Book editor Steven Whiteman’s monthly reads this month include books on maximising use in minimal spaces. Great reads on how to get the best use of your space, not matter what size your home may be.
1. Never Too Small: Reimagining Small Spaces (Abrams & Chronicle Books)
What does the future of urban living look like? In Never Too Small, Joel Beath and Elizabeth Price explore this question, drawing inspiration from a diverse collection of apartment designs, all smaller than 50 square metres. Through the lens of five small-footprint design principles and drawing on architectural images and detailed floor plans, the authors examine how architects and designers are reimagining small-space living. Full of inspiration we can all apply to our own spaces, this book offers hope and inspiration for the future of our cities and their citizens, in which sustainability and style, comfort and affordability can co-exist. Never Too Small proves living better does not have to mean living larger.
2. Small Homes, Grand Living: Interior Design for Compact Spaces (Gestalten)
Small Homes, Grand Living’s assortment of projects and homes pays homage to the groundbreaking innovations within modest living areas and shows the creative usage of space as urban areas continue to expand and living spaces shrink. With the influx of residents into the world’s urban centres, living spaces have become a precious commodity and a currency in their own right. 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 sofa, and how does one use fewer square metres 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 - this collection of cosy cocoons shows the personality and ingenuity of those living inside. These homes are both, a shelter and a welcoming reflection of the residents. Small Homes, Grand Living offers a real interior design solutions directly from the occupants’ imaginations.
3. Petite Places (Gestalten)
Living in small spaces is not a new phenomenon. By looking at pioneering projects from time gone by, one starts to understand where modern living concepts draw ideas. Clever furniture and storage solutions create more room to cook, relax, read in a comfortable nook or work from home. Explore how you can add striking changes to your modest home with only a few tweaks. Small spaces, such as living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms, can offer immense possibilities, but only if the interior is well-considered. Including floor plans will allow you to translate inspirations from the book into your home. By showing various projects in different styles - from reduced and pragmatic to cosy and comfortable - Petite Places delves into how small homes are designed today, delivering insights from interior designers and architects.
