this is awesome.

sharp and clean...with cool turqoise accents.

Beautiful, just beautiful. Well done, Laura!

So cool! I love the blue and green.

definitely digging the color palette here... and that sofa pillow pattern is a gem!

This is a really attractive apartment. I love how you organized the space. It seems very light and airy -- the high ceilings certainly add a lot.

Very sweet and comfy, love the pillows. When you have people over, does the sofa area work? It's hard to tell from these pics whether you would feel like you're sitting in a hallway. The glass ball lamp in the bedroom - I know these are everywhere now, but I want one, so I've been making a list of sources. Can I ask where you got yours?

imoved to california recently and ia lready feelcluttered! im jealous of this person,, i need to get my shit together adn THROW THIGNS AWAY!

Love the way you've separated the living and sleeping areas. Gorgeous.

Adorable, great use of space.
Nice work!!!!

it feels very soothing and is definitely some place you can relax and unwind.

Oh god, I love this so much. And to think, I was feeling sorry for myself because my apartment is 350 sq. ft. When can I move in with you?

Amazing! I really dig your colours!! Fab job!!

Not trying to thread jack but how do you like it Santa Monica, I've wanted to move there for so long, but housing is significantly more expensive there than it is here (Vegas).

Your apartment is beautiful. I particularly like the chair's chrome legs offset by the curtains. That and the lamps add a note of glamour!

Laura, this is really an inspirational space and a testiment to your design prowess. With little room and few furnishings you've used color, design, and YOU to create an awesome living space!

Congratulations on making such an inviting and intelligent living space for yourself. All that and Santa Monica outside the window - you've done alright for yourself girl!

Love your apartment, and especially your use of color. But (unrelated to the contest), you should really not have your bed at the window and facing the front doorway. Is there any way to move it so the head is against the wall on the right of the floorplan bedroom?

Chic and feminine, and I love those colors. But I do think that the light over the bed is too small in proportion.

I think Cassis is right about the light over your bed--that space is so cleanly laid out that you could really choose a nice, bold fixture there. All in all, I think you've done a lovely job.

Dreamy ... I love the crisp blue and green palette. Where did you find the accent pillows on the chair and couch?

Totally outstanding. I want to live there!

Thank you everyone for your kind comments! It's hard to be the first one.

To answer a few questions:
-The lamp is from Target.com

-The pillow on the chair is handmade from a vintage table cloth, the pillow on the sofa is from a shop in Atlanta

-The living area works ok with people over. I can pull up the chair for a guest and the chaise is actually quite large.

-I rent so the lighting was already there. I might change it but the ceilings are so high that it would be quite an ordeal.

-Yes, I love Santa Monica but it is quite expensive (hence the tiny apartment) I think it's worth it

-I tried having my bed on the other wall but there is a window there too and I feel like the bed offers a nice focal point. It doesn't bother me that it faces the door. I can close the drapery if I want. (it's suspended from a cable)

Laura,

Your apartment is what my apartment wants to be when it grows up. Very nice!

I did the x-country, ditch everything you own move last year too. It does make for a good clean start over break, but I don't think I'd like to do it again any time soon!

Congrats on an excellent first entry!

Love the turquoise on the walls... and the painting in the bedroom. I'd love a close-up.

Nicely done.

Not my style at all, but good choices were made here - from the colors to the accessories. The only thing I think doesn't work is the lamp over the bed. Seems like it should be more boutique-ish, like a small chandelier or something. Love that green!

Beautifully done... out of curiosity, is there a headboard behind your bed?

WOW! The best so far. I loved the Brooklyn one, but this beats it for me. Great use of color without being overwhelming, so stylish without being trendy, totally classic. LOVE!

laura -

i love the openness of the space - great color choices.

Great colors.

too beautifull for words :-)) very well done Laura.

It's gorgeous, I'm jealous, what is that paint color?

This is very beautiful. I love your choice of colors and your simplicity. I am a lover of minimalism, which is always a dilema for me because I love beautiful objects as well.

I love the way you separated your sleeping area with curtains. Your pillows and your vases are beautiful. You have achieved a perfect balance. Very inspirational.

I also have a need to know the paint color!!! hehehe

Paint colors:

The turquoise is "Nocturnal Sea" and the main walls are "Almond Latte" by Dunn Edwards.

Thank you everyone :)

As they would say on Top Design its very "well-edited"....i HATE extraneous clutter and things...so this is lovely to me.

Very nice! Could you please tell me where you got the green/white shams and quilt/coverlet?

This is just stunning. What an eye for color!

The green shams are from West Elm (last summer). The white duvet is from Bed Bath and Beyond or something and the coverlet at the end of the bed is from Urban Outfitters.

Stunning..I have a space this size and right now my apartment is crying out of utter envy.

Very well done.

I love the colors and the amount of stuff (just enough to say something about who lives there, not enough to overwhelm the eye). I agree that it would be nice if you could find a way to change the light fixture and to at least try the bed centered on the one wall in the sleeping area without a window, the one with the chest of drawers on it now. I want to see the table/eating area too, but I realize you had a 3 picture minimum. Very nice!

There is no where else to put the bed. There is a window on the other wall (see the plan) and the opposite wall has the heater right in the center so there isn't enough room for the bed there either.

I personally like it where it is.

Bravo! This really illustrates how just painting an accent wall or two can transform an apartment. Peacock is a dreamy color. You are inspirational!

What great choices for wall colors and accent pieces!

Good use of color and restraint.

Tony G.

I voted Cool, cos I'm not sure of the apartment as a whole; I feel I don't have enough information to vote Insta. Although I'm voting Insta on your attitude! (I've done the leave everything behind a few times. Now I'm finding it hard to accumulate. Which feels good.)

By the way... the position of your bed is really making me feel uncomfortable....

I KID!

I didn't realize it was a window until I skimmed through the comments. I thought it was a lightboard or some other artsy-designer thing, something you could hang photos (or X-rays) on.

awesome

The more I see of additional entries, the more l like this one. It looks like an apartment "home" and not an apartment "store window," or an apartment "piece of art."

Just lovely - the bedroom looks gorgeous. Good luck!

This is a rental? I take back what I said about the lamp (I'm amazed you got away with the gorgeous paint), and am even more in awe.

Agreeing with others on your color choices. The turqouise accent walls are great! Your space is well utilized.

Great job Laura!! It feels like an ocean front escape.

I like this place a lot. Excellent use of color and space. Very fresh and airy.

Ah, didn't see the heater. Bed is where it is meant to be, then!

I esp. like the very clean-looking kitchen - those are the hardest to achieve an actual air of "freshness" in a very small space. Congrats!

I love the colours - it's so calming, and very grown up. This is definitely my favourite so far, by a long way.

Love the colors and light. Can you tell us about the chaise? I have been thinking of ditching the futon for a chaise.

Love the separation between the living and sleeping areas. So simple and works to create the separation of the bedroom without loosing the light from the window.

The chaise is from Craigslist so I have no idea where it came from. I'll try looking for a tag/label tonight and report my findings :)

I love it because it is deep (36") and at 62"L without one arm, it's big enough but doesn't feel too big for the space.

good god what is happening with the comments here?? is this a side-effect of the new system?

if it gets fixed--then laura, this is fabulous!

I love it!

You did a fantastic job with the small space. You made it look expansive, yet cozy. The sophisticated and chic style really reflects your personality. The blue is brilliant. I want to add it to my home! Sammy loved that color too and thinks your lamp is COOL!!!!!

So simple and beautiful.

In being a packrat, I can't help but winder where you keep everything!

:-D

nice job. i especially like the kitchen.

Velvetseas - I am not a packrat so that helps.

I've got alot stored under my bed and I have two overhead storage areas. One is above the closet and the other is above the kitchen. I have to get a ladder to use them but I couldn't live without them!

Very nice -I'll have to come by and check it out! Even better than your last place. You've definietely got some style : )

Such a beautiful shade of blue in the bedroom! Your style is so classy it looks effortless.

this is just drop dead gorgeous. yours is the only one right now i feel completely embodies small, stylish and functional.

I absolutely love this. One of my top three. Love the aqua detail in the kitchen. Beautiful, calming, so California!

Great stuff! Who says you need a big space and money to create something beautiful? The colors and concept fit the locale perfectly.

This is design: lively colors in pleasing combinations and a spatial layout with comfortably unique transitions. Very well done.

I really like what you've done with the place ;)

Great colors, I like your furniture and love the bed in front of the window!!

I really like this one and that blue is fantastic.

looks great. it's wonderful how you were able to pull it all together with very identifiable catalogue items.

I am about two years late on seeing this post but it gave me a ton of inspiration for my new studio. What type of fabric did you use to separate the space? It is gorgeous and looks like it lets enough light through.

Thanks!

THAT BLUE IS BEAUTIFUL