apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Standing ovation on the reading niche! Absolutely brilliant!

And THAT is pretty much what I hoped to glean from the Small, Cool contest. Ways of maximizing TINY spaces for ULTIMATE use.

I can see that in a studio like mine, where the chair is by the window, and the bed on the other side of the bookcase. That way I could read in bed, or read in the chair, using the same bookcase. I may have to snatch that idea.

I would read much more with a space like that, it is so wonderful! I love how inspiring this site and their contributors are * group hug *

What have I learned?

8 weeks is too short to do a total home cure.
Unless you're only attacking the grime, clutter, and arrangement of existing pieces. And flowers.

Don't design alone.
I continue to make solo decisions that seem great in my mind, but on execution don't go so well. On the other hand, those decisions that were informed by lots of people with good taste turned out splendidly. The best ideas tend to be repeated by many voices.

Emergent Properties.
"Emergent entities (properties or substances) ‘arise’ out of more fundamental entities and yet are ‘novel’ or ‘irreducible’ with respect to them. (For example, it is sometimes said that consciousness is an emergent property of the brain.)" In other words, never underestimate the value in changing just one thing at a time. Or taking everything out and putting things back one - thing - at - a - time. I am incredibly impatient and process oriented. I want to know exactly what the plan is and then execute against it. But design doesn't work that way, unless (perhaps) you have a completely blank slate.

Work a palette through the whole house. Play with permutations on a them room by room, with one consistent thread.

Does anyone happen to know the story behind the cat poster? It's quite popular (I have one because I loved it in my dorm cafeteria), but don't know if it is a real vintage design or was created in the last few years.

Is that paint color RL's Sergeant? I love love love that color...in the daylight. If it is, in fact the color, how do you find it at night?

@ cashba

"Le Chat Noir (French for "The Black Cat") was a 19th-century cabaret in the bohemian Montmartre district of Paris. It was opened on 18 November 1881 at 84 Boulevard Rouchechouart by the artist Rodolphe Salis, and closed in 1897 (much to the disappointment of Picasso and others who looked for it when they came to Paris for the Exposition in 1900).
...
Perhaps best known now by its iconic Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen poster art, in its heyday it was a bustling nightclub — part artist salon, part rowdy music hall, partially due to an illegal piano."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Chat_Noir

It was a real place. Gotta love the "illegal piano" being a big draw. Ha!

P.S. I have a little cardboardish poster of that, not framed, too. I like the colors and style.

Steinlen has done a lot involving cats:
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/steinlen_theophile_alexandre.html

I like this one, as it has many animals and a peaceful look on the lady's face, but the cats look gargoylish. Something a bit evil about that tabby and the black.

Oops, link:
http://cart.firstartsource.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=27309

Good going, PuglyFeet! This is a lovely reading nook!

Okay, our Cure got mightily derailed this week as we had to move our fridge AND completely empty the deep and dreaded coat closet for some needed electrical work. Nonetheless, we did enjoy some Spring Cure accomplishments:

1) With no small assistance from AT and its contributors, we have now ordered almost everything for our bathroom remodel. Yay! The bathroom should be completed by August.

2) I refurbished, rewired and installed two overhead lights. This is unfamiliar terrain for me, so I am proud.

3) We've donated many, many carloads worth of ex-belongings.

4) I now have a very well organized clothing closet which has me wearing things that I forgot I owned.

5) Lots of lovely bouquets and many other small improvements.

Flickr site here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98704941@N00/sets/72157601955717111

Very nice and comfortable, great for a book worm like me. BUT that light is all wrong. To read properly you need light directly from the globe. Looking at the position the book would be, the only light you'll get from that lamp is through the lamp shade which is no good.

Did any one actually try reading a book in that room at night?

Mafan Green lasers rulz

Elizabeth asks:
And perhaps most importantly - would you recommend the Cure to a friend?

I actually suggested when the book first came out that the apartment management buy a book for everyone in the building. Or start giving them away with each new lease or when they raise the rent (yearly).

It makes sense from not just a renter's point of view. But from a management point of view too. For people to make good choices when it comes to their apartment.

Since this area gets some students, many are out on their own for the first time. And there have been some very scary things considered "decor" for the outside balcony or patio. The ancient, mildewy futon, for example. The keg with a table round on top. The stolen newspaper rack that has been spray painted. These are people that really need AT help!

It's something for those of us in multiple resident dwellings to consider suggesting to our landlords. Everybody wins.