apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Super super cool. Love the unique style and the boxing sign above your bed!

YAY! Midwest represent <3

I'm drooling over your sofa.

I love this place! Especially the living room. Outstanding. I want to see more of that chandelier. I wish the kitchen wasn't so modern though.

You get my "super cool" vote based solely on the amateur boxing sign above your bed. Well played.

strange, neat.

Amazing!!! Eclectic, chic and cool!

I love everything about this except for the tract lighting over the doorway to the kitchen. Otherwise, daring & unique. I wish I had the vision and the stones to combine all of those different elements in one space.

I love the pendant bedside lamps! And the antique finds! Clearly this apartment is the product of much devotion.

Fantastic!

Wow.

I love the mini-chandelier lights by the bed. Great sofa!

Finally, a non-showroom feel that actually has taste.

I really love this entry so I voted super cool.

But I must temper it with a general observation about the entries I've viewed so far (maybe I've missed something). While I see spaces that are nicely put together with furnishings and color, I don't see much in terms of creative use of a small space, as I've seen in the past, creating storage in unexpected places etc. or multiple uses for one piece of furniture.

Great personal feel to it. Love the Boxing Post above the bed! But I don't see how this apartment adds up to 557 sq ft. Does that include the terrace? Ah, real estate marketing....

are you serious? i love it!!! This is so awesome. i would have voted winner off the living room alone.

c'est tres chic, mademoiselle!

Love it! The odd, beautiful objects feel as though they really belong in this space.

Most of it works for me, except for the track lighting and the sleek modern kitchen.

I really love the shelving unit in the living room...the one on castors.

The gritty accessories keep the "fancier" stuff from taking over. I love the mix. Beautiful light, and gorgeous floors!

Oo la la!

Usually that coffee table would send me screaming from the room, but somehow you made it work. Super cool.

Simply beautiful. Wonderful contrasts: the blue davenport against the butter yellow walls, victorian and rustic and those wonderful chandeliers by the bed! The only contrast that really didn't work as well for me was the kitchen. My guess is the kitchen was there when you moved in, and all the rest is your exquisite taste.

Really lovely...I'm very impressed!

I am with KidMoe EXACTLY. Perfect, except that track lighting and the kitchen. Other than that, fabulous. The couch is awesome.

PLEASE tell me more about the sofa!

I love this place, but I must beg one thing of you - get rid of those pillows on the sofa! They are obscuring the most AWESOME sofa I have ever laid eyes on!

I would bite off someone's ear for that boxing sign.

Wow! I love what you have done! Great mix of furniture. Absolutely beautiful!

Yes, love the sofa, love the living room, the chandelier, the color combinations, the rugs, the zebra. Love. I think you also deserve points for having a very weird layout and making it feel ok. Is there really no wall between your bedroom and living room? And, bed facing kitchen? eek. In lesser hands, this floorplan could be a disaster.

dynomite.

"I don't see much in terms of creative use of a small space, as I've seen in the past, creating storage in unexpected places etc. or multiple uses for one piece of furniture."

Agreed. The only one I can think of is the SS Waverly. But I still love this place for making living room and bedroom into one coherent space without feeling like a typical studio.

That boxing sign by itself wouldn't do it for me. But that boxing sign above a bed that has those chandeliers and with the wall that color and with the bed looking that great, and with that great sofa DOES do it for me. I like this a lot.

I love the mix of odd scale -- the tall headboard with the low-hanging chandeliers, the tall thin dresser opposite the solid bed... Yes, the boxing sign and that yellow wall too. All unexpected and surprising. No furnishings I would ever buy for myself and yet absolutely stunning (and all mixed together) in your place.

Hurray!! Columbus! Is this one of the newish places in the Arena district?

I adore the bed and must see more of that shelving unit.

my favorite of the contest! love this!

I adore the living room very French. What color are the walls in the living rrom, tryig to find the right grass green, yellow and that is a lovely color.

Yeah Columbus! Even Buckeyes have style!!

Great mix and scale and just well-curated and put together. Bravo!

I just love seeing an entry that's not MCM being voted as SuperCool. Well done!

Brilliantly executed. I think Suzi has done a great job of communicating her love of things French, while acknowledging that she is working with a modern American apartment (e.g., new kitchen, no mouldings). The carefully selected 'Frenchy' stuff doesn't look costumey or over-ambitious, nor does it look cutesy/theme-y.

And I would refute the argument that she has not shown good use of the space. True, there are no hidden swiveling storage cabinets or multifunctional furniture (that we can see), but she has made excellent choices in editing stuff so that she doesn't need those tricks in this truly small space (and Suzi clearly likes stuff). That's maybe the coolest thing about the place.

Finally I see something that can be a winner.

The chandeliers by the bed! *drools* Oh and that lovely venetian looking mirror in the living room..oh my *smiles* I gave you a cool!

My favorite so far, tres chic! Love the sofa and the chandeliers!

love the boxing sign and it's placement! too clever! makes you wanna wrassle!

I love the way you did everything so eclectic.

I'm really not a fan of that rug under the coffee table, I don't know why, but it keeps bugging me. Also the bench outside looks so rusty I wouldn't want to sit on it, but I like the height and placement of the trees, nice. Maybe get a cool, long cushion for the outdoor bench.

I did give it a cool though. I'm loving the bed, and the boxing sign is just too funny!

I gave you a super cool, as this place really is. I'd love to visit and just relax, as I'm sure you feel when you get in from work or whatever. You've put it together very well. Cudos.

The seafoam blue velvet sofa is beautiful. And I pretty much agree with everyone that the place is crazy, eclectic, and cool.

Super cool!!!! Love the sofa, the chandeliers, the collection of glass on the coffee table, and storage unit, the sign over the bed is great... basically everything (the kitchen would be an exception, but what can you do?) This is so great! And you would never know it is in Columbus OHIO???? Get out! I live just outside of France (Belgium) and this is high style over here, what you see in the magazines. Good job!

I like this space. I wish there was more cohesion between the pieces. Each piece is outstanding, yet unfortunately they seem to stand out...I still rated this super cool because the space is great and the tiny kitchen seems so upscale.

The coffee table is the UGLIEST thing I have ever seen and brings be back to the 70s/80s when my mother had the same one with a couch that had pictures of houses and horses on it.......yet this works and it fits. I love it.

Some amazing pieces in this flat. The only thing that didn't work for me was the kitchen.

Super cool. You perfectly captured the classic French way of decorating -- mixing antiques and new things to create a highly personal style. A magazine will probably be calling soon.

I like the atmosphere but it is a bit extravagant for me.

Everyone agrees, the chandelier is a beauty. Please, can you tell us anything about it?

Faith - This space is in the Yukon building in the Short North (the former Functional Furnishings space). It was part of last summer's Victorian Village home & garden tour.

Love this space, by the way. I've thought of it frequently (every time I consider downsizing) since seeing it on the tour last year.

Definitely not my style but well executed nonetheless.

My favorite entry so far! WOW!! I love the juxtaposition of different centuries as well as styles!

I toured this building last summer when they were first selling units and am totally shocked that it's the same place! The show unit was all done in splashy bright colors and plastic furniture ... this is quite a departure! Your personal style is really incredible. Kudos to you, and hooray for Columbus!

Quirky mishmosh. I do like that sofa though, and agree different pillows. HATE the giant fly in the kitchen. Too much going on.

For a girl, and antiques...totally not overly feminine and frilly (this is actually a compliment).

soo not my taste but i soooo love it anyway! everyone is right, what a wonderful way to mix and match tastes so that everythign goes well together without seeming stuffy at all. loads and loads of taste. well done!

Swoon

Wow, just wow. So tasteful and fun.

The monster fly aside, this place has an audacious charm. Nice job with the photography, too. Good luck!

This is my FAVORITE. I love it because it's ecclectic and not the formula of
1 ghost chair
1 zebra rug
1 ikea pendant lamp

(although I do like these things myself :-)

Great taste, great style.

So charming. What a dainty touch to have a tiny footstool to step into one's bed; and yet the boxing sign, among other touches, keeps this place from being twee. Trophy!!!

What a fantastic apartment. I adore your unique style. A nice break from the cookie cutter places we've been seeing.

i wanted to love it but i have to only give it a B . i don't think you totally pulled it off, but i like that you tried and it has some really nice elements. why it doesn't work for me is it looks forced instead of natural. nice to see something different too! which i think is why everyone is responding so favorably, in part.

Oooh la la lady, tres chic.

I second the questions about the chandeliers by the bed, I've been looking for something similar for a while, everything I've seen is either way out of my price range, or oversized for hanging above my bed, or too blingy (is that even a word?)

Beautiful sense of style here....

OH NO....that's all I can say about this flea market experience. thanks for the laughs.

hands down, the winner!

I just registered to say that that sign over the bed is the coolest thing I have ever seen in AT.

Now that I de-lurked I won't shut up. :)

The best entry so far......

Love!

I was so in love with your space - It's so whimsical and classy, I was going to judge it "Super Cool"...

...until I got to the IKEA kitchen. It sticks out like a sore thumb and looks cheap and poorly thought out compared with the rest of the place.

What a shame...

I think your living room is perfect. Would you please tell me the make and color on the walls?

I agree with everyone about the kitchen. I love your style but that antique sitting on on top of the kitchen cabinet looks weird and is not pulling it together. Changing out the tract lighting and taking the doors off the kitchen cabinets would go a long way toward working this space in with the rest of the apartment. Otherwise, very cool, good job!

71 comments later, all I can add is this is the way to do this style - ruthlessly! No holding back on textures, patters, or scale - and it all works. Other in the contest have attempted and failed- this is the real deal!

really great. I'm inspired by your use of textures and patterns.

I agree about the kitchen and the tract lighting; it seems out of place, especially the accessories...can you see the fly from bed?!

I've never been a fan of the covers over cords...I don't like drawing more attention to them but it works in your room.

What is that cabinet on the wall above the chest in the bedroom?

Well done. I want to see more of that chandelier - who made it?

I LOVE THIS!! I love your petrified wood coffee table. Too cool. Beautiful too. You are rocking my idea of the mini chandeliers over the nightstands. Cool!

i'm diggin' it. i kind of what to check it out sometime; wow.

I just had to come back and reiterate that this is my favourite so far. Just swoon-worthy.

Great space.. but the sign... ADORE!

What a lovely space!!

Cookie cutter MCM? I don't think so! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this. Congratulations, I hope you win!

This is very nice and that sofa and its beautiful blue color has me wanting to change my color scheme at home.

This is beautiful. You have obviously spent a lot of time and patience searching out things you really love. Very personal.

tray sheek as they say in france.

i wrote you a haiku:

need to come over
for a glass of wine (or two).
please help me with mine?

Stunning space. Someone should declare cookie cutter modern officially dead.

Just adorable! Very well done.

I love most of it, especially the blue velvet sofa, the bed, the sign above the bed and the chandeliers.

Love to see different pillows on the sofa and no more fly!

wow, so the living room and the bedroom is one big room, but two completely different spaces. genius.

I miss living in Columbus, love the Short North and Gallery Hop.

Agree - much swoonliness here!!

Can't add anything that hasnt already been said...

Hooray for a fellow Buckeye!!!!

Love that you've obviously made it your own. And the sofa is a great colour!

I love the electic style of the living and bed room. The kitchen doesn't exactly go, but you probably didn;'t have a choice there. Still, probably a great kitchen for preparing meals. Like everyone else, love the chandeliers in the bedroom and that bed is to die for. Super cool from me.

equal parts chic and sleek, old, new... J'aime la juxtaposition

I want that sign so badly!

Thanks for loving the "branchelier". It is a hand crafted eco-delight available at a cool shop in Columbus.

Hi Suzi - I was actually wondering about the bedside chandeliers? Can you tell me the source? thanks, lovely place.....

and to all of the kitchen "non-enthusiasts..." yeah, I had no choice. I was comfortable with the mix of modern and rustic, but would have gladly traded the fridge and stove for one of those colorful SMEGs that you see in all of Brit mags.

....and I CANNOT believe you hawk-eyes saw that fly. It was a gift many years ago from a start-up manufacturer. What can I say? Last years' skull is this year's insect.

The bedside chandeliers are antique/vintage. I have a strict rule: Never break up a pair. You will always regret it. You can always split them in your space or store away the other piece...but when the time comes...you will be presented with that need for balance. Still mad about chair purchase a few years back.

It's perfect, no less than I would expect of someone with such a fabulous eye!

This is the best entry!!

I love how you took a modern space and filled it with vintage/antique pieces from all eras. Great job - you should be proud.

(Oh and in regards to the "light fixture" in the kitchen and the LAME comments about it, it looks to me like it came with the space and to be honest its actually fine given that your kitchen is modern.)

What a great space to live in! Love it!

I voted Super-Cool! The kitchen is perfect because updated kitchens are a MUST when it's time to sell since the "decorating" doesn't come with the place (who doesn't get this?). The fly, the boxing sign, sofa, etc. are evidence that you didn't decorate to win contests, you decorated because you've got a sense of style---something that cannot b purchased.

p.s. What's with the "not a good use of space" comments? Everybody doesn't need to store a bunch of useless crap. Then again, maybe people want you to install a home office on the terrace. You can't please everybody. :o)

The kitchen as it is isn't bad -- she's brought in a few vintage pieces to soften it. If this is a new building/buy (which is the impression I'm getting), it would be incredibly wasteful to redo the kitchen. Not to mention if she wants to resell, it will probably resell better if the kitchen is left as is given the current trends.

As it is, she's done a great job of bringing different styles together, which is what counts. Even if the kitchen would be better if it were less modern.

My only quibble is I agree that the sofa pillows don't quite fit, though they aren't egregious. What I DON't like at all are the two pieces of art flanking the mirror.

I think this is really a commendable space altogether. I wish we could see the chandelier above the coffee table a little better. It looks like it's fashioned out of twigs or antlers painted white.

Oh, and I'm not quite sure what that zebra thing is on the other side of the (very cool imho) coffee table....??? That scares me just a little.

Absolutely fab-u-lous! Eclectic, creative, feminine and a great use of space.

The Louis-whatever Euro furniture is cool, but the kitchen and mouldings somewhat spoil the illusion.

Oh. My. This is the absolute best. I didn't see all the entries, just the four finalists, and you simply MUST be the winner. Wonderful space you have created for yourself.

Thought provoking and sexy! This apartment makes me think...and anyone who has traveled Europe, France in particular, will note the influences. Great color and texture contrast, keeping the eyes attention from room to room.

This is apartment is by far and away the winner. Love. it.

I think it's absolutely beautiful. And it's girly, but not in an icky way. So many french-ey feminine apartments have a fussiness going on that is totally emasculating. I usually cannot picture myself having sex in a feminine french-ey space.

But the difference here is wit; the designer here has a great sense of humor about her space, the subtext is very WTF...rock and roll.
I think humor is the rarest element in design. Hard to pull off with a such an effortless light touch. Much harder to pull off than the turquoise sofa, the gnarly cocktail table, or a giant fly. The elements may be by themselves dissonant, but the hand of the editor has made a space of wit and beauty.
Bravo Suzi!

Lovely! This space is begging for old-school cocktails from a vintage shaker and ditties from Nina Simone or Sara Vaughn in the background. It is comfortable and cozy without being cramped. I would only add one thing--flowers to the balcony!

Amazing, amazing amazing! This uber cool small apt. is so inspiring for someone who has always had a small space and never known what to do with it...can you please come decorate my space!

J'adore.

Ich liebe es. Gut von den vier!

I have long struggled with the eclectic thing...how to mix vintage and new, rustic and slick and tactile and sleek all together. This really accomplishes it well- and in such a small space which is all the less forgiving and the more foreboding. Impressive!

Wow! I find this aparment incredibly inspirational. It's amazing how this ecelctic approach comes together in such a harmonious fashion. Clearly, Suzi has shown us all how to think beyond the small box and go where no small apartment has had the Chutzpah to go!

And love the bug please, please tell me where to find more?

MJBCP

the pale yellow wall paired with the turquoise sofa is seriously....perfection. i'm saving that picture onto my computer.

Not my style at all but it is still amazing! Well done.

you should have been the midwest finalist for sure! this place is awesome - love the light and high ceilings - it's amazing!

I'm kind of heartbroken that this wasn't a finalist...

I love everything about this home. I'm very curious...where di you find the large bolster pillow?? I think that is what it's called.

I think this is my favorite from all areas. Nice work Suzi and Midwest represent!!! If you have a chance I would love to know what colors you used in the living and bedrooms, they are muted but lovely.