I love the light fixture in the living area.

This is nice, I like the layout and the fireplaces. Thumbs up for me.

The gray walls in the living area are so warm. Really gorgeous. What color/brand is that?

The blue Malm in the bedroom--heaven!

Great job. Love the space, the color of the walls and the fact that your sofa is facing the mantel. Also love the light fixture in the living room. Love your collection of globes, which includes an inflatable globe! Nice whimsical touch to a collection which can get too serious.

I adore the large green painting, did you do that? Lastly, the heater in the bedroom is really cool. There's only one thing I would edit. I don't like the finial on the top of your lamp, I think that should go. If you win the contest maybe you can get a new lamp.

Great job.

Love it!

Is that a contact paper/mural-y type of thing on your refrigerator?

How did you get that woodstove into your bedroom? Does it actually work? Do you own your place?

Also, seconded, where did the hanging light fixture in the living room come from? I feel I've seen it before but I can't place it.

I love the somewhat distressed bedroom floor look, and the big green/blue painting, and the small dining table in the bay window.... the only thing that kind of strikes me odd is the trunk-as-coffee-table seems a little small. But then I like big coffee tables that I can cover in clutter and then be frustrated about, so don't listen to me. :)

All-in-all, well done!

Bonus points for not having huge flatscreen TV as the focal point of your living room.

Agree with Peggy re lamp finial -- but do tell us about the hanging light fixture in the living room -- I love it!

this is very cool and unique! i love the repetition of the globes especially!

You've done a great job mixing pieces here. The tufted leather couch is beautiful and unexpected, we don't see enough of them on AT. Had you had some low slung MCM couch, the room wouldn't pack nearly the same punch. Great work!

Absolutely love... don't even know where to being. Grey/white combo in living room/kitchen is so elegant. My only complaint would be no photo including Hinckley. :-)

Sweet couch.

"I don't like the finial on the top of your lamp, I think that should go. If you win the contest maybe you can get a new lamp."

Really?
I like the finial and hate the lamp! ;-)

Great place overall - Loving the blue Malm fireplace and kudos to embracing the worn painted floor in the bedroom - very Wabi Sabi!

This is great! It's a really beautiful space, I'm sure it would look amazing no matter how it was decorated, but you have a responsible, grown up aesthetic that makes it really lovely. I'm especially impressed by your use of colors. Of course I love the gray paint, but also those pops of blue you have everywhere. I'm talking about the globe collection, the little landscape painting by the kitchen, the blanket on the chair, the top part of the dishwasher, the thermos in the kitchen above the stove, the fire place...It's subtle, but it looks amazing.
What is that you have hanging on the wall in the bathroom? I wish I could see it up close...

This is fab! love everything about it! Great style and use of color.

the wall paint color is crisp and clean and i love it with the floors. the fireplace is totally unexpected....love it!

are you using that large painting to block something unsightly? i'm a fan of natural light so it would seem to me odd to block the beautiful window.

Lovely and masculine! Is that a wall sticker covering the fridge door? seems like a good way to make a plain and boring fridge look fun!

how unexpected is that fireplace in the bedroom? and the archway is gorgeous. i'd live there.

From one globe-lover to another: nice work!
It's bright and clean and welcoming.

I like the lay out and the arch way really opens it up. I like the collected look in this case and the sofa is great.

I would hang that art above the mantel and take the mirror and hang it vertically on the wall to the left before the kitchen where you have a small piece hung.

YES

love it! love the light fixture in the living room! the fridge is awesome! how was it done?

Thanks everyone for the Thumbs Up and all the comments! I thought I would answer some of the questions posted. (BTW - It was really tough only posting 5 photos.)
1. Benjamin Moore Eagle Rock in the livingroom, Benjamin Moore Rodeo in the bedroom.
2. I wallpapered the frig with Cole and Sons 'Birch' wallpaper. I had rented out this space for 4 years and my renter somehow killed the outside of the white frig... So, I used wallpaper and wallpaper paste to cover the stains. There's no sign of peeling and it's been 2 years!
3. I am most excited about all the livingroom light comments. I really loved Tracey Kessler 'Cage Light' for years but the price tag was just too much for me. I decided to make something using Ikea pendents, metal storm gutter guards, pipe clamps and antique bulbs. The bulbs were the only thing pricey and the light at night is really cool.
4. Bedroom fireplace was once orange and I painted it blue with industrial car paint. It has a small space heater in it and when turned on, the fan has small fake fire flames lighting up the fake logs.
5. Dishwasher - I painted the top blue and took off the black front of the dishwasher with the thought of putting in stainless steel. When I removed the black front I found a cream color that matches my cabinets.
6. Couch - this was once $50 maroon couch found at a Goodwill. I found this stain online called 'Leather Magic' to stain it with. You can stain any color. I think I stained it 6 years ago so it does NOT rub off. Amazing stuff.
7. I don't own a tv.
8. I ripped up the carpet to find the floors. Sanded the heck out of the livingroom and left the bedroom as it was found.
8. Your right, Hinckley should have been in some photos. He is a spoiled 10 month old Vizsla.
Thanks again everyone. Ben

Love the Chesterfield. Where did you get yours? I just ordered a similar one from London. With shipping the price was still great!

Hey Ben,

Thanks for coming to answer questions.

Hinckley should definitely have been in the photos. Don't you know showing pets automatically gets you like 100 bonus points on AT??

OMG...that blue fireplace is INSANE!

WHO did that large art piece? I really want it!

Love your bedroom -- looks so relaxing and cozy.

No effing WAY!!!! You painted that couch?? It is completely amazing and the first thing I noticed. I am blown away by your DIY skills. Congrats, this place is perfect.

@emmelemm: seriously. Are SC voters not notorious pet whores?

--Notorious Pet Whore

Cool place. The couch is a real star here, and it seems to grab all of my attention. Your other things just seem to dissolve away. I would try to link the the rest of your stuff with the couch by using the couch's color on your other pieces to connect them. Maybe try to scale-up a chair, or that console by draping it with fabric so the couch doesn't own the room so much. Just some thoughts. Thanks for sharing!

Love! Loving the bedroom and that blue fireplace and the floor in your bedroom etc...

Two thumbs up!

Amazing! My husband and I had an apartment in Portland with almost that EXACT layout-- do you live on Deering St. by any chance?

I love it. Great light, good color choices. I think you might better be able to enjoy that wonderful fireplace if you had a lower bed with no footboard though.

I up-thumbed it, largely for the blue fireplace and patina'd floor, the birch wallpaper fridge, the anatomical chart in the bathroom (slightly disturbing but witty!) and the globe lamp hanging from the hatstand.

You also get 100 bonus points from me for owning a dog and not whoring it for the photos!

Bravo! This is amazing!

Notorious pet whores unite!!

Not just SC voters, but all AT commenters on posts in general. :)

This is a lovely space, and beautifully decorated. Especially love the bedroom.

I have been ogling that The Cole & Son Woods wallpaper for a long time, but never could commit to putting it up one of my walls. Now on the fridge... I am so stealing that idea !!!

@@Anash:

You mentioned you ordered a Chesterfield from London and the price was still great.

Would you mind sharing a little more info on that?

Thanks!

Ben,

Thanks for posting these! I'm in Portland too and it's nice to see that someone was able to make their small apartment into such an amazing place! I've got a lot of catching up to do, but this is a great inspiration!

I personally would have loved to see Hinckley, Vizsla's are a personal fave of mine.

Thanks again!

Yes, tell us who did the large canvas in the living room!

Can't believe this is only 535 sq ft. It feels so much larger.

Hi, it's Ben again.
1. Painting - Portland, Maine Artist Andrew Coffin 'Noise In The Garden'.
2. The painting is on the floor for two reasons:
a. I live on Congress Street and it blocks the voyeuristic views from the sidewalk.
b. It's too big to fit above the mantle. Like the bedroom fireplace, I bought it thinking that I would not live in this space forever.
4. Yes, the chart in the bathroom is a Digestive System Medical Chart from 1947. I found it at Oddities (think that's the name) in Austin, TX.
3. The globe on the coat rack is a plastic learning Fisher Price globe that lights up. I just disassembled it and then made it into a light.

Ben, i would give you two thumbs up if possible! Great job in seeing the possibilities instead of the as-is!

Cute!

Great job Ben.

Love the bedroom floor. Adds so much character to the room.

Hey Ben!
I agree, Hinkley should've been in a photo! I love the globe theme throughout.....very cool!!!! :) Good Luck!

I just adore it all. It is homely, comfortable, stylish. Nearly perfect.

Wow.

love the floors, sofa!

Love the arched opening with the columns...great place!

Ben,
You should totally make more of those pendant lights and sell them on Etsy so I can buy one. The digestive chart in the bathroom is hilarious. All in all I love your spot. Good luck!

Love the use of light and color! Go Ben.

Jose and Linda

a. I live on Congress Street and it blocks the voyeuristic views from the sidewalk.

Ah, I love a good double entendre ;)

Ohhh the floor project, such memories.
Love it Ben!

Awesome, what a fantastic space you have. I just love everything about it....and I wish I had your editing skills :-)

Terribly, terribly disappointed that I've yet again missed the 'thumbs up' window.

This is by far my favorite (so far). I adore. The chesterfield...the painting in the living room...the calming absence of a television...swoon.

I love it!!!

Ben- Your version of the fixture came out Fab! How flattering. I'm ready to order 5. How long did it take you to make?

Fireplace in bedroom is a nice touch.
Angela Adams rug in kitchen.uhuhuh. I love.

OMG! You painted the sofa? I would have bet my life that it was some very expensive leather sofa. You are my hero.

Anyone can buy some expensive. I admire people who make something exquisite out of something inexpensive.