Stretch a Limited Home Footprint with the Following Strategies
While modest homes may have to work a little harder than most, even the smallest floor plan can live large in the right hands. Take the lead of Jeanne and Bill Finnerty who never let a client's lack of square footage get them down. Instead, the insightful husband-and-wife team get down to business with space-saving ideas.
The duo, who shares a studio in Charlestown, Massachusetts, collaborate on a variety of projects together via their businesses William Finnerty Architect and Jeanne Finnerty Interior Design. For them, attitude is everything. "I see challenges as creative opportunities," says Bill. "I appproach the small space as multifunctional, and test a lot of different ideas to find the best solutions." Jeanne agrees. "I think a small space gives a designer a lot of leeway," she says. "For eaxample, an etagere or bookcases could accommodate books, a flat screen TV, a basket of cat toys, and a collection of glassware. It is all a matter of planning and organization."
Proportion is important, too. "I find people underestimate not the size, but the scale of furniture," says Jeanne. "Understanding the visual weight is important, such as chunky verses slender. A simple track arm, which is square, will be smaller than a rolled arm." It's alos essential to know when to stop. "There is a fine line between cozy and overcrowded," says Bill.
It might sound counterintuitive, but a large multifunctional piece like a sectional can be a wise move in a tight space. "Although sectionals tend to be large, they often work well in a smaller living space because they neatly hug a corner and maximize seating," says Jeanne. Another trick she recommends is adding a well-placed mirror. "The reflection of light really expands the space. It's like adding a window."
Creative storage goes a long way. In a bathroom, the space above a toilet can accommodate a hotel rack for towels and a simple tray for smaller items. In a kitchen, small hooks can hold everyday pots while freeing up cabinet space. "Try them on the side of a base cabinet," suggests Jeanne.
The use of vertical space is another bonus. "Built-in cabinetry to the full height of the ceiling is a great way to gain storage and 'add' heaight," says Bill. Curtain panels hung at the ceiling line and tall decorative objects, like ladders, also enhance visual height.
Sometimes small spaces require big moves. For a client with no ideal spot to watch TV, Jeanne swapped the living room and dining room. " The new plan worked better for their lifestyle," she says. Even though the dining room was a smaller space, it flowed better as a family room. Now the new dining room benefits from the fireplace and mantel, and holiday dinners are more comfortable in the larger space.
For another project, they shifted the kitchen into the dining area twelve inches in order to create a U-shaped countertop with a sink at the window wall, while retaining the character of the historic dining room. "The removal of a dropped ceiling enabled taller upper cabinets, and hence, more storage," says Bill.
They also relocated the kitchen door to the dining room. "Bill designed a tall mahogany door in the dining room to access the backyard and garden. It matched the height of the existing window headers, which made the renovation look seamless, inside and out," says Jeanne.
In a modest condo with high ceilings, natural light, and sweeping views, the master bedroom features a bed flanked by tall bookcases with lower cabinets that serve as bedside tables. "The open-plan living room is narrow, which suits the sectional very well," says Jeanne, who kept the window treatments simple and light.
Whatever the sizee of the home, small touches can make a big impact, like a petite vintage bookcase that is just deep enough for a small lamp or a specialty shelf in the kitchen. "A personal collection is a great addition," says Jeanne. "It is usually best to keep it in one location." Written by Jeanine Matlow YHL