Monday, February 25, 2013

Urbanite challenge concept: Micro-apartment


Count on me to be late for the party.



Being snowed-in for a couple of weekends has given me some time to unapologetically start working on my Undersized Urbanite submission. With all of my current obligations it seems a bit frivolous, but it's not like I really feel like going out. Unless it's to a Goodwill.
I mentioned in my last post that I'd be doing up a very tiny apartment, about 300 square feet. Yep, you heard right. If I lived in New York City, that's likely what I could swing rent for. So how would I make myself comfortable, be able to entertain and accommodate guests, but not have to sacrifice lifestyle due to limited space? There's the challenge.

These folks have the right idea:

apartmentgeeks.net
http://milenachka.tumblr.com
wired.com
apartmentgeeks.net

I'd like to spend less time on the structure and more time on really cool space-planning and convertible elements inside. I've opted for a simple plywood roombox. (Famous last words... simple, ha!) I just don't feel the need to have a million full-blown dollhouses. Yet. I haven't got the space, or time to maintain them. The idea of having a few roomboxes of varying styles for setting up scenes is growing on me.

The basic dimensions for the rough box pieces are as follows:
Floor 24" x 14" (336 square inches, but the walls will take a few feet away once assembled)
Walls: 12" height
Give or take.

Oh, you saw that? So what. I slipped myself the luxury of 12' ceilings. Give a girl a break. I'm sure everyone else is cutting themselves a little slack here and there. Some of those old industrial buildings had ceilings like that. And lucky me, I found one.

There will be exposed brick on (at least) the long wall. I'll attempt to make space for a dinner party of 8, 2 overnight guests, office/study space, and storage. Working electrical is an obvious given. Any additional square footage obtained from lofts/furniture is an intentional design feature.

So far I've got the roombox panels cut, and one side of each panel finished. Also got started on the bricks, that job friggin' sucks. Never heard anyone say "I want to be a bricklayer when I grow up". With good reason.
The pieces should all go together pretty quickly once I have them ready. I'm trying the 'work smarter, not harder' approach by doing as much wall prep as I can prior to assembling the structure.

 Things are moving along, promise. You'll see next post.

10 comments:

  1. cant wait to see! I like your ideas so far :)

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  2. That first photo is glorious, what a great idea, exposed bricks, loft and old fashioned bed! I lived in NYC in my 20s and am sorry I left. The per-war apartments have 12 feet ceilings, and hard wood floors, and these apartments are everywhere. I can't wait to see what you do!

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  3. Sounds fabulous! Can't wait to see it..makes me wanna make one too! Mini hugs!

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  4. the only thing that is better than all of your awesome ideas, is seeing the actual outcome. Not all of us are capable of emulating our ideas is as exquisite detail as you can, we can only watch :D

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  5. Love the inspiration picks. Can't wait to see your progress!! Glad you are back in the saddle. :D

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  6. it's almost like a college Dorm room ....only without the cheating boyfriend and the punk/goth/emo chick roomate with her leering boyfriend who smells and that you're pretty sure he's got a dead body in the trunk of his car... good times! can't wait to see what it looks like.

    Marisa

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  7. D'oh! I should have sent you a link to that post, so my bad. Did you see I used your chairs on my shop?
    http://www.shapeways.com/model/864331/table-otto-modern-dining-table.html

    I actually got a new bed to match the chairs. I'll try to post them tonight. Hope all things mini and airstreamy are coming along fabulously! :D

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  8. How on earth did I miss this post?! So excited to read your plans. I love tiny spaces. My first apartment was actually a renovated carriage house, all 400 square feet of it. Climbing a ladder to go to bed every night was awesome.

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