Agh! I'm sure my parents have that same sewing machine in their house. Very nice all around - love the sign language alphabet!

Wow, $250 a month...50 cents a square foot! What a cute space. You have done a great job making "her" homey for your child but also retaining a sense of whimsy and style. One question...do you have a projector TV in your bedroom? That would be a clever space-saving idea.

I love that are actually family pictures in this one and not just framed posters. cute!

I agree that you've done a great job creating a fun and functional place for raising your son and doing it right out of college, no less, is all the more impressive. Very cool!

So fun! Good work.

Fun!

I love the blownup ultrasound picture in the tot's room - too cute!

Midge (from smidegeon?) is cute.

"Midge" is darling! Love your stack of vintage suitcases on the floor and the framed sign language symbols against that fabulous teal wall. Also, the plant on the yellow chair...is that its true home or were you moving it around?

i agree the plant on the yellow chair is strange looking. otherwise, fun & lively home!

Love your kitchen table. The whole space feels so inviting and love that she has a name:)

I second @sally305 's question. Is that a projector in your bedroom?

love this! that enlarged ultrasound is a first. and $250 rent?! wow. thumbs up for midge!

Very cute home! I think I have that exact sewing machine in my basement...seeing your setup was very inspirational. I may just have to move mine up in the near future.

Where is your bedding from? I love it!

Great job!

Midge in Anita, Iowa. Geez, that's cute. And so is the house! Lots of things about this impress me, including the way you've managed to tastefully display graduation caps. Kudos (on the degrees and the decor)!

Projector TV, funny! That's actually a 19" LCD TV and small DVD player (with all the wires) at the perfect angle in a makeshift wooden box screwed into the ceiling--a leftover perk from an ex-boyfriend past. See what I mean about handy friends?

And yes, that's actually the peace lily's home on the chair--curiously the only place Hudson will leave it alone. With the exception of storytime, it lives happily there in the sunlight.

Thanks everyone--tell your friends. ;-)

I can't tell you how much I love that you have family pictures up.
I like: 1-the framed sign language alphabet.
2-the yellow chair
3-the red wagon in the kitchen
4-a single mom making it work.

I am not sure how I feel about burlap sacks for curtains---potato sack race, anyone?

whoops.. I meant red trike....

what is the teal paint color behind the sewing machine. And you have a lovely and vibrant home.

Lovely. I love the bright colors throughout. Thank goodness for family and friends who are there to help! I love you saw the potential of this place and the rents a huge plus!
And also, love your kitchen, and the family pictures!

I am coveting your singer sowing machine table!!!!! Must have been a Craigslist find. I have always wanted one of those! But hte ones I find on Craigslist are always either in terrible shape, too far away, or still have the sowing machine inside.

adorable! I firmly believe you love something more when you name it :) Wish we could see a pic of Midge's outside.

What a lovely space! I'm joining the ranks of people who love how you've named her Midge - fantastic! The colour choices are great, and your ceiling-mounted tv is an excellent solution to small space issues.

I'd also love to see a view of the outside of Midge. From the way those walls curve, I'll bet she's a beauty!

p.s. Also jealous of the rent, what a marvelous deal (even if there's extra maintenance).

@ planehopper, the bedding is from target, i have it too : )

@Glitchgirl : Why on earth wouldn't you want the sewing machine in it? That's all the fun! The machines have serial numbers on them that you can look up to see how old it is. Mine turned 82 at the beginning of February! (I sewed a pillowcase out of an old seedcorn bag in its honor--much to nycwife's chagrin I'm sure.)

Teal paint color: unknown. Carribbean island/exotic island something? My landlords own a hardware store, so I just pointed at a color and they dropped it off the next day. I do know the green is Sweet Olive because the paint can is still under my sink. I fixed the place up in exchange for not having to pay a deposit or the first month's rent.

I want to move to Iowa!

Love any idea of smallest&cheapest.
Many of us must make do with what we have.
I mean...if we had more cash...we wouldn't be living in a small&cool to begin with, right?

Midge's rough exterior (pre-sprucing-up-by-moi) can be seen here:
http://ohhellobaby.blogspot.com/2008/11/dream-house.html
where I blogged about wanting her a year or so before we moved back to Iowa. Fate!

Barbara.agatha, I have to disagree. I much prefer the cozy and simple life that you can only get in a small space. Not to mention so much less area to clean and maintain! :-) If I won the lottery, I would begin construction on a "Cottage in a Day."

Wow, I love your space. So many unique details, bold patterns, intense color. And all this with a kid in the house! Fabulous job!

hello from iowa! LOVE it! great job!

Love your space Nikki, my favorite is the signs framed and
old singer.

You are quite original. The burlap and the sign language pictures and just how you put it together. I do love the sewing machine and the yellow table. One lucky little kid to live there.

Great job, just being out of college and with a small child!