Multifamily Developments: Interior Design Ideas for Small Apartments and Condos

K Tyler, Allied ASID

K Tyler, Allied ASID
Partner - Interior Design at Award Winning Chicago Architects, Morgante Wilson

Oct 8, 2019 - 5 min read

Multifamily Developments: Interior Design Ideas for Small Apartments and Condos

The apartment model units at The Atworth at Melody Farms offer smart lessons in small-space design that lives large. Because the public spaces at The Atworth, such as its lounge, above, are luxurious extensions of the apartments themselves, residents are able to easily relax, entertain and work outside of their own individual units. We loved creating large public spaces residents can share, as well as two model unit designs with distinct personalities. Join me on a tour of those models!

First up: the two-bedroom unit. This apartment echoes the building’s earthy color palette, in a decidedly masculine way. Metal plays a big role, as evidenced by the steel influence in the media unit, and the wood-topped dining table’s steel base and swing-out seats.

Though the great room isn’t overly large, we were able to work in both a lounge space and a dining space to show potential renters they can have it all. A small-scale cognac leather sofa is great for relaxing as well as entertaining; in addition, a wall-mounted swing-arm lamp saves precious floor space. It also supplies important ambiance.

In front of the window, the distressed leather bench with its iron base gives a bit of an industrial urban feel; its slender shape offers extra seating without overwhelming the room. Importantly, it’s easily moved to allow balcony access. Like the leather sofa and velvet lounge chairs, it’s devoid of pattern, allowing us to layer texture with visual interest via the abstract art over the sofa and the subtle complexity of the drapery panel design.

The kitchen’s heavily-grained wood cabinets reference The Atworth’s wooded setting, as do the gray-washed oak luxury vinyl tile floors. Both are juxtaposed against the cream-colored high-gloss ceramic tile backsplash and lightly speckled quartz countertop. I especially love the freestanding island because it’s incredibly versatile: it can act as a bar or extra work space, and can be pushed against the wall or even into the bedroom to make extra room for entertaining. Even better, it works vertically or horizontally. And best of all, it’s included with every kitchen in every unit! Note how the door into the master bathroom offers a glimpse of the same cabinetry, for visual consistency. Details like that make a big difference in smaller spaces.

Slightly softer in feel than the living space or the guest bedroom you’ll read about next, the elegant master bedroom is a study in contrasts. The sleek four poster bed is romantic – but it’s steel. Antique convex mirrors and a quilted art wall hanging feel somewhat nostalgic; live-edge wood and steel nightstands feel the opposite. Pillows are velvet – but they’re black. This room is all about maintaining an edge, but a gentle one.

Look closely and you’ll notice a bunch of smart ideas in the guest room. We married two Ikea bookcases to create an architectural tie-in with the window’s grid design; they’re a quiet yet memorable addition that helps this bedroom stand out in the eyes of a renter – plus they create an opportunity for storage and display. The wall-hung leather headboard is another unique touch that elevates this space, as are space-saving wall-hung pendants that add a bit of funk while keeping nightstands clear for necessities. For a touch of variety, notice how the pattern in this room is on the bed, and not at the window.

And now, the one-bedroom unit. Slightly smaller than the unit we just toured, it’s also more feminine. In fact, it’s got a totally different aesthetic, which is important because we wanted to demonstrate the many different ways these apartments – any apartment, really – can be treated. A soft velvet sofa pairs with faux leather chairs at the dining table that are upholstered all the way down through their legs for an unexpectedly modern touch worthy of a double-take. An art deco mirror, layered rugs, nesting coffee tales, Murano glass vases, and sateen draperies add up to a sophisticated, cozy, totally functional room.

The apartment kitchen is cool, too. Again, an island is super versatile. The adjacent banquette (see the leather bench against the wall?) and tulip table act as an extension of the kitchen and make dining here feel like an event. The table’s round shape maximizes space and allows traffic to flow freely around it, which is important for entertaining.

Smaller than any other bedroom we designed, this one packs a big decorative punch. See how the velvet channeled headboard extends beyond the edges of the bed to give the illusion of more space? Integrated sconces preserve tabletop space on the shagreen-wrapped nightstands; brass accents and gold tones strengthen the room’s jewel-toned color palette and tie to brass elsewhere in the unit. Dark navy drapes carry over from the living room, again, to provide visual continuity.

If you’re a multifamily developer looking to partner with an architecture firm that “gets” design, you’ve come to the right place. If you’re a renter or condo owner who wants to make a smaller living space feel like home, I hope we’ve inspired you. And if you’re interested in ideas to make small spaces feel bigger than they are, I hope you’ve found some. Plenty more fantastic ideas are on our website; take a look and then give us a call if you like what you see!

K Tyler, Allied ASID

K Tyler, Allied ASID

Partner - Interior Design at Award Winning Chicago Architects, Morgante Wilson