Designer Patrick McGrath gives his sister’s compact Brooklyn apartment a makeover, maximizing its full potential

Artist Elle McGrath’s one-bedroom apartment is on a tree-lined street in Brooklyn, where charm is easy to come by. Square footage, on the other hand, is not. “Elle wanted a peaceful bedroom, a lounge-like living-dining room and a very simple kitchen,” Elle’s brother, designer Patrick McGrath says. The siblings partnered with West Elm to make the most of every inch, and along the way, they learned some practical space-saving tricks to share.

Clean-lined kitchen & dining

In the dining area, a round wooden table works well for everyday, and with additional chairs it flexes up for dinner parties. Overhead lighting creates ambiance. “We couldn’t add another ceiling fixture so it’s not hard-wired,” Patrick says. “We had the electrician rewire it so that it plugs into a wall outlet, and he affixed a dimmer switch at table-height.” 

For a bright, airy feel, Patrick replaced the kitchen cabinet doors and painted them same shade of white as the walls. “It feels cleaner and more streamlined,” he says. “We added the free-standing island, too, which basically doubled the counter space.” 

3 small-space mantras 

Be organized. “If you don’t have a ton of space, consider donating things or getting a storage unit,” Patrick says. “The worst thing in a smaller space is seeing stuff cluttered everywhere.” 

Be flexible with furnishings. “If you don’t have room for a desk, for example, invest in a nice dining table that can do double duty as a work-from-home space,” he says. The living room has a daybed and a pull-out sofa for guests. 

Be optimistic about hosting guests. “Even if your space doesn’t have a ton of room to entertain, design it in a way that feels like you could,” he says. “Make sure you have enough seating so guests feel welcome!”

A serene treetop retreat

In the bedroom, which looks out on the tree-lined street below, Patrick chose a soft green for the walls and neutral hues for the furnishings. “We wanted it to feel like Carrie Bradshaw’s bedroom in early Sex and the City episodes,” he says. A white swivel chair in cozy, chunky boucle makes for an instant reading nook in the corner.

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