Q: We have bought a Preston Sofa from Made.com in the praline brown color. The walls and carpet are neutral. The living room door is a certain shade of wood and so we are worried a different color wood won't look right. What do you think?

Name: Justice Darragh, voice-over actress/receptionist/photographer, and Ronan Gibney, tattoo artist
Location: Toronto, Canada
Size: 1,600 square feet
Years lived in: 15 (Ronan), 6 months (Justice); Rented

Justice and Ronan share this cozy apartment in Toronto, Canada. Together they have created a warm and inspiring space to live and work in. Ronan’s 16-year tattoo career has led him to a love of religious imagery, and Justice’s bohemian style compliments his, bringing in elements of the lively and unexpected. Both are visual artists and musicians with a love of anatomy and color, cooking and entertaining. 

Name: Stephen Siersema & Robert Quinones
Location: Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York
Size: 510 square ft
Years lived in: 4 years; rented

Upon entering Stephen & Robert’s home, one can’t help but instantly marvel at the natural light and bright pops of red throughout the apartment. The contrast of their blue-gray sectional against the red accents makes the room vibrant and inviting. Every wall is white, providing a blank canvas for the colorful and perfectly framed art, most of it created by artist friends. 

Name: Andi Forker
Type of Project: Kitchen Renovation — full gut remodel
Location: San Francisco, California
Type of building: 1890's Victorian condo

Living in a small space comes with its ups and downs. One thing is for sure: learning to do it right and keep it organized is an art. But once you figure out a system that works for you, it's like a well oiled machine.

Last weekend marked Boston's first SoWa Open Market of the season: the outdoor marketplace was packed as artists and makers of all types set up tents to display their wares. Though gorgeous sunshine may have discouraged people from visiting the adjacent artists' lofts open for the neighborhood's Art Walk, I made sure to stroll through, and left feeling inspired by their creative spaces. A browse through our Apartment Therapy archives yields provides a glimpse into even more inspiring places where art is made. 

Like this Small Cool 2013 contest entry? Favorite it below!

Name:

David & Graham

Location:

West Hollywood, CA

Square Feet:

950

Division:

Small

What I Love About My Small Home:

I like that it's as comfortable to hang out for one as it is for five or six. Some homes I see I wouldn't want to be in by myself, while others seem like you can't invite anyone over. It's really the perfect size.

A few weeks ago Jason wrote about blue outdoor furniture to match the springtime of his dreams, and now that it's finally sunny here in Chicago, I've decided to compile a roundup of yellow furniture to match mine. Here's a list of ten sunny tables, bistro sets, chairs, lounges, and rockers, all for under $200.

Over and over, when asked what baby item to skip, readers have urged parents-to-be to forgo a traditional changing table. Typically they're not very attractive and their utility is relatively short-lived compared to more versatile furnishings. This advice is especially true in small nurseries.