It’s really hard to make 425 square feet look spacious but Specht Harpman Architects managed to do just that in this once awkward New York City apartmentthat’s set at the top of a six-story building.

SEE ALSO: ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN: SERIES OF BABELS BY JEAN-FRANÇOIS RAUZIER

By creating “living platforms,” they were able to accommodate all the necessities an apartment might need while keeping the space open and bright. Helping with that was the fact that they were working with over 24 feet of vertical space, making it possible to create the multiple layers of “rooms.”

The compact bathroom is hidden away on the bottom floor beneath the staircase.

While the kitchen is small, it remains open to the living room.

They kept the cabinets and countertops white which helps keep it bright and airy. Every detail was kept simple as not to overwhelm the tight quarters and it really appears larger than the actual square footage.

The space under the stairs doesn’t go to waste…

SEE ALSO: MEET THE STUDIO APA DESIGNS FOR BARCLAYCARD