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Small Cool 2009: Arzee's Urban Jungle Oasis
Teeny-tiny Division #09

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Who Lives Here: Arzee
Location: Hell's Kitchen, New York City
Size: 295 square feet

What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home? It’s hard to choose an item that I like more than the rest but I do believe my two large paintings add a lot of character to the apartment. I spent a week just making the frames and stretching the canvas (having never done it before) and the painting itself took almost a year. They are both inspired by the seasonal changes in Central Park which is a few short blocks away. The one above the George Nelson sofa was done last summer and the one opposite the bed, done in the winter (though it is not quite finished yet). These were plain white canvases when I first hung them in the apartment and which each layer of paint they have changed the feel of the surrounding space. I also love the watercolor painting above the orange chair and the hand embroidered bed throw as they bring back memories of home.

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What was one of the biggest challenges you faced in furnishing your small home? I moved to Manhattan because it is a dense urban jungle saturated with signs, images, graphics, tons and tons of visual noise and I absolutely love that but I also wish to escape it. I wanted a space that was simple and minimal, pure forms and shapes, white and the occasional bold bright color. It is difficult to achieve that clutter free space in such a small apartment. I got rid of things I didn’t really need and invested in some clever storage solutions. I wanted to keep an open airy feel to the apartment without having to conceal the essentials… like my bed. I think of it as extra comfy casual seating on those occasions when I have friends over for drinks or a movie.
Like most contestants on here, budget was an issue. I have purchased a lot of items from ebay, craigslist and ikea but I am also a big fan of CB2, West Elm and White. Other items, like the chest opposite the bed, I found in a junkyard and thoroughly enjoyed refurbishing it. It beautifully simple and offers tons of storage.

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Comments (36)

I wish I had the courage let go of some of the stuff I own....I love what you did wt your apt but it also makes me think I can never be a minimalist..

Your place is very calming.

posted by New York Muhtari on April 10th 2009 at 11:13am
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Lovely little home! where do you keep your office and "things," paperwork?

posted by MARG1E on April 10th 2009 at 11:13am
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I like it! Is there a kitchen in your apartment? If so, I wish you would post pix as it would be great to see how your kitchen would work in a small space. Over all, ncie work!

posted by pier723 on April 10th 2009 at 11:25am
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Love the fact that you added character and interest in your apt using paintings rather than stuff. I commend you for having such an edited collection of pieces (I know I could never do it).

Really like the large winter painting across the bed. Where do you store the paint brushes?

posted by azure on April 10th 2009 at 11:53am
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the green painting is beautiful, positioned perfectly under that light... and what a great spot for the red rabbit

posted by sunan on April 10th 2009 at 11:54am
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Your place warms my minimalist heart. Clean, calm and uncluttered but still lovely and very livable. Congrats on a job very well done.

posted by Sydney on April 10th 2009 at 12:11pm
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Lovely. I know you're going for minimalist but I think the windows could use some more interesting dressing (not that you asked me but, whatever). Still, it's a great space.

posted by creativeneurosis on April 10th 2009 at 1:15pm
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Where do you sit to eat?

Very calm and pretty place.

posted by lorettalynn on April 10th 2009 at 1:36pm
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Arzee...Love you're space! Where did you find the rabbit or hare that's in the bathroom?

posted by topherburk on April 10th 2009 at 1:49pm
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I think it's perfect! Great job.

posted by creative license on April 10th 2009 at 1:57pm
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Great job - I like the way you added color without having to paint the walls.

posted by david @ justveggingout.com on April 10th 2009 at 2:25pm
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So clean and calm, but with colour!

posted by Ina on April 10th 2009 at 3:02pm
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Thank you everyone for your kind words. To answer some of your questions…

I got the red hare from an artist while visiting Germany. It’s based on a painting by Albrecht Durer.

Yes there is a kitchen in the apartment (if you look at the plan you will find it between the living room and the bathroom). As we were only allowed 5 pictures, it got edited when I was choosing the best ones.

I normally have dinner while I am watching tv or on the computer. On those occasions when I want something more formal, I have a small foldable table in the kitchen that I bring to the living area. Though I have friends over for cocktails, we always go out for dinner.

The paint brushes along with all my other supplies are stored in the cupboard above my closet space.

posted by Rz on April 10th 2009 at 3:23pm
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i'm such a sucker for a clean white space- so serene :) the red hare sculpture is great. do you love your white marshmallow as much as craig & i love ours?? :P

posted by jorgegomez on April 10th 2009 at 5:54pm
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How do you hide stuff? I know there's got to be more in there somewhere... Awesome. Very chic, very minimalist, very modern. Love it, especially the mirror and acrylic side (or coffee) table.

posted by Jesse Lu on April 10th 2009 at 8:02pm
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lovely editing and great use of scale in a small place.

love the white cowhide rug. Gives some organic shape to an otherwise square box of a room, plus lightens up the floor - hows the maintenance on it? I'm considering a very similar cowhide but want to know if it gets filthy with lots of foot traffic.

posted by moepong on April 10th 2009 at 11:26pm
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I'm typically a harsh critic and have criticized others for having a George Nelson sofa. BUT I have to admit, it works wonderfully in this space. My favorite entry. Tasteful. It's hard to furnish a place on a small budget. In fact, this place looks high end. Great use of large pieces (lamp, sculpture on storage, bed, paintings). Most people steer away. Also you did a wonderful job of positioning pieces at different eye levels within the space (thin sculptures, lamp, paintings) to accommodate what appears to be a very high ceiling. Well done. Well edited. Classy.

posted by BillyRes on April 11th 2009 at 12:15am
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I bought the cowhide rug on ebay and i love it. It not only lightens the floor but it also adds some warmth to the space. Unbelievably easy to keep clean but it does have to be done regularly.

posted by Rz on April 11th 2009 at 12:21am
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BillyRes, I just read your comment. Many thanks for your compliments. Much appreciated.

posted by Rz on April 11th 2009 at 1:02am
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i absolutely love your apartment.... i love the white sofa, and the paintings and the red rabbit and EVERYTHING. Its all great. A job well done.

posted by amina on April 11th 2009 at 2:08am
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I love the sculpture next to the sofa. It looks like a figure of a falling man? Where can I find it?

posted by Samshre on April 11th 2009 at 9:07am
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i love the man in free fall. where is that from?

posted by kristian on April 11th 2009 at 10:45am
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i love this! i am about to move into a tiny place and i'm planning on using LARGE paintings im doing in it too. Its good to know that it will look amazing in place! great job! i love the spread on your bed too! I lived in africa for a while and it looks so homey to me!! LOVE IT!!!

posted by prunebrownies on April 11th 2009 at 10:50am
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Thank you guys!
I got the sclpture from a gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The artist is called Bill Strake and I understand he exhibits his work on the west coast only. The scuplture is of a man diving and is called 'free fall' and I had to buy it the minute I saw it.

posted by Rz on April 11th 2009 at 11:18am
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I love it. My apartment has a very similar floor plan. I am totally planning on stealing some of your ideas. Its slick, minimalist but homey at the same time. the winter painting is beautiful and I love the lamp infront of it. great work!

posted by boyohboy on April 11th 2009 at 1:32pm
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Gorgeous!

posted by albaloo on April 11th 2009 at 5:20pm
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i loveee that bed

posted by chanice on April 11th 2009 at 8:51pm
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Beautifully done. Just the right amount of stuff. Love your art collection. So much more stunning to have a few large pieces than a cluster of small peices. Great work.

posted by peggy on April 11th 2009 at 9:04pm
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beautiful space! love the combination of large colour bursts, striking sculpture and only-essential furniture pieces.
would love to see pictures of the kitchen and the foyer.

posted by sayf on April 12th 2009 at 12:12pm
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love the red rabbit....where did u get it??

posted by vicgrrl on April 12th 2009 at 2:36pm
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You have the great advantage of the eye of an artist. Your place isn't just about great decorating....it's a work of art. Every color piece is well chosen and perfect.

posted by baileyb on April 12th 2009 at 4:05pm
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Amazing. You're done so much with such a generic space. Unfortunately, I'm too late to give you a thumbs up.

posted by jooly on April 13th 2009 at 2:47pm
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The vote is closed but I love your place. It's very well edited and I'm especially impressed by your paintings.

posted by imcaffeine on April 13th 2009 at 8:33pm
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ok where do u paint? i see no where, although u have paint brushes stored away i miss not seeing what u are doing or working on .. its a lovely place.

posted by artbybabz on April 13th 2009 at 9:58pm
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I really like the apartment... everything is beautiful, particularly the paintings you did yourself! Great job! The ONLY thing I personally do not like is the sofa/couch?? Probably others will disagree ..... just my 2 cents!

posted by flobeau on April 14th 2009 at 1:19am
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I find it offensive that you called it "JUNGLE OASIS" because you have a few African items in your home.... Very interesting.

With such a minimalist home, I don't think jungle here is referring to "crowded and chaotic, filled with plant life".

posted by Runissa on July 17th 2009 at 6:53am
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