apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Ummmmm is that right? 780 square feet? That doesn't meet the contest requirements!

The entertainment center/cat area is a bit unsightly.

sorry, nothing about this place appeals to me. the stack of electronics on the Ikea locker, the cat tree, the lack of art on the walls, the general clutter, bad lighting...

im sure the hardwood floors are just gorgeous!

I just had to look up the contest rules again because I was suprised they would post a place over the sq. footage limit. Yup, it still says 650.

I also had to check the criteria, because frankly 780 square feet sounded huge to me. I don't see anything particularly striking about the use of all that space, though.

130 SF over the contest rules.

We have a minimalist approach to furnishings and decor.

Yes and that includes no pictures, window treatments and style.

Based on the Small Cool 2007: Gmail Explosion post dated 4/17, there were 28 entries received by the deadline. (Not counting those that bounced and needed to be resubmitted).

It's no longer a matter of not having entries to post. I also think it's disappointing that we're getting one contest post a day (sometime around noon) and now it seems they're not even paying attention to what they're posting...

I think it's brave to put your apartment "out there" for judgment. (So, kudos to you.) Congrats on the new house.

As a minimalist and mid -century aficionado, I see neither here, except perhaps an end table and lamp, neither of which are well integrated. Also, the exposed washer dryer unit is a big minus.

All the more frustrating because the house has great bones to work with. This contest has seem places half the size and less appear twice as big. Hard to see such potential go to waste.

This just confirms my personal belief that in many ways it's actually more difficult to decorate a larger space.

It's no longer a matter of not having entries to post. I also think it's disappointing that we're getting one contest post a day (sometime around noon) and now it seems they're not even paying attention to what they're posting...

PB: we apologize for the mistake; this entry unfortunately slipped by our corporate super computers (aka our blurry eyes).

In regards to posting time: we were only posting a single entry per day until now because we did not receive the bulk of our entries until after the deadline, thanks to the email debacle. We definitely are trying our best to pay attention...but we're admittedly a small team, all with fulltime day jobs, working until the late evenings for AT. I hope you can understand...we're only human. Again, we apologize for the inconvenience and mistake.

Don't sweat it. Mistakes happen. Relax all, and just enjoy the contest!

Thank you for the work you do here beyond your day jobs!

Hi guys--we didn't realize until after the entry was sent about the size. A friend told us to send in the pics and hope it was fun for you to just look.

We have only lived here a couple months, so it's nowhere near final potential. Sounds like regardless of the size issue our little place is pretty pathetic by most of your standards so I don't think we'll be a hot contender! :-)

The room we are featuring is the living room/kitchen and (unfortunate) back laundry area combined and that area is definitely less than 400 sq ft. There are quite a few mid-century elements besides the lamp and coffee table.

I'd love to get some feedback on how you would decorate, esp a window solution (those shades are the ones that were there when we moved in). There is not much we can do about the exposed w/d, I'm afraid, and almost all the walls have some art except for one. The cat stuff could certainly be moved, but not sure how we can put the TV anyplace else?

Hi mckenna
Something that worked for us re exposed W/D in the kitchen area...

We bought Ikea cabinet doors (you can buy the doors separate from the cabinets--we used two 15"x64" pull-out pantry doors on the bottom, and two 15"x24" doors on the top) then built an open front/open back box around the W/D with particle board, (bracing the back, of course) and attached the cabinet doors. This also gave us additional storage for the soap, dryer sheets, etc., and we use a fold-flat type hamper which we store right there, too.
The bottom is covered by a kick panel which stays in place through pressure--you just need to cut it the exactly right size for the space.

Your cabinets probably aren't Ikea, but you might be able to do the same thing with other makers--or find a close match at Ikea. Sometimes a cabinet maker will have an option for a refrigerator box that might fit.

This was a much lower cost option than having someone build custom cabinets for us, and it really looks good! It also helps to cut the sound when the unit is in operation.


About the T.V. area...Could you put the stuff that is next to the T.V. (is it a stereo, or DVD or something) IN the white cabinet, rather than ON it? Then put the super cool flat screen (I'm jealous--we're saving for one) on the wall above, like a painting?

Cat furniture is something my cat has just learned to do without--She gets to use our furniture, and the occasional grocery bag and cardboard box. She gets bored with everything after awhile anyway, so I don't think she's truly abused :)

I think about window coverings this way: Long and dark make a place look more formal, long and sheer make it look more romantic, and shades (like Roman blinds or the like) are more tailored, and less formal.
You also don't need to think about ONLY covering the windows--drapes can be a way to add color to a whole wall (think of a theater).

I think your place has lots of potential--maybe we could see some pics after you're through? (although if you're like me, you're never THROUGH :) )

The bookcase is overloaded causing a jumbled crowded mess in the middle of a bunch of open boring wall. Install library shelving on the wall if you want to have all of those books out and arrange them neatly with a few art pieces to add space and shapes. Or get more bookcases and spread the collection around the room.

My people can be cranky. I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed this contest. You all put just a tremendous amount of work into this. Posting one entry a day is plenty. People defiantly forget that this is a free site and they should relax and enjoy.

I think the fact that people get a bit snippy is just a reflection of how much they like this site--- to the point of being rudely possessive.

I have defiently recomended this site to just about everyone I know. And we all love it, keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!