Is Small the New Big?

That's the big question posed in the July/August issue of House Beautiful. Some people just can't get excited about small (people with space), and I can understand that. But there is a home featured in the issue that everyone can get behind because it is nothing short of FABULOUS.

Interior designer David Kaihoi, his wife Monique, and their little girl, Mirabelle, share a 390 square foot apartment in the East Village. The pictures say it all, so I don't need to spend lots of time blabbing about how gorgeous the place is. I'll just say this: the apartment is a study in phenomenal taste, bold uses of color and pattern (purple walls! stenciled floors!), a willingness to take risks (black bookcase! peel-y antique wallpaper), creativity in multi-functional furniture and space-saving solutions (sofa-banquette-storage unit) and rigorous editing, all resulting in a precious jewel box for a family of three. Every single nook and cranny is enviable. I was so excited about this that I actually scanned the entire article, so enjoy the little house tour!

The entry:

You know I love purple and yellow.

Living Room:

Would you get a load of that chandelier?

Living Room transformed for dining:

A mini-bar, mini-office for bill and email writing housed in and on a lovely secretary:

Bedroom (parents and daughter sleep here, on the chicest of trundle beds):

The wife's side of the closet, insides painted bright, tulip red:

Detail of the 18th century Chinese wallpaper:

Detail shots around the house:

Clockwise, from left:

1. Craft storage inside the bookcase

2. The kitchen, with green lacquer walls remind me of a certain kitchen I know and loved

3. The husband's personal drawer....very neat...looks like Oliver's personal drawer. Mine is not for photographing

4. Inside the buffet

5. Antique doors from architectural salvage store Olde Good Things

6. The washer and dryer that resides in the husband's side of the closet (now that's romance!)

7. Storage in the bathroom

8. DIY bathroom wallpaper on doors concealing above storage

Obviously, it's unrealistic to think that the family can live like that long-term (when that little girl hits the pre-teens, you can believe she's not going to want to sleep in a trundle with her parents!) but for now, Mr. Kaihoi has carved out a little gem for himself and his family.

As it turns out, Mr. Kaihoi was an art handler for ILevel (the go-to art handling/hanging company for New Yorkers and their clients with art worth handling) before Miles Redd snapped him up and made him an interior designer. Miles Redd really knows how to snuff out the best burgeoning designers, doesn't he?

All photos courtesy House Beautiful