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How to Live in 400 Square Feet?
From Re-nest: Our site that covers abundant design for green homes

7-30-2008small apartment.jpgAt Re-nest, we believe that choosing to live in less space is one of the greenest decisions you can make. Recently, we've helped a reader sort out how to live in 400 square feet. If you consider 400 square feet expansive, perhaps you might want to consider a newly built 250 square foot condo in San Francisco.

We also covered why you should wait before buying that LCD TV; Wal-Mart's decision to start selling more local produce in their stores; and the snappy, leakproof (and unobtainable!) SIGG lunch box. Links below the jump.


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Well, "local" in the case of Wal-Mart means something else, but the decision to ship less food around is still a step in the right direction from an enormous retailer.

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A supply glut of LCD TVs means you should consider delaying this potentially energy-saving purchase.

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SIGG makes a great lunchbox that's something like a reusable sardine can. It's made of aluminum and leakproof, just like their water bottles. The trouble is that we can't find one we can buy in a store or online!

8-25-2008-250sq.jpgWe're wondering if we could take the plunge: 250 square feet for just under $300,000 in San Francisco?

Tags

Slinks, slinks, Wal-Mart, small spaces, Cubix, SIGG

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Comments (16)

250 sq ft? omfg r u serious? that's like the size of closet.

posted by LittleRock on 2008-08-28 14:06:16
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I found the SIGG lunchboxes on lunchboxes.com

http://www.lunchboxes.com/army.html

posted by bigcityboy2 on 2008-08-28 14:24:44
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Less space means less to clean.

Duh.

posted by tinnie on 2008-08-28 14:26:56
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the first link is missing!

posted by Ana Almeida on 2008-08-28 14:34:05
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Littlerock , i lived in less than 250sq ft for 2years (180sq ft exactly), and i'm not dead ;-) i wish i had this condo at this time (not the prize for sure)

posted by sophiem on 2008-08-28 14:47:44
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Having lived in a 250 sq ft apartment for a year with my boyfriend and two cats, I must say...never again!

Except possibly that condo. My apartment didn't even have an oven or freezer and was possibly the worst layout anyone could come up with, ever.

posted by mysweater on 2008-08-28 14:55:33
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Rivendell (http://www.rivbike.com) was carrying the Sigg boxes for a while but stopped. I want a sandwich sized one.

posted by amanda bee on 2008-08-28 16:14:50
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You guys are awfully lazy sometimes.

posted by cheapo on 2008-08-28 16:39:56
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I have 480 sq ft and I love it. It was basically raw space that I got to configure myself, so I made every inch count. What makes it work? Leibherr skinny fridge, Meile 18" dishwasher, LG combo washer dryer in kitchen, a 25-ft floor to ceiling book shelf along the hallway, and a walk-in closet to store stuff. French doors out to a backyard almost as big as the apartment helps a lot. And high ceilings. I love it's compactness and efficiency.

I'm not sure I could do 250, though.

posted by minimal4me on 2008-08-28 16:42:55
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$300,000 for 250 square feet? That is too much!

Love the Sigg lunchbox though...have a Sigg waterbottle to go with them.

posted by suzy8track on 2008-08-28 16:55:27
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i live in a 400 square foot apartment. it is the perfect size yet my amount of stuff in my closets and bookcase and under-the-bed-storage make me feel as if i live in a tea cup. sniff.

posted by *heather leaf* on 2008-08-28 19:50:46
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My apt is <260 sq ft and it works (barely) but gets totally cramped when my boyfriend spends the night. I would never buy something that size - I imagine resale would be difficult.

posted by egged on 2008-08-28 20:25:37
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What do you mean lazy? It says they're out of stock.

posted by charlenemcbride on 2008-08-28 20:36:19
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I live in ~330 sq ft. "Less stuff to clean...", nuh. I've lived here 13 years -- accumulation happens. I don't dare show my place to y'all. I need design help... but gotta find a place for everything first. BTW: I make regular trips to Salvation Army; I'm not afraid to toss.

posted by ldevere on 2008-08-28 23:21:14
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I get by in 274 sq ft... It is all about editing, editing, and more editing. Anything that comes in, means something must go. I have told all my friends not to buy me things for my home as I have no space, and likely don't need it.
It also allows for the splurge on really nice furniture since I am not filling up a large space.

posted by Devyn on 2008-08-29 10:43:41
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Devyn, can we see your space? I could use seeing the tips in action!

posted by *heather leaf* on 2008-08-29 20:28:44
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