AD’s Small Spaces series is a celebration of small homes—1,000-square-feet or fewer!—with big design ideas. From Manhattan apartments to Milanese micro-homes, each one is proof that you don’t need a sprawling space to show off your personal style.

Architect Robert Garneau didn’t have to look far for inspiration when he was asked to renovate a modest apartment inside a prewar building in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. A founding partner of Architecture Workshop PC, a boutique design firm noted for balancing elegance with efficiency, Garneau spent a decade living in the building some 20 years earlier and knew virtually every architectural detail of the residence without ever setting foot inside.

By the time Garneau toured the 400-square-foot space on the 18th floor, he had already envisioned creating a modern enclave that was in conversation with the dwelling’s 1920s charm. And despite the deep knowledge of the building, he says he didn’t approach the project with too many preconceived notions. “Notwithstanding everything I already knew about the building, it was really a balancing of the old and new that lies at the core of the project,” says Garneau. “We wanted to maintain its rich character but also offer the client a cozy, more contemporary space.”

That client is television executive Tracy Underwood, a former president at ABC Signature who transitioned into an exclusive producing gig at 20th Television, a production company owned by Disney Television Studios. Based in Los Angeles, she purchased the apartment in 2021 as pied-à-terre for her frequent trips to New York City. At the time Underwood was living inside a Spanish bungalow-style home in LA’s Silver Lake community and said she wanted the interior aesthetics of the Manhattan apartment to be a departure from her life on the West Coast.

“The LA home had lots of marble and pale grays,” Underwood recalls. “I wanted something very minimal and warm in New York. I didn’t need opulence or a ton of space.” Underwood says that while Garneau’s knowledge of the site was an asset, she was ultimately drawn to his firm’s reputation for craftsmanship and deep attention to detail. “I knew I’d be in LA during the renovations so I loved the idea of working with someone who knew the building so well,” Underwood says. “But Robert also understood that I wanted something intimate and comfortable that preserved as much of the original character as possible.” Garneau and Underwood tapped Barbara Feinstein for the interior design.

Preserving that spirit meant developing a strategy of “concealing and revealing,” Garneau says, pointing to the carefully crafted built-in cabinetry and extensive millwork that define the rooms. “We chose highlighting versus hiding,” he says. Garneau preserved the existing perimeter of the space in a rough state with walls, ceiling, moldings, and even cracks maintained as part of the character. Steel radiator covers and the entrance door were stripped to their raw steel, while original tarnished brass doorknobs were reused in the new configuration. Brass hardware details—left unfinished to naturally oxidize and express their usage through time—dot much of the apartment.

The most striking interior element is the dark monolith that divides the living space from the bedroom. A recessed door swings out, creating a complete enclosure for a private sleeping area. “That was the interesting premise of this particular project, to find ways to maximize every inch of the space,” Garneau says. Utilizing space meant tucking a compact kitchen with a hidden floor-to-ceiling pantry into one corner of the apartment. A hidden bar next to the kitchen, normally concealed when not in use, reveals antique mirrors and glass shelves that create a focal point for the living area when Underwood is entertaining guests.

The rich material palette of the interiors also pays homage to its Manhattan location. Circular motifs carved into the doors are reminiscent of the portholes of luxury ocean liners that once docked nearby on the Hudson River. The ribbed glass inserts in the portholes are backlit to provide a warm glow and layered light. Adjacent to the central window of the apartment, a bistro table overlooks a tree canopy and views of the Empire State Building.

“I’ve always loved New York and really wanted my place here to feel very New York City,” says Underwood. “Robert preserved the character of the apartment but tailored it to my needs and that really made all the difference in shaping its look and feel.”

Takeaways for renovating a small space:

• Consider the ceiling materials and also lighting. Ceiling space can be used to give the illusion of a bigger room.
• Lighting in cabinetry is not only practical, but it can highlight an area and add more dimension to a space.
• Hidden cabinetry can conceal storage and streamline sightlines.
• Clean design can help draw your eye to other elements—such as windows, doors, or art—that do not emphasize the small scale of a space.
• Use mirrors to capture and reflect light.
• Consider walls with functionality. If using a room divider then carefully consider how it will function and its purpose for the homeowner.

The bedroom is a “very small, cozy space, but feels a little bit like a perch,” says Underwood. The Twilight wall mural of earthy palettes and painterly designs is by Thibaut. The Teeda bed and its shutter-like headboard are crafted from solid oak from Moe’s Home Collection. The bedside table was purchased at auction. The bedside lamp is Uttermost Revelation.

Brooklinen Classic Percale Duvet Cover

Uttermost Panda Mushroom Mini Lamp

At the core of the home, a spa-like bathroom is enveloped within the central mass of cabinetry to create what the architect Robert Garneau calls “a mysterious and luxurious sanctuary within.” The walls are lined with glistening dark jade green tiles, complemented with earthen terra-cotta flooring. Teak wood slats incorporate linear lights that activate the rich material palette. A backlit mirror is mounted above a custom stone lavatory.