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Small Cool 2009: Soleil9's Art-Filled Home
Small Division #08

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Who Lives There: Soleil9, her husband and 2 cats
Location: Royal Oak, Michigan
Size: 1024 square feet

What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home? The various sizes and styles of art that we enjoy.

Give Soleil9 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!
 
 

What was one of the biggest challenges you faced in furnishing your small home? Finding furniture that wasn't oversized. We had to make our dining room table since most were too large for the space. Also we used modular carpet tiles to help define two connected areas as separate spaces. Also, using curtains instead of a wall as a visual barrier helped enhance the space.


Give Soleil9 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 (51)

thumbs up for those cats. awesome.
some areas, like the kitchen, seem a bit plain, but i like the living room, kitchen table and chairs, computer desk...

posted by lab director on April 10th 2009 at 8:42pm
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Love those kitties!

posted by sassydo on April 10th 2009 at 8:43pm
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great colors, especially the dining area... and the cats are very sweet

posted by sunan on April 10th 2009 at 8:55pm
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Love the art and the kitties!

posted by suzy8track on April 10th 2009 at 8:56pm
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Totally love the kitties! I love the robot painting too! Adorable. The living room has so much seating, which is awesome!

posted by Camikamm on April 10th 2009 at 9:29pm
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So cool!

posted by ojanet on April 10th 2009 at 9:43pm
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I love the art and your kitties are soooo cute!

posted by JoniRae on April 10th 2009 at 9:46pm
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Love your dining area - the colors in the wall, the chairs, and the fun and crazy robot painting.

posted by aaakid on April 10th 2009 at 9:47pm
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your tv stand - at first i thought it was an ikea expedit but it doesn't appear to be. Where is it from?

posted by michelle c on April 10th 2009 at 9:49pm
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I LOVE you art! What do your bedrooms look like? I want to see more!

posted by letteretcher on April 10th 2009 at 9:57pm
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LOVE that grey on the walls - paint color?? very well edited.

posted by cocokelley on April 10th 2009 at 10:57pm
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is the red rolling drawer thingee under the coats ikea? nice place.

posted by egay on April 10th 2009 at 11:18pm
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I think this is the first apartment that I have EVER seen featured on AT that has a real stereo with floor standing speakers. I wonder sometimes how people listen to music nowadays. Is it really all iPods and iPhones? Did we completely forget what a difference in music reproduction a real stereo makes? Not to mention that speakers can be beautiful pieces of furniture.

posted by Molunat on April 10th 2009 at 11:26pm
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Is that a Travis Pickard painting in the living room?! He's an amazing artist — I have one of his Redemption watercolors too!

posted by textile_queen on April 10th 2009 at 11:41pm
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small? hell it's like twice the size of my place. damn i gotta move.

posted by diamonddnice on April 11th 2009 at 12:22am
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well maybe not twice but it is bigger.

posted by diamonddnice on April 11th 2009 at 12:23am
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Really like the way you staggered the cabinets over the desk to make a nook. Excellent still life with cats.

Never a fan of TVs in front of windows; seems like you could rearrange the furniture so that the TV is against the wall and maybe move the chairs in a little closer. No coffee table? Might help to pull the room in a little tighter.

Great collection of art--but much of it seems to be hung a bit high (although that could be the angle from which the pictures were taken). Especially like the robots in the dining area.

Overall, good job. Looks like a nice place to live.

posted by klt108 on April 11th 2009 at 7:44am
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I was thinking the same thing, idontdobeige. This place doesn't seem nearly as big as the square footage would suggest.

You have some great art and furniture--good luck!

posted by sally305 on April 11th 2009 at 8:51am
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I love your office solution. I've been thinking about how a niche as an office would look rather than having my computer out in the main living area.

posted by storyscribe on April 11th 2009 at 9:03am
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I like the living room and dining room the best. Have you purchased any art from our fellow K grads?

posted by kkolon on April 11th 2009 at 9:42am
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the little pen holders at your computer desk, where are they from? and are y'all doctors or med students? i see a white coat with a stethoscope

posted by ss622 on April 11th 2009 at 9:47am
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The floor plan made me laugh. It looks just like my mother's 1952 house. Nice to see how the next generation is using the space.

posted by dkzody on April 11th 2009 at 9:56am
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Hello!

Credit to the artists:
Carl Oxley III http://www.popartmonkey.com
Travis Pickard http://travisnaked.matterwave.net
Steven Miller http://www.lookatmypaintings.com

Thanks everyone for the nice comments! Under the coat rack is an Effektiv cabinet from IKEA. It holds shoes in the big drawer and scarves, hats and odds and ends in the smaller top drawer. The TV stand is the ubiquitous Lack on its side with legs. The pen holders are from IKEA too.

The cabinets above the desk are kitchen cabinets. The nook was originally a small closet of the 3rd bedroom. the previous owners took down the wall between the bedroom and livingroom making one large slightly awkward space. We used curtains to help divide the space, while still allowing it to feel open. Also, the house was built in 1954. :)

Thanks again!

posted by soleil9 on April 11th 2009 at 10:12am
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I think you really have a sense of space. I like that it's very clean and uncluttered. I love all the art, adds alot of "pop," wall colors are perfect with it. The kitchen is fine, no color but very clean and understated. If you wanted you could always hang a little piece of art on the back wall, easy. I really like all your furniture pieces, you have managed to have a lot of sitting in a small space.

posted by shaunon on April 11th 2009 at 10:24am
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ahhh, it's a house! When I saw stairs to the basement and windows on all 4 walls, I thought it might be a ranch house.
I adore it! The art adds so much personality, and the way you furnished your home is nice and quiet. peaceful. kitties are too cute.

posted by RobinD. on April 11th 2009 at 10:28am
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i heart royal oak! i live there too. i think my house is even smaller. i just never thought about entering small/cool. hmm... that just might be a great easter project!

cute house by the way. love the wall colors.

posted by everyeskimo on April 11th 2009 at 10:40am
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I love your place! Great use of color. Your kettehs are sooooo cute :)

posted by jmolly on April 11th 2009 at 11:28am
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i love that desk area, where are those white cabinets from?

posted by jessbink on April 11th 2009 at 11:29am
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Soleil! Where are your wonderful sofa and matching chair from?

Thank you :)

posted by medusa12120 on April 11th 2009 at 12:50pm
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The snuggling kitties.....priceless! Cool place!

posted by junklover on April 11th 2009 at 12:50pm
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Leave it to the cats to find the best seat in the house!

posted by williamsweyr on April 11th 2009 at 5:00pm
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Hi!

Our couch is made by Lind Furniture, and was purchased at a store called Bright Ideas in Royal Oak.

http://www.lindfurniture.com

Thanks!

posted by soleil9 on April 11th 2009 at 5:42pm
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The artwork definitely brings everything together =). IKEA and Eames go well together it's whats in our home too. You have the best floorplan on this contest so far. Extra thumbs up on that.

posted by harliejacob on April 11th 2009 at 6:04pm
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Can I have the color of the wall paint in the living room? Thanks

posted by J3ffng0 on April 11th 2009 at 6:21pm
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The walls are Benjamin Moore Sabre Gray #1482. Its a great neutral gray, soothing and not too cold. Looks good with white accents.

Thanks!

posted by soleil9 on April 11th 2009 at 6:40pm
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Hi Soleil, can you let us know what legs you used with the lack shelf? Did you do that yourself? What a beautiful combination!

posted by friesemk on April 11th 2009 at 7:04pm
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Did you use the Sabre Gray in all your rooms? Also, does the color look green or more of a gray

posted by J3ffng0 on April 11th 2009 at 7:50pm
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The legs are Capita, from the IKEA kitchen cabinet department. The Sabre Gray color really is a nice neutral gray. I don't think it has undertones of green. Looking back at my posted pictures they look like they have a hint of green tones, but it really is a true warm gray color in real life. It does lean toward warm in tone, though.

Thanks!

posted by soleil9 on April 11th 2009 at 8:27pm
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Those kittys are so cute, BFF's. :P

posted by littleinkpot on April 11th 2009 at 9:58pm
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I too am a fan of the computer nook. Where did that slim cabinet of drawers under the computer desk come from? I've been looking for something like this to use in place of the wobbly legs I have on a similar desktop.

posted by mrwhatever on April 12th 2009 at 7:22pm
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Hello,

The silver drawers are from, you guessed it, IKEA. That store just makes the perfect items for decorating and storing problems... Also, the drawers are not supporting the desk, it wouldn't be strong enough for that application. The Desk top is secured directly to the wall.

Thanks!

posted by soleil9 on April 12th 2009 at 10:07pm
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Glad to see Michigan representing!

Nice place, I really like your choice in wall colors, it compliments your artwork nicely. I just wish we could've seen more, especially what you did w/ the bedrooms. Where did you get the chair in photo #4?

posted by sarrazak on April 12th 2009 at 11:28pm
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i too love the artwork & the wall color around the robot painting if you know the name.

like the flow of the office from how you arranged the cabinets & ikea hanging pots. and of course, how perfect are your cats in this pic?!

posted by rstrtz on April 13th 2009 at 8:27am
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What kind of legs are on the lack shelf under the tv?

posted by tifa333 on April 13th 2009 at 10:40am
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What are those SPEAKERS?
They look homemade.
What is the brand.
I LOVE them.

thanks

posted by butternut on April 13th 2009 at 2:12pm
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Hello!

The chair is a Steelcase hand-me-down that we spray painted white, but kept the original color of the vinyl.
The dining room wall color behind the painting is Behr Mirage Lake 500D-6.
The tv stand legs are Capita, from the IKEA kitchen cabinet department.
The speakers are x-sls tower in moho natural by av123. They have a beautiful finish and a pleasant sound. They are very affordable too.

Thank You for your questions!

posted by soleil9 on April 13th 2009 at 5:24pm
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LOVE the robots!!

posted by hekela9 on April 13th 2009 at 9:24pm
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Nice space! I have a strong desire to invite myself over and eat ramen in your dining room.

posted by MooJu on April 14th 2009 at 10:59pm
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The dining area is super awesome. The color combinations are wacky but fit well together. The robots especially bring it all together. I was thinking of painting one of my rooms in that bluish color. What color would that be exactly?? thanx!

posted by kyoki_kiss on April 15th 2009 at 8:39am
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Wow, I really love this. The grey wall color is gorgeous. I especially like the little office nook, that's perfect. I may steal the kitchen cabinet idea! :)

Where did you get the white pen holders?

posted by oceansaway on April 17th 2009 at 6:56am
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Never mind. Came back to check if you had answered, and realized that you already answered my question further up in the comments. ;)

posted by oceansaway on April 17th 2009 at 8:25am
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