An alcove studio in Murray Hill that feels (almost) like a one-bedroom

By Jennifer Laing | September 23, 2014 - 2:59PM

Combining all the affordability of a single-room apartment with the separation of space of a one-bedroom, the alcove studio is a pretty brilliant invention. Drop one of these places into an amenity-filled building, and you’ve got yourself a pretty nifty pad.

White cabinets, countertops and appliances make the kitchen appear larger

Take, for example, this co-op asking $339,000 in Murray Hill. A small closet-lined hallway makes for a gracious entry, rare for studios, which tend to capitalize on space but cut corners on grace. At 550 square feet, the apartment has an L-shaped layout that creates separate areas for sleeping, sitting/watching TV and eating. (Use a bookcase to act as a wall between the living and sleeping spaces and you've got yourself an ad hoc one-bedroom.) The bathroom is cute. The kitchen, though small, is totally efficient, with full-size appliances (including a dishwasher), lots of counter space and tall cabinets, all done up in a space-enhancing shade of white.

A wall of windows lets the sunshine into the sleeping and living areas

The apartment’s location on the second highest floor of a 20-story building delivers almost unobstructed skyline views and—bonus!—a glimpse of the East River. South-facing windows, including along the sleeping nook, make for light all day, and central AC is included in the maintenance. The full-service doorman building also offers a concierge, storage, a parking garage and a large, recently renovated roof deck. On the downside, it’s about half a block away from the entrance to the Midtown Tunnel, so the street is probably often traffic-filled.

The L-shaped layout separates the spaces

Still, for the price—about $14,000 more than the $324,965 average price for studios that sold in Murray Hill in the last 90 days, according to StreetEasy—it’s a pretty sweet deal.

A three-level studio on the Upper West Side stretches the limits of a tiny space

"Tiny House Nation" host of living large in a really small space

Can I buy an amenity-rich studio for $350K? Or should I shoot for a one-bedroom?

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