apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


Southwest #11: The Boulder Dweller

Name: Aryn
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Size: 430 sq. ft. apartment
Rent/Own: Rent

What is the advantage of SMALL? Small spaces allow you to simplify your life and live more efficiently. They allow you to express your personal style with only a few pieces of furniture, which for people like me, young and on a budget, is essential. Small spaces also force you to get creative when it comes to decorating. With limited space to work with, you have to find smart and functional solutions to everyday living.

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What's your favorite resource for your home?

Room & Board, vintage furniture shops and craigslist.


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

All the natural sunlight and the fact that I can fit my entire life into 430 square feet.


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Comments (34)

A little stark for my tastes, but a great start. This place is perfect for an infusion of color. On a side note, the faux Rothko bothers me a little. There are so many great artists the world had never known that you can lend support, no matter how small.

posted by DesignGod on April 14th 2008 at 7:59am
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Nicely appointed space, but the "coffeetable" bugs... It's a clever idea but seems too small for the couch, even in a small space.

posted by visualingual on April 14th 2008 at 8:01am
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This won't let me vote - it's already showing me the voting so far and no option to vote.

Also, is that the right floorplan? The bedroom in the picture doesn't seem to match where the bed is on the floorplan.

posted by Pixie on April 14th 2008 at 8:05am
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looks like the poll results of kelly and josh #10 sw are used here by accident.

posted by aad on April 14th 2008 at 8:05am
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Sorry...there was a minor coding error. The survey should be corrected now.

posted by gregory on April 14th 2008 at 8:06am
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When did this flat go up for voting? Only 2 comments, but over 300 votes? That seems odd.

Anyway. It's light and airy looking. If I could vote I'd vote cool.

posted by black_sheep on April 14th 2008 at 8:06am
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ps. if you like vintage you should check out "Good Use" in Boulder. She does some really cool stuff with dumpster finds!

posted by black_sheep on April 14th 2008 at 8:08am
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i really like this place for the airyness & calm that every room seems to have. i'd say that's hard to do when you're dealing with a small space.

posted by jenny! on April 14th 2008 at 8:12am
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Pixie: I think the floor plan shown is one that the building might have made for future tenants... I've seen some floor plans mocked up with furniture layouts by property managers to give the person looking at it the idea of the space... How it could be laid out, etc.

I think its a nice space, but it needs a little color personality...

posted by Jamie on April 14th 2008 at 8:14am
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Hi, I really like the kitchen, especially the small appliances. I live in Boulder too. Would you mind telling the brand of your fridge and where you purchased it?

posted by yrboulder on April 14th 2008 at 8:28am
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It seems strange to have the bed out in the open like that. This apartment is light and airy, but not doing it for me. The pieces of furniture--mid-century modern tables, Persian rug, bulky couch, chrome and glass-- aren't very harmonious.

posted by spaceagemouse on April 14th 2008 at 8:42am
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Needs some attention. Looks accidental. Sorry.

posted by K T G on April 14th 2008 at 8:47am
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cute space! Just needs a little color.

posted by kerri on April 14th 2008 at 8:48am
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The floorplan doesn't jive with the photos.

posted by anne on April 14th 2008 at 8:54am
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This is a nice airy place with lots of light. The kitchen had some beautiful appliances. I voted cool, only because I felt that it needed some color.

posted by suzy8track on April 14th 2008 at 8:59am
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This place seems very blah to me. The bedroom especially - the teeny art, the treatment-less blinds, the boring bed and rug, and then nothing else to draw the eye to something fabulous to balance the bleh.

posted by Deeliscious on April 14th 2008 at 8:59am
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Some cute pieces but not quite doing it for me as a whole. I agree with visualingal too ... the end table used as a coffeetable doesn't quite work ... it's just too small (and tall) You should move it over to the side of the couch and scour craigs or ebay for a coffee table to compliment it.

posted by ridge_van_winkle on April 14th 2008 at 9:21am
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Nothing wrong with it, but noting especially inspiring about it, either.

posted by aladywhoknows on April 14th 2008 at 9:36am
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It looks like a relaxing place to come home to, but it does seem like it's trying a little too hard to feel safe and inoffensive.

posted by Ondrej on April 14th 2008 at 9:36am
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Kind of basic, but it looks pleasant and comfortable. Agree with the need for more color. I like the little round table next to the bed.

posted by Sydney on April 14th 2008 at 9:37am
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Definitely needs more color but with the limited space you have, you've done a great job. I'm amazed that you have so little! Seems very relaxing and uncluttered.. you could come home and crash and not worry about stuff everywhere. Very well organized. :)

posted by animalhouze on April 14th 2008 at 9:52am
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Very open and airy - to the point of being model-unit ish. I agree that the coffee table's got to go, and I wonder how the flow of the space feels between your warm living room and your cool bedroom.

I had to do a double take when I looked at the floorplan - the bed's been flipped to the opposite wall.

Also - personal style, but I would put up a curtain over the closet door. And change the side chair to something a little more loungy and comfortable.

posted by Modfan on April 14th 2008 at 10:52am
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Negatives: no door on the closet bugs me and where's the color? I get the floorplan is there to show the idea, but it doesn't match the photos at all.

Positives: very open, airy, and bright. Lovely kitchen too. Does not feel small at all.

posted by Miss Pea on April 14th 2008 at 11:12am
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Oh, and the bed being so close to the closet looks weird. How do you get in there, by climbing over the bed?

posted by Miss Pea on April 14th 2008 at 11:13am
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I personally don't like the bedroom area. It seems really mismatched and frankly, boring. OTOH, I love your floor lamp and cactus. I've been really into cactus lately.

posted by BrookeinBoston on April 14th 2008 at 12:22pm
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its a really sweet space for one person.. it has the personality of the owner. i like the minimalness of it, and the light. though I'd want to put a divider or curtain or bookshelf between the bedroom and living area.

posted by dianap on April 14th 2008 at 1:00pm
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I LOVE the silver side table in the living room!

posted by LaurenKaye on April 14th 2008 at 2:44pm
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is that a fireplace near the sliding doors? that little carved out area could be a really nice nook area for reading and entertaining...

posted by bridge on April 14th 2008 at 5:09pm
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That microwave oven seems really high! Can you reach it ok? Of course, I'm only 5'1". ;-)

posted by lolax on April 14th 2008 at 8:51pm
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I think your closet in the bedroom needs a door. Everything else seems very nice and cohesive. It's just a little bland for me, but otherwise, everything uncluttered, organized, and in good taste.

posted by lolax on April 14th 2008 at 8:52pm
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It looks a little... unfinished. Nothing on the windows, no door on the closet, nothing resembling a headboard for the bed? And the kitchen could really be anywhere, anybody's.

But some really nice pieces, I do have to say.

posted by Juliet on April 14th 2008 at 8:57pm
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OMG!! You people that keep screaming color!...hush up! Everyone does not need color.

posted by orangejuce on April 16th 2008 at 5:56am
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it's a cute apartment. it could be a great apartment with a few small touches like curtains on the windows and some more art on the walls. add some personal touches to make the space more "you." it seems very anonymous.

posted by itsabecky on April 17th 2008 at 6:12am
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This is a real challenging space.
You could do a few things to finish it off and otherwise maximize the layout:
Think about pulling the sofa out at the close end so that the piece now sits at 90 degrees to the fireplace; yes out into the room. Creating a new sitting area.
Hence giving more privacy to the adjacent bed.
Plus the connection to the outdoor space will be more realized.
Think about getting rid of the rugs from your lovely floors.
The bed could stand a floor length drapery panel acting as a soft furnishing, as well as a headboard.
Use the existing area rug for when you step out of bed, if you really like that sort of thing.
Or just move it out.
Make it a habit to look at high end and budget magazines and ideas to inspire you.
The place really does need to look finished and inviting.
good luck.

posted by paulmuscat on April 18th 2008 at 6:40am
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