Name: Christopher Abair
Location: Chicago, Illinois
I bought my small studio condo 5 years ago as an attempted pied-a-terre apartment, assuming I'd be able to upgrade to a one-bedroom after a couple of years and, since I'm a flight attendant for work and only in town a few days a week, figured it would be fine. However, like many of us, the economy hindered my ability to sell my condo. So about a year ago, I decided to make the absolute best of the small space I had and make it the most "stylin' studio" ever!
I'm very much passionate about interior design, and really planned out the space to make the most of the space in accordance with my personal needs: LOTS of closet space (even though I wear a flight attendant uniform, I'm a total, fashion-obsessed clothes horse!), an actual desk in which to sit and work on my Macbook, a decent platform bed that would double as a couch, space to showcase my personal artwork (I enjoy painting modern/abstract art in my free time!), space for my books and magazines (again, a magazine junkie) and a comfortable armchair in which to relax and watch TV.
I'm a mid-century modern enthusiast, and I'm also very much a fan of Jonathan Adler and his fun yet stylish sense of color. However, I'm NOT a fan of bleak Chicago winters--so I first decided that I wanted lots of color and a unified color scheme (I feel that's important in a tiny space such as mine). Purchasing FLOR tiles in my favorite colors helped me to figure out which colors I wanted to incorporate--chocolate brown, teal, wasabi green, and burnt orange. I'm definitely on a budget, so I've purchased many items from CB2 and Ikea but also floor sample sale items from all sorts of higher-end resources in the city such as Room and Board (my armchair) to Jayson Home and Garden (my studded brown storage stool which I use to store sheets/pillowcases). I loved the organic modern yet affordable white Real Good Chairs from Blu Dot, and how they helped to unify the white lacquered look of my CB2 TV trolley and file cabinet. The frosted glass bank of cabinets that I use for wardrobes are actually from Ikea, my vertical spine cabinet for books (the BEST possible way to store books in a small space!) is from West Elm, and my magazine rack is from Chiasso (also an excellent way to store magazines that takes up little to no floor space). Most of the artwork is my own--but I'm a huge fan of Rex Ray, who incorporates color in a fun way.
When I come home from a long day on the plane, I feel that I have a stylish space that really makes me feel happy to be there--in spite of its obvious size limitations!
Thanks, Christopher!
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Great job. I especially like how you explained your thought process. Starting with the Flor tiles is an interesting idea.
view aschultz22's profile
very cool! go chicago!
view youenjoymyself's profile
Very nice. It truly looks like a home.
view Kit_Kat's profile
I love the color combinations in your Flor rug and artwork. That teal blue looks really good.
I like those brown and green pillows - where did you get them?
view jamiealyse's profile
Great colors, great art, very nice job of pulling it all together. It really looks like a home.
One question: those books in the kitchen... they don't necessarily look like cookbooks. If they are, good placement (cookbooks are the one type of book I have no problem with getting spattered and battered). If they're not, mightn't that vertical shelf have fit in a more *protected* spot?
view mirandabee's profile
They are a decent distance away from the stove, so grease shouldn't be a problem for the books. Plus, he probably doesn't do much cooking on a flight attendant's schedule.
view am_clarke's profile
Uh, to me, this feels a little like the owner bought everything that was popular in like one weekend and furnished the whole apartment. There are some great pieces (even if they are a little obvious), but it doesn't seem to work all together. It just kind of seems randomly thrown in there. Too many colors that don't coordinate, too much stuff all together.
view teacupcake's profile
Great job! I like! You've given me a good idea by putting those matching green containers on top of the kitchen cabinets. I'm going to try that in my kitchen.
view jooly's profile
Cheerful and fun! Love those FLOR tiles.
view queenbee1230's profile
i absolutely ove his write up .... shows much how much he loves his space !!!!!!
view hima_vasu's profile
i think he did a great job making a small space work for him.
view davidsl's profile
Thanks so much for the positive response to my home, guys! Jamiealyse, the green and brown paisley pillows are actually Jonathan Adler, as is the large burnt orange/chocolate brown large pillow on the bed. Mirandabee, the books on the vertical spine bookcase aren't cookbooks--someone else was pretty accurate in that I don't do too much cooking anyway! Teacupcake, I promise that all of the items in my home I've collected slowly, gradually (I'm picky!) over the past several years rather than "buying what was popular in one weekend." :)
By the way, Chicago finally has its own FLOR tile store that JUST opened in the North/Clybourn area of Lincoln Park, across from Jayson Home & Garden. It's great to see the colors and textiles in person rather than just the catalogue--it's a great, affordable resource!
Thanks so much again for the compliments, guys!
Christopher
view Jetset's profile
I love your color scheme and your artwork. Very inviting place.
view rubytubs's profile