Renovated Marina City studio makes the most of 500 square feet for $205K

Perched on the 47th floor of Bertrand Goldberg iconic 1960’s Marina City complex on the banks of the Chicago River, this compact studio condo underwent a complete custom renovation by its design-savvy owners.

As co-founders of Stand Design, married couple Ted and Sharon Burdett drew heavily on their professional backgrounds when it came to updating the look and functionality of the 500 square foot space.

After gutting and removing virtually everything, the Burdetts installed a custom-designed Murphy bed to give the cozy downtown condo a functioning living room—complete with Eames style molded plastic chairs.

The rehab also repurposed the home’s hallway and front closet by transforming the relatively large corridor into a built-in mini office nook.

By swapping the solid balcony door for an all-glass replacement, the renovation improved the unit’s sweeping city views and brought more light into the living space, reconfigured hallway, and renovated kitchen.

The end result is a stunning midcentury-inspired transformation, especially compared to the home’s before photos. The custom-designed Marina City unit is currently listed for $205,000.

The mini-office nook has room for two side-by-side chairs.