Name: Monica, Graduate Student at the University of Michigan, Mildred the dog
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Size: 350 square feet studio
Years lived in: 6 months, rented
Graduate students often don't have the time to make their temporary rental a home. With limited budgets, no free time and the scramble to settle into a new city, there's usually little room for nesting in their schedules. I was quite drawn to Monica's teeny-tiny studio, measuring in at just around 350 square feet. It has the efficiency and neatness that one needs to study and focus, but this home is more than your average grad student pad — Monica's place has a cozy sense of warmth.
Monica's sweet dog, Mildred was more than happy to show me around her place on that snowy Ann Arbor afternoon when I stopped by. Even though her space is tiny, Monica still has plenty of room to host friends and colleagues, making this studio more than just a place to crash and study, it's a place to call home.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Inspiration: Decorative vardos.
Favorite Element: I really like my kitchen table/counter, which is actually a beautiful teak writing desk. The drawers are useful for storing small kitchen items and it has wings that slide out on the sides for added "counter" space.
Biggest Challenge: When I first stepped into the space I was overwhelmed by the pink tint in the wall paint. Repainting walls in rented units is always a hassle so I looked into temporary wall paper. It turns out that stuff's pretty expensive, so I went with a cheap alternative - fabric, from the clearance bins. I pinned frayed panels of it over most of my sort-of pink walls. The brilliant thing about this option is the ease of switching up colors, textures and patterns at your whim.
What Friends Say: Everyone initially reacts to how cozy it is and find it to be a pretty relaxing and inviting space to cook, study or gab. They also think Mildred's pretty cute.
Biggest Embarrassment: One of the first times I had people over for dinner, I discovered just before serving that I had only one fork. I just never expected people to want to hang out in a space this small, so I wasn't prepared.
Proudest DIY: Limited cupboard space in the kitchen meant getting creative with hooks. I really like the rack of hooks I hang my mugs on.
Biggest Indulgence: The kitchen table/writing table.
Best Advice: Small spaces are great for transitional times in your life because they require little investment. Maximize these spaces with low profile furniture, hooks and mirrors and think creatively about repurposing furniture and other fixtures that follow you from home to home.
Thanks, Monica!
(Images: Smith Schwartz)
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A lot of potential here. I really don't understand the logic behind all the random pieces of fabric.
Mildred reminds me of the dog I had growing up. So sweet.
I've always appreciated the look of interesting textiles hung on walls (yes, early 70's grad student here). That said, I'm curious about the black square around the pan above the stove, and even more curious about "decorative vardos" as her inspiration. When Googled, it seems vardos are Gypsy (Roman) wagons, & also a band.
The apt. appears functional, well kept, and has a cool little dog!
some people on here are such snobs. This is a forum for sharing ideas not just showcasing homes that real people dont live in. I think your space is adorable and cozy. I love the fabric idea. Seems like a very cozy place to study.
Awww Ann Arbor! Your place reminds me of my old apartment in Grand Rapids. UM is such an awesome school. Good luck with your graduate work!
Right on Jene!
I love the use of fabric as a way to bring color into a room where you cannot paint. I always wondered why the idea is not used more often. I love the look. Great job.
@MissCynthiaBell In the 'Biggest Challenge' section she mentions having pink tinted walls. She states fabric was a cheap alternative to painting and wallpaper. It provided an affordable way to get different colors/textures without the permanence.
@Jen E Agreed.
So cute and cozy, and looks functional. Nice sweet potatoes.
Love the look and great ideas for a small space. Very comfortable and cozy. I bet your friends love to hang out there.
I like the way the coffee mugs are hanging - looks nice!
Fantastic idea with the fabric. Really out of the box creativity.
As a fellow graduate student, I had to click on this one! I am lucky enough to have a house, but I'm about to leave my house for a year to live in about a 215 square foot place abroad. Since it's only for a year, I don't want to invest too much in the decor (my "real" house is full of stuff already)- so I am thinking the fabric would be a nice way to go :)
Also, I have a dog who's half lhasa, half shih tzu who looks a lot like your dog :) Only mine is less calm when strangers are in the house.
Yep, this is what my apartment sort of looked like in college. Kudos to making it work so well.
I wonder if the dark square under the pot in the kitchen is a sort of "wall coaster" to prevent marks from the pot? Or maybe is covers some sort of old chimney access. We had one in the kitchen of an old house, just hung a picture over it. When I had to spend a lot of time in hotel rooms one summer I took a selection of gorgeous silk scarves and some of that stuff to stick things on the wall. Add a couple of candles and the place was almost homey.
Oops, should be "maybe it covers" not "is".
Cute place! We rent, too. You have to make the best of what you're given...we're stuck with weird textured walls..no fix for that!
My favorite spot is the "check yourself before you grab your keys and go". That fab little table with the mini LeCreuset (?), the sweet key rack, and the mirror over. That spot is perfection!! Also your cool poof in the living room...not to be outdone by the bug eyed fish magnets. I need those! :)
I had a big version of Mildred, but lost her ten years ago to cancer. She was the best dog ever.
Your place reminds me of the first apartment I ever rented by myself, in San Francisco. It was tiny and cozy. I remember it fondly. I like your tent effect with the hanging fabrics.
This brings me back to the good ole' days. You have such a great space. Thanks for sharing.
I LOVE your writing desk/kitchen table!!! As someone who had a very hard time finding a unique table that served as a kitchen table/desk/counter space, AND looked cool (for a small space), WELL DONE!!!
I have the same amount of space here in Los Angeles and with a murphy bed, I really have no reason to move. It's all the space I really need. That said, it's not a space a family could find happiness but for a single writer gal such as myself, it's perfect. It's also in a courtyard setting where, because we're all jammed in with the same square footage, there's a lot of "got a cup a sugar" friendliness here. And that's not a euphemism.
Looking at these photos made me feel really happy - like some very nice times have been had in this place!
Love what you've done, this should inspire lots of students and other small space dwellers.
Mildred!
Really nice use of space, nice use of colors and textures in the space. Good choices for such a highly function intensive space. Apparently some people don't get the jist of small space living. Cool pad Monica! All the best in school!
I live in Ann Arbor too! It is so hard to find a halfway decent apartment in this city and near campus. I must have looked at 40-50 places before I found one... And that was a year ahead of the actual lease date for a space less than 500 sq ft. I appreciate what you've done to your space just based on that alone! People wouldn't think AA would have such a competitive market, but it's rough - yet the city is totally worth it. Go blue!
It looks like a good place. Have you considered getting rid of the brown rug in the bahroom and putting in another color. I think brown is just wrong in a bathroom. otherwise the bathroom is nice.
Definitely feels cozy and comfortable. The kitchen table is lovely. Love Mildred!
@vernhippensteal: time to get glasses?
That fabric idea is very neat, so much that one can do with it... I need to figure out how to ensure the fabric stays put on the brick wall (in my country), specially if its mirror work rich or something.
I quite liked the elegance of that other TV ? table too. And the rug.
Such a warm and inviting place!
ps- a pat for mistah dog.
I would've found a different way to work with the pink walls - navy and white/cream perhaps. I'd have bought a bed frame that had storage underneath, and then it could also be high enough for comfortable seating for guests, if needs be.
Who doesn't know they only own one fork??
I love your mug display. I never thought to hang my computer headphones on the way. I need to do that instead of tossing mine on the desk.
What kind of breed is your dog? I REALLY REALLY want to know! :)
You'll remember your grad student years all your life, and a lot of the memories will be in this cozy, homey place, making you a very lucky person! (Any readers who "don't get it" probably haven't been to grad school.)
I love the things you've done, so I don't know how to break this to you, but ANY apartment you live in would be cozy with Mildred in it. I love her. What kid of, dog is she, please?
Very cute, like the use of fabrics. Reminds me of my first apartment.
Love the fabric...and the snob comment earlier. I am going to steal a couple of your ideasfor my new apartment....good luck in school.
Oh and I love Mildred~~such a cutie!
Love the use of hooks. I have three times the space, and I use hooks as much as possible. This tour shows that a little creativity can go a long way. This tiny space is neat, and orderly, without looking stark and sterile. Kudos.
@Nonie, fabric adds texture, warmth, and coziness. When I lived in grad student housing, we were not allowed to even paint our leased apartments. My roommate hung a large painting her bf made, but unless one has connections this is not always an easy option. Fabric is easy to pack and transport for a move, which is an inevitability for any grad student.
It looks like a home, and it reflects personality. I'd recommend folding down the duvet cover and adding a colorful throw to the end, because in a small apt the bed is what everyone sees. It would add to the elements already in place, like the fabric on the walls. The kitchen is lovely.
I think your cute dog left you a 'present' on the brown rug! Otherwise I love your home.
Seriously. I love seeing things that are on a budget, personalized, and didn't involve buying tons of new shit that all matches. I want to see more of this kind of thing and less of the stuff that belongs in the magazines that only show professionally decorated rich-people spaces.
I don't understand buying fabrics to hide or distract from pink tint walls. what landlord refuses to let someone paint the place white? Crazy landlord. Other than mattress on floor, it's a very very nice space with loads of potential. Looks very comfy and the dog is adorable.
Just looked at the kitchen again, which is adorable. If your landlord says painting is too much of a hassle for him, why not try to do it one room at a time? really the pink walls don't seem to detract as much as the cloth everywhere. Painting is easy and inexpensive, unless you're planning to move away it would be so worth it.
Love this home with the pops of color and adorable pet Mildred.
Go Blue! I had a 325 sq. ft apartment in Ann Arbor when I was a student there and couldn't figure out how to make it as cozy and comfortable as you've been able to. Congrats and all the best in school!
I am glad to see a return to AT's roots!
This is really well organized -- tons of good ideas for one-room living.
Cute place and of course Mildred steals the show! The fabric on the wall is a great idea especially over the bed. I put a quilt on nursery wall to add color 23 years ago and had forgotten how good it can look. I am going to pass this on to my daughter who is in a tiny apartment with equally odd tinted white walls.
It's funny how when people don't have much to say about a place they comment on other things, like pets. Thats not to take away from Mildred, who is very cute, but she is not the tour. I'm always impressed when someone lives in such small spaces as American's are taught to believe bigger is better, so this is always refreshing, no matter how you decorate it. As an interior decorating enthusiast I would agree with those that question the fabric on the walls. Not so much so the fact that they are there, but more so the color or pattern choice. If anything the pink walls would have stood out less if left bare, or if you'd hung three of those black ikea picture frames up side by side with a cool, colorful, funky fabric.
I'm just sayin.
Ditto on the pieces of fabric especially the brown patterned one by the side of the bed. Love the teapot through :)
I would just love eating at that dining room table! Looking out the window, daydreaming. So nice!!!
Why is it not acceptable to express any opinion that is not 100% in agreement with what is shown even when expressed intelligently and respectfully?
Why not do wall to wall curtains instead of pinning the fabric? Would look cleaner and less like you're trying to cover something up, IMO.Ikea has those wire curtain rods that can go around corners and attach to the ceiling.