Name: Marc C.
Location: Chicago, Ill
Size: 270 sq ft. Studio
Favorite resource:
Found objects, Ikea, more found objects
Design Tip:
When working with small spaces, consider using a furniture element to split up the room and create spacial layering. By breaking up the space, it will begin to feel larger. Also, keeping clean lines in a space this small will minimize clutter therefore maximizing the spacious feeling.
What inspired you?
The prospect of fitting everything a college student needs into 270 sq ft and accommodating up to 4 guests. Going to school for architecture in a big city means 2 things when it comes to apartments, specific taste and a low budget. Also being that I am from out of state, accommodating guests would be an inevitable must.
I chose this apartment because it is located in the gorgeous gold coast and was recently converted from a hotel, so all the appliances were new and the wood floors were pristine.... [more below]
...Being steps away from the beach and the magnificent mile definitely fits my taste, yet comes at a price. At 270 sq ft, the tiny floor plan fits my budget yet provides a challenge. How do I create room to sleep, eat, study, relax, and entertain guests in such a small area? I began by splitting the studio into 2 spaces with the use of a lofted full bed.
This creates a cozy enclosed space under the loft and a very open living space in front. Enclosing the portion of the room closest to the door makes the living space seem much larger because the ceilings appear to be taller. Next, the under loft area was outfitted with a desk and a side cabinet to serve as a daily study. Notes can be posted on the metal loft framing with the use of magnets.
The desk is placed so that one can watch TV while working or swivel the monitor around and work from the couch. When not in use, the loft ladder is stored in the closet to clear a walking path. When guests visit, a small triangle table which serves as an entrance table is folded out into a square table and stackable chairs are used to create a dinning room for 4. The side cabinet now becomes a centerpiece like a credenza.
When the guests are ready for bed, the table and chairs are returned to their positions and the murphy bed is folded down to provide for a guest bedroom. The side cabinet now serves as a nightstand. Using the side cabinet for multiple activities saves money and space. The kitchen is aligned along one wall and serves double duty as a hallway.
A couch, flokati rug, and a TV table define the living area. A small end table comes in very handy serving as a place to eat and do homework while relaxing on the couch. When those out of town relatives visit, a matching chair can be pulled from the closet to further define the space and serve as extra seating. This Eames chair was found in a dumpster and restored which means style for free.
The room feels much larger than it really is because when you walk in you can see 4 separate spaces; the office, the living area, the kitchen and the closet. This 270 sq ft apartment can not only take on the daily tasks of a busy architecture student, but can also accommodate his weekend visitors without rolling out the sleeping bags and clearing the floors. All of this furnished for under $1500.
The very first entry that I think even deserves a vote! The other options either didn't do anything particularly innovative with the space, or (with the completely renovated guesthouse) clearly had an extremely high budget. While this requires a little work (moving tables, stacking chairs, etc.) and a LOT of discipline to avoid clutter, it's a great usage of a teensy space - at an amazingly low budget.
I know it is still early but this is a severely small space and it really looks cozy and utilizes space well.........dont be surprised if this guy wins it.
I couldn't *NOT* give this a wow when I realized he'd made a second bedroom - sort of - with a murphy bed. Small space, maximized in a big way. Well done!
Seriously, I thought that when I had a seriously tiny studio in Chelsea that I had done it efficienty, but this kind of takes the cake, I think.
Incredible use of space, and that eames chair is one of the best dumpstering finds I've seen. you get a very enthusiastic thumbs up from me.
wow - this is really impressive. I love the loft with the murphy bed pulling out underneath it. I also love that he uses that tiny space under loft as a dining room, guest room and office. that's crazy man.
I am curious if he considered turning that big closet into a spare room or office instead?
WOW...what forethought and discipline! I mean, I have a larger 1 br apartment and still have issues on where to house guests.
Amazing. It's got wow, it's got good space, it's got personality, while not being extreme in any direction. It's a huge space in a small footprint, and definitely a top notch entry. I give it 5 stars out of 3!!
Very efficient and creative use of space! But why Gold Coast, why, why?? You MUST be new to the city.
I had a place about this size here in DC back before you guys were born (mostly). I, too, had an incredible location, and it's worth the challenges to make a great place to live.
This is a great job, and I envy the new kitchen. Where is the Gold Coast? (We have one here, too.)
excellent economy of space
as everyone is commenting
but
but
[going on a limb]
no cool
Gotta agree with guido here. I was not blown away as others were. Maybe because I have seen this kind of thing before, maybe it is the actual pieces themselves which look a little too ubiquitous to me. Can't quite put my finger on it. Still looks a bit dorm room? Or maybe a marketer's take on what a dorm room could look like if the person bought the products from the vendor that is being pushed?
I normally don't just post negative stuff but this place has had plenty of supporters so I guess one or two negatives isn't all bad.
Is it possible for the floorplan to be darkened a bit? It is very hard to see :(
But way to maximize your space on a tiny budget.
Ikea's good on the budget, but so are flea markets and thrift stores. Go funkier on the found objects and this could be great.
Great job! Fantastic use of space. Bit too much Ikea but I wholeheartedly understand budget constraints. My place certainly wasn't as nice when I was a student.
Actually, I think that when space is this small, the fresh clean lines and surfaces of Ikea and whatever else he has here are a much nicer texture for giving some continuity than old and funky would probably be. Seriously, on that budget you managed this? And yes, it probably helps that the landlord had done a recent reno that also features some nice new clean textures, too. If it were an old, funky space, old funky stuff might fit in better.
I trust that there will be SOME very carefully chosen pieces with some age and character and those might add something eventually, but I really, really hope that this person will resist the temptation to clutter the place up!
Basically I think that (much like the sculptural quality of that angular bigger-budget masterpiece)the whole, here, is much, much greater than the sum of its parts.
Neither of them squandered opportunity. This same table was used in an apartment in last year's contest in a different placement, and I think its use here is part of an ingenious, very workable way of living.
Jean...where is the DC gold coast? Am I just being DC stupid? Connecticut Ave? If memory serves, the chicago gold coast is along the lake--fancy schmanzy high rises.
I think this entry's taken the best of Ikea...I think the reason people are responding so well is not that it is something revolutionary but because he did so much with so little. Back in grad school I had a similarly sized apartment, and people were bowled over by my decor--mainly because they expected so little and I fit so much into my space. Mine paled in comparison to this--mostly because I was using the dorm desk and bed and a sofa I found on the street. I really do love the bare bones simplicity of function and design in this room.
It is off of upper 16th Street NW in Ward 4. The Colorado Avenue area. Gorgeous homes. It is a widely known term, but not an "official" neighborhood name you'd see on an ABC map.
It is good to see a Chicago entry. Hopefully some more coming soon. This place is great.
Regarding the Chicago Gold Coast, from the web: The neighborhood is generally defined north to south from Oak Street up to Lincoln Park (at North Avenue) and east to west from Lake Michigan to Old Town (at Wells Street).
I think the the hyper-efficient use of space and budget limitations more than make up for the lack of more original / unique furniture. And I agree with Curtis that sometimes, when space is at a premium and the budget is low, IKEA cannot be beat. It all looks seamless. It's great.
It makes me think of my 590 square feet in a whole new light - my god, it's huge.
Wow. Great job. I know what it is like to live in a small space in a great neighborhood -- I only wish I had been as creative. Love how efficient and thoughtful your place is -- the only thing that I think it is missing is some art or maybe a decorative piece that offers some glimpse into your personality. I just want a pop of color or texture or something --I wish I could put my finger on it. Otherwise -- excellent work --- I especially like that you set the table for the shot. Such a nice touch.
Funny you should say that Catherine, I have a large picture on my wall behind the TV. It's a collage I made in school and the colors went so well that I blew it up into a poster and framed it. I wanted to buy the lime/navy jonathan adler pottery pieces, but I just could spend the money.
As for the closet question. I have considered lofting storage space in the closet and using the ladder from the loft to access it therefore creating a larger floor space. I was then going to turn it into a drafting room. I got this really nice desk from the dumpster and I am thinking of painting it and making it into a drafting desk but I want to get some enamel paint and it's expensive!
I have tons and tons of found materials laying around my studio space at school because I don't want to bring them home and clutter the place up. I'm only home for about 2-3 awake hours.
As for finding found objects. The key is the educational facility. Institutions are always remodling something and when they do, they throw out all the junk that's inside. Since the schools facilities department usually handles this, (and havn't the slightest idea of the items value) the items just get thrown away. I am the president of our schools preservation society so I always know what is going to be renovated next. I just an Eames fiberglass chair and I'm fixing that up right now, it's black though so probably won't make it into the apartment.
Thank you all for your gracious comments, I"m so glad you guy enjoy my space as much as I do!
how sturdy is that bed, for, ya know...
That's my question as well! I have a similar space, and I've always wondered about that IKEA loft. I'm 6ft and 180 pounds, and I question how safe I'd feel in it, let alone adding another person for some aerobic activity.
I love that triangular table that folds out into a square dining table. Is taht Ikea too?
gekko, yes, it's ikea.
WOW!!!
As much as this is a fantastic use of space, I can't help but think that there is a very cold efficiency at work here. I like IKEA, and I own my share of their stuff myself, but there seems to be such a lack of soul when their more cliched pieces and colors become so dominant in the room. The fact that the Eames chair was found and restored tells me that there is a capacity to go out of the way and customize the pieces, so why the IKEA furniture has to be kept pristine as-seen-in-the-catalog doesn't make sense to me. Throwing a pale blue blanket on a navy sofa doesn't count. And could the kitchenette surfaces be dressed somehow, especially when it is so exposed? In the end, the taste level isn't much higher than any average student apartment or dorm room I'd seen through the 90's, but the efficient use of space is extraordinary.
Aloha Ya'll,
I don't knock entries by those with lots of money to spend on their place (over $2,500). I am however impressed with those who've come up with ways to use small space and can express personality or creativity. That's what I'm looking for to help with my place.
GREAT USE OF SPACE, great idea with the murphy bed. I'm using my underspace for storage right now. Don't get many guests over here in Hawaii!!!
Can't access the LA site or West of the Mississippi entries. :-(
Cooking Cajun
This proves you can do great things on a limited budget if you have good space planning and design skills. Send the pics to Met Home magazine.
Death by rectangulation.
Nice use of space. Too much Ikea.
First, I think I live in either your building or one right by you that is owned by the same rental company (I have the same appliances, same floors, & my apartment was also a recently converted hotel).
So while I respect your choice of location, the apartmetn is a lot like one of the models in the IKEA in Schaumburg, Illinois. Same bed & obviously a lot of the same furniture. Still impressive use of space though.
if you like this apartment, you'll love the office of a 90s dot-com startup! the finishing touch would be a slide that drops down from the bed-loft.
There is nothing really visually spectacular that stands out, but I really like this apartment, definitely the best usage of Ikea furniture without looking generic or ugly!
I love the green chairs and the metal bunk bed. There is something fun about your apartment, which reminds me of a type of place I would love to be in if I was a child.
Nice, but lacks maturity. Looks like a playhouse or fort for teenagers. Could have been photographed at the IKEA showroom!
I think your economy of space is great, but I think it does look very young. I think your plan and layout would be just as useful if you upgraded some of your furniture for a more mature look. (if you land one of the top prizes, you'd be well on your way!) Overall I think it is a solid entry and innovative use of a small space. -t
awsome marc i like your room its sweet!!!!
i dont belive you did all that.
have lots of fun in your apartment!
Mark, your room is sweet! Just kidding!
As with the rest of the midwest, you simply don't get it. Buying out the stock floor at Ikea does not a designer make dude.
Hi Marc,
We're interested in your space & would love to talk to you about our HGTV show, "Small Space, Big Style". Would you be able to email us at smallspaces@brainbox.tv so we can get in touch with you?
thanks!
Sage.
Look, I go to college 300 miles away from home, so when I had the chance to furnish my own apartment, I was handed the keys to a grand cherokee for a day and I had $1500 to spend. Maybe if I had $20000 and a moving van for a week, or even a table saw, I coulda done alot more. And as for "the midwest not getting it," I'm not sure you even know what there is to get. Is it about how the furniture looks, who made the furniture, or is it really about how the furniture is used and how the space is transformed because of it? just curious.
Nice problem solving, Marc, especially for a rental unit, without renovating. It seems a lot of the better entries have gutted the space and they have complete ownership of their "apartments". Doesn't that make them condos?
Eames chair found in a dumpster? Do you go to IIT? Good luck in Chicago- I think as you explore, and get to know the public transit, you will find other great neighborhoods that will still get you to the lake, where you can have more space (for less $) to show off your skills!
This is such a fantastic use of space! I'm moving into a single and I was thinking of the exact same thing- but to see it realized really gives my little nook promise! Marc definately has the right idea on using the space as well as making the room cozy and functional. And the idea that you did this all with a small budget it fantastic. Great job. How tall is your space by the way?
I figured I'd better get into some of the spaces I liked the most to comment before all the honorable mentions and finalists were announced. I suppose I should have commented the first gazillion times I looked at certain places. And this was one of the ones I did look at again and again. And one of the ones I showed my mum when she came out to visit (she doesn't have a lot of patience when it comes to browsing online pictures).
Using the space as you have, makes more than most people would have seen in the space. Much like David and Im's space, you take what you have, and go UP the walls to use as much as you can.
Unlike the folks who don't like as much IKEA, I'm thrilled to see it almost all IKEA. Why? Because REAL people could go out and furnish their space with most all of the items you have in your space. Other real people.
That's one thing that bothers me about some spaces in magazines and even here for the contest. If it's something that is totally hand-made, I'll never be able to duplicate the look, or consider using, let's say, a loft bed.
If IKEA didn't make that loft bed, and you had created it from scratch with welding, it would still be great. But I'd never be able to do it myself.
Sometimes I like a "recipe room" where I could make out a shopping list and virtually duplicate the look in my own space, by hitting one store.
I mean, how many people would make a food recipe if they had to milk their own goats to make their own cheese, dig their own truffles (in season), and grow their own rare spice from scratch because it just can't be bought in stores? Some folks would. But not me.
There's a place for recipes that call for $100.00 worth of saffron, but it's not in my kitchen.
Whether or not you win any prizes in this contest, I hope you keep the photos of your current apartment and remember multi-use space when you're a famous, influential architect. That you go on to create housing and offices that make sense, use space wisely, and are affordable to many people.
You'll have walls that move to reveal spaces, things that pop out of other spaces, and everything so incredibly efficient that it will boggle the mind.
Er, and remember to throw a bone in my direction when you have those spaces available. LOL!
this totally reminds me of the apartment from that movie BIG with tom hanks. i'm not sure if that's a good thing or not?
This looks like a space designed for a life size Fisher Price doll. I would feel like a kid hiding under my dinning room table eating under the lofted bed. And way too much ikea....