Here's a welcome blast from the past: ATLA reader Brooke was the winner of our biggest Holiday Gift Bag giveaway last year, finding herself awarded with a complete living room set, compliments of IKEA, Burbank. That's what her place looked like prior to winning up above. Check out how it looks now after the break...
One more photo of Brooke's apartment "before".
And now here it is "after"!
"We are young, work a lot, and don't make a ton of money. So we spent hours and hours scouring Craigslist for furniture, where often times thriftiness trumps style. And when this insane stroke of luck came our way, we both breathed a huge sigh of relief.
When you move in together, there's that separation in the apartment of 'your stuff' and 'my stuff.' But now the living room is filled with 'our stuff' that we share together. And it makes our space feel more like home.
The white couch is so cozy! But it's also a mission to keep it clean, especially with a mischievous Klaus on the rampage. (Plus our tendency to spill.) But the cover is machine washable, so we'll be good to go when the time comes.
The bookshelves have actually had the biggest impact on our whole apartment. We have so much space for storage now. We were actually LOOKING for things to fill the shelves! But now, it's just really nice to have a place to display our personal odds and ends without it looking random or sloppy."
Max and I are so thankful to Ikea and Apartment Therapy for this awesome prize. We liked our apartment before, but now we LOVE it. This furniture has made such a difference.
Thanks Brooke, Max (and Klaus, the naughty feline) for sharing with us all!
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Looks great! The new layout really works well.
view tara1979's profile
Yes! Black is such an elegant color. It always adds a graphic punch.
view Lisa Hunter (Montreal)'s profile
Love the dining area, the blue and the black are so nice and those posters are great.
My cat, who is also black, eats flowers too...
view Ana's profile
Love it! My pugs...also eat flowers...and rocks...and dryer sheets...
view Nevis's profile
Looks like half the battle was rearranging the room...
...and don't try to fill the shelves much more - the arrangement now looks great as is.
view bepsf's profile
Cute cat, I can't have one but I never knew they ate flowers, but to catch and see one in action makes me smile.
view RJD's profile
I had a cat that only ate tulips. I could have a huge bouquet of mixed flowers and sure enough the next day all of the tulips would have disappears while all the rest remained.
view caliloud's profile
My cat eats flowers too. And dried leaves. Sometimes we'll bring a leaf in as a special snack.
view Nikita's profile
where is the coffee table from the before pics from? i love it. Also, love the way you guys set up the eating space. the posters/ pics on the wall look rad.
view gemion's profile
fantastic! so nice to see your new home. well done! luckily, my black cat ignores all plant life. :-)
view *heather leaf*'s profile
the bookcases look so perfect there, and the gray walls are AWESOME. i agree they have the most impact, for sure!
view kdkaboom's profile
gemion - The 'before' coffee table is also from Ikea. That was the only thing I was a little bummed about taking out of the living room when the new stuff came. We still have it because I keep toying with the idea of bringing it back out and moving the other table somewhere else. But it just doesn't fit the space as well with the new configuration, so I don't know.
view brookejoy's profile
Ikea coffee table: BANKAS, i think. i got mine for a mere $50 off craigslist! they don't sell it in the US anymore.. i believe Ikea Europe does...
view nellbell's profile
That looks spectacular!
view Aggie927's profile
what color gray is that and where did you get it?
view speedmike's profile
it's "dark granite", from BEHR.
view brookejoy's profile
I like that your glossy TV is now outside the conversation area but still viewable. Your "new" home looks done! It's very cute-congratulations!
view iluvcolor's profile
I love the black/white chair along w/the black/white carpet. I would been scared they would have clashed. So glad they didn't. Love it!
view Sleek's profile
Brooke and Max, you certainly didn't get your decorating talent from me. I saw the apartment when you first got it and I was so pleased for you. What a great find! I can't believe how it looks now. Sitting here in Florida and only hearing about your great luck with the IKEA award I'm so pleased for you.
The best addition is your own personal touches (excuse me, where is my picture?)
Congratulations, love you both, Mom
view Mom1's profile
Love the transformation!!
view amelie de lune 's profile