The Wee Cottage, a 242-square-foot studio in the West Village, is again for sale.
In 2018, our readers were captivated by this charming studio in the West Village, called the “Wee Cottage.” It was listed in June 2018 for $550,000 and five months later, dropped in price to $479,000. When it failed to sell, it was taken off the market. Now it’s back, but for a much lower price — $429,000.
Halstead agent Helene Zera said she scoped out similar-sized apartments in the neighborhood and feels the price this time is below neighborhood comps, but “our ears are open to the market.” As a comparison, the median asking price for West Village studios is $649,500.
What Makes the Wee Cottage So Special?
In essence, it’s the stylish, space-saving renovation done by the home’s sellers, Jourdan Lawlor and Toubin Ludwig. Lawlor bought the 242-square-foot, ground-floor studio in 2012 for $269,500, and spent $33,000 turning it into a magazine-worthy pad, adding a Murphy bed, fold-out dining table, fold-out nightstand, and numerous other clever features. The highlight might be the kitchen, which appears frequently on the Wee Cottage’s Instagram and appears marvelously well-equipped, considering its size. (Except, alas, for the lack of a dishwasher.) Other great details include 6-foot windows that let in lots of light and the presence of a leafy garden just outside. This little pad is so tricked out it’s easy to forget that it was originally built as a dorm to house Hudson River dockworkers.
That’s a pretty serious kitchen for a small studio apartment.
But then, it is, like, really small. How did two people even manage to coexist in an apartment the size of a suburban closet — let alone host dinner parties in it? Apparently, Lawlor and Ludwig did just fine. “If one of us said the ‘safe’ word, I would put the apartment on the market the next day,” Lawlor told Curbed. “But no one said it. We forget what the word was.”
The couple did rent out the apartment starting in 2016, though, and are trying to sell it again. So who wants to try their hand at some truly tiny living?
The Wee Cottage Murphy Bed
The living area when the couch is in place …
… and when the Murphy bed comes down.
With an apartment this small, the couple had to come up with a clever way to incorporate both an entertainment area and a sleeping area. When not being used as a sofa, the wall unit from Resource Furniture folds out into a comfy double bed.
The Wee Cottage Dining Table
The dining area with the dining table tucked away …
… and open for use.
Located to the right of the fireplace is a hidden dining table. If you open those weathered cabinet doors, you’ll find a foldable dining table ready for use.
Entertaining at the Wee Cottage
The studio can easily be converted into a functional entertainment space. The kitchen island can be collapsed to just 5.5 inches wide and will simply fit into the large closet beside the Murphy bed, freeing up space for guests.
One Thanksgiving Lawlor and Ludwig hosted several friends at their place for a celebration, as seen on the couple’s Instagram. Who knew that an apartment this little could comfortably fit this many people?
The Wee Cottage’s Large Windows
Natural light means everything in such a small space. The 6-foot windows create the illusion of a bigger space, and look out onto the charming rear garden, adding to the studio’s cute, cottage-y feel.
The Wee Cottage Rear Garden
And if you ever absolutely need to get outside and stretch your legs in more than 242 square feet of space, there’s a lovely garden just outside.
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