Name: Emily Ballard
Profession: Gallery Assistant/ Appraisal Supervisor
Location: Lincoln Park, Chicago
Size: Roughly 300 sq ft rented studio
Time lived in: 7 months
With solid bones and some interesting history, Emily has been able to make her Lincoln Park studio an open, light, whimsical yet thought-out home in just a few months. In a building that used to be a hotel, the (small) floor plans of each unit replicate those of vintage hotels. Beyond the great details we find dotting her home life, Emily created a layout drawing for us to get a better overall sense of how her space flows...
Without having had the privilege of visiting Emily's place in person, we see a lot of care and attention to making the small space open and inviting. A few of the things we love include: placement of mirror on bookshelf and (surprisingly) above the stove; that there's a full-on "dressing space" that includes upholstered panels for hanging jewelry; that the end of the kitchen counter doubles as a work space for laptop, etc.; that the tufted headboard of Emily's bed commands attention and the bed isn't shoved into a corner to conserve space (she must get good sleep here!); and of course, the DIY night tables Emily and her father created. Read on:
My style: Contemporary, though eclectic
Inspiration: Martha Stewart (updated)
Favorite Element: The deer head that I purchased from eBay and painted white.
Biggest Challenge: Preventing all of the furniture that I need from becoming clutter, or taking up too much of my very limited space.
What Friends Say: My former roommate said, “Wow, it’s so nice, and so clean… I miss living with you.”
>> Enter Slideshow
Biggest Embarrassment: The bathroom door doesn’t close/open if the toilet seat is down.
Proudest DIY: On Apartment Therapy I saw these small side and corner tables featured, yet they were not available in the US. While I’m sure they were pressed metal of some kind I proposed materials and measurements to my father who went to work with a friend of his making a “prototype.” He sent two tables to me disassembled and I put them together in my apartment. They’re great because they lean against the wall and take up very little space. They’re sturdy, and can be painted any color. I chose to keep it simple and paint them the same color as my walls.
Biggest Indulgence: My reproduction Barcelona chair found on Craigslist.
Best advice: Come up with a floor plan, assess what you have, and figure out what you need. Use some of your favorite magazine images or a favorite movie scene, or some inspirational visual to create a color scheme and feeling that you want your space to have.
Dream source: Wright Auction, having stepped into their warehouse prior to last year's mass modern auction… made me wish I had thousands of dollars and a Saturday at my disposal.
Resources: Craigslist, Ikea, Anthropologie, the Antique Mall (just north of Broadway Antique Market), Target and many other antique stores.
(Thanks, Emily!)
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Comments (52)
I have to ask? the Deer Head. Ebay and a quart of flat white paint? I have the exact same one and it didn't come flat white. It came creepily likelike.
I love what you did with your necklaces. You hung them as art on the wall. What a great idea!
Impressively edited. The details and accessories are beautiful and simple. I love the nod to natural themes...in love with the rug! Great job!
if i were single, i would totally love living in this space.
Great work! loveee the jewelry hanging on the wall.
beautiful and so zen. love the jewelry treatment!!!
Where did you find your ostrich egg and stand--love them!
love it! especially with just a dash of whimsical elegance in the mirror and alarm clock
beautiful. as someone who lives in a small space, i find these types of house tours the most interesting/inspirational.
I love the painting above the bed.
I love your rug! Where did you find it?
Just goes to show how tasteful a tiny place can be if one tries.
Thanks so much for all of the kind comments-- to answer a few questions:
The Ostrich Egg is from Elements in Chicago
The Rug I purchased from Crate an Barrel over a year ago
The deer head did come painted as if it were real- totally creepy- a half a quart of glossy white paint indeed
And the necklace idea came from both Pottery Barn/Domino, I made them with small boards covered in foam and then with linen
wow! I love it!
I lived in 400 sq ft and really had trouble. But all my furniture is "big"... and I do not have it in me to be a minimalist. You did a great job of having gorgeous pieces that fit in well.
Your style looks effortless... which is hgh praise.
You'd be dangerous with an unlimited budget!
Where did you find that shower curtain?
Sunan, you are so kind. The shower curtain is also about the same vintage as the rug, it however was purchased from CB2
Oh and, the "painting" above the bed is actually a wood-grain contact paper cut-out that is pulled from a section of faux toile wallpaper design. Kara Walker was the inspiration. Not to mention it peels right off with out removing paint. In a rental, that's key!
This is beautiful.
Would you mind tellling a fellow Chicagoan how you made those nightstands? I have a small space next to my bed that NEEDS something just like this!
"if i were single, i would totally love living in this space." Ha! That was my first thought, too.
I love the idea of using the work of artists like Walker to inspire elements like this. Great work, Emily.
Love it....especially the Jewelery as art and the little purple pillow next to the bed. A really cute studio
This is so inspiring to me, especially since I, too, live in a studio. Such a beautiful, well-edited space. Love that stool/bedside table with the extra shelf for storage.
Beautiful, serene and simple. Love the soft palette and restrained hand. Great job.
The canvases displaying your necklaces is a stroke of genius. Great way to store them and display as art as well. I also adore the lamp in the bedroom, can you tell me its source?
The other thing that I really appreciate about this space is that Emily's not trying to hide, disguise, or downplay her bed. I always feel so bad when I visit a friend's studio apartment and he has his bed shoved in a corner and covered in something, as if he's ashamed of it. Dude, I know you sleep here. It's okay.
To respond to alisong: I will try and track down my original drawing and post assembly/material details along with it. It was a bit involved.
To respond to peggy: I'm not sure which lamp you're thinking about, but the pair of lamps on either bedside table were found at a store in Chicago called Revival. The other clear glass lamp was purchased at Linens-n-Things prior to their liquidation.
the joy of compact living. I like it!
I love your place, and I especially am enamored with your jewelry organization system/art! I'm wondering where you got the tack boards or if you made them and how!
Great job! That's a lot of style for 300 sq ft.
Absolutely beautiful! You did a fantastic job with your space.
Love it. I am also a studio dweller- my 470 seems so spacious after seeing 300 sq ft. i wish AT would group house tours based on space. I think they did it in the book. It would be easier to search when I need a quick shot of de-clutter inspiration.
omg...stunningly livable!
Great job emily - it's lovely! if you have time, would you mind explaining a little more about the jewelry storage project? like what kind of boards, how did you stick them to the wall? screws? it's really a wonderful place!
Love love the jewelry art.
I'm in awe of the weiner dog in your bathroom. So simple, yet so much character. What was your inspiration behind this piece? And I think I can answer the above poster on the egg/stand; you have to ask your ostrich very nicely and just be patient. The egg will come.
You should be a designer. The combo of the bed, stands, and the amazing pink glass lamps is picture perfect! This looks like something out of a magazine, except that it ALSO is cozy and has so much personality. Ahhh.
Regarding your bathroom door problem - you can pick up a smaller toilet seat and switch it for your old one for about $20. We did this in our bathroom. The seat now matches the profile of the bowl, and now neither the seat nor the lid sticks out farther than the bowl.
Another option would be to hang the door so it swings out instead of in, if you have the space for that. I personally went the toilet seat route because it is easier to switch. You might even be able to get your landlord to do it - just buy the new seat you want, and say you broke the old one!
Congratulations! Your place looks beautiful. Love the colors and the well edited collection of furniture. Also totally adore the jewelry display boards. And the night stands are fantastic.
Where is your headboard from?
I love the colors! What a great space. Nice job!
perfect.
standupstapler: thanks so much for the idea!
Azure: The headboard is from Urban Outfitters, and because I work for Anthro I got to use my fantastic discount on it! They are actually pretty well made and affordable.
As for technical questions regarding the jewelry boards and side tables I will try and put together two simplistic DIY instruction sheets for you guys!
Awesome space!
What a cute place. I really like the bed cover and shams.
Wonderful space Emily! I too live in a small space and was afraid to use too many neutral colors Looking at your studio made me realize it is totally doable!
yay lovely space!
i've neve really been a fan of so many neutral colors but i will say you pulled it off beuatifully.
absolutely ADORE the jewelry hangings..or should i say artwork..on the wall.
i love the stools! where are those from?
I thought this looked familiar :) I hope we get to vote for this small, cool place.
Totally dig the frosted glass lamp by the bedside! And the jewelry art, of course.
Congrats on a great job!
Well done! I love the little lucite shelf in your bathroom and have been looking everywhere for something similar...do you mind sharing where you found it?
Emily....amazing job! I will never complain about 600 sq ft again! I think that these tours are so much more intresting to see. Yeah I can decorate 3000 sq ft with an unlimited budget. This type of place is all about editing. I'm moving into a new place next month and AT is my main source for ideas! (BTW the jewlery boards are totaly fab!)
I'm with kascha avi and OliviaTokyo. You've accomplished a great vibe with the overall neutral palette and natural asthetic!
What did you use to display the jewelry? I have a ton of vintage costume stuff and I cant figure out how to display it!
i heart oberlin, too!
beautifully done. thanks in advance for those schematics; i'm sure we all appreciate your generosity!
Okay, I too am in love with the jewelry treatment. Thanks for the inspiration.
A tip for a nightstand that's really not a nightstand at all? Buy a telephone stand that has drawers in it. They tend to be tall and skinny and just the right size for a little space. I bought 2 one for either side of my bed at Home Decorators (online). The quality is not high but the price and size fit my budget.
Hugely impressed with how streamlined this place it - I asked myself 'where has she hidden all her stuff' but had to admit to myself you probably aren't a hoarder! I'm inspired - it's beautiful.
What color paint did you use in the bedroom? It's lovely.
Great place! Very impressed. I'm curious where you found your comforter/pillows -- really like the pattern. Thanks.
Thanks for including a floorplan!! And I thought my 525 sq. ft. place was little. You've made it so cute and kept it neat. I love the "dressing space" idea -- it's like a walk-in closet or boutique changing room with the floor to ceiling curtain.
Love the chairs at the breakfast bar.