Name: Marc H.
Location: Washington, DC
Size: 367 sq ft studio
Favorite resource:
What inspired you?
I stumbled upon this unit after touring several others in various states of disrepair. Thankfully, this one has good bones - new appliances, large windows, high ceilings which was inspiration enough!
...However, the jump from a 1500 sq ft apartment to a condo the size of my former living room took some getting used to and initially resulted in a hodgepodge of items originally dispersed amongst several rooms. The challenge here was to create a cohesive space of distinct yet noncompetitive areas. The result: a small domain that makes a big statement.
Design Tip:
Experiment! Don't be afraid to use strong colors in small spaces. Often, designers advise against blanketing such spaces in dark color in order to avoid claustrophobia. Prior to living in this unit, I utilized light, neutral palettes in attempts to adhere to expert opinion. In this space, I have learned to be my own judge. The dual palette grounds the individual living/cooking/sleeping areas and creates a comfortable, warm environment.
Copyright © 2007 Apartment Therapy
Oh, stripey goodness... I LOVE it. The colors are superb. I'm not exactly sure what color the walls are - mustardy-green-ish? I dig it. And a slate paint in the bedroom? Dig it!
That chair -- AGAIN!
So which is running ahead -- The Chair or Eiffel Tower sightings?
Beautiful apartment, anyway.
Yes, love the colors and dual uses of elements.
really nice wall color! can you share the paint color/brand if you recall? i'm thinking of painting and am looking for a shade like that. nice job!
Very warm and inviting looking. Great lighting. Proves that abundant low wattage lighting is the way to go.
Love the screen between the entry/bedroom. Definite good use of the space you have!
I like your creative use of light source options. Well done.
Yowza. Gor. Geous.
Bedding info.. PLEASE!
Love that armless settee and the eye photo above it.
Love it all.
The only thing I'd love to see is a headboard.. high and swanky, just like the rest of the place.
me likey. i like that you have a real kitchen area in such a small space.
hey patrick(the other one)
i believe the bedspread and pillows are old Ikea (maybe from a year or so ago) I have a blanket/throw that i got from there that looks just like it-
Great space! nice job- i love how the screen/curtain matches the color of the walls!-
Is settee a Mitchell Gold? I think I've seen similar one at ABC, right before they've closed the Brooklyn outlet.
Have to admit - I would be the one habitually recommending lighter color scheme in a small space like this; Marc proved me wrong. Beautiful use of bold colors, especially in the bedroom (which conventional people consider a chilling silver-dead place...)
And I love the taffeta screen, and the regular march of perrier bottles, and the eye (too bad he couldn't hang it as focal point of the entry!)
Really nice. Obviously done by someone with a sense of what he likes. Go DC!
I am very impressed by the double rugs using a strong pattern and solid cdolor. I may use that idea as well in order to use a very decorative rug but not overwhelm my small room with it.
just noticed another detail that i really like, the open cabinet with glass for glassware. that really makes a difference to me in opening up that kitchen area. i love what you've done with this apartment--sleek and well put together with a sense of style and many personal touches. the colors are beautiful!
This place is begging for a flat-screen TV (I got my Sharp Aquos 20" from Kmart, it's fantastic). The tables and storage surrounding the column seem akward and out of balance to me. The sofa was a very good choice. Not a contender for me. High carb, low protein.
I love your thoughtful use of lighting, and the subtle sense of symmetry helps keep the space from feeling overcrowded.
What's the story on your refridgerator?
Loverly home. How do you leave it for work in the morning?
Love your wall colors. They totally work. Good eye and good taste! Yes, please share paint color/brand details.
That sheer chocolate curtain between entryway and bedroom area is a spark of genious. Perfect touch.
This place looks fantastic. By the way, I think it's interesting that "the chair" has such a different effect in each of the apartments we're seeing it in.
Fantastic execution, very good layout, great photos BUT a bit bland. My parents would totally approve of the space, which to me means Marc played it a bit too safe.
Remember, this is the smallest, COOLEST contest. Nothing in the pictures makes me say "oh cool!"
Lots to love hear - the curtain dividing the bedroom from the entryway; the color scheme; the layered bedding. Although this may sound like a contradiction, I think it's great that you have books and cds in your condo, but it feels a bit cluttered to me, especially around the support column. Is your kitchen island built in or a varde cabinet from IKEA? It nicely separates the kitchen from the living space.
This guy really knows his lighting. Great use of color. It looks truly lived in and has tons of character. You feel like you know who Marc is looking at these photos. But are those newpapers under the bed? ;-)
a visual argument against the argument "use light colors in a small space, because dark colors will make it feel more confined." this place looks warm and inviting, not claustrophobic (and the wall color looks like benjamin moore's "muddy river").
i love the translucent panel between the entry/sleeping areas.
very grown-up, sophisticated. really lovely.
Just lovely! I really adore the bedding too, as well as that cool bedside lamp - INFO please! I spot a fair few Ikea pieces but they are artfully mixed in with other pieces and so the space does not scream Ikea. As for "the chair", I almost bought one myself a few years ago. Of course it was a cheap knock-off and not very comfortable. They seemed to be everywhere. I guess other people saw them too!
foo dog--
Everything I see in this space is eitehr functional, or beautiful, or both... how is that "high carb"?
YCH--
I don't agree that "cool" has to run up with a big funky found-art stick and club you to death. "Cool" has degrees, and this space has it, since (imho) it strikes a great balance between a clubby vibe and residential feel. And not everyone would have thought of those sheer colored panels to create separation without choking the space...
love this. really tasty color choices, and a nice use of ikea w/o looking like an ikea showroom. i like the use of the column - it's not like it's going anywhere, and things are arranged cleverly so that it helps divide the space. love the bedside lamp and above-cabinet lighting. have to consider that for my kitchen.
Beautiful! I guess all the gushing compliments have already been paid, they are well deserved. These colors are great. I also love the bedding, old Ikea, really?
Wow! Great colors & lighting. You made a 367 s/f apt look like a mansion. My new favorite.
It is a very nice, small apartment, but I agree with foo dog, a flat screen would tighten up the space and help give it the "cool" factor YCH is looking for.
Swanky! I love it.
My only suggestion might be to run a second opaque panel on a track between the bed and entry. That way you could avoid seeing the bed from the door or close it off for a little more privacy when you need to.
This is such a sexy apartment and the lighting is very well done. What are the dimensions of your apartment and where did you get that refrigerator?
I especially like the white loveseat with the two pillows. Where is it from?
How can I not love an apartment that sports my fridge?!? And I second (third, fourth) the comments on the good lighting. I especially like the uplights on top of the kitchen cabinets.
"I am very impressed by the double rugs using a strong pattern and solid"
hanifa, I thought there were two rugs there, too, looking at the first photo! I think I have problems with making 2-d images 3-d in my mind. Glad it's not just me. Anyway, I like the stripes better as a bedspread than a rug.
Great warmth in the apartment, I pretty much agree with everyone here. Are your lights on dimmers?
I want your fridge! Where did you get it?
I also love this. Only suggestion is to perhaps use some beautiful fabric to cover the table where the TV is, then the items underneath will not always be visible. Otherwise, I have nothing to say, great job!
That chair again, indeed... That chair is one of the most "accessable" of all the modern design classic. It's no wonder it shows up time and again. It's an excellant place to start when you're working with a tight budget. But I almost feel like the occupant was like "OK where else can I put some light."
I am reminded of rooms done by the designer Graham somebody, on the "Changing Rooms" series. But you are adept at using color, and the layout is good (if a bit tight). Great lighting! I've seen that mossy wall color used in a lot of show spaces, but the truth is that it often makes people look very pallid and ill. Maybe if your lighting is good enough, it doesn't matter?
awesome job!
but:
1. get rid of some of the mini furniture-lose the cd rack and have some blank wall space. just put cds in a little holder and lose cases. saves lotsa room.
2. lose a few ikea things. like clock or some pictures or whatever. try to keep a few spaces open.
3. maybe lose that big light brown tv table sticking out.
otherwise great
Very sexy and warm...
The best I have seen so far. It has personality as well as great design. Excellent use of space. Bravo!
very nice looking. what is the material in the sheer panel between the bed and the -- dining room?
also, dig the still lives, sophisticated nocturnal palette, pale furniture against dark walls.
and those...pellegrino? ...bottles. excellent.
absolutely fabulous
This one is my favorite. i think the colors are amazing! When my eye catches a hot pink or blue in something, it excites me. And that shade of brown is marvelous.
Love it!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the sheer panel between the bedroom and the rest of the apartment. where did you find that drapery and what type of hardware did you use to do it? GREAT job!~
Marc,
Awesome job!! You truly hooked the place up. I love all of the designing ideas that you put forth. The pellegrino bottles is eye catching. I love the lighting........warm and inviting. Colors that make you go hummmm. I'd love to see it in person.
I just love all the warm colors . Ijust relocated and need to be a little bolder with change. thanks Marc
ANA
very nice.....9 out of 10. Would like to see the burnt orange of the couch riterated in the artwork above the cream loveseat, for contiuity...but you got it right on the mark in the bedroom! Bedroom gets 11 out of 10!