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Small Cool 2009: Design Debutante's Little Loft
Little Division #24

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Who Lives There: Design Debutante
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Size: 770 square feet

What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home? Aside from the floor-to-ceiling southern exposure windows in each room, I love the raw palette. Concrete floors, concrete ceilings, and renter's white walls allow me to add just about any combo of colors my little heart desires. And these days, that translates to TONS of bright colors that change OFTEN!

Give Design Debutante a THUMBS UP if you think this home belongs in the finals!
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What was one of the biggest challenges you faced in furnishing your small home? Budget. ALthough this is my first place, I knew I wanted a loft, and I knew I wanted it to reflect me...perfectly. I wasn't going to settle for the "first-apartment-bachelorette-pad-hand-me-down" look, so I had to get clever with furnishings and decor. I lucked out on my DWR sofa and Modernica chair by scoring them from a discount/damaged freight store. Most of the MCM items were found on Craigslist, which I love, love, love. For art & other decor, I love thrift stores, flea markets, & ETSY. The one goal I wanted to achieve with my apartment was to NOT have it look like I decorated it in a weekend from some big-box home decor store. Instead, I want my home to feel as though each item were hand-picked (as they are) and to hopefully reflect the countless weeks & (and sometimes months) that I gruelingly shopped in search of what perfectly screams "ME"!


Give Design Debutante a THUMBS UP if you think this home belongs in the finals!
Thumbs Up Voting is only activated for 48 Hours — so don't delay!

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Comments (53)

I would end up kicking those vases on the chest at the end of the bed in my sleep.

posted by Elizcrtv on April 13th 2009 at 8:48pm
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Would have liked a photo of the kitchen. I have a kitchen that needs redoing and have been searching for good ideas.

posted by williamsweyr on April 13th 2009 at 8:49pm
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I agree with Elizcrtv - those vases might make it two nights before they went crashing to the floor. Hell the whole credenza would get kicked so much it would break.

posted by ChrisGal on April 13th 2009 at 9:09pm
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I love your arrangements here. Where is your yellow and cream bedspread from?

posted by racheloncegentry on April 13th 2009 at 9:11pm
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I love love love your bedroom area, especially the bed itself, and how every pillow is unique but undeniably FITS there. The pink mirror is very cool also.

posted by ...Brittany on April 13th 2009 at 9:16pm
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Wow I friggin' LOVE this place! Very nice indeed.

posted by littleinkpot on April 13th 2009 at 9:30pm
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That is a gorgeous coffee table - just what I'm looking for! Where can I get one like it?

posted by SmallMighty on April 13th 2009 at 9:32pm
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I really like this place, not a huge fan of MCM but you've accessorized it and gave it your flavor. I love your artwork in pic #2, your bedroom mirror, the credenza in the living room, as well as your pillows throughout the home. I'm assuming your purchased many of them from Etsy, can you please share who, I've been searching for ones I love for the longest.

It looks like you've completed your mission, what a cool crib. Oh, and your TV stand is rad.

posted by sarrazak on April 13th 2009 at 9:39pm
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Quite quirky and cute. Also, love the mug-tree-turned-bangle-holder idea, totally stealing that one.

posted by Jesse Lu on April 13th 2009 at 9:50pm
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All the color is a little adventurous for me, but I LOVE what you've done.

posted by erinpeace on April 13th 2009 at 10:14pm
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Really, how could you go wrong with those windows!

I think you were more successful in the living room. The bedroom definitely looks like you did everything in one fell swoop. Not that you got everything in a big box store, but... it looks like you just moved in. I think that this place will lok even better in a year when everything looks more lived in/with.

posted by kushkush on April 13th 2009 at 10:49pm
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Oh I absolutely love this! The colors are great.

posted by Lillian on April 14th 2009 at 1:50am
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Fantastic windows! You've done a really great job with this place. Much better than most of the other entries.

posted by Jmack1 on April 14th 2009 at 6:40am
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I love the shape of that tall mirror next to the bed - where did you find that? Place looks great!

posted by WickedElf on April 14th 2009 at 7:19am
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The flow within the home is smooth for the most part. I admire the HUGE windows and all that natural light coming into the space. Also the MCM peices next to TV are very simple and clean. I like the added vase in the center with the flowers for added colors. Wish it where mine:(

posted by Loft_Lover on April 14th 2009 at 7:31am
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I feel like I would do something simular if I were still single and could decorate with whatever I wanted. Now I have to decorate a little more 'man-friendly'.. hehe But kudos on the bed...LOVE the bedspread and pillows..where did you find those? and I absolutely love the peacock feathers and mug-tree bangle holder. Never feel weird about your use of color, it looks amazing!

posted by poke on April 14th 2009 at 8:04am
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This space is naturally beautiful, but that bedroom is a little too over accessorized. Perhaps those vases would live a better life elsewhere? Anyway, great entry! Thanks for sharing.

posted by marc from vancouver on April 14th 2009 at 8:45am
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I love the mirror in bedroom. The colors in bedroom are awesome.

posted by Shang on April 14th 2009 at 8:52am
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Great digs! Can you please tell me where your art work is from in the first two photos? (More specific than Etsy would be appreciated!) Thanks for sharing!

posted by trixiebalto on April 14th 2009 at 8:56am
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I love the combinations of colors, textures, and shapes. So fun!

posted by Gvinton on April 14th 2009 at 9:03am
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I am in the same position as poke...hot pink (and many of the other lovely bright colors) definitely would not make the cut in our place, so I am a little jealous of your color scheme. Your home is really beautiful. Great job!

posted by jessicawrites on April 14th 2009 at 9:21am
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This is AWESOME. Beautiful, beautiful colors, great use of the space, and really looks lived-in without looking cluttered at all.

(As for the vases on the end of the bed, maybe you think you'd kick them off, but Design Debutante obviously doesn't, and she's the one who lives there.)

posted by Cheryl on April 14th 2009 at 9:21am
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i really love your space and think you're doing a fantastic job. you have some quality pieces and the space feels fresh. i also love the colours.

i've recently moved into my first place as well and am decorating from scratch too (AND using pink as an accent). i totally understand the whole "decorate on a budget/don't want my place to look like it's all from one store/etc." so i think you're definitely on the right track.

my ONLY thing would be the headboard looks a bit small for the bed. other than that - i could totally live in this space.

thumbs up.

posted by kiwi on April 14th 2009 at 9:48am
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Love all the MCM furniture and how its used. Looks very warm and inviting.

posted by suzy8track on April 14th 2009 at 10:55am
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It really looks fantastic. The only thing I see missing is a quirky little painting. Try this one on for size! http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc119/myislandartcom/IAT%20Picture%20Files/FivePalms_Large.jpg

posted by CaribJeff on April 14th 2009 at 11:01am
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Thank you so far to all who have given me positive feedback! It was a total shock this morning to see the email stating my space had been selected....I was more excited than a 5-year old seeing Santa!

Thanks again!

posted by designdebutante on April 14th 2009 at 11:18am
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Love it.....Love You!!!

posted by KRBurke on April 14th 2009 at 11:20am
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I love your place so much; it is totally the pad I would have if I was a single desingn student living in Kansas...:)

Seriously, I could just move in. Great job, the colours are great, accessories well placed and your furniture choices have a nice flow. What a fantastic apartment too, with all the windows....dreamy!

I, too, am curious about your stand up mirror beside the bed. Where did you find it?

Thanks for sharing and inspiring me!

posted by chilly on April 14th 2009 at 11:36am
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I love how you've decorated your space. I love all the pillows and your great MCM furniture!

I have the exact credenza/dresser behind your sofa with the black detailing. It's in my bedroom and my absolute favorite piece of furniture - a total score from craigs list.

posted by JNM on April 14th 2009 at 11:50am
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Loves it!!! =)

posted by K8tertot on April 14th 2009 at 11:53am
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I really love your place!

posted by kerri on April 14th 2009 at 12:17pm
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I love what you've done with this place - it looks very warm and natural and your furniture choices work great with the architecture. It is quite feminine, but there's plenty of time to incorporate a male point of view later when there's a point of view to consider ;).

posted by Matilde on April 14th 2009 at 1:11pm
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Wow! Talk about dare to be great! Your color choices are absolutely WONDERFUL! If I tried to accomplish your style it would just look like a big mess. You truely have a talent. Do you make house calls? Good luck to you...hope you win!

posted by cloftis on April 14th 2009 at 1:48pm
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By far the best entry! You have a great eye - and on a budget to boot!

posted by beckywymore on April 14th 2009 at 2:47pm
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So much to love!

posted by sleeping spot on April 14th 2009 at 2:56pm
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Your place looks great. It is very modern. I love it. Hope you win.

posted by Queensara30 on April 14th 2009 at 3:06pm
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The windows, the WINDOWS! I want them!!!
http://www.notyourgoddess.blogspot.com/

posted by Harpa on April 14th 2009 at 3:20pm
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Happy modern! And I love the furniture selection.

posted by amandaPlease on April 14th 2009 at 3:32pm
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Everything is so bright and happy, I hope I can accomplish that feeling in our new place.

May I ask where you purchased the sofa?

posted by als1 on April 14th 2009 at 6:48pm
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This place looks really cozy

posted by cjohn9976 on April 14th 2009 at 9:24pm
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where did you get your couch pillows and coffee table??

posted by lolopuffs on April 14th 2009 at 10:04pm
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That credenza besides your study.

Fantastic!

Love your house!

posted by Rajiv on April 14th 2009 at 10:57pm
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LOVESIT.

posted by tracey0408 on April 14th 2009 at 11:09pm
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thumbs up fo sho --- my favorite is the mix of colors and patterns on the bed

posted by tenderoni on April 15th 2009 at 2:48am
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I love your home and want to see more photos.

posted by Madame Is on April 15th 2009 at 3:54am
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Interesting design and use of colors and materials. The space looks larger than the measurements shown.

posted by nrmldude on April 15th 2009 at 7:50am
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Sorry, but that CD tower has to go!

posted by TerenureD6 on April 15th 2009 at 8:59am
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Man, you've got good taste. Everything is so sculptural. Even the bangle stand. Looove your bedroom.

posted by bejeweled on April 15th 2009 at 2:45pm
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I love the openess and light the windows provide.
By far the BEST!

posted by ruthcarolyn on April 15th 2009 at 3:46pm
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My parents have the same coffee table and end tables (one of which I now own), they are Lane Dovetail from the late 60's.

posted by SaraB on April 15th 2009 at 4:00pm
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Very cool space!

posted by LordGrant1 on April 15th 2009 at 4:28pm
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A similar mirror online.

posted by PY on April 22nd 2009 at 6:38pm
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where is this rug from?!

posted by closer on July 9th 2009 at 1:39pm
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