Micro Apartment Design

Foyer and Gallery Space




















Early in 2014, the owners of a small Manhattan studio approached DAS Studio with a request to convert their 320 sqft space into a high-functioning micro-apartment. The desire was to have all the functionality of a full-sized apartment within the footprint of this tiny studio. On taking on this challenge, we identified the minimal design objective of needing to incorporate four fully functional spaces into one room - a dining room seating 12, a master bedroom, guest room for two. The owners also needed enough storage space for their extensive china collection, hanging space to display their art collection, including a 4' x 10' painting and room for an entertainment system. Further, space needed to be accounted for a work desk that could be separated from the sleeping area in case one of the owners were still asleep. We set out to achieve all the above while still creating a space that was open and generous.


The following renderings showing the different possible apartment configurations. Photos of the apartment will follow soon.



During day time a living

During night time a master bedroom with guest bedroom option
During day time master bed becomes a couch and guest beds collapse behind folding wall
During night time master bed opens over couch and guest beds pull out behind folding wall 
Daytime configuration with couch and sliding panel/ art wall
Night time configuration with master bed and folding wall




DAS Interior Design Ideas

As we move from winter into spring we all feel the need to spruce things up. It’s a time of change, the warm lighter days of spring are replacing the cold dark ones of winter. Why not extend that feeling to our homes? It does not have to be a major project entailing months of planning and vast expense. A few simple changes to accessories or accents can transform the winter room to a summer one.


Let's go back to David and John's place and show you how very minor modifications can lead to significant changes in mood and setting.

In the following photos we show the same couch with different pillows. As you see, the atmosphere of the room changes. Some pillows intensifying the colors in the rugs others subduing them. These photos, all taken with at the same time of day with identical lighting and exposure settings, show stark differences between the effect of the black, orange and white patterned pillows. The black ones create a subtle lounge like effect, creating a sophisticated evening atmosphere. While the orange pillows pick out the colors of the rug and console in the back - giving the space a lighter casual daytime feel.  Two starkly different moods created by swapping nothing but pillow covers.