DWR + AT = A Contest Within Reach. March is around the corner so get ready for our second annual Smallest, Coolest Contest, which promises to be bigger and better than ever.
This year, we're opening it up to the whole country, raising the size requirement only a tinch, and partnering with Design Within Reach, who are offering some fabulous store credit prizes and really helping get the word out in the design community. We'll keep you updated as plans unfold, but all the basic info is here below. Bring on your small gems!
Why?
Because weve never accepted that a lack of space is fatal when it comes to creating an inspiring home and nothing jazzes us more than the hand-made home or the stylish studio wedged into an urban crevice.
Because somewhere there is ONE APARTMENT that is so small and so cool that it should be recognized as the ultimate achievement in its class.
What?
The Smallest, Coolest Apartment contest is a contest for all small apartments and homes in the lower 48 states under 650 square feet. We are seeking the most ingenious and beautiful 120 submissions along with all the tips and resources we need to maximize our own homes.
Prizes?
1st - $2500 DWR store credit
2nd - $1500 DWR store credit
3rd - $1250 DWR store credit
4th - $1000 DWR store credit
There will be 5 special mentions: design gifts worth @ $200
AND every accepted submission will receive a free copy of our new book: "Apartment Therapy - The Eight-Step Home Cure"
How?
Submit
- Name, Location, Size, Type
- floor plan, 3 photographs (max!)(With description of photo as name of fileie. streetfacingwindow.jpg)
- Pitch: "What inspired you?" (100 words or less)
- Your favorite home resource
- 1 good design tip
to smallcool2006@apartmenttherapy.com (and put "EAST" or "WEST" in caps in the subject field)
Deadline?
All entries should be received no later than Monday, March 13th
Detailed Rules?
1. Submissions will be posted March 6th through March 31st. There will be ongoing evaluation to determine which entries are posted to the site. In that we have a month to post, we can ONLY publish 120 entries online for public review (3 per day). The more entries we receive the more discerning we will have to be about what gets online.
2. The first round of voting ends on March 30th at midnight. Readers are voting throughout the month of March in that they are evaluating each entry as soon as it is posted.
3. Judges have from April 1st through the morning of April 4th to evaluate the readers choices and determine a top 5 from the West Coast and a top 5 from the East Coast.
4. These top 10 finalists have from April 4th through April 6th to refine their profile and to send in new and better pictures if they so desire.
5. Readers will review the top 10 finalists from April 7th through April 13th. Although they will not be voting per se, they will be encouraged to comment and assess. The judges will review and take into account these comments when making their final decision. As the comments are public, the process remains very transparent.
6. The judges have from April 13th through April 19th to determine the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place winners, irrespective of geography.
wow! i am excited as hell for this!!!
-k
WOW! WOW! WOW!
Great partnering on this one. Looks like I'm going to be addicted to AT for the month of March!
Can't wait. The last one was the best thing on AT.
What I love most about this contest -- other than seeing the entries posted! -- is that, even if our apartment looked far more fabulous than it does, it's TOO BIG to qualify.
Given how cramped we often feel with just 800 sq ft, I love-love-love this change of perspective. (And maybe all these smaller apartments will give me better storage ideas!)
I am a huge fan of the contest and cant wait. Not to be stuck up on the issue, but NYC is a completely different marketplace. What might be considered small in San Fran (just an example) is prob. considered loft living in NYC.
So glad there are judges for the final round. Given the craziness in the 'got color' contest - with a few thousand at CB2 up for grabs - I can only imagine what would go down for DWR goodies!
Matt, I think SF is geographically closer to the Swarm of 3,500-sq-ft Mini-Mansions full of people swearing that it's just impossible to live with a master suite that isn't larger than my whole apartment. :-)
Awe... I always thought the 500 Square foot limit was fabulous because it really focusses on smaller than typical suburbia apartment spaces.
Geez, my loft is 488 square feet, and it feels huge compared to some of the best-of spaces I've seen here. (click my name for a walking tour of my place)
Anyway, I doubt mine is cool enough to enter the contest, but I can't wait to see some of this year's entries. I'm new to this site, so this will be my first year following along. (Love AT, by the way!)
Yeah- i am kinda bumbed that the overall size limit has actually INCREASED- versus what was proposed by some in breaking it down into ...
small, tiny, and micro categories
-k
Rob-
Are you kidding me?!!!! your loft looks GREAT in my opinion and you should definately enter. Mine no way compares to yours and i'm giving it a shot.
great space! where do you live?
Rob -
You definitely must enter the contest.
Your loft is gorgeous, Rob!
Thanks Kellen. Maybe I will enter, even if only to see if I can win a free copy of the book. I'm in downtown Portland Oregon.
Well, i think you should. Portland, huh? I've heard it's great there, but never been. I live in NYC now, but am from Madison, WI. And, I've heard that Portland and Madison are pretty similar.
anyway- here's to that free book!
-k
Wow, I blush. Thanks all! Really, I am in love with my loft. I moved in this past October, and I feel like I'm in a new relationship with it. You know... remember dating at the stage where you're so excited just to see each other? I walk in the door and say "I missed you!!!!" It feels like that.
Most of my stuff, by the way, is bargain city. The art and the bed are ebay finds, the curtains and funky metal bookcase with circles are from Target, and the metal stuff is from Delia warehouse sales - http://stealia.com
Let's all post that our apt. isn't good enough for the contest with a link to our apt. and see how many people tell us to enter the contest :)
I'm not sure if I like the way that the winners are going to be decided. Although having the public vote leads to possible fraud (especially when there are big prizes), it really generates excitement. In contrast, look at how few comments there are right now about the art contest finalists. At the very least, there should be some kind of public voting in the final round, perhaps for an audience-choice award.
Anne, I'm sorry if I gave the wrong impression. I just remember some of last year's entries being beyond spectacular. I'll definitely be here in March to see how this year's contest looks. This contest is my favorite thing about AT.
Wait, I need to spend a whole lot of money to fix up my place enough so I can enter. Then I would have to sell the DWR credit to someone else to pay for my debt... hmm, I'm not sure what to do! Serious debt vs. cool apartment? I think cool apartment wins.
I'm going to enter just to get a copy of Maxwell's book!!
We'll definitely make this clearer - really just wanted to get the word out today - but there is a combination of voting in the first round and judges deciding in the second round.
This allows for general voting craziness, which is good, but ensures that the finals focuses on the actual qualities we all see before us.
We hope this works best. At any rate we'll keep tinkering with it all until it does.
So I have a question as an interested observer. Can the finalists from last year enter again? I think some of those folks could take on all comers, even with the increased size.
P2, do you want to "take on all comers, even with increased size"? :)
Wohoo! Can't wait for this contest again. It's my favorite voyeuristic activity, ar least as far as AT is concerned. I like the new judging rules. I think having a panel for the finals is the way to go.
Rob-I live in nyc, but grew up in Portland. What building do you live in? Is it in the Pearl? Snazzy place for under 500 sq ft!
While I enjoyed the last Smallest/Coolest Contest and look forward to seeing everyone's pad in this one- is there a chance that there will ever be a general Coolest Contest with no limitation to space?
I wish I lived in a small apartment just so I could show off my place! This partnering is huge too, way to go! Yeah AT!!!
Holly
Holly, me too. Of course, if my unemployment continues my wish may very well come true.
This is what got me addicted to this website in the first place! I love what I see happening to my apartment, but I'm jsut not there yet :( Maybe next year you all wil lsee me sending in my pics!
Aloha Ya'll,
I'm more than excited to see this year's entries. My place is not ready for the contest this year, maybe next year. So I'll be looking for inspiration from the entries.
Its just as well. Its a shame AT and DWR are leaving Hawaii and Alaska out of the running. :-(
I'm not bitter, I'm getting somewhat used to it living here. But it needed to be said. I'll just go out and console myself by swimming in the bay in February. :-)
Keep visiting and posting those tips for "a studio in paradise"!
Flip quoth: "I'm going to enter just to get a copy of Maxwell's book!!"
To celebrate being a space-hogging capitalist running dog, I pre-ordered the book from my local independent bookseller. By the time it comes out, I will be (pleasantly) surprised to get an email telling me to come pick it up. It'll be like Christmas, only without worrying about getting something I don't like.
Aloha ROB,
I love your place, its inspirational, artistic, practical with a little romance. The orientation of my place is more "linear" from the entrance whereas it looks like yours appears perpendicular from your entrance. The windows are great. ENTER THE CONTEST!!!!
Cooking Cajun
aka:
Last year, when it was NYC alone, didn't you send someone to the apartments with a pro photog to see them in person and take pics? I guess you won't do that this year with it being nationwide? And since you've opened it up to the whole country, where is the delineation of "East" and "West?" East or West of the Mississippi? Just wondering... thanks!
Cajun: My place is shaped more like a plus sign with the lower left corner filled in (that's my bathroom), and the lower right corner chopped off halfway with a diagonal line. The weird shape seems to make it feel larger than it is.
Dori: I'm in downtown Portland near the south park blocks and Safeway.
Ah, I've lived near there too, Rob. Love the South Park blocks. There is so much new residential construction there now, its amazing. Talk about a wel designed city. Keep up the good design work.
Oy, I am sooooooo jealous of this year's prize. Good luck, all!
I know Patrick! I can't wait. The contests are the best and I feed off of the ideas.
Aloha anne and Rob,
re: your 2-10-06 comments (posted above).
I post a link to my place in postings here because I desire input and hints for living in a small space.
I assumed that Apartment Therapy encouraged sharing our small spaces for inspiration, education and fun. Why not showcase your place and ask for feedback?
Rob, I hope you enter the contest with a chance of at least getting one of those books.
Cooking Cajun