Small Cool 2011

All I can think is CLUTTER! I know it's "lived in" but I would go crazy in a space like this...

The dining alcove with nice carpet and wall paint along with the 2 pictures look cute :)

Instead of buying more art, consider a bookcase. I love your book stack idea but the stacks look a little unwieldy and one looks like it's going to topple over!

My favourite part is the book area :)

jade has a beautiful, stylish and very cozy condo that reflects her lifestyle and interests. i had the pleasure of staying there one night (or a few, whose counting?) and i didnt think clutter, i thought cozy. because of the size, it does force one to stay tidy, but since when is that a bad thing? i hope she wins...i love her place.

natty go

i would like to vote for jade's small home. the placement idea for her dining area is cute as a bug in a rug...and yet elegant and cozy looking as well. one vote from me!!!!!!
yea! great look, jade!!!!!!!!...and you have a "bike"...wow...great to get out with!! i love the books!!!!! cool digs....
dr. g. jo

The dining space is really cute, but the books and the computer look really cluttery. You should get a narrow book shelf, like the crate and barrel kind that lean against the wall.

Dc is really representing this year.

Rashon aka Mr. Goodwill Hunting

like your porno pictures... :)

I would love to come home Jade's home. I love how her favorite objects are all around, not cluttered at all. Admire the bed linen too.

After seeing the dining alcove photo, I was surprised to see the style of the rest of the place. I would love to have a meal and a chat in that alcove!

@arnold
They are on bookcases.

(Granted, it is sort of delightful to me that ppl on AT can still be unaware of things that I've become accustomed to thinking of as universally known to AT (spine bookcases, expedit, Keep Calm and Carry On); it lets me imagine there's not some gigantic hivemind after all....)

re: your wallspace problem, er, you have that designated clutter hallway, store extra pieces there and rotate at whim? ^^;;

I really like the wall motifs in the clutter section, btw.

I really want to love this entry, but the old Texas furniture is just too hard to digest.

I do like the hallway with the mirror, books, bike, etc and the dining area.

Jade: ignore the neat freaks who've commented. :) I think your place looks great. And books are NEVER a bad thing.

I do like those upholstered dining chairs. But the rest of the apartment seems incohesive.

And man, I hate porno art in dining rooms.

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions!

A bookshelf is warranted, but the one I want built is quite expensive so the stacked shelving will have to suffice for now.

As for the "porno" art. Those are actually two signed pieces by Jon Reich, an artist who died in the 90's from AIDS and who signed those in the '80's. ttp://jonreichartgallery.angelfire.com/

They were a gift from my sister and actually worth a little something now.

And computer needs a new home, but the real solution is a laptop!

All of the homes in SMALL/COOL are inspirational and have given me great design ideas so slowly but surely I'll implement some as the time "and finances" come along. Cheers. Jade

i actually really like the nudes in the dining nook, but dislike prints with the artist's name as a border/faux -matte - a bit ostentatious. (btw -"died of aids" isn't a badge of honor, it's a virus that affects over 1 million americans right this moment). i think a nice light colored slip cover on the sofa & chair would refresh the space immeasurably. nice work jade :)

The print over the bed is Parvez Taj. You can see his work and buy online at http://www.parveztaj.com/

I love the "READ" print. Where is it from?

I have to say that you did a fantastic job with the dining area. It's really wonderful and very, very stylish.

Now, as nicely as I can, I'm going to comment on the rest of your place. You have very good ideas, but I do think you'd live more comfortably with a few changes.

LIVING ROOM
I get that you don't want to be facing the kitchen, but I really think you might have considered putting the couch with its back to the wall, the TV armoire on the wall next to the window, and the chair somewhere in there facing both the couch and the TV. That would make everything more spacious. Also, since you're buying art, why not buy a flat-screen TV and put it on the wall or else a bookshelf?

THE KITCHEN
Is there no way to disguise the wood cabinets? And the island can be parked next to the window, giving you more space. In your place, I'd hang a curtain or a shade in front of the kitchen, or I'd put a room divider in front of it. Something that's easy to move for access to the kitchen, but that would make the wood cabinets less obvious.

In thinking about this: Hang a curtain rod from the ceiling about a foot in front of the kitchen and hang floor-to-ceiling curtains. It would be great to use the color you have in the dining nook, or else the same color as the walls.

THE HALLWAY WITH BOOKS
Man, please get a Kindle and a bookshelf, preferably with doors that close so that you're not dealing with a dust problem. There's just too much going on there. It must be a nightmare to clean.

THE BEDROOM
I'm not going to tell you to get rid of your California King bed; it's clearly something you value. I think you might consider switching out the bedside tables though. What you have might work in a huge Texas house, but the furniture is too bulky for a small apartment.

Lastly, I rarely critique apartments because I think it's harsh. I hope my suggestions don't seem too negative to you. Frankly I think you have a good eye but you've been in Texas a very long time and you're used to the humongous furniture. Plus I think some small changes would make your apartment drop-dead gorgeous.

I totally agree that this place seems like two different apartments. The dining alcove is just lovely--stylish in every way. The rest of the place? Not so much.

Geez.....I hate to say it but this entry is kind of disappointing. I agree that it appears to be different apts. I appreciate the candid pictures, however (I hate artsy crap for these contests). I think your dining area is a great start, but this apt seriously lacks a cohesive furniture theme/color scheme. But, I'd love to see an new & improved House Tour someday!

looks like a place you can really relax. Not staged

I had a thought about the curtain I suggested in front of the kitchen. You could get a painters' tarp, they're about $25, and they come in huge sizes, like 10x12. Then I'd paint something else, perhaps your nook, perhaps the rest of the living room, in a color matching the tarp/curtain.

I love the first picture with the two John Reichs, but for me, it ends there.

I think its the couch and chair that are setting people "off" - the color and style just doesn't fit the rest of your apartment. I would consider getting something a little sleeker and modern and maybe in a taupe or even red color to go with the curtains in the kitchen and the wonderful throw pillows you have. Oh, and I personally love the "cluttered" hallway. Love the books, the chair, the sign that says "read", the mirror and even the bike. :)

I like the dining area, and I agree with a couple of the other comments that a narrow bookshelf with a geometric feel (like IKEA's Billy, or stacked cubes) would look amazing and help the hallway fit the rest of your lovely place :)

Lawd have mercy, those couches. Burn em.

Although the furniture is not my style, I still get the sense of this being a great space for the person who actually lives here. I even like the look of the hallway, though books stored vertically make me nervous.

Love your style, and layout!!! please let us know where your duvet is from :)

I think the couch could be made nice by adding some light-coloured pillows and better lighting. The bedroom furniture is way too chunky for my taste but it looks comfortable for someone who appreciates it.

Read...Indeed. I love the stacks of books. So original but I get nervous just looking at them as I am afraid they will fall over. I guess you don't live in an earthquake region.

I had some kitchen cabinets like that in a rented apartment and I hated them but there wasn't anything I could think to do with them. If they were just flat I could have put some contact paper or wallpaper on them but since they have that groove in it, that wasn't possible.

the "read" sign on the wall is awesome!

The READ sign is from Pier 1. The comforter is from Bed Bath, but about a year ago, so may not have it in stock anymore.

Coffee table from Good Good in D.C. http://www.goodwooddc.com/ They have incredible finds and very affordable.

Table top from Second Chance in Baltimore. it came from old restaurant that went out of business. I had the table base (metal) made by a guy here in D.C. http://www.secondchanceinc.org/

Another store to check out is Miss Pixies in D.C. http://www.misspixies.com/home/index4.shtml and Old Lucketts store just outside of D.C. in Leesburg area http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/stores/the-old-lucketts-antique-storewashington-dc-052878

I've bought a lot of furniture, patio furniture from these stores and they are great to find unique items.

A note on the couches...........yes, I'm aware they arent as hip as most would like, but they are very comfy and will do just find for now. Cheers! Jade

dining area is awesome. the upholstered chairs are featured well. room for improvement in the living area :)