Hosive

in the book series, not so big house, the key to getting the most out of a small space are niches. even in big homes, what makes a home “homey” are the small little places that feel cozy and safe. where memories are made. so good architects, builders and home makers build little spots into a house or apt to make the space memorable and alive. i’ve been blessed to live in a few places with little nooks and spots that radiate with life.

we bought one of the not so big house books because we were moving from a 2400 sq/ft md house into a 1100 sq/ft nyc apartment. but it turns out the not so big homes in the not so big house books were not so not-so-big. they were huge places! we have different definitions of not so big house!

in these features, i’ll detail mundane little spots around our apartment…..the spots where we live…and life is made.

we have this awesome wall of windows on the north side of our apartment, decorated and insulated by our beloved honeycomb blinds. we had honeycomb blinds in maryland and wound up picking the same color…a greyish blue…but not on purpose. i guess we are consistent in what we like.

a wall or walls of window seems to be the new trend of architecture for new buildings. some buildings have windows wrapping around the whole apartment! window treatments must be astronomical in those homes!

behind our blinds and on the other side of the wall of windows is a cool extra that the architect of our place (and building mate) put in to create another little niche…and add character to our place. as you can see, the wall is not comprised just of windows but also includes double pane-d doors….

……that lead outside! obviously, we have the wrong kind of couch that blocks sightlines and pathway outside. but we love our leather sectional and brought it with us from maryland. the way its supposed to work is the double panes create the illusion that our space extends all the way across the street….and gives you the ability to leave the apartment…to pop out to get some fresh air….

….here: on our little juliet balcony…as in romeo and. its enough to take one, maybe one and half steps. no space for a chair or a grill…but its a nice perk to be able to come out and enjoy the wind, the weather…take in the sites of the street.

it is peaceful up here….the noise from the ground is muffled.. it feels almost like you’re in a different place…no longer near the apartment.

outdoor space is a premium in nyc…but many would question what you can do with such a tiny space? what’s the function of this niche? its a reflection point. to think, to take in, to breathe…….and i can see the park…yes, central park…from my little balcony if i turn to the right.

here are some shots from the outside of our little juliet…..

it’s a great little niche…and part of the magic of our home.