NEVER TOO SMALL: Interior Architect's DIY Studio Apartment, Antwerp - 51sqm/548sqft

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Located in the center of Antwerp, Studio 98 was originally an outdated and segmented apartment, now redesigned by interior architect Carolien Potter who did most of the renovation herself. Removing all the interior walls created a white open plan studio space, maximizing the light from the singular window on the front façade. Potter’s key addition is a central volume that contains the bedroom, shower and storage cabinet, and also acts as a wall dividing key areas. The volume's interior wall is shared with the bathroom and made of opaque glass allowing natural light into the bathroom while a semi-transparent curtain closes off the sleeping cove ensuring privacy. The compact but fully equipped white kitchen blends seamlessly into the walls of the studio, with a counter that extends out along the length of the apartment; creating a bench with built-in storage for the open plan living and dining area. With a logical but creative approach to functions and spaces, Potter has designed a spacious home filled with natural light and fun, but warm textures.
#smallapartment #architecture #interiordesign
Project Name: Studio 98
Architect: www.carolienpo...
Produced by New Mac Video Agency
Creator: Colin Chee
Director: Nam Tran
Cinematographer: Rem Burger
Producer: Lindsay Barnard
Editor: Sebastian Tibbs
Music: Areias do Tempo by Jupiter Sands & Outside In by We Dream of Eden

[@anitas.7403]

She really made the best out of the lacking light and turned the originally dark layout into a luminous and open space. So beautiful!

[@SN-sz7kw]

This is a terrific design for a single person. Paradise. I love the palette, but just because I’m a texture & colour person I’d add a rug, kitchen tiles, art & more textiles to create more visual warmth. But that’s just me. Brilliant, esp the bathroom wall letting in light.

[@user-ed7et3pb4o]

same. It's beautiful, but looks cold and stark.

[@RVBadlands2015]

Agreed

[@mmariedelle5511]

Yes, a rug would definitely ground the living room space...

[@roni_dee]

At first I thought 51sqm is not exactly small, I live in a 59sqm apartment that I consider quite spacious. But then I realized the constraints of this being a studio - you have only one window on one side and all the plumbing on the other, which actually makes it quite challenging to fit in all the functions and have natural light. And she managed to pull it off not only in the kitchen, living room and bedroom, but also in the bathroom, that's some going-above-and-beyond stuff!

[@dosadoodle]

Definitely lots of nice touches and design elements that I don't recall seeing elsewhere or that are less frequently installed: - Closet rack pulls down for easier access. - Simple loops as cabinet handles. - Terrazzo countertop. - Corner section of the kitchen, which is difficult to use in general, gets hidden behind a lift-up door that is sleek. - Fun kitchen table light. Thank you for sharing!

[@learnenglishwithdayamudra704]

It's so elegant and inviting. IT looks so empty, but it's refreshing to see a normal amount of cosmetics, clothes, and cooking supplies tucked neatly away! Love it.

[@bqpdobqpd]

I love the hanger idea and raising bed for storage….. I have always been just extending bed legs but raising floor looks aesthetically pleasant and more thought out😊

[@mylesfleming5208]

As a carpenter that has worked in office and commercial spaces this level of minimalism and clever design is exceptional. Love the corresponding colours between the bathroom and kitchen. 10/10

[@StudioBAS]

I like the color palette! Also, most of the small spaces shown are single people or couples, I’d love to see some more families!

[@chloejacobs7780]

Agree, because this isn't actually a small space at all for just one person to live in.

[@lucialayr]

@@Rubiecat Absolutely. There is another NTS episode where a fimily of 5 lives on the same squaremetres, THAT is good design and efficient use of space!

[@sammionne239]

Agreed!! Yes let’s see some family apartments

[@tomaskalinka5679]

I absolutely love this apartment, the only thing I would change is to transform 1 wall into huge bookcase :)

[@anniestumpy9918]

yeah all those intellectuals who don't seem to own a single book... strange 😅

[@nomoretwitterhandles]

@@anniestumpy9918 Well, some of them are minimalists. A minimalist who cares about their carbon footprint probably isn't going to buy and store a bunch of books.

[@Nyx773]

Why own books when there are public libraries, ebooks and audiobooks?

[@tomaskalinka5679]

@@Nyx773 Why own anything , really ? We all collect something of value to us

[@badger9156]

I love the width of this space with the wide open glazing, and it flows so well: the opaque glass into the bathroom, the built in cupboard just for the sheer curtain, the green, the pod with underfloor storage, and ALL the stuff the architect has in every single cupboard, definitely well-lived in! I love so much here. The space feels very minimalist, but the addition of so much storage allows for lots, even in the bathroom cupboards, but as it is all stored away, the home seems clean and open. Love this, going to rewatch now❤. I forgot: she did the flooring herself .. superstar!

[@jessisoffline]

Ooooo absolutely love the colour palette of this apartment! It's a refreshing take on a small space.

[@CommanderRick]

Wow she did an incredible job on this place. The bathroom shower wall next to the bed is genius! Never seen that before.

[@szfrj]

Even though it’s larger than the usual flats presented, the design concept could easily work for a smaller space ❤

[@missy4663]

Lots of storage and light, bright interior. Good job!

[@jessiejessie661]

she did a marvelous job revamping the bathroom with the inflow of natural lights ♥ the bed looked cozy and the airy living space provides so much potential!

[@ThisIsMyFullName]

4:56 I love having a small cabinet for the curtain, I'm definitely stealing that idea for my own room!

This is extremely beautiful. The combination of a white kitchen with the wooden cabinets plus the colors green and yellow is totally what I love and also have in my apartment. Congratulation. This is one of the most well designed apartments in the series here on never too small.

[@zendude123]

I like what Carolien with her apartment. Hide the clutter and minimise the furniture to maximise the feeling of open space.

[@VeronicaTyler-jw1dt]

Very nice apartment, really like the bathroom light solution. I would add a very neutral round rug and a bit of art in the living room.

[@marissa_____]

I love it, personally I would add rugs and art on the walls and more plants. Fantastic job!

[@ВладимирПлужников-б4т]

51 sqm per 1 person is really never small :))

[@sWardSer]

+2

[@lars_vs]

Exactly this. The apartment I will most likely be living within the next year is a studio of just 24 square meters. If the apartment in the video is small, I will be living in a cupboard under the stairs, Harry Potter style.

[@manuelacaravane]

I exactly thought the same. But the apartment is quiet nice.

[@MsSneaky0815]

I was thinking that, although beautifully designed, her place doesn't feel as big as my flat which has 53 sqm and is stuffed to the brim. But maybe one has to be in it to appreciate the size. Oh and, I wouldn't call my flat small.

[@adrianselder7924]

I’ve seen a New York listing where the realtor referred to a short hallway/walk way as ‘the living room’!

[@Skatamska]

The sleeping cove looks really cozy. And because of the wall you don’t get the feeling you’re sleeping in the kitchen.

[@jimmy5353]

I like most of European designs from this channel, including this one. I also love her precession of language - differentiation between an apartment and an apartment building! We need professionals like this.

[@arlenesolis024]

Amazing use of color and simplicity makes this home so unique delicately beautifully. Love ❤it

[@Gwaycee]

The video actually begins at 1:30. You're welcome. 😁 I like the colours she chose for her apartment. They blend in really well and make the place appear larger than it really is. The only thing I would do different is to extend the bed space and kitchen a little outwards to avoid that huge, unused space in the living room. I would also get myself a larger comfy couch or two without high legs so the living room can look less like a classroom and more like a home. I like though that we all have different preferences as variety is the spice of life: a rose is just as beautiful as a daisy, just in a different way.

[@ReynaSingh]

Cozy yet spacious

[@mariastathopoulos744]

Fantastic floorplan and a very calming palette. The living / lounge room needs a rug to ground the couch, coffee tables and chairs. Currently these furniture pieces are 'floating' in the space. It will give greater dimension and add texture to the interior. The bold bright dining pendant light fixture brings a splash of surprise and fun.

[@hypersynesthesia]

Damn, that’s bigger than my actual 1-bed apartment. The design is stylish & really smart, the multifunctional cube is great. I feel like the open space could be warmed up and zoned more with soft furnishings - rugs, more solid looking chairs (one is a foldup camping chair I think?)

[@maria-vy2cl]

The chair is actually a well-known design called the butterfly chair. Slightly fancy I think :) And I totally agree with you! It is a nice design but with 51 sqm (the size of many 1 bedroom apt!) one could have a bit more zoning.

[@SeleneSalvatore]

Having a sitting place near the big window would be amazing especially with small mobile table that high enough for working. Also give more space for hanging out with friends and additional storage space.

[@MTMF.london]

I think putting in more furnishing would make the flat look less spacious. She seems to enjoy the rather spare aesthetic too.

[@keenalou595]

Very elegant, clever and clutter-free design for all that storage. Brilliant idea for the bathroom wall as well 👌🏽

[@B__C__]

Very nice for one person (or two if they can arrange to not shower while their roommate is trying to sleep). There's so much space here, and so much natural lighting. One could imagine entertaining a large group of friends in the main room. We've seen a few of these "cabinet walls" in designs before on the channel and I have to say they are growing on me for all the reasons noted in the video (storage, delineating spaces, and elevation). The inclusion of drapery to divide in from the main room, and the frosted glass partition put me in mind of a traditional Japanese Shoji screens.

[@LaineyBug2020]

I love how the widows mimic the function of a balcony!

[@hyoga172]

At the beginning I was like this is Belgium and then I saw that this was my city, Antwerp! A very nice job did you do! Love it! Really my taste🤗

[@VashtiInez]

What beautiful and smart design. She has so much space, no clutter all the essentials too! I really love the use of the natural light, with the shear curtain at the bed room area, shining through to the bathroom. The opaque wall was an excellent choice, just layering the opportunities to maximize the natural sunlight.

[@shaishannahbennett8055]

What a beautiful apartment, great design and well thought out. I like that this young lady did some work herself as well as designing it, very inspiring. For me, I would bring in more plants, more comfortable furniture, chairs, it looks a bit empty for me, then I am rather more maximalist. I could definitely live in this apartment.

[@ratsumatra3003]

What a lovely layout. The glass into the bathroom via the bedroom....very good idea. Well done. I really loved all the storage you developed. That long bench is wonderful. I'm going to reproduce that for my needs. Thank you for a great video.

[@ardenscott3910]

I love the color palette and finishings on everything! The solution of the semi-transparent wall to provide light in the bathroom was also super cool! As an interior design student I’m definitely going to see if I can incorporate that into some of my designs.

[@tuppence937]

Love so much about this apartment. Many design ideas that could be transposed to other spaces. The green overhead cupboards and shelving unit in the kitchen is both stylish and functional. The shelving in the shower is a nice solution. Love the clever storage spaces ie bed platform with inbuilt storage and pull down hanging space in wardrobe.

[@minimalistserendipity4744]

Agree, feature families and living in small spaces when residents are different ages and have different space needs.

[@simonsuarez5314]

That is so cute. What a good idea to take away that wall and add glass to add natural light for the bathroom!

[@ald247-w6q]

At 4:05 there's googly eyes on the plant :0

[@RoldanRR00]

With everything put away it looks like a showroom, but you can tell it is a functional apartment. Beautiful.

[@lmjohnsono]

This is a perfect little studio design. Good amount of storage, noting too tight or wacky, very utilitarian but a lot of character with material touches. Fantastic work!

[@irajaslam4505]

This is by far my favorite house on this channel. I simply love it

[@MsSneaky0815]

The light design of the bathroom is genius. 🥰

[@gulsahcetin1867]

I love it! Especially, lamp on top of the dining table and green cabinets in kitchen. Cute and warm place 💞💞💞

[@TheMaryWriter]

This is one of my favorite apartments ever. The color scheme is beautiful, and the layout is practical but has enough room to play with different furniture arrangements.

[@zlatan_2197]

It's very airy, which is always good, and colour pallete is beautiful

[@zainabsheikh9402]

The googly eyes on that pot! :') WHAT A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE, she made it a home!

[@bakeraus]

Very smart use of space and love how it's full of random thing, keeps it open. Not opposed to random objects and filled rooms but it's refreshing to see. Nice colours and light.

[@nevertoosmall]

Glad you like it!

[@25lapao]

I think this just might be my favorite apartment from all of your videos.

[@stuartsutherland7664]

Nice! Lots of storage too. Although the apartment is small the limited furniture and compact kitchen gave the apartment a feeling of a bigger space. Decoration is nice too and the built-in storage is well thought out. A really nice home. Well done to it's owner/designer!

[@luanarola912]

When i saw the colors on the thumbnail I thought it was a World Cup special, and the theme of this apartment was Brazil hahahaha This fever dream of mine aside, I love the space, the kitchen is so complete, and the bathroom is lovely. I would love to live in a place like this.

[@farihareza6464]

I live the colour combination of the plants sofa and curtain with the background wood.

[@LaineyBug2020]

That's actually a lot of space for a studio!

[@kayelle8005]

Really lovely apartment. I really like that particular shade of green in the kitchen and bathroom. Great bedroom cube. Thoughtful design.

[@gagandeepsinghnarain9716]

One of best and simple floor plan … everything was so perfect 👍🏼

[@Swagg3r3d]

That closet rack tilt is genius!

[@riseevolution]

that curtian storage is amazing!

[@arthursata9232]

The space is great. I like the light, the tall ceiling the bathroom window, the lightweight living room furniture and the huge opening living room windows. Thankyou for sharing.

[@train-like-a-girl]

Lovely apartment! I love the design for the bathroom - the hidden mirrored door and the clever idea to get some light in the bathroom through the bedroom area!

[@TonysScrapbook]

The apartment is beautiful. However, that sponsorship was the cutest and funniest thing 😂 thank you NTS ❤

[@nevertoosmall]

Glad you liked it!!

[@Timoriss]

Heel mooi appartement Carolien! Bedachtzaam ontworpen en heel geslaagd :)

[@EdricHsu]

Lovely simple minimal interior design and colours. And thumbs up for Lord Colin! Why so cute? 🤣

[@heathertruskinger6214]

With such big windows, the allusion it created to make this unit look even bigger !

[@drlnmrdn]

I love the layout and the aesthetic so much

[@melindadouglas1673]

I love the simple, clean, uncluttered design of this home. It is so functional and beautiful. Well done!

[@nicholeayt509]

Really simple and elegant. Anyone could live here and make it their own.

[@fatimaayesh7]

Such a good transformation! I'd only substitute the cabinet texture for cork wood or OSB panels to maintain a lighter palette, or even give the sleeping box and cabinet the same pop of color in the bathroom and kitchen.

[@dha588]

I love the flower pot with the googly eyes 🙂

[@myladycasagrande863]

Beautiful design! I love that this space is meant to be hospitable, with plenty of seating for guests. A very welcoming home!

[@jonnj9701]

Wow, a shoes-off-in-the-house person. I am astonished at the normalcy.

[@michaelcoco3913]

I really appreciate the storage here, it's practical and not 'designer chic.' A beautiful canvas, adapted with functionality and minimalism at a realistic ratio.

[@lauramaxwell8327]

So smart and so cool. One of the best I've seen. Clever layout, storage and use of all space.

[@Sarah-ew2pp]

Lovely colours and textures in this light space

[@lapppius]

I think the living space is way bigger proportionally with the rest spaces. It seems quite empty and cold and I don't understand why at least the kitchen and maybe the bed weren't pulled out further to the balcony.

[@Alicia-ij6gt]

Maybe she really prizes the sense of spaciousness in the living area, and is prepared to sacrifice it in other areas in order to achieve that. It certainly seems like a generous living space.

[@pathanada4957]

The space is beautiful. I love the kitchen and storage bench. It flows so well into the living space.

[@zoltans72]

Very nice, I like the layout, the colors and the fact that the living room still feels spaceus

[@gretchenamirault829]

One of the nicest small spaces I have seen. Bravo!

[@LO-fm9dc]

Proper tv hanging on the wall and a padded bed head, darker curtain and a range hood over the oven and I’m sold. 👍

[@nancyanneberg403]

So clean and peaceful. Good design. You did it! Thank you.

[@kiwigirljacks]

Gorgeous design. Very functional studio that has lots of free space to make it feel open and airy.

[@winphan6952]

I think this is one of my favourite studios, I love the sleeping cove

[@andersdottir1111]

So beautiful! The only thing I’d do is scrap the long low fixed cabinetry for a G Plan or Ercol mid-century wall unit. It would add warmth and storage to the living space.

[@bailey27727]

Love this space and am imagining my own maximalist version. More colors, more plants, more textures!

[@marie.lemonbabe]

Oooh I love the sleeping cave!

[@atcolombini]

Impressive! That's a lot of space, the colors are perfect, the bedroom is perfect, I loved everything and it's just so simple.

[@eatplaydecorate]

I just received my never too small book and tote. I'm happy to support this channel. Thank you as well for such great content. Another well thought out design. Love the light fixture over the dining table.

[@nevertoosmall]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@Petapan33]

Love the layout of this apartment. Very functional and easy to adapt.

[@eluervode9020]

I like this apartment. It is ideal for summer; it is fresh, probably because of the colours 🍋

[@AdeleMcAlear]

That was gorgeous! One of the best designs - loved the storage, the colour palette and the opaque shower wall to let light into the bedroom.

[@lutfur.r]

The translucent shower wall is genius

[@ShayTBD]

Love the under bed AND under room storage

[@nadineireland3361]

Very nice and practical! I especially appreciate the amount of storage and that the small kitchen is fully equipped.

[@TripleTuner]

This is the one time where the rug would have really tied the room together.

[@tehmorninstah]

Lovely place, especially with those Pusheen & Otto plushies

[@markbigbadbear]

Love the design and material choice. That sleeping nook looks super cosy. And googly eyes on plant pots should be standard 😁The big open living room area makes the appartment feel a lot bigger than it is! The only thing I'm missing (or missed in the video) is a washing machine.

[@MTMF.london]

She has it in one of the tall cabinets by the kitchen, near the fridge.

[@saikogrrl]

Quite elegant and I love the colour scheme 🙂 especially impressed that she did the parquetry herself!

[@giuliarodriguesviana7294]

I loved the bathroom natural light!! Congrats on Carolien!!

[@mikeblack3657]

A beautiful little apartment, cute and minimalist at the same time.

[@smitanambiar6418]

This place looks fantastic. Spacious, light and airy as well as comfortable!