Brooklyn Heights Couple Keeps Close Quarters In 240-Square-Foot Apartment

By on July 11, 2012 8:45 pm in Brooklyn Heights, Profiles, Real Estate

Boy, talk about micro-managing. Brooklyn Heights couple Erin Boyle, 28, and fiancé James Casey, 30, are profiled in the New York Post about thriving in their—eek!—240-square-foot apartment. The writer and biologist, respectively, pay $1,500 a month for their uber-cozy digs, which they claim works by staying tidy and minimalist. (It probably doesn’t hurt that they’re both very pretty.)

When it comes to furniture, they try to ditch an item every time they bring in something new, the Post says. “We are constantly editing what we have here to make sure that it is working,” Boyle says. They also have a loft bed above their cooking stove: “It’s not too bad; it might be worse if we were beside the stove,” Boyle muses.

See more photos of the space here. The Atlantic Wire offers its bemusing bent on the story here.

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  • hicksanthrope

    *misery*

  • Larry

    There is a sucker born every minute.

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/13189502@N02/ Eddyenergizer

    It’s Totally illegal, violates many building codes.

  • j

    When did the Keebler elves vacate?

  • WillowSt.Neighbor

    Eddyenergizer,
    What building codes does it violate?

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/13189502@N02/ Eddyenergizer

    First it is too small to be a legal apartment 400 sq. ft. is the minimum.
    Second, the “bedroom” ceiling height is too low. 8′ is the minimum. Also the bedroom does not appear to have a required window. Also, the pitch of stairs is way too steep. Thats enough to make it totally illegal.

  • Bloomy

    @Eddyenergizer

    I assume the apartment is sold as a studio with a loft storage space, not a loft bedroom. So the window and ceiling heights issues are moot. Also, as far as I know the 400sqft requirement is only for new construction, not existing. As for the stairs, I am not sure on that one. Perhaps they can call it a permanent ladder to a closet and get away with it. :)

  • Raisincat

    Sure seems overpriced at $1,500!

  • Gerry

    What a dump!

  • Jo Reynolds

    Actually, the 1987 code requirement is 1) for new construction, 2) the average of all units in a building cannot be under 400 square feet.

  • north heights res

    No photo credit for the Post photographer who took them? Did the Post give you credit to use them here? If not…copyright violation.

  • Knight

    It’s nice to see that they’re at that point in their relationship where they can live in such close quarters. Where do they go when the bickering starts?

  • x

    Rent is a ripoff!

  • Remsen Street Dweller

    Tsk, Tsk — so much criticism of this couple. I give them a lot of credit for using the space they have so well and keeping it so pretty and neat. I’d rather criticize the couples who live alone in 10,000 square feet.

  • BH’er

    my wife and I lived in a studio apartment on the UES that was 19×11 for about a year and a half… it was a good, fun test and we enjoy having more space now. but we can appreciate the challenge!

    as for the code – if there is a 400sq ft rule, 90% of apartments in Manhattan would violate it – that sounds enormous by most standards in the city

    as for the windows… plenty of ways around that

  • ashamed

    I think it is sad that people need to find something wrong with people they don’t even know. If you have nothing better to do then complain about a couple working hard together and doing something right and that’s really sad!!

  • Heightsman

    My wife and I lived in a similar apt in EV for years b4 BH and kids. That’s how I knew she was a keeper. We still look back on that time with awesome memories.

  • http://www.collins.net.pr Dean Collins

    $1500 a month for that…….they are being ripped off.

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/13189502@N02/ Eddyenergizer

    Bloomy, Jo Reynolds, actually, “new construction” includes alterations to existing buildings.

  • No sleep till Brooklyn

    Good on them for making it work, but it’s quite a lot of money for 240 sq. ft. Not my cup of tea.

  • Elmer Fudd

    Gerry, you are past due for your dip.

  • Knight

    @ Remsen Street Dweller and Ashamed: Read the comments again and you’ll see that to this point there is NOT ONE criticism of the couple. People have commented on the size, building codes & high rent, but there still has not been a single negative remark about the people living in the apartment.

  • GHB

    $1500 for a small studio in one of NYC’s best neighborhoods? Not bad at all. If this couple can do it, why not? Why all the criticism?

  • Jorale-man

    When I see places like this I wonder what the apartment was in its former life. Was it a bedroom in a full house? Or maid’s quarters? It’s a shame that some beautiful brownstones were chopped up in this way but I guess that’s the rental market for you.

    I give the couple credit for putting location (over space) high on their list. They could obviously get a bigger pad farther out in Brooklyn but they chose the Heights.

  • Remsen Street Dweller

    knight – Actually, I was aiming my remarks more at what was said in the Atlantic Wire, which can be accessed from a link in the article above.

  • Frank

    Eddyenergizer, you’re a real estate infant. Go away before I take your pacifier from you.