apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Oh man, do you share a twin bed? Or is it a full and I can't tell from the angle?

Well, this is a nicely-kept place, very tidy, but I have to agree with MichaelF. I especially wish the great little patio had been used more advantageously--nicer chairs and a few potted plants or window planter would do wonders for the space.

Sorry but I agree with everyone above. There is nothing special about this place, there isn't a unifying style and why even have the picture of the balcony with those horrible camping chairs (sorry but I think they don't belong anywhere except maybe on a beach or camping, definitely not as part of home decor, even if on the outside). I actually double checked the date this was posted in case it was an April Fool's post.

I'm curious what Kat & Ben's motivations are -- what sort of style do they like, what designers do they admire? This doesn't give me a real clear glimpse of any set style.
I think there are a lot of little touches that could be done here to give it a unique and more fun look. Changing the bedding and perhaps adding some throw pillows. Maybe a rug or two. Even a trash bin that's either hidden in the lower cupboards or one that's suitable to be on display. Even simple changes could give this a much more inviting and inspiring feel. (I couldn't imagine having to walk past an open bin each time I passed the kitchen -- no matter how clean it's kept!)
That little patio could be tons of fun to decorate -- especially with that awful wood paneling -- it lends itself well to a really retro, funky mood. (a tiny cocktail bar? a shaggy rug or lounge chair? The possibilities are open!)

I think there is a lot of potential for this small space, but the surface hasn't even been scratched yet. In fact, in may need a little scouring before its scratched.

(sauceykat -- hehe.. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought this was a belated April Fools! Aw, bless 'em!)

They say, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

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So does this mean that contest entries aren't screened in any way before they are posted here? That's actually a serious question.

It doesn't really look 'styled' in any way. But they have managed to make a small space useable, friendly and defined. That's surely the first step - working out where your areas are?
I also think this apartment could be retro-fied in a a really cool way.
It is cosy and friendly and lived in.

i like the nick cave poster.

yikes

Tend to agree, while you've seemed to make the best of an awkward space but I tend to agree, a lack of a cohesive style is what's keeping this from it's true potential.

The poster and art over the bed, too high and needs to be rethought overall. The biggest issue is the living/kitchen is small and barely enough space to call it the living area and the bedroom seems much bigger and are you sure this is 700Sq Ft? I have a 600Sq Ft 1 bedroom and it's much better laid out than this and yes, includes a balcony, which generally is not inicluded in the Square footage of the space.

Sorry, I'm just not feeling it. Nice try though and I do agree, it's well kept and tidy but sadly, that's it that I can see.

You all know that the person who posted this entry is probably reading your replies? Maybe some contructive criticism (ala Olivia79) might be a little more appropriate. This is someone's home, after all. Calling it an April Fool's joke is just mean.

Kat, thank you for sharing your home with us. I think it needs a little more work before it can really compete with some of the more polished entries, but don't get discouraged. And if your home works for you and you like it, THAT is what counts in the end.

Wow! This must be a joke.

got to go with amazonkon, if it works for them they are happy so what ...Did I miss any of your entries lady's and gentlemen?>..think NOT..it takes a lot of courage to enter a contest were you will be judged .Maj

there is potential every where you look, you just need to find it. i agree that there is no need for hatin' here, it takes a lot of guts to put your home out on the internet for everyone to see. i would never be able to do it!

love the nick cave poster, lil too small for that wall though.

Multiple bottles of wine in the kitchen Nick Cave on the stereo = my kind of place.

i like the prayer-flags on the patio and the book-shelf in the corner which is also a bedside table.

It's possible that the contestants are making do with what they have- hey, we're in a recession.

The granite is nice in the kitchen and it's got a decent size bedroom for being so small. Maybe invest in just a few stylish pieces- like some updated chairs in the kitchen, and an organizer for some of the kitchen clutter. For the bedroom maybe simpler (not so busy) bedding. For some of the artwork, check out Etsy or DIY by enlarging a macro photograph- always better anyway than a reproduced piece :)

um..... nice floor

OK so you like where you live, and that's lovely.

But do you really wake up in the morning, look around and think "yeah, this apartment really is the bees knees, you know what, we should enter some sort of interior design competition" and high-five each other?

You've done nothing that makes me think that was your intention. And the pictures also aren't the best quality. I just don't believe that you've really tried.

But you know what, all this feedback gives you something to work on for next year - come back and wow us! Or don't. But don't stop loving where you live - because that's the whole point of any of this.

The good!

Nick Cave poster is great. Needs to be hung differently or somewhere else. The floors are really nice. That teal bowl SAVES the photo of your kitchen. It really is the only thing in there with the best lines and pop.

The desk is really cute.

So is the Moleskine lobster red book.

A few criticisms!
Change your bedding immediately.
Get rid of those orange chairs and put them in storage for when you go to the beach or camping.
Take down the Syriana poster and put up something more... artistic. Movie posters can make or break a room. That is not a movie poster that has enough artistic value to hang even ironically. May I suggest a giant Nick Cave poster for that desk.

That bathroom looks like there could be some potential in there. Where are the photos of that?

A few other suggestions for some simple changes:

Don't put your garbage can right there in front of your counter. Or if you do, get a sleeker one.

Get some new stools for the kitchen. Or paint those a bright colour.

Change your kitchen lighting fixture. It's too country kitchen.

Add some decorative elements to the counter like a vase or a bowl of fruit that's nice and sleek. Maybe a white bowl?

And put away all that clutter on your counters. Keep it free of stuff and it will look bigger.

Some glass backsplash could be nice. Sometimes it's only $5 foot. Or paint the kitchen walls a pure hue. Like the red of your journal.

For your patio, because it's so small and isolated, get a thin planter and plant some herbs or tomatoes or something. And get a cheap "teak" or bamboo weaved patio set. Ikea sells small sets that could work. Because it's Texas, you don't have to worry about rain. So put a rug under there to brighten things up.

Actually, screw the movie poster. Get yourself to Umbra and get a big, modern corkboard and put your postcards and drawings on there.

I'm actually curious to see the living room. Haha. Good luck!