Name: Lydia
Location: San Francisco
Size & Type: 530 +/- sq. ft. studio
Favorite resource: Old photos, the hardware store and my grandmother's paintings.
Pitch: One of the things I hate about studio apartments is feeling like I'm in somebody's bedroom. There is no real separation between private and public. I expect to see somebody's dirty underpants at any second. So, in my apartment I turned the bed around to face away from the rest of the space. The headboard acts as a small wall subtly separating the sleeping area from the rest of the apartment.














Nice! I like your eclectic style. Looks comfortable (except for those theater seats) and "real" (I hate that term, but it does immediately explain "not a page out of the DWR catalog"). Good use of color and textures. Would like to see more of this apartment.
view Sydney's profile
I love the color on the ceiling in both the first and third picture ! I also think you did a great job with placing your bed where "you" can see what sounds like a beautiful view.
Also, I love your kitchen as well as that beautiful color (can you please share?)
Your space is beautiful the curved ceilings, that lamp in your entry, very comfortable and loaded with personal feel - this isn't a space but a home.
view E.I.F.'s profile
I am in love with your apartment and most especially your kitchen. Your apartment feels so open and airy. I think this is my fave so far.
view Matilda's profile
I *love* this space. It isn't as "showy" as some of the other entrants, but it feels both stylish and livable.
I'm really curious about the apartment building and studio layout. How many units in your building? What 'hood are you in? I think the layout is terrific for a studio.
view MamaChilanga's profile
Love it! That kitchen is fantastic!
view Bittersweet's profile
I didn't even notice that ceiling until I read it and went back to look, beautiful!
view Tiffany's profile
I love how you mix mid-century decor w/colors and textures. Also, the cat in the 2nd picture made the space looks so cozy...it made me want to live there!!
view y3's profile
This is exactly the vibe I've been trying to get in my own apt- colorful but not overwhelming, open but warm. This is definately my favorite smallest apartment yet!
view k8luvsmicrobes's profile
It would never have occurred to me to paint the ceilings and leave the walls white. It looks fresh and gorgeous. I could live here.
view Li's profile
Finally, someone with plants!
view Anne in Chicago's profile
I love the use of the color on the ceiling as opposed to on the walls. Beautiful!
view Lisa from VA/lsaspacey's profile
It's like you have your own private Turrell sculpture above your bed...totally gorgeous.
view m_farnaz_r's profile
I love love LOVE the shot of your dining room and kitchen! It looks so homey. The lighting looks ideal and I can just picture someone sitting there on a Saturday morning, drinking a cup of tea and looking out the window (with the cat basking in the light, of course)!
view ktelschow's profile
I love this! I agree, it looks real...like the home of a real person with a real life. Altho I like the look of some of the other spaces that are very sparse, well staged & ultra minimal, for actually living in day to day, this space shows lots of great solutions for a small space. Furniture to scale, lots of storage space put to good use and not much 'stuff' scattered about. I think the kitchen has the best bones that we've seen here. The color on high ceilings with white walls is a brilliant way to add color but not have walls jumping forward with color. Artwork-check. Rugs-check. Plants that are well taken care of-check. Cat that can discreetly pose for photo-check. Good job Lydia!
view kateq's profile
Love it. Has a real warmth and personal feeling to it, not to mention great flow and style. Inspiring! Thanks
view Harley's profile
How did my cat get in your apartment?? Aside from liking your taste in cats, I love that you painted your ceilings instead of the walls, it looks great. In general I think it looks like a well-designed and very comfortable space.
view jennifer in sf's profile
that kitchen is the most amazing thing ever. what part of town is this in? when you move can i have it???
view aquarabbit's profile
love your solution for keeping the "bedroom" separate from the living room. very nice!
view jodi's profile
nice place, but the pictures look like they were taken with a camera phone.
view greengelato's profile
Very nice apartment, "Lydia". Looks like a good place for a Stitch 'n Bitch.
view pedxing's profile
Love this! I think you could take your excellent bed placement idea and even improve it a little by lining up a bookcase or storage unit (in the same dimensions as your headboard) alongside the headboard, facing into the main space. Great mix of shapes, colors and textures, and your kitchen is making me cry with envy.
view beamish's profile
Oooh! That kitchen is just amazing. Love it. You've done a great job!
view .Delight's profile
Awesome - its an apartment...that looks like real people live there...who didn't buy their way to a nicely designed space. Kudos. THIS is what the contest should be about.
view Dave's profile
This space has great bones. It looks comfortable.
view KBinBC's profile
I do not like the long narrow red entrance ahll, but I do love the way you've hidden the bed!
view Sofia's profile
The second photo totally makes me want to sit and pet your cat while we talk over tea. So comfy and lovely. One of the rare entries where I instantly want to be in the space.
view Loosetooth's profile
yay! come on over! i love entertaining.
the room is big enough to pull the table out and seat six comfortably, and if we are lucky the cat will join us!
and since my kitchen is also my office, sewing table, and workshop one way i found to control the visual clutter was to line the fabulous built-in cabinets with fabric leftover from making curtains. these cabinets house the sewing machine, printer, papers, dishes and cat food.
view _lydia's profile
My favorite yet! I love the idea of the color on the ceiling, and the way you've positioned your bed - brilliant. It looks comfortable, not too cramped but not austere either. I hope my apartment looks something like this when I'm finished with it!
view kelseylynn's profile
Well done - the color palatte, the proportion of the furniture pieces to the size of the space. I'm envious of your choices.
view rick@russianhill's profile
wow what a beautiful apartment! and you really did great with the placement of your bed!!
view bluetoes's profile
You certainly achieved your goal with the bed - I had to go back and look at the first picture to realise where it was! Lovely, cosy home, the ceilings are beautiful too.
view stringy's profile
I covet that kitchen floor.
view Kuri's profile
I love your kitchen.... wow! It just sings spring...
view *Terramia*'s profile
Beautiful. Original and creative placement of the bed in a studio. Love the kitchen, the plants, the cat the built-ins and checkerboard tile. This space really feels San Francisco to me.
view Slim's profile
That's a clever idea to turn the bed around. Stick a screen between the bed and the chair to complete the idea.
view Christopher's profile
Pretty, but this studio is bigger than my 2 bed apt. Taking that into account, it doesn't feel as spacious as it should...
view TallulahBelle's profile
Well done! The light gives the allusion of more space. Cozy yet stylish.
view orchidophile's profile
I LOVE the kitchen so much!!!
view Violetsrose's profile