Customer Reviews

The New Apartment: Smart Living in Small Spaces

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In 423 (!) pages, full of color photgraphs, this book showcases 60 small apartments in big cities throughout the world (Europe, Australia, USA, Brazil), plus 4 mobile homes. Each apartment is shown in 6 to 8 pages, mostly in photographs, with floorplans, and some accompanying text.
The style in general is urban modern (although there are two or three apartments that are more traditional), and all the apartments are done by architects or interior designers, but it isn't all white and too minimalistic; many apartments display bold colors and natural materials like wood, and there are usually some works of art, carpets and fabrics involved (and some apartment owners mix IKEA with designer furntiure, as can be seen on the cover).
Although I'm usually not a big fan of homes that are (too) modern or minimalistic, I found there was still enough to enjoy and think the book has a lot of great ideas that can be translated to the average home; all the photos give a good impression of each apartment and the floorplans give an exact overview of the use of space and furniture, which I love.
However, if you don't like clean, straight, modern lines at all (these áre all modern, designed apartments), but look for a book about average and more traditional, warm small homes, this book may not be for you.

If the Amazon description of this book had noted that it is limited to (mostly) European, totally modern spaces, I would not have been an unsuspecting purchaser. I returned it-- unless you want totally modern surroundings (black, white, spare, chrome), you won't be inspired here.

If you love the houses in dwell, you will like this book. It has all kinds of modern interior designs - eclectic to super contemporary - from all around the world. Many of them show the layout, which is always fun. Lots of beautiful pictures, smart design ideas, and short but interesting texts. I recommend this book.

This book is full of minimalist, contemporary, or vacant apartments. Out of 60 apartments only 3 do not fit that description one of which is the cover photo. I was expecting a mix of old and new furniture, color, and places that looked lived in.