Home decor specialist Alexandra Gater has taken on the formidable task of transforming a diminutive 100-square-foot studio apartment on her YouTube series, *Studio Fix*. Known for her flair in small-space makeovers, Gater’s latest project has set a new benchmark, as it represents the smallest living area her team has ever renovated.
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Gater’s YouTube series, which has captivated audiences with its focus on tenant-friendly changes for small studio apartments—typically near the 500-square-foot mark—has garnered over 28 million views. As she explains, her show is all about maximising the potential of compact spaces. “Our format is makeovers. That’s all we do,” she shared in a recent interview. “People now know me as the small space makeover channel, and it’s really magical to watch us change a room into five different spaces.”
Each episode of *Studio Fix* introduces its own unique hurdles, with some challenges arising unexpectedly. On occasion, the design direction is collaboratively established with clients, such as a recent project that embraced a minimal black and white theme. Gater, who typically favours vibrant and bold colours, welcomed the opportunity to stretch her creative limits. “When there’s a challenge we feel we can take on and really knock it out of the park, we go for it,” she noted.
The latest undertaking posed a significant hurdle due to its sheer size. Gater described the studio as feeling more like a room than an apartment, with its kitchen inconveniently located in a closet. She remarked, “You couldn’t even open the stove because it hit the fridge,” underscoring the cramped conditions the team faced. A hint of amusement accompanied her recollection of the chaos, as she mentioned how five people worked together in such a small space: “Our stuff was everywhere.”
The series evidently resonates with viewers for its innovative approach to small living spaces. “It’s hard. It’s really, really hard to do,” Gater admitted. The success of *Studio Fix* isn’t just about the transformations, she explained; it also reflects the reality that many people live in smaller apartments. “Not many are focusing on studio apartments,” she said, emphasizing that her show provides solutions applicable to a wide audience.
In addressing the limitations of the 100-square-foot studio, Gater and her team found a creative solution that involved incorporating a loft bed. This unique addition allowed them to create both a lounge area and a workspace in the otherwise confined quarters. “We’ve never added a loft bed before,” she explained, revealing her excitement about this new approach. “It’s like a bunk bed, but below it, you can use the space for a living room or workspace.”
Gater expressed some trepidation about this design choice, acknowledging that it could either delight or dismay her client. Nonetheless, she committed to the idea because it was the only viable means of fitting both a lounging area and a workspace into the limited dimensions. “It truly was the only way we could add in what we needed,” she added, remarking on the joy of experimentation in her designs.
The excitement for Gater lies in the creative risks she takes through each project. “I feel like we’ve tried just about everything on the channel,” she said. “It’s really fun to push the limits and see what we can actually create in 100 square feet.”
*Studio Fix* continues to captivate its audience with fresh episodes released every other Saturday. The premiere of the transformative 100-square-foot studio episode was set for June 6, promising yet another inspiring showcase of creativity in compact living. Gater’s dedication to overcoming obstacles in small-space design aids many viewers in finding inspiration for their own home environments, proving that size does not have to limit style.