Apartment Therapy | Saving the world, one room at a time

Vote: New Entries for Wednesday 5.22.13 — Small Cool Contest

Nancy Mitchell — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:30:00 GMT

Who has the smallest coolest home? It's up to you to decide. Click through to check out today's entries and then vote for your favorites.

Tiny: Sivan's Sense of Cohesiveness
Teeny-Tiny: Kathrine's Tucked Away Treasure
Teeny-Tiny: Christopher's Non-Negotiables
Teeny-Tiny: Tommy's Top of the Hill
International: Maddalena's Sunny Style
Small: Sean's MCM in California
Teeny-Tiny: Nicole's Pretty Adorable
International: Emily's Cozy English Cottage
International: Ragnhild's Soaring Ceilings
Teeny-Tiny: Linsey's Cheerful Personality

Linsey's Cheerful Personality — Small Cool Contest

Nancy Mitchell — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:30:00 GMT

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Name:: Linsey
Location:: New York, NY
Square Feet:: 290
Division:: Teeny-Tiny
What I Love About My Small Home:: I love how cheerful it is, and that I get to wake up to trees and gardens outside my window - it's a nice escape from New York. I fall way too in love with objects, and everything in here has a story behind it. I like that my personality comes through.

How Do I Arrange My Oddly-Shaped Living Room? — Good Questions

Regina Yunghans — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:45:00 GMT

Q: Hi! I have a very weird living room. I'm not sure where to put the TV, the fireplace is at an odd angle, and the walls aren't directly parallel. There are three different walkways into the living room that make it hard to arrange furniture. One thing I love about my home is how open it is, and I think that's the best feature so I don't want to cut off space by putting furniture in the middle of the room. Can anyone please help me with this?

Ragnhild's Soaring Ceilings — Small Cool Contest

Nancy Mitchell — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:30:00 GMT

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Name:: Ragnhild
Location:: Skien Norway
Square Feet:: 452
Division:: International
What I Love About My Small Home:: I immediately fell for the high ceilings and exposed wooden beams when I first saw it. That might be why this is the first home I have owned! I love figuring out how to make the apartment work for my needs, and the open floor plan makes rearranging furniture really easy. One of my favorite features is the loft bedroom, so even in such a small space I have an extra bedroom for a roommate or for guests.

Do Blondes Have More Fun? Inspiring Light Wood Furniture

Tara Bellucci — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:00:00 GMT

At Brimfield, my big score was a 1960's coffee and console table set in a light blonde wood. I snatched up the two pieces for $80 total, assuming they would be fun DIY projects to work on this summer. See, my living room is mostly dark wood, and I thought the pale pieces would never work with my style. But then I got them home, and to my surprise, really loved the fair finish. Inspired by the serene spaces above, I'm going to give the sandy shade a try.

Emily's Cozy English Cottage — Small Cool Contest

Nancy Mitchell — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:30:00 GMT

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Name:: Emily
Location:: London United Kingdom
Square Feet:: 850
Division:: International
What I Love About My Small Home:: Our house is OLD (built in 1900), which can be challenging, but we love the cozy English cottage details, like the worn-in original floorboards, period fireplaces, and the rooms under the eaves.

Best Height Adjustable Tables 2013 — Apartment Therapy's Annual Guide

Jason Loper — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:45:00 GMT

Living in a small space often means giving up a dining table in favor of extra floor space for other furniture. Thanks to a crop of height adjustable coffee and side tables, you're no longer forced to eat with your plate balanced precariously on your lap.

Nicole's Pretty Adorable — Small Cool Contest

Nancy Mitchell — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

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Name:: Nicole
Location:: New York, NY
Square Feet:: 370
Division:: Teeny-Tiny
What I Love About My Small Home:: I love that my studio has three closets! It's nice to finally have some space for my rather large collection of clothes, shoes, and handbags. It also has two large windows that bring in a lot of light, and has a pretty adorable breakfast nook. Other than the structural elements, I really enjoy the studio's bright and cheery feeling. Can you tell I am a fan of color? Also, who doesn't appreciate their own DIYs? The chevron fad might on its way out, but I love my DIY chevron rug.

The Future of Furniture Shopping: Augmented Reality Furnish App

Gregory Han — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:30:00 GMT

What looks good in a showroom or catalog doesn't always live up to expectations once you've put the Allen wrench down. So you might want to fire up the iPhone, Android phone, or iPad before even setting foot inside a store, and try using an augmented reality app to "try on" furniture before buying...

Sean's MCM in California — Small Cool Contest

Nancy Mitchell — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:30:00 GMT

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Name:: Sean
Location:: El Cerrito, CA
Square Feet:: 997
Division:: Small
What I Love About My Small Home:: I love the way the Northern California sunlight transforms each room from morning to afternoon as it shines through large glass windows of our 1949 mid-century modern house. I also love the way a Japanese Maple is framed by the large front window, and how the large Redwood panel wall and other natural wood welcomes our Danish Modern aesthetic.

Trend Alert: Wire Accents

Dabney Frake — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

These tables are part industrial cage, part nod to Platner. They are also like the mullets of home decor: closed and useful up top (all business), and an open free for all on the bottom (the party). Okay, maybe that wasn't the best analogy in the world, but I think you catch my drift.

Andi's Kitchen: Real-life Lessons from a Real-life Renovation — Renovation Diary

Guest — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Name: Andi Forker
Type of Project: Kitchen Renovation — full gut remodel
Location: San Francisco, California
Type of building: 1890's Victorian condo

After a lot of hard work (and a few unexpected surprises), Andi's kitchen renovation is finally complete, and the results are truly stunning. We've been there every step of the way, watching the cramped, outdated old kitchen being transformed into a beautiful, light-filled oasis. In this final installment of their Renovation Diary, Andi (and bf Dean) share what they've learned along the way.

Small Space Solutions: Make the Most of the Warm-Weather Coat Closet

Regina Yunghans — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Adios, coats, mittens, hats and scarves. I'm emptying the entryway coat closet of all of its winter contents. Despite its name, though, my small house can't afford to let this prime storage space go to waste. Here are some ideas for what to do with your coat closet during the warm weather months: More

The Ultimate Used Furniture Cleaning Kit

Tara Bellucci — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

With the season of flea markets and antique fairs now upon us, I'm prepping for the summer influx of secondhand furniture finds and putting together the ultimate used furniture cleaning kit. With most of these household items already in your kitchen, you'll be ready to get any grimy piece sparkling in no time.

Maddalena's Sunny Style — Small Cool Contest

Nancy Mitchell — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

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Name:: Maddalena
Location:: London United Kingdom
Square Feet:: 500
Division:: International
What I Love About My Small Home:: The first time I saw this apartment I fell in love with the huge sash windows and their original wooden frame. The living room is south facing, and I love the bright and cozy feeling of the space.

Make It: A Drop Dead Gorgeous Chandelier Goes DIY — One Kings Lane

Jennifer Hunter — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

I'll bet you wish you could afford a sleek and stylish brass chandelier like this one. Well, guess what, lucky ducks? Those crazy geniuses over at One Kings Lane DIYed this beauty, and they'll show you how to do the same.

Ana Creates a Community Around Her Home — House Tour

Jill Slater — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Name: Ana, John, Santi (3), Evie (1) and Taco
Location: Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, New York
Size: 1,230 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, 7 months; OWNED

When Ana found the listing for this 3-bedroom duplex in the New York Times, her immediate response was "it's way too good to be true." The building had been in litigation for three year and most people had been scared off.

Ana Creates a Community at Home — House Tour

Jill Slater — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Name: Ana, John, Santi (3), Evie (1) and Taco
Location: Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, New York
Size: 1,230 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, 7 months; Owned

DIY Project: Make Your Own Slatted Console Table — Ana White

Andie Powers — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:45:00 GMT

We've featured Ana White before, like when we shared her creative instructions for building your own backyard see-saw! I stumbled across her newest project while looking for a thin console table to fit into our foyer. I love the idea of making our own furniture — now we just have to find an area that suits the building process!

Connected Life: XBox One as All-in-One Entertainment & Communication Home Hub

Janel Laban — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:30:00 GMT

Yesterday, at launches in Seattle and London, Microsoft just may have staked its claim to space in your future living room. Hoping to take on the laptop as your home-based center of connectivity to the world, they introduced their new console, the Xbox One. Below, some details on the system that aims to be an indispensable part of homelife...

Tommy's Top of the Hill — Small Cool Contest

Nancy Mitchell — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:15:00 GMT

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Name:: Tommy
Location:: San Francisco, CA
Square Feet:: 374
Division:: Teeny-Tiny
What I Love About My Small Home:: I'm in love with the windows. With 6 of them (one is 11' wide) there is a ton of natural light, and the space feels much larger than it actually is. I'm centrally located in SF and on the top of a hill. The view is great, overlooking Golden Gate park on the west side and looking up to Twin Peaks/Sutro Tower to the south. You can see all the way out to Ocean Beach on a clear day, and every night I look forward to coming home to a beautiful sunset! My 2 kitties love the windows too, and you can usually find them sitting on one of the ledges.

Build Your Own Raised Garden Beds In Less Time Than You Think — Chris Loves Julia

Linda Ly — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

DIY bloggers Chris and Julia Marcum (of Chris Loves Julia) finally got to working on a project they've been meaning to for years (hey, we've all been there!):

Scuba's Incredible Backyard

Lindsey Nochta — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:00:00 GMT

One of the joys of living in Phoenix is the ability to relish being outdoors year round. Granted, a pool and some shade are necessities during our lengthy summers, but more often than not you have one, or know someone who does. When I had the privilege of shooting Scuba's house in February, I was delighted to find one of the most incredible outdoor spaces I've ever seen.

America's Most Expensive Listing is $190 Million — Design News 05.22.13

Tara Bellucci — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:45:00 GMT

A Greenwich, Conn. mansion currently holds the title for America's priciest listing. For $190 million, you can own Copper Beech Farm, a 13,000 square foot French Renaissance home built in 1896. It comes with 50 acres of waterfront land, grass tennis court, an apple orchard, and two private islands in Long Island Sound.

In other news, Microsoft plans Xbox One to be a hub for all your internet-ready objects, and check out what hopes to be the world's tallest skyscraper. See the headlines after the jump.

Christopher's Non-Negotiables — Small Cool Contest

Nancy Mitchell — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:30:00 GMT

Like this Small Cool 2013 contest entry? Favorite it below!

Name:: Christopher
Location:: West Hollywood, CA
Square Feet:: 350
Division:: Teeny-Tiny
What I Love About My Small Home:: I recently relocated from Miami to LA and made it my mission to find the perfect place to make a home. I had a list of non-negotiables that my home needed to have, so when I found this place, I knew it was the one. I fell in love with all of its unique characteristics: the floor plan, the great natural light from windows in every room, the built in vanities, and the vintage kitchen sink and cabinets. I think living in a small space requires a lifestyle change for most people, but I love the simplicity of living in a small home. I think it's important to find things that are special to you and have them on display to enjoy. I love the hunt, and have searched high and low for things that work for me and my space.