SUPER SMALL LIVING - A GENIUS 350 SQUARE FOOT BEACH COTTAGE

A super small cottage with a really smart space saving solution - a built in sofa! (above)

Two things excite me when looking at places for sale or rent...either extremely big mansions on one hand...or super duper small living spaces on the other.  I know. Diametrical sized living spaces!  I love the idea of living in a big house for once.  I live in a tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills that I bought years and years ago.  I love my cute cottage in the hills but I admittedly at some point in the future I am ready to move into some place bigger (a mansion, a large farm, a castle, a compound...you know...just something a little bigger).

My dream big house aside, over the last few days, I have been helping a girl at work look at apartments for rent.  She has to move out of her place in about 7 days so she is in a mad search for an apartment.  Well yesterday, she found a super small studio in Los Angeles and came into my office to show it to me.  We stayed late yesterday as I helped her map out a floor plan for the apartment and figure out furniture.  I really enjoy the challenge of taking on a super small space and making it livable.  Is that weird?

So today (unlike yesterday...see the post on the $75 million dollar house), I am thinking small!  That is why I am posting this little Venice Beach, California cottage cutie that I saw on Apartment Therapy yesterday.  A couple lives in this tiny abode.

This home pictured here is only 356 square feet.  It is a 1920's craftsman cottage on a small lot in the Venice Canals.  Apparently the couple who lives in this house rents it.    There is just one bedroom and a nice garden.

Here's the cool part...in order to maximize the little space there is in this cottage, the owner had a built in L-shaped sofa bench made and also made a built-in bed in the bedroom.  The built-in furniture dimensions were customized to make the most of the square footage

Take a look.
 

The L-shaped built in bench sofa also acts as room divider between the tiny living room and the small kitchen. (above)

Every inch of wall space is used...there is even room for a small home office that doubles as a dining room for two. (above)

More built-in space saving - this time in the bedroom, with a built in bed and book shelves. (above)

A small patio is perfect for a tiny outdoor living room (above)

What do you think of this small space?  Do you prefer a little tiny home like this or a penthouse apartment like I featured yesterday?  Please let me know in the comments section below.

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Was so excited to see on Instagram that Apartment Therapy founder Maxwell Ryan saw the COCOCOZY Rug Collection at High Point Furniture Market yesterday and really liked it.  Here's his Instagram photo and the caption below is what he had to say about our COCOCOZY Loop Rug in Hot Pink!  Maxwell has seen it all in home furnishings so was honored that he is "impressed" with my rug collection! Thank you Maxwell for the nice words!

"Super simple but elegant and with great colors. I was totally impressed with Cococozy @Capel rugs #hpmkt MR"

Photos: Apartment Therapy

FOUR DESIGN IDEAS FOR A SMALL HOME

Idea #1  - Incorporate a sectional sofa instead of a sofa and separate chairs n a living room...this cuts down on the visual clutter but provides extra seating. (above)

I like this little 700 square foot bungalow.  Such a great use of square footage.  Good ideas for those of us who live in a small space!

Idea #2 - Never get rid of built ins - refurbish existing built in cabinets or build new ones...they are great space savers  for storage and can look good too! (above)

Idea #3 - Add in floating wall shelves - floating shelves are great for storage as shown here in this small home office (above)

Idea #4 - Don't be afraid to use color  - This color blocked small kitchen with black floor and counters, white cabinets and red accent wall and door actually make this tiny space quite cheerful! (above)

What do you think of these tips?  Any you might use in one of your smaller rooms?  Any ideas you can share?

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  I'm still working on that COCOCOZY partnership announcement I mentioned. So excited to share with you my latest collaboration.

P.P.S.  Last night, TE and I went to a party for Nylon Magazine.  There was a dinner in honor of the magazine's Young Hollywood Edition.  Spent the evening chit chatting with lots of cute adorable young Hollywood types. Dinner was followed by a fantastic party at the Roosevelt Hotel.  Thanks to KA and TH for inviting us!  So much fun.


Photos: Daniel Hennessy