apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


Northwest #14: Allison and Bo's Bantam Roost

Name: Allison and Bo
Location: Seattle
Size: 509 sq. ft.
Rent/Own: Owned house

What is the advantage of SMALL? Small means less. Less to clean, less clutter, less toll on the environment...

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What is the advantage of SMALL? CONT'D

...What's more, small is cozy; it fosters closeness between live-ins. And hey -- the smaller your digs, the cooler: when space is at a premium, you can't waste it on pieces you don't l-o-v-e.

What's your favorite resource for your home?

Antique malls, thrift marts, and Grandpa's basement: most of our pieces are secondhand, and our decorating inspiration comes mainly from nostalgia for childhood visits to family farms.

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

The vaulted ceilings, which provide vertical space, a home for skylights, and an awesome sense of openness -- not to mention a snuggly sleeping loft.

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Comments (28)

I'd love to sleep up there! It reminds me of the forts and tents my sisters and I built as kids.

posted by black_sheep on 2008-04-18 15:09:46
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Be careful when you wake up, that ceiling fan looks like it could take your head off!

posted by Tiffany on 2008-04-18 15:13:15
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Love the couch in the dining room.

posted by Li on 2008-04-18 15:24:24
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The smaller the homes, the more I want to see! I adore your flowered walls!

posted by OneWallKitchen on 2008-04-18 15:27:12
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If the bathroom has a sink, toilet, and shower, what makes it a 3/4 bath?

posted by gnking on 2008-04-18 15:28:59
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I'd guess no tub makes it 3/4th bath.

posted by bordjon on 2008-04-18 15:30:13
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your 'office' nook is soooo cute.

posted by bethanylemony on 2008-04-18 15:32:08
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I think that those black trays on the wall are what made me say "Super Cool". Their kitchy and fun up close, and yet from a distance they make a nice pattern. That's not ALL that I like here, but it's what will haunt me in a good way.

posted by Curtis on 2008-04-18 15:42:24
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You did an excellent job with very little space! Love your sofa too.

posted by suzy8track on 2008-04-18 15:42:58
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Love this. Great use of kitsch (meant in the good way!) with the result coming across as personal and quirky rather than merely trendy. The walls are beautiful.

posted by Juliet on 2008-04-18 16:00:57
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nice use of space. some innovative solutions there. cute.

posted by bmorebent on 2008-04-18 16:01:06
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Hello, Seattle! Looks like we have a contender. This is such a fresh prespective and I love the 50's/60's retro flair. Great use of color and pattern and you are the first to use plates on the wall and not have them look granny-ish. Major head nod and congrats on this one.

posted by DesignGod on 2008-04-18 16:04:53
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Do I spy with my little eye a Sputnik Pendant???

posted by marlamischief1 on 2008-04-18 16:06:19
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Can you really type sitting on the yellow chair?
Seems very uncomfortable to lean over the desk...
I love your place though!

posted by tomomo on 2008-04-18 17:34:36
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Thanks for the kind comments, all. Glad you like the house.

black_sheep: My husband and I adore our sleeping loft. It's super cozy -- very much like a kiddie tent!

Tiffany: The fan is further away than it looks, though that forced perspective is a little bit scary. Initially, I was wary, but now I'm totally used to it.

bethanylemony & Curtis: Thanks for the props on the home office. I've been picking up the trays at thrift stores and yard sales since I was 17. I thought I'd stop when I'd acquired the Northwest, but the best-laid plans of mice and men...

DesignGod: Wow! Thank you. I have to say that the retro flair comes mainly from the awesome family hand-me-downs that, for reasons I can't fathom, nobody else in the fam wanted. What were they thinking? Thanks again.

marlamischief: Yes, it is a Sputnik pendant. One of my favorite things!

Again, thanks for the kind words, everyone.

posted by allisonlindsay on 2008-04-18 17:38:16
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Love it. However, I don't agree that small is "less to clean, less clutter". It depends on the person who lives in the house. I know some people who live in small apartements stuffed with junk (and who seem to have given up cleaning a long time ago :-)

posted by Hasina on 2008-04-18 18:22:31
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Juliet: Thanks. I'm a sucker for kitsch. I think it was the Commandment-emblazoned, Franciscan monk-shaped cookie jar at my grandparents' farm that did it. You can just make it out on the kitchen counter in the wide shot of the living room!

tomomo: The old Cosco stepstool does get tiresome; sometimes I switch it up with one of the bentwood chairs from the dining table. Give my back a break now and then.

posted by allisonlindsay on 2008-04-18 18:23:02
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Love the using the small round table for the computer. And color! Yay color!

Also: chessboard center piece, so fun.

posted by thew on 2008-04-18 18:23:17
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Super Cool!! I love the orange in the living room. Very hip, fun and functional.

posted by donnaisobel on 2008-04-18 20:29:24
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So good! Cozy and Lovely!

posted by jeffrieisobel on 2008-04-18 20:36:28
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Definitely the work of artists; love the re-use philosophy of your place! Colorful, quirky, and it works! Great entry!

posted by boseli on 2008-04-19 02:24:02
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I saw your comment on my mom's blog! Great place, love the state plates. -Lydia

posted by lyarbrooks on 2008-04-19 10:58:34
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great color sense. love the plates ...but might i suggest a geometric grid to tighten up their look? i know this is tough when you probably will be continuing the collection but i think they'd show even better.

posted by healthyhome on 2008-04-19 14:28:45
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Thanks, everybody.

Thew: The chessboard centerpiece serves a dual function: it looks cool, and it saves us from having to find a place to store the board and pieces!

Isobels: Thanks, guys! I love the orange in the LR, too. I used to be into red for the most part, but I'm slowing moving toward orange. Funny how that happens.

Lydia: Glad you found me here on AT. Gotta give it up for the state plates. Good luck on your entry, too.

healthyhome: Thanks for the suggestion for the plates. I'll have to test it out. I do like the haphazard, organic feel of the collection, though. Similar to this post I found at Bluelines.

Thanks again, all. And, if you're interested, you can read more about my life in a tiny house at Living Small.

posted by bokinney on 2008-04-20 10:44:30
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The loft reminds me of the loft I built in my freshman year dorm room! I loved that loft and am quite jealous.

Looks like you've really used the space to its full potential! Thanks for the inspiration to keep living small...

posted by Justin The Man on 2008-04-20 14:02:33
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super cute!

posted by nothingistrue on 2008-04-20 17:13:40
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I love the wall-o-plates. And the whole dining room area. You actually pulled off that crazy light fixture without being a showroom! That's super cool.

posted by cola on 2008-04-21 23:07:51
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Thanks to everyone who came out to support the Living Small household here at Small, Cool 2008. You guys rock.

posted by allisonlindsay on 2008-04-30 20:32:32
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