apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

One person's "Hard Working"...
...is another person's "Cluttered Mess".

Yes, it looks pretty utilitarian, and not so stylish.

I am interested in the shelves going across the window though! I was thinking of doing something similar in my one window that gets enough light to grow plants.

I don't think it seems cluttered at all.
It seems to me that they are going for function first, and then making it pretty.
I like a house that looks like someone actually lives in it.

It's a cluttered mess - LOL - the bike looks horrible, the fridge needs to be cleared of at least half the things on it (both front and top), etc. Looks more like a college apartment about three roommates would be sharing.

Hmmmm. To me it looks organized (can that be cluttered?) There's a lot of needed stuff in a small space, something that has to be dealt with at times. Everything looks put away (except for the the front of the fridge, about which I agree with ChrisGal). But I think the stuff on top of the fridge is functionally placed. Paper towels, a knifeblock and a toaster oven--the top of the fridge is the only counter type space.

It isn't pretty to me--but cluttered, I don't think it is. It's just...reality.

This is definitely a functional area, not stylish...but then again the post doesn't claim that its stylish at all...just that its "hardworking". Not everyone lives in a place where they have room for all their stuff. I applaud AT to show how real people try to find solutions to storing their belongings...it may look cluttered to you, but it probably works very well for the owner.

Cluttered doesn't have to mean disorganized, just that there are too many visual bits about.

Clear off the fridge, put a block of color (or bulletin board) behind the landing strip functionality to unify those things into one group, and enclose the shoe storage so you don't see ~24 individual boots and shoes, and you'd have something.

I have never understood the compulsion to hang stuff on fridges. It only looks messy. If you need a spot to collect coupons and menus or whatever, inside a cupboard door is better -- out of sight unless you need to look for it. (I put up cork in mine -- worked really great!) If you hang kid's art, only one piece at a time... then the display says "this is special" instead of "here's another one".

posts like this are why I'm glad my flickr photos have a CC license!

anyway as the dweller of this (nyc rental -- the room you are looking at is actually the largest one in the place) apartment I just thought I would say that you are all quite right that it is not at ALL stylish (particularly not the "hallway" side of the kitchen). that's okay though -- the organization aspect of it works just great. and I do love the window-shelves that we built. three years after the picture was taken, the plants are quite lush and add a nice bit of life to that corner.

the bike is super ugly, no question. it is even uglier in reality because it sticks out and I usually keep my bike helmet perched on the seat. nonetheless I highly recommend the autopole to anyone who needs fast, cheap, convenient indoor bike storage (especially if you can't drill holes for whatever reason). It is the definition of hardworking when it comes to household furnishings.

Don't forget the cockatiel!

More pictures needed! Where do they keep coats / bags / mittens etc?