Name: Melissa & Matt
Location: Riverwest
Size: 550 sq/ft
Years lived in: 1
Remember this room?
Submitted to our Fall Colors Contest ’06, Melissa and Matt’s high contrast, navy blue and yellow bedroom caught our eye. We were intrigued by the unusual combination of colors so skillfully used - we wanted to see more and we weren't disappointed...
Melissa and Matt pull off a mix of high and low with ease. The Eames compact next to the inexpensive side tables works, and the entire space shows that DWR and IKEA are both worthwhile sources for a modern apartment.
The (admirable) lack of clutter and smart use of attractive, open storage pieces make their necessary belongings (books, clothing, etc.) part of the decor in a very successful way.
Melissa calls this apartment her "design laboratory", a good way for all of us who love design to think about our homes - as places to feel free to try ideas, stretch our imaginations and experiment!
Melissa's Survey:
our Style: Our style is really based on what the space will allow. This apartment presents design challenges that other apartments have not. Our style seems to evolve out of those challenges. Some things that never change are the sentimental objects that remind us of friends and family, our travels and good times. Trying to make those things fit into the space we’re living in usually dictates the overall aesthetic. Also, because I’m an interior design student, I use our space as a design laboratory. I like to try a lot of different techniques and experiment in my own home to see how well my ideas translate to the real world.
the Inspiration : Right now I have a piece of artwork that was given to me by a dear friend and it makes me absurdly happy. It’s the perfect combination of shapes and colors. I swear if the place was burning to the ground I’d grab my man, my dog and that painting.
favorite Element: My string bass. I played intensely from the age of ten through 18 and somewhat in college. While it makes me sad to see it spend most of its time leaning in the corner of my apartment, it’s a great reminder to one day pick it up again.
biggest Challenge : Far and away the limitations of the furniture arrangement. No lie, Matt and I like our TV. Because of this, there’s only one way the furniture can be arranged. The main space is also about three times as long as it is wide. I’ve tried to do a lot of things to keep it from feeling like a bowling alley and to give the eye several places to land before hitting the end of the room.
what Friends Say: They usually think it’s pretty nice. I get a lot of comments about the lack of clutter.
biggest Embarassment: By far our sad, sad bathroom. There’s no space, no storage and it’s just a nightmare. We mostly keep that door closed.
proudest DIY: I made all the pillows in the space. A couple of years ago I got really into felt and just started making these scenes and trying to do things differently on the front than on the back – telling little stories and what not. They provide a nice, soft visual that I think works well in our home.
biggest Indulgence: Most recently, my Eames Sofa Compact. I acquired it under very “cosmic” circumstances – i.e. I told someone I wanted one and they said, “oh, I have a friend that’s selling one”. Sight unseen, it was delivered in beautiful condition and in a very livable upholstery. I know I will always have it. It’s the best small apartment sofa on the planet.
best Advice As related to design, probably just to stick with what you really love. A lot of people I encounter feel forced into certain rules, or just don’t have any direction so they get overwhelmed. They start to replicate something they’ve seen and end up with a space that they don’t like, much less one that inspires them. If you start with a feeling or an object that you like, and just keep it simple most people find they’re quite good at pulling it all together.
myDream Source: For “stuff” it’s a toss up between unicahome.com and Rotofugi. I don’t like too many things sitting around, but I absolutely adore my ReMent Japanese miniature refrigerator and my growing collection of politically conscious and downright hilarious plastic figurines. If we’re looking for well-designed and functional wares, we can almost always find it on Unica.
Resources:
Living Area
Eames Compact sofa: Friend of a friend
Green End Tables: Urban Outfitters
Red Yarn Wrapped Stool: IKEA
Rocker: Tom Rock, DWR
Coatrack: Eames
Pillows: by Melissa!
Entertainment Unit: Magiker, IKEA
Dining Area
Decals: Blik
Stools: Last Minute, DWR
Kitchen
Espresso Machine: La Marzocco (won by Matt in the US Barista Championship)
Stainless steel cart: DWR
Painting: by Karen Combs of Nama Rococo
Storage Unit: Modular pieces from the Cubist line, DWR
Red Branch: Jayson Home and Garden
Wall Color: Winwood Spring by Behr
Office
Workstation: Elfa, Container Store
Task Chair: Herman Miller Caper in Sweet Corn
On the Monitor: Jacques
Wall decor: Blik decal cut and trimmed/used as stencil by Melissa
Paint stripe color: Pewter Rug by Behr
Bean bag: Fatboy
Side table: Cubist, DWR
Rug: Flor tiles
Bedroom
Bed:Pine bed from IKEA painted by Melissa
Headboard Panels: Made by Melissa from MDF panels wrapped with yellow velvet
Custom dress form: Jo-ann Fabrics
Silkscreen Print: Amos Kennedy, JR.
Wardrobe storage: Stolmen system, IKEA
Storage bins: Me Boxes
Bathroom
Medicine Cabinet: IKEA
Octopus Hanger: IKEA
Clock: Unica Home
(Thanks, Melissa, Matt and Evan!)
Dirty Little Secrets of Tidy Families
Hillary & Michael's Refined Roost
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Nomade Express Slee...
10 Things to Pack That Make Cooking on Vacation Easier
My Staple Summer Cocktail Recipe: Campari & IPA Spritzer
YESSSSSSSSSSSS! A NEW HOUSE TOUR!!!!!!!!!!!
You guys are awesome.
I have to gather my thoughts.
C'est bella! This apartment is only 550 sq ft? No way! With your use of color and lack of clutter, it looks like a large loft! You design students are so crafty! It's a really beautiful space.
What a great job, I don't even know where to begin.
To be able to transform an apartment into a unique and well-designed home that is exciting to look at is really something special. I really think that this space is so within the spirit of this site. I have a feeling you are going to inspire a lot of people!
I am a firm believer that there will always be a place for Ikea no matter what the space. It helped me through a lot of years in Pilsen apartments notorious for their lack of certain conveniences. Your Stolmen piece in the bedroom and cabinet in the bathroom are perfect examples of that. By the way, that little yarn stool has been discontinued from Ikea. I ended up buying the display one from the stock area. Collector's piece?
The damask type images are actually decals? I'm going to paint some stencils pretty soon, I haven't seen decals before.
Brilliant use of color. Great furniture collection. I'll be coming back to your photos often.
I'll trade you cooking lessons for barista lessons! I'm trying to figure out Rancilio's Miss Sylvia.
Bravo!
has personality! nicely uncluttered! cool use of Stolmen...
WOW! So glad I know you, when you are famous please remember me! I love this presentation! You have inherited from your Mom and Aunt Connie.
Love the bold colors! Keep up the good work!Gigi
Love, Love, Love It! I wish my apartment was as stylish!
My goodness that pad is adorable and they are the cutest couple ever. Love!
Holly
that is a gorgeous gorgeous place!!
THis would totally get my vote for Smallest Coolest.
This apartment is gorgeous! The use of colour and the way they made the small space seem spacious is truly wonderful. Are all of your clothes contained Stolmen? Where are you studying, Melissa?
very very very cute. love it. i bet it makes you very happy.
amazing. the bed is truly astonishing. could you give some step-by-step info on how you did it?
thanks!
Your place is proof and inspiration for the power of colour! Loved it...thanks for inviting us Nosy Nellies into your place.
I absolutely love this place! Great job!
It looks very nice but all the photos seem to be very up-close, focused shots of specific areas of the apartment. So while all the stuff in the apartment looks nice, I can't get a sense of how it all works together, or how the space flows. For example, based on the bathroom picture you've provided, the bathroom looks pretty sweet - despite the fact that you say you hate the bathroom. Definitely some nice stuff in there though. I'm guessing it's tough to get a pics of the space as more of a "whole" because of the suite's layout?
I love it when people are able to mix in IKEA stuff so well that it takes a sharp eye to spot it. Great place, and I love the pillows! :)
What an adorable happy place! You've done a wonderful job, your art collection is amazing. Thank you for the sources, I was going to ask where you got the fab green end tables. And you are such a cute couple. Where do women find men who are straight and interested in decor? My ex-husband's idea of art was a crying clown painted on black velvet that he bought at a gas station and insisted on putting over our sofa, empty beer bottles and Harley-Davidson mirror tiles.
I really love that navy blue on your bedroom wall. It looks like a very dark teal.
I LOVE THIS. ALL OF IT!!! This has got to be one of my favorite apartments featured on apartment therapy!!!
Would love to know where you got the art in the 7th picture with the bird. Thanks!
I think your place is great looking, and I'm so glad you've provided so many sources as well as paint colors!! But why, why no paint info for your bedroom? I'd love to know what color that blue is.
Wow! Truly fantastic! Your use of color is inspiring. I'd love to see more photos.
Use of Blik (Iron Vines)(www.whatisblik.com)- We put these on the wall first, painted over them and removed the blik when the paint was just dry to the touch. They peeled away so easily and created a great affect.
Ikea Bed Makeover: This is the Queen version of the Dalselv bed. It is made of unfinished pine. We simply sanded it a bit and then painted the bed white. We assembled it without the black metal rods that are designed to go through the slats in the headboard. I purchased 1/2" MDF and cut it 1/4" shy of the interior dimensions of each area of the headboard to allow for the fabric and foam. I then used a combimation of batting, 1/2" foam and yellow velvet to upholster each section. We used simple, flat brackets and drilled one end to the mdf and one to the back of the headboard to hold the sections in place.
Bedroom color: Behr Paint - Rainstorm
The painting/silkscreen in the 7th picture is made by Karen Combs of Namaroco wallpaper (www.namarococo.com). She's a friend of mine and I acquired this work several years ago. The papers are sold in single sheets which makes them very easy to purchase and frame. This particular bird is featured in the paper "Serious BoKay".
All of the feedback has been great. Thanks for all of your comments. I can't wait to see all the entries for the Smallest Coolest contest!
-Melissa
Melissa: Where do you study interior design, and do you like it? I'm looking for a place to take classes (preferably leading to a certificate in interior design) in Chicago. thanks!
Hi. I'm currently enrolled at Harrington College of Design in the loop. It's definitely worth checking out. It's a demanding and focused program, but if you love it, it doesn't always feel like work. It would be expensive just to take classes there without seeking a degree though. Some of the best classes I've taken were color theory, space planning and 2D design. I draw a lot of my inspiration from what I learned in those classes. Good luck and Thanks!
Sweet home!
I'd love to see this beautiful painting! Is it the one with the flower-like thing and red bird silhouette in the AT book?
Take care,
I.
I want to move in here! IT's one of my favourite tours ever! I wouldn't change a thing, perfect
I love it! I love it! When I look at home tours, I like to imagine people living inside of the homes, so may houses seem sterile, museum-y. I think this is really personal and lovely! Great job, really!
What a lovely apartment! I recently moved to a studio, and I'm interested in painting stripes on the dining room wall. The pic w/ the vertical stripe - is there just one stripe on that wall, or do you continue the pattern?