314 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019

A pre-war brick fireplace, south-facing courtyard light, and a thorough renovation Apartment 4E makes a strong case that 408 square feet is more than enough. The living area is bright and open, anchored by the original decorative brick fireplace and flooded with southern light through courtyard-facing windows.

New wide-plank blonde oak floors and eight-foot ceilings with crisp white walls give the space an easy, airy quality that punches above its square footage. The kitchen has been fully updated with white shaker cabinetry, matte black hardware, and a matching matte black faucet.

Appliances include a Summit refrigerator, a GE gas range with hood ventilation, and a newly-installed dishwasher. The compact galley layout is efficient and well-organized, with ample upper cabinet storage throughout. The bathroom features white subway tile, a walnut vanity with a recessed medicine cabinet, and a frameless sliding glass shower door over the tub.

Storage is a genuine strength of this layout. The entry foyer offers two closets side by side, with a third off the bathroom hallway unusually well-served for a studio of this size. 314 West 56th Street is a well-maintained cooperative building with a virtual doorman, laundry room, furnished roof deck, and a live-in superintendent.

Three blocks from Central Park and steps from Columbus Circle, Lincoln Center, MoMA, and the dining and retail of Midtown's west side. Subway access is exceptional, with the 1, A, B, C, D, E, F, N, Q, R, and W trains all within walking distance.