
thumbs up
Who Lives Here: Jenna and Scott
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Size: 765 square feet
What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home? The favorite element of our small home is the common living space. The majority of our home is one common room so we really wanted to maximize the functionality of it. We have a home office, music space, kitchen, dining room and living room in one! This makes the home very comfortable and easy to converse while cooking, studying and working.
Give Jenna and Scott 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? Our biggest challenge was BUDGET. We just got married and moved in together three months ago. Scott is in school so we are always looking for inexpensive ways to bring our home to life. We scoured some of our favorite design sites and magazines to get ideas and then built a lot of the furniture ourselves. Scott built the kitchen table from recycled wood and chairs from his grandfathers old workshop, we found the coffee table in an old dumpster and refurbished, built the headboard with directions found on Apartment Therapy, living room shelves are made out of $2 gutter trim, the bedroom curtains are plumbing pipe and fabric from a local shop. Our home is like one giant piece of artwork and we are always finding new projects... although now running out of space!
Give Jenna and Scott 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!

Do you have a Small Cool Home? Enter Here by April 13th!
This is very nice indeed. I like what you are doing and love how you have displayed your vintage pyrex colorware mixing bowls. I have a set, but mine has to stack and be in a lower cupboard for now.
If there is anything I can see that could be changed, the area run, while nice needs to be a tad larger and the front edge should be just under the front edge of the sofa and go out a bit beyond the ends of the couch to, again, take in the chairs on either side a little. I have the same situation but my rug is even smaller.
view ciddyguy's profile
It's nice to see fellow Kansas Citians in smallest coolest. Your place is definitely cool. I like all of the low budget improvisation.
Where did the sconces in bedroom come from?
view Midwestdiva's profile
LOVE LOVE this home!!!!
view summerlove's profile
It looks like you are doing your part to keep "everything up to date in Kansas City". I love that the industrial details are not chic things from catalogs, but actual DIY's which was the spirit of them in the beginning. Also bravo on having your curtains/blinds open, why have big windows if you are just going to shut the world out?
view Nancy_Claire's profile
Fabulous!!!!!! You did a great job utilizing the space that you have and creating a unique design. By being innovative and cost conscious you have a very inviting and trendy place to call home!
view donnaj's profile
You have done a fantastic job designing your home to fit both of your personalities. I love all the punches of color that bring life and excitement to the mood of the space. I can't wait for another visit!
view mehalvorson06's profile
I also LOVE love LOVE your new addition of the records display!
view mehalvorson06's profile
you found the coffee table?! so cute! i love all the colors in here... v. jealous of the kitchen. is that the convertible couch from uo? i wanted that...
view rlmesq's profile
The lighting and paint color add to the appeal of your home!
The stainless steel shelving in the kitchen is hip and functional. The rooms reflect a very creative, fun couple!
view nhalvorson's profile
The gutter trim shelves are a great idea -- I would have thought they were those pricey steel picture ledges. All of the DIY projects you listed really look like high-end design. Really nice job.
view palindrome's profile
Nice vinyl collection, I can only make out two... what are the rest?
And what did you use for shelves?
view hubiquitous's profile
Feist, Sufjan Stevens, Andrew Bird and She & Him, oh my! what are the last three?
view beric's profile
Awesome apartment! Loved how you used stuff from your grandfather's workshop for the kitchen table. Very creative!!
view research's profile
This is my favorite one so far! I love the paint color in the living room and the kitchen is amazing.
view groupie's profile
Great job and am so impressed with your ingenuity, recycling talent while working within a budget! You are inspiring.
view sassydo's profile
Stylish and cosy with lots of personality, really beautifully done.
view idontdobeige's profile
Really like the use of frosted glass to define an entryway.
view FJ!!'s profile
I love it! Can you please tell me he paint color that you used in your living room? Thanks for sharing
view sunrise's profile
You have done a great job.
view bzogleman's profile
How did you hang the frosted glass?
view mjs7640's profile
This is what your place looks like after only THREE months? Dang, I'm jealous. I've lived in my place for nearly a year and it's still not put together. Impressive.
I love the records above the couch.
You've got a beautiful home, well done.
view amazonikon's profile
Congratulations! Your home is beautifully put together. It amazes me when others can do such a stellar job in such a short period of time. Kudos to you.
The last record on the top is Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, 100 Days 100 Nights...good stuff!
view STYLeyes's profile
Wow, I'm not normally into the modernish, bright colours, etc. style but I just love this place. I think the darker kitchen gives it some sophistication and the neutral walls as well help balance out the colourful accents so it doesn't end up having that teenage girl's/college girl's dorm room look if you know what I mean. Great job, any place that gets me to like a style I normally am not into gets an easy thumbs up.
view sauceykat's profile
Paint is Behr - Garden Wall
view smhalvorson's profile
wow - great work!
view egay's profile
I love the kitchen. It's so perfect. If I had more than a modified hallway for a kitchen I would want it to look like yours. Can you please tell me where you're rug came from? It's exactly what I'm looking for.
view my_tigerlily's profile
rug is from urban outfitters last year but they always have a great and inexpensive selection!!
view carrj's profile
Beautiful home!
Where is the coffee table from?
view Auburn's profile
I think this place uses the most creative ways of decorating. Love the gutter trim shelves...I would have never thought of that. For barely being married 3 months I am in awe of how well you both utilized your skills to make this a wonderful cozy place and it looks as though you have lived in this place for years. Good job!
view desertflower's profile
Love the apartment! Great decorating with fun colors! Good use of space! Like your wall record display! Very creative!
view pmelby's profile
It looks like someone has some talent of using a small space in an efficient but interesting way. Looks like a fun place to come home to.
view neighbor60's profile
I *love* the coffee table!
view happiness's profile
That is a really funky kitchen table. Do the stools roll out at all? Or are they fixed in place?
view Elizcrtv's profile
Is that a tweed hard guitar case under the sofa!?! RETRO! I love the xylophone in the corner by the entry! Perfect for musical guests, they won't have to go far to get in a quick jam!! I also really enjoy you collection of vinyls... orange vinyl stools that is!! Excellent job at hanging that frosted glass, you guys are really talented!
view spencerniebuhr's profile
luvin' the space! my vote 4 u X a million!!! ;):)
view megsoli's profile
This place would look even better with a Herman Miller Aeron in True Black, but that Paong still looks super comfortable!
view spencerniebuhr's profile
Beautiful apartment. I actually love the dining table.
view knoi's profile
Beautiful! My favorite is the kitchen. Love it.
view sunny's profile
Anyone who can make a Paong chair that good deserves props
view brocktontriangle's profile
This is my absolute favorite so far. Lots of quirky design elements and so much personality. It's really fun and looks like a great apartment to live in.
view ooh_food's profile
Love to hear someone else who has to decorate on a budget! It is beautiful and the colors make the rooms so happy!
view letteretcher's profile
Beautiful kitchen - love the table and stools. What is the material on the big black backsplash?
view luna's profile
What a great apartment Jenna! Sorrt that I missed the voting deadline - hope you're in the finals!
view ktgolfs's profile
Why are we able to vote for this one again? The deadline should have passed?
view fineur's profile
Scott and Jenna, your space is spectacooler!!!! I love the warm and inviting atmosphere and the mellow uplift! Blessings to you!
view pmstb's profile
very cool!
view sararamaker's profile
Hopefully we'll see a DIY post soon about how to recreate your gutter trim rail shelves??? Hint Hint, AT!
view marthag's profile
Hi, I'm a reporter for ink magazine in Kansas City and I'm working on a story about small, cool lofts/apartments here in KC. I'm trying to get in touch with Jenna and Scott. If you're interested in being in ink, please shoot me an e-mail at sarah@inkkc.com. Thanks! Love the apartment by the way. I too am a fan of Pyrex bowls :)
view sarah benson's profile
I love the kitchen table... DIY?
view audhilly's profile