|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
| Compact house |
| Ingenious ideas on maximising a tiny living space. |
|
|
|
|
Living in a 31 square metre space would prove to be challenging for most people, but the owner of this apartment seems to thrive on the compact size and sparseness of her surroundings. Today, Shirl chats with the owner of this unusual apartment and gets a few tips on how to live large in a small space.
Belinda Zatta discovered this Bridge St office space in 1999 in a heritage sandstone building and decided to transform it into a living space. Three months and $20,000 later, the results are quite amazing. The cream walls, pink carpet and brown partition are gone and a striking stainless steel apartment has emerged.
The main space is a high ceilinged room with two small rooms adjoining which became the bathroom and walk in wardrobe. There is one large window overlooking Bridge St and the floor is laid with metallic colour Gerflor. Suspended on a platform of steel is Belinda's loft bed, which is basically a double bed mattress on an industrial mesh base. A steel ladder is the only way up to the bed.
Beneath the suspended bed is the compact kitchen, which is enclosed in a fibreboard cupboard. This is raised off the floor to continue the free flowing style of the space and has a stainless steel surface, sink and cooktop. Inside the cupboard are a compact sized dishwasher, fridge, microwave oven, pantry for food, pots, pans and glasses.
The only furniture in the main space is a small glass and steel table with two wooden stools, a Renzo Piano lamp, a glass bookshelf and a bean bag. The table was designed by architect and friend Tim O'Sullivan and serves as a dining table. The bean bag was chosen again for space reasons as a couch would infringe too much on the area. They chose steel as a basis for the furniture as it was an affordable, quality option.
The tiny bathroom fits a white bath tub, toilet and basin. A washing machine and dryer sit behind reflective glass and black mosaic tiles cover the floor and walls. The walk in wardrobe was a room originally attached to the office next door and houses Belinda's clothes and other items. Everything is kept to a minimum as Belinda loves freedom from possessions, so if a piece of clothing hasn't been worn for three months she throws it away. She thanks her mother for instilling the "everything has its place" ethos.
|
Disclaimer
All Fact Sheets and other material on the Our House website are provided as a general information service only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the advice of a properly qualified tradesman. Neither ninemsn nor its licensors (including the Nine Network) assume or accept any responsibility for, and will not be liable for the accuracy or appropriate application of any information whatsoever in any Fact Sheet or other material on the Our House web site. Your use of the Our House web site is governed by this disclaimer and the ninemsn's Terms of Use.
|
|
|
|
|
