apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

i think your 'livingroom' would look a lot bigger without those rugs on the floor, they seem to hide the lines of that beautiful hardwood floor underneath. but i get good vibes watching these pics, and sweet memories return of my years in the attic of my building. gotta love the sound of rain there with the windows open.

good luck in the competition :)

I love it. It's very inviting, cozy, and hospitable, if you know what I mean. Looks like a place I could really LIVE in.

Your home has the POTENTIAL to be awesome... but it's not there quite yet. Cozy colors are a plus, though!

I really like this place. It is so honest, optimistic, colorful and playful. So many other postings whiff of such superficiality and pretentiousness, plus the guy on the fridge looks cute.

Not my style, but seems warm and inviting.

hmm..bozeman....idealbite?

i love the "hidden cafe" look. it looks like the perfect place to sit in a plump chair, sipping coffee, and reading a quiet novel.

Wow. I really, really love this one. It looks like people actually live here. I could live here.

The wall art and hanging lamps are awesome, and I love the colors.

Not my style, but so sweet and cozy. Living so small must be pretty unusual in Bozeman, MT. You do it well. What are those blue and white circles on the green wall we can see through the doorway in the first pic?

Your storage space is enormous! It must help a lot in keeping clutter put away.

Ppsssst. Maybe take your last name off the floorplan? Safety issues and stuff, the internets are big and full of stalkery types, some who might like design!

i especially love the framed floral piece on the wall--can you give some information on it please?

love the bright colors. the room might look bigger without the rug, but would it be as cozy? question, though - is there space for the whole family to hang out in the living room? i only see the one chair (unless that blue thingy is also seating?).

Very cheerful and colorful!

Sara, just yesterday I almost suggested you enter this contest. Great minds think alike, huh? Of course I voted Stellar. I love your new space and I have your last place in my Flickr Favorites too. Good luck!

Hello everyone...thanks so much for checking out our apt! Here are some answers to your questions:

"i think your 'livingroom' would look a lot bigger without those rugs on the floor, they seem to hide the lines of that beautifulhardwood floor underneath."
The hardwood floors are in need of repair, which is one of the reasons why we chose a large rug. :) It's a rental in a very, very old building that hasn't been taken care of very well. We thought about refinishing them, but decided against using our own money on something we don't own. Also, we are in an upstairs unit...and with a 3 year old who LOVES her tippity tap shoes, we had to keep as much of the floor covered as possible! :) We LOVE the rug and the warmth it brings to the space.

"...plus the guy on the fridge looks cute."
That's my brother. He's single ;-)

"Living so small must be pretty unusual in Bozeman, MT."
Actually...living small is pretty common. It's a college town, and also a town that has insane housing prices.There are large homes as well...as with any community.

"Ppsssst. Maybe take your last name off the floorplan?"
Yes, it would have been nice if they wouldn't have put the entire file on there...but oh well.

"What are those blue and white circles on the green wall we can see through the doorway in the first pic?"
That is my enamelware lid collection.

"i especially love the framed floral piece on the wall--can you give some information on it please?"
It is a Kim Parker print.

"is there space for the whole family to hang out in the living room?"
Absolutely! :) Yes...there is a couch around the corner. I hope that I make it to the finals so I can show you all more photos from different angles. 3 photos was hard to narrow down. We also sit on top of the heater and on top of our toy chest. We've actually had 10 people in there at once!

Thanks again for looking...
Sara
a.k.a. Delight

I love all the colours and life in your apartment! While there are a lot of entries that are beautifully designed in the typical sense of the word (good pieces, good layout, etc.), yours is definitely one of the ones I would be most inclined to actually sit down, drink some coffee, and have a great conversation in. Very good energy here, it seems.

I love the hanging star!
I want to live here. Or in Montana in general. Awesome!!!

I love your space! The colors, furniture setting, rugs, and detail all provide a warm flow throughout.

Great attention to detail. I love everything about it.

What a great apt.! And the child's kitchen is so cute. Your home says welcome in every space.

Cozy and colorful, but doesn't stand out in the crowd...

Bright & cheerful - looks like a fun, casual place to hang out. It's REAL!

I read your blog and enjoyed watching the progress on your apartment-- you've worked wonders in this space that once looked so forlorn. You've truly turned it into a welcoming and cozy home! Good luck!

Dear Sara,

I couldn't read the entry on your blog and neither vote or comment on that entry!
You know that I *lovelovelove* your new appartment and that I am more than amazed with your creativity! I am planning on adding *way* more color to our flat as well even though DH is not convinced yet *lol*
Really hope to hear from you soon - just send me an email if a letter is to complicated right now ;)

Love to all of you - Valerie

Just beautiful!

Bright and fun and I like that you would never know a child lived there, in the usual way (toys strewn about, etc) and yet it has all the whimsy and color and warmth to be child-friendly. Even though it's very different in some ways it is reminding me of books and paintings from Scandinavia I loved as a child--Astrid Lindgren, Carl Larsson. I can't imagine sharing a bedroom with a three year old, though!

I really like the lampshade in the breakfast nook. Very cosy and cheerful home, thanks for sharing it with us.

Not my style...but i love all your ideology behind living small...even with a kid....i wish my bf would subscribe to this mode of thinking....

very cozy

oh and i agree, maybe remove some of those rugs, let the floor shine :)

bluetoes...I WISH the floor would shine :) It's been through one to many tenents! There will be no removing rugs...because we'd get complaints daily from our lady downstairs. Bella loves to jump, spin, and *stomp stomp stomp!* Also, we have cold winters and there is only that one heating unit in the entire apt. Our toes would freeze off without the rugs. hee hee. Rugs = Warm.

I am just in love with your home. Its so comfy, livable and just unique. What a wonderful job you have done. I love the rugs it makes it feel warm and cozy. With kids I know its nice to have a rug underfoot to play and lie down on.
Stellar! Insta-finalist!

Your place is warm and inviting, with lots of witty ideas. The only remark i'd make : a little bit too much clutter/ not enough cohesive look in the living room. Otherwise, real great!

I love your space and follow your blog faithfully! Good luck Sara!

It's sooo cute!! I wouldn't necessarily vote it as winner of a design contest, but I'd definitely like to come over for a sing-song!!

StrangerFiction...if you think the living room is cluttered now, you don't want to see it after the 3-year old tornado comes through! ha!

I've followed your photos on flickr and your blog. You're blessed with an "eye" that I really envy, in that you seem to able to discern and focus on the "beauty" around you, even in what would seem to be everyday subjects. Good luck in the contest.

I really like your apartment. I used the same color in your kitchen to paint an accent wall in my living room and to paint my girls room. I check your blog frequently. I'm already looking for the perfect hanging star for my house.

I agree with the comments that this really looks like a home, and practical space. I also like your laid back style--hope you make it to the finals because it's a nice balance/change of pace to some of the other more "concept-y" entries.

What a dream,I love your style Sara.You are my inspiration for downsizing with style.
I follow your blog and I Hope you win,you deserve it:0)
awesome job

i love it. it's funky, creative, and follows the path of an individual. Honestly, i got so tired of seeing catalogue esque looking apartments here on AT...this is truly refeshing!

I realize that many (most?) people have more money than I do, but those stark minimalist places that have no charm are extremely boring! Your place is comfortable and cheerful and the only one I can envision myself in. I hope you make it to the finals so that we can see more views. (What's your blog? I want to see more!)

Cute, cute cute! I love all of the colors. Good job! I like your "coffee table" - what is it exactly?

My blog... www.walkslowlylivewildly.blogspot.com

The coffee table is an antique chest...Bella's toys are inside.

Sara, I lovelovelove your apartment! I hope you win!

To everyone else: If you love the look of her place go look at her blog! I know it must have been hard for her to choose just 3 pics, b/c the whole place is so wonderful and homey!

Melanie (MelanieMC)

I have that hanging lamp that's in your breakfast nook! Amazing target find at maybe 19.99!?!? Except I use it as the main lighting in my dorm room at school. (talk about small living...)

JulieNYC...I actually found it on Target clearance for $4.99!! I'm kicking myself for not buying the other one too.

I love the rugs! Where did you get them?

Also: My family has the exact same toy kitchen. In fact, ours is also in the living room. The kids in our family are 18 and 21, but my mother loves how it looks and claims she wants to keep it out for visiting children (and she's saving up for the washing machine...).

The big rug is from Crate and Barrel..."Valencia". The rug in front of the kitchen is from Target. Thanks!

This one makes me smile out loud. I like it the best so far, by far. Warm, colorful, eclectic, rich with unique and playful style, simple but not sterile (hardly!) -- I'd feel immediately at home here. Well done!

I like this a lot. It's warm and happy and feels like a home. I'd love to visit friends in a space like this. All the same, I don't see anything here that's particularly innovative or that makes this submission a contender.

Having followed your move via your blog, I could only recommend you insta-win! What you guys have done in your pearing-down is simply inspiring!

1st place!!!!

You continue to inspire me daily :)

I am really happy to see an entry that does not embody urban sensibility (minimalism, academic design), but which incorporates the character of its location.

More than one post has mentioned Delighted's blog. Where is it?

i love this place. the colors and lighting work so well. i especially love that big rug and all your plants. well done!

Blog: www.walkslowlylivewildly.blogspot.com

Lovely! :D Yours is the only one I can really imagine living in. Goodluck!

I love the stars motif you've got sprinkled around the house. For some reason it tickles me that you can see stars in every picture.

Living small and cozy in Mt is probably best considering how cold it gets there. I love your pics and as the mother of a former 3 y-o dancer/musician extraordianire I know keeping rugs and carpeting on the floor is the only way to being a "loved" neighbor.

My only "problem" with your flat is the differences in the light fixtures. I know you live in a rental but maybe you could remove and store the landlords ceiling fixture. I feel it clashes rather starkly with your hanging lights which are much, much more attractive.

I came across your blog accidently last week, and have been enjoying it ever since, it is such an inspiration to me!!

Your apartment is simply beautiful- I love your eclectic taste (similar to mine) and how each item seems to have personal meaning for you. Rather than creating a sterile, minimalistic space, you have created a warm and cozy home for your family. I love the Behr paint colors on the walls- the warm muffin and toffee crunch especially, and the rug is perfect for the room. I think that you both have managed to create something special and thank you for sharing the pictures. I love the pics on your blog site!