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    8 ways to create a smart, space-saving home by Studio AG

    AUG 19, 2020 | By Paahini Agarwal
    Despite being barely 400 sq ft, this compact home accommodates all of its young occupant's requirements; Photographs courtesy Studio AG Architecture
    White dominates the entire home, including the kitchen. Custom furniture is sized such that it works well within the spatial constraints; Photographs courtesy Studio AG Architecture
    View of the kitchen island that also serves as a dining counter; Photographs courtesy Studio AG Architecture
    A daybed with storage capacity makes up part of the seating area; Photographs courtesy Studio AG Architecture
    Within steps of the seating area lies the cosy bed and study area by the window; Photographs courtesy Studio AG Architecture
    An Andy Warhol tome is seen in a niche in the wall; Photographs courtesy Studio AG Architecture

    A unique need always leads to innovation—as it did in this Sao Paulo apartment designed by architects Giovana Giosa and Amanda Castro of Studio AG. This barely 400 sq ft home is created for a young college student to be practical, timeless and complete with well-defined functions. The resulting environment is versatile without any excess.

    Giosa and Castro deconstructed the balcony and brought it in to create more living space. All functional aspects—the kitchen, dining space, sofa, bed and the study at the corner window—have been placed along a horizontal line. The minimalist approach for the home is seen in the neutral colour palette and the furniture custom designed by the duo due to space constraints. 

    With the kind of innovative thinking that’s gone into this home, ELLE DECOR asked Giosa and Castro to share 8 tips on how to make the most of a compact space. Here’s what they had to say….

    The fine details in the living room show us an Andy Warhol painting and a pristine dining table; Photographs courtesy Studio AG Architecture

    TIP 1:
    The use of demolition peroba floor in fish scale at an angle helps enlarge the space—a fairly easy way to create an illusion of spaciousness.  

    A kitchen island also serves as a dining counter; Photographs courtesy Studio AG Architecture

     TIP 2:
    A joinery screen is a smart way to camouflage the closet and bathroom doors, while also separating the kitchen from the bedroom—the idea is to bring the rhythm of the cabinet doors to the lacquered wooden panel in the entrance hall.

    This part of the apartment features a cosy bed, cushy seating arrangement, coffee tables and a study area by the window; Photographs courtesy Studio AG Architecture

    TIP 3:
    Custom designed furniture is an ideal way to ensure that the scale is proportionate to the size of the apartment—this ensures that compact homes do not end up looking cluttered as bulky pieces take up unnecessary amount of valuable space.

    The graphic wall art adds a pop of colour to the sleeping area; Photographs courtesy Studio AG Architecture

    TIP 4:
    Light tones and whites make the environment seem more spacious and bright—this makes the abode does not appear overwhelming on sight. 

    The compact home also features a daybed with storage space; Photographs courtesy Studio AG Architecture

    TIP 5:
    Choose a pendant lamp and suspend it from the ceiling to create an illusion of space—using a long luminaire in a small environment binds the space harmoniously.

    Detail of the daybed; Photographs courtesy Studio Architecture

    TIP 6:
    Every nook and cranny in a small apartment is crucial, including and especially the corners—utilise all available pockets well and bring in elements that serve more than one purpose. 

    Warm wood is offset by the use of white and grey hues; Photographs courtesy Studio Architecture

    TIP 7:
    Glass furniture brings a feeling of fluidity to the environment—it eliminates visual barriers, lends a sense of openness and fulfills its functionality.

    The study table serves as a TV Console. Underneath it is a storage unit; Photographs courtesy Studio Architecture

    TIP 8:
    Compact kitchens must always be well optimised—the niche in the wall facing the kitchen, in this apartment, reveals a pantry; on the other side that opens towards the sleeping area houses a wardrobe.