apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Not my style but still like more part of it.... the carpet is really a yuk!

I like individual pieces and aspects of the apartment, but it doesn't flow or blend together and that bothers me.

It looks from far away that you might have a pretty kitchen. In the picture, it looks like your dining set is also in your kitchen, so I thought you may have had a mirrored wall.

All in all, it looks casual and relaxed, but it needs some element to pull it together, even moving things closer together, or some division between the sofa and the dining room. I think they need to impose on each other (does the table have a leaf?) or have something transitional happening between, whether a cabinet or bicycle or partition, some kind of area rugs. That round mirror on the wall just can't work hard enough to do it.

The furniture is nice (like the dining set very much!), but all in all, this place just feels... ordinary, empty and "non-decorated", you know? Maybe some colour on the walls? Something?

It's just not my style. Plus the coffee table reminds me of the one my family had when I was in the 6th grade.

It does look a bit like a jumble of things that were acquired because they were "thrifty," with no particular guiding eye as to how they work together. If your favorite element is your houseplants (I like plants, too), that suggests that the rest of the place isn't pulling its weight ... even in your own eyes!

I congratulate you on your lack of stuff - but that means you need to put a lot more thought into the stuff you do have. This is random, without a clear sense of flow or purpose. Its not bad- just not 'there' yet.

Nice dining set - I think K T G's recommendation on an area rug is good. Particularly one for the couch and coffee table. Also, if you see a cool chair at Thrift Town or another favorite source, maybe that can go by your couch in between the dining and living areas. A couple pillows with a fun print on them could be cool on the couch as well (you could maybe just put covers over the two pillows that are on there now)

Seems a bit disparate and out of sorts to me. A lot of the pieces look kind of lonely. Not in a minimalist, intentional way, but in an undercooked furniture layout kinda way. Does that make sense?

beautiful quilt!

Hi, Rachel,

Your place is cute, but I agree with above posters who think it needs work. Since you're posting pics of your place online, I'm assuming you're not averse to suggestions?

1.) I can see that your main room is a pain in the ass because of its length. I would take your dining table and turn it ninety degrees to make it fill out that space a little better.

2.) If you can, replace the lighting fixture above your dining table with a pendant light. It will delineate that space more clearly.

3.) I agree with posters who have suggested area rugs. One for in front of the couch, as well as under the dining room table, would break up that ugly carpet (which you probably can't do anything about... renting sucks).

4.) If your budget allows, get a small chair to face away from the dining room area into the sofa area. It will partially close off that section, making it a separate "room" and give you more seating.

5.) Buy or make a headboard for your bed. It will make the bed look more substantial and more visually powerful. I've seen some posters on AT even just paint a headboard behind the bed, and it can look really fantastic.

6.) Last one, I promise-- some of your artwork is hung too high, which adds to the starkness of the walls. Bring it down a little bit so that the center of the work is at eye-level. I would also recommend a bit more artwork, whether in the form of a tapestry, photos... you need more color on your walls in the living room.

I think you have some great ideas, but it looks like you're just starting out on this place, and in time it will develop into something lovely.

I totally agree with KTG, it needs something to pull it together. Actually, it kind of reminds me of my apartment, I have things that I love, but nothing pulling it together.

I love that dining set. I wonder if turning it 90 degrees (so that the longer side is at a right angle to that long wall, instead of parallel with it) would make that area a little more visually interesting?

I wish I could see the kitchen area more closely. I'm curious about those hanging lights (at least I think they're lights?)

I agree with the idea of getting some sort of chair for the seating area and placing it at a right angle to the sofa to sort of "close off" that area. Also agree with the idea of area rugs. I think something would go nicely under that round mirror, too... some sort of small credenza or sideboard.

I think this place has potential...

i don't know what about it doesn't really appeal to me, but it just doesn't. it's not bad, it's just not awesome. remember as long as you love it, it's fabulous!

Your quilt is lovely as is your dining room table. I think it does need more work to pull it all together.

Also love the dining set, but I would have liked to see more pictures. Kitchen? Bathroom.

You have some cool pieces.. you just need to bring everything together. It's very uncluttered which is nice but i don't see any personality in this home at all.. :(

I voted "Not my bag," but the most important thing is that Rachel loves it! That said, these forums are a great place to get ideas and bounce ideas off of unbiased sources.

Since I always like to add "constructive" criticism, I'll add my two cents: maybe consider painting the walls, if allowed in your lease. It's a cheap and relatively simple way to bring a room to life and might tie your pieces together in a more cohesive way.

It's a good start, though!

I would get rid of the white lamps near the bed, it screams 1990's.

I love the pink and red poster though.

For such a small place, there's a lot of space! (I like that.)

i love the lamps by your bed. Where are the shelves next to the bed (that you've used for bedside tables) from? Great start!

i actually love the coffee table and i think i love the bedside lights-- is the little shelf attached to the lamp or to the wall?

but yeah, overall...it definitely needs some work. the quilt fights with the art you have hung in the bedroom (and I'm a big vintage quilt lover!). i'd consider keeping the prints up and going with some fluffy white bed linens and a down comforter.

take everyone else's advice on the rest of the place and enter next year! you've definitely got a great eye and lots of potential!

The coffee table reminds me of that thing you have to look through at the eye doctor-- "Which is better: one? or two?"

it's definitely a work in progress. i decided to enter the contest a long time ago and pushed myself to do it even though things aren't totally done. i'm glad i did, the feedback is really great!
the shelves are from west elm. they are those white "fake wood" ones.
the kitchen and bathroom are both as they were when i moved in and definitely not ready for a close-up yet!

I love that quilt. Where did you get it? Was it inherited?

Nice dinning table!
Suggestions:
Start moving the furniture around in the main room.
Get a funky chair from a second hand place and recover it.
Big area rugs (as already suggested) to mark out "areas" and make the place seem more cozy.
Move the art down to EYE LEVEL!
Paint a wall or two in the living room and lastly, toss that coffee table.