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Small Cool 2009: tiffanyH's Subterranean Space
Little Division #34

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Who Lives Here: tiffanyH + 1 + cat
Location: Morristown, New Jersey
Size: 780 square feet

What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home? My favorite element is the fact that, yes, I do live subterraneanly — but it certainly does not feel like a typical basement. We have tried very hard to keep the space light and (somewhat) minimal. By opting to keep the walls white it really maximizes the overall feel of our home. We add pops of color to keep things interesting.

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What was one of the biggest challenges you faced in furnishing your small home? I've found there are several challenges to living in a basement apartment. A big one being the numerous access panels and breaker boxes randomly scattered about our walls. We have become very creative in disguising things, ergo the wood art in the dining room and the hinged bookshelf off the kitchen. And when we could not find a sturdy enough wall to mount our television, my boyfriend concocted a brilliant idea. We bought a telescoping support column that is used in construction. We painted it black, drilled the necessary holes to attached our tv and voila, It works great!

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Small Cool 2009, Little, New Jersey

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Comments (42)

whats that door being blocked by the sofa? i love your colors

posted by ss622 on April 15th 2009 at 12:06pm
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kitty!

posted by creativeneurosis on April 15th 2009 at 12:09pm
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I really like your place. It looks like something I could be happy living in.

posted by williamsweyr on April 15th 2009 at 12:09pm
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Is that a vintage real or vintage knockoff eams lounge chair & ottoman?

Ditto on the sofa placement that's blocking the door? Everything else is pretty & charming.

posted by ACanOf on April 15th 2009 at 12:10pm
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"Is that a vintage real or vintage knockoff eams lounge chair & ottoman?"

It's a vintage Selig knockoff.

Very nice place - but I agree that the LR needs rearranging so that you can use that closet.

posted by bepsf on April 15th 2009 at 12:15pm
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Just like every one else - whats up with the door being blocked!!!!! Its so nuts! haha

I love your kitchen so much. And the bedroom. the those amazing wine bottles.

very very nice

posted by birdablaze on April 15th 2009 at 12:16pm
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hahaha @ watching HGTV.
Very nice, simple, open, and clean. I like.

posted by PRU on April 15th 2009 at 12:17pm
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very nice space...

posted by MochaCaliGirl on April 15th 2009 at 12:18pm
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I really like what you've done-- I can't tell that you live in a basement at all! I am curious as to the sofa placement, as well.

posted by Keri C on April 15th 2009 at 12:18pm
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Thanks for the comments guys! Trust me we know it's odd to have the couch blocking the closet, but it's actually only a closet housing the hot water heater and tons of water pipes. The reason the couch is not on the other wall is because that is where the only base board heater resides. Obviously it was too much of a fire hazard to have the couch right up against it. Hey, you work with what you have, ya know!!! :)

posted by TiffanyH on April 15th 2009 at 12:26pm
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oh Tiff it looks great! I want to come viist!

posted by phoebez on April 15th 2009 at 12:41pm
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I really love your place. It feels comfortable and well thought of. I understand completely about working with what you have... it only adds to the charm jejeje.

posted by Maroha on April 15th 2009 at 12:44pm
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How many windows are there? The only one I noticed was in the DNRM....

posted by dmh on April 15th 2009 at 12:56pm
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Great job!
I would have never thought it was a basement. I've never seen such a nice basement apartment.

posted by rhianna on April 15th 2009 at 1:00pm
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i knew there had to be a good reason to block that door.

your place is quite lovely. i'd love coming home to a place like yours each day

posted by STYLeyes on April 15th 2009 at 1:01pm
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I LOVE your place! I was curious as to where you got your sofa? We too have a knockoff eams lounge chair/ottoman and I'm having a heck of a time finding a sofa that compliments it. Yours goes perfectly! TIA!

posted by maddiesmama on April 15th 2009 at 1:05pm
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I've seen a lot of basement apartments, but none done up so nicely as yours! The painting on the living room wall is superb. You have done a great job keeping the scale of pieces dramatic enough to make a statement, but airy enough so that it's not too cluttered. Lovely!

posted by arttarte on April 15th 2009 at 1:25pm
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Here is what I love the clean, open vintage feel to your place. Nicely done.

posted by sea9262 on April 15th 2009 at 1:27pm
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@ maddiesmama: That couch looks like the Corona sofa from Macy's.

posted by Centelleo on April 15th 2009 at 1:32pm
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i love your space! fantastic job. i've actually been looking for a small glass end table - similar to the one that you have - next to the chair; with the orange dishes on it. where did you get it? i really like it. let me know - thanks.

posted by downtowngirl on April 15th 2009 at 1:33pm
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really nice!

posted by terka27 on April 15th 2009 at 1:34pm
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I really like it - this does however encompass two of my interior styling pet peeves - the "casually" placed shoes, and the floating flowers! Otherwise, really nice - sophisticated, but feels comfy as well...

posted by TallulahBelle on April 15th 2009 at 1:44pm
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Great job working under challenging conditions.

I also really like the art over your sofa. Who is the artist?

posted by Heather C on April 15th 2009 at 1:52pm
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omg, im so in love with this place. LOVE!

posted by bellaknollie on April 15th 2009 at 2:14pm
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really great space - kudos on creating the wood art to cover the box on the wall - it looks fab.

this does not look like a basement at all (i could only tell because of the placement of the windows) and is very well decorated. you've done an excellent job of giving it a 'light' feel.

thumbs up!

posted by kiwi on April 15th 2009 at 2:33pm
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Love the wall color in the bedroom. Great space!

posted by david @ justveggingout.com on April 15th 2009 at 2:45pm
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I like the contented cat. It's very nice and only 780 square feet.

posted by FilthyMcNasty on April 15th 2009 at 2:49pm
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Oh man am I jealous! I also live in a basement apartment and I have the same couch as you and blue walls...but my place isn't nearly as nice, I would love to have your kitchen. I have 3 of those high rectangular windows too..drags me down in the winter man. I love your breaker box cover idea too! Great job!

posted by annab on April 15th 2009 at 3:57pm
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I like the overlapping wooden squares art. Where did you get that?

posted by Elizcrtv on April 15th 2009 at 5:43pm
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What a beautiful space. Your bedroom looks so inviting and relaxing!

posted by lauren order on April 15th 2009 at 5:47pm
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Heather C: The art in living room was a score from a local thrift store... it's signed "shelly 1969"

Elizcrtv: I actually made the overlapping wood piece from scraps of wood I found in my garage.

posted by TiffanyH on April 15th 2009 at 6:28pm
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i love ur laurel lamp i have one too but the base is chrome

posted by wampler on April 15th 2009 at 6:39pm
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You really have done a great job of making this space feel very light...and big!

posted by Jess2nola on April 15th 2009 at 7:32pm
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Love your wood art in the dining room and all of your furniture (We have that same Corona sofa from Macy's, too)! Very nice place!

posted by saraannsmith on April 15th 2009 at 7:40pm
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you get extra credit for making all of us want to live in a basement... bravo

posted by sunan on April 15th 2009 at 8:16pm
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This is absolutely beautiful. Like other ppl have said, this actually makes me want to live in a basement apt! I've never seen one done up as spectacularly as this. Amazing job.

posted by misohungry on April 15th 2009 at 10:08pm
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I can't believe that you have the exact painting we have. We found ours at a thrift shop as well thousands of miles from you. Great place, can't believe it is a basement!

posted by 2scoops on April 15th 2009 at 11:03pm
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Does one need to be especially handy to pull off the Tv support column project? or need a special drill?

posted by lemonvodka on April 16th 2009 at 12:00am
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Love the TV holder!

posted by Endora on April 16th 2009 at 8:42am
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you have such a wonderful apt! Can you tell me the name of your contractor? It's so hard to get good help these days!

posted by bonnieH on April 20th 2009 at 6:50pm
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Please tell me where you got this wine on the wall. I love it!

posted by lollypopoh on April 21st 2009 at 11:36am
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Please tell me where you got this wine rack on the wall. Love it!

posted by lollypopoh on April 21st 2009 at 11:38am
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