apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

The different colours are fabulous... and I dig the chalkboard backsplash. What an ideal: to create an abode that is a reflection of your life's mission... to create purpose and beauty in all you do. I love that!

love the green!

Cool. I love your little sleep sofa, where did you get it? Those pillows look great on it and I also love your green bookshelves and chairs.

Has some style, just not my own. Good use of limited space and great personal touches.

This could actually be nice. And, a good effort for what appears to be a first apartment.

BUT...they need to edit at the very least -- there appears to be stuff tucked under everything and stuff covering every available surface.

Is it just me or does anyone else just want to go into the photo and move stuff around? For starters, the cool antique mirrors need to be grouped together for more impact. Then the two green chairs under the desk/console/dining table look kinda crowded and uncomfortable so close together. I would lose one of the green chairs or try moving the table to be perpendicular to the wall and put the other green chair on the other side. I could lose one of the floor lamps, too -- especially with all those windows. And, dontcha think the two little stool/tables would make a nice little coffee table if placed in front of the couch?

All that being said, I really have to hand it to all these people that put their homes on display for the contest. I would hate for someone to pick apart my home like I just did Moxie's.

what an interesting angle for the living room! i love the colors and the design but i feel that there is clutter.

I was thinking "funky" rather than "cluttered." There are more small pieces running loose than I'd personally have, but if you check out how the pictures have a consistent water line, for instance, or how colors are repeated, it's clear that the amount of accessories is a design decision.

Lisa from VA,

The sleeper sofa is from American Upholstery.

http://www.aufurniture.com/

PJ, I like your stool coffee table suggestion.

I find the Lily Pad to be refreshingly funky, delightfully light, and an amazing use of space.

Bravo, Moxie!

what an odd shape for an apt!! it's very charming. it's stylish but it doesn't look like you just ripped a page from dwr like some many have been kinda doing. this is your own thing. i just imagine you being cute & creative. this place is vrey welcoming & easy going.

i love the shelves, btw.

What I like about this space is the space. What I mean is that though the apartment is tiny it doesn't feel tiny. My only quibble is the items flanking the sofa. Two lamps of the same or similar style and two matching cabinets/side tables would give that space needed symmetry, and could hide the magazine files or give them a place off the floor. However, the apartment is personal and comfortable.

I love the bookshelf by the balcony -- it fits perfectly in that space. Thanks for sharing!

This really works for me. Not a lot of spaces on here make me think "I want to live here", but this really does. It's not perfect and I wouldn't want it to be but it's very real and I wish I could achieve something so comfortable and homey.

Neat idea for the back splash to be chalkboard. Not only is it multi-functional but it picks up on the black trim on the appliances.

I must agree that it looks like too much clutter with stuff stuck under and on top of everywhere. Maybe use baskets in all those underneath places to hide the stuff. If you pull the sofabed away from the wall or turn it diagonally across the corner between the windows you would create more space to hide 'stuff' and play off the unique angle of the room at the same time. It's a Lily pad: though invisibly anchored, it floats on the surface of clear water because it does not allow the clutter algae to grow!

The green wall color is great and I love the chalkboard backsplash. Did you use chalkboard paint or did you cut a chalkboard to fit?

It came with the place when I bought it. Even though it is such a small thing it was a big selling point.

I think this is a good example of less-than-ideal use of scale. The pieces on walls and shelves are too small and the eye doesn't know where to go. The most powerful pieces (mirrors, large throw pillows) are the size that I think should be used. The smaller items can be grouped together on a wall to make it feel less scattered. That being said, having stuff is part of life... I'd be lying if I said putting everything in boxes/bins/baskets is a fun way to live.

My biggest piece of advice to make it feel less cluttered is to get everything off the floor that isn't a piece of furniture.

One day, I'll overlook a pea patch.

I *love* your place.

It's funny that you say clutter-free in your pitch. I think the place looks very cluttered. In fact, that was my first thought as I looked at your first picture. You've made great dual use of several pieces of your furniture, but more thought needs to be put into your clutter control.

You guys are so harsh!

I am not wild about the stuff tucked under either end table by the sleeper sofa, but otherwise, I think that is a healthy, lived-in clutter.

At least she has stuff! Some of these entries with great bare expanses of space just mystify me. I have too much stuff and I sort of like to use my stuff.

It looks cozy.

What a cute place! I agree that some of the smaller bits could be grouped for more impact. The sofa with it's cushions looks very comfy.

Why are they building such friggin' tiny spaces in Seattle?!?

Is the market that crazy out there too? Yikes.

Love the bookcase, did you buy it or was it custom made?

My dad made it for me. I can't wait to tell him all the compliments he's received. Thanks,