Drawers Within Drawers': 269-Square-Foot Apartment Hides Full-Size Pull-Out Tub

There are conventional methods of maximizing small living spaces -- Murphy beds, futons, tables that fold flat onto the wall, etc. Then, there is Valentina Maini's way.

Maini and her 269-square-foot apartment in Barcelona is one of the latest "tiny house" features by Fair Companies. Although many with small living quarters have to bring in designers for ideas on how to deal with the space, Maini, as an architect, already had a design in mind and simply hired a carpenter to make it happen.

First, let's start with the stairway leading up to Maini's apartment. She leads with "don't be scared," as she walks up the little more than one-meter-wide winding staircase.

As Maini shows off some of the space saving elements of her apartment, she notes when she first saw it she thought would be too small to make it work as a living space and home office. Most of Maini's space-maximizing features are characterized by drawers. There's even "drawers within drawers." Pulling out a few, she shows how the draws hide her closet and even a full-size bath tub.

Underneath the platform supporting for Maini's Japanese-style kitchen chairs, is her "spa." Her bath tub is underneath.

Here is a slideshow of images from Maini's apartment:

Watch Maini's apartment tour:

For small spaces, Maini tells Fair Companies, "it's important that you need always to change the perspective." When Maini is on her lofted bed, she can see outside. When she's on the floor, her bed is concealed by other elements in the room.