She wins. Her space truly is tiny and she has done a great job.

A-MAZ-ING! with that budget and that little space, you've done a phenomenal job of maximizing your space and editing your possessions! in my first apartment, i had a hammock too - and i actually miss it now! it's a wonderful way of conserving floor space and keeping things visually light. i think that while you had to rely on what was available within your budget, you've made very wise decisions in terms of the profiles of your furniture. it really works for you that you don't have a lot of stuff right now, try to keep it that way even if you can afford more!

Hillary! I adore your spac and admire your down to earth approach! Congratulations!

Considering what you have to work with this is super cool! It looks terrific inspite of its size and your budget. Great job.

186 square feet...it's the smallest for sure and certainly is cool. i think that the high ceilings and flood of natural light make this space look much bigger. i think it's great--you've created an airy, open, comfortable home on a very limited budget.

yep - excellent job!
You have chosen some great items that maximize the space and look of such a small place. You also lucked out with the kitchen - it looks as good as it could possibly be for such a space and looks like it has some decent appliances. Love the triangular table that acts as an unobtrusive extension to the kitchen workspace. Also love the loft bed in that it is built in such a way that you can kid of see through it to the light. Great light helps here too and I also love the hammock.

Well done

you've done wonders there. Congrats.

If your fan can operate in reverse mode, pushing air up and off the ceiling, you'll discover that having air rushing down your walls is less intrusive than having a downdraft right below the blades. I don't dig the design of your fan but a more trendy and probably quieter design would a most be 500-600 bucks from casablanca.

Tiny, pleasant, functional and uncluttered. Great Job. This is a serious contender!!!

I promised myself I would not comment on other entries, BUT...

Great choices. Amazing discipline. On a gorgeous day like today, I can't imagine wanting to leave this happy, sunny space.

This is my first comment but I just had to say WOW!

You did so much with so little. You should be really proud of yourself.

There is such a great feeling of lightness in this apartment. I could easily see it becoming claustorphobic in someone elses hands.

Good job!

Okay... I just have to ask where you keep your clothes because I see no sign of a closet or dresser. I know you say you have few posessions, but you're not a Franciscan either, right?

I just think that's part of the equation here.

Now I also have to hand it to you... managing in 186 SF is extremely admirable and it does look like you know how to make it work on a minimal scale... so my hat's off to you there. You get great light and I'm very jealous. And being in a WiFi zone is a HUGE plus... Wires do not need to complicate a small space. In fact, I think I need to concoct a good question for the AT community about that.

Congrats on your space.

Very nice. I especially like the triangular table that promotes placing "kneesies" with your dinner companion!

Oops, that's PLAYING kneesies.

Took a second look at your entry, and see that you mentioned a closet, but am still curious to see it

Wow, thank you so much for the praise! I didn't photograph the inside of my closet, it's at the end of the hall. That's where my "stuff" is. I can add a pic if you'd like. I also don't like the design of the ceiling fan, but it's a rental, there's not much I can do about it.

I normally don't like the loft bed in front of the window like that, but I see how she doesn't really have a choice. I would put up something translucent to cover that entire wall-maybe a shade (where did I see this recently?) or something so that she could roll it up and still have access to the window. It would just clean up the lines a little bit. I don't like the bits of fabric hanging from the bed. I'm not sure why they are there. I would cover the bottom of the bed with something so that it would seem more like a little room and less like being underneath a bed. Also I would try to divide off the kitchen a little bit somehow, but otherwise, it's a pretty good tiny space that actually does look spacious.

It really is admirable what you have been able to do in such a tiny space. It makes me want to give away everything I own.

I'd love to see a little more color in the bathroom, but I totally understand the constraints of a minimalist budget.

Looks great--but where are the books?

This is the kind of space that I would like to see someone with a crazy budget and imagination tackle. In terms of a $100 budget on this tiny space, well done! If you gave me $100 and challenged me, I don't even think I could have found a great chair. By the way, YOUR chair is great. And yet it looks so similar to that really bad rice-hat one that was posted for rating the other day. I like the fact that you can fully enjoy the sunshine.

By the way, is this a rental? If you own it, I bet you could work wonders with something built-in and high, or recessed into the walls. I bet those cacti from the last apartment would look great in here, too.

This is an incredible use of space. It looks terrific and there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that I would criticize.

Remember the saying "if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing"?

I know it's a contest, but I don't understand the negativity. And about the fan? It's a plain white fan. And color? There is color and it is obviously the amount she wanted.

Huzzah! This is truly lovely.

What's above the door in your hallway, to the right of the kitchen? Is it elevated storage space?

I really, really like your space. I would love to be able to rewind to that time in my life when I didn't have so many possessions. If I'm honest with myself, though, I don't think there WAS a time in my life when I didn't have so much stuff. I'm not a bell person, but I AM a book person, and a candle person. It's very hard for me to 'edit'.

Brava, Hillary!

I agree that you've done a tremendous job, and the result is light, airy, and most of all inspiring.

I've been looking for an apartment under 300 sq. ft. and can't find anything. I have about 600 right now and have decided that it's too big. Who needs a bourgeois sitting room--that's what cafes are for. I love your digs.

Charlene, I disagree. I think the colorful scarves are part of what make this space. The light shining through the fabric is celestial.

Just lovely.

CR--
I thought what TINY bit of negativity there has been on this thread so far is nowhere near where it's been on past posts. I saw it mostly as possible alternatives and truly constructive criticism.

To give a strange little angle here -- the pristine kitchen and paint job were wise investments by the landlord, because he managed to snag a fantastic tenant, apparently, who obviously appreciates the good things about the apartment, and who has worked the place into something very special.

That triangular table is genius in it's ability to offer space for a guest AND to give an interesting angle to place. In your mind, just copy and the other nice things said by others and paste them here. If you ever couple up, your future spouse or partner will be incredibly lucky to have such a frugal genius with a eye good eye in their world, because it's probably a by-product of a generally together person. Congratulations on a job extremely well-done.

Add me to the list of those totally impressed with your fantastic use of this exceptionally small space. The light pouring in those windows is wonderful. The minimal possessions and your careful placement of what you do have make this space seem even bigger than some of the 400+ square foot spaces submitted that are filled with more furniture/possessions. Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

Ding Ding Ding!!!! And we have a Winnah!

Perfectly lovely! A winner in my book!

Nah, I still don't buy the scarves. I see more the light coming around them than through them. If it was one big scarf, I think it'd work. However, I think the best thing about this place is that I still keep looking at it over and over.

super, everything.

great! really nice. So much light in a tiny space. I;d love to come home to a spot like this. Hmmm [looks around own apartment...]

Huzzah indeed. In looking at the other entries with such high quality pieces, I can honestly say I was only expecting to be a "dark horse" candidate with this one.

There is a story behind the tattered silk scarves, so they are more of a sentimental addition to the apartment. Actually, most everything in here has a story behind it.

Shannon, there is a small bookshelf that wasn't photographed, which holds a few books, etc. My clothes, shoes, etc. are all in the closet at the end of the hall. Anne, the small door above it is extra storage, which holds the large suitcase I moved here with. I have to borrow my landlady's ladder to reach it. Kudos to her for renovating this space in the first place!

For the record, and for Paul's Franciscan question -- I could be called a lot of things, but a nun isn't one of them.

Thank you, Curtis, for the lovely compliment, I've never thought of myself a frugal genious but I could start putting that in personal ads and see where it gets me.

It can be done! I encourage you all to rid yourself of objects which hold little meaning to you. Sell or donate them to those who will add more value to it than you could. So there you have it, a message from the laptop proletariat...

I am SO pleased to see your space. I just moved into a 250 sq-ft rental in Boston and have come to this contest site for inspiration. You have a little more light than I do, but otherwise the layout of my place is the same (loft and all)! Yours is the first entry I've seen that's both inspirational and realistic.

Thanks for showing us your space.

Looks like a childs bedroom, unless it is!!

loks like a childs bedroom with vey little thought gone into the overall look.

sy, didn't you read what she said about her limitations?
She even went on craigslist, which I think does show consideration for the overall look because she went through and found afforadable pieces she liked.

opps... affordable**

Hillary- is that a 3/4 size stove?? I'm looking for a stainless steel 3/4 size stove and would love to know where you got it.
Thanks,

maria
loves park, IL

It's a 20" range from Avanti. Try www.avantiproducts.com

Hillary, you did a fantastic job! And I think it's great that you are responding to questions and comments here. But I simply don't get the negativity and criticism. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you didn't ask for anyone's advice. You love your place, most of us here love it too. I agree with whoever it was above who said "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". Now enjoy your sunlight and hammock and your scarves... great personal touch in my humble opinion. Much love.

Patrick (too) - I don't think even a tiny bit of negativity is warrented - thank you Heather.

jesus christ, it seems so cozy. so whats it like in the winter?

What a great and homey use of the space! The kitchen is really great, very well renovated. I like the loft bed and the seating features. The only two things I would change are the chair under the loft (I'd splurge on a comfier, bigger one from Ikea or something, maybe slap a matching ottoman (one with storage inside)) and adding an area rug in the center of the apartment to help define space. Love the delicious colors of the bedclothes.

One more thing--maybe strategically placed wall or standalone mirrors would amplify the natural light.

You've got a nice, cozy place! My apartment is another snug one--203 square feet. I'm perusing these entries both to admire and to look for ideas.

I ALWAYS love cardboard boxes as furniture.

Truly tiny, and well, nice. It could still use more stuff, better furniture, a design scheme, and more color. But it is a nice livable, workable, bright space.

Thanks for the avanti info, Hillary. That's exactly what I was looking for. P.S.- I LOVE the hammock!

Thanks everyone for your nice comments. I've actually changed things a bit since I submitted these photos, incorporating some of your suggestions...

changed things...? now your scaring me...

Hillary,

Would you comment on where you keep your books? Also, I'd appreciate knowing something more about your table. Do you know where something like this can be bought?

Congratulations on your more than fantastic job! I LOVE everything about your place and am amazed at your ability to edit your possessions. So perfect! So clean! So calm and soothing!

I LOVE your use of the scarves unlike some of the critics. I am also amazed at your bathroom. I imagine your landlord handed it over to you in that condition?

My other question echoes another commentator's. What is your apartment like in the winter?

Best of luck,
T.

Hilary - your use of space and the way in which you planned it is really fantastic. Your apartment actually 'looks' bigger than it is. You definitely get my vote for the coolest apartment to live in. It is mimimal but your little whimsical touches just create that cosy feeling. Well done!