This 200-Square-Foot SF Micro Studio Is More Livable than Homes 3x the Size
Adrienne Breaux
Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
For more than 10 years, I've led Apartment Therapy's real home content, producing thousands of house tours from around the world. Currently, I live in my maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with my partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
Leela Cyd
Leela Cyd
As a photographer, Leela is looking for the in-between moments, the details and the emotion of places, people or things. She spent over a decade as a stylist so her work is carefully constructed, layered with personality, but always has a feeling of freedom and joy. Growing up…read more
published Jun 2, 2025

This 200-Square-Foot SF Micro Studio Is More Livable than Homes 3x the Size

Adrienne Breaux
Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
For more than 10 years, I've led Apartment Therapy's real home content, producing thousands of house tours from around the world. Currently, I live in my maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with my partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
Leela Cyd
Leela Cyd
As a photographer, Leela is looking for the in-between moments, the details and the emotion of places, people or things. She spent over a decade as a stylist so her work is carefully constructed, layered with personality, but always has a feeling of freedom and joy. Growing up…read more
published Jun 2, 2025
comments
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
About this tour
Explore More House Tours
Home Type

Studio Apartment

Location

Mission District, San Francisco, California

Style

Eclectic

Organic Modern

Vintage

Bedrooms

0

Square feet

200

Sq ft

200

“I knew this studio had to be mine when I saw a wall full of windows,” begins librarian, technical writer, and instructional designer Gina Caprari. “I’m known for being a sun goddess like my Gramma, and I love that I can sunbathe while laying in bed inside my greenhouse home. Finding an apartment in San Francisco with this much natural light is a serious feat. I’ve always wanted to live solo, so even though this apartment is tiny, it has really become a symbol of my coming into my own — a little piece of San Francisco I’ve carved out that’s all mine, after over a decade living in the city on an educator’s budget.”

House tour cover

Can't-Miss House Tours Straight to Your Inbox

Keep up with our latest house tours each weekday with our House Tour of the Day newsletter

By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

See More Images
Credit: Leela Cyd
"When I first saw the space in person, I was struck by how tiny it looked while empty… I was really worried that I was making the wrong decision and wondered how I could live in such a small space long term," renter Gina begins. "But, when I started measuring and placing items in AutoCAD, I realized there was actually all the egress that me and my dog at the time needed to comfortably move around and access everything in the space." Gina did much of the work and design of the home herself, but did also work with Jessica Logan of Jessica Logan Designs and got installation help from Smart Services in San Francisco.

After having tons of roommates, Gina actually tried living alone in a different micro-studio. “After living with roommates again, I was ready to commit to living solo. I learned a lot the first time around, about myself, my habits, and what infrastructure and layout I would really need to live in a small space long term,” Gina explains. When a unit in this building became available, Gina actually looked at many open units in the building to pick this one out: “full of light, top floor, airy high ceilings, corner unit, with wood floors.”

See More Images
Credit: Leela Cyd
"I loved the bright white walls against the brick, the light wood floors and the black door, but especially the high ceilings," Gina recalls of what she liked about the rental. "With such a small space, I knew I was going to need to design tall! I hated the bland rental hardware like the nickel towel racks and hooks in the bathroom, but I knew I could remove them to make space for my own solutions."

Living in such a small space can present challenges if you’re not prepared, but Gina used the computer program AutoCAD to “design and maximize the efficiency of every square inch.” She did a good job, because despite the small size, she was able to create a space where she could entertain friends, something that was important to her.

See More Images
Credit: Leela Cyd
Gina says her favorite element about the home is always evolving, but she says that during the pandemic, she "grew to love my little reading nook: the blue mid-century modern vinyl chair, which I got for free during a local library remodel project, and using my custom-built-by-my dad coffee table to place my tea while I read near the window. My boyfriend and I recently painted the goldenrod wall, so I’ve been loving the bright pop of color it brought to the main space."

With her dad, she worked to design and build a very cool, custom, multipurpose table. “With drop-leaves and casters, it fits snugly in a narrow space and serves as side table for my comfy book nook, a foldout coffee table for impromptu gatherings, and storage. Tall ceilings and a white color base makes the tiny space feel much bigger. She is small but mighty — every item serves not one but two, or even several purposes. I snagged this retro blue chair from a library remodel project for free — the perfect piece to read for hours!”

See More Images
Credit: Leela Cyd
Gina explains that the altar in her home is a "tribute to strong, compassionate women who have helped shape me and still guide me daily. A vintage lamp from my Nona’s house, a laundry basket from my grandma’s bedroom, a mosaic my mother made, and a shelf dedicated to my late dog Rita, including her ashes, hair trimmings, and teeth — old-world Italian-style relics."

Gina hasn’t just crafted a functional home in small square footage; she’s also created an incredibly personal space that reflects herself and her life. “My apartment is a love letter to my history,” Gina explains. “Having moved away from my family, I began to subconsciously surround myself with tangible memories, objects that conjure cherished family stories.”

See More Images
Credit: Leela Cyd
Gina's home has lots of vintage items. "My aunt’s antique washstand in my bathroom could be as old as late-1800s. The library card catalog unit on top of my wardrobe is likely from the 1940s, based on the library I salvaged it from. But I also recently sourced a 1950s TV lamp in the shape of two Siamese cats in honor of my 17-year-old Flame-Point Siamese senior rescue cat, Chira. The eyes glow with the soft purple bulb. Otherwise, the blue vinyl egg reading chair I salvaged from my local library is mid-century modern (1960s), and my Nona’s milky glass and brass lamp, my mom’s Rival crock pot, and my Gramma’s laundry basket are likely from the 1970s."

“During the pandemic I started spotlighting meaningful pieces of art and furniture in a #TreasureInPlace series on Instagram, and realized how central storytelling and history-keeping is to my identity. A librarian by trade, and a lifelong reader (especially of all things horror!), I keep stories all around me, surrounding my apartment on all sides with books and memories (and even a mini card catalog unit I salvaged!).”

Resources

See More Images
Credit: Leela Cyd
Gina explains that a unique challenge to a small space in San Francisco was "making sure everything was seismically safe for our California earthquakes. With the necessity to utilize all the tall space for storage and decor, I had to be very thoughtful about what could happen to all my overhead books in an earthquake. [After I had] worked in museums, my solution was to install preparator-approved 100-pound monofilament fishing line across each set of overhead bookshelves, and to make sure to seismically wall-mount taller storage cabinets like my wardrobe and bathroom cabinet."

PAINT & COLORS

  • Main Room — Color-matched from the rental’s existing white
  • Accent Wall — Dunn-Edwards Paints “Confident Yellow”
See More Images
Credit: Leela Cyd
Gina currently shares her home with a 17-year-old Flame-Point Siamese senior rescue cat named Chira ("short for chirola, which means 'loose change' in Argentine slang — named after another old family cat Chira who was also Siamese). But Gina also once shared her home with a 16-year-old Pomeranian/German Spitz senior rescue dog named Rita who died in 2021. "I had tons of different portraits of her made while she was alive, but also since she passed away in 2021. A colored pencil art deco mosaic by my dear friend, a watercolor by a local Bay Area artist, a custom-made neon “casa de Rita” sign, a continuous line drawing by a New York City artist, and more. I even had a book made of all the portraits, their mediums, and the artists," Gina explains.

ENTRY

  • TRONES Shoe Storage Cabinet — IKEA
  • Cable Management Box Under Dresser — Amazon
  • Dog Bed — Amazon
  • Laptop Stand — Amazon
  • Dresser — Garage Sale Find, refinished by my mother in 1988, from mine and my brother’s bedroom when we were little kids
  • Rita Prayer Cards — Custom made by me and my friends
  • “Bullshit” Water Glass — Stuff, SF CA
  • Mosaic Mirror — Made by my mother
  • Picture Frames — Amazon 
  • Summon Gold Art Print — Renée Staeck
  • Rita Art Print — Render Design Co. 
  • Sol Art Print — Atelerie
  • Goya’s Saturn Devouring His Son Art Print — Gift from a friend
  • Eyeball Planter Art — Menagerie Oddities Market
  • TV — Amazon 
  • Duck Bag Purse — BAGGU
  • Concha Pantuflas (Slippers) — MexiStuff
  • Scarf — H&M (no longer available)
  • Space Heater — Amazon
See More Images
Credit: Leela Cyd
Gina says when the "futon is laid down, it’s a full-size mattress that can sleep me and my boyfriend, or me and my mom or a friend when they are visiting. I have actually slept three people in this room, believe it or not, between the futon and a twin-size deep mattress pad on the floor."

LIVING AREA / BEDROOM

See More Images
Credit: Leela Cyd

DINING AREA

See More Images
Credit: Leela Cyd

KITCHEN

  • Siamese Cat Salt and Pepper Shakers — Valencia Street Vintage
  • Seasonal Fruit & Vegetable Poster — Young America Creative
  • Magnetic Hanging Frame — Amazon
  • Kitchen Cart with Doors — Amazon (no longer available)
  • Foldable Kitchen Cart — Amazon
  • RANARP Overhead Lamp — IKEA
  • Wall-Mounted Hand Towel Holder — Amazon
  • Poppin Magnet Spice Rack — The Container Store
  • Refrigerator — Home Depot (no longer available)
  • Spice Jars — Amazon
  • “Grim Steeper” Tea Infuser — Cliff’s Variety
  • Glass Spray Bottles — Amazon
  • Toaster Oven — Amazon
  • Microwave — Salvaged from a friend
  • Cat Clock — Tokyo Futon & Tea
  • Stained Glass Finger — Menagerie Oddities Market
  • Trash Cans — Amazon
  • Cutting Board — Custom made for my parents by my Uncle John
  • Crock Pot —1970s Vintage Rival, from my mother
  • U-Shaped Air Conditioner — bought from a neighbor
  • 2-Burner Electric Stovetop — Amazon (model no longer available)
  • Oven Mitts — Handmade by my great aunt
  • Overhead Wall Mounted Cabinet — Amazon
  • Teapot — Amazon
  • Sunset Planter/Mug — Porter Vintage
  • Vintage Art Deco Tea Set — from my Nona’s house
See More Images
Credit: Leela Cyd

BATHROOM

See More Images
Credit: Leela Cyd

CANDLES

Aromatherapy is really important to me! Especially when you have a litter box in a small space. I light a candle every morning while I get ready for work and every evening when I get in for the night. Here are some of my favorites that I find actually cast a good throw:

Thanks, Gina!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

Share Your Style: House Tour & House Call Submission Form

Filed in:
Tours
Studio