Who Lives Here: ElaineBoston
What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home? My subterranean bedroom. It’s my cozy little cave.
What was one of the biggest challenges you faced in furnishing your small home? The challenge: Finding a way to fit into my space without sacrificing personal style or breaking my budget.
The best resource: My local Community Education Center. I’ve taken woodworking, sewing and floral arrangement classes to help me turn my ideas into a reality. The classes were inexpensive and provided me with the basic skills needed to create a space that was truly my own. I designed and built bookcases, shelves, my bed, coffee table, throw pillows and window treatments. It may not be fancy, but I was able to achieve my goals without going broke.
I guess it’s true what they say about teaching a girl to fish...
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Good for you for taking the classes. I am all for learning these skills. Woodworking skills are so important. Good job on creating a space that works for you, designed by you!
view merl's profile
Although nice, the space is a little to "vanilla". I don't see any risk taking with the design at all. I do like the second shot of the bedroom and the brick wall also adds plenty character. Overall good effort but alot more could be done with this space.
view missbynski's profile
I love the brick wall, but it is way too busy. I think you could enclose most of that in a single bookcase. But I love two levels in just over 600 ft2.
view Usbek de Perse's profile
I love the exposed brick! Just out of curiosity, what's stenciled above the sink?
view FiatLex's profile
Kudos to you for making so much of it yourself! Makes the space that much more unique and personal to you. I think it looks great!
view WickedElf's profile
Nice TV!
view jw02114's profile
Very simple and stylish. Would be great to see some more personal and quirky touches. But I think this is a strong start.
view Trumystique's profile
Kudo's on the DIY and I love your brick wall!
view Hinke's profile
Looks fab! How high are the ceilings?
view mgothie's profile
Impressive. Adore the color the space, the texture and warmth. Lovely....
view mvo212's profile
Simply exquisite!!!
view brettphilly's profile
It's pretty nice (agreed on the brick wall), it just has harsh lighting.
view Deidre88's profile
Thank you all for the feedback.
I’d love some specific suggestions on what to do with that brick wall in my living room to help ‘unbusy’ it. I would like to preserve the warmth and old Beacon Hill feel that the brick wall provides. The ceilings in the living room are twelve feet high, so it’s a pretty overwhelming wall.
I followed these instructions (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/how-to/how-to-make-your-brick-walls-like-bddws-004202) in my bedroom to help create a softer feel. I don’t think this would work well in my living room.
view eburke's profile
"Although nice, the space is a little to "vanilla". I don't see any risk taking with the design at all." - missybynski
What a douchebag!
view irisheagle's profile
I think this is great; every single photo looks great. You definitely should be proud of yourself. Meanwhile, I'd like to point out that that it's not necessary for every single person in the contest to have been able to execute each bit of their decor, because deciding and choosing and having a good curatorial eye is really one of the big things that helps a place come together.
But in this case, she's DEFINITELY got that; plus she's got the get-up-and-get-to-it to actually pursue resources to get extra skills to make it happen herself, instead of just sitting around waiting for money to roll in.
That's definitely cool.
view Curtis's profile
Nice work Elaine, the coffee table looks great!
view Joey's profile
Please leave missybynski alone!
view Kashif's profile