The Hayes Valley Micro-Loft
Living in Hayes Valley often means compromising on square footage for the sake of location. Our client, a young tech executive, purchased a 650-square-foot studio loft that felt cramped and lacked defined living zones. The bedroom was just a mattress on the floor in the corner, and the client felt like they were living in a college dorm rather than a luxury apartment. The client wanted a Japandi aesthetic, minimalist, warm, and highly functional. The challenge was to create a fully functional home that included a dedicated workspace, a dining area for four, and a separation between sleeping and living, all without erecting walls that would block the single source of natural light.
We approached this project as a puzzle of cubic volume rather than just floor area. Using the client-provided dimensions, we designed custom millwork that served dual purposes: a room divider that functioned as a bookshelf on one side and a wardrobe on the other. By specifying a raised bedroom platform, we created extensive drawer storage underneath. The color palette remained strictly monochromatic with warm wood tones to maintain visual calm. The detailed drawing package unlocked value in the space, proving that with enough intentionality, you do not need a mansion to live luxuriously.
Client Name
Alex Chen
Client Type
Private Homeowner
Location
Hayes Valley, San Francisco
Project focus
Space optimization and millwork design
Color Palette
White Oak, Cream, Slate Grey, Matte Black
Services Provided
Interior Design, Space Planning, Technical Drawings
Budget
$15,000
Duration
6 Weeks
Thoughtfully designed spaces for life
Strategic Design Interventions
We use spatial engineering to unlock hidden value in small footprints.
1
The Tetris Strategy
We maximized the high ceilings by designing upward rather than outward. A custom lofted sleeping platform allowed for 40 cubic feet of deep-storage drawers underneath, effectively hiding clutter and removing the need for standalone wardrobes that consume floor space.
Furniture That Multitasks
In a studio, every object must do two jobs. We detailed custom cabinetry that acts as a room divider. It defines the entryway from the living space while offering open shelving for display on the left and closed cabinets for utility storage on the right.
2
3
The Japandi Palette
To keep the small space from feeling chaotic, we strictly limited the material schedule to light oak, matte white, and soft linen. This visual continuity blurs the lines between zones, making the apartment feel expansive and serene rather than chopped up.
