Name: Vanessa and Simon
Location: Gramercy Park
Size: 500 sqft., 2-bdrm. rental
Favorite Element: Light
>> See Slideshow!
Vanessa, a web designer, draws a parallel between organizing her belongings and designing web sites. She finds they both present the same challenge — how to accommodate a lot of stuff into a small amount of space...

When Vanessa looks around her apartment, she translates the objects she sees into web content that has to be organized.
Vanessa lives in this relatively small space with her boyfriend Simon who apparently also shares her joy in organizing. For example, their most recent work in progress has been to inventory all their DVD's and present the results in something akin to a high-end restaurant menu.
For two people to live here, they must be diligent about clutter, hiding the clutter they have, and putting away anything and everything immediately after it is used, looked at, worn, or eaten.
Vanessa clearly excels at creating a beautiful and livable space, with lots of hiding spots.

Years lived in: 1.5
Inspiration: sunlight, nature, old industrial spaces
My/Our style: modern, eclectic, earthy, industrial
Most embarrassing: the sofa that doesn't fit
Proudest DIY: my mahogany and stainless steel bench
Most Talked About Element:metal sculptures
Best advice received: Do what makes you happy!
Best advice given: Be impulsive
Room changed most frequently: living room
Three words to describe my home: Simon says, "west.elm.vanessa"
Sources:
Custom Made Mirrors — King David Gallery
Shelving in Bedroom Closet: Container Store
Check out Vanessa's Flickr tour of her place!
Do you have an idea for a house tour? Let me know! jill AT apartmenttherapy DOT com

Comments (13)
I remember when this was posted last year. Still think it's a cool apartment.
Are the zig-zaggy green plants real--if so, what are they?
The plants are bamboo. You know, the kind you see at the grocery store that have been wound together in early developmental stages and are sold with ribbons tied around them.
It looks like they grew and Vanessa unwound them...
I bookmarked this space last year... that guest room is so divine: full of warmth and wonderful texture. And I love how you store your toilet paper! Way to utilise every inch of spare space!
Lovely home... (:
Hi,
I love the art in the guest room, the horizontal rectangular art piece (predominantly red). Is it a photo print? If you don't mind sharing, who is the artist.
Thank you
Very creative use of storage, and the place still retains really nice lines, not a lot of jumble just to incorporate something for storage use. A job well done in every room. And that bench is fab! You are quite talented!
Brilliant use of storage space. Well done!
I love your home, the space you've created looks really large! I also will be forever obsessed with your couch! I love it all!
Holy cow... that is so gorgeous. If I could make my space look like that in any way, I would be thrilled.
Emily
The plants are "lucky bamboo", but they're not actually bamboo at all. They're Dracaena - members of the lily family - and can survive in a water filled container without soil. Pretty cool.
I love your space, feel so warm and cozy. Nice job. And I have the same sofa like you from west elm. I love how you put the orange pillow on top of it.
"whether color or artwork should go over the headboard"
I vote for artwork. I bet you that if I gave you some canvas and paint, you would probably come up with something original.
The floors and lighting is perfect. Everything in between is quite lovely.