I do what in 300 sq ft?

Recently I was asked by Live and Learn – Toss and Turn how I manage to work on the projects I do when I live in a 300 sq ft apartment.   So today I thought I’d share some pictures of how this works for me.

Before I do, I thought I would show you the surprise I found when I went into the garden.  We’ve been having temps in the mid 30s at night and barely getting out of the 40s during the day so I was amazed to find these 5 strawberries ripe and ready to eat.  They were delicious!

I currently  have 3 wood dining room chairs, an end table, and a large vanity (missing it’s legs), sitting in my apartment.   I do my best to incorporate the items I am working on into the actual layout of the apartment when I can.  Then entertainment center bugged me because it was so big it blocked the view into the kitchen area, but luckily it’s in its new home and out of mine.

Here’s a view from the inside of the apartment looking towards the front door the way it would normally look.

Sorry for the lighting, but the window is a problem in every picture I take.

The shelf holds a basket for my gloves and winter accessories, the middle shelf holds a paint can with markers and crayons for the children, next to that are their coloring books.  The bottom shelf currently stores some paint I was given.

Now, with the chairs

this is the view I currently have, which isn’t the prettiest.

I have two of the three chairs sitting in front of the shelf.  I can still easily get to the door or into the apartment and the small rug is for shoes which as you can see is clearly important and open.  To the left is my bed, so that’s not a problem blocking off the foot of the bed. The kids can still get to what they need, or I can easily pull the chairs out a bit for them to reach the paint can.

As for the other chair and the end table,

I put them around the loveseat so they can be used while I am working on them.

I have placed the end table in front of the loveseat and the chair I am working on next to it.  I need to apply one more coat of paint on the table, then it will be ready to pick up by the new owner, the chair is almost sanded, I have one leg left to work on.  I left the seat on the chair while sanding so if company arrived I could wipe it down quickly, and use it for seating.

I have to time my projects for unexpected visitors.  For example, the painting I usually do in the evening when I know no little one’s will be stopping by and bumping into it ruining their clothes.  The sanding is not a problem, although I’m frustrated by how quickly the weather changed and have been dragging out cloth to cover the area and vacuuming often since I  have to work inside.

Working inside also means I need to avoid any power sanders as the air in here would be filled with the dust. That means it takes a little longer to sand, but I don’t mind as I actually enjoy the feeling of working with my hands.

Now as for the vanity. 

I’ll give you a quick peek at it.  It has lovely curves and amazing brackets for the mirror.  This too already found a home. It will be gracing the bedroom of a very little girl.  Her mother has asked for a very special paint color, but you will have to wait to see it until I get this finished.

This was delivered to me after being found on the curb.  My friend added the duck tape to secure the mirror and drawer beneath for transporting it.  My friend deposited it on my bed for me to examine, but it now has a home under the loveseat where it is out of the way and safe from damage.

Here’s one of the lovely brackets that holds the mirror in place, not sure if you can see it clearly, but it even has a candle holder attached.

As for the second end table

It is currently being stored in a friends apartment.  He was the one who was going to toss them in the dumpster, but reconsidered when I said I’d redo them.  He agreed to hold it for me until I could take it.  Which will be as soon as I get the first one on it’s way. I have some concerns that if I hold off too long he may toss it instead of holding it.

So there’s a look at how I function to live and work in 300 sq ft apartment.