Meow Meow

Forget everything you thought you knew about small-space living. Step into the Amsterdam loft of Kun, a designer, and Fedim, a child psychologist, and prepare to have your perceptions challenged. Their home, a mere 45 square meters (484 square feet), consistently fools visitors into believing it’s at least 65 square meters. This isn’t just an apartment; it’s a living, breathing testament to ingenious design, shared creativity, and the profound value of building a life, literally, with your own hands.

The Philosophy of Creation: Crafting Value Through Collaboration

For Kun and Fedim, who have been together for nearly a decade and residing in this loft for six or seven years, their home isn’t merely a place to live; it’s a canvas for joint creation, a cornerstone of their relationship. They view their house as a means to create together. This deep-rooted philosophy defines their space, where almost every element tells a story of shared effort and personal touch. As Kun eloquently puts it, while buying something offers an initial “peak” of value, making it yourself starts with seeing the flaws and gradually builds appreciation and value over time. This ethos transformed a practical need – the desire for a dishwasher – into a monumental, six-to-seven-year renovation project that redefined their rented space into a purchased, personalized haven.

Mastering the Micro-Loft: Ingenious Solutions & Ultra-Specific Details

This home is a masterclass in maximizing every square inch and imbuing it with unique personality. Their design approach showcases a blend of smart functionality and whimsical artistry:

Strategic Space Optimization:

Deceptive Dimensions: The loft’s impressive height, abundant natural light, and large windows create an optical illusion of greater space, making 45 sqm feel much larger than it is.
Clever Hallway Configuration: The small hallway is kept immaculately clean. Added custom cabinets block the direct line of sight into the bedroom, creating a visual break and providing essential storage for keys, wallets, phones, and shoes. A coat rack is ingeniously placed inside a cabinet to prevent the hallway from feeling cramped and to ensure doors can still open freely.
Tailored Storage Solutions: Cabinets in the hallway were custom-made by Fedim’s father to perfectly fit the stairs, with doors precisely cut to allow full access despite the angle, maximizing every inch of internal space. An inherited IKEA bookshelf was also adapted to their specific needs. Below the staircase, they even removed a side panel to create storage for outdoor cushions.
Elevated Kitchen for Functionality: The kitchen and living area are slightly elevated from the entrance. This isn’t just aesthetic; it’s a crucial design decision to ensure the water system and sewage flow downward without requiring a pump, a common challenge in ground-level homes. This elevation also subtly defines the kitchen as a separate zone.
Hyper-Organized Kitchen: Their IKEA kitchen set is a prime example of customization; all storage areas are drawers, even those that visually appear to be cupboards, making every item easily accessible. The dishwasher is strategically placed adjacent to the cutlery rack for seamless unloading. Hanging pans save valuable cabinet space, and a dedicated bar for alphabetically organized spices keeps everything within reach and tidy, preventing clutter.
Dynamic TV Solution: To preserve the open space and water view, the television is mounted on a sliding rail system (a repurposed door-hanging mechanism combined with a ceiling TV arm) behind the couch. This allows them to slide it forward for viewing and retract it when not in use, hiding a game console within its cover.
Integrated Laundry System: Their laundry rack is designed not just for drying, but for neatness, featuring an extra-long beam for blankets. A dedicated hole allows dirty laundry to be tossed directly into a bin, preventing the “laundry room” feeling within their main living space.
Personalized Craftsmanship & Artistic Flair:

Self-Made Stained Glass: Inspired by the charm of old houses, they crafted their own stained glass with a modern, Tetris-inspired motif.
DIY Hardware & Pottery: Their shared love for creative projects led them to forging workshops, where they made their own unique doorknobs. The kitchen is a showcase of their pottery skills, featuring self-made plates, cups, and even matching tiles bearing their signatures.
3D Printed Innovations: Kun designed and 3D printed toothbrush holders that allow brushes to hang inside the sink, eliminating messy cups. He also created a laser-cut and painted box to cleverly conceal unsightly piping.
Playful Ventilation: Instead of standard vents, the air ventilation for their fridge and freezer is creatively shaped like bell peppers.
Salvaged Art & “Small Worlds”: A piece of a sculpture by a famous Dutch artist, rescued from a museum’s trash, now hangs proudly on their wall. The home is also adorned with various “tiny scenes” and “dioramas,” creating miniature worlds, including a “booknook” used for their annual photoshopped Christmas cards.
Tactile Switches: Kun values the satisfying “clunk” sound of “big chunky light switches” over smart app-controlled systems, even crafting a ceramic handle for one switch themselves.
The Floating Deck: A truly remarkable extension of their living area, Kun, with a friend, built a floating deck (approximately the size of their living room) indoors, piece by piece, then moved it outside to float on the water. It offers a serene spot with a lovely view for entertaining or quiet mornings.
Wall-Mounted Bicycle: Kun’s unique childhood bicycle, too cherished to part with, is now a distinctive piece of wall art.
Thoughtful Living & Adaptability:

Addressing Pet Needs: Their cat, Sock, has a dedicated toilet house with an easily accessible door for cleaning, complete with a cat door for independent access even when the main door is closed.
Managing Creative Clutter: Recognizing Kun’s tendency to start multiple projects without immediate cleanup, they devised a “basket system” where Fedim can “shove everything” that’s lying around for Kun to organize later.
Synchronizing Sleep Schedules: To accommodate differing sleep rhythms, they built a frame around their bed with two sets of curtains. A light, airtight net keeps mosquitoes out in summer, while a thicker, light-blocking curtain allows Kun to sleep in while Fedim starts her day with sunlight.
While this Amsterdam loft is a vibrant example of personalized design, Kun and Fedim are already looking to the future, pondering if their 45 sqm will suffice if they decide to have children. For now, this home stands as a powerful testament to how creative collaboration, strategic design, and a hands-on approach can transform a small space into a profoundly functional, beautiful, and deeply personal sanctuary. It’s an inspiring reminder that a home is truly made when it reflects the unique story of those who inhabit it.