
Architects Juan Alberto Andrade and Maria Jose Vascones, have shared with us their recently completed project, a small apartment in Quito, Ecuador, that includes custom wood cabinets that makes the most of the available space.
The 296 square foot (27.5 sqm) studio apartment needed a solution that would include a kitchen area, storage space, laundry room, bed/bedroom, library, desk/dining table, bar, and closet. The architects decided to design custom cabinets that would include all of the requirements.
The cabinets include a variety of hidden features, like a fold-down bed, which when lowered, shelves behind and to the side of the bed are revealed.

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When not in use, the bed simply folds back into the wall, allowing the desk to be dropped down. The clever design has a simple locking mechanism that keeps it in place.

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On a nearby wall, there’s a black metal ladder that allows the apartment owner to easily access the upper storage like the green shelves, as well as the cabinets above the kitchen.


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The opposite wall and the open plan area are dedicated to the living room, with a simple couch and a couple of chairs. Next to the living room is a hidden closet that slides out to reveal drawers, shelves, and a space to hang clothes.



The corner has been softened with a curved cabinet that opens to shelving.

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The small kitchen is located in the hallway, where a folding cabinet door opens to showcase a contrasting dark kitchen countertop, sink, cooktop, and microwave.




Photography: JAG Studio | Architects: Juan Alberto Andrade and Maria Jose Vascones | Team: Cuqui Rodri?guez | Contractor: Paola Canon and Uribe Schwarzkopf
Source: Contemporist