3 Brilliant Storage Tips to Steal from This New Zealand Studio with a Gorgeous Green Kitchen
Although Matt lives in a small studio rental in Auckland, New Zealand, it hasn’t stopped him from thinking big. “It’s difficult to fit everything into such a small space,” he admits, “but a bit of careful planning means it’s equipped with a washing machine and separate tumble dryer, full-size dishwasher, oven, and microwave.”
We took the tour and stopped in our tracks the minute we saw Matt’s dashing green SMEG fridge he found on eBay! (Bosco, his Persian cat, seems to like it as much as we do!) As we looked around his well-kept kitchen, we spotted three smart storage ideas worth sharing, so come along — and let’s see just what they are!
Take the full tour: A New Zealand Studio Bungalow Has a Neat Shelf Divider and a Gorgeous Green Kitchen on Apartment Therapy
1. Hang as much as you can.
To get the most out of his kitchen, Matt proudly displays his cooking tools, including a ladle and slotted spoon, right next to his stovetop. This frees up drawer space and also makes for added convenience. He also uses a beautiful, wall-mounted pot rack to keep his everyday pots and even a cutting board within reach.
2. Group things together along open shelving.
While open shelving can definitely be beautiful and airy, one caveat is that the look forces you to pare everything down. The trick that Matt uses: He grouped things together to create little vignettes.
Along his top open shelf, Matt displays his color-coded collection of cookbooks and fun decor pieces, such as his eye-catching, 18th-century Romanian cooking pot vessel and a diorama of Captain Cook. “Homes should be unique — that’s what gives them their warmth and personality,” he says.
3. Use shelves to divide a space.
A simple wood shelving unit showcases Matt’s snazzy bar essentials, including wine and martini glasses perfect for cocktail hour. The sturdy shelf also acts as an affordable room divider, separating the kitchen area from the home office. “Apart from the bathroom, it’s one big room,” Matt says of his small studio. For Matt, his self-proclaimed “budding bar library” is a total win-win — the room divider adds a bit of privacy while functioning as convenient extra storage.
Do you have any tips for maximizing studio living? Tell us in the comments below.