to season it and can throw it in the dishwasher, but both are excellent and the Lodge price tag is unbeatable. They work on the stove top, in the oven, and on the grill.
- 12 qt. stock pot with lid. The best and cheapest way to get one of these is to head to your local restaurant supply store and pick up a well-made aluminum one for under $30. You can make soups, pasta, and sauces, as well as using it for frying and soaking. It also works in the oven and on the grill.
- 9 qt. cast iron Dutch oven. Roast or braise in this amazing product. You can fit an entire chicken in this bad boy. Plus, it can go on the grill or directly over an open flame. Expensive, but it will last you a lifetime.
- Two silicone oven mitts. I use an Orka brand, but there are many others out there. Because they’re silicone, I can reach into boiling water and grab things without risking burns (the way you do with fabric oven mitts).
- A good knife set. I’m a big fan of the Cutco 5-Piece Set because they’re durable, can go in the dishwasher, and come with a solid warranty. Plus, since there are so many dealers around, it’s always easy to find where to have them sharpened.
- Cutting board. I love my Epicurean Cutting Surface because it’s nice on my knives, can be tossed in the dishwasher, and can be used as a trivet (up to 350 degrees F). I’ve had mine for a number of years and it is as good as new.
- Tongs. Not a lot to say about them, but love that they lock closed for easy storage. Long-handled stainless steel ones can be used for items in the oven as well as on the grill.
- Food turner. I grew up calling these things spatulas, but apparently that is not their official name. Again, you can use them on the stove, grill, or in the oven. They also do nicely in the dishwasher.
- Infrared thermometer. Simply point it at your food and know the temperature. Nothing to clean, and really cool.
- Baking pans. All you’ll need to get started are anodized aluminum sheet cake, loaf, and jelly roll pans.
I believe anyone can make fantastic meals with only these items. Do I have more in my kitchen? Definitely. This is just a basics list and nothing more. If I were to add five more items, I’d throw in a long-handled ladle, heavy-duty stand mixer, bread machine (I use mine twice a week minimum), coffee pot, and tea kettle.
Are there essentials that I have forgotten from my list? Do you think any of these items are unnecessary? Give your opinion in the comments.
Popularity: 29% [?]
Posted by Erin on Jun 11, 2009 |
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East Village apartment makes amazing use of space
Design magazines are starting to pay more attention to the unique demands that smaller living spaces present. We were very pleased to see that the June 2009 issue of Dwell has a great cover story on homes under 1,000 square-feet.
One of the residences featured is a 640-square-foot East Village apartment that was recently renovated by Michael Finger and Joanne Kennedy. The design work, which was done by No Roof Architects, employs some brilliant space-saving techniques to make the small home livable for a family of four.
We particularly like the under-floor storage and the Murphy bed hiding behind the desk shown below:
Popularity: 12% [?]
Posted by PJ on May 21, 2009 |
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Workspace of the Week: Metro mini
This week’s Workspace of the Week is RunningDive’s small solution:
I chose this office because it truly surprised me. Almost every horizontal surface in the room is created with Metro shelving. This setup is easy to move and easy to configure however its owner needs it.
The printer and two shelves appear to be on a stand on the left-hand side of the desk, providing for additional storage. The filing cabinet looks to be the cream color box under the television. There is task lighting, overhead lighting, and wonderful light pouring in through the windows. And, for being an office, it blends in wonderfully with the other decor in this efficiency. (If I’m not mistaken, the couch is a pull-out and the coffee table is on casters to easily be moved. Also, brilliant.)
In the comments, he explained how he made the hanging bicycle rack:
I drilled a hole into the ceiling, and inserted an anchor bolt that expands when you tighten it, there is an eye hook on the end. And voila, bike hangs.
Thank you, RunningDive, for submitting your photo to our workspace pool. It’s a very well-organized space.
Want to have your own workspace featured in Workspace of the Week? Submit a picture to the Unclutterer flickr pool. Check it out because we have a nice little community brewing there. Also, don’t forget that workspaces aren’t just desks. If you’re a cook, it’s a kitchen; if you’re a carpenter, it’s your workbench.
Popularity: 14% [?]
Posted by Erin on May 15, 2009 |
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A home office for a small space
Having a home office in a 450 square-foot space may be a pretty tough task. How does one make room for a home office and make it feel separate from the rest of the living space? The Unfolding Office featured in Dwell’s Dec/Jan 2007 issue is a unique option for a home office in a tiny space.
The Unfolding Office was a project of Michael Chen and Kari Anderson of Normal Projects who designed this solution for teacher Eric Schneider’s 450 square-foot apartment in New York City. The outcome was an all-in-one unit that holds everything from a desk to a bed and nightstand. For a better idea of the finished project, take a look at the slideshow.
Popularity: 14% [?]
Posted by Matt on Apr 20, 2009 |
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Toronto architects utilizes under stair storage
Under stair storage is a great way to utilize dead space in your home. It may not be the easiest project to tackle yourself, but it is an ingenious way to store things. We highlighted some under stair storage a while back and the most recent example is from Toronto architects Christine Ho Ping Kong and Peter Tan.
Dwell magazine featured this wonderful home in their April issue and the slideshow is well worth viewing. The home took Peter and Christine six years to complete and features many unique ideas. Peter constructed the under stair storage himself with each stair being its own separate drawer. Here is a excerpt from the article on making the most of a small space:
The unusual site and limited budget created a crucible for Ho Ping Kong and Tan’s intense creativity. Beyond the constraints of building codes and cost, the extremely tight quarters presented their own challenges. “In this house, the small spaces were massaged to hold as much as possible,” Tan says. The pair met the demands of the compact design, but just as they got all of the pieces arranged, along came their two children. “Originally, Pete wanted only one bedroom,” Ho Ping Kong remembers with ?a grin. “I had to say to him, where will our kids sleep?”
“I was in my purist phase,” Tan counters, smiling. “I was thinking: Here are the architectural elements we need—now how can we fit bedrooms inside?” The solution is a testament to their inventiveness. The bed in the master bedroom sits up against three small screen doors with the children’s beds on the other side. The flexible barrier creates a semiprivate room that can be kept open while the children are young. A second sliding wall system will be installed when the kids are ready to have their own rooms.
Popularity: 14% [?]
Posted by Matt on Apr 6, 2009 |
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Folding bikes reviewed by OptimalRide
In 2007, we wrote about the A-Bike, a collapsible bike that folds down to the size of an umbrella. Collapsible bikes such as these are perfect for people with very limited storage space and short-ish commutes.
Since we wrote that article, we’ve thought a lot about how incompatible bicycles can be with small spaces. We’ve written about a handful of storage solutions that use vertical or wall space, instead of floor space. And, we’ve been on the lookout for even more solutions.
A couple weeks ago, I stumbled upon the article “Best Folding Bikes of 2009” on the OptimalRide website:
Folding bikes are useful for anyone interested in taking their bike on a bus, train or ferry. They can also be packed in a car, stowed on a plane, or stored indoors securely. Many owners bring their folding bikes into an apartment or store them under an office desk. Most folding bikes have 16? or 20? wheels, but you can also find 26? wheel bikes that fold (see the Dahon bikes below).
The reviews and descriptions of the folding bikes in OptimalRide’s article are exhaustive, and definitely worth a read. Make sure to check out the whole article, as the ads in the middle of the text can be a little confusing. I hope this can be helpful to those of you in small living spaces.
Popularity: 10% [?]
Posted by Erin on Mar 21, 2009 |
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Spherical minimalist living
Minimalism has reached all-new heights with the Free Spirit Spheres. Instead of finding a small corner of the world to call your own, you can swing from the trees in a ball of wood.
A description of Eryn, one of two sphere options from Free Spirit Spheres:
Made of Sitka spruce, Eryn is 10 ½’ (3.2m) in diameter giving her 1.8 times the volume of Eve [the other sphere model]. A well-appointed interior with galley, table/sitting area, double bed and loft bed, Eryn can sleep three. The loft bed has a weight restriction of 165 pounds. The galley includes a sink, small refrigerator, microwave and dishes.
Eryn has five windows. Two large windows; one next to the bed, the other beside the table, and two small windows; one in the door and one over the galley counter. A large skylight facilitates communing with the forest canopy and the stars. Every window is dished to the same radius as the sphere shell.
Eryn is insulated, plumbed and wired for 20 amps, 120/240 volt AC. She is easily heated with a small electric heater.
A view of the “kitchen” in the Eryn sphere (people included for scale):
A view of the “living room” and front door in the Eryn sphere:
There don’t appear to be any laundry or bathroom facilities in the spheres, so you would need to find additional methods to tackle these vital tasks. Otherwise, I think they look pretty cool. I don’t think I could live in one full time, but they might be perfect for a vacation. What do you think? Could you take up residence in a minimalist sphere?
(Thanks to reader Jessica for bringing the MSN article to our attention.)
Popularity: 16% [?]
Posted by Erin on Mar 9, 2009 |
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Folding kitchen island
Do you have a small kitchen, but want extra counter space to prepare your meals? Unfortunately, a small kitchen has limited options for improvement. Either you make more room by taking advantage of a table in another room, or you move to a place that has a larger kitchen for your meal preparation. The Folding Kitchen Island is a much more convenient option.
As you can see from the picture, the folding island can be folded flat and tucked away when not in use. This a great space-saving option that serves up more counter space when needed. It measures in at 23″ x 22-1/2″ x 36″ high when unfolded and ready for use.
(via The Kitchn)
Popularity: 14% [?]
Posted by Matt on Jan 29, 2009 |
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An efficiency becomes efficient
Architect Gary Chang’s Hong Kong apartment is the gold standard in space-saving solutions. His 344 square-foot apartment has an open floor plan, but with a series of sliding wall units, can easily be configured into 24 different rooms.
From the New York Times article “24 Rooms Tucked Into One” discussing Chang’s space:
In Mr. Chang’s solution, a kind of human-size briefcase, everything can be folded away so that the space feels expansive, like a yoga studio.
The wall units, which are suspended from steel tracks bolted into the ceiling, seem to float an inch above the reflective black granite floor. As they are shifted around, the apartment becomes all manner of spaces — kitchen, library, laundry room, dressing room, a lounge with a hammock, an enclosed dining area and a wet bar.
To be able to fully appreciate the wonder that is Mr. Chang’s apartment, you should check out the accompanying photo gallery “Box of Tricks.”
I am truly in awe.
Thank you to reader Josephine for sending us the link for this article.
Popularity: 15% [?]
Posted by Erin on Jan 27, 2009 |
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Uncluttered home office design
MisoSoup’s K Workstation is an innovative and space-saving desk design. The K Workstation hugs the wall while providing overhead storage in one continuous structure.
As I write this post from my large desk, I’m a bit envious. On top of the sleek and modern design, the K Workstation would definitely cut down on my desk’s footprint by about 50 percent. This setup would work well in a shared office, dorm room, small apartment, or any minimalist space.
Check out MisoSoup’s website (the K Workstation is in the “furniture” section) for more product information.
(via Apartment Therapy)
Popularity: 10% [?]
Posted by Matt on Jan 22, 2009 |
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Stay at My Home
The home without a guest room or sleeping arrangements for guests is a bit annoying when friends or family come to stay the night. What does one do? A sleeping bag isn’t the most welcoming solution, but the Stay at My Home by Designasyl can be a little more accommodating for your guests.
The Stay at My Home is the thesis project of graduates Designasyl so it isn’t available for purchase just yet. The compact sleeping solution includes a mattress, removable drawer, lamp, and carpet, and is stored in and around a side table when not in use. A similar “guest room” could be constructed with comparable items, using a small, rollable futon mattress.
For more photos of this great design go to Dezeen’s post on the Stay at My Home.
(via Dezeen)
Popularity: 7% [?]
Posted by Matt on Jan 6, 2009 |
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Apartment Therapy’s small space round-up
Apartment Therapy is one of the sites that we enjoy reading here at Unclutterer. AT recently did a 2008 review of their small space solutions that is a helpful resource for those of us who live in smaller spaces.
The small space roundup has tons of solutions, photos, resources, and storage ideas. Get inspired by taking a look at some of the ideas and products that they highlight in their year-end review.
(photo courtesy of Apartment Therapy)
Popularity: 13% [?]
Posted by Matt on Dec 30, 2008 |
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Opting to stay in a small urban space
The New York Times recently published the article “Move Up? Move Out? Families Squeeze In” on the topic of middle-class families choosing to live in small urban spaces.
“There seems to be a large contingent who don’t move to the suburbs anymore,” Mr. [Andrew A.] Beveridge [a demographer at Queens College of the City University of New York] said. “Oftentimes both parents are working and have lives in the city and don’t want to commute in and then worry about having to get back home. There is a much bigger traction to city life.”
The article looks at families in New York City and San Francisco who live in one bedroom apartments with at least one child. Clutter and stuff in general is eschewed since there simply isn’t space for it.
Setting up a one-bedroom home for a family of four is not easy. In the making-space-out-of-nothing department, Dina Weiss and Jason Severs are master illusionists. A walk-in closet in their one-bedroom co-op on the Lower East Side was converted to a nursery in 2005, when their son, Sam, was born. But when their daughter, Matilda, followed 19 months later, they gave up their master bedroom for the children to share.
“We don’t feel like we’ve compromised,” Ms. Weiss, 35, a part-time teacher, said on a recent tour of their bright, clutter-free home. The couple sleep in the 8-by-9-foot former closet that housed their first baby. It is now a cozy cabin with a wall of built-ins and a queen-size bed tucked into the shelves. “We’d rather have another bathroom,” she added. “In New York people will do anything to have an extra bathroom.”
The article is inspiring and does a nice job exploring the possibilities of small-space living.
Image by Tina Fineberg for The New York Times.
Popularity: 18% [?]
Posted by Erin on Oct 20, 2008 |
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