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Small Cool 2009: Alex Darling's Unbroken Space
Small Division #08

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Who Lives Here: Alex Darling + 1
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Size: 1,100 square feet

What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home? I'm really in love with the stage that our bedroom is on. I'm pretty sure its what sold us on the place in the beginning. We find that it really adds levels, architectural interest and the opportunity to have a closed space in what is essentially one big room. The wood is also a nice break from the concrete floor. When its particularly nice outside, we like to throw open the windows and hang a hammock between the iron bars and just relax. It's just about the best thing we can do since our neighborhood is a concrete jungle.

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What was one of the biggest challenges you faced in furnishing your small home? Because our loft is one unbroken space, we found it really taxing to keep everything visually unified, while maintaining separate room identities. We liked the concept of being able to shift items around without them looking out of place and though the photos might not show it, once you walk in, you're presented with everything at once. We ultimately chose to be really restrictive of the color palette with the furnishings and accessories and introduce only a couple of cool colors to keep a calm, harmonious space. We're also totally into mixing high and low. We find the combination of those two creates such a tasteful, casual space.

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Small Cool 2009, loft, Small, Atlanta, Georgia

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Comments (46)

The colors are awesome! I like how the only wood is in the bed stage, it makes that area look very seperate from the rest.


ps the hook over the bed is really scary.

posted by TheLiberator on April 10th 2009 at 8:59am
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Industrial chic. Love the bed headboard/window thing, is it a decal?

posted by mihaela on April 10th 2009 at 9:00am
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Unbelievably cool...

posted by keiren63 on April 10th 2009 at 9:05am
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Oh gosh, the door! The drawn in tromp l'oeil detail on the black door in the kitchen is fabulous. What a way to dress up a blank door.

posted by Kaete on April 10th 2009 at 9:06am
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This is sweet. I like that it's very thoughtfully designed but not showroom perfect. The bedroom door is cute.

My only concern is whether your plants by the dining area are getting enough light ;) although I'm sure it's just the high contrast, being near the window, that makes the area seem dark.

posted by whytephoenix on April 10th 2009 at 9:09am
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This space is rediculously cool.

posted by Camikamm on April 10th 2009 at 9:29am
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whoaaaa everything about your bedroom area is amazing! I love it! and the black door in the kitchen is brilliant. I think I'm going to steal that idea from you and use it in my bedroom!

posted by AdrienneClaire on April 10th 2009 at 9:30am
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really really gorgeous! I love the industrial feel.

posted by jessimarie33 on April 10th 2009 at 9:41am
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Way to go bold! Nicely done. Looks like fun.

posted by ScottB on April 10th 2009 at 9:43am
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holy cow, i love everything about this. the kitchen, the bed platform, the colors...gorgeous!

posted by joyfulgirl on April 10th 2009 at 9:46am
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I love this! Wonderful open space with bold colors that work with the 'cool' feel of the place.

posted by WickedElf on April 10th 2009 at 9:57am
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I love this place! What a great mix of industrial and homey-ness. The kitchen is absolutely fantastic. The black door really makes me smile. And the way the books are arranged is so artful. I could go on...

posted by jamiealyse on April 10th 2009 at 10:11am
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Seems a little dark, but I'm hoping for your sake that it's just the pictures. But it's pretty awesome otherwise.

posted by creativeneurosis on April 10th 2009 at 10:36am
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Thanks so much for all the comments guys! We totally appreciate it!

To answer a couple of questions;

Sorry about the hook!! When we're not hanging the hammock we use it to hang up my bike. um . . . I prolly coulda moved it though.

The bed is really low and there is a similar big window ledge behind it. What you're seeing aren't decals but two paintings of Chinese tribal women.


Its not as dark as it seems. Just not a super sunny day. We have enough light that we once had an 8 foot tree growing quite happily inside. His name was Tim.

posted by AlexDarling on April 10th 2009 at 10:53am
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NEED

favorite.

posted by hissingsissing on April 10th 2009 at 11:07am
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Awesome. Awesome.

posted by Gvinton on April 10th 2009 at 11:41am
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Love it!!!!

posted by JulieM on April 10th 2009 at 12:19pm
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oh my god, i'm in love with the lights you have over the dining table! where did they come from and do you have photos of how they connect to the ceiling?

posted by downtownLAloft on April 10th 2009 at 12:28pm
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the doors are great - is that chalkboard paint? brilliant

posted by sunan on April 10th 2009 at 12:49pm
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downtownLAloft: The lights are really just typical sockets that plug in and are woven around a beam in ceiling where there is an outlet. They not hardwired.

Sunan: Yeah the doors are chalkboard painted. We draw different door styles on them all the time. Its really interesting how switching from a classic colonial to a french empire can alter the space.

posted by AlexDarling on April 10th 2009 at 1:08pm
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There's no reason to lie. We're all adults. We all know what the hook is for.

Having said that -- the bedroom curtains are a tad too girly for me. I would suggest some leather flaps.

posted by FilthyMcNasty on April 10th 2009 at 2:30pm
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I really love this. May I ask where you bought your couch? We are looking for something similar.

posted by als1 on April 10th 2009 at 2:31pm
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i love the "bedroom" area & how its divided off, and of course the chalkboard door! very creative and fun space!

posted by rstrtz on April 10th 2009 at 2:41pm
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I like the bed being on a stage. I always feel like I am performing!

Great space! And I have hooks for hanging bikes as well. A bunch.

posted by gttim on April 10th 2009 at 2:43pm
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Wish I had that platform in my place..

..oh, and I LUV that random firehydrant in the corner, I had to look twice, but it works ;)

posted by missnic on April 10th 2009 at 3:00pm
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What a lovely home! The color palette is so lush and serene.

posted by Hydra on April 10th 2009 at 4:09pm
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AMAZING>>>> I love everything about your space. Please help me decorate my place.

posted by sunrise on April 10th 2009 at 4:52pm
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This place is ridiculous... I mean that it the most positive way possible. I love it--stylish but with a real personality of its own.

posted by taqah on April 10th 2009 at 6:18pm
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Wow, you have amazing design vision. I'm blown away!

posted by roxybaby on April 10th 2009 at 6:56pm
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This is beautiful...I could never live there, but I love what you have done with it!

posted by amidalailama on April 10th 2009 at 8:17pm
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I agree with Kaete, the chalkboard doors are perfection!

And the way you used color to divide the space is very well done too.

Thanks for sharing!
Leah

posted by LeahDC on April 10th 2009 at 8:44pm
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I love this. Period.

posted by petethecat on April 10th 2009 at 9:44pm
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Terrific space. I like the whimsy of the decorated black doors, and the drama of the bedroom stage. Bravo!

posted by boliyou on April 10th 2009 at 10:25pm
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This building looks familiar. Is this is cabbagetown?

posted by Laura on April 10th 2009 at 11:02pm
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love the lights over the dining table and the bed platform. Very sexy. the black doors are hilarious.

I'm not a huge fan of the purple and blue, maybe its my computer or the photos but they look a little pastel - like an Easter corpse...but then I've never loved purple.

It seems something that you could change very easily if you got bored with it and have a whole new space since everything else is so neutral.

posted by moepong on April 10th 2009 at 11:43pm
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Thanks again everyone for the positive comments. Its been great.

als1: We bought our sofa, like, 5 years ago from a random showroom floor in the furniture district here in Atlanta. Its not made by anyone special. We just liked the clean chunkiness (and comfort) of it.

Laura: no, we're not in Cabbagetown (though we love that neighborhood) We're in Castleberry Hill.

moepong: I'm sorry that you're not into it, but I totally understand. Color is such a personal choice. We struggled with the purple for a bit. Its not pastel, though I can see how it can read that way. Its actually quite a smoky purple.

posted by AlexDarling on April 11th 2009 at 9:04am
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Love love LOVE! Definitely my favorite so far!

posted by BadJuJu77 on April 11th 2009 at 1:03pm
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I always try to post positive responses because each person has individual styles and tastes that I do appreciate.....but this is my absolute favorite favorite. I LOVE your home!!!!

posted by baileyb on April 12th 2009 at 8:04pm
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I want to live here. I absolutely LOVE the way you handled the transition from purple to white on the walls.

posted by ecw0389 on April 13th 2009 at 12:20am
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Wow.

posted by Elizabeth II on April 13th 2009 at 8:42am
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All I want to say is that it is an extremely sexy place. Love it!

posted by imcaffeine on April 13th 2009 at 12:59pm
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The first picture is a little scary but, I love the apartment and the colors.

posted by rhianna on April 13th 2009 at 1:40pm
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This is my favorite so far!

posted by jooly on April 13th 2009 at 4:16pm
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I love love love this - especially the industrial edge in the crazy ceiling pipes and the hanging lights.

But that clown face makes me feel violated.

It's nice to see a place where people obviously love books!

posted by lucica on April 14th 2009 at 4:50am
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So. Cool.

posted by missjelisa on April 15th 2009 at 11:02pm
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this is my favorite one!!! i really really want this to win!!!

posted by pompote on April 21st 2009 at 12:43am
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