Question: My dream of owning a home in San Francisco has finally come true; however, I'm leaving a 900-square-foot flat to move into a very nice, but very small, condo of 465 square feet. I am giving up almost everything I own except a desk, a dining table, a coffee table and a keyboard. My living space is very long and narrow. Could you give me some ideas on how I can use my pieces along with what I could add to make the most of the space?

Barbara Hernandez 
San Francisco

Answer: Small homes are a challenge. And it would be nice to incorporate some of the furniture you already have, but it may not work in this smaller space.

I've designed a home for you that is both attractive and functional. It fills all your needs except keeping your existing furniture. This design also creates two distinct areas in this small space so you have a real sense of separation between functions.

Instead of trying to squeeze a 4-foot-by-4-foot dining table into an area that is clearly too small for it, as well as adding a desk and keyboard, I've designed a wall system for you that incorporates your keyboard and serves several functions easily.

The wall system runs from one wall to the kitchen. It has doors on the bottom for storage, and shelves that run the entire length to create the illusion of greater width to the room. Recessed lights add drama to the unit when you put books and interesting decorative objects in it. On the left of the wall system is the place for your keyboard. It's recessed into the unit to save space. For comfort when you're sitting there, the unit has a work surface that pulls out on a shelf drawer much like a computer keyboard pulls out from under the surface of a desk on a drawer slider. Surfaces for work and dining take up so much "real estate" in any room, so here your dining table becomes a desk when you don't have guests. If you need access to cables and wires for your computer, a hole in the shelf provides a way to bring them up to the work area. Two chairs on the one side are there for company, another chair is your desk and keyboard chair, and the fourth chair is at your kitchen counter and can be brought to the table so you can seat four people. These chairs should be upholstered, slipper-style chairs so they can easily be brought into the living area of the room. The other area, the "living" space, should also fulfill several functions. Obviously, it's where you sleep, but you need a place for entertaining, reading, watching TV and just living your life, too. Instead of the predictable sleeper sofa that opens to a bed but requires you to move furniture around twice a day, I've chosen a daybed for you. During the day, beautiful throw pillows and a cover make it an attractive sofa. At night you simply remove them to reveal your bed. On one side is a large end table, with drawers for additional storage, and on it is a tall table lamp for reading when you're on the sofa or in bed.

In front of your daybed is a coffee table, preferably with a glass surface so it doesn't take up too much visual space. Perhaps it has a shelf below so you have a place to put magazines and books.

Opposite the sofa is a comfortable chair. An elegant recliner gives you another space in which to relax. Alternatively, and if you entertain a lot, I suggest a pair of larger, upholstered slipper chairs without arms.

Behind the chair is a console table with two lamps on it. These lamps provide light for both sides of the room and help separate the area into a living versus dining/work area. Under the console table are two small sit- upons so you can bring extra seating into the living area for more guests when necessary.

On the wall next to your closet is a long dresser. This provides storage for your folded clothes. Above it on the wall is a flat-screen TV.

Near the window is a large plant with a floor light pointing up to add drama and help separate the two spaces.

Use color on the walls and fabrics dynamically to keep this room interesting. If you want a cozy feeling, dark colors will add drama.

My recommendation is for neutral, warm colors that are timeless, elegant and versatile; a toasty beige on the walls will take almost any other color for accessories. Art or a large framed mirror on the wall above the daybed/sofa will enhance your home. Make sure it's securely attached to the wall because you will be sleeping under it and we do live in earthquake country.

 

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