apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Well, definitely lose any furniture with decals on it...

From the sketch it looks nice. How about getting rid of the bedspread too?

...the frog can stay.

It seems you'll need more clothes space especially hanging space, as well as closed storage so why not a combination of IKEA Pax wardrobes (or something similar) and then a separate desk with shelves dedicated to work items. Perhaps it could be put in the closet and the closet replaced with the wardrobe/s. That way work could be out of sight and out of mind for you and your gf.

I think too much open shelves would look cluttered and aren't practical for holding clothes unless you use bins.

Desk and Chest I say. ISS systems are ovepriced, I've drooled over them too, but I don't think it's worth it. I think it would make it too busy as well. I just took a lot of shelves and hutches down in my office/spare room so there are just low shelves and cabinets and I'm really pleased with it. You see it in kitchens more now where upper wall cabinets are not used at all, just lower base cabinets.

The bed spread is gone already, and as for the decals, they're going with the ikea dresser. ;)

Here is another more recent photo of the ISS Design: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3480/3287795505_3daabe5ed0_o.png It's a little more opened and has more drawers.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions! :))

Alex.

not knowing anything about this iss system, i'm casting a second vote for the pax wardrobe system, perhaps somehow incorporating a desk area into it (i think there's some good examples floating around on AT). there's no way i could have moved into my husband's 1br condo w/o our lovely pax wardrobe!

I feel like the open shelving system would definitely clutter up the place. Can you do something that looks like a built-in, but with a desk/workspace, some shelves as well as closed storage/drawers? I think it would be lovely in white.

I actually like the storage system, but am a little concerned about whether it will block the door on the left...

I like this solution as long as you keep the surfaces relatively clear and the peripherals (printer/modem, etc.) put away inside the cabinets. I don't see an issue w/ "darkness", etc - but if you still do you can go with a lighter woodtone or white laminate cases.

BTW - I hope you intend to swing the bed out perpendicular to the wall and put some proper low dressers on either side for additional storage, bedside lamps, etc - 'cause your GF is gonna get tired of sleeping against the wall darned quick.

desk and wardrobe- your girlfriend is probably going to need more hanging space. Looks tidier, easier to keep tidier.

Hey, above your two doors in the first picture is a great alcove-like space for hanging some floating shelves and putting some nice storage boxes or books up there. AT has some great examples of putting extra storage space up high like that, and given the space above, I think it would look like built-ins.

Marie-Eve: "The Frog Can Stay" needs to be the title of something. :)

I think you should do closed-door storage. I think it will get too cluttered and you will find it chaotic to stare at all your "stuff" while you are trying to sleep.

My 2 cents!
I think closed storage would be better and I would not want to be the one sleeping against the wall!

I agree with turning the bed, then putting to closed closets on either side. You could DIY a nice headboard between them with a high shelf for books or such. Reading lights could hang down from the shelf.

The desk could be on the wall it is with some closed low storage on either side of it for business stuff or whatever.

The color of the room is nice. And your gf could add her touch with new bedding and pillows.

Good luck!

speaking from recent personal experience:
1. You should really involve your girlfriend in this decision if you think she'll be around for a while. ask her what her needs are (hanging space or are most of her clothes folded?) and what style preferences she might have.
2. storage is essential. the only way my boyfriend and I make it work is because I pack away half my clothes at all times (many girls have more clothes than you think is possible). this is where it's very useful to have under the bed space if closet space is minimal. a storage bed would work well, too.
3. definitely move the bed out from the wall (if that's possible in your space). being jabbed and jostled awake when the person wedged against the wall needs to get up in the middle of the night will get old quickly.
4. buy a desk and storage accessories that will contain your work supplies neatly. my boyfriend also has a desk in our room and I have to say, I hate it, (I prefer bedrooms to be non-work zones). to make it tolerable, be sure to stay ultra-organized. put things away at the end of your work day even if you'll just get them out again the next morning. I would not go with the wall unit-- it makes the room feel very office-like, something your girlfriend probably wouldn't love. get a nice, bedroom-worthy desk and separate storage for non-work things.
5. please be open to your girlfriend's style influences. your room could use a 'feminine touch' to warm it up a bit. don't worry, there won't be doilies everywhere! but make sure she feels like it's her room, too, or she'll feel like she's temporary in your life. on the other hand, don't be afraid to voice your opinion if she tries to completely take over. if she wants to paint the room hot pink and you're not a fan, suggest a compromise. and if she asks your opinion, give one! responding with "I don't know/care" gives her free reign.

good luck! it will probably take a while to get situated (depending on how much stuff you two have), so be patient!

1) Avoid the open shelving. The room will look much neater if everything you are not using is stored away behind nice doors. I used shallow Ikea tall kitchen cabinets and wall cabinets in brown/black in my bedroom to create built in storage and I am very happy with it. The kitchen cabinets typically look more finished than the Pax storage units because you have many more options in terms of level and height to customize the cabinets to the exact specs of the room. I am not an Ikea fan myself. I don't have any other Ikea furniture in my home, but I am a huge fan of the kitchen cabinets as a creative solution to storage in just about any room.

2) Move the bed so that both sides are open. It just makes life easier when there are 2.

Having just installed ISS designs shelving (okay, having guilted my husband into installing it), I can honestly say that it's probably not worth the money. I don't have photos yet, unfortunately. I did upgrade the veneer and get some of the more expensive cabinet configurations, which contributed to the cost.

I got the compression pole mount option and it was a total pain to install. It also doesn't come with any handles or anything, and the accessories are overpriced.

If I were you, I'd look for solid vintage pieces that will suit your needs. Alternately, yeah, Ikea wardrobes since clothes storage will probably be an issue when your girlfriend moves in. Go high with storage. You'll need all you can get.

Cool, lots of good advice and ideas, thanks a lot! :)

About the bed in the middle, I'm the one sleeping on the wall side and so far it's worked pretty well (it's not the first time I've done that either). I now have the lights pointing down in the picture ledge above the bed, which also serves to put phones and such, and it provides good reading lamps so it works fairly well.

I need to look into ways to get my desk out of the bedroom, but that means bringing it into the living room, which is a whole other set of interesting… uh… opportunities. And since I work from home a fair bit, I do need a desk.

Also, no worries, she'll get her say, I promise!

Overall the layout you created looks nice. How about making whichever end is closest to the closet another hanging space - like a custom made wardrobe? It's possible you could do a two rod system if you let it go up high enough. Then with the rest, let anything below be drawer space and the top part be open shelving for work supplies, books, etc.

I also like the idea of two wardrobes...might be quite possible to do what looks like three but have the one in the middle be the desk. Then you could fill the closet with shelves for folded things.

wow. this is intensive advice. you guys should be charging for all this consultation.
cute stool. where'd it come from?

@coloraddict: sshh don't tell them to charge! ;-) The stool is from ikea but I've had it for years and it seems that ikea's no longer carrying that model…

@coloraddict: it's the "ringo" stool from ikea, the small version.