In the The New York Times today, ten different college students are profiled based on inexpensive or free decorating ideas they've implemented in their own homes. "There is much that can be learned from students who've managed to put together great looking places on what a grown-up might pay for a ticket to Paris," says Joyce Wadler, the author. "First and foremost is fearlessness." We've looked at Lighting & Color and Artwork & Adornment — now, it's time for the furniture...
Kayt Brumder, a student of architecture at Cooper Union, used a combination of bartering and street scavenging to furnish her East Harlem studio: A Wall of Drawers and a Bartered Bed.
Galen Wolfe-Pauly, also an architecture student at Cooper Union, created a platform bed using sheets of honeycomb cardboard, and constructed most of his dining room furniture using materials left over from construction sites: Scouting Sidewalks and Building Sites.
Michael Kolendowicz, a student of design at RISD, inexpensively constructed most of his cabinetry and kitchen furniture using simple supplies from Home Depot: Custom Cabinetry for $50 or Less.
All part of a larger story — Thinking Like a Student and a slideshow.
Pics: Phil Mansfield
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
I must get my hands on the plans for that loft bed. I think it just may be my solution! I've been aching over the internal debate between loft bed or sofa bed in this studio apartment I have. This may be my salvation!
view *heather leaf*'s profile
I am looking into ways of making that desk... am thinking of using cb2 file cabinets and an ikea countertop.
view baltimorerowhouse's profile
the top photo, on the right, with the loft bed and the desk.
anyone know what the desk top might be made out of.
I have a similar set up with 2 taborets for "legs" and a large piece of milled steel on the top. the industrial look is alright, used to like it more, and doesn't fit in with our apartment at all, it just looks like crap. wouldn't ind replacing it with something with some style and cheap.
too bad my dad just used up the rest of the bowling lane he had. he was making tables out of it, but i missed out on the deal.
view jmorey's profile
jmorey,
in the article it states that the desk is just a birch door on top of two file cabinets.
view TheoJ's profile
When I moved in with my boyfriend in Paris, we were on a very, very tight budget thanks to the euro/dollar exchange. I feared our apartment would look terrible, but he's taught me to think outside the box and DIY everything. I've made all the curtains in the house, used a curtain hanger to make extra hanging space in our closet, made a curtain for said hanging space myself, turned the extra shelf into a desk, etc. He's also taught me to buy cheap and ugly (since most really cheap things are ugly) and then change it yourself - we bought a hideous fan and spray painted it black, same with ugly plastic hooks, etc.....If you're creative enough to be interested in decorating, you can make a nice house.
view okgoodanswer's profile
the loft bed looks awesome - as long as it doesn't fall on top of the desk! :)
Tabitha from http://www.fromsingletomarried.com
view Tabitha (From Single to Married)'s profile
theoj - thanks for the cliff notes version, i was at work so didn't click through for the full read.
view jmorey's profile