Small Cool 2011

your space has a very homey, welcoming vibe. i too like your windows!

I'm ADORING this apartment you did a great job! it is so my style!

I think you did a great job with the colours - everything comes together. It feels spacious while also having a good amount of storage. Cute place - I would totally live there!

While modern decor is usually not my thing, you have done a great job of making this space warm and inviting. Your space planning is excellent. Love the clearly defined areas. Its good to see a modern space that is not minimal.

I like the library as divider.

Wow! I love it! You're so lucky to have so many windows.

I have a well layed-out alcove studio of about the same size, but I only have windows on one side.

Also, I didn't even really notice the carpet, so you've done a good job working around it.

This place is Adorable! But...not crazy about the shoes on the shelves...but I have this quirk about not wanting to see shoes out in the open. Still you got my vote because it is so nicely laid out and open, airy and light. Very pretty.

I love the library as a divider, and have thought about doing that in my own space. I'm curious - do you have any trouble with the shelf not being anchored to the wall? My concern is that it would be very wobbly as a freestanding shelf.

You aren't kidding those windows are amazing. Great job!!!

What a wonderful arrangement and it shows how lots of windows and light can influence one's decor. Splendid job. This could be an ad for IKEA, as I spotted several pieces--all working well as they are well designed and fit the space beautifully. Good job, girl!

ah, the much-used Billy bookcase studio divider...

I do like the colors, my only problem is that everything seems to be from IKEA. I could name most of the pieces (Expedit, Magiker, Lack ...)

Oh, I hope you don't have quakes in Oregon.... Nice use of Ikea.

This is easily one of my favourites! Love the colours and spacious feeling. I even like the shoes on the shelf although at first glance it struck me a little bit odd! But your taste in shoes is as great as your taste in design, so they almost look like little art pieces up there on the shelf. Neat :)

Boy, am I getting tired of the anti-Ikea comments. Why does it always have to be pointed out when someone has more than one or two furnishings from Ikea? This contest isn't about who can furnish their space with the least number of Ikea products, and although sometimes too much Ikea can look a little staged, I think that throughout this whole contest the contestants have done an amazing job of showing their style and personality whether or not they happened to use Ikea furniture. And it's an Expedit shelving unit, not Billy.

Anyway, sorry for the rant...but if everyone else can say their anti-Ikea piece, then I want to say my pro-Ikea piece :)

I'll just say a little pro-IKEA piece too, not really so much pro-IKEA as: wouldn't that make it that much more of a contest, if every entrant was given 5-10 identical pieces of IKEA to start with and then had to use them in different ways? Sort of like all those magazine articles where they go "1 room, 3 ways" and it has the same white sofa, the same armchair, the same bookcase, and they just switch it up with pillows, lamps, art, and one ends up being "Exotic" and one is "Modern Colorful" and one is "Sweet Romantic" or something.

Instead of saying, "This apartment has too much IKEA", focus on how *this* person has arranged, filled, and styled around their IKEA pieces. Instead of complaining that every entry has an Expedit bookcase, which they pretty much do, focus on whether they've used the Expedit bookcase effectively in their space, and how they've built around it.

My two cents (which is, of course, not worth a plugged nickel).

Such an intelligent, creative use of space! Great job!

(Just ignore the anti-Ikea elitists.)

I love this entry, your use of open shelving for both room dividers and storage is lovely. I am seriously considering stealing that idea.

emmelemm, I really like your idea, perhaps AT could consider throwing that idea out to some designers? Or some readers could post examples of how they used the most common pieces we could vote on?

I also don't understand the IKEA hate, their stuff has allowed me to easily and inexepensively redecorate and space plan when I move each time. When you have to move frequently due to postings or family committments, buying furniture that's both neutral and easily changeable makes it more affordable.

It's also let me focus on paint and fabric to change a look, which has meant I could explore new colour combinations.

Awesome place!

What I like best about this space is that it is livable. It feels like it has a bedroom. It feels like it has a living room. It feels like it has a dining room. It feels like it has a kitchen. My compliments!

I love the way you've created separate areas in your space. I'm about to move into the same size apt and have added your photos to my "Inspiration" folder.

Sure! Don't hate, celebrate (the ubiquitous)!

1. 50 Different Expedits in situ: Vote for your favorite!

2. 50 Different Eames Chairs in situ: Vote for your favorite!

3. 50 Different Saarinen Tulip Tables (and also knock-offs): Vote for your favorite!

[For the record, a tulip table is a true work of art, a thing of beauty and a joy forever, and there can never be too many tulip tables, so no one better badmouth them.]

I think your space looks incredible! I love your colors :) And I find that Ikea is sort of like white shirts and jeans in a wardrobe - most everyone has them, but it's the accessories that make them interesting. Great job!

I think the anti Ikea is simply because it's mass produced and everywhere.. but people like to be individual. Particularly people you might accuse of design snobbery! I find it amusing though that you see just as many Eames chairs and Barcelona chairs as you do expedits, really. All of my furniture is from Ikea because as a student it really is all you can afford if you want new things, and they do have good designs, especially for small spaces. But I agree with what other people have said, it depends entirely on how you use their furniture. Some apartments strike me as ikea overload, but others with just as much ikea furniture don't! I think Onielia has found a pretty good balance.

I love your colour scheme, purple is my favourite colour. Your apartment looks comfortable although I'm having trouble with the shoes on display and not having any space to walk around the bed - that would bother me.

No one would knock Ikea if they found themselves without easy access to it! Besides, there's a reason why everyone recognizes certain of that company's pieces-- they sell the hell out of them there. They are useful, durable, affordable, and easy on the eyes.

So is the new word for haters now "anti IKEA" lol! Onielia you did a lovely job decorating your place. It shows that you put thought and care in planning where you placed the furniture. I am honored to have been a guest at your beautiful casa and I hope to visit again soon :]

Liking by virtue of the fact that I have that same IKEA duvet cover!

don't let the rude psuedo-designer snobbery get to you- your apartment is lovely, very liveable, and I can tell from your description that you're very proud of it- as you should be.

Thank you for entering the contest and letting see a glimpse of your home.

I really love this! It's clearly a lived-in apartment, though I'm sure it was cleaned up for submission. I love that you openly use shoes and other atypical items for decor and storage. Very smart. It's so bright, cheerful, and yet real! And I love that you used touches of purple without overwhelming the space with girliness (even with the high heels on display).

I think I've read every comment so far and I'm wondering if the ghost boyfriend is only visible to me?? Is he a lamp too? I hope so; I like my men to be enlightening as well as light-hearted! This apartment has good bones, and as the lady says, she has appropriately arranged the spaces very appealingly. Great job, Gal.

great place! i'd use some throw rugs to hide/change your rug color. that giant statue thing bugs me in front of the window. and love your 'surf' pillow in portland!

Beautifully done.

Ha ha - to recognize (and then snub) Ikea products, wouldn't one have to have spent a good deal of time at Ikea and/or perusing their catalogs?

So true Annie-O! I've been to Ikea twice in the last few weeks, so I'm pretty sure I can spot every Ikea item in these pics. But so what. Ikea makes many highly functional pieces for small spaces, they have few rivals in that category - why give oneself the grief of avoiding Ikea and finding an alternative just to prove a point?

Plus, there is lots of Ikea in these entries as a whole, and yet each space is totally individual.

Instead of snarking of the use of Ikea, why not look at how the use of the furniture is appropiate to it's application. And isn't that what good design is all about? I was always under the impression that that's what we love about our favourite Mid-Century designers.

Ikea is inexpensive, but well designed furniture. All their pieces work not only well in their original use, the pieces are also highly adaptable to new uses. It makes good design accessable to everyone. The fact that so many people use it, is testament that Ikea is very successful in it's goals.

The owner wanted to create a well designed space suitable to her needs, that also suited her modest budget. I think she has done very well.

You have my vote, but I just feel a little bit weird about the close proximity of your footwear to the kitchen, ingenious but a bit unhygenic.