small spaces

Large, sliding glass doors connect the interior living spaces to the garden, while drawing in plentiful daylight.

In Hong Kong's Happy Valley—where land is scarce and living spaces are usually pretty small—multi-disciplinary design practice Lim+Lu revived a three-bedroom apartment in an old residential building into a gleaming, visually-expanded abode. With the aim of separating various functional zones while maintaining privacy, freeing up space, and making the apartment look bigger than its actual size (1,206 square feet), Lim+Lu incorporated suspended glass and sliding doors made with black powder-coated stainless steel.

The micro studio includes a fully equipped kitchen and eating area, study, and lounge, with the space partitioned by singular furniture instead of walls

The collaborative team of Studio Bark and Lowe Guardians describe the SHED concept as

Part tent, part RV, the NASA-inspired Cricket Trailer is the go-to camper for the modern road tripper.

Australia-based firm Contained specializes in transforming cargo vessels into well-designed lodgings. Each 20-foot shipping container easily opens up, flips out, and unfolds into a luxurious hotel room.

With a small budget, an open mind, and perhaps a little help from your friends, there’s nothing stopping you from building your own tiny home.

Taiwan apartment renovation by Hao Design includes a new floor with a wooden bridge-like corridor that connects a master bedroom to a walk-in wardrobe on the mezzanine level.

Russian-based studio Ruetemple conjured a plywood partition that separates working and relaxation areas inside this artist's studio in Moscow, incorporating both furniture and shelves for tidying away art supplies.

Moveable library-style shelving units slide from side to side to reveal and hide compartments that serve various functions in the Madrid apartment by PKMN Architectures.

Named Atelierhouse, for contemporary art museum Museion as a temporary home for visiting artists and curators, Harry Thaler Studio employed wooden boxes on wheels fold open to reveal beds inside.

A knotted curtain bisects the sleeping area from the kitchen, which contains concealed and exposed storage units, as well as a small circular dining table.

In the kitchen, white MDF cabinets stow tools. A Lebanese cedar island and stainless-steel countertops provide ample work space—and a place to display treasured items, such as the Buono V60 drip kettle by Hario. The island features a Franke sink with a Vola faucet. The oven is by Siemens.

The kitchen and lofted guest bedroom take cues from urban living—including an apartment-size Summit refrigerator. The cabinets are IKEA and the tile is by Heath Ceramics.

The residents splurged on double-height Marvin Integrity windows.

The apartment’s main stairwell, disguised as a Shaker cabinet–meets–Japanese tansu stair, houses storage for kitchen ephemera. The finish is hand-painted and accessorized with raw brass hardware.

"Maintaining sight lines to the outdoors and the adjacent den, we introduced a connectivity that transforms the kitchen into the center of family life,