apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I really like the backsplash in the kitchen, I have been trying to figure out a way to add one but I hated the idea of locking myself into a color. This is great, you can take those down and paint behind it down the road.

The palette is restrained but it works great in this small space. (you can't go wrong w/green white) I love to see IKEA furniture all around the world...go Romania!

Wow this is restrained. A bit too much for me but you did a excellent job with the scale and arranging everything, looks like a showroom. I do appreciate your attention to detail.

Minyuette- that is back painted glass, once you paint it you cannot change the color unless you find a way to scrape off the paint and avoid scratching the surface.

The kitchen is very cool.

I know it's my own personal issue, but I sort of hate that I can identify every piece of Ikea furniture in this place. Yes, I like the overall look. I also understand and appreciate how wonderfully affordable their furniture is. But I'd feel as if I woke up in the middle of an Ikea catalog, if I lived in this place. Still pretty, but it makes me wish for a few nicely spotted Craigslist or eBay pieces, just to add some personality.

D'oh! I take it all back! I'd missed that this place is in Romania. I have no idea what other options there might be, other than Ikea. Outdoor markets? Thrift stores? For what's available there, this may well be one of the best apartments around. That'll teach me to not read closely. Apologies. It really is pretty. It could merely use a little more personality from the occupant, IMHO.

All I can say is WOW!!! Great space (I don't personally like any shade of green) and the green you chose looks good too. Really love the kitchen and the triangular table. Never thought of a triangle.

This looks great. Although it seems 100% Ikea, it's really well thought out. Good job!

i love green. good job!

thanks for the comments. Yes, it is in Romania. And we really have here good and also better stuff, as IKEA. But the choices are limited: or it is too expensive (i.e. italian design...)or the quality is bad. I had a limited budget and a limited time-frame, so it was the easiest to go to IKEA. And also I will live in this place just for about 9 months and then rent it. After coming back, I will change stuff, but now it seemed as the best choice.

It's very Ikea-ey... but it's a good base to start from. As you continue working on the space, bring in some elements from different sources and I think it'll be a great apt! Try branching out a little bit from the strict color palate to make it a little less like a catalog.

I like the green stripes.

I wanted it to look like a catalog-home and even more sterile. :)

Congratulations!
I am from Romania too and I must tell all the non-Romanian AT members that IKEA has been in our country for only 2 years. Before this, almost nothing, except the above mentioned very very expensive and somehow overpriced Italian furniture. As for thrift shops, there is only ugly veneer from the communist ages.

Beautiful use of green and I like the white, airy look of the space. It makes the small living room look more spacious. I love the crafts in Romania -I have several great hand-made fabrics and wooden pieces from Transylvania that I enjoy displaying. I think you could really spice up the IKEA background with some well-edited local artisan pieces. On the other hand, I find that you have to move away from a place to really appreciate the local crafts that you see on an everyday basis. If you ever move, bring a lot of local crafts with you because you will really appreciate them.
- If I was moving to your town, I would rent this apartment!!

I like the black and white infused with green. You did a really great job. There isn't one corner of your place that I don't love.

I love it precisely because it looks a little austere.

i love it!

So funny...my daughter and I just took a road trip to Ikea today (a two-hour drive away) and we loved the little "homes" inside the store. This is kind of like that. Yes, she has a lot of Ikea stuff but I see personality in how she's decorated the space. It's really nice!

Memerika, do you happen to remember the specific brand and name/color for the green paint you used? I'm about to paint my living room green and am torn between various paints.

jplee, it was a hungarian firm's paint, so I don't think, that you will find it outside Hungary. :(

Memerika, arata extraordinar. Talentul e greu de rumegat in America, unde mediocritatea e la mare pret.

Jesus, ThatGirl, you should really keep your comments to yourself girl... Or maybe do some research before posting them... Or take a trip around the world. Or read a newspaper. It's very instructive.

Memerika, i think you did a good job. Of course there is always place for improvement but i think what you did is great- i know what it means to work with a small budget.
For THATGIRL, did you hear about the expression : Garbage for some people, treasure for other people- that would describe Craiglist or Ebay. Well honey, my advise is to look on Craiglist and try to find a book about Romania, history, culture, i think anything of that sort would help you wake up or be more educated. Or better yet find a flight ticket- also on Craiglist- and you will be able to visit Romania. But be prepared, there is more then one store...Shockingly so?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Memerika, i think you did a good job. Of course there is always place for improvement but i think what you did is great- i know what it means to work with a small budget.
For THATGRRL, did you hear about the expression : Garbage for some people, treasure for other people- that would describe Craiglist or Ebay. Well honey, my advise is to look on Craiglist and try to find a book about Romania, history, culture, i think anything of that sort would help you wake up or be more educated. Or better yet find a flight ticket- also on Craiglist- and you will be able to visit Romania. But be prepared, there is more then one store...Shockingly so?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Memerika, i think you did a good job. Of course there is always place for improvement but i think what you did is great- i know what it means to work with a small budget

For THATGRRL, did you hear about the expression : Garbage for some people, treasure for other people- that would describe Craiglist or Ebay. Well honey, my advise is to look on Craiglist and try to find a book about Romania, history, culture, i think anything of that sort would help you wake up or be more educated. Or better yet find a flight ticket- also on Craiglist- and you will be able to visit Romania. But be prepared, there is more then one store...Shockingly so?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Memerika has my vote just now! If Romania is anything like Latvia, where I am building and furnishing properties, I can truly appreciate what she has presented. To create a look like that is very difficult in a country where presentation and style hasn't come of age yet. Michaela, sorry can't agree with you about Italian - once you buy and use Italian products you wouldn't touch anything from Ikea. Italian products are made for a life time and are at the forefront of design - one just needs to see how much is copied. However, I appreciate that Italian products are out of reach for people on a limited budget.

How did I miss this during the earlier voting? I loooove Cluj! I was there about nine months ago and intend to go back. In fact, I loved driving around Romania, in general... with the exception of the traffic in Bucharest.

Also: I loooove green. Go, Memerika!

Ja, ja! I love the fact that the "big resource" was her father! Yes, it´s different when you design your home with small budget in a country without the usual US/european resources (I die every time i see the posts on shops, craiglist finds, etsy, the scavenger...). However, you allways have the color! It´s a beautiful first home.
The odd shapes of the ceilings are very difficult to work with, but the stripes photo shows a good way to solve it.

Such a visually appealing space you've created. Just curious, did you conceive the entire space layout and colour scheme yourself ...and if so, you have a great talent. I disagree that this appears to be restrained, as a home is a place where any stress from the workday is left behind and one is able to come home and feel any tensions disappear once that front door opens. I love your place and you've done a wonderful job - a very relaxing place. Even though you have quite a bit of furnishing and such, it does not "feel" (from photo viewing that is :) ) cluttered by any means. You've created a seemingly soothing place to be.

It is not my personal style as I find it a little bit cold and not very cozy. However I like it, as you have done very good job coordinating all the rooms and making the most of the sloppy ceilings. Well done.