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Small Cool 2009: Deckbd's Downtown Loft
LIttle Division #19

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Who Lives There: Deckbd and his wife Hillary
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Size: 694 square feet

What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home? We love the wide-open interior of our downtown loft. The building is a former 1920’s hydrogen peroxide factory and has a lot of history and character. Our space still includes many the original industrial elements - including exposed ductwork and brick walls, but our favorite feature is the 15” high timber beam ceiling. Not only do the high ceilings open up the small space, they provide character and warmth that you do not get with today’s typical white ceilings.

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What was one of the biggest challenges you faced in furnishing your small home? In any small space, finding sufficient storage solutions can be a challenge. We kept asking ourselves, "How do we utilize our space without seeming too cluttered?" Our solution was to tear out the old closet and add four 7.5 foot wardrobes near the bedroom and wall to wall built-in shelving under the windows, creating space to store office supplies, files and provide a decorative display area.


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Comments (25)

That is one funky floorplan. The entry is in the bedroom?!

posted by erinpeace on April 10th 2009 at 11:44am
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Urban and comfy--it's nice.

Ashley
http://rainycitystyle.blogspot.com

posted by RainyCityStyle on April 10th 2009 at 11:48am
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yes....the bedroom entry is a bit awkward, but it is a conversion loft after all and a lot times that's what you get, so you just have to be creative. Perhaps they might be able to build a 3/4 high wall next to the door...that might help.

posted by jp555101 on April 10th 2009 at 12:05pm
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Not shown in the diagram, but we built a 6'x5' wall covered in grasscloth that hangs from the ceiling to provide some privacy. You can see the edge of it next to the nightstand.

posted by deckbd on April 10th 2009 at 12:11pm
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It's a very unusual floor plan, that's for sure! I love that even with areas/rooms jutting out at all angles, there's still a clear sight line from the front door straight through to the far end of the living room with the huge windows.

Anyhow, I think you did a really great job furnishing and laying out the space.

posted by Krissy B on April 10th 2009 at 12:47pm
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Really nice space, love the living room. I'm curious to see the kitchen though, and the slither of the wall covered in grasscloth looks very cute.

Very nice job overall, especially with the (as everyone else has pointed out) super unique floor plan ;-)

posted by missnic on April 10th 2009 at 1:00pm
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I actually love the curve in the floor plan! the bed at the front of the apartment might be a little odd but it is probably much Quieter if you live on a noisy street. It breaks away from the long cave like looking shotgun feel! Nice furnishings, colors, and texture!

posted by keifers on April 10th 2009 at 1:56pm
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I like the pillow.

posted by FilthyMcNasty on April 10th 2009 at 2:17pm
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Love the floor plan! You've done a great job, it feels so urban and yet really cosy ad welcoming.

posted by littleinkpot on April 10th 2009 at 3:35pm
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What a great space! I love the giant letter B.

You can shop for the BE NICE OR LEAVE pillow here (and others just like it): http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23098682

posted by alexandra ferguson on April 10th 2009 at 3:37pm
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Where do you put the baby?!!! -Wayner

posted by Wayner101 on April 10th 2009 at 3:59pm
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From Wayner again. Awesome!!! Class act.

posted by Wayner101 on April 10th 2009 at 4:00pm
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Great space! I agree that the floor plan is odd, but I think you did a great job with what you were given. Much love for the large graphic letter B and the Be Nice or Leave pillow!

posted by suzy8track on April 10th 2009 at 4:30pm
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You did a great job with a wacky floorplan.

posted by Kim on April 10th 2009 at 5:51pm
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Beautiful room...

I especially love the "BE NICE OR LEAVE" pillow... too cute!

posted by DharaHolistics on April 10th 2009 at 5:55pm
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Very wacky floorplan - do love the idea of the grass cloth separator. To be honest, at first glance I thought it was a wall until I saw the floorplan.

posted by ChrisGal on April 10th 2009 at 10:13pm
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did you make that wire deer head or buy it (and if so, where, pls?)?

posted by egay on April 10th 2009 at 11:02pm
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Wire deer head is from Z Gallerie

http://www.zgallerie.com/p-7423-wire-deer-head.aspx

posted by deckbd on April 11th 2009 at 9:51am
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Beautiful apartment. Where did u get the huge letter B? I want it so bad!

posted by misohungry on April 11th 2009 at 1:28pm
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The "B" was an eBay purchase. It is an old neon channel letter.

posted by deckbd on April 11th 2009 at 4:34pm
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Thanks for letting me know. I love your taste.

posted by misohungry on April 12th 2009 at 8:33am
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I want to say something like
Big B...little b...what begins with b? (Dr. Seuss for those of you who haven't read the book 1000 times with kids.) I just love the B! What a great discussion piece.

The floor plan is a little odd.....but it's those values that make these kind of places so funky and fun. I really like your place a whole lot.

posted by baileyb on April 12th 2009 at 3:40pm
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the white and brown(?) geometric pillow on the couch ... love it, where from?!

posted by ohhkristine on April 12th 2009 at 4:46pm
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geometric pillows can be found here:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22718615

Search for "trellis pillow" on the site to find other colors

posted by deckbd on April 13th 2009 at 3:53pm
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Great job! I would have been so tempted to swap the living room and bedroom -- but that's just me wanting a great big bedroom.

posted by MaeEast on April 29th 2009 at 1:45pm
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