Living Large in Small Spaces: Expressing Personal Style in 100 to 1,000 Square Feet

by Marisa Bartolucci, Radek Kurzaj (Photographer)

With a little imagination and creativity--and without hiring a professional--almost anyone can transform a small living space into a comfortable and stylish environment. Whether decorating a dorm room, an apartment, or a little cottage, what we strive for is a look and feel that expresses our individual personalities. Part style guide, part idea sourcebook, this handy volume--designed to meet the needs of real people with real budgets--is bundled with smart ideas, basic design principles, and enough inspiration to get you off the sofa to make it happen. In her lively, informative text, design guru Marisa Bartolucci takes readers inside 33 small homes from cities across the U.S. to reveal how a strong sense of style--rather than design know-how or unlimited resources--is the most effective tool for transforming an ordinary cramped living space into a smart yet functional private sanctuary.

Genres: Nonfiction, Design, Reference, How To

400 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2003

About the author

Marisa Bartolucci is the former executive editor of Metropolis magazine. She is the author of Architecture + Design NYC and is currently working on a book about the making of Frank Gehry's masterwork, the Guggenheim Bilbao, and how it has changed the Basques.

Reviews

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these little books showing how people (mostly New Yorkers) cope in the tinniest places imaginable. I would like to know where all their stuff is, not one knitting needle in sight, let alone a loom.

[Aneesa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Designers live in tiny, brightly painted apartments in NYC. Some are in LA, most are gay. This book seems much older than it is.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a how-to book, though this does contain a few peripherally-referenced concepts in the text, which is straightforward description of the owners' processes and life-styles, written in an informal, chatty-but-sophisticated voice. It is not terribly varied, focusing on New York apartments, done in the minimalist mode. Beautiful photographs. Inspiring, from a purely aesthetic perspective.

This is more a showcasing "here's what I did," rather than instructional "here's what you can do."

[Katja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leuk boek met veel mooie interieurs. Heerlijk om te zien hoe je een kleine ruimte toch zo aantrekkelijk mogelijk kunt inrichten en niet per se met veel geld. Dat het gedateerd zou zijn stoorde mij niet. Maar ik verander dan ook niet iedere vijf jaar mijn interieur. Het gaat toch om mooie spullen waar je herinneringen aan hebt en die hun waarde blijven behouden.

[Helmina · Rating 4 out of 5]

inventive, stylish, micro space design

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it! Lots of inspiration.

[Debbie Gifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tons of great pics! Lots of ideas for my place.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked how this was laid out in amounts of square feet. The rooms were silly though, or rather the styles were. And the book, while only 10 years old were very dated.

[Pilar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horrible title, wonderful book.

[Cherop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good photo ideas for living in small spaces.