Welcome to a fabulous apartment redesign by Daniele Petteno, founder and CEO of DPAW, an award-winning architect.

The unit is in an older building but as you can see the apartment interior design is contemporary throughout. The aim was to create a spacious feel in a small space with contemporary flare throughout. Size and space was important because this unit is to house a couple with a young child (growing family) in an urban setting.

The space is 69 sqm (743 sq ft) and originally only had 5 windows. While the young family desired a contemporary design they also wanted to retain elements of the original Edwardian 2-room layout (one big room at the front and one at the rear). A big part of the renovation included adding more windows for more natural light.

Separate but open:

A significant design element was combining the 2 large rooms with a glazed opening so the entire space felt larger than it is. The home has an option to close off the opening for privacy with Venetian blinds, but otherwise light flows through the space from both the front and rear.

Storage:

Being a smaller apartment, storage was a challenge. Daniele Petteno set out to incorporate hidden storage throughout the apartment. For example, check out the primary bedroom below. The podium not only serves as a desk but contains plenty of storage.

My favorite storage feature is the massive floor-to-ceiling bookshelf in the living room. I love how the books provide a splash of color in the space against the white shelf and wall.

Compact design features:

One clever compact design feature is the ‘yacht’ bathroom which was inspired by bathrooms built on boats which are done with space efficiency in mind, yet is still a fully functioning bathroom. In this case, Daniele did a primaryful job creating both an efficient bathroom and beautiful bathroom space.

Overall:

This is one of the finest apartment designs we’ve featured on our site. I’m partial to contemporary design, just like Daniele’s clients; however, it’s primaryfully executed beyond just the decor. So much thought and planning went into creating a home that works for a young growing family in such a small space.

Before and after photos:

Notice how the entire space is open throughout from front to back, which can be closed off with a Venetian blind. This was a very smart design feature which created seemingly more space in a small apartment footprint (743 square feet).

Here you can see the opening between the living area of the apartment and primary bedroom. This can be closed off for privacy with a Venetian blind.

White bookshelves span the living room wall to the ceiling creating a space for storage and a way to add a splash of color in the space. I love this bookshelf from both a practical and aesthetic perspective.

The primary bedroom was very cleverly designed. The bed sits elevated on a podium under which is storage which is much-needed in small apartment spaces for young growing families.