The so-so's and no way's need to ante up and comment. I gave this a "cool" because I suspect that it reflects Laura's tastes. I think also the pictures may not do it justice. Not that I've been there, just that there were one or two pics where I was like, "oohh, I see..." LOVE that cool stool. The memory board, the baskets above the cabinets. Personally, I'm not a big draper of shawls, or even a curtains person, but it doesn't mean she didn't do a nice job on her place. It looks like a fun place to go hang out and have a drink.

definitely VERY charming! i think you've done an absolutely amazing job in unifying your space with color - and not the easy way with matching sets of things, either! It does seem a bit crowded, but that works with your funky vintage vibe. If you want to clear it up, though, I would suggest getting rid of some of the "showpieces" like the dress form and such. It is a matter of preference afterall. All in all - a lovely job.

I don't know why some people pick "no way" (and don't even explain why!), but I like this apt. For it's size, it really looks cozy and personalized but not cluttered. I could walk in and NEVER get bored sitting on the couch because there is just so much cool stuff to look at! Love some of the color schemes in there too. Kitchen decor is really interesting =)

Love the colors. Effective use of curtains where there are no windows, makes a small space a little more _grand_. Questions

1. I am very curious what that thing is hanging inside your front door - it looks like it has a function, beyond just aesthetic.

2. Your multi-square area rug - where did you get this? By any wild chance did you make it?

This looks like a real lived in apartment. My favorite so far (but I am not a designer, maybe that has something to do with it!)

Could you share some of your clever storage secrets???

I voted a so-so because I think you have a lot of cool stuff, but they way it is put together is just a little discombobulated to me. The window treatment really threw me off.

Also, I am guessing the rug is from Interface Flor.

I second that -- please tell us clever storage secrets.

I love this apartment! The light is beautiful and I especially love the turquoise and periwinkle stuff.

AF,
Not speaking for Laura but the area rug looks to be the new modular carpet company 'FLOR'. Is that right Laura?

I'm sure you've had a great time decorating this apartment. It screams "fun." I especially like the mannequin, the wall hanging above the bed, the lamp... even the shower curtain (although it's the last thing I'd ever imagine picking for myself.)

I'm one of the "no ways".
Sorry, the apt just looks cluttered to me. There's no coherent design sense -- it just looks like a bunch of "oooh, cool stuff", like the plastic rug on the wall and the mannequin. Also, like many others that posted, I'm still looking for the creative storage solutions. The baskets on the kitchen cabinet soffits are ok, a good use of space but hardly a new/creative idea. All in all, its a cute place but not cool or a design winner.

This apt. is okay. Looks airy and pretty w/ lots of great light, which I'd kill for. My main question though is how is this apartment 300 sq. feet and the architectural pad from last week, with a huge storage closet and separate bedroom area, only 120 more? This one looks half as big ... MGR, when you send your pro photographer over to take pics of the finalists, can you also arm him with a tape measure so we can be sure of square footage consistency/accuracy when we cast our final votes?

The nay sayers aren't focusing on an important issue here...This place is miniscule and somehow Laura makes it appear spacious with her decorating choices. And...yet her personality is all over the place. This little gem is a winner in my book!

This apartment looks fun, like somewhere I'd like to stay. But it doesn't have a real design aesthetic that I can get excited about. Still, it's a cute place. To whomever posted upstream about the pad from last week being "only 120 sq. ft." larger than this place, 120 sq. ft. is a 12 x 10 room, which is as big as any bedroom in my house. That's pretty sizable, really.

It looks like the dorm room of a coed who has attended one too many Phish concerts. But hey, if it makes you happy, enjoy.

I'm joining the "good colors" crowd.

I voted "no-way" and here is why. Funky and eclectic is one thing - throwing a bunch of stuff on every wall is cluttered and unattractive.

I can appreciate the variety of interests and aesthetics that Laura has here. But not all of them have to be shown in every inch of what is a small apartment.

And far from making the apartment look bigger, it makes it seem cramped. The architects apartment from last week looks so much bigger because they have edited their things and not put something on every wall and in every corner.

I also do not like the swags of curtain fabric. Completely does not fit this style at all. But the FLOR tiles are a great choice.

I already commented, but I just wanted to add one more thing - I like how this apartment tells a story about its person. I could see it being a movie or TV set - you know, the funky girl with a lot of flair... I think it's more a well decorated apartment than a well designed apartment (like the architects' from last week.) Does that make sense?

I think this apartment more than any other shows that you can live nicely in a teeny space without a lot of crap. Which, honestly, is I think what the point of this contest is. Or the whole point of living in New York.

Well, I know 120 sq. ft. ain't chump change, but it looks like this apartment could fit in the other one's living room, with space to spare (and without even crossing over into the bedroom or the storage space). And I don't think it's because the other one has less stuff ... I'm basing that estimate on where the walls are in relation to the bed (in this apt.) and the floorplan of the architects' place. I could be totally off (probably am), but I stand by my request to have the finalists measured, just so we're all getting an accurate picture of how small these small, cool apartments are, instead of getting "broker" numbers or estimations by people who can't find their tape measures or who aren't counting their kitchens or whatevs, you know?

I voted "no way" on this one also. The curtains were the first thing that jumped out at me. I just don't feel any sense of balance. There are a few nice pieces here and there-the two posters (though the one in the kitchen-the frame is all wrong) and the striped lamp in the corner. I find the combination of the modern floor covering and furniture with the sort of shabby chic mirror (too big for that wall and gasp! fake flowers!) and other tiny pieces confusing. It's not that it has to be one way or the other. I'm just not buying the eclecticism here. Just because you have a alot of different interests (and I'm like that too) do you have to show them all at once?

I think people are being way too harsh (but on the other hand, I am glad that people who voted "no way" seem to actually be explaining why in a thread, which hasn't happened before.

This apartment is TINY, and while it's definitely on the cluttered side, I think a lot of personality comes through.

As to why the other looks so much bigger--well, it's adding 1/3 of her apartment on again. That's pretty significant. Add to that fact that layout affects things, and it seems pretty straightforward to me.

I think this is cute and girly, and Laura's done a lot with very little space.

I'm going to have 2nd the notions placed forth by Semma's comments.

This looks like a lived in comfortable place that tells the story of the person who lives in it.
I can make out/up stories from the pieces thrown together. It has character. I can almost envision the thought process behind what went where and why.

Id be interested in hearing more about the piece above the bed...

I would love for say my place to have character, to tell a story, however it doesn't...NDA's are piled mountain high. In my bedroom I have a wall above a 40ish inch high shelf dedicated to post it notes of actionable items/reminders....and thats about it. ...oh and one transformer on my desk...other than that it's hard to tell who lives here.

bravo laura
for the funk, color, and swing.

(i think we should not pit the minimalist architects' space against laura's too much.
i'd never hang drapes that way, but quite like what she did, and the lamps too.)

rock the FLOR carpet tiles!
one of many available color choices.

thank U, AT
the tension mounts--are we approaching some entries with d.i.y. low budget fab stylings in the inspired lunacy, yet still chic + elegant, Cy Winship vein?

Very charming.

While I agree with everyone who has praised this studio for its funkiness and its supposed expression of Laura's personality, I voted "so-so" because those attributes don't necessarily add up to my subjective notion of the "coolest" apartment. Also like others have posted, the apartment strikes me as cluttered, despite Laura's claims of clever storage solutions, and lacks any sort of cohesive aesthetic, which might make the studio seem more spacious. It strikes me that there may be too many non-functional decorative pieces taking up precious space in this apartment, and the curtains are a bit jarring. I do love the FLOR tiles, however.

I think being one of the smallest apts entered so far-- it looks like one of the biggest. Very good use of space. It's not easy at all to have so many colors and shapes in such a sm space and have them work together. I love the mix of greens and blues, cos they work great with the warn toned woodfloors. I give Laura two thumbs up for being gutsy and not scared to really "decorate" her apt. Anyone can do the minimalist thing...
anyhooo LOVES IT!

While I'd agree that this seems like it'd be a nicer apartment in person than in photos, better photography would really just bring out the flaws even more. The low bookshelves would look cheaper and more wobbly. The TV stand would look more cluttered. The unframed art over the sofa would look more tacked-on.

This seems like a fun, comfortable place. It doesn't seem like an award-winning design solution.

Although I like the colors, I find the apartment looks much too cluttered.

I too live in a very small space but the use of trunks, tables with drawers, a computer armoire, etc. keeps everything hidden and neat.

But that is my personal taste - I get a sense of peace when I come home at night because of the neatness.

If I lived in this space, I would come in and immediately start straightening up.

I've refrained from commenting so far since the apartment is not really to my taste. I can't honestly remember how I voted on this one (although not a "no way"). She's made some "funky" decorating choices and probably put a lot of thought into it and if she loves it great. It has a flair that may express her personality, and to some seems cool. I'm not sure it all adds up to a satisfying whole though. The "busyness" of everything bothers me in such a small space. Also I agree with several comments that aside from her storage daybed I'm not seeing any "clever" storage ideas either and I'm particularly annoyed by the precarious TV and miscellany stand in the corner.

i love the vantage look.......
you gotta winner .

Love the colors and the overall look. I think the rug, however detracts-- adds yet-another-element when you already have almost too much going on. Why not something natural, like a bamboo mat? And waht is with the double-decker lampshade (I think that's what it is) in the corner? it's distracting and a bit off-- both lampshades are great, but pick one.

Still, I like it a lot.

Living in New York is just great and the ambiance of this apartment makes it even more pleasant. It brings back memories from when we lived in New York a few years ago. The wood floors are to die for and the space utilization is very clever. How anyone can get this much in the space available is Houdini to me! The colors and the decorations make it super cool.

Bill & Madeleine 4/18/05

i think i would have liked the apartment a lot more if every window wasn't cluttered with curtains. it was just too much.

I like this place very much.

I am a rather wild,eclectic packrat and I love color

but,strangely enough,my decor has tended to be on the stark,monastic side.

I've explained this by suggesting that a plain room with a few basic,investment pieces affords me the most design flexibility by being a neutral backdrop for an infinite number of decor schemes.

I envy Laura for thinking outside the vanilla box
and giving us a glimpse into her sanctuary-and a sanctuary it is.

Everything about her home (the colors,the chatchkes,the evanescent fabrics,the sense of
evolution...) indicates a place that is serene enough to provide calm and whimisical enough
to give energy and affirmation when required.

I agree that this apartment seems less focused on
having the "right style" and more about being
authentic and comfortable for Laura.

I'm certain she tried a lot of the ideas that I or
some of the other posters might prefer but they didn't work for her and someday she might change this one again as her needs change or she finds new treasures.

If my assumptions about this studio and its occupant are accurate,the sole and constant criterion for her decor is whether it's appropriate for this particular creative human being.

Thanks for keeping it real,Laura....