A Designer's 590 Sq Ft Transformed 'Nightmare'-to-Dream Home | House Tours by Apartment Therapy

Landscape designer Michelle Spetner knew instantly that this small, 590-square-foot 1920s “commuter” apartment was the design project she wanted to take on. Her partner Antonio, however, thought the space—with dirty shag carpeting and missing walls—looked more like a nightmarish horror movie. In the end, their small but incredibly organized home is more like a fairy tale… a grand prize winning one! Their rental apartment was crowned this year’s grand prize winner of Apartment Therapy’s Small/Cool contest.

CHAPTERS
0:00 - Intro, Style Inspo
0:39 - Before & After, Transformation Story
1:54 - Bedroom & Kitchen Redo
2:34 - Storage Solutions
3:11 - Living Room
3:40 - Landscaping Profession
4:37 - Meaning of Home

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[mrhymer]

If she did that to a small apartment, imagine what she can do to a full house! Michelle has amazing designing skills, what an awesome home!

[katrinacorcoran]

I noticed her philosophy on life more than the apartment. I could watch it again just to listen to her positivity!

[salonisharma]

This is absolutely beautiful! And she has the most amazing personality and optimism!!

[ellenm]

What a visionary she is the house is a beautiful home and her garden an added bonus. Isn’t it lovely to hear her partner valuing her skills? Awesome job girl🙏

[shaz]

This home is beautiful and looks so much bigger than the sq footage. She has done so well with the space and they are a lovely couple.

[tyresebrinson]

The fact that you have laundry, full kitchen and a pantry in that small space is amazing. She should relocate to the East coast to design NY tiny lofts. She'd make a killing.

[lrldn]

590 sq ft??? There's no way. It looks bigger!

[MsLaBajo]

I live in this neighborhood and walk past this house when I go get Mac n Cheese. I have always admired the plants outside their house and the little multicolored chair out front. It’s so cute. Lots of beautiful front yards in North Oakland. The best place to live in the Bay Area.

[KarinYehd]

THIS SPACE IS SO BEAUTIFUL! Perfect blend of comfort, nature, traditional and modern. Love it.

[binkyandgunther]

wow i absolutely love how she’s maximized the space for all her special belongings! this is the kind of cozy, personalized space i’d want to live in. you get a great sense of their personalities and style from their place!! amazing job!

[rukhminidey]

This apartment is love personified, i was scrolling on youtube and found this video. I felt so relaxed and energized at the same time after watching this space. Absolutle agreed and loved what michelle said about growing and changing with time. Kudos to her .. would love to meet her someday in person. 🥰😇

[creoloko]

Besides the beauty of their home, she irradiates such a positive energy, like a genuine peaceful and honest vibe and it shows in every details of this space. Beautiful!

[KamalikaMukherjee]

This is how you change a house into a home. This is how a home becomes unique, reflecting the personalities of the people living in it. Absolutely gorgeous! 💕

[thazscorpio]

Such a beautiful home. Well designed, cozy, and makes a great use of space. I love the use of color as well!

[jm]

I love Michelle’s vision and how supportive her partner is. The clothesline is such a beautiful touch. Love the organized pantry and the windowed doors to the bedroom. The projector over the front door made me laugh. The landscaping is beautiful and such an important element to small house living. I’m obsessed with this house!

[TheNewLemurian]

I so love everything about this video, the home owners the layout of their cosy home, the garden. Just everything. This video is a therapy in itself. Thank you.

[strangemanoffrance]

The most incredible part of this is how she created enough open space to entertain her friends as if it were a larger home. She obviously recognized the potential with all of the windows adding light to it making it feel roomier. It really has 80% of the features of a larger home.

[sandrinedurand]

This has been my favorite thus far- just the exuberance and the joy. Well done Michelle and Antonio.

[thinkplanetearth]

Absolutely love the casual and eclectic aesthetic of this apartment. Also loved the outdoor spaces. And her warm personality and perpetual smile was infectious.

[EthelYap]

what lovely people. their inner beauty is really reflected in their home!