Midwest Semi-Finalist #4: Olivia Leigh's Limited Time, Lovely Space

Name: Olivia Leigh
Location: Chicago
Size & Type: 555 sq. ft. one bedroom

Original Entry: Click Here

1. Who was your favorite entry and why?

For aesthetics, I really like Becky & Chris' Nice to Come Home To (No. 8, Chicago) and Laure's Sparkling Space (No. 19, LA). Both have a light and airy quality that I aspire to, and both also use colour in fabulous ways, accenting, but not overwhelming the space. In terms of meeting the challenges of a small space, however, I think Daniel's Idiosyncratic Little Pad (No. 28, NYC) is stellar. I love all of the ingenious storage and organization, and he's utilized the space so well.

What's your next improvement?

I'm actually very satisfied with my apartment at present, especially given some of the circumstances that would prevent me from removing certain pieces or doing major renovations. However, I do have a few things I would be interested in replacing--a rather bland bookcase in the hall, perhaps a different couch. I'll probably be leaving my apartment when the sublease ends at the end of this year, so finding a great space will be my next major goal!

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Comments (12)

I really love your kitchen. It looks like it was all inspired by that rug.

posted by Laura on May 17th 2007 at 8:22am
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The aqua chandelier in the kitchen is quite fun. I'd hate to clean it, but I love it.

posted by Curtis on May 17th 2007 at 8:44am
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Congratulations! I love your place! Your use of colors is amazing as is your art collection. You have just the right amount of pop in your place. You've achieved a wonderful balance here. I love, love, love the rug, chandelier and tea kettle in your kitchen. Red and turquoise is a color combination that I have been experimenting with and I love it. You have used this combination with real flair.

Good luck and thanks for being an inspiration.

posted by peggy on May 17th 2007 at 9:12am
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I too like the sparkly aqua chandelier. You look so happy in the photo. It's nice to see a smiling face at Apartmenttherapy.com

Good Luck!

Tony G.

posted by Weasel Dearest on May 17th 2007 at 9:59am
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Thanks again, all.

The kitchen was actually started around the chandelier, and after I bought the rug to go with it, the red blue theme took off.

And that is my lovely friend Kate in the photo, Tony. I tried to get a video together but was having loads of problems, otherwise you would have seen two very smiley faces. :)

posted by OliviaLeigh on May 17th 2007 at 10:03am
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Thanks for the props! I'm looooving your chandelier.
Good luck.

posted by becky in t.o on May 17th 2007 at 11:58am
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I love your choice in colours (I just adore a bright colour palette... esp this time of year!!). Your photo wall is divine, as is all your other art work. Can you tell us more about yourart collection... it's all so lovely!

posted by 2009sunshine on May 17th 2007 at 2:03pm
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Agree about the kitchen colors. Gorgeous! Another highlight for me is the orange stencil (?) on the wall behind your friend Kate. What is that? Where did you get the idea? It's great!

posted by greer on May 17th 2007 at 3:33pm
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Terramia--All of the photography and paintings are my own or that of friends. My photo website is here. Photos in the kitchen on the wall are from my friend Matt.

Some of the other pieces:
Art behind the couch is a Marimekko wall hanging from Textile Arts.

Art in the bathroom is from Heather Amuny-Dey from Velocity.

Greer--The orange decal is from dVider. One of their pieces was actually the inspiration for the painting that I did in the bedroom, but after trying one of their decals, I can see the enormous advantages to using the decals themselves (days of work vs. about 5 minutes.)

posted by OliviaLeigh on May 18th 2007 at 7:48am
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very fun and sweet!

posted by saya* on May 18th 2007 at 9:22am
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Oh my gosh, i have the same idea on the IKEA floor lamp! =) I'm lining 4 of them to be used as a room divider. Love the Marimekko and your camera collection!

posted by FeliFeliT on May 20th 2007 at 7:18pm
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Would love to know where the kitchen rug and kitchen chandelier came from.

posted by breesf on January 15th 2008 at 11:15am
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