in case you're wondering about the lack of thumbs up, i was absolutely unable to reach this entry for a long time, kept getting "the page you are looking for is unavailable." perhaps others had the same problem!

too bad, because it's lovely!

OMG.
That courtyard.

Beautiful, restrained, lovely, clean. Relaxing.

Alright, so this is it. My favorite. Hands down. Love the art, the colors, the floor, the garden but more than anything I love the two couches. I too have two couches in my small apartment (though mine are not nearly as nice as those) and you don't know how much friends and family appreciate it.

Two thumbs up! - though I can only vote once :-(

Love, love your space, especially the courtyard - what you dont have in indoor space is made up by opening the doors to the courtyard.

Yes! That Ikea floor lamp is my favorite! (I have one too)
I love the neutral color palate in your living room, it looks great!

Thumbs up! So clean and sophisticated but also feels warm and personal. Congratulations.

I've loved this apartment since I first saw it months ago.

BTW - Can we flip the 4th pic 90 degrees so we can see it without turning over the screen?

Great space Vernon! I will be your 30th thumb!

Love this place. One my favorite's ever. Grown up, sophisticated, casual, elegant.... I could go on forever. Saving the photos for my own in-progress home.

Beautiful building and very lovely apartment, perfectly done!

What a timely post! I was just trying to explain to my partner what I meant about bookcases behind the bed, then tables in front. Now I have a visual aid. The place looks great! I never really thought of 800 sq ft as been all that itty bitty, but you make really good use of your space and have given me some wonderful ideas.

Wow! I love the neutral living room and the rich colors in the bedroom.

The courtyard is fantastic, but I'd rather have an additional picture of the inside space over two photos of the outdoor space...

That courtyard is gorgeous and the apartment is just lovely.

Rich and restrained. Wow!

Oh I'm loving this place, so want to see more!

I want to buy a plane ticket and move to Houston. I love EVERYTHING. Your apartment is amazing, the building is amazing, your decorating is amazing...... I want to live in that building!!! Honestly, you have one of the most elegant living rooms I've ever seen on AT. Wow. I'm actually at a loss for words.

Vernon has pulled off a lot that is difficult and made it look easy.

There's a lot of stuff on the bedroom shelves, but the way he set it up, it doesn't feel too cluttered. And as others have mentioned, the two couches are wonderful.

Must be great to live here!

Ok, I found my words.

We need a full house tour. Please.

Where can you get such colorful linens? I'm from Hawaii. Can you get those at WalMart or Target?

Isabella Courts, right Vernon? I adore that place. I am your neighbor (Museum District)

Great job

I LOVE the color and balance of items in your bedroom! Great place!

Hippyvieja, I was about to ask if this was the building on Isabella when your comment came up! I had a friend who lived there back in the 70's--it was much funkier (and cheap!) then, but still a wonderful building. SO GLAD to recognize it on AT! Enough to make me miss Houston--and Vernon, great job!

Hey, no fair using that enormous, beautiful courtyard as part of your "small cool" entry! Or I could just be jealous.

But in all seriousness, I'd much rather have seen a view of another part of the interior in place of those TWO exterior photos. Where's your kitchen? Your bathroom? That office? It's hard to judge what you've done with your small space when you show us so little of it.

So jealous about the bed in front of the bookshelves. Here in the land of earthquakes that just isn't something we can do. It looks great.

Love the home. Thrilled to see a Houston home featured.

Lovely....lovely.....lovely.....that's all I can say except that I hope you did not have a glitch in the voting 'cause you deserve more than that.......

BTW I want to grow up and have a home like yours one day:)...you've got a good eye.....

Wow, that courtyard is gorgeous! I didn't know places like this exist in Houston!

I never really knew Isabella Courtyard existed (or a place like this) existed in Houston until I saw it on a local blog! What a charming place! And I love your sophisticated style. Saw another Small Cool entry from Isabella Court last year. Different layout and different style, but both very lovely. Wish you did show more of your interior space though!

I voted for you and your great garden courtyard. I too would love to more of the interior

I love Vernon's taste and the building is beautiful too. I hope he has a chance at winning. HOWEVER, I think using two shots of a common area that is not entirely his isn't exactly "fair"--and it might work against him in the competition. We see the bedroom and two shots of the living room...what is the entryway like? or the kitchen or bathroom? I am sure they are fabulous too. The contest (as I understand it) is about people's own homes, not the surrounding area.

Agreed with sally305-- it's hard trying to judge what use you've made of a smallish space-- what the contest it about, really, when you've included (beautiful) photographs of the exterior of your apartment. The idea is to let us see how you have risen to the challenges of the space, not to see its (yes, beautiful) context. I would love to see more pictures of the apartment; you can't count the courtyard as part of your entry, really.

Ugh, sorry for grammar errors in first sentence. Typing too fast...

hate the bedroom -- love the rest. every building should have a mandatory courtyard -- its opulence at a very nominal cost.

i would like to point out one of the courtyard views is of his entrance and he stated he gardens in the courtyard -- so even though its common area he owns it. i have neighbors that garden common areas -- god bless them for it. sometimes i think suburbanites need to spend a couple years in urban shoes to understand its different here.

omg I am so jealous of your beautiful courtyard, it really is dreamlike.

I must admit I am not a fan of your living room at all - it looks like it is crying out for some colour, to me the neutrals of it just don't work.

This is lovely.

The dimensions given sum to 729 square feet. Does this entry therefore belong in the 'little' rather than 'small' category?

I like the aesthetic - playful yet very clean and crisp.

A particular favourite is the Mondrian dog :)

Fantastic - I used to live this building & your photos made me miss it - thank you!

This just made me smile. The living room gives off a cozy feeling.

Ii hate that I missed voting thumbs up on this one. I love your living room-I am a sucker for the facing sofas. And you are just showing off with that fabulous courtyard. Ok, so I am beyond envious. Simply beautiful!

nycgrrl

Very nice. Modern yet eclectic.

well done! love the calm sophistication. please tell me the colorful throw at the end of the bed is get-able. where?
the throw pairs so well with the black/white/gray spread.

This makes me miss my home town. :-(

Oh no! I missed the chance to vote! I love love love your apartment, especially your colorful bed and well placed art. Thankyou for sharing this.