25 Small Space SOLUTIONS

Dore, Kathleen . Chatelaine , English edition; Toronto  Vol. 88, Iss. 3,  (Mar 2015): 64-67.

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ABSTRACT
 
Curtains are hung on the inside of both glass doors to provide privacy when guests stay over. 17 CENTRALIZE
STORAGE One wall-mounted extra-large cabinet provides storage for all toiletries so that the spa-like serenity of
the room isn't disturbed by clutter. 18 LINK SPACES VISUALLY David used the exact same materials and fixtures in
both bathrooms to create a sense of continuity that makes each room feel bigger. 19 CONTAIN ITEMS ARTFULLY
A simple basket of white towels is unobtrusive under the sink and even adds textural interest while simultaneously
satisfying a storage need. 20 DESIGN ADAPTABLE SPACES A foldaway bed, complete with closed cabinets and
open shelves for storage and display, provides a spot for the homeowners' frequent overnight guests; once the bed
is stashed, the guest room can serve as a yoga room or extra office. 21 THINK VERTICALLY Sturdy hooks by the
front door, which opens directly into a small living room, keep frequently used outerwear off furniture but close to
where it's needed most. 22 MAKE "ROOM" Don't overlook hallways as places to eke out utility areas and storage.

FULL TEXT
 
Headnote
Don't let minimal square footage stifle your design dreams and storage fantasies. With creativity and careful
planning, you can have it all

David Hannah of Space Architects in Toronto compares designing a small space to doing a puzzle-each piece has
to fit just right. "Every little move counts, and you want to maximize every square inch of space," he says. With the
renovation of Loree Lawrence and Michelle Irving's 1,520-square-foot home, that meant customizing the space to
suit their life style-they both love to entertain-in a modem, ultra-organized setting. But before the first swing of the
sledgehammer, David, Loree and Michelle worked out exactly where everything from the laundry "room" to the table
linens would live. Then David set pen to paper. His innovative floor plan (and the almost eight-month gut reno that
ensued) gave them everything they wanted. It's an interior that's harmonious and hard-working, comfy for two but
spacious enough for a crowd. Steal these 25 tips for putting your small-space puzzle together.

01 TUCK AN OFFICE INTO THE KITCHEN

With so much of family life taking place in the kitchen, having an office space here allows you to be where the
action is while tackling bills, emails and your to-do list.

02 PROP YOUR HOUSE

Develop a stylist's eye, especially when organizing open-storage areas. "I love staging my own house,"says Loree.
"Everything in it really has its place. I like to draw people's eyes to what's there because it's purposeful and
beautiful "

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03 DOUBLE UP CABINETRY IN A KITCHEN ISLAND

Run cabinets on both sides of an island for extra storage.

04 ADD GRAB-AND-GO STORAGE Frequently used serving pieces and everyday linens are stashed on easy-
toaccess open shelves in the serving area that separates the cooking and eating zones.

05 KEEP IT CLEAN Visually clean, that is. David and Loree were on the same esthetic page and agreed that little to
no cabinetry hardware would create a less visually cluttered space.

06 CURATE YOUR STUFF I can't buy multiples of anything," says Loree. "It's all well curated." The wall cabinet has
one of everything for paperwork: stapler, scissors, tape. The cabinet under the desk is for paper. The tall cabinet
has cleaning supplies, the vacuum and small appliances.

07 LIMIT MATERIALS Fewer finishes make a home feel bigger. "My instinct is to limit the palette and materials so
that you don't have too much for the eye to take in," says David. Oak floors and cabinetry create unity in the
kitchen.

08 KEEP THE COOKING ZONE SEPARATE But don't cut off flow. Hosts and guests can interact in the open concept
space, but a peninsula with seating and the island protect the cooking area from walk-through traffic.

09 DESIGN PURPOSE-DRIVEN STORAGE The cupboard by the rear door provides a spot for gardening tools and
clothing, as well as patio-entertaining and barbecuing supplies. "In a house this size," says David, "you have to
know where everything is going to go."

10 INCREASE LIGHT The marble countertop and glass backsplash reflect light," as does the high-gloss cabinetry,
says David. He likes to use surfaces that bounce light to create an airy, spacious feel.

11 CUSTOMIZE OFF-THE-SHELF CABINETRY The depth of the Ikea cabinets on the outer side of the island was
altered to "two-wineglasses deep," says Loree, creating much-needed barware storage without sacrificing floor
space (i.e., room to host a kitchen party).

12 MAKE A BIG STYLE STATEMENT

"In the bathrooms, the tile big gesture, and everything else is white, so the sntre stage,"says "In the bat floor is the
everything e floor takes c David. Loree and Michelle andout tiles online from a Swedish design house.

13 TAKE THINGS OFF THE FLOOR Wall-mounted sinks, fixtures and faucets create a sense of spaciousness in
both of the house's small bathrooms.

14 GO BIG WITH MIRRORS There's no need to confine your mirror size to accommodate lighting. Light sconces are
mounted right into the wall-to-wall mirrors to maximize the clean look of a single reflective plane.

15 BUILD IN SHELVING A ledge by the bath provides a shelf for soaps and candles, eliminating the need for
awkward metal racks.

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16 DARE TO BE DIFFERENT David 's innovative design allows both bathrooms to share one shower. Curtains are
hung on the inside of both glass doors to provide privacy when guests stay over.

17 CENTRALIZE STORAGE One wall-mounted extra-large cabinet provides storage for all toiletries so that the spa-
like serenity of the room isn't disturbed by clutter.

18 LINK SPACES VISUALLY David used the exact same materials and fixtures in both bathrooms to create a sense
of continuity that makes each room feel bigger.

19 CONTAIN ITEMS ARTFULLY A simple basket of white towels is unobtrusive under the sink and even adds
textural interest while simultaneously satisfying a storage need.

20 DESIGN ADAPTABLE SPACES A foldaway bed, complete with closed cabinets and open shelves for storage and
display, provides a spot for the homeowners' frequent overnight guests; once the bed is stashed, the guest room
can serve as a yoga room or extra office.

21 THINK VERTICALLY

Sturdy hooks by the front door, which opens directly into a small living room, keep frequently used outerwear off
furniture but close to where it's needed most.

22 MAKE "ROOM"

Don't overlook hallways as places to eke out utility areas and storage. David configured the upper floor carefully to
squeeze in a laundry "room" behind sliding doors in the hallway. It comes complete with a closed cabinet for
soaps, a countertop for folding and a full-sized washer and dryer!

23 SEEK OUT CLEVER ORGANIZING TOOLS Loree and Michelle found a fabulous wall-mounted accordion-style
drying rack that uses otherwise wasted wall space.

24 INSTALL SLIDING AND POCKET DOORS Disappearing doors help keep hallways clear by eliminating traditional
swing doors that obstruct traffic flow.

25 ADD SKYLIGHTS Though small, the home's abundant light makes it feel big. David increased this effect by
strategically locating three new skylights to flood the second floor with brightness.

DETAILS

Subject: Traffic flow; Light; Bathrooms

Publication title: Chatelaine, English edition; Toronto

Volume: 88

Issue: 3

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 Pages: 64-67

Number of pages: 4

Publication year: 2015

Publication date: Mar 2015

Section: THE ORGANIZING ISSUE

Publisher: Rogers Media Inc.

Place of publication: Toronto

Country of publication: Canada, Toronto

Publication subject: General Interest Periodicals--Canada, Women's Interests, Home Economics

ISSN: 00091995

CODEN: CHTEEE

Source type: Magazines

Language of publication: English

Document type: Feature

Document feature: Photographs

ProQuest document ID: 1651243030

Document URL: http://easyaccess.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1

651243030?accountid=10371

Copyright: Copyright Rogers Publishing Limited Mar 2015

Last updated: 2017-11-21

Database: ProQuest Central

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