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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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Do you have a Small Cool Home? Enter Here by April 13th!
That is one funky floorplan. The entry is in the bedroom?!
view erinpeace's profile
Urban and comfy--it's nice.
Ashley
http://rainycitystyle.blogspot.com
view RainyCityStyle's profile
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.
view jp555101's profile
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.
view deckbd's profile
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.
view Krissy B's profile
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 ;-)
view missnic's profile
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!
view keifers's profile
I like the pillow.
view FilthyMcNasty's profile
Love the floor plan! You've done a great job, it feels so urban and yet really cosy ad welcoming.
view littleinkpot's profile
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
view alexandra ferguson's profile
Where do you put the baby?!!! -Wayner
view Wayner101's profile
From Wayner again. Awesome!!! Class act.
view Wayner101's profile
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!
view suzy8track's profile
You did a great job with a wacky floorplan.
view Kim's profile
Beautiful room...
I especially love the "BE NICE OR LEAVE" pillow... too cute!
view DharaHolistics's profile
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.
view ChrisGal's profile
did you make that wire deer head or buy it (and if so, where, pls?)?
view egay's profile
Wire deer head is from Z Gallerie
http://www.zgallerie.com/p-7423-wire-deer-head.aspx
view deckbd's profile
Beautiful apartment. Where did u get the huge letter B? I want it so bad!
view misohungry's profile
The "B" was an eBay purchase. It is an old neon channel letter.
view deckbd's profile
Thanks for letting me know. I love your taste.
view misohungry's profile
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.
view baileyb's profile
the white and brown(?) geometric pillow on the couch ... love it, where from?!
view ohhkristine's profile
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
view deckbd's profile
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.
view MaeEast's profile