Name: K/B
Location: Chelsea, NYC
Size: 295 s/f Studio rental (old-law tenement)
Favorite resource:
without a doubt... design*sponge!!!
Design Tip:
Remove area rugs to expand and lighten small spaces.
What inspired you?
Moving from Madison, WI on a tight budget, we wanted to reflect our roots in the context of small apartment design and more flexible, modern living in NYC. Caramel livingroom walls are accented by personal photographs of Madison and custom art commenting on the suburbanization of America (“Still Life with Plant, TV and PBR,” “Cows With Holes,” and “Six Flags Over Nothing”). [more below]
...A shot of bold espresso in the corner creates a reading nook and better separates the small space. The supercharged rust of the bedroom bridges the livingroom and kitchen, painted a Venetian red.
The quiet patio outside and the nature motif throughout serve to recreate and update the Madison lakeside feel right here in Chelsea. Maximizing flexibility and space, the coffee table cubes double as storage and seating for entertaining, an “il-LUMEN-ated” shelf replaces a bulky headboard, and a viewless window becomes a bookcase.
Finally, the built-in lofted bed was removed to enhance vertical space while allowing easier access
to closets housing a hidden washer/dryer and overhead storage.
My favorite part of this space is the the espresso paint in the corner. The contrast of the darker brown with the caramel really makes that space look bigger and separates it from the rest of the room. Bravo!
This is definitely my favorite so far. I love the colors on the walls with the pops of white from the couch and the radiator (props for not trying to hide it. You're a human, you need heat, there's a radiator.) It's still obviously small but it has a cozy feel to it.
Nicely done!
I agree with Ruth, my fav so far!
love love LOVE the reading nook!
what a fab idea i just might have to steal!
Oh, I love the use of white and red. I love the art trim, and then the couch color and the pillows... and the end table, and the black coffee table cubes in the living room.
Wonderful use of color and space, and it's inspiring too: whenever I see an apartment so deliciously clean, crisp & uncluttered, I want to do some more purging in my place. Supposed to be a beautiful weekend, but I guess we know what I'll be doing, :)
Eh? Duplicate post? Oops. Not sure how that happened. Anyhoo, kudos to K/B. Love the place
Very appealing and comfortable looking space. What are the paint colors? They're terrific.
Beautiful! I love the color combination, and perfect color placement. Tiny spaces are perfect for experimenting with colors. That's a mighty strange shape apartment to work with, and you did a wonderful job with it. Rather than looking like a small apartment, it looks like a series of cozy nooks.
Darlyn, I agree. That dark brown corner is an excellent idea, it looks amazing.
Nice entry!
My new favorite as well. Fabulous use of paint, and incredible job with what looks to be a very very akward floor plan. Every object seems well placed and perfectly selected.
It's kind of funny to me that the kitchen leads to the bedroom, which you have to walk through to get to the living room. Also, can you clarify what the door with the beautiful white gate in the bedroom leads to? I also really like the reading nook.
nice, but not my favorite - i'm in the minority, but i'm not loving the colors. not because they're bad, just because i'm not a big fan of the red/wine family.
but overall, lovely.
oh my god - a washer/dryer in studio rental? what I would give for a washer/dryer!!!
Beautiful apartment! I love the white furniture against the deep colors of the walls.
Wisco represent
My favorite so far as well! Makes me actually want a small space so I could purge stuff too. Love the colors. I also like the shelf over the bed. It's lit? And may I ask where you got it? How "close" are you to design*sponge? Kind of makes me wonder if you know Grace! At any rate, I really, really like what you've accomplished..
I love the wall colors, pillows, and use of space. The best so far.
Hey all-
thanks so much for all the feedback- seeing our place up here to share w/ everyone is just so nice in and of itself! thanks again! and, also great to see "wisco represent!"
about the colors... all Ralph Lauren Paint
-kitchen= Venetian Red
-bedroom= Modern Rose
-Livingroom= Poplar Island
-reading nook= Traditional
The layout of the place is a bit awkward, yes, and typical i guess for a rental- but we tried to use that to our advantage to separate all the tiny little rooms of the apartment.
The white gate in the back leads to a concrete patio that is at ground level, 5-6 cast iron steps down. We have a table and chairs, some plants and a grill back there. It's not huge, but it's great to make the place a bit bigger and to actually have a piece of "land" that's our here in nyc.
The shelf over the bed has some votives (not lit), but also Adam Frank's "Lumen Tree" lamp- which is lit.
About d*s, i haven't met grace, but honestly just love all the products and tips she throws up there.
The washer/dryer in the closet is a godsend- takes a bit longer to dry than most machines, but we are really so lucky to have it.
Anyway thanks to everyone for your feedback and comments- good or bad -it's just great to be mentioned on AT.
-K/B
You've managed to fit a lot of stuff in there without it looking cluttered, and I love what you've done with the color and the reading nook. Our apartment's about the same size, shape and vintage, so I'm always interested in seeing what people do with the space.
Another former Madison resident here. I wish I could see your 4th Madison photo--I recognize the arched entrance to Camp Randall, the state capitol, and a terrace chair. I suppose having white terrace chairs for that little table in your first photo would be overkill.
I love the colors and that starburst grating on the door in your last photo.
yeah, props to the sconies - love to see union/cap/randall in nyc. a lot can go wrong w/ brown as a wall color. nicely done.
the white gate door leads out to the patio. i think.
I'm chiming in--my new favorite, too.
When I lived in my own 350 s.f. studio, I struggled between my desire for clean wood floors, modern furniture and a spare look and my fear that in a space that small, it would all end up looking like a dormroom. In the end I used oriental carpets, gilded moldings and other things that weren't really my personal taste to create more of a feeling of luxury.
This use of rich color but simple shapes does a much better job of balancing the above than I did. While it's not as innovative in use of space as some of the other entries, it provides a great education on using different (but coordinated) paint colors to divide a tiny apartment. Good job!
VERY striking and beautiful. How brave you are to work a white couch. I just hope it's actually slipcovers so it can be cleaned. The colors make me very happy.
I like your city abode a bunch, K/B - a warm & restful & tasteful retreat.
And, your bathroom photo reminded me of a little stunt that's made a difference in our little place:
We installed a couple of brass clothes hooks on walls well above the tub, one over the shower-head and another at the same height on the opposite wall. On the shower-head end, I secured a length of Dacron line (little stretch) and tied a loop in the other end so it can be pulled tight across the length of the tub and quickly secured on the opposite hook. It parallels the curtain rod, but over the center of the tub and a few inches lower. When not showering, we drape the curtain over the cord, creating another 18" of visual space in the tight bathroom. It makes a big difference in perceived area, plus the curtain dries quickly. By pulling the curtain tight on the ends, the shower head and shampoo rack are hidden.
The cord also serves as a clothes line for hand-washables.
You really have done an artful job, K/B! I like your taste.
Very impressive use of color. Actually looks like someone lives here. LOve the reading nook - most important part! My favorite so far, by far!
I just love how this actually looks like a real adult apartment despite the size. It has such a nice and inciting feel to it. You just never feel like the quality of life is being compromised by the small size. Great work.
Wonderful use of space. Personally, I can't imagine sleeping in a room with such bold colors, but they are beautiful, nevertheless.
I am most impressed by how many unique spaces you have managed to create within the apartment without any actual physical dividers.
This one if my favorite thus far.
Matthew, I've never understood that comment. When I was in college, I bought bright red sheets (since you had to get those stupid x-long twin sheets), and my roommate said, "I don't know how you can sleep on sheets that bright". My response? I personally don't have a problem since 1)I turn out the light, 2) I try to close my eyes to sleep.
What is the monthly rent for one of these small apartments?
Great color!!!
This apartment rocks! LOVE the warmth and the incorporation of Madison WI!!!! Come do my house!!!
Where'd you get the pillows on your couch? love this!
i wanted to comment and ask about the radiator - how are you able to keep it so white?? mine is also white, and i'd rather not cover it, but after a year or so the paint gets worn and dirty and chips (its right in front of a window). i repainted it once, but it was such an ordeal. does anyone have any suggestions??
I love the place. You did a beautiful job on it. My favorite colors too. We've had TD and Michael painting like crazy at our house and I should have asked for your input.
Great taste. Very cosmopolitan, young and vibrant. Good Job! You've been busy!
Very chic! Tasteful and without clutter in such a small place! Colors are warm and work well together.
I love it your good at this B It is stunning warm and cozy.
Neat apartment and decorating hope to see it some day. My favorite!
West Elm'ed out.
It's gorgeous, but most leases require tenants to have some carpeting or rugs. If she owns it, then great, if not, then she's probably going to lose her security deposit for scrathes on the floor. (But it is beautifully decorated. Love the rich colors.)
shudder... looks like a queer eye makeover.
There is nothing really interesting that stands out in this apartment except for the seedy red/purple walls and pillows. If this apartment was painted white, it would then be totally generic. With the red/purple walls and pillows, it's just sort of seedy.
There are also too many pillows on that couch. They would have to be flung off to sit comfortably there.
Great combinations of stark bold with cool colors.
Classy and cozy, the best of both worlds! Very nice.
We are all spoiled. If you want to see the traditional inhabitants of an old-law tenement, visit the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. Try a family of 6 immigrants in that size apartment! I am so glad to hear that K/B have an outdoor patio... I don't know where you eat during the cold months? Thanks for providing a good floor plan, since the photo in the mirror confused me. A small apartment really requires a camera with a 24mm lens -- I just bought one and wish I had as pretty an apartment to submit!
That mosaic bistro table and chair set in the livingroom is definately cozy, but is plenty of room for us to eat when we can't enjoy the outdoor space when it's freezing outside.
-K/B
My favorite so far! (And I'm not just saying that 'coz I'm another Wisconsinite.) I love the colors. The whole place feels very inviting and that reading nook is fantastic.
The espresso nook is definately my favorite part, great idea! I love the framed photos, I think personal touches like that really make a living space work. -t
This would be a really swanky, cosmopolitan pad, in Nebraska. his is actually in New York? There must be a stack of Better Home & Garden magazines somewhere in that room... I don't know what's come over me. I shouldn't stoop to that sort of behavior. It is warm and inviting... for people who are into that sort of look.
This is my absolute favorite! Gorgeous use of color and style in an awkward small space. How did you do it??? Could your decorating talents be genetic?
Great use of color. Where did you get the silver frames above the couch?
Love the Ralph Lauren colors. The space is warm and inviting. It must make the cows want to come home even if they are grazing in the big A.
Love the place. The colors are vibrant, the space is used perfectly and very cozy.
This is almost as fun as visiting without worrying about where we'll sleep.
We're proud of you.
Beautiful! For such a small living space, it looks great - you have very good taste. One of my favorites
Very nice. But I would get a different trash can. Something white would look more graphic against the wall and go with your color scheme.
i dig, and i love the art...saw that commentary art stuff at a festival in castle rock, co...
Jenna-
The artist actually is a close family relative- Bill Amundson. More of his stuff is at www.amundart.com - he currently lives in Colorado.
-K/B-
I love it! Definetly my favorite so far. I love what you have done with the place.
Neat place. Super job on the decorating. Love the Badger Red.
Hey, is this going to show up as a finalist pretty soon? I love these colors. I have a couple more hundred sq ft than this place shown, and I've been convinced that I can't put in a larger bed or a sofa...alas, my place is a big square and not a nice rectangle.
I was sure this was going to be a finalist. One of my top three favs. I'd love to see more from K/B and her perfect color choices, one of which I'm using in my place!