Small Spaces For Big Minds.

By Benjamen Judd.

For those of us who have grown, laughed and lived in Sydney most of our lives we have learnt to adapt to the omnipresent studio-apartment lifestyle that comes with city living. It’s a cut and paste kind of philosophy we have embraced. For example, yes we will take home that vintage cedar bookcase but we will negotiate by removing that old chair. Or, yes we fully intend to throw away that 1980’s boombox we have held on to all these years so we can put the new X-Box there instead (we’re not doing that, ever).

So – when Melbourne-born retailer, Small Spaces, opened up in Redfern, it was with a small hallelujah from us Sydneysiders. Finally, someone who understands our need to have lots of things without looking cluttered!

Small Spaces provides design solutions for city living. That is, apartments that are a tad under your average size expectations. Owner, Sarah O’Neill admits to a Japanese influence in much of her product, which makes complete sense. Japan designers are the unparalleled masters of the small space. But, to add some variety, there are also a careful selection of gorgeous Scandinavian pieces here and there from Danish designer Muuto, giving the store a wonderful eclectic feel yet still true to both aesthetics.

O’Neill describes her store as a mode of liberating oneself from cluttered material and evolving into a realm of sophisticated minimalism. This is something that we too hope to achieve one day, but for now will settle on buying everything in sight.

Small Spaces is located on 674 Bourke Street, Redfern 2016.