apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

This is my favorite entry so far this year. The furniture seems like it's really in the perfect layout and somehow - even though everything is in one room - each space seems really clearly defined. I think the color choices also help to make what could feel like a small, crowded, chaotic space feel more like a calm, soothing HOME. Well done!

Great job with the pictures.

nice place

May I just say THIS is how the contest pictures and house tours should be. We need to see the overall space, not just vignettes, which is becoming really rampant here.

And yes, the place is gorgeous! The colour story works, the furnishings well chosen, the accessories well coordinated. I would prefer a lower dining table and bed, but that is a personal choice. Design wise - superb job!

i have to commend anybody for living in a space this small and making it work for them. it makes me remember very fondly my first studio apartment in the west village which probably was about this size. it's clear that roxy has put a lot of care and attention into her space. that said, it's a bit too crowded for me, and maybe too busy. i think it needs some editing -- save some of the pieces you love until you have more interior room to move around in.

I love the vibe of your place-- it's very chic. Where did you pick up the entertainment unit? I love it!

it's entries like this what make this contest what it's meant to be. clever ways to maximize a small space and create an environment that feels relaxing, serves a multitude of purposes and reflects the dwellers personal voice. great!

Really like this one - tiny and jewel-like and feels lived in but very neatly lived in. Thank you for showing a kitchen - I was missing some kitchen photos.

Too many pillows on the sofa, but I like the apartment. Looks very comfortable, easy to live in and enjoy. The nature themes in the decoration are refreshing.

Where did you get that very cool subway sign? I want it! Bad!

I LOVE this entry. It feels so pulled together while at the same time, the size doesn't seem like an issue.

I'm realizing that while I am attracted to the decore of some of the larger entries, i'm hard pressed to vote *super cool* because they don't have the same feeling of really "maximizing" what you have that these smaller entries do.

Roxy make working with what you've got look effortless!

Finalist in my opinion.

This is a real space, with great ideas, great job Roxy.

I love the rug by the bed! where is it from?

THIS is a small cool space. I'm always looking for ideas from people who live in small studios like mine, trying to fit all the functions of a home into one room. Bravo!

I love the bedspread...where is it from?

I think this space " for its size" has one of the best arrangements and choices of colors I've seen. All of the furniture is full size but, doesn't seem crowded! It looks so inviting and clutter free. Great job!

I like the look of the lack shelves under the bed. Has anyone else done this? Do you just put the box spring on top of the shelves?

When I think of the "Small, Cool" contest, this is what comes to mind. A creative use of space, a cohesive design, and overall a home that really has personality. Nice.

Really cool space! I wonder what the rug would look like if you positioned it vertically rather than horizontally?

roxy, my jaw dropped upon seeing your space. crazy. amazing how you've made a full home in that tiny space. i grew up in the woods too! upstate NY & then the berkshires of western mass. so nice to see a fellow nature lover bring those elements into their nyc home! well done!!! you should be a finalist.

Agreed....smallest and coolest so far.

Now here we have some original ideas on how to work with a small space. Her use of vertical space is really clever (raised bed, chairs, hanging units on the kitchen wall, etc.). The scale of items is very well thought out and she's brought a cohesive look to the place by the subtle but varied color palette.

Very nice---totally finalist material.

Now this is what "Small Cool" is supposed to be about. This and an 850 sf home are not even in the same category. I guess we all just have to move pass the new square foot requirements! I really like this one.

Loved the "living room" and "kitchen", especially its great use of space. Every piece looked like no compromise was made for style. One caveat: the coverlet (duvet?) was a little too busy. Maybe a solid color or color block would have worked better. Definitely a finalist.

Brilliant use of space and cohesive design sensibility.
Trophy!

Nice space - and you do have room to grow (in a good way) if you won one of these prizes. I would love to see your selections for addt'l art or lamps or any upgrades etc.

I think the thing I like about small is that it doesn't require a fortune to fully furnish an entire home. And its cool to see it come together in a space like this.

The colors, furniture and accessories all seem very harmonious. I particularly like the green accent wall, the large text art, and the rug. But the layout is awkward (dare I say "bowling alley").

I would swtich the location of the couch and the entertainment center to put the couch and coffee table in the "deeper" half of the room. As they're arranged now, it doesn't look like you could possibly reach the table while sitting on the couch. Flipping the TV to the opposite wall would mean that you could view it while in bed.

I also find it awkward to have the dining area at the foot of the bed.

You've got all the pieces to the puzzle, but they're not fitting together quite right.

Oh yeah...and there are about 4 too many accent pillows on the couch. It looks too staged - like you don't expect (or want) anyone to sit down. Toss a few of them on the bed instead.

Yes! Show them what a SMALL place is and how to work it! I feel like giving you a Jerry Springer "woo-woo". Love it. You give me inspiration seeing as you've made such better use of your space than I have and I've got about an extra 100 sq ft.

love it! My *only* critique, and it's very minor, is the candle holder on your table looks a little bit too "dollar store". A blank table would look nicer.

LOVE! Great job! And I like all the pillows.

i voted "super cool" just from the first two pictures! i'm looking forward to clicking on the slideshow button...

oh, roxy: did you have to put on those nyckelby/morebo doors on your own? i had to put on four of those things and the first one took 2 hours (and I got two cuts on my right hand) and the remaining three took two hours! definitely not as easy as I thought it would be...

agree with ranger.cookie on flipping sofa and TV credenza. that coffee table looks odd out there as is. BUT i must say i truly love this space and how you have maximized your storage. very nice.

Bravo! THIS is super small and super cool. And it's a good house tour.
The colors are great - that accent wall makes the room appear more spacious (the wall recedes). I am a big fan of those bus blinds, too. And wonderful, inventive storage solutions!

My one complaint: the litter of pillows on the sofa. Pick two at a time & rotate!

roxy will have to confirm but i saw the bedspread yesterday at either ikea or pottery barn. i can't remember which! i think the subway sign is PB, too.

please, please can you show us how you made the bed here or on ikeahacker? it's a great idea!

great place - really pretty.

this is far more impressive to me than a 850 sqft 1bdrm view-loft filled with designer furniture in terms of the design challenges presented and overcome.

I really, really like the subway sign. Where did you find it?

I found it! http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p10325/index.cfm?pkey=caccdecart

I love this one. It's so nice to see something in my sq footage range and that looks like a real person lives there. Great job Roxy!

Very nice... Glad to see a place the same size as my apt.

The few things that kept me from choosing 'Super Cool' are... I think the bar height dining arrangement doesn't work in this space, it overwhelms the corner. The coffee table seems lost because it is so far from the sofa (i know that is your primary walkway, but there are no rules that say the pathway must be straight). There are just too many pillows on the sofa, and I would like to see more art on the walls.

But, critique aside... Thank you for entering... Three cheers for under 300 sq ft set!!!! Let the folks who think their 850 sq ft place is small realize how vast their homes really are.

It's small & it's cool! Hip! Hip! Hooray!

The bed reminds me of Vera's on Alice.

What a place! I love what you've done with it. So clean and refreshing looking. This one definitely has my vote!

this definitely looks cozy and i *love* the green accent wall (and the huge subway stop artwork). i'm very impressed with the way you fit all sorts of full-sized furniture in without the apt looking too cramped. and it's great to see the picture of the kitchen, too. that shelf and the rail look so efficient and organized.

i do agree with some of the above comments on ways to improve upon the layout, though. it does seem a bit bowling alley to me, and the coffee table is so far from the couch (and close to the entertainment center!). in addition to maybe swapping some of the furniture around, maybe consider putting the rug so it approaches/goes under the couch instead of the entertainment center? also, it would be nice to see some art work on the walls.

overall, definitely small and cool :)

I agree with others about the couch v. entertainment center-- but was also thinking that maybe they have to be there for outlets/cable hookup. many old NY buildings have really limited outlets.

nice to see a small kitchen, and a NY kitchen, that looks like it actually gets used. The wall shelving looks cheery and useful.

Wow. Just wow. It makes me want to live in a 270 sq. ft. space now.

dlk: I think the rug is from Pier 1, though it's from last year so they might not carry it anymore.

Thanks to the person who pointed the way to Pottery Barn for the big subway piece. It's ordered and on its way to me even as we speak (write).

Love the rolled subway poster.

It's my favorite so far!

Makes me feel like I'm walking on a shaded forest pathway. And I think that is exactly why it works. That feeling of being surrounded with the woodlands, lush greenery, that it makes the space not feel small at all.

When we walk in nature, with the trees and bushes all around, we don't know whether we are in a small overgrown backyard, or a vast tropical rain forest. Because we can only see the items directly around us.

And I also was raised in an area that had meandering pathways through forests, and it NEVER felt closed in. I still love wandering on narrow paths, like following animal trails.

I'm very fond of this space. I got lots of ideas from it, and I think that is the way I may go in the future myself. Because it looks GREAT.

I can almost hear birds singing, the wind whispering through the trees and somewhere a bit of a babbling brook.

I don't know how else you would position the coffee table and avoid blocking someone walking from one end of the apartment to the other, but it's awfully far away from the couch; I would not know where to put my drink. I also wonder whether the living room space would look nicer if you rotate your rug by ninety degrees. That said, this looks like a wonderful place to live, a great use of small space, and I have voted accordingly.

I really like this space. It feels much bigger than what it is. You have some great elements to work with, and I think you did a good job scale wise with your selections.

That said, I completely agree with ranger.cookie. I think you should swap the couch and the entertainment center. Then that great rug will function to anchor both the bed and the couch, while still keeping your pathway to the kitchen.

Overall great entry though. I apreciate that we can see most of the space.

Thank you SO much! Not really my style, but it is very cute. I also think you should win, just for following the directions of the contest. You did really great at using the space you had. I think a lot of people, including myself would have been afraid to do what you did. I would have never thought to include the coffee table.

Wow. I'm quite humbled by the response. I appreciate everyone's feedback, both the positive and the critical. (though I love pillows. lots of them.)

If anyone has questions about where something came from, you can contact me at snapsparkchik at yahoo dawt com. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say where things came from directly in the comments, so apologies if I seem rude for not answering here.

You've put a lot of thought into creating a space where you clearly comfortable. It's calm but not boring. I like that there are things to see and use on several levels.

You said you haven't been there long - It's an impressive job.

That is the coolest "bedskirt" ever.

Well done.

I Love it.

1) It's not exactly my thing, but that is not what the contest is about.

2) For the contest you are supposed to dress up your place to get pretty pictures. Pillows are pretty and show off the "design"

3) what dollar store has candle tower center pieces?

4) I understand giving both positive and negative feedback, but why resort to near insults?

5) Could we all get over complaining about the size rules?
I agree that for the people visiting this venue, 850 sq ft is not small, however I have been frustrated by the hundreds of "house design" books that start there "small homes" books at 1,000 sq ft and go up to 2,000sq ft.
Over all, 850 sq ft is small in the USA at this time.

I have been a fan of tumbleweed tiny houses for years. I haven't been able to get one yet.
I had a 1400 sq ft house that many told me was small. However I rented out half and figured out that I only really used 700 sq ft. in reality.

850 sq ft is comfy to me. 400 is easily do-able but requires thought. less than that takes a lot of thought.

I read a quote somewhere that building bigger does not require much thought, just add another room. However to build something smaller and still hold everything you need requires great thought and inspiration.

However maybe the reason for the increase in size is due to a lack of entries and raising the limit is a way of getting more entries. Ask why instead of complaining.

Maybe it is to give some new people a chance to enter.
I do not know why it changed. I am just tired of the endless complaints.

6) I am all for being cruel to friends for entertainment. However putting your small apartment out there for all to see and critique can be a bit overwhelming. Being picked apart for your taste, your accessories etc. may also discourage people to enter. I am sorry to pick a comment out, but the comment about the candle holder being less attractive than a blank table is just plain mean. You can hate it all you want (free speech = free hate which is fine by me) however please consider how the other person feels. Do you walk into the house of others and say such things to the owners face?

People who do that remind me of a situation I was told about. A woman who was overwhelmed by clutter and was pregnant broke down and begged for help and several people volunteered to come over and help de-clutter and clean. Two women came over to get a good look around then left without helping. Later they were over heard in public making fun of the woman and her situation. The woman with a clutter problem made herself vulnerable and the other two took advantage and kicked her when she was down.

Showing your decor, personal belongings and such is a bit of a vulnerable feeling. Saying something isn't very homey or not your taste, is an opinion. Saying that something is ugly or hideous is an insult.


7) my opinion on free speech = free hate.
It is fine to hate anything and anyone for no logical reason. That IS what makes this America. However
not acting out your feelings is what makes this a civilized world.

If you are in sales and hate all women, you can not keep a job or do an effective job by saying nasty things and acting in nasty ways. You can be cold, polite and civil. They may not like you, but what would you care? You can avoid women on your free time and hate them while you sit at home alone.

( I chose women because that covers half of the population and I am a woman. That should rule out anyone truly being offended by my example)

I want to apologize for my bad grammar. I tried to proof my comment, but was distracted.

wow, this is better designed and better displayed than other entrees that are three times the size and probably spent four times as much money as you. You showed us good use of space and good design. I love that you include pictures of the kitchen and how you have used even the wall space in there. excellent job!

Really really like, makes me miss my 30 x 10 foot apartment in NYC!! This takes serious creativity, great job.

This apartment is creatively and comfortably arranged and decorated - and absolutely delightful.

This is a delight, in every way. Enjoy your lovely home...it will grow with you.

Wow, this is what I call small.

Great job - the apartment is tiny, yet you make it work really well.

wow, i'm impressed!

love the carpets...

love the colors

did you use a professional designer?

Cally:

I'm all for being civilized.

You must remember that they're putting their apartments on-line so they can win a big prize. They're saying my apartment is the best. No one has to put their apartment in the contest.
The Design mafia aren't hunting down small apartment dwellers and demanding they enter their apartment in this contest or else...

It's a choice. My advice would be; don't enter the contest if you're offended easily.

Roxy:

The place is very nice.

That's good advice, Danger. People love to hate when they don't have to deal with a live person. My policy is to ignore the haters... but sometimes you just want to take 'em and smack 'em around a little bit.

You got a super cool pad there, Roxy!

I think that all you would have to do to make the couch feel less lonely is move the rug under the couch...of course then you'd have to step on a cold floor in the morning. Up to you. These are just nitpicky things. I think your place is gorgeous. Good luck. I gave you a super cool. :)

I agree about that being the coolest "bedskirt" ever, and Pottery Barn should send you a fruit basket for all of the subway signs you just sold for them.

Do you have the shelves attached to the bedspring? I love how it looks -- I'm just worried that after an *ahem* entertaining evening, everything would shift and you'd crash to the floor.

Your place is fabulous! Thanks for showing.

*drool*

I believe the bed is Pottery Barn too...
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p5382/index.cfm?pkey=cfurbedalb

Aww, I really love this entry. It reminds me so much of my former (even tinier) NYC apartment. I know from experience that furniture layout in such a tiny rental place is really tricky and limited. Wall outlets, cable jacks, vents, dimensions, etc. often prevent you from have the more preferable layout. People would always come into my place and suggest changes, not realizing that I'd tried every conceivable arrangement and weighed the pros and cons of each way before finally deciding. I'm not sure if that's the case here, but I wouldn't be surprised.

Mr. Dangerous -
I honestly hadn't paid attention to the prizes. But, good point. : )
Littlegregorysallgrownup - I wasn't hating on anyone. (??)
Actually I realize that I am not really sure what you were refering to.

I *am* tired of every comment section having 2 to 10 comments about the size limits. That's because I have to listen to people complain about the things they refuse to change on a daily basis. : (

However it is a free country to hate anything you want as well as love anything you want. It is a necessity of balance.

Someone can have and irrational hatred of cats. ( or love) however that person can not go around killing cats due to their feelings.

Ah well, I wasn't trying to stir anything up, just typing too late at night. : )

My wife loves the picture of the new york subway stations.
Does anyone know where to find it. She had seen it awhile back but has not been able to remember where.

Thanks

Great space by the way!

It's weird that the coffee table is so far from the sofa. I'm sure the excessive pillows were used for photograph purposes and are not always there. The lack shelves under the bed are truly brilliant, but I doubt they are holding up the box spring? That subway sign looks like somebody made it to look like those subway signs. I'd love to see the backyard. All in all a bit matchy, but still lovely.

BTW, Nest Interiors on 21st and Ninth Ave. sells those Subway scrolls. A little pricey, but they are the real thing.

I love the pillows on the couch! (I also love this apartment.) While I agree there are too many, I love the colors and the textures. Very thoughtfully done.

I'm particularly taken with your colour scheme - it's so serene without being dull. And I love the books under the bed!

fantastic! this is the best entry so far- i hope you win!

This is great, i love it! This is very inspirational and poetic. It gives me more impetus to not be limited by my very small 'personal headspace' when it actual square footage.

***bravo! & a standing ovation*** thanks very much for posting and sharing...

finally someone w/ a kitchen as small as mine.

THIS is why I originally fell in love w/ AT. Small, pretty cool, and colorful.
I love this entry.

I second Sleek's comment. This entry is precisely why I got hooked on Apartment Therapy. On first glance, I liked this one, but the longer I looked, the more I realized the simplicity of it was deceiving. Look at the TV shot. There's a lot of storage there!

This apartment is the sort of space the average person would see empty and think "no frigging way am I moving in there. It's barely a closet!" And by our American super-size McMansion standards, this basically is a closet... but look what Roxy's done with it. I love the color and the storage solutions - especially the bed.

Also, Roxy's room is making me rethink my dislike of the whole dark brown/chocolate thing. Here, it looks superb.

OK - I need to know - what are those towers beside the TV / dresser? Where are they from?

Again - kudos on a superb entry. Love it!

Now that's small and cool. Exactly what this contest should be about-- overcoming the limitations of space through sheer imagination and design flair. Well done!

@Rob in PDX: they are Ikea's Billy Shelves with Nyckelby doors. And thank you for your kind words!

@RoxyBaby - You can definitely answer questions about where things came from, paint colors, etc... in the comments. Many other entrants have.

Good job working with your wee space.

Kudos for living with style in such a small space!

@jennifer in sf...ah cool thanks for the heads up. Answers to some of the questions...@ellechicago The unit is actually three pieces: the Cole 6-drawer dresser from Crate & Barrel and two Billy shelves from Ikea with Nyckelby doors. @dlk the rug is from Pier 1. I bought it in 2006 and unfortunately can't remember the name anymore. @many Yes it is the Pottery Barn subway sign, and @shaldeman the bedspread is the Songbird bedding, also from Pottery Barn. @rheamc For my bed, I have two Ikea Lack shelving units underneath (space between them in the middle) and the boxspring is placed directly on top. I was inspired by this AT:SF post, though I didn't follow it exactly. @saya* It was ridiculously hard to attach the nyckelby doors. I ended up getting learning an ancient Ikea secret: use a mallet. ;) @bess You're exactly right, my apt has very few outlets. But I understand the bowling alley critique. @jbv.1978 I didn't use a professional designer. I do draw inspiration from design TV shows/websites though. @LJ The shelves are not attached to the boxspring in my case. It's held up fine so far without shifting, entertaining evenings and all. :)

Hi
Good effort for such a small space.
Great color scheme in particular.

But do you get default points because it's so small?
No.
You easily could have considered the wall space better; especially for 'art'.
Do you really need that rug at all?
It would really open up the space by getting rid of it.
The sofa / coffee table / 'living room' arrangement just doesn't work.
And no matter how small or big the space; it should work.

I hope you're not insulted by constructive criticism as some imply.
This site would be so boring without some feedback from objective eyes.

Thanks for showing us your sweet little space.

hello roxybaby,

i am moving into a studio about this size on May 1 (from a 1-bedroom) and am now very excited thanks to this post!

question for you, though: I live in san francisco, where i have to think about earthquake safety in such a cramped space. are the BILLY shelves able to be secured to the wall? and how sturdy is the LACK set up you have for your bed?

bethanylemony, yes the Billy shelves come with parts so you can attach the unit to a wall. Just a warning, when the unit has doors on it is VERY tip-happy when empty. It will fall forward when you open the door. So securing it to the wall is a great idea anyway.

The Lack setup has been very sturdy. I've had a group of people sitting on it with no problem and it's stood up well to everything from kids jumping on it to general tossing and turning.

I love how small it is.... that green wall with the black and white text prints makes the apartment!

the collection of cactus in the kitchen is too cool.

Very nicely done despite the limited space! I love how the colors blend with each other. Excellent job Roxy!

Great job!

I can't wait to see what kind of artwork you find to go above the couch!

.

i love the art

Where did you buy the coffee table?

I love the painting next to the bed