EXTREME 253 Sq Ft Studio Apartment Makeover | Mid-Century Modern Style
Summary
TLDRIn this episode of Studio Fix, Alexandra transforms Gokan's tiny studio apartment into a stylish and functional space. She addresses the challenge of creating a cozy yet open atmosphere in under 500 square feet. Key elements of the makeover include a large rug for grounding the living area, a wavy mirror to enhance natural light, and a DIY room divider to establish an entryway and separate the bedroom. The design incorporates Gokan's eclectic furniture and adds pops of color, resulting in a bright, warm, and inviting home that meets both aesthetic and practical needs.
Takeaways
- 🏠 The video is about transforming a small studio apartment under 500 sq ft into a stylish, organized space.
- 🎨 Alexandra, the host, aims to make the space beautiful and functional for Gokan, the apartment's occupant, who has a unique vision for his living area.
- 🛋️ Gokan's apartment features an open layout with a bedroom, living space, and workspace all in one room, and he values the ability to host friends.
- 💡 Gokan has a preference for eclectic furniture pieces, including a postmodern coffee table and a midcentury TV credenza, which adds personality to the space.
- 🛠️ The makeover includes creating a sense of separation at the entryway, improving the living space with modular and conversational seating, and addressing privacy and light issues with a large window.
- 🎨 Gokan's inspiration involves a warm, cozy, bright atmosphere with modern aesthetics, a preference for certain colors like blue and olive green, and a dislike for pink.
- 🪵 A DIY room divider is constructed to create an entryway and separate the bedroom area, using lumber and a glazing staining technique for a luxe look.
- 🛍️ Shopping at Home Sense yields a variety of accessories, a rug, and storage solutions that fit Gokan's style and the need for cohesion in the space.
- 🖼️ The addition of a large, wavy mirror and decorative window film address the need for natural light and privacy, respectively.
- 🎬 Gokan's acting career requires a functional backdrop for auditions, which is integrated into the design without compromising the apartment's aesthetic.
- 📦 The reveal shows a transformed space with defined areas, stylish furniture, and thoughtful storage solutions, exceeding Gokan's expectations and making the studio feel like a 'cool' living space.
Q & A
Who is the host of the 'Studio Fix' series and what does the series focus on?
-The host of the 'Studio Fix' series is Alexandra. The series focuses on making over tiny apartments under 500 square feet, making them beautiful, stylish, and organized.
What is Gokan's profession and how does it affect his apartment design needs?
-Gokan is a flight attendant and an actor. His profession affects his apartment design needs as he requires a space that can double as a lounge area for hosting friends and a functional area for conducting self-tapes for auditions.
What is the main issue Gokan has with his current studio apartment setup?
-The main issue Gokan has with his current setup is the lack of division and cohesion in the space. He also needs a separate area for entering and taking off shoes, a comfortable living space for hosting, and a functional backdrop for his auditions.
What are some of the design elements and furniture pieces Gokan already has in his apartment?
-Gokan already has a postmodern coffee table, a midcentury TV credenza, a bed, a lamp, and a TV stand. He also has a large window that brings in good morning light.
What is the proposed solution to create a division between the entryway and the living space?
-The proposed solution to create a division is to bring in a large rug to ground the living room and help create a visual separation between the living room and the rest of the spaces.
What is the strategy for dealing with the privacy issue regarding Gokan's large window?
-The strategy for dealing with the privacy issue is to add a peel-and-stick red window film that will provide privacy without blocking natural light.
What is the color palette and overall vibe that Gokan is drawn to for his apartment makeover?
-Gokan is drawn to a color palette that includes blues, olive greens, neutrals like beige, and warm woods. The overall vibe he wants is warm, cozy, bright, clean, and modern with personality.
What is the DIY project that Graham undertakes to help create an entryway and divide the space?
-Graham undertakes a DIY project to create a room divider using 27 boards of 8-foot long 2x6 construction lumber. The divider includes coat hooks, a shelf for storage, and is stained to give a luxe, walnut-like appearance.
What are the main furniture pieces and accessories brought in from Home Sense to enhance Gokan's space?
-The main furniture pieces and accessories from Home Sense include a jute rug, a side table, storage baskets, a lamp, and a candle with a lime chili tart scent.
How does the final design of Gokan's studio apartment address his needs and preferences?
-The final design addresses Gokan's needs and preferences by creating a defined entryway, a cozy bedroom nook, a stylish and functional living area with comfortable seating, and a backdrop for his auditions that doubles as a piece of art when not in use.
Outlines
🏠 Studio Makeover Introduction
Alexandra from Studio Fix series introduces a new episode focused on transforming Gokan's tiny studio apartment under 500 square feet. The goal is to make it stylish, organized, and beautiful. Alexandra discusses the project's scope and sets expectations for the makeover, emphasizing the importance of light and space in a studio setting. She also mentions Gokan's eclectic taste in furniture and the need to create a cohesive design that also accommodates his social and professional needs, such as hosting friends and conducting auditions.
🛋️ Understanding Gokan's Design Preferences
In this paragraph, Alexandra and Gokan discuss his vision for the space. Gokan expresses his desire for a warm, cozy, yet bright and modern aesthetic. He appreciates clean lines and personality in design, with a preference for soft, comfortable seating. Gokan's favorite colors include blues, olive greens, and neutrals like beige, while he is not fond of pink. The conversation reveals his willingness to part with certain pieces, keeping only a few favorites like the bed, lamp, and TV stand. Alexandra takes notes and prepares to shop for accessories that will enhance the space's cohesion.
🛠️ DIY Room Divider Creation
Graham constructs a DIY room divider to create an entryway and separate the bedroom area in Gokan's studio. He uses 27 boards of 2x6 construction lumber, cutting them into specific lengths for the ceiling and wall panels. The process involves sanding, drilling holes for dowels, and securing the boards with a brad nail gun. Additionally, Graham creates coat hooks and shelves for added functionality. The divider is designed to be both visually appealing and practical, with a luxurious walnut-like finish achieved through a glazing staining method.
🎨 Aesthetic and Functional Space Planning
Alexandra plans to enhance the space with a large rug, a wavy mirror to reflect natural light, and a peel-and-stick window film for privacy without hindering light. She also discusses creating a stylish vignette for Gokan's audition backdrop, making it functional and aesthetically pleasing. The shopping trip at Home Sense yields various finds, including a side table with clothes storage, baskets for the nightstand, and candles for a pop of blue. The team is mindful of Gokan's need for a cohesive and stylish space that also serves his functional requirements.
🛌 Transforming the Bedroom Nook
The team works on transforming Gokan's bedroom area, creating a cozy nook by placing the bed in the corner and adding a jute rug with white elements to lighten up the space. They bring in a side table for storage and a wall sconce for bedside lighting. The existing media unit is reused, and a heavy rug is moved into place to anchor the room. The focus is on creating a comfortable and inviting space that feels separate from the rest of the studio.
🛋️ Living Room and Entryway Styling
Alexandra styles the living room with a new sofa, lounge chairs, and a coffee table that complement Gokan's existing vintage pieces. She emphasizes the importance of lighting in small spaces and adds a statement lamp. The entryway is outfitted with a bench for shoe storage and a ruggable runner for easy cleaning. Art prints and baskets are added for both style and functionality, creating an inviting and organized space.
🎨 Final Touches and Reveal
The final touches include styling the bed with cushions, a throw blanket, and a side table with a basket for storage. The media console is adorned with phases and coasters, and the window sill is decorated with books, a candle, and plants. A faux tree, decorative pillows, and a blanket are added to the sofa area, and the coffee table is styled with magazines and a vase of branches. Gokan is brought in to see the transformed space, and his reaction is one of awe and delight, appreciating the cohesive, stylish, and functional makeover of his studio apartment.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Studio Apartment
💡Makeover
💡Cohesion
💡Eclectic Style
💡Privacy
💡Lighting
💡DIY (Do It Yourself)
💡Storage
💡Furniture Configuration
💡Aesthetics
💡Functionality
Highlights
Alexandra introduces the Studio Fix series focusing on making small apartments beautiful, stylish, and organized.
Gokan's studio apartment makeover begins with a call to discuss his vision for the space.
Gokan's apartment features an open space with a single large window, posing a challenge for privacy and light.
The importance of furniture arrangement is highlighted to avoid blocking light and create a functional space.
Gokan's eclectic taste in furniture, including postmodern and midcentury styles, is discussed as a design base.
The need for a defined entryway and a separation between living and sleeping areas is identified.
Gokan's desire for a low, modular sofa that facilitates conversation without blocking the view is mentioned.
The idea of using a window film for privacy without compromising light is introduced.
Gokan's need for a functional backdrop for auditions without the hassle of moving furniture is discussed.
The shopping trip to Home Sense for accessories and styling elements is detailed.
A DIY room divider project is introduced to create an entryway and separate spaces in the studio.
The process of staining the DIY divider to achieve a luxurious walnut look using glazing is explained.
The installation of the room divider and the creation of a cozy bedroom nook are showcased.
The use of a jute rug to lighten up the space and add interest is highlighted.
The selection of a sofa and lounge chairs that complement Gokan's existing vintage pieces is discussed.
The transformation of the dining area into a functional and stylish space with a bench and art print is shown.
Gokan's reaction to the transformed studio apartment and his appreciation for the cohesive design is captured.
Transcripts
hey guys welcome back to my channel I'm
Alexandra and you are watching Studio
fix the series where I tackle teeny tiny
apartments under 500 squ ft and show you
how to make them beautiful stylish and
organized I just think it's so funny
that I'm doing this in my skirt you got
a makeover to do so wow that looks
stunning oh my god let's get started
[Music]
[Music]
today I am making over gokan's studio
apartment another Studio fix episode for
you I'm so excited if you love Studio
fix just as much as I do make sure you
hit that subscribe button so you don't
miss any future episodes coming your way
let's hop on a call and chat with Goan
about what he envisions for this space
nice to meet you you're a real person oh
my God okay so are
you I am so excited about your space I
feel like you have so many great pieces
oh thank you took a lot of time on
Marketplace okay so the point of this
call really is just for me to get to
know your space and like what you're
looking for tell me all about your space
I took some notes okay love that I'm
also taking notes so what I do like is
that it's like a huge just open space so
I can kind of do whatever with it
there's a lot of space that I can like
host cuz I have friends over all the
time because it's a studio and I have my
bedroom my living space and also a
little bit of my Works Space in the same
room I've tried to configure it with
furniture without blocking anything
because I don't get a lot of light I
have one window it's a big window but I
have one window yeah that's pretty much
it in terms of what's working I feel
like also you missed an important thing
on that list which is your furniture is
working for you like have beautiful
pieces yes I like a lot of eclectic
stuff like my coffee table is very
postmodern whereas my TV credenza is
very midcentury I like the D position of
that it just makes it interesting right
you have such a great base for us to
work with you just need that kind of
extra push pulling it all together I
need the dots connected I have the map I
have dots I just need to connect them
okay so walk me through what's not
working for you or like things that you
are hopeful for in this makeover I guess
firstly because you kind of just enter
into theace face I would like something
that feels slightly separated in terms
of like where you take off your shoes I
want like a little bit of feeling of
like stop here for a second do the
things and then go into the space yeah
in terms of the living space the reason
I only have just a couch is because I'm
so picky about the armchairs that I've
been trying to find I want something
that's kind of low because I don't want
to block out the windows sofas that are
modular something that's easily movable
but also when I have people over I
wanted to be conversational and we're
facing each other even though I do have
a TV I don't NE there like the idea of
like just everyone's facing towards a TV
when you host is everyone kind of
gathering in that living space are they
in your bedroom area like what's what's
the vibe oh my God yes that's the thing
I would like them to stay in the lounge
area yes okay yeah people end up like
sitting on the bed as well and it's so
funny when you go into a studio you're
like I guess I'm gonna sit on your bed
like it's just what people do yes I'm
like those are your outside clothes
please okay cool because I'm on the
entry level and I'm Facing East there is
like good morning light like right now
it's pretty bright but there's a lot of
traffic so it's like how do you get
light but also have privacy have you
ever thought about like a window film
situation or do you really want to be
able to see like what's happening
outside I think that could be something
that I just never considered it because
I have such a huge window and I didn't
know like how would that would look but
I mean if it works it works I for me
it's really the light but keeping
privacy at the same time I think there's
definitely a way of solving that for
sure and and then um because I use my
space Also do uh to do like self tapes I
act so I audition a lot I've been trying
to like maneuver a backdrop without
having to have something that I put away
and then I have to like steam every time
but also like make it look like you know
this is not just a photo studio the
whole time right so right now I have
this like Ikea window shade this was my
solution but when I put it up I'm like I
don't know what to do this face right
now there's a little like table I never
use it and I always have to move the
table when I'm actually using it for my
audition cuz this this is literally
where I stand so sorry just so I
understand it's just not functioning for
you in the sense that like it's kind of
a hassle like you have to move your
table the backrop itself now is perfect
to use in terms of ease but once I don't
use it and I put it back up it's just a
blank wall got it that makes a lot of
sense yeah okay let's go through your
inspo like I said I feel like you have
so many great pieces we can work with
but walk me through why you picked those
images what's the overall Vibe what
colors do you like what are you drawn to
so it's really for me the feeling that
it evokes of course I care about the
visual Aesthetics but I definitely like
put more weight on how I feel in a space
warm cozy but also bright I love things
that feel like clean and modern but also
it has personality totally like warm
Woods I love like a smokey glass in
terms of like seating I love like softer
Curry shapes anything that's kind of
comfortable but not too
comfortable yes and I love like the
color blue I love Olive greens I love
neutrals like a nice beige any colors
you do not like I guess pink I'm not too
much of a pink person for myself me with
my but the thing is I love it in yours I
watch your videos I'm like come on I'm
just kidding I'm just kidding pink paint
every time I love it though but just
like I'm like my space I feel like I
don't have the confidence to ro it's
also not the vibe for your space I think
you're so clear about like a cozy but
bright space and I think that's always
the goal in a studio it's like how do
you make it feel warm and intimate but
also like big and bright at the same
time any pieces you are willing to part
with essentially the bed and maybe the
lamp and the TV stand are like my like
three things that I love love which I
love too this dining situation over it
absolutely over it okay awesome anything
else you want to add this was very
helpful let me check my notes yep
everything
that I love that you wrote notes you're
so prepared so great um I'm really
excited I will meet you on reveal day
and yeah congrats for winning a makeover
with us it's so exciting thank you I
appreciate it okay have a great day you
as well bye so right off the top we are
working with some incredible pieces that
Goan has thrifted but there's a lack of
cohesion and the way they're all working
together within the space even though
gokan's inspo is very neutral he has
these pops of color which I'm really
excited to play with because they're
going to keep the design feeling
interesting his inspo to me feels very
like cool apartment Vibes you know like
I want him to walk into the space and
feel like I'm a cool person who lives in
the studio apartment I'm not like a
regular Mom I'm a cool mom so here's
what I'm thinking to start I want to
bring in a really large rug to kind of
ground the living room and help create
that divide between the living room and
the rest of the spaces I want to bring
in a cool funky wavy mirror to bounce
off lots of natural light in the space
gokan's apartment faces out to a main
road it's kind of right there in your
face so I want to add some privacy by
adding a peel and stick read window film
that's not going to block out any
natural light but it is going to give
him that privacy that he wants and then
just like a lot of studio apartments
gokan really struggles with division so
we are going to create this really cool
DIY to help create an actual entryway
for Goan and also divide the rest of the
space from from his bedroom area I also
need to find a solution for gokan's
filming area he uses a backdrop to film
auditions he's an actor and right now
this space is not functioning for him he
has to move a bunch of furniture to get
to it and it just doesn't look the
greatest so I want to turn this wall
into a really stylish vignette I'm
thinking a really big art print in a
bold blue hue but also still keep his
backdrop and just make it way more
functional and easier for him to do his
auditions so Elena and I are off to home
sense we're going to try and find some
accessories and styling bits and pieces
to pull goon space
together I'm at home sense shopping for
accessories for goons it's a very rainy
day and I'm very excited to just Meander
around home sense I'm with Natasha and
Elena and we're going to see what we can
find well that's a nice mirror so atena
has taken me to a new home s location
and it is incredible it's huge there's
so many good finds here I want
everything I've been like shopping for
myself but I need to
focus I love these benches that home
sense often carries and they have
storage I'm getting so distracted
because there's so many things to look
at in this home sense but like look at
this rug 250 like we love that okay also
not what we're looking for but like how
stylish is this chair
so cute if you're looking for table
lamps Home zense always has such an
amazing selection and they always have
really large ones really tiny ones for
like desks or tiny nightstands and then
they also have like statement ones like
these but I noticed that they often sell
them in pairs so if you're looking for
like a pair of lamps for like your
nightstands home sense always has such a
variation of lamps like really really
really stylish lamps and they often come
in pairs we love the music in here is so
loud you guys I'm so
sorry okay looking for a side table for
Goan we want to do something with
clothes storage I know he said that was
important to him there are a couple
options including this
one love that top or there's these now I
know these aren't closed storage but I'm
thinking we could put maybe a basket
they really match the style of gokan's
other Furniture I think we might grab
these
and we'll take you to the basket section
next the basket section is one of my
go-to at home sents because there are
always so many sizes to choose from a
lot of them also come in sets which is
nice if you need like more than one but
let's look for one for gokan's
nightstand or maybe black mhm
I think we just need to grab candles and
then we're
done love
these what is it it's a candle what kind
though lime chili tart should we use
this as an opportunity to put another
pop of
blue oh that smells so good okay let's
go in on the
cart okay this is our
haul four CS back to the
brim Dave is painting gokan studio in
Cloud white by Benjamin Moore I wanted
to give gokan space Fresh coat of white
you guys know I always say this tip but
it really does make a space feel brand
new Cloud White's a really creamy white
it has yellow undertones so it's going
to make his face feel really warm and
inviting which is what we're going
for hey guys welcome welcome to prep day
I'm feeling really excited about this
space sun shining outside it's warm here
in Toronto so today is basically just an
install day we're going to be installing
a room divider I think it's going to
take us like the full the full eight
hours Grand freaking said no how many
hours you should we all prices write it
um I like that I'm going to say 215
that's how long it's going to take I
like the time the time stamp is a good
so you're saying 115 then yeah I'm going
to go with 215 including lunch I'm going
to say 430 I'm going
232 I should go actually 26 I think
that's the price 216 2 no you're
blocking me in 245 2:45 and I said 4:30
yeah I also need everyone to take a look
at the overalls that are happening on
set so these are mine do you know who
created these Geneva that DIY that we
always send on Instagram back and forth
Graham's wearing his Smash and test
onesie and Dave is wearing these are
actually from Graham it's got a
carabiner on one side with a little uh
paint opener and this one was just like
Twisted in place yeah okay so we're
going to get installing a room divider
before we do let's take it back to
Graham cam let's head into the workshop
and see how he did it to start Graham
picked up 27 Boards of 8T long 2x sixes
of construction Lumber he's ripping each
board into two pieces using a table saw
and removing a sliver of material from
each side to clean each board up using a
miter saw he's cutting half the pieces
to 74 in long and the others to 96 in
long to make up the pieces for the
ceiling panel and the wall panel which
are going to be different dimensions
he's sanding each piece on all four
sides using 60 grit belt sander and 80
to 120 grit on the orbital sander you'll
notice he's using a pencil to Mark each
side of the wood before he Sands so that
he knows where he sanded and what still
needs to be
sanded now it's time for dowels he's
drilling three equally spaced holes in
the lumber using a drill press and a
forcer drill bit to assemble the panels
Graham is sliding the boards onto the
dowels using scrap wood to space each
board
apart he's securing the board to the
dowels using a brad nail
gun for the coat hooks Graham Cuts some
scrap dowel at a 50° angle using his
sawt he's now pre-drilling a hole in one
end using his drill
press he's fastening them to the wall
panel using counter sunk screws and wood
glue he's covering up the holes in the
back of the panel by flush cutting some
smaller dowels in the screw
holes for the Shelf Graham is laminating
two pieces of wood together to make a
wider panel and sanding everything down
using a belt sander and 80 to 2 220 grit
sandpaper he's rounding the corners of
the Shelf using a jigsaw and rounding
the edges using a
router for the shelf brackets Graham is
using the rest of the dowel we had left
over and is cutting four pieces at 45°
angle using his miter saw because Pine
Lumber doesn't take the stain very well
and we wanted this DIY to look Luxe like
Walnut perhaps Graham is using a
staining method called glazing he's
preal the wood with the shellac and then
applying the stain over top of the dried
shellac this is going to prevent the
stain from absorbing into the wood and
will instead give us a nice rich
semi-transparent color tinting effect
he's using the color early American
Graham is doing one coat of shellac one
coat of stain and after the stain dried
for 48 hours he's going back in and
sealing it with another layer of
[Music]
shellac so I'm really excited because
gokan's a flight attendant and he left
us the best snack basket ever filled
with foods that you can't find in Canada
like from M&S all my British girlies
hello M&S teacakes Peppa Pig candies I'm
pea I'm Peppa Pig M&S millionaires mini
bites like you can't get these unless