Outstanding accomplishment in both form and function, Mike. Particularly love the wood floors, the wall color choice, and the art behind the work station. Fabulous.

This is probably the best studio, and definitely the best budget space on the planet. Every choice is perfect- I especially love the wall behind the monitor. Nice!

I'm either having a deju vu moment, or we've seen Mike's space before. I definitely remember his purchase of the Eames rocker after the wedding shoot. Perhaps this is his new space?

This is one of my favorite spaces ever on this site, student or no. Beautifully done, Mike!

Nice bright space, and the furnishings only complement it.

I see so many great choices here. Keeping most of that awesome wood floor showing. The window in the loft bed structure. The interesting elegance of the gray line wall. Hiding the cat wonder world behind the curtain. Minimal and warm.

This is an inspiration to all of us studio dwellers everywhere...great job, Mike!

Absolutely awesome. I love the blue walls and white accents so, so much.

You make me feel like a terrible cat owner, by the way, because you managed to give your kitty its own little nook in your small studio. My poor cat will never be so lucky, and I live in a large house!

Behind your computer monitor: is that... pencil scribblings?

Loove the blue paint color and the Lewitt-esque pencil scribbled wall. Great job!!

Hi everyone, this is Mike.

I'm about to start class but I'll try my best to address questions as they come up.

First of all, thanks so much everyone! To be perfectly honest, I was worried the space might not have a wide appeal because it is a bit sparse.

@PleinJane: My place was featured on Unplggd's "tech tour" so that is probably where you remember it from. Although, I have rearranged some things since.

@EC: I must admit, I love my cat. She means the world to me and I try to make do with what I have to make her life better. One thing I forgot to mention is that when she hangs out in her tree house (I actually built that for her), I can peel the curtain back a bit and we can look at each other when I'm working at my desk. One of life's small pleasures, I suppose. :)

The back wall of the "home office" is in fact graphite. Soon after I built the loft bed I invited some of my friends over and we all scribbled across it for a few hours. I just wanted something authentic/unique/organic to break up the space.

Being sparse isn't a bad thing. Especially since you chose such a wonderful wall color and it compliments the lovely wood floors. I absolutely love your place! Nice job!

I love the open air clothes closet. I had one, too, once upon a time. Clothes can be art and displayed instead of hidden away in a closet.

I can tell you must love your cat since the whole treehouse area behind the curtain screamed storage. I think it would have been a better place for your clothes since anyone who comes over is going to feel like they are in your closet with the rack of clothes.

Great job, Mike! The scribbled wall is a clever DIY (see, AT, it can be done without glitter), and so is the Ikea shelf cat ladder at a straight angle. I also like the black and white armies of books lined up by the TV stand, it's like Bielebog's books vs. Czernobog's books.

I love this blue, as I am currently trying to pick a blue for my own studio. PLEASE tell me whether you chose a gloss finish?

so beautiful and restrained!

This is lovely, what a great space to live and work! I especially like the books arranged by size to look sculptural and the graphite scribbles.

The first thing i spotted was the Cy Twombly, one of my fave artists. I love this place with the beautyfull glossy coloured wands and thoughfull choices of furniture. One of the few places where I still like to see an Eames rocker. Oh, and you cat is a cutie pie!

Such a smart, well thought-out space. Really good job.

Lovely place! How come so many shots of the home office and none of kitchen or bath, or bed for that matter? Not a complete tour! I feel cheated.

What I do see, I like. Your cat love is really sweet.

Great place overall, but I especially love the window in the "office" - really nice touch.

You have done a really fantastic job here, student apartment or no student apartment. Well done!

http://lavalotti.wordpress.com/

you can certainly tell he loves black & white (and organizing by color).

would have loved to see more of the kitchen

Awesome job, Mike! I really love the books near the television. And that blue is a lot like the blue I used in my office- except that I have no idea what color my blue is because I got it from a free bin! We used white as an accent, too, and it makes me wish that we could carry that color throughout the house more- probably the cheeriest color in the house!

And of course I loved reading about how you get everything second hand or on discount, because it makes me feel like I'm not alone- I love high end stuff but cannot afford it so I just wait till I find my stuff used!

PS- your cat area is great, I can tell that you really love her! Ours get little EVERYWHERE too and for a bit we kept the box in the tub, but that's always awkward with guests. So we got a bristly outdoor rug at the hardware store and it does wonders at keeping the litter from getting everywhere!

@wingfeathers: I completely agree. I love my clothes which is why they're the only other "accessory" in my space aside from a tea pot and vase with a flower.

@Aaliyah537: Thank you! I went with the semi-gloss. I like how it brings out the texture and irregularities of the plaster walls.

nicolezh: Twombly is one of my favorites. He is a modern master and acts like a little old gentleman. My one professor who also has an affinity for him suggests I write him a letter. I still think I might.

@thorndale: Thank you for the kind words. Cage wouldn't have fit with her personality so we went with "Sadie" — named after singer/songwriter Joanna Newsom's endearing song about a white dog.

@erin scissorhands: The outdoor rug is a nice thought! The only problem is that my bathroom is TINY. It is about this wide: | | aha so the litter box has to go underneath the pedestal sink and I don't want to have to step on it with bare feet. But perhaps I can find a small enough one that still traps the debris.

I'm in love with that room created by the loft bed, and I think it's the window in the little wall that makes it sing for me.

also love the cat's room behind the curtain, with her little artsy stairway to the bed

Lovely and simple. The floors are beautiful.

i'm in love with that blue color.

love the lined up army of books too :). But you must be FEARLESS to sleep in that loft bed without walls!

I love that you made sure your cat Sadie had some things in the apartment for her, including that shelf and her carpeted cat condo. You are a great cat dad!

i love how you displayed your clothes out in the open. it is so neatly hanged. do you love your clothes

Absolutely gorgeous and so restful to look at. I imagine that this space is wonderful to come home to, to "decompress" from a hectic day.

very nice space & i agree with the other posters who commented on kitty having her own space/furniture :) I have two kitties & i often find that i have arranged my furniture to accomodate their needs (eg. so that they can lounge in their fave sunning spot) :)

Mike, I love your boots and books. Your place is great, too.

Beautiful!

Student on a budget?! Pshaw. I'm a licensed professional and can't afford the things this kid has.

I'm with thorndale: Mike gets AT sweetheart of the year award, for sure.

@kushkush: What are you talking about? He clearly chooses his pieces thoughtfully and, as he said in his write-up, his purchases are investments.

Bravo, Mike! Very inspiring.

first of all, I like your nameMIKE; your home is truly a home, for you and your pet. You' re clean and tidy and Sharing, which is a huge bonus. If you ever fall in love, I hope she has your attributes. I was tickled at the way you placed your books. I also am a booklover, and my books have a Home, also. Blessings on you, sweet man. sincerely, mary

WOW...you did sooooo much with that space!! I love the kitty area!!

The entire apartment is great - but really love how you lined up your books on either side of the television.

I think I found my perfect paint color in this post. Holy smokes, man. That's dreamy.

Well put together. Love the color and wood floor. Nicely done!

Beautiful apartment! I am also a student with a studio in Philly and my place looks nothing like that! (I blame the terrible wall to wall carpeting that came with my place). Love it.

This reminds me of how much I miss Rittenhouse Square. Your place is really pretty, sparse in a really comfy way. I would have loved to see photos of the kitchen and bath, one photo of your clothes would have sufficed, but that's just me.

Great space! I love the colour palette and the layout - to me, it says masculine but not macho, tasteful but not pretentious, minimalistic but not monastic. And it surely take a strong will not to clutter!
P.S. Sadie makes the perfect hostess!

I really like that blue and I'm making a note of the name for when I move to my new place. You've got great attention to detail, especially the window by your desk. But what I'll remember most about this apartment was the great setup your cat has and the warm way you talked about your family. You're a man of style and substance!

Cool space! My only concern would be falling out of that loft bed--that's a long way down and it appears that the little side-wall is shorter than the mattress itself :-S

I too believe I have found my perfect blue in this apartment. I also have found a new blog to follow...your otherblog is full of fascination.

You should win an award for "coolest tiniest cleanes bachelor pad ever".The graphite wall is dud in my book. It just looks dirty.

"I also have found a new blog to follow..."

For those who find him adorable here, check out his '09.09.10 Outfit' post on his other blog. This is a young man with style.

How big is the bed (no I am not hitting on you Mike!) and aren't you worried about falling out?

Well done Mike. I saw the original tour on Unplggd and I must say that it was far better at showing the volume of this space. Two things that stood out in my mind from the first tour: the close up of the DIY window treatments and the gallery wall in the kitchen. I'm sad that the kitchen is not shown here - or the before photos...or the Equus poster mentioned above.

The DIY workspace/loft is genius! It's a shame the before photos aren't on this tour as I think they really tell the story of how you maximized this amazing space.

p.s. cutest cat ever!

previous tour with before photos

I wish I lived this nicely when I was a college student. I lived in what might be seen as a jail cell for a year.

Everyone, your comments mean so much to me — thank you! My home is so so so important to me and I try to make it an externalized representation of myself. So I take all of these complements personally and it does mean a lot.

@foxtrottery & everyone else concerned with the bed: It really isn't that bad! I will admit, the first night was a bit daunting because I had not yet installed the "railing" (it is an IKEA Lack shelf) and I was a bit afraid I would roll off. But honestly, I don't move much at all while in bed. I've never even touched the railing before so I don't think about it any more. Sure, it isn't as convenient as a bed on the ground but I like to think of it as a sacrifice I need to make in order to live in an urban environment which thankfully forces all of us to live a little bit more within our means.

@suzannakins: That is very kind of you to say, thank you. :)

@marla2 & Anet500: I hope you enjoy the blog! Updates are a bit sporadic since I must manage the time between my two jobs and school but whenever I find something meaningful I try my best to post it. It may suffer from a lack of focus because I tend to feature all that interests me (art, architecture, design, fashion, sociology, real estate, etc...)

@slackerjo: haha it's fine! It is a full size bed. The same mattress I've had since I was in grade school. I think it may be time for a new one soon.

@sundae: Thank you for posting the original tour. This one was taken by the writer Kristien. Her camera skills and equipment are a bit better than mine. In re: to my first tour, you will definitely see more "things" everywhere. As I've said, I'm constantly trying to reevaluate my space and find what I truly need or love. The rest of the things I "like" or want just seem to get in the way and detract from the cherished things. So I've tried my best to get rid of them (and it is still very much an on-going process.)

Mike, quick question (and sorry if I missed it) but they used to say on these tours whether a space was owned or rented. Do you rent your space? If so, how was the landlord with all the reno's/painting/etc.?

@sauceykat: No problem. I remember filling out the survey saying that I rented but I don't see it anywhere in there. So yes, I rent my apartment. In terms of the small reno work, I was very upfront to the agency about it before hand. I told them I would supply the material and labor. The renovations I'm doing are basic and not taste-specific and shouldn't deter any potential renters down the road. They liked the paint swatches and tile choices and essentially gave me free reign to do what I'd like.

The paint color is beautiful!

That's great, thanks Mike! :)

Great job Mike! I love the use of the lack shelf as a kitty stairway. I've been looking for a similar solution for my apartment, can you tell me how wide/tall the shelf is when it's installed that way?

@Steve from DesignBlog - A tad envious, are we...?

AT didn't portray him as a 'poor, pitiful' student. They portrayed him as a student on a budget. Which he is. Just because his budget happens to be larger then yours doesn't make him less of one.

Forget the jealousy and just enjoy the design.

@Steve from DesignBlog: I'm curious why you think I have "so much" space and furniture. I live within 360 sq/f which is well under the majority of the readers here, judging by other house tour numbers and I own 1 couch, 4 chairs, a coffee table, a TV stand, and a desk. I do my best to eliminate what I don't need and I'm almost to that point (I believe I'm getting rid of the Bertoia chair very soon.)

As far as paying for everything goes... My father is a car mechanic and my mother works a comfortable office job at an insurance company. I am very lucky to grow up in a middle class house hold but that is all I am, nothing more. Aside from the iMac (which was necessary for school — I'm a graphic design student) every high-priced item (excluding the Eames rocker) in that apartment was paid for entirely by myself, working 2 jobs. I only buy something expensive if I can buy it on discount (including the iMac — several hundred off the retail price.) For instance:

The Aeron chair was purchased from a very nice architect on Craigslist. I bought it for $250. The daybed was purchased for $250 from Craigslist as well. Coffee table, $50. Philippe Starck chair, from a photographer who used it at a shoot, $70. Bertoia chair, from a kid who inherited a dining room set from his father and had no idea what they were, $50. The sheepskin rug was purchased from a coworker who happened to deal animal hides as a side business. I got that for about $100, I believe.

I also found a great deal on my rent, well below $1,000 (which is very cheap for the area) and all of my utilities are included.

Deals exist out there and if you're patient and have a passion for design, you can find the miracles. I'm very accustomed to these comments, though. When the blog Lifehacker featured my apartment (from the Unplggd tech tour), a lot of people accused me of being a spoiled trust fund kid or something. On face value, I could see how someone maybe could believe that. But the world isn't so black and white. There are a lot of opportunities for people out there to find. Even sampling AT's Craigslist finds posts can be a testament to that.

Mike, sorry for getting to this post so late. I am completely stunned by your place. It's gorgeous. Nothing out of place. Love the colors, love the art. Love how even the ordinary becomes art (i.e., the clothes rack). Great job. You should enter the small cool vote next year. You would definitely win.

Mike, I think it is v polite of you to have given power to Steve @ Design Blogs negativity. I would have ignored his silly presumptions as he clearly has some issues with bitterness. I too live in a space that is restrained, yet filled with some classic, modern (dare I say iconic) pieces that may look like a small fortune was spent. Truth is that I; much like you, know how to get a REALLY good deal and have snagged some pieces from the trash as well as owners who did not know what they were...or their value. If anyone were to presume that the pieces that I choose to bring into my space were acquired by anything less than my own good eye for design and BARGAINS; I would scoff at their ignorance! Oh...and great space Mike. You truly are living it right!

those floors! i LOVE those floors!

Great space. How did you get that Twombley effect on the wall behind your desk? Wonderful effect. Looks like Graphite.

Your place is amazing! You are seriously my hero. I'm so glad to know that there are other ambitious college students who care about design. I totally also completely believe in minimalism (people are surprised that I actually live in my room), but your room is so much more awesome than mine. If your room is an externalized version of you, you must be an amazing person. Thanks for showing me that amazing design is possible on a budget--I'm totally bookmarking this page for inspiration and motivation for years to come.

http://stylebust.com/author/beryl/

(for the stuff currently in MY room. Not as cool as yours yet)

I'm still an Eames chair virgin. I will get one one day though!!

I really love that blue colour. Sadie is sooo cute, and I love the story about the pressed flower. Great job, Mike!

Mike your place is so simple and nice and I love your style. Also, you shouldn't have to explain to people how you paid for YOUR stuff.

Perfect. You've won my heart witht his mix of practicality and perfection of detail. I have an Eames rocker too, absolutely love it! And adore the blue walls, the clean blue, white, black and wood palette, the round ball lamp on the floor, and the efforts you've made to make your kitty happy! If you and your father decide to do a home design business, I will line up to be one of your first clients!

wow what a great place. so functional and so stylish, and great kitty! i love you.

love the graphite wall, very cool!

Loving the blue you chose for the walls. It's quite dreamy - especially with white accents. So great.

I'm in a one bedroom that has too much space for me..so I'd like to live in a studio instead. Your apartment has given me so many great ideas of how to live more simply but with a few items that area loved. Well done!

Oh..and I also really like your wardrobe's color palette.

I love that - 'DIWD' - Do it with Dad! I will definitely be using that one...

FANTASTIC!

I think I remember seeing this same apartment on here awhile back.
I like the floors, and the little cat thing on the wall is cute. I don't like the wall color, tho.

Again, all of these complements are very encouraging. Thanks, everyone!

@robertspeg: re: the small cool contest. I will actually be moving to New York at the end of this school year so I'll have a whole new apartment to work with. Maybe I'll submit that one to Small Cool.

@shannont: Cheers. Thank you for backing me up, proving that it IS possible to do these things on a budget.

@hwierj: Yes, it is graphite!

aimilian: Thanks a lot — I'm glad I can inspire you. Your Eames chair will come and the longer you wait, the more pleasurable the experience will be to buy it. It absolutely is worth the wait.

PongoMom: haha I'll keep you in mind. ;)

sunnygirlsf: To be honest, I was expecting more people to comment on my black + white wardrobe since I always get comments in real life. I'm glad you like it.

Love love love this space.

I'm still addicted to this site, and quite like many of the places. HOWEVER: there are too many duplicated shots and small vignettes that mean little and need to be edited out. Though this apartment has some interesting features there are too manyshots of the same area and one "Gets it" long before it gets shoved down are throats with 3 more shots of the scribbly wall, or the clothes.

What a great space! I'm (almost) sorry to hear you're moving out of the apartment, but moving to NYC will be fabulous and I have no doubt you will find another apartment to work magic on.

It really is sad that people lash out in the comments about how much money they assume someone has or doesn't have. Honestly, you can find beautiful, "expensive" things on craiglist, at thrift shops, etc. and furnish a home like this. It just takes a LOT of patience and time.

Kudos on putting together a marvelous place. Plus, your cat is cute.

I LOVE the sparsity of it! The less stuff...the more free the spirit to think!

The great Gaston Bachelard would have approved of this studio ;)

That wall color and the floors are to die for. I also love the touch of the window built into the loft bed. What a great space and great restraint you have!

This place is so cool. It's elegantly minimalist without being cold or uncomfortable. Love it.

whats up with boys and books on the floor? i love the place but cannot stop that lifting the books a little off the ground wouldn't have cramp the style and would have made it oh so much easier to clean.

Great use of space, I like that you've really created a work space that you can enter and be focused on your work. I like that you've chosen things that please you, and rejected anything that doesn't. And I love that you've created a playground for Sophie (who seems to know just how good she looks against blue).

I look forward to seeing what you do with your next space, and with your design career (since I'll follow the blog from now on).

So well thought out. Beautiful wall color and beautiful cat.

hi mike!

your studio is exquisite. i'm fresh out of university (albeit with tons of student loans), just got myself an open-concept studio with 11' ceilings, and am thinking to myself, what to do with a limited budget? your house tour gave me tons of decorating ideas. i love your minimalist aesthetic. great job!

a quick question: i'm in love with your industrial-looking clothing rack. did you make it yourself? if yes, care to share how you did it?

props to you from canada.

it feels very fresh :)

To have had a flat like that while in college...*sigh*
very inspiring. love the color. Love that you have answered many of the comments.
Thanks!

@ walleee : I was looking for the same thing and just found this: http://tv.houseandhome.com/segment/diy-industrial-clothes-rack

just don't put the base with the wheels

I've really wanted a clothing rack liek that for a while, but following a lot of other reader's comments on fading, I'm kind of worried: is it that bad?

Wowww.... so cool and I'm so jealous. I had that color when I was in grad school but nothing else... but I've always wanted to do something like that wall behind your monitor -- I too would love to know how you did it if you're willing to share....

Does anyone know if Mike moved, and got a new place and tour? I'm just seeing this one for the first time. It's one of my all-time faves, for inspiring design as well as what can be done with very small spaces and a limited budget. And I'm totally copying that graphite scribble wall. Thank you for sharing!

Holly cow. This is fantastic. The graphite wall looks cool and I like the story about the scribbling. The color blue is wonderful. the pedigree furniture gotten at great prices makes me jealous but yes deals are out there if you have the patience and are constantly looking. it's perfect. The floors are fantastic and I like what you did with the kitchen.

I LOVE the graphite wall! Does anyone have any ideas for how I could do this in a rental where I can't mark up the walls? I was thinking of some sort of removable wallpaper, but I'm not sure where to look for something that doesn't cost a lot of money. Perhaps even taping huge rolls of paper would suffice.

Yay, Mike. You left the lovely and different floor.
I'm happy to see it is not white.

I remember your place from your tech tour, and have nicked a few ideas (more in how to use something as a used X for Y way).
Thanks for opening your space to comments...twice.

It is a beautiful apartment. I love the blue on the walls, the simplicity. I have to find ideas for a steep-slope roofed attic. By the way, how do you keep the ladder from falling or being dangerous to climb? I've got a similar one and I don't know what kind of metal pieces to attach to it so that it can rest on the mezzanine safely.
Congratulations

This is absolutely the best room that I've ever seen!
I am Japanese and I wish I could fly away to Pennsylvania to see your house with my eyes. Bravo!