Amsterdam Ingenuity: A Waterfront Loft Redefines Small Space Living
Step inside a 45-square-meter (484 sq ft) waterfront loft in Amsterdam, where innovation meets bespoke design. This isn’t just an apartment; it’s a masterclass in personalized small-space living, crafted by Kun Freiman and his girlfriend Fadeem, alongside their cat Suck. Their philosophy is simple yet profound: design in small spaces should evolve through iteration, allowing residents to truly discover what works best for them.
Custom Solutions for a Tailored Lifestyle
In compact environments, every element demands consideration. This loft brilliantly showcases how thoughtful design can transform perceived limitations into distinct advantages. The couple emphasizes the power of multifunctional, modular furniture, which allows for dynamic customization to meet specific needs.
One standout example is Molecrate, a newly launching system that embodies this adaptability. Made from top-quality, sustainable Baltic birch plywood, Molecrate offers remarkable strength and durability. Imagine a single unit transforming from a storage solution to a bedside table, a room divider, a coffee table, or even a TV unit. Kun himself customized a TV unit and a side table for his living room using Molecrate. The beauty? No specialized tools or handy skills are required for installation, and you can even add wheels for ultimate portability. The system is built for longevity, ensuring that if your needs change, a Molecrate piece can be reconfigured – perhaps a living room side table becomes two dining stools. For those keen to try this versatile system, Molecrate is launching on Indiegogo, and a special “secret perk” for a multifunctional case and an exclusive discount is available.
A Loft Reimagined: Smart Design Details
The loft itself, nestled in a district transformed in the 1990s with unique, aesthetically unconstrained houses, was completed in 1998. Kun and Fadeem purchased this unit from Kun’s mother, undertaking the renovation themselves. They were captivated by the high ceilings, large windows opening to the waterfront, and the potential for a plant-filled layout.
Their renovation highlights include:
- An Extended Kitchen: Keeping the original gray kitchen for its simplicity and calmness, they added a kitchen island and a massive spice rack above it – a must-have for Fadeem, who loves to cook. They even repurposed a street lamp from the municipality into their kitchen light. The washing machine was ingeniously moved from the kitchen to the bathroom, making space for a dishwasher.
- Dynamic Living Area: The living room is bathed in light thanks to south-facing windows and features big plants. A true “eye-catcher” is a pink cabinet backed by green tiles (laid by the couple, including a hidden tile with their signatures!). This cabinet offers extensive storage, a hidden desk, and even a secret hiding spot for their cat. The TV itself is a marvel, suspended by a rail on the ceiling, allowing it to move back and forth, revealing a sculpture on its back when pushed against the wall.
- Flexible Dining & Sleeping Zones: A round dining table offers a nice contrast to the home’s predominant square furniture, compactly fitting into the space but extending to host up to eight people. The bed is framed by curtains, offering privacy, blocking mosquitoes and light, and creating a distinct sleeping zone. Two smaller electric roller blinds provide sun deflection and privacy on demand.
- Ingenious Space-Saving & Comfort Hacks: The entrance, kept clean and clear to offer immediate views to the water, hides coats in a cabinet around the corner. Shoes are stored on the loft floor in a cabinet that cleverly doubles as a line-of-sight blocker to the sleeping area. For added spaciousness and light, floor-to-ceiling mirrors adorn the wardrobes. An inconveniently placed light switch was remedied by Kun, who installed a large industrial switch found in an abandoned factory, making it accessible from anywhere in the house. An open drying cabinet provides ample room for wet clothes and doubles as a room divider.
- A Highly Functional Bathroom: A small washing machine was sourced to fit the bathroom, with custom cabinetry built around it after the plumbing was figured out. A truly unique feature is the integrated litter box within the bathroom cabinet.
- Outdoor Expansion: The outdoor space was expanded with a floating deck, a challenging build that required partial disassembly, movement around a central column, and reassembly outside.
The style of this Amsterdam loft is a beautiful combination of personal touches, found objects (like a ceiling light from an abandoned factory in Istanbul and the industrial switch from Belgium), and a commitment to neatness through ample storage. Kun’s love for making things himself genuinely shapes the home’s distinctive character, blending existing elements into a cohesive and incredibly functional living space. It’s a testament to how creativity and resourcefulness can transform a small dwelling into a highly personalized and efficient home.