This 500-Square-Foot Manhattan Apartment Has a Small Yet Splashy Kitchen

In a small space, every square foot counts. When Fanny Abbes, the creative director of the New Design Project signed on to help a thirtysomething nurse transform her home, she knew there were only 500 of them to consider. It was tight—really tight—and the building also came with the added challenge of being a historic landmark. 

“The apartment is located in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, on a village-esque block,” Fanny says. “I was drawn to this project because it’s in a beautiful building, filled with stunning period features.”

Aside from its covetable wood floors and large windows, the 500 square feet that made up this blank canvas had clearly mattered over the years, simply because it was worn down. There was a tarnished chandelier and stains on the walls, alongside bathroom hardware caked in limescale and grout that hadn’t been a uniform shade of white in some time. Nevertheless, the owner and Fanny recognized potential: It was just a matter of highlighting the past in a way that didn’t showcase how hard every square inch had already worked. 

“I wanted to create a modern Scandinavian retreat that would not be afraid of colors,” Fanny continues. “It would offer a sanctuary and [happiness] after coming home from a rather stressful job.”

At the same time, Fanny hoped to preserve as much as she could, folding those long-held details into this fresh perspective. During construction, for instance, a wall was opened in the living area that revealed a brick wall and metal framing in good condition. She decided to embrace this opportunity as the most eye-catching aspect of the room, but painted them in a neutral shade so that they would still blend in. The bathroom was updated with a vintage sink and colorful bath tiles, in order to mix new in with the old and tired fixtures.