This tiny home in Milan is meant to be lived in, proof of the truth behind the phrase “good things come in small packages”. The architects and designers behind the renovation of this 325-square-foot space, Anna Foresio and Pietro Carlino of Fo.Ca Studio in Milan, have created a lesson in how to maximise the small spaces of a compact one-room apartment.
“The project consisted of designing a small flat of about 325 square feet”, the two architects say, “for an owner who is a young woman of 27. She asked us to optimise the space as much as possible while maintaining some of the existing features, like the parquet floor in the bedroom as well as the location of the bathroom.” The former floor plan included a somewhat shadowy entrance hall which had an imposing wardrobe, and a dark and narrow corridor connecting the bathroom, kitchen, and sleeping area.
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“Our goal was to give the different rooms more light”, the architects explain. With that objective in mind, the bathroom was reduced in size somewhat to provide room for a curved wall that would allow light to fill the different spaces of the apartment including a dark entrance hall. Foresio and Carlino also created a compact kitchenette. While it is small it still has room to house all the essentials that the owner wanted and it opens directly onto the living area. The space includes a table and a small sofa bed atop a parquet wooden floor that has been carefully cleaned and restored.
Some Tricks From The Designers
The architects say that between the living area and the bedroom they “opted for a large pocket door to allow natural light to flood the apartment. It also creates a nice sight line from the entrance to the bedroom window.” In addition, the bathroom has been rearranged and the shower is now located near the window, creating a small niche for storage. “It is a very colourful, small home”, the team at Fo.Ca Studio say. They designed almost all the furnishings, searching for the combinations that worked best with the wall coverings and lighting. Wood, for example, has been used for some of the custom installations like the shelves, the low cabinet in the living room, and the furniture in the bathroom. The floor in the kitchen and bathroom consists of stoneware tiles in a light, almost cream, colour. The yellow of the kitchen gives brightness and life to the corner of the apartment where it is located, which was previously the darkest corner of the home. Finally, the Fo.Ca team says, “we matched this yellow with geometrically patterned decorative tiles that reflect the colours found elsewhere in the house.”
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