Small Space Makeover: Step Inside A Pretty & Petite House In The City

“When you’re working with small space design, every inch counts.” In this must-see makeover, designer Meghan Carter brings clever and functional solutions to a young couple’s urban home - without changing the footprint. See how she transformed the cramped 350-square-foot main floor into an open-concept oasis that packs in plenty of storage, color and natural light.
Design by Meghan Carter
www.meghancarterdesign.com
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*SHOP THE LOOK* ➡️ bit.ly/46E2dYr
Products inspired by this video, selected by H&H to help you get the look in your space.
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Modular Sectional
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Geometric Shag Rug
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Linen Throw Pillow
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Brushed Gold Kitchen Faucet
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Ceramic Subway Tile
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Black/Glass Pendant Light
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Shelving Unit
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All products featured on House & Home are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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[@wendyp2922]

So great to see smaller house renovation. I personally think this is far more normal size homes than most people think and goes to show how good planning and design goes a long way. The designer mentioned her clients love to cook and entertain with no kids so creating the large entertaining kitchen that opens to the backyard makes total sense to me. Shows the designer listened and designing for her clients needs

[@kgalvin7503]

This is a kitchen with a couch squeezed in. Hope it works for them.

[@lindahind2205]

Shorten the island and swap the fridge to the dog bed space. Glad they like it!

[@vizarathali2229]

Beautifully renovated small spaces fill me with joy :)

[@lq7729]

Love the reimagining of the first floor - it really centers the family and "kitchen living". However, the island is just too long. That little elevated table at the end could have been nixed and the comfy seating area expanded a bit more. Clearly, they aren't DRM table people, but the lvrm feels a little tight. Overall very pretty and these space-saving designs are awesome - more of these, please. Mega houses are so 1996.

[@elizabethheatley22]

Love the creative approach to satisfying the couple’s desire for a fully functional kitchen in such a small place. I love the design, and I love the fact that location was more important than space to the couple. I could happily live in that space. It’s beautiful!

[@RichLadyThoughts]

Love these small space projects because it forces you to get creative. I personally would have like a recessed wall to hang all those coats and maybe add seating below to put on shoes on. Maybe add fluted glass doors to keep it light and airy. Also would have extended the custom cabinet by the door to the celling and installed the Samsung TV on the opposite side so it could be a proper living room.

[@julietphillips1991]

Very well thought out and very well executed! It pleases me to see that the kitchen sink is positioned in front of a window and not a wall. I love!

[@maunarose]

I love this! When you love a ‘location, location, location’ you work with what space you can get. Meghan, your design for the kitchen, new bath, and cute sofa area are perfect. The houses in my neighborhood are similar: about the same amount of square footage, and big kitchens on the entry level. Again, wonderful work, Meghan. ❤

[@JudgeyJudgeyable]

My main floor is this small as well but i wasnt big on this layout. It's just couch and kitchen. Not big on the TV placement. But hey, if it works for them

[@annjohnson8437]

I love this remodel/makeover! The home is now extremely functional and beautiful. That green tile in the bathroom is awesome! It will be a wonderful home to raise some kiddos in. Thanks for the lovely tour! ❤

[@ChimobiHD]

Nice job! I love Meghan and her practical designs!

[@BigBird104]

Meghan is the best!!

[@Costanza_G]

The dog spot is lovely!

[@heatherw.2751]

I love the bathroom! The skylight is perfect!

[@kathbrandon8023]

Creative, soothing and beautiful. Absolutely lovely!

[@snorlund1]

Great space planning and interesting features. I think you did a great job of problem solving whilst keeping good design features!

[@mdeeaonetwothree5162]

This is a great improvement. Personally the chairs on the kitchen side of the dining end would inhibit me from using that part of the counter. Maybe they don’t need that much prep space, but possibly comfortable matching stools that went completely under the counter on that side would work?

[@eattherich9215]

@2:19, that low cupboard would have been taken right up to the ceiling to provide hanging space for coats and somewhere to put suitcases. The window brings lots of light into the room, so it wouldn't have made the room too dark. The dog is in the kitchen as there is barely any living space. The house is barely big enough for two people plus a dog, and I think the couple is being optimistic thinking they will be able to stay in the city once a child/children come along.

[@anitavirginillo]

I think I would have splurged on having having a panel front fridge - right now it seems like the focal point. Also the stools are a bit much for the space, maybe something more streamlined? Love what you did in the bathroom!

[@sandyfoxx5973]

Cutting edge colour palette.

[@TheExodusV]

“Where’s your living room?” “Right there silly It’s the banquette!” 😂

[@dartstudioinc]

So well thought out and love the layout!

[@annondemand6607]

Absolutely stunning!

[@MariaGreece777]

Feels weird that she mentions so many personal details of the owners.

[@janicesegura2570]

It’s so beautiful ❤❤

[@lisatague305]

Amazing before and after !

[@alexandrailnyckyj6059]

The clients wanted the kitchen to be the priority. It may have been helpful to show them a mock up of what that would look like. I agree with other comment that it feels like one is living in a kitchen. I think they may have been better served with a large table with mixed banquette, chair and soft seating ie cooking area and big casual dining area with two soft chairs and forget about creating a mini living room. And the hooks at the entry need some upgrade. I do not have a better solution but there must be one. They miss the mark.

[@janishani1]

I genuinely think it was well taught and achieved. Bravo! Great job! 🤩👌🏽

[@TheSushmaHomeSellingTeam]

Your unique home can inspire others to embrace their creativity and design a space that reflects their own individuality no matter the size of the house is. 😉🥰

[@susanwerner2453]

I rarely use the word genius. But when it's appropriate, I do. This entire Reno is simply genius. I love the living room /kitchen area. Love the way they fit in the sectional and 'bar' area. Love the functional aspect that combines the beauty. The upstairs!!! Dont even get me started! The colors! The skylight! That barn door! The forethought for the (soon to be) children. I live in a brand new home that is not that big... and these ideas will be in my mind as I update. Simply ingenious!!! ❤

[@marciamellow1211]

Job... well done!

[@knunez4862]

Great job

[@centralWisconsin1]

Well done!

[@karenharvey2549]

Fabulous.

[@jadktimeless2831]

You Kill The Living Room 😮

[@comfortsarebadteachersofli4020]

Very functional

[@tiffanycurtis4794]

Amazing 💛

[@jwsuicides8095]

That first shot of their old living area where they sat and watched TV I LOVED the quirkiness and character of their items...I hope they bring them back in to the house.

[@Person-mh6xq]

I hope not! It’s so fresh and clean now vs. dated and cluttered.

[@incialican5117]

Is it only me who likes the "before" style of the house? It used to be more colorful, warm and cozy for sure.

[@houseandhome]

**SHOP THE LOOK** ➡ bit.ly/46E2dYr Products inspired by this video, selected by H&H to help you get the look in your space. *Blu Dot Circula Tall Side Table* US fave.co/3romkJS CA fave.co/3D8rmwJ *Blu Dot Circula Low Side Table* US fave.co/3XERKrC CAN fave.co/3NJh0Zr *Modular Sectional* fave.co/44eICfP *Geometric Shag Rug* US fave.co/3XES3mg CAN fave.co/43dCwuL *Linen Throw Pillow* fave.co/3NJTong *Patterned Throw Pillow* fave.co/3D43XMY *Brushed Gold Kitchen Faucet* CAN fave.co/46zEeK3 *Ceramic Subway Tile* US fave.co/3PJFjZC CAN fave.co/3PLhoch *Black/Glass Pendant Light* US fave.co/3JNh1tV *Shelving Unit* fave.co/3O36SvM All products featured on House & Home are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

[@rougeattack]

this link doesn't work

[@houseandhome]

@@rougeattack It should be working now!

[@reneekyle4627]

Please share the link for the kitchen bar stools.

[@jessicaveganjessica2208]

Love this!! I want to know what color the island blue is, exactly, please. Beautiful use of space. Sooo lovely, everything! ❤

[@sonjagood7305]

💜💜

[@donnafuller3029]

Oh wow, the kitchen is a bit too big!

[@bondafisya4645]

May be that’s what the owner wants to suit their lifestyle?

[@joannacurran8475]

I would have the fridge near the window so the cabinets would look less kitcheny and the bar would be the same colour as kitchen

[@u.mazzeru3327]

Never thought I would see Karl Marx’s Capital on a shelf on this channel. 😁😂

[@seattlegirl2077]

I'm betting that if they have two kids they won't stay long. Not enough places to play by the kitchen. Looks great though!

[@antoinerondenet175]

that oven looks great anyone knows the make and model?

[@dawnkrause8378]

Hello refrigerator! At least put it at the other end of the room.

[@melkel3893]

what is the name of the actual backsplash tile in the video?

[@elle892]

I felt like the decorator was asking me questions the whole video 😅

[@lizabetx483]

Lovely renovation overall but the proportions of sitting area, dining area and kitchen are skewed. A large fridge near to a sitting area is distracting. It would be more natural to have the dog bed there. Sitting on high stools to eat is not very comfortable and will be less so when you are older. The synergy of the materials, textures, paint colors and millwork is excellent and very calming.

[@Ldifferent]

Am I the only one with a cable box? Where are these stored with TV on wall.

[@vmurt]

Like everything except the kitchen island -- it just feels too huge for the space. The whole bottom room just feels like a kitchen.

[@eattherich9215]

It's a kitchen with a sofa and television in it.

[@dogood7337]

I like the kitchen per se & the bathroom, but I find the art in the living room a bit awkward. Maybe it would have been better to color the living room walls differently and /or add wall paper to give a sense of separation from the kitchen. It could be that with these changes, the picture on the wall would blend in better.

[@jaiyana73]

All those sharps corners are not very kid friendly

[@marianneb.7112]

Everybody always ends up in the kitchen anyway. 🤷‍♀️

[@Kgyi-zs8ub]

ငါ့မိသားစုေတြးကိုလဲ့ လာမဲ့ ၂၀၂၄ ခရစ္မတ္ေတာ့ အိမ္သစ္မွာထားခ်င္ၿပီ စတင္ရေတာ့မယ္ထင္တယ္

[@YinYanUzumaki]

What language script is that ? This is the first I have seen it and wondering 🤔

[@desertdaisymarie6951]

Those kitchen tiles aren't practical for a splash back, that's not what they're meant to be used for..

[@mas502arc]

Can't unhear the vocal fry

[@meowma201]

It is such a weird house. It's a KITCHEN house

[@janiebea100]

They’re delusional thinking they are going to raise a family in that tiny area.

[@johnf6267]

looked better before

[@Livhappy25]

Couldn’t handle the vocal fry the uptalk 🤢 I had to stop. Why can’t people speak normal