There’s something special about open floor plans. These airy spaces not only feel spacious, but also create a sense of community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, people opted for closed floor plans with separate areas.
Brittney Morgan and her wife Sara wanted to compartmentalize the open living room in their eclectic Nashville home. “I wanted to create an entryway rather than just opening the door into the apartment (with no place to put keys or take shoes off!), but still let in light since there aren’t many windows and it can get pretty dark in the main living area,” Brittney explained during the tour.
However, since their apartment is rented, they couldn’t necessarily incorporate an existing wall, so Brittney and Sara turned to IKEA’s KALLAX system to divide up the space. Functionality was also key. The couple added cabinet doors and baskets to hide frequently used items (one cabinet is even a drawer for knick-knacks!) and left the top rows open to let in natural light and display items. Plants decorate the top of the shelving, adding a touch of green to the space.
“It’s the first thing people notice when they come in and they always ask if we added it ourselves (and are always surprised when we tell them it’s from IKEA, even though the KALLAX is such a classic, iconic piece of the brand),” Brittney explained at the time of the tour.
KALLAX shelf
IKEA
199,99 €
Buy now
The IKEA piece, which costs less than $200, adds functionality to the space by providing ample storage. Its placement also created a vestibule where one can unwind from the day and shed the layers of the outside world before entering the home.
Brittney and Sara’s clever idea of using the IKEA piece to divide the space isn’t the only genius design decision. Check out the full house tour for more.
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