Best Tips for Small Apt

an alphorn

 

Friends of ours remodeled their basement into an inlaw apt. What I love about what they did was they put the kitchen against one wall. In front of it they put a VERY long counter/island with a sink and dishwasher in it. But it is then raised on the one side which looks out into the family room/dining area with barstools on the other side. Tons of work space and the mess is hidden from the other side.

It is great if you have guests over. Tons of counter space and four barstools on the other side with a table for six beyond. Off to the right they set up a small living room which is also open to the kitchen. And the room isn't big, it just feels it with the way it is laid out.

 

These types of table are some space savers to think about.

This has to be the thinnest fold up table. So the whole thing can slid out of the way. Yet be brought out when you need extra table space for eating when DD is home. Or one of the leaves can be left up all the time and the other side raised as needed. I think I saw one like this at Bed, Bath & Beyond.

http://uhurufurniture.blogspot.com/2009/07/pine-drop-leaf-table-95.html

This one at Ikea stores four chairs inside.

http://www.shetlink.com/classifieds/shetlink-classified-adverts.php?ad_id=4222


Here is an idea for a drop leaf, portable kitchen island. How much space will you really need preparing food for two people? And if you put it on wheels, you can wheel it over when you need to work, roll it out of the way when you need more living room space.

http://denoxa.com/kitchens/contemporary-harvest-table-with-drop-leaf-kitchen-island-4-0/d3f8w3yx9w99q2.cloudfront.net%5E858%5Ecatskill-craftsmen-contemporary-harvest-table-with-drop-leaf-kitchen-island%5Ecatskill-craftsmen-contemporary-harvest-table-with-drop-leaf-kitchen-island_4_0

 

Sorry, just saw post #16.

 

Also google Tiny House plans...there was all kinds of information using that term.

 

Did you see the episode about the guy who converted a garbage dumpster into a dwelling? He said the advantage was that he could just wheel it down the street to another spot. What a hoot!

 

No I missed that one! I'll have to see if I can find it on-line.

It's one of my favorite shows. I love to see how these people come up with unique ideas for homes. There are some that I would live in and others that I think "what the heck?!!"

The one the other night with the caboose was interesting. She did a really nice job with a very tight space. Not something that I could live in, but it was well done.

 

Personally I would make the "public" part of the apartment (Livingroom/kitchen...where I might be entertaining) larger and the "private" part (bedroom) smaller. I would probably make the bedroom big enough to accomodate my current bedroom set with some space to walk around the bed, but no more than that. I wouldn't be getting rid of the king bed either, especially if your DH is a big guy. Same with the bathroom...I'd make it a normal size bathroom but it doesn't need to be massive.

Other than that, the ideas PPs have given you are great!