Name: Stephen Siersema & Robert Quinones
Location: Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York
Size: 510 square ft
Years lived in: 4 years; rented

Upon entering Stephen & Robert’s home, one can’t help but instantly marvel at the natural light and bright pops of red throughout the apartment. The contrast of their blue-gray sectional against the red accents makes the room vibrant and inviting. Every wall is white, providing a blank canvas for the colorful and perfectly framed art, most of it created by artist friends. 

Joining a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program is a great way to get regular fresh vegetables from a local source. And as fresh vegetables are good at maintaining a body’s health, fresh flowers are practically essential to making a home feel all healthy and energized, which is why the idea of a CSA for flowers is just so darn brilliant. 

TRNK New York co-founders Tariq Dixon and Nick Nemechek got their first taste for selling vintage finds via the Apartment Therapy Classifieds. With their collective eye for quality pieces and good design, we took notice of their corner of the Classifieds almost immediately. They recently launched their own e-commerce site and, not surprisingly, it's stocked full of amazing one-of-a-kind vintage pieces.

Like this Small Cool 2013 contest entry? Favorite it below!

Name:

Alexander

Location:

New York, NY

Square Feet:

225

Division:

Teeny-Tiny

What I Love About My Small Home:

I love how I've been able to create separate distinct areas of sleeping, eating, and living within such a small space. I don't feel like I need any more space than I have. Every area serves a purpose, whether it be shelving on walls utilizing vertical space, or my lucite coffee table which serves a purpose, but also keeps the space visually open.

Name: Aimee, Rene and Max
Location: Park Slope; Brooklyn, New York
Size: 1100 square feet
Years lived in: 1.5 years; Rented

Aimee and her husband, Rene, recently readjusted their Park Slope home to accommodate baby Max, the newest addition to the family. Rene's a chef and Aimee works as an Account Analyst in Apparel Production, so putting together a beautiful, warm home with plenty of style came naturally to this creative couple.

Small spaces demand special solutions, especially when it comes to dividing up rooms.

• San Francisco, CA: Custom Plexi Partitions - $1900
  
• New York, NY: Curtained Changing Screen - $100
  
• Bronx, NY: Carved Wood Screen - $200
  
• Los Angeles, CA: Shelving Units on Casters - $400
  

Mantiques Modern transports you to another time when brass and metal were materials of choice. At every glance there are hidden gems in their vast Manhattan gallery. From restored airplane engines as coffee tables to vintage European jewelry, these guys have it all. Their attention to detail, and an eye for quality, puts their collection at the forefront of antique dealers in New York.  

Lauren's charming home is situated on a quiet street in Carroll Gardens. The space is warm, spacious and filled with light. The one bedroom apartment has a unique open floor plan that spans the length of the building. She and her husband have shared many special moments here, and with a new addition to their family on the way, they'll say farewell to the cozy space this summer. They are exited to share their home with us, full of memories and cherished treasures.

Spring is a time of hope and regeneration. Nothing is as stunning an example of this as the bulbs I dropped into the soil on a frosty day just five months ago. Click below to see the new glory of my garden AND also the destruction of the deer...