Half the Space, Double the Style

Second Floor Walk-Up
Just a few years ago, Ed Tachibana and Ha Lim Lee came across a dark and depressing 975-square-foot apartment with a manageable price tag. By enlarging and opening up the kitchen to become part of the living space, integrating better lighting and covering the dreary concrete with light hardwood floors, they gave the dingy space the feel of a bright SoHo loft.

The built-in cabinetry has open shelving above for displaying items and closed shelving below for storage. It's a clean look that uses wall space well.