- Name:
- Jamil
- Location:
- Arlington, VA
- Square Feet:
- 991
- Division:
- Small
- What I Love About My Small Home:
- We love that our small home is old. We love that it has character. We love that it offers just enough, but not too much. Every room has a purpose, and every corner has value. We love that every space in our home is used, and not just filled in order to avoid emptiness. We love that our bedroom faces the east so that we're greeted by the sunrise, and that our living & dining rooms face the west so that we close our days to the glow of the sunset. We love that it’s small enough to know the location of every squeaky floor board; which makes it easier to not disturb each other’s sleep during late nights or early mornings. We love that no matter where we are in the home, we’re never too far apart.
- Biggest Challenge of Living in a Small Space
- The biggest challenge is convincing others that we actually enjoy and successfully live in a small home. Most people don’t realize that it’s possible to pare down and store all of the dinnerware and associated items into a single mid-century sideboard and we really CAN seat a party of 6 comfortably at the dining table(thanks to extensions). Guests are amazed that our tiny pre-war closets can easily accommodate all of their bulky winter coats and then some thanks to the wonders of modular shelving and closet systems that we've utilized. Overnight guests are delighted to find that there’s plenty of space in the tiny bathroom thanks to smart use of industrial recessed wall cabinets and trash bins. Existing thoughtful and practical architecture and smart furniture layout goes a long way. We’ve successfully met all of the things we once thought were challenges and hopefully have won a few of our friends and family over to the smaller IS cooler mindset.
Categories:
Style,
Main,
2012,
Small Cool,
Small Spaces,
Washington DC
Like this Small Cool 2012 contest entry? Favorite it below!
100 DIY Ideas for the 3-Day Weekend
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Flatwa...
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
Nice. It's amazing how the right color can make kitchen cabinets (that most people would be wanting to repaint) look wonderful.
Nice! Can you tell us what your paint color -- that deep blue in kitchen -- is? Thanks!
I favorited this entry before I even looked at the pictures, based on their written portion alone -- LOVE the outlook on small home living.
what's on the other side of the bed?
(just kidding)
Liked.
Gorgeous! House Tour please :)
Nice space. Great colors. Cute dog also :>)
I'd like to see those organized closets!
Jamil, you've got such a lovely attitude about living in a small space. Cheers to you for making said space so cozy.
Where did you get the coffee table? That is exactly what I've been looking for .
Yes, house tour please!
What! Your home is crazy good-looking! What is the paint color in the bedroom? I might have to steal it for my kitchen.
Love the front door! and style everywhere :)
Wonderful in every way! I love the front door. Your narrative on small space living is inspiring and timely. Love it all! ♥
What are the paint colors you used? Love how the grey and green combo in the kitchen.
House tour!
WOW! What a great surprise to wake up to! Didn't think we'd made the cut. Thanks for the compliments everyone! I think we still have all the paint names at home, i'll have to dig them up. @Little Lulu: The coffee table was an antique store find. @JENPDX: you're right, we were on the verge of doing something drastic to the cabinets; we're glad we painted the rooms first, it made a huge difference for us. @OMORIALA: The closets are still tiny and dark, so it was kinda hard to get a good shot of them lol.
The front door was a chore! Took me almost a year to strip it down to bare wood and repaint it. 80+ years of paint.
You had me at the front door!!
Love it, and I love old homes just about that exact size.
from the paint colors to the furniture to the front door...amazing!
Would love to see a house tour. Beautiful!
I demand a house tour!
Love the dark colors and cozy style without being stuffy.
The architecture is interesting, photos don't really show any of the clever strategems the description claims, the living room ...something about the positioning of the art in tight spaces, the masks so close to the curtains, the little plants in cheap pots all by themselves, feels perfunctory to me, as if the owners haven't completely moved in. (Contrast to the dramatic use of plants and branches in Lily's also spare and modern entry)
Gonna need that kitchen paint color, seriously, I'm in love! All the pictures were lovely, I agree with whoever else said the dark colors work well without making it feel stuffy.
If I could favorite this twice, I would.
Love this! So inspiring in so many ways.
What part of Arlington do you live in? I'd love to buy a small standalone house like this in our area, but I have no idea where to begin my search (All the Condos nearby are so expensive!)
I agree that the dark paint colors are very flattering to the wood cabinets and trims....and still feels modern and up to date. Good job!
Simply lovely!
Absolutely beautiful. Small, cozy, inviting, great colors. The dog is a nice touch too.
Thanks for the compliments everyone! I've got paint colors:
Kitchen - Limeade Green by Ralph Lauren
Dining Room - Artist Grey by Ralph Lauren
Living Room - Studio Grey by Ralph Lauren
Bed Room - Light French Grey by Behr
@AURORAVA - South Arlington is where all the great homes are, come on down!! :)
Looks great! You've convinced me to go small. Now I need some assistance,hopefully before Thanksgiving!
WOW!!! this is beautiful. Love the choice of colors, the cool masks greeting visitors in and out. If you are ever in NC I could us some advice. I,d love to see the bathroom.
Beautiful home. I love how you all have embraced your small place.
I have been through every cool space and still like this one the best, it is soooooooooooooo cooool!
Nice! Love the red door too.
Who are these people you're trying to convince? Almost 1,000 sq ft for 2 people and a dog is ample space in my onion. Great house!
Love the color palette! I have to ask, I have the same chair as you have by your (red!) front door. But I got mine from a neighbor and don't know who it's made by. Do you know?
@KSTEW No clue who makes that chair. We got ours from a random guy on craigslist. I couldn't find a label on it anywhere. But it's very well made for sure!
I love the green back splash against the wood cabinets. What did you use for the pot rack?
@SEVENTEN the pot rack is actually a wall mounted pot rack. We have two of them side by side. The Container Store carries them.
Would love to see the front of the house....Great job!
"in my opinion" - not onion :) oops