Search Results for: tiny apartment

Ready to ‘tidy up’ your apartment? Meet NYC’s master KonMari consultant

Closet photo via Flickr cc; Photo of Karin and Marie courtesy of Karin Socci

January 23, 2019

Ready to ‘tidy up’ your apartment? Meet NYC’s master KonMari consultant

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Between her best-selling book, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing," and new Netflix show, "Tidying Up," over the past five years, Marie Kondo—a diminutive Japanese organizing guru—has changed how people around the world think about decluttering their homes. But Kondo isn’t just another interior designer offering tips on storage. She believes that one’s home has a direct impact on their lives and even their personal relationships. This is why she approaches tidying from the heart and not simply the mind. As she says on her website, “Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy.” With so many of us living in homes that are almost as tiny as those in Tokyo where Kondo is based and developed her method, it's no surprise that New Yorkers have been eagerly embracing Kondo’s advice. It is also likely no coincidence that one of the only certified Master KonMari consultants in North America, Karin Socci, happens to serve the New York City area. 6sqft recently reached out to Socci, founder of The Serene Home, to learn more about the KonMari method and how she helps New Yorkers put it into practice.
Hear from Karin here
My 280sqft: How a wellness expert used plants and DIY to open up her tiny West Village studio

Our ongoing series “My sqft” checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to wellness entrepreneur and innovation consultant Ilse Paanakker’s West Village studio. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

December 17, 2018

My 280sqft: How a wellness expert used plants and DIY to open up her tiny West Village studio

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"Wellness" is definitely a buzzword these days, but Ilse Paanakker, a self-described "habit-based wellness guru" is definitely not just talk. By day, Ilse works as an innovation consultant, but she's also the founder of Habit House, a wellness technology that helps women build healthy lifestyles one habit at a time. And it when it came to her 280-square-foot West Village studio, Ilse was sure to use her expertise to create a home that not only feels much larger than its tiny footprint but empowers her to maintain her personal healthy habits. From her beautifully curated collection of plants (it's "meditative to take care of them," she says) and DIY projects to her accountability board and streamlined kitchen that's perfect for meal-prep, Ilse's home is the true definition of a wellness lifestyle.
Take the tour!
Small living advocate Graham Hill lists his 350-square-foot Soho micro apartment for $750K

Photo by Christopher Testani for LifeEdited

July 30, 2018

Small living advocate Graham Hill lists his 350-square-foot Soho micro apartment for $750K

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When eco-conscious architect and entrepreneur Graham Hill listed his famously tiny 420-square-foot apartment in Soho, we thought a unit couldn't get any smaller. But Hill has done it again, listing another micro apartment at 150 Sullivan Street for $750,000. The itty-bitty digs, dubbed LifeEdited 2, measures just 350 square feet but manages to seat 10 for dinner, host two guests and have space for a home office.
Tour the tiny space
The city will produce 500 affordable apartments across 87 hard-to-fill vacant lots

Image: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

February 14, 2018

The city will produce 500 affordable apartments across 87 hard-to-fill vacant lots

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An announcement Tuesday by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) gave lower-income New Yorkers lots to look forward to–literally. HPD Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer announced that nine development teams would be creating 490 affordable apartments and homeownership opportunities on 87 vacant lots through the department's New Infill Homeownership Opportunities Program (NIHOP) and Neighborhood Construction Program (NCP). The programs were designed specifically to unlock the potential of vacant lots long considered too small or irregular for traditional housing with innovative smaller homes, and develop more affordable housing on lots long used for parking at existing housing complexes. This latest round of development is the third and final in a series: The program has already seen the construction of over 600 affordable homes on 81 lots.
'No site has gone overlooked'
This 68-square-foot Upper West Side ‘apartment’ is $950/month
February 6, 2018

This 68-square-foot Upper West Side ‘apartment’ is $950/month

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There is perhaps no greater testament to New York City’s appeal than the abundance of itty bitty, overpriced apartments in appealing neighborhoods. And this Upper West Side residence might just take the cake. The lister of the SRO at 148 West 70th Street at least appreciates how ridiculous the setup is. The apartment, located an avenue and a half from Central Park, is a measly 68 square feet – “yup you read that right,” the listing reads. A fifth-floor walkup in a brownstone with a communal bathroom, the apartment is renting for a whopping $950/month.
Step inside, if you can fit
City will convert cluster apartments occupied by homeless New Yorkers into affordable housing

Photo via Public Domain Pictures

December 12, 2017

City will convert cluster apartments occupied by homeless New Yorkers into affordable housing

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Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Tuesday another plan aimed at adding to New York City's affordable housing inventory, while combating homelessness. As the New York Times reported, the plan converts hundreds of cluster apartments, occupied by homeless families across the city, into permanently affordable units. Cluster or scatter-site housing are typically private apartments in buildings in which landlords rent out to the city to house homeless people. To lower the number of homeless New Yorkers and add more affordable housing, the city's plan could potentially place 3,000 people into permanent housing, allowing some homeless families to remain in the same apartment and not be considered homeless any longer by the city.
Find out more
15 alternative Christmas trees that fit your decorating style (and your apartment)
December 4, 2017

15 alternative Christmas trees that fit your decorating style (and your apartment)

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For traditionalists who relish the ritual of bringing home the perfect evergreen, the idea of any man-made alternative has little appeal. But just as many tree-seekers are happy to anchor their December decor with a Christmas tree that doesn't shed and doesn't need to be sent to the curb when the season's over. The options are as varied as the reasons we love them: Some literally take up no space, perfect for tiny apartments. Others are perfectly modern, rustic, retro or Nordic to reflect the style of their owners. Below are 15 fun, festive, sustainable and re-usable alternatives to pine and fir.
deck the halls, this way
De Blasio’s affordable housing ‘road map’ includes tiny homes and micro-units

Image: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

November 15, 2017

De Blasio’s affordable housing ‘road map’ includes tiny homes and micro-units

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Calling it "Housing New York 2.0," Mayor Bill de Blasio has just released a new road map to his goal of building and preserving 300,000 affordable New York City homes–100,000 more than his previous pledge. The plan accelerates and expands the production of new housing, fights tenant displacement, creates more housing for seniors and working families and provides new home ownership tools. Among the more technologically advanced strategies outlined are plans to use innovative smaller homes on vacant lots that are too small for traditional housing and the expansion of modular buildings and micro-units.
Mitchell-Lama, vacant lots, modular building and micro-units, this way
Asking $750K, this little Chelsea apartment launched an interior design startup
May 17, 2017

Asking $750K, this little Chelsea apartment launched an interior design startup

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This cozy and chic one-bedroom co-op at 221 West 21st Street on a quiet and leafy Chelsea block may not boast a lot of square feet, but its well-curated design makes it feel more like a home than a tiny Manhattan apartment. It's a success story we've seen over and over again; in this particular case, the home's small-space makeover was the inspiration for successful designer-client matchup service Homepolish–the homeowner, a coder for Buzzfeed, went on to partner with the interior design company's founder to help others find smart design solutions. The fifth-floor apartment is currently asking $750,000.
Check out some of the cool details
Tiny MUJI Hut offers a stylish and inexpensive option for homeowners who want another room
April 27, 2017

Tiny MUJI Hut offers a stylish and inexpensive option for homeowners who want another room

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It's been about a year and a half since MUJI first announced their MUJI Hut, a modern prefab take on the micro-home. Costing $27,000, it's a well-priced housing option for those with land—and it's finally hit the market. Although the price tag may still be out of reach for most New Yorkers, those blessed with a backyard and some extra cash can easily turn this hut into a stylish extra room or office. That's right, at just 97 square feet this little guy appears to skirt the need for a building permit, keeping well below the 121 square feet that would require plans, approval, and tedious visits to the Department of Buildings.
more details on the design
Clever and compact Kammerspiel provides an all-inclusive living unit for studio apartments
April 6, 2017

Clever and compact Kammerspiel provides an all-inclusive living unit for studio apartments

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For many city-dwellers, living spaces often comes limited, so much so that it's not uncommon for homes to be referred to as "micro-apartments." German designer Nils Holger Moormann has created Kammerspiel for these tiny abodes, a sleek, all-in-one unit for sleeping, eating, working and storage. This is the largest piece of furniture he's ever engineered, and the purpose of the multi-functional structure is to provide a space-saving solution for people with limited square footage.
see more here
For $675K this tiny West Village studio is big on rustic loft style
March 23, 2017

For $675K this tiny West Village studio is big on rustic loft style

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This completely renovated loft-style studio co-op at 9 Barrow Street may be tiny with little more than 300 square feet of living space, but it definitely has an artistic side and plenty of warmth provided by details like exposede brick and hefty wood beams. Situated in a heavenly, tree-lined stretch of the heavenly, tree-lined Village, the doorman/elevator building is a top choice for location as well–and we're guessing it's the reason for the $675,000 ask.
Get a closer look
Tips and storage ideas for couples living in small apartments
February 13, 2017

Tips and storage ideas for couples living in small apartments

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6sqft’s series Apartment Living 101 is aimed at helping New Yorkers navigate the challenges of creating a happy home in the big city. This week we offer up some tips for couples living together in a tiny pad. When New York City couples move in together, it often means searching for, or being absorbed into, a modest one-bedroom apartment. For many, taking this plunge will be both exciting (think of all that saved rent!) and excruciating, as sharing a space will mean compromises, fights over housework, and the paring down of personal items so everyone's stuff can fit. So for those about to take the plunge—and those who could benefit from a bit more squabble-proofing at home—we've culled a list of our favorite self-preservation and storage tips for shacking up in small apartments.
our top tips here
Subway passageway reopens as a vestige of the original WTC; One57 apartment sells at $13M discount
December 20, 2016

Subway passageway reopens as a vestige of the original WTC; One57 apartment sells at $13M discount

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A passageway connecting the Chambers Street subway station to the Oculus Transportation Hub has opened for the first time since the 9/11 attacks, and it’s the last remnant of the original World Trade Center. [NYT] A gingerbread village at the Museum of Food and Drink depicts tiny bakeries from different countries, each serving their traditional bread. […]

Saudi Prince’s apartment with three panic rooms gets $8.5M price chop; the evolution of pumpkin spice
September 19, 2016

Saudi Prince’s apartment with three panic rooms gets $8.5M price chop; the evolution of pumpkin spice

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Greenwood Cemetery will start selling its own honey called “the Sweet Hereafter,” made by its 100,000 bees. [BK Paper] After staying in a Zaha Hadid-designed Madrid hotel, musician Moby said, “Literally sleeping in a dumpster would have been more comfortable.” [LLNYC] Go inside the workshop of architect Robert A.M. Stern during a typical busy workday. [TRD] Saudi […]

Apply Today for Six $947/Month Apartments in Astoria’s Artsy Welling Court
June 30, 2016

Apply Today for Six $947/Month Apartments in Astoria’s Artsy Welling Court

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Welling Court is a tiny enclave in Astoria, tucked between 30th Avenue and Vernon Boulevard, near the base of Astoria Park. It's best known for the funky street art that adorns its building's walls. Organized by the Welling Court Mural Project, there are now more than 140 murals from international artists, and each June the group puts on a huge block party to celebrate that year's art. If this arsty community appeals to you, a new rental building has recently gone up in Welling Court, and it comes with six low-income apartments that are now up for grabs through the city's housing lottery. 11-07 Welling Court is a six-story, 27-unit building from Architects Studio and developer Halil Todic. The affordable residences, created through the city's 421-a program, are $947 a month for individuals earning between $32,469 and $38,100 annually or two-person households earning between $32,469 and $43,500.
More info
Miko Mercer Is Building a 160-Square-Foot Tiny House in Crown Heights
April 12, 2016

Miko Mercer Is Building a 160-Square-Foot Tiny House in Crown Heights

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Brooklyn resident Miko Mercer, 30, joined the Tiny House Movement, and she's done more than just take a passing interest. The New York Times recently visited Ms. Mercer and the 160-square-foot DIY dwelling she's constructing, not on a homesteader's plot, but inside a big Crown Heights warehouse. Mercer, who runs the skin care division at popular beauty subscription service Birchbox and draws a six-figure income, still found that, as a single person, she couldn't afford to buy a home in a city where the average price of an apartment is $1.7 million. She ordered a trailer bed, leased the warehouse space and got to work, designing the house herself using a 3-D modeling application called Sketchup, meticulously managing the budget using a spreadsheet. She puts the estimated cost of her tiny house at about $30,000.
Find out what's in the plans for this tiny home
How Much Is Eloise’s Plaza Apartment Worth? And Stuart Little’s Gramercy Townhouse?
April 11, 2016

How Much Is Eloise’s Plaza Apartment Worth? And Stuart Little’s Gramercy Townhouse?

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It is well known that Eloise lived in The Plaza. But the book was published in 1955, well before Manhattan real estate skyrocketed. So what would her apartment be worth today? In fact, many children’s books have been set in New York City—think "Harriet the Spy" or "Stuart Little." In this day and age of record-setting prices, how much would those fictional characters have to pay to live in their homes today? Who would have seen the most appreciation, Eloise or Lyle Crocodile? Much detective work (à la Harriet) reveals the residences of a boy-mouse and a anthropomorphized girl dog span various neighborhoods including the Upper East Side, Gramercy Park, and Park Slope. What follows is a survey of six iconic picture books set in New York City and the current valuations of their fictional homes.
Check them out here
Two Pre-War Apartments Join to Make One Sustainable Home With Sliding Walls
April 1, 2016

Two Pre-War Apartments Join to Make One Sustainable Home With Sliding Walls

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The renovation of this pre-war home featured the transformation of two separate apartments into one all-inclusive unit. It was completed by architects Michael Chen and Kari Anderson of Normal Projects (Michael now has his own firm called Michael K. Chen Architecture, which specializes in micro housing), who designed the residence for an environmentally conscience couple and their young children. Not only did the couple want the materials used in their home to be ecologically sound, but they also wanted the design to encourage a sustainable lifestyle far into the future. In response, the design team defined a unique strategy that included a flexible floor plan made from custom sliding panels and a series of cuts and insertions. Even in the demolition of the previous property, sustainable practices were taken into account, and all the discarded materials were either reclaimed or recycled.
See more this way
12 Easy and Affordable Ways to Transform Your Apartment With Just Paint
March 23, 2016

12 Easy and Affordable Ways to Transform Your Apartment With Just Paint

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6sqft’s series Apartment Living 101 is aimed at helping New Yorkers navigate the challenges of creating a happy home in the big city. This week, the pros from Paintzen ("the Uber for painting") share some easy and affordable ways to transform an apartment using just paint.  With the countless other tasks on New Yorkers’ agendas, finding time to do some interior upgrading can seem daunting. But thankfully, there are some quick and easy fixes that you can do - in the smallest of apartments and over the busiest of weekends - that require nothing more than paint. From simple accent walls and chalkboard paint to more funky techniques like ombre walls and patterns, here are 12 tips for transforming your space with paint.
All the tips, this way
This Couple Ditched Their Apartment to Live on a 200-Square-Foot Boat for $360/Month
March 15, 2016

This Couple Ditched Their Apartment to Live on a 200-Square-Foot Boat for $360/Month

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When most New Yorkers want to start shaving money off the monthly rent bill they shack up with roommates, move far out in the boroughs, or relocate altogether. But this savvy couple found a way to save more than $4,500 a month without leaving downtown Manhattan, though they did sacrifice significantly on space (h/t Curbed). Mel Magazine made a video, "A Couple's Guide to Living on a Boat in New York in Winter," that profiles Victoria Fine and Jon Vidar, who share a 200-square-foot houseboat that's docked in the East River, along with their dog. Jon says he's been known to be "a drunken sailor" at times, but that being hungover on a boat is probably the worst part of sea living. And they both agree that you can forget personal space, with Victorian referencing a recent time she was sick with a cold.
Watch the full video
My 275sqft: Inside a Creative Director’s Chic Lower East Side Micro-Apartment
March 8, 2016

My 275sqft: Inside a Creative Director’s Chic Lower East Side Micro-Apartment

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Our ongoing series “My sqft” checks out the homes of 6sqft’s friends, family and fellow New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to co-founder and creative director of DNA Dustin O'Neal's Lower East Side apartment. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch! "Living in a small space is all about editing," says Dustin O'Neal. "You have to remove to grow." Sage advice from the co-founder and creative director of DNA, a start-up consulting and PR firm representing some of New York's top and up-and-coming architects and designers. While we know that cutting down your belongings is key to making a small space work, it's not often that we see tiny apartments stray from an all-white color palette to include purple, patterns, lots of art and even pops of electric orange and neon yellow. Having worked with dozens of creatives over the last few years, Dustin has picked up a thing or two about interior design, and his tiny 275-square-foot Lower East Side abode of three years reflects this knowledge. We recently visited the enterprising 26-year-old at home to see first-hand how you can transform even the smallest of apartments into a unique, style-filled space with less stuff.
Take a tour of Dustin's apartment here
Pre-War Apartment in One of Jackson Heights’ Prominent Courtyard Co-ops Asks $1.1M
March 4, 2016

Pre-War Apartment in One of Jackson Heights’ Prominent Courtyard Co-ops Asks $1.1M

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Jackson Heights used to be one of the few New York neighborhoods left to buy a great co-op apartment for a good deal. The prewar cooperatives there are known for their private, interior courtyards, and this building -- The Towers, at 33-27 80th Street -- has one of the best, spanning almost an entire city block. But it looks like this neighborhood is a bargain no longer. A for sale by owner listing has hit the market for a seven-bedroom, four-bedroom apartment at The Towers asking $1.1 million. (It last sold in 2011 for $675,000.) It's a huge apartment, with 1,500 square feet, and loads of beautiful prewar details. And windows from the bedrooms and kitchen offer a view down to the courtyard below.
Take the tour
INTERVIEW: Micro-Housing Architect Michael Chen Shares His Thoughts on the Tiny Trend
February 17, 2016

INTERVIEW: Micro-Housing Architect Michael Chen Shares His Thoughts on the Tiny Trend

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It's hard to flip through the home and garden television channels these days without seeing a program about tiny homes. But the trend has been gaining momentum for years, long before it made its way onto our TV screens. One of the creative forces behind this revolution is Michael Chen, firm principal of Michael K. Chen Architecture. With design offices in New York and San Francisco and 14 years of experience, Michael is considered a pioneer of innovative micro-housing. Not only does he share his "love of tinkering, of drawing, of discourse, and of making" with his clients, but he teaches at Pratt Institute School of Architecture in Brooklyn. Having recently finished the 5:1 Apartment–a compact, 390-square-foot space that fits all the functional and spatial elements for living, working, sleeping, dressing, entertaining, cooking, dining, and bathing–MKCA is taking the design world by storm with their thoughtful approach and clever product design. 6sqft decided to pick Michael's brain on just how he packs so much into such small footprints, where he thinks the micro-housing movement is headed, and the secrets behind some of his most spectacular spaces.
The interview, this way
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