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"&amp;quot;I feel so liberated,&amp;quot; says a New York-based editor about her dramatic downsizing move from a suburb to Manhattan&amp;#039;s Upper East Side. &amp;quot;I didn&amp;#039;t give up very much\u2014just some underused space and burdensome maintenance,&amp;quot; she says. &amp;quot;But what I gained was huge: A short commute, a lighter existence, an abundance of urban intrigue, and ravishing natural scenes just steps away from my front door.&amp;quot; In a whirlwind process launched after sending her youngest child off to college, she sold her 2500-square-foot house, shed all her possessions except for some clothing, pottery, paintings, photos and books; purchased a 550-square-foot run-down co-op; and transformed it into a sleek modern sanctuary while residing in a nearby rental.  First the homeowner had to find a suitable place. &amp;quot;I wanted an apartment in a doorman building near Central Park that would allow dogs,&amp;quot; she says. This was not an easy task but it was one she accomplished rapidly through relentless searching. However, the interior features were a different matter. &amp;quot;I never intended to go through a complicated permit and renovation ordeal,&amp;quot; the editor recalls, &amp;quot;but it dawned on me rather quickly that what I could afford space-wise was something quite small, dim, and old, and that the features I wanted\u2014a home office area, separate sleeping quarters, storage, a real cook&amp;#039;s kitchen, and a gracious entertaining environment\u2014were unlikely to be found in such a little and worn package. I realized they&amp;#039;d have to be created.&amp;quot;   Once the homeowner sealed the purchase of her apartment (a studio with an alcove and a sense of procession so that you can&amp;#039;t see everything right when you walk in), she turned to designer Clare Donohue of One to One Studio to help transform the space. Donohue teamed up with Jeff Blum of SixZero6 Design to devise a thoughtful floor plan and create high-impact visual elements that would achieve the homeowner&amp;#039;s wish list while also adding light and distracting from unsightly alley views. Fleshing out the miracle-working team: Mike Seow of Sunrise Renovation, NR Wood Design, and cabinetmaker Jim Nickel. The homeowner, a design magazine and website editor as well as an artist, took on the task of decorating. In the spare scheme she shaped, touches of shine and shimmer, and a palette of cool blues and greens (counterbalanced by earthy grays and beiges) foster a sense of expansiveness and tranquility. &amp;quot;The fact that I was buying largely anew meant that I could pretty much tailor the choices to the small scale of the place and to the few older items I brought with me,&amp;quot; she says. &amp;quot;The floor plan, built-ins, and fixtures that Clare and Jeff specified are beautiful and highly efficient; those maximized the space and set a stage that made my selections easy. My new home ended up being exactly what I had hoped for\u2014sophisticated, comfortable and well suited to a simpler lifestyle.&amp;quot; Who knew 550 square feet could go so far? Lighten up: 5 ways to shed possessions quickly Moving from a 2,500-square-foot home to a 550-square-foot one requires a significant reduction in possessions. Here&amp;#039;s how the homeowner went about the shedding process:  1. Sold key furnishings to the buyer of her home.  2. Conducted two tag sales promoted with an ad in a local paper and posters. All items were priced low to sell.  3. Placed numerous ads on craigslist.com. 4. Staged a going-away-giveaway party for friends and neighbors\u2014everyone who came had to take one or more items away.  5. Donated remaining items to shops devoted to fundraising for local hospitals and charities. Click here to view the resources. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/room-ideas/a3823/daring-downsize-a-50197/>