what does JoAnn use to hang her bike on? ...didn't see that listed...

Love, love love!!! I am inspired to finish working on my small apartment!!

This has to be one of my favorite house tours! I love the humorous personal touches noted by the author- this space just seems to radiate joy.

I just want to know how you vacuum that living room rug.

I'm so happy to see this tour! Joann, your bedroom ceiling was my favorite thing in this year's Small Cool contest. And your entire apartment is so charming. I am buying one of those heart-shaped cutting boards today.

I'd be nervous about wildlife ambushes in that rug! Might be a good source of loose change though . . .

Love it. I'm always impressed to see a studio apartment with normal size furniture & appliances,

How do you get the bike off and on yo the wall without marking the wall up? Do you hose the bike before you hang it?

I love you place and especially love your tree coat rack on the back of your door. Can you provide a link of where to get it?

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this tour! My heart skipped a little beat on this one because it's just SO pretty! All the little details and hits of interest give away JoAnn's personality (which must be delightful!), and it's very eclectic but not overdone or crowded or overwhelming the way some eclectic spaces loof and feel. I'll bet this space becomes positively magical when you throw in JoAnn and a group of her friends, good food, music, laughter. Yes, this space just says LIFE to me. Marvelous...

*look and feel

Agree with everyone about how adorable/whimsical/comfortable this AT tour is! I'm so inspired, especially since this little haven is so close to home (I also live in Chicago, but in the Wicker Park) area and I think this is the best advice ever:
"Take your time putting your home together, enjoy the process, and be prepared for imperfection. Also, keep an open mind; great inspiration can come from all over, both high and low."
I'll try to remember that as I settle into living in Chi-town!

Great apartment, great tour, great lunchtime reading.

I too enjoyed this tour. It's really nice that in such a small space there was room left for a washer and dryer. Brilliant.
My questions: Why the bike in front of the closet? Not used much?
With such a small space, why 3 tables; parson/sofa table and what looks like 2 coffee tables. I didn't see the reason in the write up.

JoAnn, you were the Small Cool winner in my book! I love, love, love your space!

I love this place even more now. Also, the kitchen you have, while about the same size as in my own duplex rental, is so much nicer and more open. And in Chicago no less! My favorite big city in the US! Very very Small Cool indeed.

Hello JoAnn;
I would love to find out as well what you used to hang your bike from and where did you purchase it?

Nice.

Hi JoAnn- I've been reading reviews about your coffee table because I was thinking of getting one myself. I'm a big fan of putting my feet (shoeless) on the coffee table. Do you think think the table is sturdy enough to handle TV watching feet on it from time to time?

I like how well designed this space is, you can tell how much thought and care went into it, although not my style, it really makes me happy to see this tour! I hate having my bike out and about in my apartment so I lug it down to the basement, but your bike is very easy on the eyes and of course there is no other space for it. Well done.

1job1 and Jenel:

I believe that is a DaVinci hook, and it comes with a tray for the front wheel as well, so as not to mark up the walls.

http://www.modernbike.com/itemgroup.asp?igpk=2126181046&TID=367&gclid=COmR5NnPurECFQgEnQodjTgAwA

Loved this place when I first saw it on the Small Cool Contest. The house tour captures its unique and warm character even more. Thanks for sharing again JoAnn. Love, love, love!

Does anyone know where to get that white tree-like rack that is hanging on her door in the entryway? The source says "online purchase", but my googling of "modern white metal tree wall coat rack" are coming up with everything but this.

And I want it!

Visually fun to look at, but I wonder why the three tables in the living area? One behind the couch and two coffee tables in such a small space? I am sure with the level of design and obvious thought the homeowner put into it all, there is a reason that I am just not getting.

I also tried goggling for the tree-like rack and I couldn't find it either. Anybody know where it might be available?

Thanks for all the great feedback and thanks to Carolyn for capturing my home with great pics!!

Just to answer a few popular questions:
@1job1 and @Jenel, and @articalsistren2011, Fergmelk has the answer to your question! It is a DaVinchi hook that I used to hang my bike. I purchased the hook on the cheap from Amazon.com
@jess13, I use a miele vacuum on the high pile rug setting, although @maynelander is right in that I get the occasional pleasant surprise of finding change. :)
@chalaundrai and @ Lilli K, I bought the tree coat rack myself and I can’t figure out what website it came from!! It's really bugging me because I tried really hard googling to put it on the source list. I do remember it was a European homewares design website though.
@Lyonstill and @Natdancol- Re: the tables, the console table gives me a place to display some schotchkes and provides a storage place for some fileboxes underneath, I use the chartreuse-colored coffee table as a bench so I can entertain more than a handful of guests. I often get the same response when guests come over for the first time but once they sit down- they easily see it as a bench the next time they visit!
@ Rachel C Brooklyn, I wouldn’t recommend putting your feet up on the coffee table regularly- the bolts do loosen a bit on their own so it can get woobly. Just a thought, maybe you can install brackets inside the table as reinforcement so that way you can put your feet up as much as you want.

This is a well-executed home tour. We saw the important rooms with wide-angles views so that we could see the entirety of each area's decor; there were some well-selected vignette shots (but not too many), and finally even a floor plan. JoAnn, I feel that your use of space, color, and textures are impeccably balanced: your home is elegant, yet approachable and comfortable; your personality shines through and gives us just enough to be inspired to do more with our own homes. Thanks!

The apartment looks beautiful. Great use of space!

Possible suggestion: instead of having the green console table, how about a modern long, rectangular storage ottoman; it could provide additional seating; the inside can provide additional storage, and you could still put your games, etc. on top. They come in so many fabrics and colors that it would still be a modern statement while also fitting in.

You can get a bike hook at any hardware store.

Love the apartment. Love how you made the use of every inch of space and that you thought outside the box. The lamp and "home office" at the end of the kitchen counter is genius.

Nice little crib.

Pardon my ignorance, but what does "HP" mean? You know, in the closet-like area behind the sink on the floor plan slide, No. 32? Heating plant, maybe?

Oh yay! This was one of my favorite entries from the most recent small cool contest and I'm so glad we get a full tour!

So clean, bright and well-executed. Just beautiful. I especially love the little fox slinking along beside the kitchen bench, and all the indoor plants.

AT leaves me constantly amazed at how people manage with small spaces. I think growing up in Australia has made me slightly claustrophobic. My apartment is probably twice the size of this, with less furniture, and I couldn't stand to have anything else in here. I need empty space. I would have to get rid of the dresser and one of the small tables in the living room, I think.

ADORE this space! Hers was one of my favourite during Small Cool, so I that that we got to delve deeper! Well done, JoAnn! :D
(Seriously envious of the entire apartment layout too... waaaant.)

Elephant poster so adorable, it was made for your room! Thinking Cap poster, fun! Repurposed face votive, way lovely! Sheer curtains covering laundry area, purrfct!
You have an eye!!

Curious: Since you seem to be so organized and have such good taste, have you found any other solutions for your wires hanging on the kitchen peninsula? If you find anything that can keep them more tame and discreet, please post it!!! I'd love to hear about it, since I don't care for wires myself. I enjoyed the tour, thanks for posting it!

what a beautiful little home!! also really liked all the photos in this tour. not a duff one in there!

Hey I love this apartment and voted for it in the contest! I am curious about your bathroom. The floor plan shows a space that looks like it could house a bath or shower beside the toilet - but the floor plan shows it as a wall. Then we see the actual photo of your bathroom and there IS a wall beside your toilet. Where do you bathe or shower? Sorry to be so nosey... just so curious!

Every kitchen needs a cheery "hello" sign. LOVE the whole home tour!!

@kmrotterdam Thanks for your suggestion. I choose the green bench because I wanted something airy, which is why a lot of my furniture are on legs to help create a flow in contrast to the bulky dresser on the side.
@glinda goodwitch I took HP from the original floorplan- not sure if the abbreviation was correct in the first place. Anyways, that’s where my heating unit and AC are! Also @lyonstill I placed the bike in front of that unit because I really don’t need access from that- it looks like a closet but there is just enough room for a broom and spare cleaning supplies.
@Charlie26 I agree my place can get a little tight. I used to tuck the chartreuse colored bench under the console table for more space but I’ve decided to leave it out since moving it gets cumbersome and I love to entertain guests on the spot as it gives me extra sitting space!
@movetoinbox It was a dilemma when it came to organizing the wires on the side of the kitchen peninsula. I’ve found a cute quick fix using cable ties that look like leaves. Although the wires are visible- at least they are tied up in an orderly fashion. The cable ties are made by “Fred & Friends” and you can buy them on Amazon.
@Lenalula my shower stall is in the bathroom adjacent to the toilet. Check out the floorplan for a better idea. It's is a good sized marble shower stall with a glass door.

Thanks for the feedback. I enjoyed the tour of your awesome place!

This is so inspirational! We're planning a move out to NYC and we'll be in a 1 bedroom apt. which will be about 600 sq.ft - so all of your fantastic ideas for space saving and use of space is brilliant! Thank you!

What's your secret for stenciling on a textured wall?

Fantastic - this is exactly the kind of place I love to see in house tours.

Great use of space and color! I love to see small spaces made cozy.

I'm really glad we got to see more of your home, it is adorable! I love the penny tile in the kitchen. I really love how you made a little office area on your counter, especially the light. Really nice idea.

Your place feels so comfortable and warm. I have a little trouble with the bike being in that corner - is there no where else for it? I certainly understand space limitations being in a very small place myself. The other thing that bothers me is the bench in the living room. I would kind of like to see that space more open, it looks a tad cluttered to me. However, if you need this for entertaining, it's a much better choice than a second sofa.

You are my hero. I love everything and especially the green shag rug. Sorry but I don't get the bench next to the coffee table.

Back for a second look. You did the stencil? It's lovely! This place has so many lovely things about it. I wish you would get really brave and edit the heck out of it. It's just a tad cluttered. But that's my personal preference. Do you have a blog? I'd love to watch your place evolve.

Your place is beautiful - fun, sophisticated, clever, light and airy, and just overall extremely charming. The feel you have in your home is what I'm striving for in mine. Great inspiration. Thank you for sharing it with us!

Trendy, colorful, and beautiful.

Your place is definitely stylish but a bit crowded. Why two tables? Is one a bench? Your Eames rocking chair deserves that space alone. Enjoy.

@joshi, well, you've done extremely well, regardless! I don't know the measurements of my current rental apartment, but it has two big bedrooms, a large bathroom/laundry, and a decent-sized courtyard (with small storage shed). (And, umm, yeah...I live alone.)

I'd never manage to make a place that small look so well-edited and comfy.

I'm sorry, but that bike hanging there in the first picture looks absurd and hideous.

Yummy. I particularly like the bedroom. A little sanctuary with gorgeous bedding although I think I might nail my head on the cupboard/headboard quite often :-) but that's just me.

Wow - you are living large in 400 sq feet. Seems so open and homey without the clutter - love the kitchen!

this is a cute little space and i actually really like the floor plan of the apartment, but... i just feel like there's too much furniture in there. the bench in front of the coffee table seems like total overkill. it's a great way to get some bruised shins when you wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. and the gauzy fabric over the w/d killed me. it's not like it's so pretty you need to see it. an opaque curtain would've been better.

Does anyone know if that white west elm vertical bookcase is called? I tried to search for it but no luck.

*what not if

I love your place

Your kitchen and furniture are great!