Good Things, Small Packages

Meet four homeowners who've found that the best things really do come in small packages.

Small Space, Big Style : Episode HSSBS-107 -- More Projects »
Host Martin Amado visits four distinct spaces in New York, Brooklyn, Houston and Washington, D.C. With some careful planning and ingenuity, the homeowners came up with clever ways to employ versatility, utility and style in less than 900 square feet. Try some of these ideas in your home!
Versatility Is Vital
Jonathan Gann of Washington, D.C., never expected to be able to afford a house downtown. A housing lottery landed him an 870-square-foot loft that he transformed into a bright, modern, open space that's perfect for entertaining a variety of groups. Furniture can be rearranged, cabinets double as closets, and the Murphy bed folds up to create more space. Flexibility is the key in this apartment.
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The gourmet kitchen features cabinetry that matches the height of the apartment's tall windows and creates storage space for items that are not in daily use.
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A sectional couch creates a multifunctional space. Changing the arrangement of the sectional easily transforms the layout and look of the apartment.
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The island between the kitchen and living room is made of a glass sheet on black, adjustable sawhorses. Aside from creating the illusion of space while providing a sizable work surface, it also serves as a dining room table.
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Cabinets in the bedroom match the material and scale of the kitchen cabinets. While creating symmetry, this design also increases floor space with its tuck-away Murphy bed.
Maximizing Every Square Inch
Understanding how to plan for and live in a tight space comes naturally to Leslie Hoffman, who has a background in architecture and sailing. Her 460-square-foot traditional apartment in New York, N.Y., features the modern must-haves of ample storage and an open floor plan. Combining some inventive touches with essential items paid off big in this small space.
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With small spaces like this kitchen, it is vital to think through how you are going to function in it and how all the details come together; this ultimately defines how the space looks, feels and works.
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Custom-built cabinets feature a drop-down desk and drawers deep enough to be used as a dresser. Tucked into a corner, this desk takes up minimal space.
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Leslie's bed lowers from the ceiling by an electric rocker switch and rests on the platform created by the custom cabinets. The desk chair folds into a stepladder—the way up into bed.
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A truly tiny bathroom gains openness through a large surface around the sink and a deep tub with a glass enclosure that opens for a spacious soak or closes for privacy.
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