apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


Southwest #23: Tisha's Airy Studio

Name: Letitia
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Size: 375 sq. ft. apartment
Rent/Own: Rent

What is the advantage of SMALL? Having such a small home has forced me to examine all of my belongings, and to pare down to what I really need and want. It's helped me to simplify.

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What's your favorite resource for your home?

Craigslist -- for getting rid of things that don't suit me any longer! Most of my recent additions have come from IKEA and The Container Store. And I'm very inspired by the use of light and space in modern Japanese architecture.


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

I love my queen-sized loft bed. I feel like I can have people in my studio without the feeling that we're all sitting around in my bedroom.


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Comments (47)

I'm really disappointed at the photos chosen. I don't care about your chair or trunk corner/flower. I want to see the apartment.

posted by aladywhoknows on 2008-04-21 20:49:09
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it was a bit hard to get a sense of the space

posted by peaceyall on 2008-04-21 20:58:24
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the photos that do show the space look good though!

posted by jenny! on 2008-04-21 21:13:09
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Very bright and clean. Lovely.

posted by dpunjabi on 2008-04-21 21:51:30
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Actually, I think that trunk and orchid are completely poetic and give a very good sense about the person who lives there, and that first one shows a nice big chunk of the space; it is a tad hard to tell about the rest of it, but it does look so light-drenched with those curtains that it must feel like you're in a cloud.

Loft beds are amazing things, if you're young enough to negotiate the climb. I would love for that one to be white, so it would look even more ethereal, but it's still a great space.

posted by Curtis on 2008-04-21 21:57:47
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I agree that an entry that doesn't show the bathroom and the kitchen is lacking... especially when it's a studio apartment.

But I also agree with Curtis - painting the bed white would reinforce the light, ethereal sense of the room.

posted by Blandwagon on 2008-04-21 22:23:43
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Great trunk! But do you never have anyone over? Like some other entries, I think you have a wonderful start to a great place, but from what I can see here, it's not "finished" yet.

posted by Alana in Canada on 2008-04-21 22:46:23
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Just wished the pics showed the space and not closeups of your furniture. A poor choice of photos used. You don't get a sense of the layout.

posted by suzy8track on 2008-04-21 22:57:02
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i can hardly tell where things are or how the apartment actually looks.
there really should be clearer photos next year of the entire space, not just weird snippets that down show the apartment well. thank god there are 5 photos allowed at least.

posted by terka27 on 2008-04-21 22:57:56
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I agree with Curtis. The bed is begging to be white. You should do it! It'd be so great in there.

I like your space a lot. I looks beautifully edited yet very personalized and quite comfortable.

posted by lucitebox on 2008-04-21 23:12:46
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We should ease up on complaints that the close-ups are poor choices... I could be wrong but I think the contest rules specifically ask for one close up photo.

I like the diffusion of daylight in the space by the wall to wall, floor to ceiling curtains. You can see that the windows are smaller, but the effect is that the entire wall glows and bathes the space in a really nice light. I sometimes get this same effect at certain times of the afternoon and it's beautiful!

posted by lightspeed on 2008-04-21 23:36:46
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I love the swaths of curtains. It feels so luxurious. This room has a pretty nice spa feeling about it. I don't mind the bed being wood, it adds that layer of nature into the mix.

Is that the Ikea wood loft bed? Do you find it creaky? Also wondering if certain deeds can be done on it ...

As a contest entry, I think this space effectively showcases the power of light colours and good use of natural light in making a very small space feel large. Nice work!

posted by CanadIna on 2008-04-22 00:43:45
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Love what you did with the curtains and the loft bed. I'd agree with several other comments on the color of it, but rather than just paint, I think it would look great with a whitewash. Furniture layout on the floor plan would have been helpful. Looks not quite as refined in some of the other shots, but I still think super cool!

posted by sorin on 2008-04-22 00:51:26
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white bed, white bed, white bed!

posted by rhismith on 2008-04-22 01:04:08
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Hey, all!

I'm the submitter. I absolutely agree, the photos don't do justice to the place. It's tough to get wide-angle pictures in a small space without the right lens!

Thanks for the kind words! I have considered painting the loft white. It's a bigger job than I'm ready to tackle just now. It's not an IKEA loft. It was from the SF Loft Bed Company, which seems to have gone out of business.

My main goal in entering the contest was to redo my place -- curtains, art, paring down, etc -- before the contest deadline. Having done that, I'm pretty satisfied. '-)

posted by Tisha on 2008-04-22 01:52:34
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Those curtains are just brilliant. And unlike everyone else, I like the bed the way it is, the natural wood color looks lovely against the white of the bedding, curtains and other furniture - it gives the place some depth!

posted by f.in.eur on 2008-04-22 02:59:15
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hey tisha nice apt! is that a widget on your imac? can you tell me which one it is? i really like it!

posted by Danken on 2008-04-22 05:35:51
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Nice place, and great what you've done with the space. Think the TV looks a bit dominant- but understand that's really hard to avoid in a small space :-)

posted by nadyamadrid on 2008-04-22 05:37:17
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Like the curtains and how they soften the 'boxy' feel of a small room.

posted by ingyland on 2008-04-22 07:56:32
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For those complaining about the shots, just to let you know that, in some small spaces, it's literally impossible to pull back far enough to get shots which offer a good sense of a room. I have a place that's a little over 250 square feet and I can only take shots of about 1/3 of a room at a time because it's not possible to get a wider view.

posted by Orchid64 on 2008-04-22 08:11:18
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I to like the bed the way it is. I think all white is over done. But its your space and the bottom line is your happy. The curtains are great.

posted by Sara48 on 2008-04-22 08:31:12
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Instead of painting the whole loft bed, it might be interesting and easier to paint or even paper just the underside between the cross beams. Would be really easy if you can remove that piece of the loft -- turning it into an interesting low ceiling rather than an underside of a piece of furniture.

As for confusing photos, just adding in some of the furniture to the floor plan would help enormously in understanding the space.

Looks like a great small space!

posted by home body on 2008-04-22 09:30:27
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That trunk is gorgeous, and I love the billowy white curtains.

posted by meg_ues on 2008-04-22 09:39:45
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where is the shelf above the bed from?

posted by closer on 2008-04-22 10:06:55
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I can usually figure out the map and apartment, but this time, I am having a hard time telling where the bed is located exactly in the apartment. Plus I am not sure where the entry door is.

I like the "dining area" under the bed. It might be cool to define it more with a rug.

posted by Cally on 2008-04-22 10:09:39
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I love it. Long, long ago I had a loft bed a lot like this one, but I didn't know how to make a beautiful, functional and relaxing space around it like this!

posted by beelzabean on 2008-04-22 10:32:42
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Danken -
The 70's flip clock on Tisha's Mac is also on my Mac - I got the free screen saver idea from ApartmentTherapy a year or two ago.
Love it...
http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/software/fliqlo-screensaver-025919
JC

posted by sark7 on 2008-04-22 10:42:23
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I like it....

I understand what everyone is saying but I am constantly amazed with what people do with these small spaces so kudos for entering the contest.

Love the loft bed...I used to have one years ago and enjoyed it tremendously.

Cute space..

posted by Marpesia on 2008-04-22 11:29:40
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I like the furniture you chose (not sure about the curtains) and they are indeed very pretty. However, funtionally it did not work for me. Have a bar table under the bed??? I suppose the bed is right outside of the kitchen and personally I can't stand it if I lived there (blankets smells like food all the time). I'd prefer putting all the stuff under the bed over to the living room (since the computer is there too) and it seems spacious enough to fit a non-lifted bed and a small bar table.

posted by giggleuma on 2008-04-22 11:31:43
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Very nice space and some lovely details. I wish there had been a kitchen and bathroom shot but I do understand they are hard sometimes in a very small space. I think it is a super cool anyway and hope to see more pictures.

posted by Gallivant on 2008-04-22 11:34:39
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Giggleuma, in small spaces everything will smell like what you cook but it passes. Its no different than people with open kitchens.

posted by Sara48 on 2008-04-22 11:54:03
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Tisha, you should not be posting a link to additional pics of your place. We are supposed to be judging from 5 photos only and a layout. I believe that is against contest rules.

posted by scarlethue on 2008-04-22 11:54:54
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Scarlet, I see no way to delete my post, so if you have that power, please do so. I saw nothing in the rules against posting a link, but as I say above, I'm not in this to win.

posted by Tisha on 2008-04-22 11:59:51
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I want to like this more because it's a fellow under 400 sq. footer but I am not seeing enough. I think it was a poor choice of 5 photos.

However, from what I can see, I think you've done a nice job.

posted by Laura on 2008-04-22 12:46:20
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Love the space.
I assume the bed is up against the bathroom wall? Otherwise, I'd be terrified of rolling out of bed!

I don't see much seating however...Is there a small couch under the bed? Love the use of the space shown under the bed.

posted by Enamorada on 2008-04-22 12:57:41
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I love your curtains, and agree about whitewashing the bed when you're up to it.

posted by Cassis on 2008-04-22 13:13:33
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I saw sheer white curtains, white flowers and white walls. I was blinded by the whiteness and lack of prospective. I felt like I could have been in a snow drift, that's how disorienting and the photos were. Maybe if we could have seen how all your furniture pieces fit together.

posted by katekaye on 2008-04-22 13:19:17
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thanks sark7!

posted by Danken on 2008-04-22 13:27:14
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I like your space. I think it's very thoughtfully laid out and I like the white flowing curtains. I like the natural color of the wood, why would you paint it white? what if you decide to change the color scheme of the apartment and then you are stuck with a white colored loft that doesn't work with the new colors? Overall, from what I saw, I thought you did a good job.

posted by desertflower on 2008-04-22 14:22:16
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looks like the post was deleted by the moderator. so all is well then! cute place!

posted by scarlethue on 2008-04-22 17:50:52
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I voted super cool for two reasons:

1: it is a beautiful open space, with lots of natural and vintage elements, and gorgeous, gorgeous light.

2: There is relatively little 'stuff'. It is immensely refreshing to see people who deliberately choose 'less stuff' instead of 'as much stuff as I can cram in my space'.

There really is a lesson to be learned about choices to be made - yes, some have a McMansion and a Hummer just because they can. And some dont - just because they can.

posted by Modfan on 2008-04-22 18:54:51
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I think this is a really cool place but I voted not my bag because I wasn't sure. I think 3 pics were just wasted.

posted by bonline on 2008-04-22 20:01:59
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Damn! I was so ready to give this a "super cool" but didn't because of the choice of photos. You only have 5 opportunities to show us your best so why do people waste those shots on a single piece instead of the room as a whole?? Damn, you came so close,

posted by anne on 2008-04-22 20:31:00
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A.T., take note: THIS is what SMALL & COOL looks like. not some place 3 times the size.

posted by mariegael on 2008-04-23 02:28:00
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I've just outlined this 375' in my AutoCad. Yikes. As a designer myself, I would find this an enourmous challenge, however what the owner has achieved is a sense of zen-like tranquility and lack of clutter. A lot is left to the imagination in the photos - I think they could have given us a bathroom shot (I'm assuming that's through the slightly cracked door) by opening it a bit, and some wider views utilising the mirrors to show both sides.
Overall, this "beachhouse" seems a success to me.
I completely agree with whitewashing or painting the loft white - it will go with virtually any colour combination you ever move to, and open the very small space as well.
Given only 5 shots i would have replaced the trunk with another POV of the studio. Overall, I think this is a superb use of minimalism without feeling cold.
May I come and visit?
Good job.

posted by OG on 2008-04-23 10:08:36
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as a former loft bed with stuff underneath person... i had to vote super cool. I love what you are doing and would either go towards beachy or asian or both! again with the photos-- people, it's hard to photograph small spaces! and use your imagination-- not that hard to do.

posted by saya* on 2008-04-23 14:03:28
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Hi: Does anyone know where I can get the stainless steel table like the one under the bed? This one allows you to put stools under it, unlike the others I've seen. Thanks. ~kd

posted by katiejane on 2008-05-12 13:03:06
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