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Small Cool 2009: Idea Chick's Reflected Rainbows
Little Division #46

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Name: Idea Chick, her husband and one ferocious cat
Location: Oakland, California
Size: 620 square feet

What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home? Our windows face east and west, so we get fabulous light all day long. There are crystals hung in almost every window, so throughout the day rainbows are reflected on the walls. The natural light is also ideal for enjoying our changing collection of artworks.

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What was one of the biggest challenges you faced in furnishing your small home? Storage is a huge issue in our apartment. There is just one small 2.5 x 5 x 8.5 closet for all of our belongings! We looked for furniture that provided ample storage and did not weigh the place down but rather made it feel open and welcoming. And we have used every available inch of space under furniture and behind doors. We have enjoyed the challenge of figuring out how to best use the space—most of our furniture has been in at least two different spots.


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Comments (27)

Oranges and Yellows are so hard to pull off together, but damn, they're great here! You pulled off the retro without the mothballs.

posted by Stephanie K on April 17th 2009 at 9:43am
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Like it!!
Can you post where you got the bookshelf/media stand from?

posted by plumeria on April 17th 2009 at 9:50am
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Cosy bedroom...like what you did in there. Simple and sweet

posted by tdeb on April 17th 2009 at 10:07am
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Please oh please tell me where the tv shelving is from?!

posted by MilenaB. on April 17th 2009 at 10:13am
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Love this!!! Thumbs up from me. Great light fixture over the table, and glad you're not afraid to show off your kitchen like some of the other entries! :)

posted by alaylam on April 17th 2009 at 10:16am
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Really cute!!

posted by rhianna on April 17th 2009 at 10:26am
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Very nice!

posted by suzy8track on April 17th 2009 at 10:34am
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Awww it's so pretty... I love the painting above your bed... the nice cool colors mixed with your warm and cozy looking furniture. A very nice retro feel. I love your dining and coffee table arrangements.

posted by Lafferteezy on April 17th 2009 at 10:41am
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I really love this one. You'd never know it was such a small space by looking at the pictures.
I'm curious to learn more about the dining table and chairs... they are great! Where are the from?

Thanks!

posted by fuzzynk on April 17th 2009 at 10:44am
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I love your white round table and the accompanying chairs. Would you be able to share your source? Thx!!

posted by ccoopfan on April 17th 2009 at 10:44am
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I love the painting over the credenza in your dining space. Any chance it's a Bay Area artist?

posted by GrizzleBizzle on April 17th 2009 at 11:35am
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I love, love, love, how you've incorporated artwork throughout your apartment! Way to choose window treatments tha accent the natural light!

posted by socalsweetie007 on April 17th 2009 at 11:36am
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I too love the artwork - especially over the bed and the glimpse of something tiny and great in your kitchen. Would love to know who the artist(s) is(are). Great place.

posted by calihoya on April 17th 2009 at 11:48am
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Above and beyond the fact that I really like your place, I think you did a great job of showcasing what you have by taking some excellent pictures!

posted by Gvinton on April 17th 2009 at 12:01pm
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that is awesome how you used the cubits for the tv. i always wish I could have a "double wide" cube...good thinking on making two layers

posted by TheLiberator on April 17th 2009 at 12:13pm
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judging from the colors you put in your place, i have decided that you and i should be friends! i have some lovely sprawling orange and yellow ranunculus(es?) on my dining table right now.

posted by lizziepeony on April 17th 2009 at 12:57pm
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Lovely apt! Is that Lake Merritt outside your window?

posted by Lesley on April 17th 2009 at 1:18pm
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Thanks for all of the great comments!

To answer some of your questions…

Plumeria & MilenaB- The tv/book shelf is a little bit of a diy. The cubbies are the Design Within Reach Cubits. I had a shelf cut the length of the unit so that I could place four extra cubits on top of it.

Ccoopfan & fuzzynk- The dining table is a vintage knock-off of the Saarinen tulip table. It may be Burke, but I’m not sure. I got it from OC Modern.

The chairs are Thonet. They were a little beat up and ragged when we bought them, so we had them reupholstered. The guy we bought them from has a spot at the Alameda Flea Market (Greg/Trout Farm).

GrizzleBizzle & Calihoya- My husband, Carl Auge, made all of the paintings in our home (http://www.neoimages.com/artistportfolio.aspx?pid=1765). He has a studio in Oakland, and does mainly large scale oil paintings. He's having a solo show at Rowan Morrison Gallery in July, so if you're in the area, come check it out!

Lizziepeony- Yellows and oranges with a small of fuchsia are my favorite colors, they really warm up a place. Ranunculus for now, and I can wait for Dahlias in the summer! And peonies whenever I can get them!

posted by idea chick on April 17th 2009 at 1:37pm
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can you identify the two plant species in the pots by the dining room window?

posted by nkr707 on April 17th 2009 at 1:37pm
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Love the place. Absolutely fantastic! You have an eye for brilliant interior design!

posted by ajbeeck on April 17th 2009 at 3:45pm
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That pink chair is to die for!

posted by meg_ues on April 17th 2009 at 9:02pm
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Pictures are amazing and so is the light in this beautiful apartment!!!
I got to stay here during my last visit to the bay area...but missed out on the arrival of the fab chair!! Will have to make a trip back to Oakland to see it ;)

posted by PhantomLadyVTG on April 19th 2009 at 1:16am
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It's very pretty. I like all your colors and that kitchen.

posted by FilthyMcNasty on April 19th 2009 at 2:12pm
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You have a great eye for color and took some risks that paid off. Good job!

posted by cherrybomb76 on April 19th 2009 at 3:49pm
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luv it!
chic and artsy, great colors
and of course, amazing paintings
not cluttered yet very homey feeling
kudos!

posted by mezbaker on April 19th 2009 at 4:45pm
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Great place. Nice spaces. Exceptional light quality. Nice art.

posted by JRAyoub on April 19th 2009 at 9:36pm
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i love it! so clean and fun, happy, relaxing, creative, artsy! what more do you need?!

posted by chiyo on April 21st 2009 at 1:27am
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