This Dallas Studio Has a Smart IKEA Hack Dog Lovers Will Appreciate

Name: Erica Massey and dog Deacon
Location: Dallas, Texas
Size: 750 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, renting

I am a 26-year-old PhD student living with my four-year-old Belgian Malinois named Deacon. I live on fellowship/stipend from teaching undergraduate classes at my university, so I end up DIY-ing and/or IKEA-hacking a lot of home decor (my kitchen island, my bed, my couch, my bookshelves…). I love cleanliness and order, and picked my apartment primarily because of the view (29th floor in the heart of downtown looking right at the Dallas Pegasus) but also because it had a great footprint at 750 square feet and was just under budget. I love my place—especially now that I’ve had time to settle in.

What is your favorite room and why? Technically there’s no door between the living room/kitchen and bedroom—which makes them the same room? So I’ll tell you why I like each space.

The living room I love because it has all my books in it. I have over 1,000 print books in my home and they make me happy. I also am quite proud of both the pallet couch that I DIY-ed and the kitchen island that I made from IKEA items.

The bedroom I love because I am probably most proud of the storage bed I made that has drawers in the front, cubbies inside, and fits my dog’s crate! It’s so cozy and the view from it—since it’s up in the air a bit—is particularly phenomenal at night.

Similarly, I love to swing in my hammock chair, which also faces the windows. It’s the best reading spot in the house.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? I “splurged” on a felt message board from Amazon to hang above the bed. It currently has “We should probably cuddle now” on it—but I think I’ll enjoy changing it up every now and then.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Go to Pinterest for ideas. Then make your own version that A. fits your budget and B. fits your lifestyle.

Thanks, Erica Massey!

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