Name: Rob
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Size: 698 sf
Rent/Own: Own
What is the advantage of SMALL? The smaller the place, the easier it is to create an atmosphere. Every piece of artwork and every trinket has been carefully chosen to reflect the things I love -- particularly music, theatre and travel. For instance, the walls of my entranceway are adorned with Broadway posters. Although my bedroom has no real windows, I have put old barn door windows on the wall, which are filled with photos of France. Another advantage of living in a small place is that it is easier to clean and organize. When I come home from work, instead of worrying about endless chores, I can put on some jazz music, turn on my fountain and lounge on my cosy leather couch.

What's your favorite resource for your home?
I enjoy shopping online because it can be easier to find exactly what you're looking for and at an affordable price. The custom-made photo sign above my desk, my vintage Coca Cola clock, most of my Broadway posters, and the cat pillows on my couch were ordered on the Internet.
What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home?
I love the many colors! Picking just one color seemed boring, so I chose five different colors to use throughout the loft. The entranceway is a brick color, the kitchen walls are cream, the living room walls are green, the bathroom is a sunny yellow and the bedroom is denim blue. All of the colors were chosen to closely match the art deco rug. The colors come together to create a chic, cherry feeling.




Comments (47)
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hey this page is linked to the wrong slideshow
thanks - correct slideshow is linked now
I love the make-shift windows in the bedroom. Brilliant idea and they look lovely.
I love everything except your couch, couches like that give me nightmares
i didnt know kandinsky did rugs.....
Nice colors on the walls.
that rug is really neat.
the couch is a bit rough though!.
Small spaces benefit from coordinated color palettes, light colors, and furniture that is appropriately scaled.
The couch is too big (you CAN find comfy couches that arent overstuffed & black). The rug is too crazy, especially with the kaleidoscopic wall colors. The furniture it too dark. Everything is fighting everything else. I mean, how do you watch television without your eyes drifting down to the carpet over and over?
If everything in this place: color, furniture, pattern, texture - were scaled down a little it would be a good batchelor pad...but right now its making my eyes hurt.
Agreed about the couch and about how everything is just a bit "too much." I do really enjoy the bedroom though
BARF...is that mean? Sorry.
I agree about the rug, its way too much, it hurts my eyes
this is a "bachelor pad", as such it is super cool.
Props on the faux window.
Love the green in the living room. But the pillows are too much with the rug. I think one or the other would be better. our bedroom is very nice. Soothing. I like the faux window.
Oops, obviously I meant YOUR bedroom.
People here are nuts. They prefer empty, showroom-like homes filled with expensive furniture and no personality. This is the first place I have seen in this year's contest where I can (probably) accurately describe his personality and tastes. Not to mention he's not afraid to express himself and use colour.
I think the rug the pillows might be too much, especially with all the other colors in the room. I'm glad, actually, to see that the couch is black, but it's just too big, too overpowering. The bedroom is great! Like the simple blue wall color. It looks like is a room from a villa, somewhere quiet and peaceful. And the window is awesome! I wonder what your bathroom looks like...
I would take the tv off the wall and just place it on the sideboard below, it would be less of an eyesore.
Please change out those pillows.
I love the exposed ductwork and from what I can see your kitchen is nice.
the 90's called...
*Applause* for fearless use of colour! I'd rather see 'over-the-top', 'love-it-or-hate-it' style than 'nice and safe' any day. Kudos to Rob for making strong non-traditional choices and creating a distinctive personalized atmosphere.
I love the rug - what's it look like turned the other way? The recliner/sofa, however, any way you turn it, is too big IMO.
I'm sorry, this reminds me way too much of a "modern furniture store." I'm getting a lot of readymade mass-produced pieces and nothing personal. But as long as you like it, that's what matters.
i like the wall color beside the sofa and the floors.
Yessss, Ann Arbor! My hometown, oh how I miss it. This looks like the home of an Ann Arborite if I've ever seen one. The hardwood floors are so pretty.
Predictable - looks like a 30 something bachelor pad.
This isn't my style, but I thought it had a unifying theme and good use of color. I'm surprised at the negative reactions here, but I guess that any place which doesn't fit the mold of smooth, cold Swedish design is generally disliked. This seems like a place for a lively person to live and a good place for a musician.
I thought the art was great, and the colorful rug did a lot to off-set the dark sofa and other dark furniture. I voted "super cool", even if I personally wouldn't want to live there.
If I lived there I would hang out in the lovely bedroom all day, because I'm terrified of the rug in the living room.
nice and colorful.
Wow- thatâs a scary rug & cushions. Cool fake window though.
I like that you put scenic pictures in your bedroom to help open up the space. I would make the "views" larger and add a pseudo window sill, with some curtains. Having night scenes may even help; that would disguise the lack of natural sunlight.
I like your kitchen, I wish I could see more of the storage area.
Small Space Contest aside, aesthetically something is bothersome about your living room. I would try playing with the wall color, or switching out some of the huge black furniture pieces. The rug seems to be your focal point, so find a way to blend it into the space.
Ridiculous. 700 sq ft. is small? In New York, that's palatial. For 700 sq ft., this place isn't very cool.
I love the faux window in the bedroom. I wonder if it would be possible to build a light box behind it so it actually shone like sunlight... might be too weird though. Neat idea nonetheless!
Congrats to you for going all out! Great eye for colour!
You'll age, you'll tone it down a bit, in time, I'm sure.
You've put a lot of work into your place and you should be proud! However, I agree with the others about that rug.
I like it! I like the vibrant color choices and I think the furnishings work well together. That couch makes me want to snuggle in and watch the game, or Sense and Sensibility, or what have you from Netflix.
So, we don't like black furniture this week? I thought we were all supposed to be tired of "Keep Calm and Carry On" and Ikea Lack shelving.
Damn, it's hard to keep up with what the cool kids dictate we should all love and hate this week.
the living room is not my style but i am definitely 'feeling it...' :)
i just think he hit the style he wanted on the nail. nice balance of cool & contemporary but warm & kitschy which brings out the personality.
the bedroom 'window' is pretty funny but funny gets me relaxed and lifted -- perfect for a mini bedroom oasis.
I LOVE YOUR PLACE. So far, this is the BEST entry I've seen this year. It's neat without being minimalist (eyeroll at all the minimilist). It's colorful, exciting yet tranquil (in an interesting way).
Again... I LOVE YOUR PLACE.
now this is a place you can have some fun in...well done, and you know what...I love the couch (perfect for guests to crash out on), and the colours are just amazing...each to their own, and I love this one.
Too much. Especially that rug.
love the color, surprising since as an OSU grad I hate anything associated with Ann Arbor
Ouch! A blue painted brick wall with a small picture, just makes the brick wall look that much more dank and cold.
I'm not a fan of the color palette and I do think that it is a bit dated. Early 90s.
If that's what makes you feel at home then right on! You are good at carrying a motif through to all design elements. I just think your chosen motifs are a bit dated for my taste.
Nice place! I like your use of color.
very cool carpet
where is it from?
i love the use of color
great taste overall