One room, four spaces

When Tripp and Jennifer Goodman moved into their new downtown apartment, they faced fitting four rooms into one.

The couple sold their three-bedroom, two-bath, 1,800-square-foot home in East Brainerd in 28 days. As a result, they were in a rush to find a place to live.

"We both were excited about the possibility of living downtown," said Mrs. Goodman, an accountant. So they took a look at a storage building next door to Office Coordinators Inc., a family company where Mr. Goodman is vice president.

GIVING AN OLD BUILDING NEW LIFE

The 85-year-old building at the corner of Washington and Main streets was just a shell, two large rooms of about 1,000 square feet divided by a partial brick wall. Its former life as a print shop had left imprints of tools in the concrete floor. All the walls were exposed concrete block, and the ceiling had open rafters.

To turn the space into a home, they created four rooms out of the main area. Only two interior doors were needed: one for the bathroom and another for a small laundry/storage area. They also installed patio doors leading out to an enclosed courtyard that connects the apartment to OCI.

The entry into the bedroom is through an open doorway. A floating wall was added to create a master closet. As there is little built-in storage in the home, bikes are stored on hooks in their bedroom -- the couple's off-season wardrobe and other items are stored in the OCI warehouse next door.

"It's a work in progress," Mr. Goodman said.

Four in one

To make the most of the space, the Goodmans defined each area with its own personality.

Because storage was at a premium, they chose furniture that tall but not wide, with as much shelving and cabinets as possible, Mr. Goodman said.

In keeping with the history of the building, they also covered walls in the living area with old brick to match the existing brick in other parts of the house.

They sealed the old concrete floors and placed large throw rugs in the dining room, office and living room areas.

"We tried to give a sense of each space," Mrs. Goodman said. "With carpets and different pictures and artwork, you can tell that each area has its own function."

Lighting also plays a role in defining spaces, with three types of ceiling fixtures in the one large space. Ceiling fans cover the living area, stainless steel adorns the kitchen and a modern chandelier hangs in the dining room.

"Spaces don't mean that much anymore," Mrs. Goodman noted. "Nowadays, people entertain in the kitchen. They take their computers out of the office and set them up on the dining room table and eat in the living room."