One Room Living

People often ask me how I can live in just one room with a bathroom out the back. You do have to be fairly tidy and organised, but the benefits of being able to lie in bed  with the water close by outweigh the disadvantages. I was please to find an online interview with designer Ellen O'Neill discussing her one-room apartment overlooking Gramercy Park in Manhattan. She says, "I just wanted a modern cubicle, where I could recline on a daybed and touch everything". Here is said daybed, decorated in black and white like the rest of the apartment:

Her space is larger than mine and includes an office area:

The floor is painted white. As O'Neill says, "I've always had painted floors — I use automotive paint. Brown floors depress me to death. And I knew from the start that I wanted a black-and-white palette. But just black and white can be too hard and cold, too optical. You need some creams and grays and sepias to ease you into a softer, gentler world and add a little romance".

I love the toile fabric screen and slip-covered chair:

O'Neill also has a house in Bridgehampton which is considerably larger, and decked out with red touches. She was formerly VP of Design for Ralph Lauren, as can be seen in her decorating style:

You can read the House Beautiful interview on the Bridgehampton house here:

I love the kitchen with its check painted floor:

I think I prefer the all-white bedroom below to the red and white one above:

The house can be rented out via this website

All images House Beautiful website.