Easter Update + Small/Cool 2011 Contest

Happy Easter! I hope everyone enjoyed their day. It was a bit last minute, but I managed to snag a nice ham from the store for dinner. After feasting the hubs and I watched 127 hours (pretty blah movie), a lot of basketball, and lounged around the house. One of my favorite things to do is relax on the couch enjoying the daytime sun. If you can get a nap in it's even better! The sun has a way of putting me at peace... the best is falling asleep in the car during a long daytime ride.

Lately I've been feeling nostalgic and missing life in Chicago. There's nothing better than "summertime Chi" so I can't wait to be back in June to visit friends and family. In the meantime, Liz's clean and streamlined 360 sq ft downtown apartment is giving me my Chi-town fix. It's an entrant in the Teeny-Tiny division of Apartment Therapy's Small/Cool 2011 Contest. I keep staring at the shot of her view trying to figure out what side of town she's on. I swear I know that building in the background - - looks like the South Loop!

Like Liz's space? Give her your vote by clicking here.

Name:

 Liz 

Location:

 Chicago, Illinois 

Division:

 Teeny-Tiny 

Square Feet:

 360 

What I Love About My Home

 
After renting here for almost a year, the views from my apartment still thrill me every day. In the morning, it sparkles as light bounces off Lake Michigan and pours in from the east. In the evening, I love watching the city light up from the quiet charm of my 7th floor hideaway. My space is simple, clean, and filled personal mementos and pictures of the people and places I love. It's small, but with the big windows and use of space, it never feels that way. The wood, steel, greys and blues help blur the lines between inside and out; I often feel like the park and lake are my own private balcony. But what I love most of all is that that the first thing my sister said when she saw it was, "Liz, it's so YOU!". 

Biggest Challenge in Furnishing My Home

 
I'm plagued by expensive taste with a budget that doesn't necessarily match, so it was challenging for me fill my small space with pieces that I really loved but could also afford. I ended up making (gas pipe shelves were my first big DIY project, and from that point forward, I was hooked), repurposing and finding a lot of things secondhand. By necessity, I quickly learned how to draw, paint, build, reupholster, and navigate Home Depot, and I think the whole apartment feels more like me because of it. The other biggest challenging was rethinking the space so that it suited my needs. When I moved in the setup was very different, and there were two enormous closets that dwarfed my already minimal wardrobe. After a lot of rearranging, I ended up converting one into a dressing/vanity area, and the other into an office/storage space. I worked hard to maximize every square inch, and I'm constantly getting rid of things so that it feels airy and open, not cluttered.

Sean's Start from Scratch

I know I've been going on and on about all of the homes I love, but Sean's Providence, Rhode Island condo is one of my new favs!! Now, this may come as a surprise because it's not full of the glamorous sparkle and shine that I love so much, but in terms of a clean, modern space that works for a couple it is awesome. I could easily see my husband and I living in this condo - - the TV is substantial with nice placement, and I absolutely LOVE the dining room. Black furniture with chrome accents is probably my favorite. The orange paint provides the right pop of color and they tied it into the dining room by placing it in the bookcase... very clever! The bedroom is on the more simple side and I would like to see that dressed up a bit, but I remember seeing that headboard in IKEA a while back and being a fan. I also could do more in the kitchen... but in terms of their dining/living space I was in heaven.

Sean's space is an entry in the Apartment Therapy Small/Cool 2011 Contest (Small Division). To vote for him click here.

Name:

 Sean 

Location:

 Providence, Rhode Island

Division:

 Small 

Square Feet:

 999 

What I Love About My Home

 
I love how open and bright it is. My wife and I love hosting our friends and family for parties and dinner. We think our orange (Dragons Breath) fireplace is the best, it's original, an attention- getter, and is always complimented on when people come over (It also makes a great focal point with the TV mounted above the fireplace.) The "groovy" round domed skylight in the master bedroom is fun to look up at when laying in bed also. 

Biggest Challenge in Furnishing My Home

 
We basically had to start from scratch when we bought the condo. The walls were painted "dirty contractor's white" at best, the bathrooms needed major cleaning and re-doing and the kitchen was in much need of a makeover. We also took down an island/peninsula that separated the dining and living areas (since removing it has opened up the space greatly). 

Jenna's Cookie Cutter with Charm

Having lived in Arizona for quite a few years I can attest to the overabundance of cookie cutter rentals in the Tempe area. Home to ASU, Tempe is filled with standard apartments that lack that "homey" type of quality - - and not Homey like "what's up homes..." but lived in and comfortable lol.

Although Jenna's 620 sq ft Little Division space had a generic layout, she infused it with her personality by making small additions. A pretty wall paper made the most of her updated kitchen and switching out the chandelier added a feminine touch to the space. Jenna's space was simple, yet cute and not overdone. I think anyone could realistically recreate this look on any budget.

To vote for Jenna in Apartment Therapy's Small/Cool 2011 Contest click here!

Name: Jenna
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Division: Little
Square Feet: 620

What I Love About My Home
I loved being able to personalize a pretty standard "Cookie Cutter" apartment. Most apartments in my city lack the character I crave, so I worked with what I had! For example.. I love my modern kitchen, but being able to add wallpaper really helped give it some charm!

Biggest Challenge in Furnishing My Home
The biggest challenge I faced was definitely budget. It took scouring thrift stores, religiously checking craigslist, and many trips to Ikea's As-Is section to furnish my apartment. Caught somewhere in between wanting my dream apartment and my reality of left over "dorm style" furniture and hand-me-downs, i tried to combine the best of both worlds. Another challenge would be lighting. With only two south facing windows (one in the bedroom, one in the living room) I get an extremely small amount of light, even during the day. I tried to help by adding some lighter and brighter pieces. Despite my challenges, I couldn't be happier with my space!

Bianca's Bright White Cottage

Even though Bianca's Cape Town apartment is far from small (982 sq ft) I think the layout is something everyone can relate to. It's a 1 bd + office, but closely resembles the standard 2 bedroom setup I've seen in many rentals.

My husband and I are living in a rental right now and I love the idea of stenciling on a headboard. Great way to get the look of a grounding headboard without the cost or heavy furniture to lift. Plus, it's as easy as painting over it when it's time to move!

Her designs are a good jumping off point and open the door to add your accents of colors however you'd like. Personally, I would love to see the addition of fresh flowers, touches of hot pink, and even some electric blue ikat designs.

To vote for Bianca click here.

Name: Bianca
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Division: International
Square Feet: 982

What I Love About My Home
My husband and I lovingly renovated our cottage from a dark and gloomy fixer-upper into a light and charming first nest. As our first major project together since our wedding our little home has grown with us over the past year and it really is our very own work of art.

Biggest Challenge in Furnishing My Home
Our biggest challenge is probably a little different to other small home dwellers as our cottage is double the size of our previous 1 bedroom apartment. With the opportunity to furnish new spaces our toughest challenge was to make final decisions on what new items to buy as they were likely to be items we'll keep for many years. The pressure to make these decisions before we moved in resulted in a few mistakes but a year later we're finally living with pieces of furniture that we love!

Kara's Mix & Match Mini Home

A few years ago I found myself searching for an apartment in Hyde Park, yet only able to find studios that worked for my budget. I know that many of us want the location and don't mind sacrificing on the space, but I was horrified to see how crazy small most apartments were.

Real estate in New York comes at a premium so Kara took her 180 sq ft piece of the concrete jungle and made it home. The functional space is an entrant in the Apartment Therapy Small/Cool 2010 Contest (Teeny-Tiny Division) and should inspire anyone facing an uber small space that it can still be comfy and cozy.

To vote for Kara click here.

Name:

 kara 

Location:

 New York, New York 

Division:

 Teeny-Tiny 

Square Feet:

 180 

What I Love About My Home

 
I'm in love with bright colors and mixing and matching prints. I designed the apartment to attract the eye to little spaces. My favorite spot is the outdoor zen garden, a sweet place to chill and observe life in the Lower East Side. For extra seating, I've hung a swinging hammock chair which can be clipped into the (very sturdy!) ceiling when I have extra guests. The nook is the most relaxing spot, perfect for reading books in the sun. Finally, the wallpapered kitchen cabinets and closet add so much life and depth. An art-filled space with a downtown vibe, this apartment is a beautiful escape from city life. 

Biggest Challenge in Furnishing My Home

 
Umm..SPACE of course! 180 sq ft (including outdoor zen garden) makes every inch count. With the help of a few handy-men in my life, I created custom everything: queen ottoman bed (tons of storage underneath), plush corner benches in the sunning nook, bathroom shelving storage, and above-bed clothing rack (great for planning outfits while laying in bed). Under and Up! 

Lindsay's Little & Luxurious

Another entry in Apartment Therapy's 2011 Small/Cool Contest, Lindsay won me over with her Long Island abode. Her 780 sq ft space has a touch of luxury, yet seems like something that could be realistically recreated on any budget. I was never a fan of parquet wood floors, but her bedroom decor made me sing a different tune. The combination of blue paint, yellow comforter, and gray/white accent pillows was spot on. Her apartment made me see the value in painting your wall, which is something I think most renters tend to shy away from. Yes, it can be a bit of a hassle to paint things back once you move, but to be able to enjoy your space while you live there is something we should all do.

Click here to vote her up!

Name:

 Lindsay 

Location:

 Long Island City, New York 

Division:

 Little 

Square Feet:

 780 

What I Love About My Home

 
My Home is pure love. My origin. Where I start from and where I end, The beginning and the end of my day. When all is not right with my home all is not right with me. I love that in NYC I have the luxury of a modern kitchen (with dishwasher!) and a walk in closet! Also I love that my Kitty is always waiting here to greet me after a long day. 

Biggest Challenge in Furnishing My Home

 
I was one of the first tenants to move into my huge empty new building. My unit lacked character and a story. It seriously was when I was reading Maxwell's 8 step cure and saw the question, "what would your apartment say to you if it could speak?", that I heard my apartment scream " Give me a story, Make me different and unique!" My challenge was to give my cookie cutter space a soul. 

Paul's Sleek Studio

Fellas please take note - - this is how you do a bachelor pad!

While many men don't take the time to style their spaces, New Yorker Paul does wonders with his 350 sq ft apartment. An entrant in the Teeny-Tiny Division of Apartment Therapy's Small/Cool 2011 Contest, Paul has one of the sleekest, most streamlined bachelor pads I've seen.

 I was so excited about this space I showed my husband... only for him to ask "Where's the TV?" lol... such a guy thing to wonder about. Still, I think this should inspire a few guys out there to step it up on the interior design front. When I was a single lady I would have fallen out if I walked into a guy's pad and was met with this sight!! Very nice. (Sidebar: There's nothing worse than a guy that is seemingly pulled together style wise with his fashion, yet lives in a house that's sloppy, messy, and full of college-ish mix-match furniture.)

To vote for Paul and his delightful digs click here.

Name:

 Paul 

Location:

 New York, New York 

Division:

 Teeny-Tiny 

Square Feet:

 350 

What I Love About My Home

 
The high ceilings and large windows create a bright, open environment and contribute to make the main room (242 sq. ft) look larger than it is. The dark hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances and countertops give the place a very sleek, modern feel, which my furniture and décor complement, while also making the space feel warm and inviting. I’m proud that I’ve been able to collect some classic pieces that function well for lounging, sleeping or working, and can also accommodate social gatherings without having to move a single piece of furniture. 

Biggest Challenge in Furnishing My Home

 
Studio living requires that every single thing serves the space well, and this has forced to me to be very selective in what I purchase. Before buying anything, I ask myself, “’What function does this serve?’, ‘How will this improve my space?’ and ‘Will I want to own this 10 years from now?’” One result of looking at everything I own all the time, is that I constantly want to add new elements — yet I realize adding a new item means I have to get rid of something else. My apartment was a featured house tour in January (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/pauls-perfectly-suited-studiohouse-tour-139847) and since the only additions I’ve made since are the two glass hurricanes in the window to the left of the desk. It took me three days to figure out where to put them and what they would replace!

Coco's Cozy Hollywood Regency

What I love most about Corina's 600 sq ft retreat in LA is her ability to keep the glam look notorious of the Hollywood Regency design while managing to have 3 indoor cats!! Yes, this apartment is home to 3 lovely fur balls and doesn't look anything less than sublime. Looking at her layout I had to know where she hid the litter boxes. I have 2 cats and can already tell the difference in litter box maintenance, so with 3 I knew she had to have at least two boxes hidden somewhere.

Corina's apartment is an entrant in the Apartment Therapy 2011 Small/Cool Contest (Tiny Division) so feel free to give her a vote if you like. Her space goes to show how much crown molding and natural light can do for a small space.

Name:

 Corina 

Location:

 Los Angeles, California 

Division:

 Tiny 

Square Feet:

 600 

What I Love About My Home

 
I love that it feels like a complete house even though it is such a small space. I have everything I need and everything fits so perfectly. In just 8 months I have made it feel like home. 

Biggest Challenge in Furnishing My Home

 
I have one closet! That is for clothing and storage. That was a big challenge so I have to stay on top of things and keep really organized. I also have three indoor cats. I wanted great furniture in whites and shags (which aren't the easiest with kitties) so keeping the place tidy is a MUST!