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Small Homes, Grand Living: Interior Design for Compact Spaces
Diminutive rooms, grand possibilities. Small Homes, Grand Living shows how to make use of a limited space and turn a small apartment into a design marvel.
Small Homes, Grand Living's assortment of projects and homes pays homage to the iconic innovation within modest living areas and shows the creative usage of space in continually expanding urban areas. As more people across the globe move into cities, living space becomes a precious commodity. Designers, architects, and innovative inhabitants seek new ways of creating a home that is just as comfortable as it is functional and aesthetically pleasing. Where does one stow clothing, bicycles, suitcases, or bed linens? Where is the perfect place for the desk, bed, or couch? How does one use less square meters more effectively?
Compact flats perched atop the roofs on high-rise buildings. A one-bedroom apartment that houses a family of four. Stairs that cleverly transform into wardrobes. A collection of cozy cocoons shows the personality and innovation of those living inside: a home is both shelter and a welcoming reflection of the residents. Small Homes, Grand Living offers real interior design solutions directly from the occupants' imaginations.
Small Homes, Grand Living's assortment of projects and homes pays homage to the iconic innovation within modest living areas and shows the creative usage of space in continually expanding urban areas. As more people across the globe move into cities, living space becomes a precious commodity. Designers, architects, and innovative inhabitants seek new ways of creating a home that is just as comfortable as it is functional and aesthetically pleasing. Where does one stow clothing, bicycles, suitcases, or bed linens? Where is the perfect place for the desk, bed, or couch? How does one use less square meters more effectively?
Compact flats perched atop the roofs on high-rise buildings. A one-bedroom apartment that houses a family of four. Stairs that cleverly transform into wardrobes. A collection of cozy cocoons shows the personality and innovation of those living inside: a home is both shelter and a welcoming reflection of the residents. Small Homes, Grand Living offers real interior design solutions directly from the occupants' imaginations.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published June 15, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 6, 2025
Full of ideas, concepts and wisdom. A remarkably clever and inspiring collection of how so much living can fit so easily into so little space is truly amazing.
I’ve always been curious how people can downsize from vast homes to the teeny tiny appartments such as in Tokyo. As a novice and amateur artist, I was thinking about my time, when I’m going to downsize and how one goes about it. I’ll need to be creative so my goal was to learn how to do with a lot less space with the extensive amount of sundries I have.
Learning about hidden spaces, free space, blind space were just a few concepts one discovers, but not knowing they existed was half the fun finding them. So my journey begins, already begone, inpatient, I need a straightforward start, considering my belongings and what I could do less with; I discovered I needed everything, and I’d need more space, oh no, I’m back to where I started?! Nope!
I’ve always been curious how people can downsize from vast homes to the teeny tiny appartments such as in Tokyo. As a novice and amateur artist, I was thinking about my time, when I’m going to downsize and how one goes about it. I’ll need to be creative so my goal was to learn how to do with a lot less space with the extensive amount of sundries I have.
Learning about hidden spaces, free space, blind space were just a few concepts one discovers, but not knowing they existed was half the fun finding them. So my journey begins, already begone, inpatient, I need a straightforward start, considering my belongings and what I could do less with; I discovered I needed everything, and I’d need more space, oh no, I’m back to where I started?! Nope!
January 1, 2018
LOVE this book. A huge range of designs and ideas for homes with small spaces. Ranging from the modern, to the ultra-modern and with a range of budgets in mind. Not all designs appeal to me but it does have some fantastic ideas, for those interested in designing a functional small home and making the most of limited space for storage etc. Hardcover and great use of colour photographs.
June 12, 2023
Designs are organised by problem/solution, e.g. Storage, and presents ways of thinking and addressing design problems as well as examples of how they have been solved in different apartments.
Really appreciated this layout over other books on the topic that tend to just showcase different small design apartments without any rationale on generalised problem-solving.
Really appreciated this layout over other books on the topic that tend to just showcase different small design apartments without any rationale on generalised problem-solving.
April 9, 2026
This is a fun book about small spaces. It very much embraces minimalism but some of the designs are really nice. Worth a read for anyone interested in architecture or design, especially for small urban spaces
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews