Who Lives Here: Two: me and my cat Marina
What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home? The big windows that let in so much light - essential in a tiny flat.
What was one of the biggest challenges you faced in furnishing your small home? The biggest challenge was having a very limited budget and needing to furnish from scratch, as I hadn't had my own place for a while; the other was that, apart from the windows, the flat seemed depressingly dingy, and really needed a proper effort. I had one bookcase and my lovely old Tasmanian oak desk, so built the room around these elements. The coach was advertised on ebay as 'beige' so it was a surprise to discover, upon collection, that it was in fact a lovely 80s mud pink. Fortunately I didn't mind this, and it turned out that matched my books, and the rug, also from ebay, and by chance, the lamp. I also repainted the kitchen - it was filthy when I moved in, and I decided that since it was so small it would benefit from having its own colours. I love the fifties kitsch of the lemon cupboards and the mint green walls. The kitchen now brightens up the whole flat. Plants were the most exciting discovery - I have used them extensively for the character and life and freshness they bring. Finally my cat, Marina, is perhaps the most versatile and elegant soft furnishing.
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
I very much like the shot of your kitchen knick knacks. Very cute.
view Gvinton's profile
great job with such a tiny place and limited resources, and Marina looks quite content :)
view loveoldstuff's profile
Nice job and lovely cat. And it is so nice to see a couch that does NOT face a TV set.
view Luisa in Dallas's profile
I like the unique color of the couch....and the really cute kitchen. I know starting out on a budget is rough and you did such a great job pulling together odds and ends into one cohesive look. I'm a great lover of books, so I sympathize with you on where to store them all. Eventually, you'll need to get one great bookshelf that blends in with all your other stuff.
view baileyb's profile
You deserve a special upraised thumb, this place is beyond small! Like fairytale Petra who lives in a thimble! Terrif job making a cozy home. From the pics I sense you have treetop views? A couple times in my life (in DC) my apartments were tiny, but a view made such the difference.
Just imagine being butt up against another building!
view Vincent B.'s profile
Nice job and lovely kitty, do love all your windows,too.
view sassydo's profile
Nice use of space! Also, good call on the kitchen colors. Makes all the difference and is less expensive than a reno. And plants. Does your cat try to eat any of them? Anyway, Looks very comfortable.
Good that you found some pieces that match and do the job. Working "on a budget" makes it hard to find pieces that look as polished as a lot of what we see in pictures. But you've made space for the stuff you need, and made it look welcoming. More than can be said about my place sometimes!
view MiqMag's profile
This is just the kind of cozy I like! :)
view Kinky Gazpacho's profile
Beautiful, and it looks so roomy that I almost can't believe it's 300 square feet. Props to you.
view pydepiper's profile
Very nice! The kitchen is adorable! Looks very warm and welcoming...and from the photos I think Marina agrees.
view suzy8track's profile
Now this is a lovely home--cozy and welcoming. Great work!
view klt108's profile
Where is the floorplan?
view Elizcrtv's profile
This is so Melbourne :D love it!
view good_story_huh's profile
Love the bendy light next to the plants pointed up, it looks like a flower. Nice repetition of shape between the organic and inorganic.
view Rolen the Great's profile
The citrus colours in the kitchen work well with the geometric black and white of the floor. The well tended dark green plants give a lovely luxurious effect of being shaded whilst still in the sun. Nice.
view Marcellarb's profile