Here's a welcome blast from the past: ATLA reader Brooke was the winner of our biggest Holiday Gift Bag giveaway last year, finding herself awarded with a complete living room set, compliments of IKEA, Burbank. That's what her place looked like prior to winning up above. Check out how it looks now after the break...
"We are young, work a lot, and don't make a ton of money. So we spent hours and hours scouring Craigslist for furniture, where often times thriftiness trumps style. And when this insane stroke of luck came our way, we both breathed a huge sigh of relief.
When you move in together, there's that separation in the apartment of 'your stuff' and 'my stuff.' But now the living room is filled with 'our stuff' that we share together. And it makes our space feel more like home.
The white couch is so cozy! But it's also a mission to keep it clean, especially with a mischievous Klaus on the rampage. (Plus our tendency to spill.) But the cover is machine washable, so we'll be good to go when the time comes.
The bookshelves have actually had the biggest impact on our whole apartment. We have so much space for storage now. We were actually LOOKING for things to fill the shelves! But now, it's just really nice to have a place to display our personal odds and ends without it looking random or sloppy."
Max and I are so thankful to Ikea and Apartment Therapy for this awesome prize. We liked our apartment before, but now we LOVE it. This furniture has made such a difference.
Thanks Brooke, Max (and Klaus, the naughty feline) for sharing with us all!
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Looks great! The new layout really works well.
Yes! Black is such an elegant color. It always adds a graphic punch.
Love the dining area, the blue and the black are so nice and those posters are great.
My cat, who is also black, eats flowers too...
Love it! My pugs...also eat flowers...and rocks...and dryer sheets...
Looks like half the battle was rearranging the room...
...and don't try to fill the shelves much more - the arrangement now looks great as is.
Cute cat, I can't have one but I never knew they ate flowers, but to catch and see one in action makes me smile.
I had a cat that only ate tulips. I could have a huge bouquet of mixed flowers and sure enough the next day all of the tulips would have disappears while all the rest remained.
My cat eats flowers too. And dried leaves. Sometimes we'll bring a leaf in as a special snack.
where is the coffee table from the before pics from? i love it. Also, love the way you guys set up the eating space. the posters/ pics on the wall look rad.
fantastic! so nice to see your new home. well done! luckily, my black cat ignores all plant life. :-)
the bookcases look so perfect there, and the gray walls are AWESOME. i agree they have the most impact, for sure!
gemion - The 'before' coffee table is also from Ikea. That was the only thing I was a little bummed about taking out of the living room when the new stuff came. We still have it because I keep toying with the idea of bringing it back out and moving the other table somewhere else. But it just doesn't fit the space as well with the new configuration, so I don't know.
Ikea coffee table: BANKAS, i think. i got mine for a mere $50 off craigslist! they don't sell it in the US anymore.. i believe Ikea Europe does...
That looks spectacular!
what color gray is that and where did you get it?
it's "dark granite", from BEHR.
I like that your glossy TV is now outside the conversation area but still viewable. Your "new" home looks done! It's very cute-congratulations!
I love the black/white chair along w/the black/white carpet. I would been scared they would have clashed. So glad they didn't. Love it!
Brooke and Max, you certainly didn't get your decorating talent from me. I saw the apartment when you first got it and I was so pleased for you. What a great find! I can't believe how it looks now. Sitting here in Florida and only hearing about your great luck with the IKEA award I'm so pleased for you.
The best addition is your own personal touches (excuse me, where is my picture?)
Congratulations, love you both, Mom
Love the transformation!!