Interior designer Claire Hung first met Mark and Kristina in a Park Slope Parents online group, where they started picking her brain on renovation advice. The couple was so impressed with her recommendations that they hired her to completely reimagine their Brooklyn Heights apartment, a two-bedroom unit set within a 1929 Art Deco tower. But despite the building’s rich history, the home had few architectural details to speak of other than structural ceiling beams that were more a nuisance than an asset.
“The goal was to really minimize the impact of all those beams through simplifying the design,” explains Claire. She accomplished this by channeling a minimalist Japandi aesthetic and streamlining the layout to maximize the 1,000-square-foot space. She tore down a partial wall that divided the foyer from the kitchen, which she then expanded by adding a peninsula. Honey-toned oak floors, clever built-in storage, and luxurious slabs of Italian marble complete the transformation.
Here, 10 small space ideas to steal from the serene apartment:
Photography by Seth Caplan.
1. Add built-ins.
![built ins are the best way to incorporate storage when space is limited, so cla 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/claire-hung-bk-heights-1-733x489.jpg)
2. Use a projector instead of a TV.
![a projector is smartly nestled on a floating shelf above the camel leather sofa 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/claire-hung-bk-heights-5-733x916.jpg)
3. Create a bar in an empty alcove.
![behind the client\2\17;s \1950s danish dining table, claire created a ch 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/claire-hung-bk-heights-2-733x916.jpg)
4. Bring the cabinets to the ceiling.
![claire made the most of the compact galley kitchen by building the upper cabine 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/claire-hung-bk-heights-7-733x489.jpg)
5. Align the counter and the windowsill.
![natural light makes a small area feel bigger than it is. that\2\17;s why 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/claire-hung-bk-heights-10-733x916.jpg)
6. Go for good-looking countertop appliances.
![there\2\17;s precious little countertop real estate in a small kitchen&# 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/claire-hung-bk-heights-11-733x916.jpg)
7. Install a floating sink.
![in the guest bathroom, a concrete wall mounted nood co. sink lends an airy feel 23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/claire-hung-bk-heights-8-733x916.jpg)
8. Cover the radiators.
![for a more custom touch, claire covered the radiators in millwork that\2 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/claire-hung-bk-heights-12-733x489.jpg)
9. Situate the bed with flow in mind.
![the previous owners had their bed facing the windows, but claire advised the ho 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/claire-hung-bk-heights-4-733x916.jpg)
10. Add recessed niches.
![to make up for the lack of counter space, the primary bathroom features a handy 26](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/claire-hung-bk-heights-9-733x916.jpg)
For more, head to Claire Hung.
More small-space ideas to steal:
- 9 Small-Space Ideas to Steal from a Tiny Paris Apartment
- Regular Rental No More: 7 Ideas to Steal from a 200-Square-Foot Studio in Brooklyn (DIY Closet Included)
- Small-Space Solutions: 17 Affordable Tips from an NYC Creative Couple
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