My first thought was that the table IS a wee bit too big but when I read your intro, it's a furnished apartment! Wow, I didn't think you could still find those. I don't believe San Francisco does that anymore.
Regardless, I think you've done a lovely job on decorating around what you don't like to make it warm and cozy. Really like the kitchen. I would like to see a 'tour' of your home. Nicely done.

Just charming!

The table is too big. I agree with others' comments. But it is charming.

I like the table. :) Actually the whole place is very well done! Thanks for sharing!

A big table is so hospitable! And practical, too.

Nice to see London represented in this contest. I love the Clerkenwell area, too.

Love your bathroom! The combination of the wood and white is very nice.

I can't imagine how frustrating it is to be stuck with furniture you don't like, but you've done a nice job regardless.

Swanky bathroom! Wish I could see more pics of your place!

I have favourited you on nationalistic grounds.Represent! I also understand the woes of living in a small space that you can't even furnish yourself and you just have to bypass furniture that you know would be perfect cause you have to deal with your landlord's ill thought out choices and dodgy paint colours (in my case anyway). Respect to you for entering a competition with people that mostly don't seem to have to deal with this. Well done and good luck.

Why is the bedroom photo so out of focus?

Hello neighbour! Great to see Clerkenwell hitting the big time :) Love the wooden touches in the bathroom

Hang on ... the apartment came fully furnished. How does this work with the rules and spirit of Small Cool?

Wow thanks everyone! Yes, if I had my way I would first get rid of the big table and replace it with a round one. It is easy enough to push it in the corner for now though. Just to clarify, the flat came furnished with sofa, dining set, wardrobe, bed and bedside table. It also came with curtains and shelves but it was easy enough to get rid of the curtains and most of the shelves. All other furniture and soft furnishing are ours. Thanks for voting! x

It's so interesting that so many places in London come furnished like that. I live in Sydney, Australia and I'm pretty sure finding a furnished place that isn't crazy expensive is unheard of.

When I was living in London it was great as I had nothing, but at same time it is hard living with weird stuff that doesn't work, like I am not a fan of your big dining table chairs at all and they do sort of overwhelm things. But I think you've done a good job with the stuff you can't change.

By far my fave

I wish I had a bathroom like that. Great wooden details!
I have lived in many already furbished apartments... It is really difficult to make them your own but you have done a nice job.

beautiful apartment!!! great job...

I like everything except the bottle collection on the fireplace and the color sorted books.

WOW! This a really nice place. I do think there are to many bottles on the fireplace but that is the only thing that looks out of place to me I love it. I would like to know where to get a tub that deep? You did a great job!!!!

I love it...and i know only too well the challenges of a rental flat with a landlords idea of what "nice" decor is. Up until a couple of years ago I spent quite a few years renting in London myself, in a way it makes you more creative.

Thanks! I Definitely had to think outside the box with this one- there are pictures of what it looked like when we viewed it with the agents in the link below. Unbelieveable lol.

http://www.designgratislondon.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/flat-with-red-door.html

Very small but beautiful flat....Iove the bottle collection.....who knew the beauty of empty bottles we think of as "garbage".... when a flat gives you lemons, you make lemonade...... Love it!

Great job Derona! I really love your ideas.

Wow, I'm amazed and inspired by the style, creativity, and functionality accomplished in such a small space. The bottles on the mantle and the color organized books on the book shelf is awesome. The books raising colors seem to make you look up for a final surprise, also it creates and illusion of something taller which helps to brighten and open up a small room. Lots of character! Ideas noted for my flat in the Bahamas. Thumbs up Derona!

It looks so fresh and lovely. I can't believe you managed that in under 400 sq.ft.

Ooooh, I like the corner cabinet in the bathroom!

the table is big, but i don't hate it. i think because it's glass it blends in better than a wooden farmhouse table of the same size. you've done well with the things you can't change!

A vote for Team GB! What a wonderful place you've created from things over which you have no control. The bottles on the surround add a lot of character. Have you considered moving the table against the wall and placing the two extra chairs in the cupboard (I noted that you do not have a box room)? You also have provided some excellent feedback and ideas on what tenants seek in a furnished flat......and I will be taking this advice for our newly renovated extra flat in Edinburgh.

@Rossini19

Thanks for your kind comments. Unfortunately our cupboards are only half height and contain the boiler! So theres absolutely no where to stash the chairs. We did think about renting a storage unit, but it was so expensive that it wasn't worth it. Good luck with your rental!

You've done it again Derona!! Another lovely space! Keep up the good works.

LOVE!!

hope you win !

Wow, I'm so glad you shared the link to the "before!" At first I was set to agree with another commenter that a fully furnished apartment seems out of place in the contest, but once I saw all your edits I changed my mind. It's amazing to see what you did with paint and some new decor. You turned it into something really beautiful and perfect for Small Cool!

Rona, I just love, love, love your bright, cozy, personality-filled flat! You have excellent talent girl!

Love the bathroom!

I saw the said Dining furniture and Sofa and knoew they did not look like "you", but overall I love the space and it looks really cozy.

Would love to feature your place on my blog. Graduating from London College of Fashion next month and will be using the blog as a folio of my work. Contact me if you're interested: jademelissathomson@hotmail.com