I am excited to announce that I will be a Design Coach in Puget Sound Energy's design competition Re-Energized By Design. Follow me after the jump to find out more about the contest and, if you are in the area, how you can become a contestant.

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Name: Nick Wafle, Grad Student, University of Washington
Location: Capitol Hill – Seattle, Washington
Size: 900 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years

Kudos to Nick for not letting the meager budget of a student get in the way of living in a stylish and comfortable apartment. After seeing a few photos of the space, you realize that his home fits him perfectly, and you can definitely see the East Coast inspiration throughout.

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I have a set of lockers in my workroom and I love all the extra storage they provide. Perfect for those long and narrow things, like umbrellas, tripods and my extra pair of stilts.

• Brooklyn, NY: Reclaimed Steel Lcoker - $250
• Oakland, CA: Red Glossy Cabinet - $70
• Collegeville, PA: Military Lockers - $95
• Keyport, NJ: Industrial Drawers - $375
• Bellingham, WA: School Lockers - $100
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Name: James Fung
Location: Capitol Hill; Seattle, Washington
Size: 450 square feet
Years lived in: 3 months, rented.

If you happened to catch James' initial house call in August, and were hoping for more photos, the wait is over! A designer who recently made the move back to Seattle after living and working in Manhattan, James has created a space that is a nod to both the East and West Coasts. Located in the vibrant neighborhood of Capitol Hill in Seattle, the unit itself is in a pre-war brick building filled with vintage charm, including solid wood doors, glass door knobs, and beautiful picture molding.

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On a scale of 1-10, organizing cables and cords behind an entertainment center ranks about a .001 on my scale. But when it's all done and finished, the results are often night and day, not only just improving the aesthetics in and around the home entertainment center, but also possibly making your home a little bit safer thanks to better organized power and wiring. Here's a glowing example of such a project, from Kim and Scott of Yellow Brick Home, 2012 Small Cool entrants... More

These things share no other common thread, except for being some of my favorites from our classifieds this week. Have a great weekend everybody!

• Evanston, IL: Industrial Wood Drawers - $10
• Brooklyn, NY: ABC Home Velvet Sofa - $BO
• Seattle, WA: Hammered Brass Vase - $30
• Brooklyn, NY: Dansk Wood Tray - $20
• New York, NY: Inlaid Side Table - $350
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It's fitting that we should do a store profile of Ample during our month focusing on design. Ample's founder, Andy Johnston, started the business with a simple focus: to design and produce beautiful modern furniture in his hometown of Seattle. Johnson's designs make the most out of simple silhouettes, bringing a modern approach to handcrafted furniture. More

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Jason Mathews when I was photographing his house tour (coming soon!), and was excited to learn that he owns and operates a brick & mortar design firm and showroom out of Capitol Hill in Seattle. Opened in March, 2012, Sheridan + Company provides personalized interior design services and specializes in new and vintage furnishings with an emphasis on locally produced furniture and artwork.

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Today these chairs are design classics, but can you imagine seeing furniture like this for the first time? Mind. Blowing.

• Brooklyn, NY: Cesca Cane Chair - $75
• Seattle, WA: DWR Rotor Table - $450
• Chicago, IL: BRNO Chairs - $995
• Ellicot City, MD: Mid Century Chrome Chairs - $175
• Chicago, IL: Tall Bookshelf - $250 More

Even if you never want to take another test, you can still appreciate the smell of chalk, pencil shavings and that feeling of starting another year anew.

• New York, NY: Industrial Stool - $94
• Grand Rapids, MI: Tree Specimen - $38
• Queens, NY: Vintage Wood Desk - $300
• Bellingham, WA: School Lockers - $100
• Santa Monica, CA: Map of France - $130 More