By Kevin Meyer
We like to tell you about living in smaller and smaller homes. Change the mindset from wanting more storage space to desiring less to avoid storing junk. Get rid of unnecessary luxuries. Maximize the use of every room.
How much room is necessary for a nice couple to live comfortably? 3000 square feet? 2000? 1000?
How about 175 square feet. Yes, really. I bet some of us have offices larger than that!
Real-estate broker Steven Goldschmidt, senior vice president of
Warburg Realty, showed the Prokops the apartment, which used to be one
of about nine maid's quarters in the prewar building."We
converted eight of them into four apartments," Goldschmidt said, with
each apartment going for a little less than a half-million dollars.
Real estate crash? When a renovated maids quarters goes for a cool half mil? The Prokops actually got the ninth, which went for a little less.
Zaarath and Christopher Prokop — and their two cats — live in the
smallest apartment in the city, a 175-square-foot "microstudio" in
Morningside Heights the couple bought three months ago for $150,000. At 14.9 feet long and 10 feet wide, it's about as narrow as a subway
car and as claustrophobic as a jail cell. But to the Prokops, it's a
castle.
Yes that does make for some crazy living habits… or lean habits?
They don't have a trash can. The second something needs to be thrown out, they walk to the chute in the hallway.
That's the easy part. You won't believe how they handle cooking… or clothes. Obviously not for everyone, or perhaps anyone. But extremes such as this often have lessons… and once again the lesson is that we truly can do with less.
Mark Graban says
“It’s harmonious at this point” they say, in what might be some foreshadowing…
Why do professionals stay in NYC with the taxes and high cost of living??? I’ll never understand.
Peter says
While on the subject check out Tumbleweed homes http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/. There’s a whole movement of people living in a tiny way and loving it.
Emmer says
Good for them. I lived in Japan for a short time and have experienced that particular lifestyle.
You can keep it.
Give me my 2800 square feet every time!
Jason Morin says
Wow, eating out for all your meals in NYC. I bet that’s cheap and healthy.
Mark Welch says
This is a prime example of how the concept of value means many different things to many different people.
I guess in this case it’s “Lean” if it’s value in the eyes of THIS couple. And maybe .000001% of the U.S. population would agree with their perception of value.