I love this place - That storage/partition wall is an excellent use of space. This is small-scale living at its finest.

what bepfs said. i love seeing the additional shots!

Wow! These additional photos really help me understand your space more--and how awesome it is. The swivel TV idea is so clever.

--Kelly

P.S. Thanks for the compliment on Southwest #10!

personally, I couldnt stand living in a space where the kitchen and the bathroom were literally seperated by inches... Those two functions of daily living should take place as far apart as possible.

love the wood. love everything!

purely amazing, love the swirl TV, Bravo!

This one is amazing. I'm glad it's doing well.

It's a beautiful and beautifully designed apartment, but I don't think I'd be able to relax with all those shiny white cabinet walls. I'd be afraid to touch anything and ruin the effect.

I DO appreciate how much the walls have been made to work, though, so that not an inch of space is wasted. Maybe a different finish, or some pictures in place of white space, would make the rooms seem less untouchable.

Wow again! I was really rooting for the plywood loft bed in the NorthEast - but the slideshow here has really blown me away!

The built in storage all over the place is amazing! As is the pivoting television! That plus your impeccable choice of furniture (lets here it again for Grand Prix chairs!) makes this the winner in my book!

And - since your place is admittedly perfect you wont have any need for the prize money and can pass it on to me ;-D

I think this place is super cool and gorgeous, but these kind of places make me wonder if the future of this contest will favor people with architects/money, etc. I tend to love the small-just-starting-out-collection-of-vintage-pieces-look-at-how-I-masked-my-fridge type of apartments when it comes to the Small Cool contest, but maybe I'm in the minority? Who knows. I started coming to AT for the DIY aesthetic that I wasn't seeing in shelter mags like Met Home and Elle Decor, but I'm hoping it doesn't go too far from there. It seems like anything can be accomplished with money and an architect/desiger ... I wanted to see the finalists be from the school of just plain old ingenuity and elbow grease.

Okay ... stepping down off my soapbox now ...

that was supposed to say "masked-my-fridge". Don't know what happened to the end!

Love this! So many ingenious solutions!!

I love this entry... an aparment like this seems like it is from another planet.

I can't even imagine living in such a lovely custom space.

In general, I like this entry but

1. I think it would be a drag to open two doors every time I wanted into the fridge (I can hear the bang-clank of trying to keep it open while I decided on diet coke or boyle's orange soda) and

2. how do you actually watch that TV while in bed? A might close for my vision...

3. that utterly blank white wall of cabinets is b o r i n g

4. and the white cabinets in the bathroom are too reminiscent of a gas station bathroom for my taste.

5. I also have an issue with the bathroom opening into the kitchen--the idea of odors from those two sources mingling squicks me out.

All in all, it reminds me of last year's London Urchin, and I didn't think that should have won either. I'm with you, Ridge_Van_Winkle...Unless the architect is Luca, I don't think this counts as self-decorated.

It's very nice and very "safe."
I like the bowl holder!

Weasel Dearest is Mr. Dangerous

There is so much about this apartment that I just love; the storage alone in a place this small is incredible. The layout, the design, the furnishings are all gorgeous. Personally the swiveling TV only makes sense if it can be watched comfortably in the bedroom; it wouldn't be comfortable for me. Also odd is the lack of a dishwasher, or is it well-masked and I just don't see it? I can't imagine putting that much time, energy and money into this design and then having to wash dishes by hand. Agree with Voodoo Child on the bathroom/kitchen placements, but sometimes that can't be helped.

All in all this is fantastic and deserves to win. Good luck with the judges Luca!

For the record, I think this place qualifies, I just wouldn't have chosen it if I were a judge. I find much more inspiration to take away from the homes that have been put together/built/organized by everyday Joes, not people who make a living doing such things (or people who pay others to do it). But that's just my own feeling about what I like here on AT with the house tours and contests, etc. and I realize I'm not in the majority on this one.

(And I think Luca is the architect and/or designer, no?)

I completely agree with you; you're more in the majority than you think.

While many agree that bought or professionally designed interiors are "inspirational," not many people would say that it's "obtainable." I think AT is based on giving interested readers access to obtainable methods of making their (small) spaces cool.

Perhaps in future contests, instead of regional categories, we could have separate categories for "small cool high end/professional" and "small cool budget/hobbyist" ?
That could address both sides of the argument.

This is definitely one of my favorites, regardless of category... If I had the resources to hire an architect/designer, he'd be at the top of my list. This place is perfect and definitely something to aspire to!

The wood is really lovely. The layout is ingenious, but for some reason, the cabinets chosen just look cheap. Since there are so many, this is a major drawback. I'd also love to see the cabinets above the kitchen cabinets gone. The kitchen is really pretty, but looks like it's made for dwarves with that looming piece overhead.

There was a thread recently about magazines that we all keep ... I recently threw away all of my Met Homes, Elle Decors, etc. and only tore out 1 or 2 pages that I wanted to keep. On the other end, from magazines like Budget Living ... I kept entire articles. I like super high-end to look at, but wouldn't buy/live in it even if I could afford it. I like this place but don't desire to live here ... like I do in other entries that didn't make the cut.

To me, this seems like one of the few entries (and the only finalist so far) that is actually about design and smart small space solutions, rather than decoration. I can't see how the fact that it is "professionally" done could be held against it. Maybe future contests should have separate categories for amateurs and professional designers - until then, the entries should be judged on their absolute merit, I suppose.

Awesome tv...situation!

Very good use of space but not my look

About the white metal/mesh curved chair in the kitchen - who is the designer, please? My dad has one and refuses to let me have it. I get the impression it's famous and/or worth quite a bit. Thanks!

orangeblossom: Looks like a Bertoia diamond chair. $860 or so from Knoll, or a fraction of that as a knockoff (ducks....).

Awesome design & use of space! Absolutely wonderful, well executed & thought out. I don't see excess (moneywise or other) but rather a very functional and cohesive place.
Your place rocks, Luca, don't pay any attention to all the nit- picking naysayers.

Brilliant little space. The storage is what makes it all work. The best part about the storage is that it adds a level of texture and shape to the otherwise flat surfaces. Great use of white too - crisp and good contrast to the other warm tones. The space is rational, efficient, but not particularly welcoming. You should have photographed the place with different lighting, something warmer. I'm not convinced that the space is comfortable. Try a richer rug and a wooly pillow on the Bertoia.

Thanks for the info, particlebored.

In terms of storage solutions, this finalist takes the cake. I think it's pretty damn welcoming and warm already.

The only thing I would change is hanging the Poul Henningsen pendant lamp over the dining table somewhat lower. It would cast a more intimate glow at night.

In the daytime, this space gets beautiful light and at night, I'm sure it feels plenty warm with the lighting and the glow above the kitchen cabinets.

The more and more I think about it, the more I think this finalist should win.

Clever!!! Great Job!!!

it looks like what it is--a professionally designed space, done with taste, and a large bankbook.

It certainly is clever. (can you hear the "but..."?) And the photos flatter the place. But ALL it is is "a professionally designed space, done with taste, and a large bankbook", it doesn't seem a home at all. Too sterile. It looks like the labd whiteness is repressing something sinister!

I agree that this place is great (great use of space/design etc.) however, I agree with previous posts in terms of the difference between judging apartments of those who have the money to hire an architect/designer versus home grown ingenuity on a modest to moderate budget.

i really like the lamp on the first pic of the slideshow. anyone knows where that is from?

much better than the apartments that came in ahead. At least there is an effort to create an atmosphere throughout the apt instead of just one area.

yay- the re-released [arne jacobsen] grand prix chairs in the dining room! lovely use of space; understated/classic yet liveable.