Small Space Living: Custom Furniture

Apr 26, 2014 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips | Share

Many of us are trying to do more with less these days. That’s even more true in urban homes, where our spaces must often perform double-duty. In a series of blogs over the next few weeks, we are going to show you how to get more out of your residential small spaces.

In this example, the clients’ entire townhome is just 596 sq. ft, so maximizing every area is important. Custom furniture can often be the solution to what may seem like insurmountable challenges.

In the photo below, the custom coffee table is adjustable in height, doubling as a dining table while also serving their entryway as a place to put down bags and keys. The shape of the glass table was specially designed to ensure safe and comfortable access in a tight space. The table’s hydraulic lift makes changing it from coffee table to dining table and back again a breeze.

Notice how the floor-to-ceiling windows really open up the space. If you have the budget to remodel a small, dark room, adding full-height windows is a great way to bring in more light and a feeling of expansion.

 

Below, the custom banquette is curved to fit the non-90-degree walls, maximizing every inch in a way that a store-bought design would not, plus the seats come off to reveal additional storage. Indoor-outdoor fabric was used for UV and stain resistance, and the color ties in with the outdoor greenery making the banquette area feel like an extension of the garden. The tiny wooden shelf behind is integrated with the banquette, a completely customized piece.

 

Small teardrop wall vases are great to hold fresh-cut flowers without cluttering surfaces. They provide a pop of color and bring the outside indoors. Selecting clear vases allows the eye to move freely across the space and makes the plants appear to gently float, providing a feeling of airiness. Finally, dress the space with your favorite throw pillows and change up the colors with the seasons or keep the same look year-round.

As you can see, custom designs really make a space function effectively. We hope you enjoyed the first installment in the Small Space Living Series. Look for the next installment when we’ll talk about ideas for making a small kitchen work for you.

 

San Francisco interior design firm, Kimball Starr, designs custom furniture for homes throughout San Jose, San Francisco, and Marin areas.  Kimball works to “change lives one room at a time” through designing creative and innovative interiors unique to each homeowner.