Compact Living Situations

”It’s important to be able to get rid of the bed,” says developer Patrick Kennedy. ”To me, there’s nothing inherently more depressing than looking at the bed all day.”

The master bedroom. "The small size of the home inspired me to design it as an urban retreat for casual living based on radical simplicity," says architect Cass Calder Smith.

An open plan helps the apartment feel larger. Translucent curtains that act as room dividers, allowing a measure of privacy while still letting light pass through. They also hide the double-stacked Maytag washer and dryer from view.

One of Goolrick’s custom lights cantilevers over a marble-topped Saarinen Tulip table with the slight camber of a laden fishing pole. The table acts as both dining and work space; the cabinets to the side store all of the requisite office supplies tucked away neatly in custom drawers.

The architect chose glass to segment space because it takes up fewer centimeters than constructed walls, thus helping the room feel larger. Curtains can be drawn closed for privacy. The bed and side table are custom, while the pendant light is from Exclusive Lighting.