- Name:
- Daniel
- Location:
- Brooklyn, NY
- Square Feet:
- 614
- Division:
- Little
- What I Love About My Small Home:
- I love that we were able to find one of those elusive NYC apartments that was rough around the edges but had amazing bones, and to work (and work and work!) toward making it our own. It's so gratifying to restore so many original details to a run-down space, and our very hands-off landlord situation has enabled us to really modify the space to fit our needs and our aesthetic. I also love the way it's come together with some very lucky thrift store/craigslist finds, including some pieces that I'd never be able to afford new. But mostly what I love about my home is that I get to share it with my boyfriend, Max, and our dog/model, Mekko.
- Biggest Challenge of Living in a Small Space
- With two people, one dog, and absolutely no storage save for one small closet and six kitchen cabinets, this apartment has really challenged us to think of good storage solutions that won't make the space feel crowded or cost loads of money. We've done all the work ourselves, including installing huge wall-mounted bookshelves and an IKEA-hacked kitchen cabinet and countertop unit. The biggest challenge was probably our insanely long and narrow hallway (comprising 138 square feet alone!). In an effort to really utilize the awkward space, we've let it play double-duty by installing shallow storage cabinets near the door and treating the rest of it as a gallery space for our evolving art collection. Making it feel like an asset instead of an eyesore of wasted space was no easy feat!
Categories:
Style,
Main,
2012,
New York,
Small Cool,
Small Spaces
Like this Small Cool 2012 contest entry? Favorite it below!
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Hallway preview!
Love it! Sexy bedroom.
Daniel, I'm a fan of your blog and I'm starting to believe everything you touch turns to gold.
Well Done and Good Luck.
Cute doggie!
You didn't showcase the amazing bed that you totally redid. I love your blog and was waiting for you to enter the competition.
Too bad you can't appreciate the before and after shots of this apartment. True talent to see beyond the ugly. See manhattan-nest.com for some of the earlier looks of this place.
yay! I was hoping to see you! i have a modest obsession with your blog
Layout: Very weird hallway, but love your place!
I may hack the floating nightstand - hope you don't mind.
Yes - very cute pup, indeed!
I'm another avid follower of Daniel's blog. It's a shame that it's not possible to have before and after pics because Daniel (OK then, and Max and Mekko) have worked SO hard at achieving this fabulous apartment!
Wonderful.
Great space. I'm also an avid follower of your blog. It's really inspired me to look at my own space differently and not be too constrained by budget and convention.
Good luck!
How did you prevent your gorgeous dog from being in every photo? Whenever I pull out my camera, my whole pack manages to insert themselves in every shot.
It is looking so amazing now! Anyone who has seen the before knows how much work you put into this.
The apartment is great. The bullie is precious!
Daniel, if I could afford to bring you and Mekko down to do my place, I would!
I'd like to know the exact color of black paint on those doors, if possible. :-)
Daniel... you are such a star!! Well done, man! love gogo
Can someone share the link to Daniel's blog? I would love to see it. (If that is okay)
Another fan of Daniel's blog here, old enough to be his granny and appreciative of his taste, DIY verve, and overall joie de vivre. You go, young'un. :)
Yesss Daniel!!
I would love the link to the blog as well. Curious about the artwork above the bed too. Awesome space. I have never seen an entry quite like this one.
Where did you find your shower curtain?
@Alainnotebook and Andrea Jane: The link to his blog: http://manhattan-nest.com/
@FELTTIPJR Thank you!
I can't believe as soon as I saw this, I thought, 'That's Manhattan Nest.' I'm not even a faithful MN reader, but Daniel is distinctive!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE LOVE. That is all.
Just gorgeous! Can you please share the bathroom wall color?
I'm so glad you are in this contest, I love your blog!
Huge fan of your blog, the pictures look great!!
Great job, I'm glad you entered this contest! And great job with the hallway, I can't wait to see your blog post on the reno. I'm working on mine right now too!
As soon as I saw those couch pillows, I was like, hmmm, looks just like Manhattan Nest....oh wait...it is! Obviously, I'm a huge fan of your blog. So glad you entered!
Love your blog.
Glad you,ve entered.
I am digging the floating bedside table!
Another Daniel and Max & Mekko groupie. Love them, love their home, really hope they win this time. Truly deserving. Fingers crossed!
Beautiful! Love the gallery effect!
I recognized Mekko, before even looking at your name or furniture...hahaha.
I had to click the 2nd photo to confirm it is Mekko and yes it was :)
I'm another fan of Mekko and then you Daniel. Love your home!
MEKKO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Daniel, you make the world a better place.
Love you, your spirit, your flat, your dog. Your blog post on cutting the circular table top is one of the funniest things I've ever read. Wishing you joy and happiness!
Good luck in the competition as well.
What a great eye you have, Daniel. Beautiful artwork and arrangements. You get points for having the nerve to do black walls in a tiny bathroom.
Daniel, you are clearly, hands down, no further favoriting or commenting necessary, the winner of this competition.
I just went over and read your blog ... well, some of your blog. Enough to know that these photos don't begin to tell the story. What you have done is miraculous. If people knew what that kitchen used to look like they'd be giving you a parade instead of a Small Cool prize. Has Aunt Martha called yet? She will.
I like the origami-ish looking pendant in your dining area... Can you share a source? (p.s. Great blog!)
YAY! Was wondering when you'd show up to the party :)
So great Daniel from Manhattan Nest joined the game- Daniel, you are a huge inspiration on all things decorating, DIY, thirfting, and living a good life!
Good luck for the small cool contest!
The black doors bring it home, nice job!
MEKKO! MEKKO! MEKKO!
Love that dog. Love that blog.
winner winner chicken dinner
You gave this apartment its self-respect back. I hope you win.
Just, wow. Beautiful apartment and Mekko makes my heart pitter-patter. I also read through your blog and I cannot BELIEVE the before pictures. Ick. Amazing work.
Yay Mr Kanter!!!! After you were robbed of a Homie, I'm totally rooting for you for this!
Thanks so much for the kind comments, everyone!
@fatcatpaulanne- The doors are Benjamin Moore "Onyx"
@pixelmeow- we contacted this Etsy seller and had one custom-made in a 96" length. It's just a black ticking stripe. http://www.etsy.com/shop/ModernFolkShop?ref=seller_info
@kellykato- The bathroom is Benjamin Moore "Graphite"—used the Aura Bath & Spa formula for a matte finish. It's almost black, with a bit of a navy tinge.
@shellydb- The light in the kitchen is the Icosa pendant from Areaware. I got it when it was on sale on Fab.com!
Hi Daniel. I'm totally a fan of your blog and was so happy to see you finally got a dog!
Anyways, I was wondering where the pendant came from in the living room. Could you please share?
Thanks!
Megan
Mekko!!! She's a star!!
It's about time you're on here, you should submit your apt for a full house tour!! Go Daniel!!
@Magamibear- It's the Kartell FL/Y Suspension lamp, via Craigslist!
P.S. you should put a link to this page on your blog so that people who don't know you're in the contest can vote, vote, VOTE!!
Very nice apartment, I was going to get that origami pendant lamp, which I think is made by Areaware, but instead got the la couronne artecnica lamp which did not work out so well! the parquet floors are great.
I'm happy to see your place on here Daniel! It looks great.
Love the black doors and fireplace mantel. Your living room is stunning. Thank you for providing details of your purchases.
I smiled when I saw the first pic, your style is so recognizable! You should win for sure <3
please have puppies!!! I will take one!!
I love your place, and your blog :-)
and your dog!!!!
Go Daniel, your place is looking stunning, you have worked hard! Good luck guys!!!! :-)
You've inspired me to paint every door in my life black.
Absolutely the best.
best of luck, daniel. seriously love everything about your blog and space!
Love your home..and your shameless attempt to get me to vote for you by adding the baby (the baby-dog) in your pictures... Shame.. But you should know...sigh.. It worked!!! LOL!
That hallway is a photography hoarder's display dream!
hallway sneak peak!
I've tried to favorite this and Apartment Therapy isn't letting me!
The Black & White gets me every time! LOVE!
YUM.
Oh Daniel. If it is possible to be crazy about a stranger you've never met, I am totally crazy about you. And your ways with words and wood-refinishing and (this sentence is getting totally cheesy, right?) BUT - YOU SHOULD INCLUDE A LINK TO YOUR BLOG IN THE ENTRY. I think people would be all the more crazy about it if they could see all the cool shit that you did. It helped me feel the way about other people's entries (yours is the only one I favorited, however ;-)
daniel! i hope you win!!
They won't let me vote!
Go, Daniel, Go! You have to win.
Daniel you are as great a writer as you are a designer. I totally subscribe to the You Win = I Benefit philosophy.
Love this Brooklyn/Manhattan Nest!
looks great, man!
When I checked in on this contest late last night this was definitely a solid second in its division ... which means it got 400 votes in one day (the day he mentioned the contest on his blog). That is truly amazing to me.
You really have to check out the apartment as it was before to truly appreciate all Daniel's hard word. He's a very talented young man - and a very entertaining writer to boot!
The blog is called Manhattan Nest
Plus - Mekko the dog has been sick so if there are any rich philanthropists out there I'm sure he'd appreciate a gesture ;) (hint hint)
I am ashamed to admit that my favourite thing about your place is the deer on top of the bathroom cabinet.
Thrilled to see your votes sky rocket :)
Inspiring DIY in a small apartment, on a small budget, and looks incredible! Fantastic blog!
WHERE DID YOU FIND THAT KITCHEN TABLE?? It is EXACTLY what I have been looking for for years. Everything I can find in that shape is too big for my small kitchen but yours looks perfect. Don't tell me though ... craigslist? Well, please do tell me.
I love the apartment! and your blog, all the DIY changes are amazing.
@abs- The kitchen table base is from a thrift store on the Upper East Side, and I pulled the top out of the garbage (it was originally from a CB2 table)...you can read about that whole saga here: http://manhattan-nest.com/2011/05/28/tabletop-swap/
In terms of finding something similar, it's basically a vintage knock-off Saarinen Tulip table, although I don't think I've ever seen another brass one. Usually they're white and vintage knock-offs are usually made by Burke and can sometimes be found pretty cheap.
Love the living room. Amazing wood floors in the bedroom. The bedroom could use fewer retro dust collectors that are crammed onto the night stand. Though it's a rental and a thorough renovation is unlikely, the kitchen looks like it's in desperate need of some TLC and doesn't match the taste level of the rest of the apartment.
Dan, I voted for you even though it looks like we'll be pitted against each other in the finals. I feel like we're about to enter the hunger games arena :) your place is rad -kyle @ chezerbey
D2 Pad, have you looked at Daniel's blog at www.manhattan-nest.com? He did a lot of work on the kitchen! That photo above makes the counter look like a built-in, but that's his sweat equity; that kitchen came with little storage and an awkward layout.
I love that this is deceptively simple, and yet reflects such good style and DIY.
I have to be honest...I wholeheartedly hope that you win this year, and literally had a koolaid smile on my face when I saw that you entered (lol)! Just want to echo everyone else's sentiments and say how much I love your blog and your apartment.
I don't think you can fully appreciate this apartment unless you know how it started out and what they had to work with. Some of the entries are small, but are all glammed up with fancy touches. Daniel created this apartment with no money, no car, and virtually no tools. So he definitely deserves to win. Definitely.
You're apartment is awesome and so funky. It makes me feel like an extremely bad gay man, for shame :-(
But I love reading your blog!!! Hope you win!!!!
1. Your dog makes my heart melt
2. Your blog is the most amazing thing I've ever read
3. Your home is spectacular, so you know I voted for it
4. I hope you win so much!
5. A list makes everything better.
D, you are THE MAN. And you make me giggle. Love the blog, keep it up :)
I just read your blog where you hacked the legs off a credenza and replaced them with some IKEA ones. And then hacked *those* off to different heights, to suit your floor.
I think I non-romantically love you.
You are brilliant. That is all.
Could you tell me where you got your living room coffee table? Thanks!
I rarely come to this site anymore - never got over the new format. I know, boo hoo. But, I came, I saw, I actually took the time to login. Just. To vote. For you. Love the place, love the blog (a new favorite) and I hope you get that prize! The credenza project was just icing on the cake!
GO, DANIEL, GOOOOOOO!!!
I'm just here to say that in addition to having a rad apartment that deserves to win because it is awesome, Daniel himself is one of the best people I've ever met in my entire life.
That is all.
Voted for finals! You've totally got this.
what are the chances that the guy with his own blog is going to win a contest that is suppose to be based on apartments not popularity?
Indigosailor - I'd say the chances are due mostly to the fact that he is winning based on his awesome apartment. Bitter much?
Those of us who read Daniel's blog know how much hard work, creativity, improvisation and sheer love he has put into his "Manhattan nest" (relocated to Brooklyn). We have seen him perform almost impossible transformations of rooms, doors, windows, furniture, lamps, accessories, you-name-it. We feel we know his apartment, and him! We voted for him because we feel he deserves it for his many talents, and the inspiration he provides. The photographs show the end result; Daniel's readers have seen the process.
He is also not the only contestant with a blog!
I love it. I live in a space w "great bones" too, but really ugly carpet everywhere, which I can do nothing about. I'm being resourceful & covering them with kilims & bohemian patterns. I'm inspired to paint the interior of my front door that onyx color, for sure. Daniel's style is similar to my own. Maybe I can be in this contest, too, one day :)
A great small cool place. I hope you win.
you get my vote because you put up a Biggie Smalls video (thats ma sh t) plus i love your space...keep on doing what you do
I registered on AT just so I could vote for you! I love your blog, and your nest!
Good luck! Hope you win. Great space.
Do you remember where you got that calendar in the kitchen nook, the black with white numbers one? I'd love to get one too! Great space, guys!
I love everything about it. I appreciate the amount of work that went into this space. I love the black doors and the black bathroom.
With your award money can you buy a mobile for the hallway?
nice work.voted for you. And as you know, i am romantically in love with the duvet. gotta go. thanks
Love your apt and just turned in my vote for you. The before and afters on your blog really did it for me, you've put in so much work and creative energy, this apt deserves it imo. Thanks!
Hi! Can you tell me where you picked up that duvet cover? It looks good and soft and it's a really nice grey.
Appreciated,
Luke
@charlie26- I love you too.
@LauraC111- The coffee table is a knock-off plywood Eames table from Craigslist!
@Angela K- It's a Stendig Calendar...I bought it from a small shop near my apartment, but they're sold all over the place and online!
@House Voyeur- Funny you should mention that, I have a couple mobiles bookmarked! Maybe in the hallway, maybe in the living room or bedroom. Maybe I just need three mobiles.
@skoshi- the duvet is from Muji, but unfortunately I can't find a place that sells it anywhere online and I don't think the store stocks them anymore! I wrote about it here, and there are some good recommendations for comparable products in the comments section!
http://manhattan-nest.com/2011/08/26/my-inspirational-story-of-hope-and-perseverance/
Daniel you deserve the win!
Wishing I would have painted my doors black! Maybe next time they need painting. :)
You got my vote!!! Thanks for the inspiration and good luck!!!
So happy that Daniel's place in the Small Cool contest and is receiving the well-deserved votes!
Love the bathroom, with the white tiles and lower half, and black upper half.
I voted! Daniel is an inspiration. Black doors are now on my wish-list.
I like many of the apartments here -- seriously, a dozen are "winners" in my eyes. This is seriously good, and deceptively simple, though I don't know how you boys don't trip over that chair in the hallway. Look forward to more posts on M-N.
Yay Daniel! I'm so happy a renter won this competition. I love beautiful homes that people own and have the resources to do amazing things to. But it's such an inspiration to have the prize go to someone in my shoes: renting, without a lot of dough, still trying to make magic happen. You so deserved this.
yey daniel!!!!! congrats! i'm such a huge fan of Manhattan Nest! you deserve your win!!! stay witty and awesome! much love from the Philippines!!!
@erinc4 - I agree... exactly how I feel. To be renting, studying, working and then creating a lovely home is no mean feat!
Daniel you've just raised the bar. Jerk. ;p
I have no idea how I found your blog but I love it. Your detailed before and afters are badass, and I love that you are unrelenting and unapologetic about putting time, sweat, and tears into making your home exactly when you want. Its genuinely an inspiration to us renters on a budget!
Can't wait to see what you do with the $5K. ;) Congrats!!!
Well deserved WIN. Congrats!!
congratulations Daniel ( & Max and Mekko) - beautiful apartment, all the more enjoyable since viewing your before shots on your own page. Love it! enjoy the prize :) x
I knew it. This is going to win. Well deserved!
@very artsmart...he won... so he can pretty much ignore your rude coffee table comment!
YAY Daniel....I am so glad that you won!
@Very Artsmart why would someone change a piece of furniture that they potentially love, just because some faceless internet stranger says they don't like it?
I hate to sound churlish (although I often do), but what has happened to the Cool part of Small Cool?
Daniel's apartment is perfectly nice, but it looks like almost every other apartment featured on AT. The International Winner looks the same. So does last year's winner.
Have AT readers and voters become individually more conservative, or does the increase in numbers voting create mediocrity?
Surely you guys can appreciate something more than bland, kind of funky, kind of quirky, kind of MSM?
Check out the wonderful small homes here for inspiration:
http://www.marieclairemaison.com/petits-espaces,200241.asp2
@MRCRANKY, I agreed with you. Not saying that Daniel's place isn't nice, but just lack of something.
Bottom line though, congrats Daniel!
Hi Daniel,
Comment #132 here, I just had to write and tell you
How ecstatic I am for you, that you won! Of course, you Should have. A beautiful flat ! Congratulations , Daniel !
Seriously?
The doors painted black ... nicely done! Those look to be sliding doors? Do they open into the kitchen or a bedroom? That was a great touch painting them black. The room is so balanced.