Inside an architect's tiny Brooklyn loft apartment – it's full of space-saving ideas

The property

Architect Aya Maceda lives in this Brooklyn loft apartment with her husband and two elementary school-aged children. 

Though compact, Aya has managed to maximise every square inch of space in this modern home (opens in new tab) in order to squeeze a home office (opens in new tab) and kids spaces into an open-plan loft. Not only that, but the space feels light, airy, and playful thanks to the mezzanine bedroom level, and elevated nooks for arts, crafts, and reading in the modern living room (opens in new tab).

The apartment sits above the ground-level offices of her dual city firm ALAO (opens in new tab). 

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Living room

The double-height living room features a glass window to let light into the mezzanine bedroom. 

The space is filled with plants, like a hydroponic garden. The light airy space is defined by the architect's Filipino heritage, her love for Scandinavian design, and Modernist architectural training, an aesthetic she describes as Tropical Modernism. 

There is a Filipino word "maaliwalas" which means having a good flow of air, bright, light and expansive. This home is a collection of open spaces filled with tropical plants like Fiddle-leaf, Calamansi (Philippine lime), Audrey ficus, and lemon plants.

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Kitchen & dining area

The open-plan living area flows into a white kitchen (opens in new tab) with dining area.

A narrow dining table was chosen to separate the kitchen area from the home office (opens in new tab) area under the stairs. Tucked behind the kitchen is a double-height play nook for playing and reading during the day.

This built-in play nook allows for a private play space that is also connected to the open living area. The lower day bed is used as a place to read and put on shoes most of the time but then becomes a guest bed when needed.

The upper level is perfect for doing arts and crafts, and incorporates plenty of storage.

Home office

Above the home office is a wall of Caribbean and Filipino art, and a staircase (opens in new tab) leading up to the bedrooms above.

Kids room

There's a shared kids bedroom (opens in new tab) upstairs, with separate kids desk (opens in new tab) spaces and play areas at each end. 

The bunk bed (opens in new tab) incorporates shelving and cubby storage at the end.

Bedroom

The parent's bedroom is much more compact, but packs in lots of bedroom storage (opens in new tab) by using the wall behind the bed. 

Family photo - Kosi (10), Aya, Lulu (4), and Kurt

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