NEVER TOO SMALL: 1970's Timber Accented Small Apartment Renovation, Melbourne - 42sqm/452sqft

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Set in a small 70’s apartment block in the eclectic inner-city suburb of Brunswick, this charming 42 sqm apartment designed by owner and urban planner Alex Antoniadis, features a clever open-plan layout that maximizes natural light and space. By removing the internal wall between the kitchen and living area, Alex created a functional and inviting open plan space that features a retractable dining/work table built into the kitchen cabinetry. Beautiful wood features like the timber birch plywood kitchen, television unit, and timber cladding, were inspired by the colors and textures of the building’s internal courtyard and provide a natural feel to the apartment. With its simple and thoughtful design, this apartment offers a compelling example for the affordable and sustainable adaptive re-use of existing building stock.
#smallapartment #architecture #interiordesign
Project Name: Park Street, Brunswick
Designer: Alex Antoniadis @xand.who.are.you
Produced by New Mac Video Agency
Creator: Colin Chee
Director: Nam Tran
Cinematographer: Nam Tran
Producer: Lindsay Barnard
Editor: Sebastian Tibbs
Music: Carry On by Risian & Rainbows by Eyal Raz

[@nonotthaone]

At this point, never too small should do a series of people starting their small home reno projects and document the ins and outs of their project. That'll be a great series of videos!

[@sunidhisharma6509]

Yes that'd be so cool

[@sarahheartsmakeup8167]

Yess!!

[@organizstylist7732]

I think this channel has a goal to feature the work of architects and designers to encourage those who work in the industry to design for small spaces. Another goal would be to repurpose older buildings by renovating the smaller apts while also showing how easy it is to adapt to a modern lifestyle.

[@Sidandemily5423]

Great idea! Id be glued to this channel if they did.

[@Julie0Grundy]

I’d love to see a few like that, it’d be really interesting

[@jessisoffline]

Everything about this apartment screams 20th century Australian architecture and I love it. So beautifully thought out and considered, especially in uniting a variety of styles and surfaces!

[@gus473]

Couldn't agree more! And given the building's age and configuration, think how many places could be upgraded to another 50 or more years of pleasant living! 😎✌️

[@user-ed7et3pb4o]

Sunlight makes so much difference lol. We have a lot of this kind of architecture in the UK but it's always so depressing, even when it's updated. Our cloudy/rainy days are much better suited to more traditional architecture imo.

[@elsa_g]

I work in construction (in the US) and the amount of waste is truly astounding. Props to you for designing around an older building and making minimal changes while still meeting your needs in an apartment.

[@ppbur]

It's difficult to recycle old buildings when most structures are made of 2 by 4s

[@elsa_g]

@@ppbur it can be challenging depending on the building, but I live in a building that’s over 90 years old, in an earthquake zone, made with wood framing. In my area, existing, functional buildings are constantly being torn down to build new ones that can be sold/rented for more, and perfectly good office buildings are gutted and the insides completely rebuilt, for what seems like mainly aesthetics. The part that really strikes me is how much waste comes from bringing in all the new materials, especially on commercial projects. The amount of packaging waste is insane, especially that I’ve never been on a job where they even have a place to recycle cardboard. And we deal with so much cardboard! And then you have the mindset of throwing away perfectly good, new material because the manpower to sort it costs more than it’s worth to them, or they don’t want the shop to see they ordered too much since that makes them look bad, or the shop doesn’t want it because if it’s at the shop it counts towards their worth when they’re being taxed. And we have to be circumspect if we take any of that material before it goes in the trash because if they explicitly allow workers to take it, that could encourage the foremen to overorder on purpose. Basically, at least in my area, the incentives are not aligned towards looking at what is still functional and only rebuilding spaces or buildings that aren’t, and then during the construction there’s so much waste it’s mind bending. I’ve worked on some buildings where I thought they would be better off just starting new, but that’s nowhere close to most of my projects. I really admire the make-it-work attitude that can look at the downsides or challenges of a space and find a path towards still being happy and accomplishing what you desire.

[@epvs8373]

@@elsa_g Lo que usted sigue es el camino duro y árido de la BIOCONSTRUCIÓN y digo con mayúsculas porque empieza desde la base. Reutiliza materiales desechados. Yo también creo que solo con eso, mucha ayuda y personas con mi misma convicción podría autoconstruir el módulo que termine mi proyecto. Pero tropiezo con los mismos impedimentos y sin ayuda de otros. Buen camino. Mejor vida. Hasta más ver.

[@brandonnguyen7266]

I read the entire Ryan’s kzbin.infoUgkxGqOCINHE0Z0E5gxzSdNi9NWGugRY5Hm2 Plans and was able to make a shed plan. Using Ryan’s Shed Plans alone, the shed itself is great. Where I wish I knew more is with respect to ground preparation and foundations. Maybe that's beyond the scope of Ryan’s Shed Plans.

[@filenotfound6203]

I adore the light in this space, and the materials used really play up the natural light. The whole space is so bright and airy-- it's a lovely retreat!

[@gracefulkimberella]

I'm thankful that he showed the storage area and mentioned his mop bucket. I've been considering going very small (not tiny) and I've learned to look for those places (trash, vacuum, laundry, closet space, storage space) while considering possible layouts. I really like how all the water is in one corner of this unit too.

[@jpp7783]

That’s something that always strikes me in these small places-there’s nowhere for the vacuum cleaner, the broom, an ironing board, all that boring stuff that we unfortunately really need. I’ve found most small spaces would benefit from even sacrificing some living space in favour of storage.

[@vientetres]

We use a robo vac instead of a traditional vacuum, it's low profile enough to live under the couch. We have a handheld folding dustbuster for spot cleans and upholstery. The robo vac has a mop function but we also have a spray mop. Both the dustbuster and the spray mop fit into a very narrow cupboard.

[@Nwadiogo]

@@vientetres the robo vac is a great idea!

[@MTMF.london]

@@jpp7783 But those small places have already minimal living spaces - I think it's better to get rid of stuff except for the absolute necessities. Most people have far too many stuff that they can live without.

[@eattherich9215]

Everybody has things that they would rather put out of sight.

[@Buddhababe2]

I like how everything is covered in the kitchen.

[@mortiftw6378]

I'm not too sure about that. The door in front of the fridge would always be open if I lived there.

[@Buddhababe2]

@@rob-oe4wr True. That’s what I have in my house.

[@melissakenealy8868]

I really like this apartment. The use of textures and colour makes it not only visually appealing but makes it look larger than it is.

[@emidala1]

This is on of my all time favorites. I love the bathroom and how spacious the rooms feel, and the color palette is joyous and calm at the same time. Great job!

[@marid.2874]

I never in a million years would've thought of the pieces and colors Alex chose for his apartment, and yet, they speak to me. It's a gorgeous space, so calming and endearing. Great job, Alex.

[@a24-45]

Nice work, Alex, especially the balcony, bedroom and bathroom. That was a bold move, keeping the popcorn ceilings! and it's lovely to see red and green used together. Some observations: >>the black buffet is the apartment's focal point on entering, but it's so close to the door that it makes the apartment feel smaller than it is. The buffet would stop being the focal point if it were a lighter colour. That would allow the more effective focal point to be located at the farthest point from the entry, which is in the kitchen corner (where the green bowl is). A black painting here, next to the kitchen window, would bring the eye up from the black oven, (which is, as black ovens usually are, unfortunately not in the best position to be the kitchen's default focal point). >>The 2 sofas feel overly close to the TV, and the walkway into the TV area feels cramped, relative to the wider walkway into the kitchen and the kitchen's larger floor space. I would suggest moving the big pot plant on the floor (below the window) next to where the little pot plant is on the floor near the TV, and pushing the lounges back right against the pantry. That would open up the living area, and give the living area more of a sense of flow to the balcony. The big plant would create a focal point close to the TV, (which would give more visual impact to the TV wall). And by taking up some of the blank wall space on the window wall, the plant would also act to help balance the visual weight and bulk of the kitchen cabinetry, which fills the other half of the same wall.

[@el_micha]

Very accurate description. It would really help the space! I second this.

[@vickimaiorano5763]

What a great adaptation. Looks spacious and comfortable. Love the old flats around Melbourne and great to see them being upgraded.

[@Gwaycee]

Only thing missing in this apartment is two kittens. 😊

[@maddiek1980]

I love how he made it up to date while retaining its integrity. I too want to retain the design history of a space while making it suitable for the way we live now. Beautiful job!

[@canyoudoitagain7978]

He's super proud of the kitchen "table" design but I think it's flimsy and very small. There's plenty of space behind the couch for a small table and couple of stools. Would make the space feel more welcoming too. Me thinks anyway 😅

[@eranabarlow2209]

Fluted glass is ace 👌🏾

[@lau.e.3316]

Very nice because it looks affordable but clean and airy ! The apartment is quite large too, very cool place

[@n-on]

A new NTS video is all i wait for every week!! This is such a cool project, love that there is an external storage unit

[@bonriver9420]

Absolutely love the bathroom, the green tiles, the sink, the window. That balcony has a gorgeous view to nature and is so serene looking. Very nicely done.

[@sqd8r]

It's amazing how spacious that place is when you remove clutter from your life. I did that, removed clutter, during the pandemic and it "saved" me selling a space that was more than big enough for me and my dog.

[@sbffsbrarbrr]

Lovely apartment, especially with the natural light and deck area. The tiles in the bathroom are a perfect color. I would have chosen a smaller couch, or a different layout, and the pullout table is beyond awkward. There seems to be more than enough room for a more traditional table and chairs or stools. Can't see myself pulling out the deck crates every time I wanted to sit at the "table".

[@leonore3349]

That table is beyond sad.

[@luciascanlan-bloor2567]

I love it... except for the ceiling. Also, I had always loved the koala bed but thought it was too wide. Great idea to chop it down a bit!

[@JP-fe1vd]

Surprisingly I didn't mind it. I don't think anyone walking in would even notice the ceilings given how great everything else looks. It was probably freshened up giving it a clean new look too. This channel and apartments like this one have made me start thinking/looking for an older apartment building in my area. In the new buildings you can hear your neighbors dog scratching itself

[@Harry-fk5of]

The lens choices really make the entrance to the balcony look like a corridor from one angle and a step away from the entrance in another

[@lilibayou]

Love the tiles and colors used. It’s a lovely combination

[@cmitchell7347]

Thumbs up to the luscious sage wall tile in the bath, the complementary burgundy and foliage greens, the open airiness of the space. The one thumbs down...the impractical, tiny sink in the kitchen. Didn't appear to be the result of needing more work surface (of which there seemed to be sufficient). Lucky to have storage so readily available, facilitate eliminating visual 'clutter.'

[@douglasthompson296]

Hi, the guy doesn't need a large sink as he has a built in (small) dishwasher, simples. However a regular sink and a pair of Marigold rubber gloves would solve his problems of energy use and detergents use on the environment, but I'm old school 😮. Cheers DougT 🇬🇧

[@Sidandemily5423]

Amazing. Inspiring because this beautiful design doesn’t scream impractical, expensive and out of reach. Instead its curated with simple, natural, beautiful and creative elements. Love all the plants!

[@createandbuildcorporation]

Clearness, Colorfulness, and perfectness. I luv this space.

[@melindadouglas1673]

This is an absolutely gorgeous, well designed, very peaceful home. Everything works together in harmony and it’s very functional for everyday living. I love the indoor/outdoor feel with all the natural lighting. The location and outdoor patio is perfect. Job well done!

[@lic2910]

Love the colors used. Burgendy with sage green and the wood color warm the apartment up in such a sublte way.

[@roundedosu]

really loving apartments showcased on the channel lately

[@jonahanderson9101]

Ahh I love you NTS!

[@nevertoosmall]

Love you back!

[@tkcldk]

i always love apartments with balcony like this one

[@troydonaldson]

Awesome unit! Love his dedication to retaining the post war aesthetic. First time I've ever seen someone keep popcorn ceilings for their aesthetic value! lol

[@frostedbutts4340]

Haha he might have been just saying that to avoid paying for asbestos removal

[@charli.7889]

I live in the same area and this is basically my dream! I'd choose different colours/materials than the birch wood and make a few different choices for my lifestyle, but I love how it fits perfectly with what he needs. This is so well done and I'm so inspired by it

[@mariastathopoulos744]

Bravo on preserving and working with the design of the building and spaces. I really like the burgundy and sage green to highlight and zone the spaces. Storage solutions have also been thoughtfully designed. Personally l'd add a rug in the lounge area to ground the couch with chaise, and a small round side or drinks table as a substitute for a coffee table. A surface to place a drink and snack when sitting on the couch.

[@IndigoCosmic]

The balcony is very cute with all the trees surrounding.

[@____Ga]

It is one of my favourite projects on this channel. Beautiful but functional as well and retained some original features. I like the use of natural and neutral colors.

[@elisekhoury7718]

It's my favorite small apartment so far! The use of light, materials, design the whole thing is just perfect and yet very simple. Great work of art!!!

[@tuppence937]

Love the secure storage space external but adjacent to his apartment. So practical. And that view into the green internal courtyard in the apartment complex is gorgeous.

[@tequilamockingbird2895]

When you have to restart the vid because you are shocked your Brunnie neighbour is featured. Beautiful job Alex

[@TruthQuest4700]

This is a great example of successful renovation in that it upgrades the function and aesthetics for contemporary living without over compromising the integrity of the space's design history!

[@paulbourke6215]

Really, really beautiful. I love everything about this unit. Congratulations Alex you’ll created something really special.

[@crocus5632]

I would add a cosy chaiselong or a sitting and eating space on the balcony! Would be so peaceful to sit there and read a book with a cup of coffee!

[@pandajojowilson7833]

spacious and bright, do not feel tiny. Like the green tiles in the bathroom :D

[@christineperkins8582]

🫶🫶🫶 a great presentation love its textual feel and design well done! Very proud you chose an older space very classy. NO to demolishing old treasures ! ❤️ NTS you show off very classy designs. 🪷

[@annaeeee7516]

I love the entire apartment, but the sage green tile in the bathroom gives the room alboth an airy and peaceful feeling. Fantastic job remodeling this place! 😄

[@treylennon4858]

Love the design in this apartment! I especially love the tile in the bathroom, such a beautiful color and really love the way the floor to ceiling tiling makes the room feel.

[@thisgirl5539]

Really great job and a realistically liveable space. It’s so refreshing to see a home with a tv too!!

[@maricruzramirezherrera9799]

The courtyard garden is lovely.

[@lordking-kl5dl]

The way he uses textures catches my attention, I like the color palette of the house

[@jerrysimas2040]

I love this series and this is one of the finest examples of design I've seen for small spaces. It is tranquil and has amazing flow. Looks so livable and comfortable.

[@jonnyhaw]

Beautifully thought-out apartment, and the storage unit provided in this apartment block is genius - every building should have them!

[@alfaduko]

Just purchased a 1960’s apartment. Fluted glass, the bathroom, kitchen and balcony…..inspirational

[@shree2710]

Wow.... I genuinely love the space... Ordinary but the small elements make the apparent so cozy and beautiful.

[@conniebruckner8190]

Good adaptation! I like the doors which let light shine through; Works best if you live alone. I also like how you've designed the kitchen. The balcony is a big plus to this flat as is the storage room!

[@michelestapleton]

This apartment feels quite large and the kitchen quite ample. The glass doors are a nice, airy touch. Bravo.

[@dianebaker5243]

The design in this apartment is beautiful throughout love the colours on the balcony bathroom and kitchen tiles. 😊

[@liszaf3976]

I love that you have worked with some of the original elements of the apartment, we are in the process of renovating a very small apartment and due to the walls being so old, made of stone and mud, we are having to think outside the box and try to work with some of the original materials and the original layout as much as possible, to not disturb the old building. Once again thanks for a great video and greetings from Crete, Greece!

[@konstanlyk]

When he said: "it's easier to vacuum", I laughed... so Greek of him! I know, I am Greek too

[@legoqueen2445]

I've lived in a couple of grungy apartments in Brunswick, wonderful to see such a beautiful transformation!

[@wildlifegardenssydney7492]

Re using and adapting❤👀🙌 Those space saving, multifunction aspects 🙌The garden and central courtyard view from the bedroom was lovely too.

[@christinabrown7308]

Wowee! Best NTS ever! Every single choice is brilliant. Super comfy and livable! Totally chic and smart. Nothing weird or gimmicky about this one.

[@Fionnualagh]

I’m a big fan of these old buildings and renovations that blend old and new design is spot on 👏

[@donnaallgaier-lamberti3933]

That balcony...to die for! Love the MCM bench as well!

[@philiq18]

It's a nice space. I'm a fan of all the natural lighting that streams into every room.

[@pedroyalrededores]

My 10 minutes of calm ❤

[@martynsylvester5102]

Love what he’s done, and what the area means to him. The popcorn ceiling would have been a big no for me, but upon hearing the heritage angle I hope i would have been persuaded to do same. Bravo Alex.

[@itsserhioball]

I love the colours and mood of this space! Every detail is great!

[@rebeccat8239]

as a fellow urban planner in melb, i loved hearing about the design of this space from the persepctive of another planner!

[@Lumley106535]

Yaasss!!! Love the keeping of popcorn ceiling. Underrated and sound insulating!

[@federicacirilli6431]

This apartment is just my style! I love it so much! Simple, earthy but colorful.

[@yoly_dyn_mdn]

Beautiful, simple and simple renovation with an ideal layout already. 😊

[@kaizen_5091]

Love the design choices made in this apartment. Great inspo!

[@mariamarshall6116]

Love the variety of materials which were used, seems so humble a dwelling but its full of layered thoughtful design.

[@mk.am.]

The small table holding the plant pot in the bedroom strongly reminded me of the vintage olive oil tin cans that we have in Greece. Noticing the owner's (Greek) surname, I can't help but wonder if that was the inspiration behind choosing that piece of furniture. Lovely apartment btw, I think it's one of my favorites of the channel. 🤎NTS, I never miss an episode, thanks for the great content!

[@gus473]

😅 I wondered the same! 🇬🇷😎✌️

[@nekpap9345]

Μe too

[@joannezz7573]

This designer speaks my mind, everything he does just so to my taste, I LOVE IT

[@paulantoniadis8230]

0:05 This apartment is one of my favourites i have seen on NTS love colour choice’s especially the green bathroom tiles GR8 job

[@kaile5050]

One of the best I've seen, very livable & well thought out 🏡 Also, very big fan of the tile, the floor, shower & kitchen Perfection ❇✴✳

[@deecunningham9719]

Lovley choices of materials and colors. Great change to layout too. The kitchen and bathroom are beautiful.

[@danr2337]

Simply brilliant! Also, nice tip of the hat to 'Cairo,' a Fitzroy masterpiece!

[@jocelienjimenez9821]

AWESOME Apartment it looks very inviting and calming feel to it Wonderful Work. L❤VE IT 👏👍✌👊 Thank you Millie🌻

[@letiziaeriano2683]

Looks like a very relaxing place. It looks just perfect to me. A lot of green around and into the space, also

[@nym5qu17]

love the tiles they have such character

[@kerstinesbjornsson3428]

Such a considered, discerning and beautiful reno ❤

[@elizabeth2416]

Lovely job, it actually looks better than the new builds. Great idea using the same glass throughout as well. This was a really nice flat.

[@stopato5772]

Would love to see this designer tackle a 75m2 mid century apartment.. I like his sense of calmness and respect for past design.

[@tigerkuma1011]

Just down the road from me! Really like the floor tiles! Great use of space!

[@ritayaghi140]

Perfect design 🤍 functional, neat, minimalist, organic interior style complementary of the exterior courtyard, inviting natural light 🤍

[@user-ht3bi6wv3v]

Замечательный интерьер - просторно в небольшом пространстве, функционально, красиво и в гармонии с природой.

[@carlosdeleon6472]

Such a dream space ♥️ the garden was my fave but the overall space ♥️

[@louise-marie]

I really like the style and simplicity of this apartment. I could easily live there.

[@ewaamk]

Well-designed, simple, light - well done! Greetings from Warsaw

[@victorutomo7244]

I like how the design lets the light in. However, I guess I'll pick different colors. Good video NTS.

[@andronicemarinis1072]

Alex, you nailed it. I love it.

[@gus473]

🥇 Definitely one of the best ever on this channel! Would be thrilled to have this place, and wouldn't change a thing! (Well, maybe 🍿one thing!) 😎✌️

[@catwalk7522]

Thx for upload. I watch every episode. Love the spirit of Australia. Cheers! Vita from Germany

[@micheleeve6054]

Love all the windows

[@aldretaldret4310]

J' aime beaucoup le côté seventies. Good 😊

[@denisezurru2333]

Not only the house is pretty cute, but the architect is too! 😎

[@jondoe19896091]

subway tiles and plywood, beautiful