Name: Stacey
Location: Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois
Stacey sent us in photos of the sweet space she shares with her son. She writes: "My goal has always been to make a "home" out of our 1- bedroom apartment. I'm a designer by trade and over the last 5 years, have painted, re-arranged, tweaked countless times and have finally slowed down enough to just appreciate our space and enjoy what it has instead of worrying about what we're missing."
"My son has the bedroom and I use the living room in more of a "studio" application - luckily we have a dining space which allows us a spot to huddle for dinner, homework, etc. We have a unique view of a large beautiful church across the street from our 3rd floor apartment so sometimes in my Chicago space, I close my eyes, and then open, pretending I'm somewhere in Europe...even if just for a minute...I'm inspired by my son's artwork, the opposing cold and warm that colors and objects give, and strongly believe that it doesn't have to match, you just have to love it all and that's what makes it belong."
Thanks, Stacey!
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You will go far with that attitude and raise a happy child. There are almost always things to be thankful for if you can focus on them rather than what you don't have. I love your space.
I love your apartment, it looks like you have that homey feel to it. I really like the blanket on the bed. (the cats, too!)
Great tour! I love the bed photo especially (and the pretty kitties, too).
agreed! you're a great mom :) and you've made a beautiful home!
Your place looks great. I really like the colors, especially the bathroom green with that amazing shower curtain.
I absolutely love small space design. I think there are so many more opportunities to make something amazing; as well as, because spaces are smaller, you can truly invest in more expensive pieces as you don't have huge volumes of rooms to fill. Which also gives rise to the truth, "homey" design (like the one pictured in this article) is about multiple layers of both/either texture and colour. Also, that focal art piece above the dining room table, really does make pushing the table to the wall make sense, acting as a headboard sort of focal point. The best thing "felt" in these photographs, and for any of us that have smaller spaces, is that to keep an item in a space, of any size, because you are working with smaller volumes, you have to love or actually use, or both; if it doesn't fall into at least one of those brackets, it's wasted space. I'd love to see how they decorate for winter holidays, even if all they may celebrate may be New Year's Eve.
Respect on both counts -- mum and designer! Thanks for the glimpse, Stacey. Wonderful space.
Wonderful cozy place, very homie.
My first thought was: 'she must be a cool mum'. Cosy apartment!
Thank you for giving me smiles as I read this..!
This may be a long shot, but. Could the mom in question or anyone else in the know comment on the source of that little white above sink shelf. I have some space above my sink but below the medicine cabinet and this would be perfect for it. Long and narrow...
Another long shot then - what is that brilliant little light hanging next to the orange sofa / club chair? Is it made out of capiz shells? source?
lovely!
I really enjoyed reading your write-up, and it was that much better because your space is so beautiful.
Thank you so much for all of your wonderful comments!
~Thorndale - it's St Gerts, so beautiful!
~Scoot - that shelf is from the Container Store about 4 years ago...the medicine cabinet was hung too high so I needed to put something there..
~DKinNY - The light was from Target on clearance a couple of years back...
My son's artwork is all throughout the apartment. The kitchen has a painting by him near the tv, the one above the table is an IKEA print.
Thanks much for all of your warm comments - I love me some AT...feels good to get some love back! ;)
Love your little home. My 5 yr old daughter and I also share a 1 bedroom and I have a similar philosophy... I'm a metal artist. Best of luck to you!
Hello, I like it.