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East #22: Danielle and Meg Try Color

Name: Danielle & Meghan
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Size: 700
Rent/Own: Own

What is the advantage of SMALL? We like to consider ourselves minimalists, but it’s so easy to end up with more than you need. Having a small space gives us that extra push to say no to the purchasing craving. It also means endless opportunity to use our creativity for storage solutions and design elements. And, it means less to keep clean!...

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What is the advantage of SMALL? CONT'D

CONT'D

What's your favorite resource for your home?

Craigslist! Most of the furniture and decorations in our apartment were found on craigslist and at garage sales. From the West Elm book shelves (free!) to the orange coach (not quite so free). It’s a really great resource for anyone on a budget or if you’re just looking to find that one cool item that doesn’t look like it came from a department store.


What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home?

We love the bookshelves in the kitchen. We got them for $5 each at a garage sale a year ago and never really had much use for them. Then we decided to paint the kitchen green and thought let’s paint the shelves too. We like how they look and also that we’ve been able to turn something that was plain into something that is really useful and hopefully looks good.

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Small Cool 2008 - East

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Comments (48)

Nicely laid out and decorated - especially the fancy paint job - but I wouldn't exactly call this small...you're lucky to have enough space for everything!

posted by gina32 on April 16th 2008 at 10:36am
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I love this place! Great use of space and color.

posted by Nevis on April 16th 2008 at 10:38am
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Very pleasant and well photographed.

posted by Gallivant on April 16th 2008 at 10:38am
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love it! Can you tell me the paint colors used for the hall? looks like a yellowish and a blue... Also I love the little birds in the living room!

posted by jede on April 16th 2008 at 10:42am
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The storage place is smartly done!

posted by giggleuma on April 16th 2008 at 10:43am
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Nice color choices! Looks great! Clever ideas for storage too.

posted by suzy8track on April 16th 2008 at 10:47am
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Really nice place overall. Cool wall art. Color is well used throughout except for the kitchen. It doesn't fit the subdued palette in the rest of the place.

posted by farmhousemoderne on April 16th 2008 at 10:48am
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I voted super cool -- but why the picture of the bamboo plant? A waste -- we want to see more of the apt.!!!!

posted by Mid-C Frank on April 16th 2008 at 10:53am
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Very nice. Has a peaceful feeling, yet the color makes it full of life.

posted by tigerlily on April 16th 2008 at 10:55am
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one of my faves. i love how serene the bedroom is. everything is so well placed and has a "home".. great use of color.. very cozy home. i'd live there for sure.

posted by animalhouze on April 16th 2008 at 11:05am
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voted super cool as well -- vibrant and serene at the same time. what are the key hooks in your kitchen area? i need something like that in my kitchen! and did you rest a lack shelf on top of bookcases? smart.

posted by selena on April 16th 2008 at 11:07am
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I would normally vote someone down a notch if they wasted their 5 pic minimum on something like a bamboo plant. You could at least shown another side of the kitchen or pic of the bathroom. However, I just couldn't do it after seeing the other 4 pics. With the 4 of the 5 pics you submitted you actually piqued my curiosity. I want to see more!!!! So ended up giving you a "Super Cool", because of your use of color, your creativity, and the really awesome look of your place.

posted by rikstah on April 16th 2008 at 11:17am
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So smart with the bookshelves/kitchen storage idea. I had a major case of kitchen lust when I saw it... :)

posted by christinatremill on April 16th 2008 at 11:24am
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I usually hate any tone of yellow but wow.

posted by LauraZ on April 16th 2008 at 11:25am
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The entry form specifically asks for a close-up, detailed picture. It's not a waste, they're just following instructions, so some you can stop getting all bent out shape over it...not to mention "voting someone down a notch."

posted by Nightrain on April 16th 2008 at 11:32am
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I really love this!! This style is so much like my own, or at least what I'd like it to be. :)

posted by mizK on April 16th 2008 at 11:49am
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Great use of color -- and great painting choices! Your place is warm, welcoming and peaceful. Super cool.

posted by Jackson on April 16th 2008 at 11:52am
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This is a great example of using overscaled furniture - but here successfully against the very dark wall, and only using 1-2 pieces. It pushes into the surrounding space and makes it a little more cozy - without becoming cramped as we've seen in some other places. And C O L O R ! Finally! (I rent - all walls are ivory...kills me!)

posted by Modfan on April 16th 2008 at 11:57am
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The kitchen looks amazing. It's a great color choice because IMO the kitchen needs not be (gr?) relaxing, but exciting. The photo of the bamboo though... I don't get it.

posted by Sol on April 16th 2008 at 11:59am
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This house is really neat and organized, but the design element is missing something. There are some gaps that need adressing. There are also way too many vignette shots (the competition on calls for 1). I think this one still has some distance to travel.

posted by DesignGod on April 16th 2008 at 12:03pm
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I love your serene bedroom. Wish I could pull that off in ours.

posted by jen_g on April 16th 2008 at 12:27pm
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Colors are great and the furniture is imaginative. Would help if your pictures showed more of your entire apartment. Soothing and bright at the same time.

posted by LauraE on April 16th 2008 at 12:43pm
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The DesignGod is not appeased. (shock. surprise. yawn.)

I, however, am. Love you colour choices, composition and layout. Very inspirational and FUN.

posted by darcidoodle on April 16th 2008 at 12:45pm
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nothing wrong with this. which is maybe the problem... it's so... safe.

posted by aad on April 16th 2008 at 12:48pm
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Not being a fan of your colours, I am surprised and delighted how well they work in your home and I like the adaptations you've made with the shelves and narrow table. Look forward to seeing more of this entry.

posted by TheoJ on April 16th 2008 at 1:11pm
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nice but nowhere near super duper.

posted by bmorebent on April 16th 2008 at 1:16pm
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Love the birds! My sister and I did something similar in her bedroom. It was a light blue color and we stenciled a flock of sparrows that were concenrated in the top corner and became more sparse going down to the center of the wall.

Great colrs also, I definitely wouldn't call them safe.

posted by jesscon0202 on April 16th 2008 at 1:26pm
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voted super cool. because that is what it is.

posted by venus_thames on April 16th 2008 at 1:29pm
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Cool. Yeah New Rochelle! Makes me homesick for Westchester...

posted by rockgirl on April 16th 2008 at 2:51pm
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I think this is close to a perfect minimalist place. It's simple, but not spartan or sterile and some of the elements add to the warmth of the space (candles, plants, etc.). This is really nice and the sort of place I wish I could set up.

posted by Orchid64 on April 16th 2008 at 3:42pm
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I like this. And I have to say there's something about that bamboo photo that kicked me right into the "Super Cool" button where I was tempted to go just anyway for this.

Why? Because there's something about the rocks at the bottom of the bamboo water that relate to the photos of the feet walking along a beach, and the lucky bamboo just really did make me feel like these people might know how to savor life. That resonated with me.

And yet, I also loved the orange and bright green in the kitchen, too, even though the vibe there isn't necessarily quite the same; it still somehow really works for me.

Oh! And that blue painted horizontal stripe that nicely anchors the framed photos is nice. Those frames make a nice graphic statement, and yet they invite you to look close-up to see what the photos are.

posted by Curtis on April 16th 2008 at 5:05pm
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Thanks for the wonderful feedback. We were pretty hesitant to enter with all these other amazing homes, but this has been a lot of fun! I'm glad you enjoyed the shelves in the kitchen - we love them! You're tight, it is just an ikea lack shelf and two old bookshelves. The key holder in the kitchen is from etsy.com (another great resource!). Just search for "yellowcanoe." I'll be sure to post our colors soon. Thanks again!

posted by megs1 on April 16th 2008 at 5:32pm
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oops...."right" not "tight"

posted by megs1 on April 16th 2008 at 6:09pm
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I absolutely adore your place! Especially the color choice of the kitchen. fabulous

posted by meganminus on April 16th 2008 at 7:47pm
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fantastic! Serene, modern, comfortable, and chic. The only thing htat irks me a bit is the green color which seems a bit too bright/out of place with the rest of the place, but then again, it may just me my computer or the flash.

posted by sanna on April 16th 2008 at 11:49pm
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Love it! So many creative ideas!It's absolutely awesome that you got most of your stuff for free or redesigned garage sale items. How did you do the picture over the couch..and love the birds..are they decals or did you paint them? Wonderful (and daring) use of color too! Supercool:)!

posted by MZ on April 17th 2008 at 2:11am
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Very fun and I love that you seek to re-use items (craigslist & garage sales). It's lighter on the budget and planet. It also forces careful consideration of how things will look in your place and how you might change them to fit (shelves). I really like the accessibility of your entry, I guess is what I'm saying. Something others could do and it seems like fun, friendly people live here. Thanks for sharing!

posted by HopeK on April 17th 2008 at 5:21am
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i don't feel like i can vote; for 700 sqft, it doesn't seem like your pics showed much of that space. you have wonderful stagings throughout your apt tho, and it has a great fresh, fun feeling

posted by aptsr4kidz on April 17th 2008 at 8:51am
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Hard to find anything wrong with this. ***

want to see the sunglasses art though!

posted by Ramstone on April 17th 2008 at 9:00am
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I love this place, both online and IRL. :) It gets my vote!
(hey guys, it's Jenn!)

posted by tinychoices on April 17th 2008 at 12:57pm
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Awesome colors, art, and photos. Very spiritual and tranquil. I wanna move in!

posted by milkyway3 on April 17th 2008 at 5:31pm
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Very imaginative and tasteful.
That color stripe is wonderful.
The green color is fun too.
Maybe lower the art piece in the living so it's even an inch farther from the ceiling than the back of the sofa.
Tight fit, I know.
Maybe place the 'gulls' on the wall with some thought or artful 'rhythm' too.
SO far the best one I've seen tonight.

posted by paulmuscat on April 17th 2008 at 5:37pm
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i would have given it cooler than super cool if that was an option! love it!

posted by jazzinjaxx on April 17th 2008 at 5:58pm
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two thumbs up!

posted by jazzinjaxx on April 17th 2008 at 6:07pm
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Ok, this apartment is 700 sq ft. What creative use of their space have they engaged in? Is this a finalist just because it's "nicely painted"? Shouldn't this be in the Color contest? This is what I don't get about these entries. Where are the 200-300 micro-apartments? I counted 1 in the East region. The others are really beautiful apartments, but nothing interesting about how they used their space. This apartment is gorgeous, no doubt about it. But they don't seem to have been limited by their small space in any way. 700 sq ft. for two people isn't that bad.

posted by Gene on April 18th 2008 at 5:18am
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I like the combination of the wood and green in the kitchen. :)

posted by Hope on April 19th 2008 at 4:53am
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Lower Westchester represent, yo! I grew up in Mt Vernon and went to school at Iona.

I like it better than most places in the area, but it feels a bit too "8 colors, 8 walls. Which color goes on which wall? Find out on a brand new 'Daneille and Meg Try Color'. Tonight at 8PM".

posted by Ondrej on April 19th 2008 at 7:39pm
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A lovely palate of minimalism. But also very artistic: love those birds of fancy--nice! And who would have thought of that great green kitchen? And those oceaned feet above the plant--almost worshipful. Every space seems to rightfully claim its place. You can tell that this apartment is loved.

posted by poetfriend on April 21st 2008 at 6:16pm
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