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Northwest #10: Lydia's Leisure Suite

Name: Lydia
Location: Portland
Size: 608 sq. ft.
Rent/Own: Rented apartment

What is the advantage of SMALL? Living in a small space forces me to constantly evaluate my possessions and let go of stuff I have no use or room for.

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What's your favorite resource for your home?

I am a grad student so I'm always on the lookout for a good deal. Portland has some great, affordable vintage shops: Lounge Lizard on Hawthorne, Hawthorne Vintage, and Find on Interstate Ave. in North Portland. Oh and of course, Goodwill!

What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home?

I love my green wall. I lived with the beige walls for about 2 days before I couldn't stand it anymore! Living with color is worth the sacrifice of my security deposit.

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Small Cool 2008 - Northwest

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Comments (31)

love love LOVE the cork room divider. did you make it yourself? I also like the landing strip with a space for your bike...

posted by bethanylemony on April 16th 2008 at 9:50am
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There are some cool elements but over all it's feel pretty blah.

posted by black_sheep on April 16th 2008 at 9:56am
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i'm having such a problem with this year's crop of entries: having a small apartment, in and of itself, should not be enough to make people think they could win this contest. clever use of space! innovative design ideas! where are they this year? i'm not talking about spending money -- i've never based my vote on what someone *has*, but i definitely base it on what's done with it, and this year is a real let-down to me in that regard.

that said. leslie -- your hanging cork room divider *is* a fun, original element, and i'm glad to see it.

posted by kristina in phoenix on April 16th 2008 at 10:09am
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I love a person with plants. I love your green wall too!

posted by foreverwilbur on April 16th 2008 at 10:10am
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I agree with kristina in phoenix. There are some nice entries but I have yet to say "Wow!" to any of them.

posted by MCW on April 16th 2008 at 10:26am
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agree, this apartment seems like, I got grandma's couch, but my apartment is cool cause i have a teak credenza and some cool chairs. nope. sorry.

posted by LauraZ on April 16th 2008 at 10:32am
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That cat looks funny.

posted by Mr. Dangerous on April 16th 2008 at 10:34am
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I too like the corkscrew wall divider, and I LOVE the colored accent walls. The furniture is kinda grandma though (I'm sorry!), and the patterns seem to not really go together. I rated it cool, though, I think it's a funky and unique pad.

posted by ggsnaps on April 16th 2008 at 10:35am
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I love the bright wall colours.

posted by otis on April 16th 2008 at 10:43am
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Having your bike in the first photo is so Portland. Yay.

I like the green wall.

posted by brittanykate on April 16th 2008 at 10:57am
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Not a contender but looks like a fun, comfortable space. I could live here.

posted by Li on April 16th 2008 at 11:10am
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lydia, i love your bike, but what i love even more is that you've made a special spot for it under the shelves. it looks much more like a bike you actually use, than with these minimalist fixed gear bikes hung high up on the wall, over a credenza or such (and why is it i never see people riding them, just walking them on the street or parking them outside cafés?). sorry to turn this into 'bike therapy', but that first picture says you're an awesome girl :)

posted by ddaavviidd on April 16th 2008 at 11:23am
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For the love of all that is holy, please get rid of the flowered sofa. :)

But there is so much to love here! The green walls and the lovely rich colour of the wooden buffet, for one. I really like this for its kind of thrift-store vibe (and I mean that in the best way!) and for its character.

posted by Juliet on April 16th 2008 at 11:31am
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I think I saw that sofa at a flickr pool of ugly sofas.

posted by Sol on April 16th 2008 at 12:06pm
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i adore that flowered sofa and chair and the vibe of these rooms. great atmosphere and some good lighting and colors. but the bedroom is unfinished looking and more of an example of how a small space doesn't work than how it does.

posted by buyersremorse on April 16th 2008 at 12:25pm
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It's OK honey. They don't know you are a starving grad student and are putting up with Grandpa's really ugly but expensive 1980's Ethan Allen couch until you finish school! .....mom

posted by ardens on April 16th 2008 at 1:07pm
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i agree with kristina in phoenix. however, in comparison to the others, i lurve this place. nicely decorated and some innovative touches. nice mix.

posted by bmorebent on April 16th 2008 at 1:25pm
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Yeah, way too many "show off my home" entrants rather than "show off my solutions to living in tiny spaces". I do love your sentiments about color. vs deposit, but this one got "not my bag" for a couple of reasons:

I know you're a poor grad student.. but the sofas?...c'mon. A slipcover isnt that expensive. Also, a lot of vignettes without showing expanses of space. And the floor plan? You dont own a ruler?

Sorry, grad student or not, this one doesnt even feel like its trying.

posted by Modfan on April 16th 2008 at 1:53pm
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i loved it--it felt warm and cozy and id want to have tea there. but i agree w.everyone. i havnt voted but only once this year, as i have anything that has "wowed" me either for AT standards.

posted by sanriofreak on April 16th 2008 at 3:07pm
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Gosh some of you are so rude. Nice space. It looks very comfortable and when you have a couch like that you either cover it up or you own it. I think it's sort of refreshing that you are embracing it and not covering it up with some beige ill-fitting slipcover. I love all the color you've put in there also.

That's so funny about the security deposit thing. I did the same thing. I couldn't take the cheapest white my landlord could find for longer than a couple of days. I painted it right away. If you paint it back you might even get your deposit back. :)

posted by harmonyfrance on April 16th 2008 at 9:49pm
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the cork curtain is BRILLIANT!

posted by sanna on April 16th 2008 at 11:51pm
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fun and funky... lovin' it.

posted by meganwentworth on April 17th 2008 at 6:55am
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Great use of corks. A comfy place that looks like the home of a good friend and interesting, well balanced person. Pay no attention to the critics. Thanks for showing your home.

posted by Kate (NC) on April 17th 2008 at 7:57am
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you know I think the sofa is great in the space...it makes it more funky. I really like it, especially with the green chair. I could never pick two different pieces that fit really nicely together

posted by kgenesius on April 17th 2008 at 8:20am
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I'm gonna have to side with nearly everyone else here in saying that DAMN that couch is ugly. Other than that, the rest of the apartment is very nice in a minimalistic, friendly, funky sort of way. Corks are super sweet. Also, if you don't ride that bike very often, I'd be totally open to a trade...

posted by Cameron Garland Winchester Esquire on April 17th 2008 at 11:07am
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I'd like to see a better picture of the cork divider.
I love the green wall. need to paint one in the bedroom too - yellow maybe?
Starving student or not Honey, they are right about grandpa's couch.
(should I mention that it's the first time i've seen the floor in the bedroom).
Overall, i'm impressed though since I've been in it and know how tiny it really is. Love Aunt Debbie.

posted by shelgenu on April 17th 2008 at 11:31am
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Nice colors.
Fun vibe here.
But you have a ways to go regarding grouping your stuff as well as paring down and editing.

posted by paulmuscat on April 18th 2008 at 7:43am
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Mr. Dangerous: My cat looks funny because she's 18.

Harmonyfrance: Wow, there are some strong feelings about my couch... but you nailed it. Yes, I have an ill-fitting, neutral, Pottery Barn, slip cover but instead I just decided to embrace the 80's floral. Some day, when I'm a highly paid public school teacher, I'll get a sleek mid-century modern sofa. Until then I'm going for "boho."

Aunt Debbie: I think you're thinking of my 17 year old self, these days my room is always clean!

Thanks for looking everyone!

posted by lyarbrooks on April 19th 2008 at 6:06am
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Thanks for visiting my Small, Cool entry, Lydia! I think we have the same footstool in different colors. Does yours have tiny wing-like handles?

ps. I love your couch. And that amazing chrome/lime vinyl chair. Wowzers. Good luck!

posted by bokinney on April 19th 2008 at 7:15am
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I actually thought the big floral couch was delightful in way ... unexpected, cozy, girly. You did it with confidence. I think if you had a more streamlined chair next to it instead of another big chair, it would balance a bit.

posted by Emmerloulou on April 19th 2008 at 8:42pm
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Okay, so I'm late to the Small Cool party. Nonetheless, I was compelled to pop in and say that I love the couch (ALMOST as much as the cat on it!) and what you've done with your fun space. Who needs a fancy MCM couch when you've nailed the boho look?

Secondly, I'm relocating to Portland as a fellow starving grad student and am thrilled that you listed your fave local vintage shops. I will be seeking them out.

posted by HaleyJ on May 13th 2008 at 9:53am
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