Last year, one of my good friends found a new job, packed up his belongings, and moved hundreds of miles away, for love. He was even talking of proposing this spring. Fast-forward to the present, and instead of planning a wedding, my friend and his (now) ex-girlfriend are going their separate ways. He is now living alone in the apartment they had picked out together, the space they chose to start their life together. 

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Name:

Myke

Location:

San Francisco, CA

Square Feet:

650

Division:

Little

What I Love About My Small Home:

I'm in the center of San Francisco, but on a side street which is very quiet which I love. I operate an art and interior design collective in SF so I worked with local artists and crafts-people to create an environment which I feel reflects the spirit and creativity of the people around me. The place has lots of history too. It was originally built in the 1920's as a dance studio for the owner of the main house and has a speakeasy in the basement…you can only imagine what went on down there! Because it is a separate unit I can entertain and make lots of noise without disturbing the neighbors. Also, it has a fireplace which helps in the winter, as the place has virtually no insulation.

Like this Small Cool 2013 contest entry? Favorite it below!

Name:

Byron

Location:

Oakland, CA

Square Feet:

965

Division:

Small

What I Love About My Small Home:

I’ve been in this apartment for less than a year after living in various San Francisco Victorians for over a decade. Although I love the charm and character of old apartments, I really wanted to live in a modern space again. What attracted me to this apartment was the “quality” of the space; it’s basically a series of right angles with big windows. The simplicity of crisp white walls with light-colored wood floors allows the focus to be on the furniture, which I’ve kept minimal and neutral in palette. Being a photographer, I also love the amount of light and wall space which has given me the freedom to increase the scale of my work. Most of all, I love the balance and juxtaposition I’ve achieved between modern and vintage, shiny and matte, textures of fabric, simple shapes and natural materials. Even though the space has a definite design push to it, it doesn’t feel fussy or unapproachable. In fact, it’s quite comfortable and livable!

What: Apartment Therapy Design Evenings
Who: Lotta Jansdotter
Members: 4,463 (wait list)
When:  Monday, May 20, 6:00-8:00pm
Where: Tribeca Cinemas | 54 Varick Street, NYC

Join us tonight, Monday, May 20 for our Annual ICFF Special Design Evening, with special guest Lotta Jansdotter!  We'll be at our new location at Tribeca Cinemas.  If you can not make it this evening (or are on the wait list) we look forward to sharing our video and write-up of the evening later this week!

A barstool with a little cubby underneath. Clever. Made in LA by Scout Regalia.

Cozy tall sofa by Bernhardt Design.

There's a debate that is always going on among the Moms of my building: if you could choose just one upgrade for your apartment, would you get a washer/dryer or a dishwasher? For me, the dishwasher wins every time. Life goes on just fine without a washer/dryer. Here is how we do it:

On Saturday, actor and art lover James Franco painted a mural in Williamsburg. The street art at the corner of Bedford and Grand celebrates his latest film, "This is the End", and features his friends and co-stars. Franco worked with Sky High Murals to complete the work. 

In other news, Yahoo buys Tumblr, and Connecticut passes a mattress recycling bill. See the headlines after the jump.

 Star Trek: Middle School Musical, Kid President, Don't Be a Glasshole, Tidal Wave Girls

Who needs cable when there are literally thousands of hours of video content uploaded to the internet every single day? Sure, there's a plethora of home movies and skateboard crash shots, but there are also plenty of other options available on YouTube and Vimeo that will make your heart skip and your lips turn upward into a smile. We share 10 of our recent favorites below...