Jen and her boyfriend recently moved into this standard grad school apartment and immediately got to work making it their own. This before and after is a true testament to the fact than even the most boring of apartments can be spruced up with a bit of DIY know-how.
It only took two weekends for Jen and her boyfriend, Tim, to put together this stylish living room. We're big fans of plumbing pipe shelves around here and in this case they bring a lot of pizzazz to a space that is otherwise lacking architectural character. And those oversize Scrabble tiles above the sofa? So cute!
Take a look at the full post and a lot more pics over on Jen's blog — insideways: White Box Challenge Reveal.
Images: insideways
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I love it! I too live in a white box, however the walls are kind of an off-white and the carpeting is beige. It's super boring architecturally. It took almost a year to accumulate decor that fit together in our box. We have huge, blank walls that I'm kind of used to and don't really want to cover up yet.
It's really nice for grad students--nothing I lived in during college compared:)
LOVE the couch! Where did you find it? Wonderful use of design. White box no more!
Rad couch!
What a fabulous transformation. Great style!
Anything is possible with that fantastic sofa.
I love the scrabble letters? Where can I find those?
I meant, I love the scrabble letters!
Love the scrabble letters and couch.
Really, really, really dislike the plumbing shelving. I just think the whole concept looks cheap.
I also like the couch and scrabble letters.
I also LOVE the couch. And the coffee table and arm chair and wooden boxes under the shelving. The pipe shelving itself looks cluttery to me, too many small objects in there, combined with the thin piping... but for a student apartment this is great anyway.
I think it's all fantastic, especially the shelving. Would like to see some kind of window treatment, but I can't really judge, seeing as I've lived in an apartment with sliding doors and blinds like that for over a year now without doing anything...
The coffee table is awesome!
Thanks everyone!! I'm really thrilled all of you get to see my space :)
Just FYI...
The couch is from craigslist (more details at this link): http://www.insideways.com/2011/09/new-couch-in-my-life.html
The Scrabble Tiles are a DIY (instructions here): http://www.insideways.com/2011/03/alphabet-soup.html
The coffee table was also a craigslist find. I loves me some gently loved furniture from c-list!
Beautiful! I love the elegant mix of styles you've created!
Gorgeous melange!
Lovely! I love the scrabble letters! How did you do that?
I have a question about the pipe shelves. You have to screw it into the floor, don't you? Won't that ruin the carpet when you take it out? I love the look but am concerned about damage, especially to rentals.
Very cool pipe shelves. I love that the cat is preening its rear in the first "after" photo! :D
I also covet the antique radio and vintage fan.
Goodness, that couch is such a find! And you can incorporate it into your design as you grow and graduate to different spaces.
Wow, a terrific transformation. And I too love the scrabble tiles - and I especially love that they don't spell anything out, it makes all the difference.
The cabinet on the window wall, is that Art Deco?
Tim here! I'm so happy to read all of your positive comments about our space.
@YoNella - We didn't screw them into the floor at all, just into the wall. You can sort of adjust the tension of the pipes against the floor by unscrewing the bottom pipe a little once it's in place. But it's very stable! I also glued some rubber to the bottom flanges, to keep the legs from leaving marks on hardwood as well.
@ArtsyGirl - that wall cabinet is actually an old Philco radio from the 1930s. We actually have re-purposed it as an MP3 player and speaker for my record player. Read about how here!
Love what you've done with the place,especially the coffee table,vintage radio-and kitties!The "after" doesn't feel boxy at all.I used to live in a white box too,God I hated that place.I never could figure out what to do with it.Luckily I don't live there anymore. :)
I currently have that same Lane coffee table, but I love the dual tone. (Did you guys do that?)
And I already have the Scrabble tiles bookmarked!
@Eileen, nope the table came that way. We bought it from a guy from craigslist who refinishes furniture as a hobby.
If you do the Scrabble tiles let me know :)
Just want to add another compliment for the Scrabble tiles. :-)
OH, HOW I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT SOFA IN CHEETAH FABRIC. YES, IT MAY BE SO YESTERDAY, BUT I'M STILL A BIG FAN OF ANIMAL PRINT. YEE HAWWWW!
GREAT JOB.