“The Austin looks like a bench—the lid lifts up for storage underneath and, because it’s made of leather, it’s very durable, great for an entrance way where the family can store shoes, hats, scarves, mitts etc.,” says Kyle. While the Quadro Bed, in Asian oak with espresso stain, has an easy-to-use hydraulic mechanism. “Storage beds such as the Diva are not only stylish, very clean-lined, but now you have a place for extra bedding or out-of-season clothes or do as one client did and store his snowboard!”

Other space-saving options are the company’s Chunk dining table with bench and Quartz dining table with a leaf. koolhaus is developing further brand new creative storage products like the Anderson, a sofa that can be used as an extra bed for guests. With the Anderson, you can push back the sofa back and you are able to store the bedding underneath by lifting the seat up. Another design, a chaise lounge called the Cooper, has a bed tucked inside.

Professional organizer Shannon Grams and her company A Place for Everything (http://www.aplaceforeverything.ca) advises Calgarians on effective small space living. “You have to be creative and look at the space and the way people live and figure it out,” says Grams. “In a condo (for example), you want to maximize the space they do have.” One of her clients lives in a condo and couldn’t find enough room for her shoes and clothes. Grams arranged the installation of additional closet space up the wall to the vaulted ceiling. In the front hall closet, she added stacking cubicles for storing the client’s 45 pairs of shoes.

“My clients are all over the map. Some of my clients have too much stuff and not enough time. They feel overwhelmed … others want efficiency,” says Grams. “Once you’re living more organized, your brain isn’t cluttered. You can downsize your life and live with abundance.”

Fine Design
The Calgary-designed, Flying Vee, a V-shaped metal shelf, would ideally suit a smaller living space. Brotherly design team Christopher and Paul Massie of Calgary firm Massieoffice (http://www.massieoffice.ca) designed the innovative shelving system. “We tend to design objects that are well considered and distilled to their core function, without superfluous elements,” explains Paul Massie. ”The flexibility of application of that product would be very well suited to small spaces.”

Not only stylish, the Flying Vee represents contemporary Canadian design. In April 2006, the Flying Vee first launched at the Salone del Mobile in Milan and then at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York last May. Internationally, Flying Vee is available through Design Within Reach, one of the largest sellers of mid-century modern and contemporary design in the U.S.

In Calgary, Flying Vee is also available at Kit Interior Objects (http://www.kitinterior.com).  Store co-owner Rachel Sawyer recommends several other designs that can be perfect matches for small space living. “The Panier container table with tray top (polycarbonate) can be used as a table with storage seen on the inside (magazines, kids’ toys). The Optic Cube is available with or without a door and can be stacked or used on its own,” says Sawyer.

The playful bookshelf Bookworm can be shaped however you want, and supports the weight of books. “It’s great for small spaces since it doesn’t occupy any floor space,” says Sawyer. “One of our favourite accessories are Algues, designed by the Bouroullec brothers. They can be assembled however one wants. Boxes of 50 are great used as room dividers and people often buy several packs of six to use on the wall, over windows.”

Filer or Piler?
Calgary professional organizer Laura Tanner of Dwelling Space (http://www.dwellingspace.ca) admits organized small living spaces don’t necessarily look pretty. “It’s still trendy to organize and have things look nice. Calgary is busy, fast-paced, people don’t have time to organize,” she says. “The truth is people are beginning realize there are different ways to organize. Our brains work differently.” Essentially, she says, there are two types of organizers: “filers” who are happy to put away their things and “pilers” who keep things in piles.  
One of Tanner’s clients, a piler, lives in a small apartment—which is very challenging.

“A small space feels larger if there is less clutter,” explains Tanner.

For her client, she arranged more storage units with doors so the piles are visible yet tucked away at the same time.

Whatever her latest client challenge, Tanner sources product solutions at Calgary design and organizing stores like Kit Interior Objects, IKEA, StorageWorks and Linens    ’n Things. “I’m surprised you can find (these products) anywhere with some kind of storage,” says Tanner. “From the super-modern to the really trendy to the country quaint, everyone is catching on. They are anywhere in any style.”  Fellow professional organizer Grams favours CD holders from IKEA, Rubbermaid Sterilite stackable containers (“perfect for Christmas decorations”), clear plastic shoeboxes and sea grass baskets.

“Calgarians are not limited by the size of their space. Europeans have been doing it successfully for decades,” says designer Paul Massie. “The fact that Calgarians are making the choice, be it for financial reasons or otherwise, to live in smaller spaces is of benefit to our cities culture and our environment and should be looked on as a positive step.”  CL

Living tips
What should you consider in mastering small space living?  Experts offer these thoughtful tips:

Incorporate baskets.
Grams advises placing baskets on the upper shelf in the front entry closet and fill them with items like sporting goods, hats etc.

Invest in multi-use furniture.
Every piece of furniture could potentially have storage, suggests Tanner. Look for spaces not normally used and utilize them for storage, if possible. One good example is a fold-up sewing table that can be used as a hall table or desk.

Consider custom built-ins.
If your budget allows, consider custom cabinets built-in to save space and add storage, says Tanner.

Buy right.
“Make smart decisions when selecting and buying for your space,” suggests Massie.  “The city has a growing number of quality design retailers with some smart and functional products for small spaces.”

Make groupings.
Grouping is really important, says Grams.  Group all like items together. Repetition creates order, agrees Tanner.  If you place three same containers together, it will feel orderly.  
Match storage to items.
In the cupboard you use the most, place the items you use the most, advises Grams.

Downsize.
People attach value to goods so even if they haven’t worn or used it, it can still be good, they think, says Grams. “Give away goods to someone who really needs it. It can be so freeing to downsize.”

Listen to your thoughts.
Any time you think, “I should organize that,” you’re likely not achieving peace and calm in your home.  “Your home should be your sanctuary, your soft place to land,” says Grams.