apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I love the space, good flow, great colors and design. One question: why is the "Keep Calm" poster propped against your closet?

Lovely place - feels elegant and cozy at the same time.

I love the flow of the space, and your sentiments about keeping it congruent. A lot of places segment off different rooms with totally different feels - which can work in a big space, but makes a small space feel even smaller.

I also love the brave choice of a womb chair in such a small space - dude thats a big chair!

Its nice and clean - but there's an awful lot of chrome legs everywhere!

Really nice choices. Doesn't feel like a DWR showroom even tho you have many an iconic piece.

love this space, fantastic floor plan allowing you a guest room!
keep calm, is upsetting me (ha) propped on the floor.
love the womb chair in your conversation/reading area.

Question... they look impossible to clean. Do they make a krypton version for dog owners? I'd really like to get one eventually but i'm keeping the dog ;)

Filled with art, and even has... gasp two TV's. Love.

This has no personality. It looks like a DWR show room. There's even the same stupid "keep calm" poster.

I feel like I've seen this before.

I think this is a great use of space, and they obviously have some wonderful classic pieces, but it needs a little more originality and character beyond what DWR has to offer. I think I would like it better if there were some vintage pieces mixed in with the classics, and I too am tired of the "keep calm" posters.

This is the first time in this contest that I have voted Super Cool. I love the relaxed, adult, put together vibe. It reminds me of those women who always look wonderful and appropriate but appear to spend no effort getting that way. It's someone I aspire to.

I love the way you have used colour (on the walls and in your furniture). Lovely home.

Grrrrr! Gwen & 20/21...Modernism (and therefore most of DWR's core pieces) is based on simplicity of form, functionality, and honest use of materials i.e. lack of ornamentation. All of these traits are ideally suited for small apartment spaces which is why they show up in a lot of these photos. It does a disservice to the homeowner to be dismissed because they have pieces that are carried by a major chain - whether its DWR or (the reverse) Ikea. As long as they are used properly and sparingly. In this case Adisorn did a great job, both formally and historically: the designs of Eames & Saarinen are inextricably linked back to their collaborations during the Organic Furniture contest by MoMA in 1938. The forms play off of one another - from the womb chair, to the Eames rocker in the media room. And having the storage units consistent throughout also enhances the sense of space- not chopping it up into individual parcels.

20/21 - there are plenty of vintage pieces included - the dining table & chairs, for example.

Great wall colors!

It is a nice place, but I echo the sentiments above; I would like to see some more individuality, especially to play against the fact that everyone seems to have a Keep Calm poster and Eames chair.

Beautiful wall color. Mind sharing? Lovely home.

Modfan, I am very aware of the history of the classic pieces and fully understand the idea of minimalism, and am a huge fan of mid-century modern design myself. However, my reference to DWR was due to the lack of personality and individuality of the space - it feels like a showroom, specifically from DWR. That works for some people, and that is fine. Just not my thing.

And my idea of vintage was something other than a classic piece, but rather something that would add character and break up the use of so many well known pieces of furniture. I think the place has some fabulous aspects and even noted my positive thoughts on the space in my first post. I just wish there was more originality in the execution of their design is all.

Why is the point "to be original"? Shouldn't it be, "fill your space with the things you love?"

I think the space looks fabulous, the wall colors especially. And no one has mentioned the super cute Hello Kitty wall art in the bedroom. I think there's plenty of personality!

Buying anonymous furniture adds personality? Funny, I thought things like selecting nice artwork, or having plants, or putting up personal photographs, or using pieces of furniture that inspire you created personality. If only the homeowners had done that here....


If they had one of each of the classics I would buy your argument...but here its SO cohesive (minus that damned print against the door). Its using the classics in a smart way rather than collecting one of each and using your home as a design museum.

this place feels huge. nice, restrained use of color.

It's a nice space. A bedroom, den, dining area AND outdoor space, all under 600 sf? I'm officially jealous.

I don't really understand the print against the closet doors, though.

Everything looks very "now" in a good way. I like the casualness of the print against the doors. Moving the slogan around would keep the message fresh. All clean and crisp and super cool.

Love your furniture, especially the womb chair (I SO want one!). Nice place!

Nice things but too much for the size of the apartment. It makes the place look cramped. So small, yes, but cool, no.

For me, this almost crosses the line into looking too 'showroom' but you won me over with the smart use of space, bright accent colours, some interesting prints on the walls, and an overall feeling of cohesion. Plus, it's hard to fault such great pieces, even if I do think this space would be just that little bit more amazing if you mixed it up with a few items of furniture that were not so well-tread. The difference for me, between this entry and other spaces where the occupant seems to have bought out half the DWR catalogue, is that you understand how to mix colours, textures and proportions. It just comes together really well and, no, having nice designer furniture doesn't guarantee that. Good job!

While i like the art work, and the flow, this just strikes me as another "i have the ability to buy iconic furniture" post. Yes you have good taste but come on there is nothing original here!

I am so over that keep calm poster, it's everywhere!

I could tell it was Chicago by the first photo, there seems to be a certain style that is prevalent in town (the wall color/moulding combo in your front room is EXACTLY the same as mine). I like what you've done with your deck, pretty. And... I think we may even be neighbors, if ADISORN is a hint as to where in Lakeview you are:)

I like this a lot. Very attractive and good organization to fit in a lot of functions.

The flow and arrangement are great and the use of colour and small details keep it from being showroom.

Regardless of how Adisorn arranged his/her furniture, those of us with a keen eye would still point and shout, "See! See! You shopped at DWR!" or whatever retailer is simultaneously loved and hated by this community at the moment. I don't know that there's a way around the 'problem'. What I do know is that this apartment feels like 700 rather than 500 square feet, and Adisorn is at least partly responsible. I think it's a success.

the floor plan looks like really great use of such small square footage-- wish I could see more in a wide angle lens!

None of the photos reflect living in a small space. If the contest was based on arranging furniture nicely, then sure, I'd have voted "cool" or even "super cool". I see the typical furniture and lack of character just like most of the other entries this year. Where's the small challenge factor?

Loving your paint colors in the living/dining area. What are they?

I want to eat breakfast at your place!

You know, when people bitch about MCM, DWR, etc..... it really comes off as pretentious and self-centered, whether or not you intend to. But hey.... at least the internet affords you that luxury, because if someone came into my place talking crap, they'd be shown the exit very fast.

I think it's lovely, but I agree with the other commenters who are over the "Keep Calm" posters that show up all the time on this website. This may be a double standard but I could see twenty different rooms with the same exact furntiture and if they're all arranged well (and differently) I don't care, but to see so many people with the same artwork drives me batty. I can't keep calm! That poster is obviously trying to take over the world and I am the only one who can tell! I can't carry on with that poster showing up everywhere I turn!

Of course, of course, if it's in your home it's not like you walk to all your friends' homes and see it there too, so if you like it, great. But don't come crying to me when it starts telling you what to do and enlists you in its army of destruction and turns you into a pod person soldier killing all that you love.

Ha ha! Thanks beamish.

Thoughtfully arranged apartment with great art choices. I am a fan of smaller tvs, like the one in the bedroom.

There's a lot of meaning behind that poster (actually a facsimilie). I'm British, living in NY and have one in my office. Items like this aren't about where you have seen them before, they're about what they mean. Look it up if you don't understand.

I'm well aware of the meaning. Doesn't make it any less...weird...seeing it over and over.

The whole point of the campaign (that didn't happen at the time) was that it was to be seen over and over. The fact that people are still seeing the message is testament to the marketing genius.

In fact, the governement could do with a similar message to help the current economy US economy!

*current US economy

I'm intrigued by that super-cool champagne-flute-flower-holder on the table...

Very calm and cohesive with nice colors. Not terribly original.