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Small Cool 2009: Emily's Wonderful in White Studio
Teeny-tiny Division #02

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Who Lives There: Emily
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Size: 300 square feet

What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home? My dressing space.

Give Emily 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? Trying to fit every piece of necessary furniture into my space with out over crowding the apartment.


Give Emily a THUMBS UP if you think this home belongs in the finals!
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Small Cool 2009, Teeny-tiny

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Comments (46)

I *love* the idea of using your jewelry as art on the wall in your dressing area. I may steal it.

posted by thenora on April 2nd 2009 at 6:52pm
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I love everything except the wall decal above the bed, although it does work in the space. Kudos on great space management and plenty of personality, even while minimizing the use of color!

posted by visualingual on April 2nd 2009 at 7:17pm
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I posted on my site earlier today about how to avoid chilly white rooms.This could have been a sterile, cold room but instead Emily wisely brought in elements of wood and beigey tones in the headboard, etc that soften and warm up the white on white.
This works beautifully.


Katy
http://fengshuibyfishgirl.com

posted by fishgirl on April 2nd 2009 at 7:37pm
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This is a very good example of small size living. It appears that you have everything you need and yet with only 300 sq ft the place does not look cramped. Also, you pulled off the decor very well, stylish yet functional. Good job.

posted by missbynski on April 2nd 2009 at 8:16pm
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The Deerhead is a nice touch!!

posted by Masonicboom1 on April 2nd 2009 at 10:05pm
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Love that headboard.

posted by Where You Hang Your Hat on April 2nd 2009 at 10:06pm
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Where's the xbox?

posted by kranitz on April 2nd 2009 at 10:47pm
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Does the tower bridge image above your headboard have personal significance? I rather like it. Your place has a nice airy feel for 300sq ft. Nice job!

posted by s_boston on April 3rd 2009 at 7:52am
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For 300 sq feet, you've done a tremendous job. Can I come over at some point and visit!? I live in the Chicago-area...

posted by BSteiney on April 3rd 2009 at 8:01am
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I love that clock movement with the really large hands! (3rd pic) I need something that big for an empty wall I've been trying to fill...anyone have an idea on where to get something that size?

posted by kgenesius on April 3rd 2009 at 8:58am
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It's small but it doesn't seem small or like a closet. I like it.

posted by FilthyMcNasty on April 3rd 2009 at 9:36am
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I had major deja vu upon seeing the first picture, then did a search and found the house tour from March 12th. Anyhow, this space seems calming.

posted by bluemonday on April 3rd 2009 at 10:09am
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I love the white studio. For it to only be 300 sq feet it feels much bigger. Its simple but very detail oriented. The wood in the space gives the room a wonderful feel. You've done a beautiful job.

posted by imanimiller on April 3rd 2009 at 10:42am
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This is really very elegant and serene. It's like a little jewel box.

posted by heather77 on April 3rd 2009 at 10:58am
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Little jewel box is right!! Like a tiny treasure chest full of suprises. I like everything you did with a mere 300 sq feet.

posted by drozak1 on April 3rd 2009 at 11:41am
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curious where you bought the headboard and if you did the over bed decal yourself or purchased it. i've been wanting to do a similar-type one for awhile.

lovely job on your space.

posted by crazygirlproductions on April 3rd 2009 at 11:42am
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The image above the bed is actually wood grain contact paper that I blew up and cut out. The design is not particularly personal to me, it's just a section of contemporary tromp loeil wallpaper that I was drawn to.

The headboard is from Urban Outfitters.

Thanks for voting!!

posted by Emily B on April 3rd 2009 at 11:52am
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i've never seen a bar counter extended out to use the wall space next to it as a bill-paying station. i love it!

posted by stephanie in orlando on April 3rd 2009 at 12:09pm
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Just not feeling it...it's a little too white for me. I, on the other hand, am a contemporary, bold type of girl, though, so my house is swathed in a blue neutral with bright red accents. ;) I would have loved to see the furniture drawn into the floorplan to see the arrangement at one glance. It's a little hard to get a good feel of the space without that.

posted by bfootnovellista on April 3rd 2009 at 12:17pm
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Stunning! You clearly have an eye for composition. The photography is outstanding as well.

posted by pentagramma7 on April 3rd 2009 at 12:33pm
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Love the rhyming clear glass lamp base and decorative bottle on the bookcase.

posted by Juliet on April 3rd 2009 at 2:48pm
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I am a minimalist at heart and this is by far the best designed living space I've seen in awhile. I want to move in! I need to hire you to come decorate my room as well.

posted by mrwhite on April 3rd 2009 at 3:58pm
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Terrific apt - artistic and neat, bright - very comfortable

posted by dscofield on April 3rd 2009 at 7:25pm
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I am also definitely stealing the jewellery storage as art. Are those just canvases?

posted by Ina on April 4th 2009 at 1:40am
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Especially love the antlers! xo

posted by daphne22 on April 4th 2009 at 5:30pm
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As tasteful as a Madison Avenue art gallery.

posted by emil on April 4th 2009 at 8:27pm
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The use of light, neutral colors really keeps the space open and airy. I am really liking the ornate mirror to tie in personality and glamor and avoid starkness. Well done there!

Some tips (if you're open to them of course!): snag some cheap lucite funky drawer knobs, borrow a drill & small bit, and install them on your chest of drawers. Will tie in the clear/glass motif you have working so wonderfully in the rest of the space. Also, on the same vein, the brown of the chest doesn't correspond to any other brown tone elsewhere. I suggest either staining to a dark brown (like your entertainment area) or (my personal pick) whitewashing it! Fabulous!

Secondly, the wall art above the headboard is, though lovely & unique, too small for the area. I would suggest either blowing it up bigger and reinstalling, or perhaps even using the controversial coffee filter idea elsewhere on AT!

The bed could use one smaller accent pillow--the key is to choose one that is tight, perhaps overstuffed, to bring in a more tailored element to the slouchy, comfy pillows! Great bed linens!

Where did you get that FABULOUS deerhead? I must have it!

posted by kristina22 on April 4th 2009 at 8:29pm
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Emily - Would love to see how you would treat a room with a vaulted ceiling. :)

posted by chaucer on April 5th 2009 at 7:55am
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I love the way the colours in the kitchen interact with the colour of white you chose. The bedside tables are the neatest thing! where did you find them?

posted by brocktontriangle on April 6th 2009 at 7:39pm
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I dont even like the all white look. But this apartment is light and airy and well curated. Its not boring because there are so many textures. Welldone!

posted by Trumystique on April 6th 2009 at 9:37pm
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In response to kristina22's comments: Emily's dresser is a classic mid-century one that should absolutely NOT be whitewashed. Emily, don't do it! This is not shabby chic! Its clean design probably has grooves underneath to open the drawers -- no frivolous knobs needed.

Your place is adorable and has the most character of all the places in smallcool. Good luck!

posted by fowlerin on April 7th 2009 at 10:14am
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this place is like a cool cloud of great design. i do wish there were something more impactful hung over the bed, maybe, but the 'i heart' button on the headboard is really fun. the restrained furnishings and space make those whimsical, funny touches really sing. i'm still in shock at the chicness of this itty bitty pad.

posted by jorgegomez on April 8th 2009 at 11:03am
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I love what you've done with your jewelry. It's hard to maintain it without taking up alot of space. Great Idea!

posted by sophiest on April 9th 2009 at 1:59pm
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This studio is great my niece lived in one almost the same and it always was sooooo cluttered.

posted by cheryl1 on April 9th 2009 at 5:21pm
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Some great elements, but not the coolest.

posted by Cally on April 10th 2009 at 9:20am
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This place is so serene. I love the mirror above the stove.

I agree with others that the decal would look better if it were bigger.

posted by albaloo on April 11th 2009 at 6:11pm
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Absolutely love it, Emily! Sorry im too late for the thumbs up :-(

posted by mariabcn on April 13th 2009 at 6:59pm
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Emily, love your space! Where did you get the frames for your jewelry? I really love that idea and i buy (addicted) a lot of it! Love this idea.

posted by ironcupcake75 on April 14th 2009 at 8:59pm
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so fresh and so clean clean I really dig the bright white feel!

posted by LittleChris on April 15th 2009 at 11:52pm
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Great place. Where did u get the curtain partition leading to the bathroom/dressing area? I have been looking for a similar solution. Right now I just have a beaded curtain separating my bedroom & living room. I was thinking of installing the Kvartal curtain system from Ikea, but would love to know any other resources out there. I like how yours are on a track.

posted by misohungry on April 22nd 2009 at 9:51am
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amazing.

posted by ajblase on April 22nd 2009 at 11:12am
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looney tunes. was your inspiration the psych ward you just got out of?

posted by bjkalin on April 22nd 2009 at 1:50pm
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this studio apt is beautiful !

posted by imanimiller on April 22nd 2009 at 6:41pm
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Great space - where did you get the book case and bar stools from?

posted by holiday1 on April 22nd 2009 at 11:54pm
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I've been looking for nightstands like those. Where are they from?

posted by rhagodfrey on August 9th 2009 at 12:52pm
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i love how the jewelry is hung! I'm stealing that. :)

posted by am_clarke on August 10th 2009 at 10:13am
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