Third-grade teacher Eric Schneider decided to buy the cheapest New York City apartment he could find. The result was a 450-square-foot apartment that wasn't much to look at.
Eric worked with designers Michael Chen and Kari Anderson to maximize the small space. I have to admit, I was blown away by the clever, Japanese-inspired space. It actually reminded me a lot the bedroom from Hey Arnold! or something high-tech from a James Bond or Batman film.
The apartment unfolds and one small space becomes optimized into four functional rooms. All of this is achieved with one very smart, very cool blue cabinet.
Talk about making something out of nothing, right? Check out the full story behind one man's vision to live big in a tiny space.
Are you a fan of interesting designs, space saving furniture and cool renovations? Feel free to SHARE so that you can blow your friends' minds, too!
It looks like a giant cabinet, but it's really the key to maximizing a small space.
The cabinet opens up into a functional bed, with shelving, closets, and most importantly, a wall divider.
Oh yeah, and that wall opens up into a desk.
When the cabinet is closed, however, that desk becomes a bar area for hosting.
If you're impressed now, wait until you see what the apartment looked like before. Click to the next page to find out!
In 2005, third-grade teacher Eric Schneider paid a whopping $235,000 for a 450-square-foot apartment in New York City.
That's pretty pricey, but this was the biggest apartment Eric could find for that price. (Yikes, I know.) Determined to maximize the small studio, he hired Michael Chen and Kari Anderson of Normal Projects design to renovate the apartment.
The wall divider clearly designates the bedroom from the living room. Check it out.
Oh, and that couch? Yeah, it becomes an extra bed as well.
Have you figured out the four rooms yet? Click through to see!
Eric added an island to separate the bedroom/living room from the kitchen.
The counter is a fully functional refrigerator.
That hidden drawer is really a dishwasher.
Eric spent $70,000 on the renovations. That's over $300,000 total on one tiny space. So can you spot the four rooms? Check 'em out. Keep in mind when the cabinet is closed, you've got one giant living area, too!
Watch the video to see the full story!
