Showing posts with label Small Cool Contest 2012. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Small Cool Contest 2012. Show all posts

Apr 26, 2012

Michelle's Dream Space: Small/Cool 2012 Entry

Although the ApartmentTherapy.com Small/Cool 2012 contest features apartments up to 900 sq ft in size, I've found myself having a personal bias towards studios under 600 sq ft large. As my apartment hunt comes to an end, I realized that a studio was in my future and I've been strategically seeking out spaces that I can easily be inspired by and recreate.

Michelle's 330 sq ft Upper West Side apartment is no exception. I love her willingness to play with color (teal on the wall, kitchen backsplash, & patio chairs) along with her cozy design and kick ass outdoor space! I'm no NYC expert, but I'm pretty sure outdoor space like this comes at a premium. In my new apartment I won't have outdoor space (womp), but I did nail my desired neighborhood!

If you'd like to vote for Michelle click here.











Name:
michelle
Location:
New York, NY
Square Feet:
330
Division:
Teeny-Tiny
What I Love About My Small Home
The most exciting aspect of this apartment is the patio -- it is almost impossible to find a studio in Manhattan with more than a fire escape as outdoor space. When I was apartment hunting, I was told I would not be able to find an apartment in my ideal area -- the Upper West Side -- in my price range, so it’s safe to say I found my dream space. It has been an adventure transforming this apartment from a basic New York rental into a space that reflects my personality; this is my first apartment, and slowly I am collecting pieces to replace the various hand-me-downs. I love scouring flea markets all the way from Boston to North Carolina to find unique pieces that I hope to keep forever. Lastly, I love the amount of storage I’ve found within these tiny walls. Beyond having the usual excessive amount of clothes that most young women do, I also run an Etsy shop out of this space. My closets and cabinets are full of paper goods and art supplies, including my prized tabletop letterpress.
Biggest Challenge of Living in a Small Space
Small spaces come with small kitchens. I love to cook, bake and entertain, and I refuse to let my tiny kitchen hold me back. My 18 inches of counter space has not prevented me from making homemade ravioli, baking enough cupcakes to feed my entire office, or throwing dinner parties. In a small apartment, you have to work with what you have, and I try to do just that with my tiny home!

Apr 5, 2012

Apartment Therapy's 2012 Small/Cool Contest is Back

Interior design lovers rejoice... ApartmentTherapy.com's 2012 Small/Cool contest is back! I'm so excited to log into the site every day and OD on the creative ways everyday people put unique spins on their small spaces. So far I have seen a few that have caught my eye, but I wanted to share my favorite - - Samantha's Organic Love Nest! The 420 sq ft NYC studio is leading the pack in the Tiny division, showcasing the advantages of a square space with good light... and a handy husband.










Name:
Samantha
Location:
New York, NY
Square Feet:
420
Division:
Tiny



What I Love About My Small Home
Once I realized a one bedroom in the West Village was more restrictive because they are often smaller than a queen bed, I knew I had to find a box shaped studio. After viewing over 55 apartments with often angled floor plans, I finally found my blank canvas studio with oversized windows and eastern light. I love my home because I had a vision of an organic, global, Scandinavian love nest. For me that meant designing 6 custom built "stations" which include an eat in kitchen, 2 desk work areas, one of which has a closet built in, a living area, a bedroom and a standard size closet. What I truly love is my husband built much of the furniture, and the result is a beautiful mixture of materials and style, such as recycled flooring as a desk unit and high gloss furniture. It gives me a feeling as if I'm a guest in my own home. I feel like I live in a boutique hotel and truly love it.
Biggest Challenge of Living in a Small Space
The biggest challenge was editing out our items from a 3000 square foot loft and downsizing into a 420 square foot pre-war studio. We knew every piece of furniture had to multitask in terms of storage. For example, we built a desk which serves as a base for a closet attached, and we have a dresser we picked up in Palm Beach for $50 and created a built in Flat screen Display Wall on one side and a full size closet on the other. The entire unit also serves as a room divider, and we dropped the height of the unit to create an airy feel to the small studio. The result is we are rarely in each other's way. It's truly magical.

Powered by Blogger.
Designed By Boutique-Website-Design