love love LOVE the cork room divider. did you make it yourself? I also like the landing strip with a space for your bike...

There are some cool elements but over all it's feel pretty blah.

i'm having such a problem with this year's crop of entries: having a small apartment, in and of itself, should not be enough to make people think they could win this contest. clever use of space! innovative design ideas! where are they this year? i'm not talking about spending money -- i've never based my vote on what someone *has*, but i definitely base it on what's done with it, and this year is a real let-down to me in that regard.

that said. leslie -- your hanging cork room divider *is* a fun, original element, and i'm glad to see it.

I love a person with plants. I love your green wall too!

I agree with kristina in phoenix. There are some nice entries but I have yet to say "Wow!" to any of them.

agree, this apartment seems like, I got grandma's couch, but my apartment is cool cause i have a teak credenza and some cool chairs. nope. sorry.

I too like the corkscrew wall divider, and I LOVE the colored accent walls. The furniture is kinda grandma though (I'm sorry!), and the patterns seem to not really go together. I rated it cool, though, I think it's a funky and unique pad.

I love the bright wall colours.

Having your bike in the first photo is so Portland. Yay.

I like the green wall.

Not a contender but looks like a fun, comfortable space. I could live here.

lydia, i love your bike, but what i love even more is that you've made a special spot for it under the shelves. it looks much more like a bike you actually use, than with these minimalist fixed gear bikes hung high up on the wall, over a credenza or such (and why is it i never see people riding them, just walking them on the street or parking them outside cafés?). sorry to turn this into 'bike therapy', but that first picture says you're an awesome girl :)

For the love of all that is holy, please get rid of the flowered sofa. :)

But there is so much to love here! The green walls and the lovely rich colour of the wooden buffet, for one. I really like this for its kind of thrift-store vibe (and I mean that in the best way!) and for its character.

I think I saw that sofa at a flickr pool of ugly sofas.

i adore that flowered sofa and chair and the vibe of these rooms. great atmosphere and some good lighting and colors. but the bedroom is unfinished looking and more of an example of how a small space doesn't work than how it does.

It's OK honey. They don't know you are a starving grad student and are putting up with Grandpa's really ugly but expensive 1980's Ethan Allen couch until you finish school! .....mom

i agree with kristina in phoenix. however, in comparison to the others, i lurve this place. nicely decorated and some innovative touches. nice mix.

Yeah, way too many "show off my home" entrants rather than "show off my solutions to living in tiny spaces". I do love your sentiments about color. vs deposit, but this one got "not my bag" for a couple of reasons:

I know you're a poor grad student.. but the sofas?...c'mon. A slipcover isnt that expensive. Also, a lot of vignettes without showing expanses of space. And the floor plan? You dont own a ruler?

Sorry, grad student or not, this one doesnt even feel like its trying.

i loved it--it felt warm and cozy and id want to have tea there. but i agree w.everyone. i havnt voted but only once this year, as i have anything that has "wowed" me either for AT standards.

Gosh some of you are so rude. Nice space. It looks very comfortable and when you have a couch like that you either cover it up or you own it. I think it's sort of refreshing that you are embracing it and not covering it up with some beige ill-fitting slipcover. I love all the color you've put in there also.

That's so funny about the security deposit thing. I did the same thing. I couldn't take the cheapest white my landlord could find for longer than a couple of days. I painted it right away. If you paint it back you might even get your deposit back. :)

the cork curtain is BRILLIANT!

fun and funky... lovin' it.

Great use of corks. A comfy place that looks like the home of a good friend and interesting, well balanced person. Pay no attention to the critics. Thanks for showing your home.

you know I think the sofa is great in the space...it makes it more funky. I really like it, especially with the green chair. I could never pick two different pieces that fit really nicely together

I'm gonna have to side with nearly everyone else here in saying that DAMN that couch is ugly. Other than that, the rest of the apartment is very nice in a minimalistic, friendly, funky sort of way. Corks are super sweet. Also, if you don't ride that bike very often, I'd be totally open to a trade...

I'd like to see a better picture of the cork divider.
I love the green wall. need to paint one in the bedroom too - yellow maybe?
Starving student or not Honey, they are right about grandpa's couch.
(should I mention that it's the first time i've seen the floor in the bedroom).
Overall, i'm impressed though since I've been in it and know how tiny it really is. Love Aunt Debbie.

Nice colors.
Fun vibe here.
But you have a ways to go regarding grouping your stuff as well as paring down and editing.

Mr. Dangerous: My cat looks funny because she's 18.

Harmonyfrance: Wow, there are some strong feelings about my couch... but you nailed it. Yes, I have an ill-fitting, neutral, Pottery Barn, slip cover but instead I just decided to embrace the 80's floral. Some day, when I'm a highly paid public school teacher, I'll get a sleek mid-century modern sofa. Until then I'm going for "boho."

Aunt Debbie: I think you're thinking of my 17 year old self, these days my room is always clean!

Thanks for looking everyone!

Thanks for visiting my Small, Cool entry, Lydia! I think we have the same footstool in different colors. Does yours have tiny wing-like handles?

ps. I love your couch. And that amazing chrome/lime vinyl chair. Wowzers. Good luck!

I actually thought the big floral couch was delightful in way ... unexpected, cozy, girly. You did it with confidence. I think if you had a more streamlined chair next to it instead of another big chair, it would balance a bit.

Okay, so I'm late to the Small Cool party. Nonetheless, I was compelled to pop in and say that I love the couch (ALMOST as much as the cat on it!) and what you've done with your fun space. Who needs a fancy MCM couch when you've nailed the boho look?

Secondly, I'm relocating to Portland as a fellow starving grad student and am thrilled that you listed your fave local vintage shops. I will be seeking them out.