apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

The juxtaposition of the to bikes next to the bedspread with diagonal lines is terrific. Once again, it's all vignettes-hard to see how the parts become a whole. But the predominant use of black throughout is great.

See? The Upper West Side CAN be cool. It's not all India print bedspreads and baby strollers.

For the sheer tininess of your place, I voted "super cool."

Where is that fabulous duvet cover from??

I likw the Gruntdal desk, the vintage chair and swag lamp (which should be lower) - but the rest leaves me cold.

I think you have a great tiny place and great taste.

LOVE IT!!! Your bedroom is gorgeous, love the diagonal duvet cover.

i love that you just put the bed out and don't try to make the studio a LR.

Nice work! Can you share where you got the glass, wall-mounted computer table?

It's cool except I don't like the bar-height table/stools. They look super uncomfortable as an eating place.

Oh my goodness, are there really two of you living in 340 sf? That's impressive. And it's a wonderful space. Yeah for Bruce!

love it - two thumbs up. super cool.

I voted Super Cool. Here's why...

For a SMALL space, you have managed to put everything you need into easy reach, without unnecessary furnishings.

You recreated that LACK shelf in a new way to hold glassware. That alone is worthy of a prize. I swear, I wouldn't have thought of doing that. And yet, it's PERFECT.
ttp://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/042508EastSCCDoreen/dishware/medium

You've also used under the bed storage, which helps keep the place uncluttered, while allowing access.
http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/042508EastSCCDoreen/living/medium

The bikes are out of the way, and yet instantly accessible. And they don't block anything, anywhere, including the light. Good job.

Even though you seem to have everything you need, I can also see you putting that prize to good use. Maybe having a pair of chairs instead of one chair (one for each of you).

I can totally see these chairs in your place:
http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/collection.do?method=get&id=92329665&cat=91552822

There are a lot of people that have entered, that I can't imagine what they would add to their places. I can't see anything at all they need to replace or add in that they don't already have.

But you folks have TWO people in a small place (340 sq ft), and you've done really good. I'd like to see that rewarded.

i really like this small space... and i love that 2 people live here happily!

super cool - 2 people and 2 bikes in 340 sq feet!

Loving the bikes and use of a LACK shelf (thx TRUE BLUE for pointing out the shelf).

Looks like it is much bigger than it actually is. I call that success!

Wonderfully pared down in a way that I could not and would not do, but you still included at least seven plants, so you are "super cool" in my vote.

supercool -- i can't believe how much living space you've eked out of 340 sq ft, especially for 2 people!e!

must have bruce lee! please please tell me it's not real art, but cheap and mass produced, so i can haz.

also, awesome apt.

theninthcloud, they mentioned the LACK shelf with the glassware holder from Target being their favorite thing, so I HAD to go looking for it. And I would NOT have guessed it was the LACK combined with the glassware holder. I would have thought it was some specialty product.

I just had to check Target now, and the Under Cabinet Stemware Rack is only $14.99 each. A pair of those and the shorter LACK shelf comes to under $50.00. Incredible deal.

We could BUY the glass rack already attached at Target, but we don't have the same variety of finishes, like there is with the LACK shelf.

Just looking now at the LACK colors/finishes, certainly there's something to please most everyone.

Birch effect
Black
Black-brown
Green
Light pink
Red
White

And now EVERYONE is going to swipe that idea. I would. It would make for a cool beverage/bar center outside the kitchen too.

For IN the kitchen, it can hold, as shown, your daily use table settings. Plates, bowls, etc. Tumblers or water/juice glasses. And it frees up that cabinet space for the big and bulkies, like pots, pans, that may not be used daily.

Yup, that idea is worth it's weight in gold.

This entry is why I read AT and why I look at the Small Cool entries. It celebrates creativity and individuality. I'm smitten.

awesome beautiful...looking fwd to a personal tour!

You have created so much space with little square footage, one of the best I've seen. I love the subtle effect of all the moulding, and the art is so cool! Great job.

oh my god! so much coolness in such a tiny space! And with TWO of you!! i LOVE that you are so super pared down and seem to have just what you need. really amazing, guys.

i just realized that i think i feel this place deserves so many kudos is partly because it's not kitted out in uber expensive designer furniture. this place shows that you can have a harmonious home without caving to the pressure to have such exclusive goodies. some apartments with expensive top-notch furnishings get ooh-ed and ah-ed over but they seem to have an unfair advantage. the real gift is in making a small place WORK on a budget and you two accomplish that.

Super Fly.

Not a fan of the super tiny but the bedroom looks spacious and it's hard not to like that blue, silk-screened Bruce Lee.

Weasel Dearest is Mr. Dangerous

wow, i agree that this is a tiny space for 2 people and has been done with an amazing minimum of clutter. i'm a little freaked out that there's no sofa, though. You always have to chill on the bed, like in a hotel room? I find that sort of depressing. Maybe you're young and you don't spend much time at home!

i've been desperate for a way to aesthetically store my bike! can you detail what you did with those non-intrusive hooks?

I agree that there's a great deal here to admire and to praise. One thing I don't understand, however, is where the clothing is. I don't see a closet on the floor plan, or dressers anywhere. Where are the winter coats? the shoes? The extra pair of jeans? The underwear and socks? Is it all under the bed? Is it in the little area called the "Pantry" on the plan?

wasnt this one in nytimes as well?

Desk area=cool.
Giant printer/fax-thing on floor next to it= not cool. Hide that stuff!
Great bike storage in the bedroom. Very nice.

This space is AWSOME!!!!!!!

Very, very cool. Great use of a tiny (smaller than my apartment, which is saying something) space, particularly for two people.

I could never pare down this far, and I totally admire it.

So graphically strong and functional and hot. This is so dang Super Cool, it's just not funny. And I'm not laughing.

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for all of the kudos and good tips. I've already lowered the pendant lamp!

To answer a few of your questions....

Duvet is from Dwell. Bought it over 3 years ago at a boutique in Minneapolis but may still be able to score one online.

The computer desk is actually a kitchen cupboard from the remnants section at Ikea. We liked that it was milky white like the Mac. It's resting on a pair of metal wall mounts...also from Ikea.

The Bruce Lee was something I made as a birthday gift for the beaux. We made all of the artwork. For now, it's one of a kind but look for more when we launch our website scratchwerks.com selling original artworks and apparel. Coming soon.

Yep. No sofa. A great excuse to be lazy in bed all day.

We agree. The printers are an eyesore. Brandon is a photographer so he works from home...perhaps that 2nd beast of a printer could double as a couch.

And yes. We were featured in TimeOut NYs annual home design issue last fall. Good eye!

xo. Doreen

Heather Leaf - great sentiments, except the contest is Smallest/Coolest - not smallest coolest on a budget.

This is a nice cozy place with some creativity to it. I dislike the television pointing at the bed a) because its just bad fung shui and b) I still have nightmares about Poltergeist.

However creative I'm afraid the little fixes like the bike hooks and the Lack rack dont lift it above 'cool' for me.

Great use of a small space. Although I don't really disagree with Modfan's thought about the TV placement, it's a little a bit difficult to be Fung Shui when you're working with such a limited spaced - seems to me the TV would either have to hang where it is or in the shower!

Ikea also sells glassware holders that screw in under cabinets. They are around $5. They're white though not clear plastic.

i really like this place-seems to be organized & well planned. u deserve more cupcakes ;)