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Southwest #20: Karen's Use Your Imagination Unfinished Rowhouse

Name: Karen
Location: Denver, Colorado
Size: 500 sq. ft. house
Rent/Own: Own

What is the advantage of SMALL? For the price that I could afford I can live within walking distance to downtown and in the cool LOHI neighborhood. Less impact on the environment! I don't really need/want more stuff. I like to have things neat and organized and they have to be in a small space.

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What's your favorite resource for your home?

Apartment Therapy, Kris's color stripes blog, Pantone colors, Sunset magazine, and IKEA.


What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home?

First, let me say that I started my project in September with a complete demolition. I was hoping to be finished sooner. Included are some photos of what I have done so far.

One that you cannot see - Soundproofing. I used GreenGlue on an additional sheet of drywall between myself and my noisy neighbor. I also hung a full wall of double thick curtains on the street side wall. Much improved!

One that you can see - the massize French doors that go from the kitchen to the backyard. Use your imagination to see the deck just outside the back door where I will be spending the entire spring and summer!


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Comments (32)

I have a pretty good imagination and I think this is lovely and will be even better when your patio is finished.

posted by Gallivant on 2008-04-18 17:18:40
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i think it is very pretty, i would like to see something on the walls but brick is tricky. what a sweet little labor of love!! i would be thrilled to live here.

posted by bethanylemony on 2008-04-18 17:20:37
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I like where she's going with it, but it's not ready for this contest.

posted by gretchen on 2008-04-18 17:22:07
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I second gretchen.

posted by siongchinchan on 2008-04-18 17:37:50
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I enjoyed it until I saw the unfinished deck.

posted by aladywhoknows on 2008-04-18 17:43:03
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Very nice.

posted by suzy8track on 2008-04-18 17:43:53
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I like this place (don't like the sofa fabric but that's personal) I am sure the deck will look great when it's finished.

posted by Frau on 2008-04-18 17:44:47
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Where did you get that lovely bedspread & yellow pillow? Love both.

posted by Frau on 2008-04-18 17:45:44
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As others have said, good potential, but unfinished.

posted by sorin on 2008-04-18 18:03:56
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No comment.

posted by DesignGod on 2008-04-18 18:06:39
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How do you cook on the stove with the dryer right next to it? Love your white brick walls, though.

posted by cojaclynsy on 2008-04-18 18:45:56
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I can't wait to see how it looks all finished. I am also wondering why people are entering this contest with incomplete designs and admitting so with the hope it won't matter. I realize this renovation is going on 7 months (8?) and the entrant is pleased with the progress. It sounds like it will be nice, but how could we be expected to vote?

There are other entrants who claim to be in the middle of waiting for things that would have made their apartment a little cooler than they are showing (or at least they think so). Of this subcategory, this apartment is my favorite, but that unfortunately doesn't count for a lot.

posted by K T G on 2008-04-18 18:52:29
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agree with all that it's unfinished and really dislike seeing pics of kitchens, etc. where the person has done nothing. howEVER, lovely white walls and it looks like nice taste. this apartment has promise.

posted by buyersremorse on 2008-04-18 18:54:56
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Good start but not contest ready.

posted by Laura on 2008-04-18 18:55:43
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I want to see this place in a year. It looks like you're off to a good start of your remodel and redesign. good luck.

posted by TheoJ on 2008-04-18 20:02:05
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If you finish the deck what's going to happen to Kitty's outside litter box?

posted by Mr. Dangerous on 2008-04-18 20:10:30
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This has great potential and i really love the painted brickwork. We should be seeing this again next year.

posted by bl1nk on 2008-04-18 21:50:59
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I don't get it...

posted by phaedrus on 2008-04-18 22:08:15
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i wish the brick were exposed - that would be hot

posted by peaceyall on 2008-04-18 22:14:34
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The tiny stove is cool. Other than that, it's nice but noticeably unfinished.

posted by arza on 2008-04-18 23:05:29
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1 to what everyone else said: good start, but not ready for this contest.
Also, I'm not liking the couch for some reason. It's kind of the generic, boxy, micro-fiber look, I guess.
I think this place might be really cool next year though, so enter again then!

posted by Caitlin in Seattle on 2008-04-19 01:41:51
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I meant plus 1. I guess plus signs don't show up.

posted by Caitlin in Seattle on 2008-04-19 01:43:18
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I love white painted brick actually, esp. when paired with a dark slate or wooden floor. Reminds me of some Danish homes.
Unless it's in a good combination, exposed brick seems so 80s loft to me sometimes.

Like the bedroom, white kitchen, but the living room lost me.

posted by lolax on 2008-04-19 03:59:45
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I love the pops of yellow - my personal favorite color - against the blues of your furnishings.

Yeah...I'd love to see it next year, too.

posted by Demure Productions on 2008-04-19 12:34:18
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I also would like to see something on the walls, but I love the white brick and the yellow accents.

posted by theseboots on 2008-04-19 13:38:03
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Hi AT'ers,
For those of you that were encouraging, thank you. I'm hoping to finish my deck this weekend and then get started on deep cleaning and finally getting out my art work, etc.

My bedding is from Garnet Hill and the pillow is from Z gallerie. I made the landingstrip table from an IKEA kitchen door and just added legs and then covered it with material. My walls are painted light pink - Scented Candle. Please ask any questions that you have.

For those of you that were discouraging, that really goes against the spirit of this community. Keep in mind that there is a real live person displaying their hard work, and heart and soul for you to see and perhaps learn from. Think about it, are any of us really FINISHED with our homes?

posted by denverdigs on 2008-04-20 11:46:06
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Hi Karen, I love what you've done with the place so far! I just have one tiny suggestion regarding your landing strip. I think you could take it from "nice" to "super awesome" if you played with the fabric a little bit. Right now it looks a little haphazard looking, as if the fabric was just wrapped on and pinned (i.e. its not laying right). Do you sew or know anyone that sews? I think it would look really classy if you sewed pleats into the fabric at the top and then ironed them into the bottom (lots of starch!). Sort of skirted but more clean. You could then either hot glue the fabric to the table, pin it with row of decorative nail studs or sew a strip of velcro to it, attach the other half of the velcro to the table and voila, easily removable.

posted by suziegoombs on 2008-04-20 11:58:47
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I like the textured of the brick - it wont need much to make it really pop. What does bug me is the bed against the wardrobe. I'd scootch it over so it is centered on the brick wall. I also agree with Caitlin about the couch. I think you could get a couch thats a little bigger, but can seem more expansive - something up off the ground with legs, and maybe a padded ottoman/coffee table so you dont lost space with the chaise.

posted by Modfan on 2008-04-20 17:30:27
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This has TONS of potential -- would love to see some art on the walls, the desk finished with some plants, etc. Re-enter next year!

posted by artsandletters on 2008-04-20 17:40:12
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I think the white color of brick on the walls is really unique and pretty - as a result, I would do something different for a sofa, in my opinion. I think the sofa isn't the right choice for the room. I think with the white wall, it's begging for more color in the sofa like a teal or some other unexpected splash of color to contrast with the white, or maybe instead of color just solid white or black. But I don't think the brown does that room and the white brick justice. Also, a piece of art or a mirror up there on the brick would look nice, as well. But great place! I like your kitty.

posted by ggsnaps on 2008-04-20 17:55:52
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i voted super cool for many reasons. 1) we have the same brand oven, (only mine has gas burners , 2) i liked ur cat, and, 3) i liked your vanity and mirror.

posted by SD913 on 2008-04-21 09:16:03
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If this place has gotten this many "Cool" votes, it's obviously fairly ready to have entered this contest. Maybe next year it could be ready to win? It's obviously on its way to something very nice.

posted by Curtis on 2008-04-21 10:59:11
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