I voted it down because there was only one picture that showed the entire space, the rest were vignettes. That isn't really the point of the competition.

I totally agree. This is a contest for Smallest Coolest APARTMENT. Not Smallest Coolest Living Room or Smallest Coolest Coffee Table. It also bugs me a little that all the photos were blurry.

Sorry, another complaint about the fact that there aren't any pictures of the actual apartment. When only given 5 pictures to represent your space, please don't waste it on your lamp and mirror.

I would like to have seen pictures of your kitchen and office, and your bedroom from a perspective other than reflected in a mirror.

I agree and disagree with commenters. I think there a few too many close ups, but in a small apartment I know how hard it is to get a good pick of the space. I can see the bedroom in the purple mirror (which I bought in white, but now I want to paint. thanx for the idea!!!). And the last pic is pretty good of the main space. It feels nice and lived in.

I think a home is a special place and to share it with all of us, and put it out there for critique, is generous and brave. Let's be nicer to people. We're all friends here.

I love the giraffe fabric and all the vivid colors! It's so unique and looks inviting and original unlike something straight from Pottery Barn or Ikea!

There are only 5 photos to show off the space. This entry blew it by showing a lamp for one photo, a coffee table setting for another. It looks like a cool apt. but we'll never know.

Man oh man...what is going on?!? You had my hopes up high, and then the pictures turned out like all of others...a photo contest. I had to vote down because you only left things to my imagination.

No bathroom?

I think I would have voted super cool if I could have seen more of the space...I want to see more of that fantastic office space...

it's REALLY difficult to take wide shots while standing in a small space. i know this from experience. even when standing at the far corner of a room, it's not that easy at all to take a snap of the majority of what's in front of you. there's a big difference between how our eyes and cameras take in images. please don't be so hard on the photographers in that sense. but yes, two close-ups in this entry was a shame.

however, the furnishings here are lovely. and jill is lucky to have such a large space to play around with stylistically.

I agree - again we can't see the apartment - only pictures of the living room. I guess one has to get a better camera to take the pictures or be more creature on how the pictures are taken - maybe a ladder would help?

Nice space. Very pulled together. Inviting. The lamp photo was a bit of a waste, but on the whole I think you did a good job in representing your home.

I voted "cool" because, while I like the space, I'm not seeing too much innovation in terms of dealing with tight quarters (probably because 700sf is pretty decent for one person).

I am getting really annoyed at seeing people's collections in this contest.

I love the living room set up. The first picture is beautiful!

I voted 'cool' because this apartment looks individualised and intimate - as if a real person actually lives here. I've found that some of the other entries look like offices with beds.

However, I do agree that it is a shame not to have included any photos of the kitchen. I also see evidence of 'styling,' with certain items photographed in different locations around the flat like props.

According to the floorplan, there is no bathroom in this apartment! It must be beyond the interior bedroom door but not pictured.

I hate to say it, but I couldn't figure out which one was the "giraffe chair" you were talking about... : (

Love your giraffe chair! This apartment has a great feel to it: "super cool".

I have those cushions from cb2! From what I can see it's definitely cool. I'm voting that based on the first photo, it really draws you in!

When one is limited to 5 pictures, they have to be chosen better. I agree----can't tell how, or if, the apartment comes together, which really is the goal of decorating. The site has to take more control of these picture requirements.

beautiful curtains

what is the sofa from?

do you own?

i think you have a wonderful space, especially considering it was done on a budget. it looks inviting and not at all staged to me. hope we get to see more including you're office/library/dining space and your bedroom - the cutout on the mirrored closet door is very cool!

It's nice and looks very comfortable - it just doesn't "Wow" me - I also would have liked to have seen more of the apartment...

I really like the shot of the mirror, reflecting the bedroom - great composition & great bedroom, too.

Definitely a cool, good visuals & texture, but all I really know about you is that you're working an MCM/west elm remix vibe on an Ikea budget, but I don't get much about who YOU are as a person. Not trying to be harsh, but chuck the catalogs.

There should definitely be requirements that you show at minimum:
1 photo of kitchen
1 photo of living room
1 photo of bedroom
1 photo of entrance or bathroom
then the layout

Take these photos from Marie Claire as an example to follow:
http://www.marieclairemaison.com/maison/55543-petits_espaces/

These give me a much better sense of the whole space.

If one is too self-conscious to show the kitchen and bathroom, maybe s/he needs to rethink entering this contest.

Not just this one, but several recent entries as well.

Would love to know where Jill found the drapes behind the sofa in the first photo.

I like this, because she has done a nice job with the "beige box"---beige carpet, off-white walls---that some of us have to work with. I love the hardwood floors, architectural details, and landlords that let you paint the walls that are often found in older buildings, but not all areas have a lot of those available.

I gleaned some ideas here---thanks Jill!

mcalister45,

The drapes are from IKEA. They are the Stockholm BLADs, you have probably seen the green ones before though.

lolax,

Merçi pour le lien!

Those drapes are lovely in person - they are lined and really nicely made. I bought them, but they didn't work in the space so I had to return them.

I second ARC regarding the drapes. At first I was not too sure. But given a few days, they start to shake the rigid "new-ness" and drape really well. I love them now.

I also voted cool even though i think its probably supercool, but not seeing the entire space in the photos is hard...
Nice job on the giraffe chair...

Monica & Rachel don't got nothin on you.

I wonder what this apartment actually looks like. The photos don't show it. I wonder if AT would let you swap out the shot of a lamp with a shot of the apartment it's in.

LOVE the couch with the drapes behind it. That doesn't look budget at all - which is the best part about putting it together on a budget. Kudos for that!

I really like the dining table, was that an Ikea re-furb?

Jill,
Where did you find the decal for your mirrored closet doors?

(That is a decal, right?? The sillouette of a woman?? I have the same problem and that is the best solution I've seen. )

Wow, I feel so bad about this entry and its comments. I think we all get that the photos could have been better revealing of the space. Its probably tough when you enter the contest and come to see your comments to get a feel of how you did on your DESIGN, and all you find out is that people feel that you took lousy pictures.

I don't like the decal on the large mirrors of a woman. Just a personal preference, and probably because I am a guy. The space is very girlie. I do however appreciate the myriad of colors and patterns, which to some may be overkill, but I feel like it is part of your personality showing through in your design. So I like that.

Another space with the TV on top of the fireplace, you should rethink the TV placement.

I am also guessing that you didn't show certain parts of your apartment because you hoped to get into the finals and maybe reveal other amazing parts of the space to "crush" the competition in the finals, (maybe that is just my optimism) but sadly it looks as though the crowd of commenters didn't see it that way.

Overall a great space to be proud of for sure.

Besides the bad decision on camera shots this IS a great space.
Very good floor plan.
But I ask, where is the bathroom?
Shared?
That sunny corner must be a treat.
I'd move the living room there,
but you probably have your own priorities for using it the way you do.
Nice place.

I think when they made the rules up for the contest about what photos you can submit they shouldn't have required 1 detail photo. I don't care about peoples' freaking knick knacks I want to see the flat!

I get no feel for this apt with the pics submitted.