Small Cool 2011

what's not to love here ? Even the floorplan should be framed.

Go Amherst!

Susan, I'm going to need you to move out as soon as possible. Please leave everything as is (even the cat which looks exactly like mine). I plan to become an architect as well, so leave all of that just as it is. Good luck wherever you go and keep in touch.

LOVE your place!

Love everything about it! And the pretty kitty doesn't hurt...

Gawjus!

Your place is great, Susan. Here's hoping you win!

Beautiful space and beautiful kitty! :)

I love the space you've created!

Beautiful!

I miss Amherst..

love your home - it's warm and inviting and original.

Where is your coffee table from?

This is wonderful! One of my faves so far. I would curtain off that drafting area, then when you want to leave a creative mess, just pull the curtains.

Nice Place - a Virgo's paradise!

Beautiful house!!! I love the hanging man.

Thanks for all the nice comments everyone! Casey, the coffee table was a gift from a friend whose dad bought it new in the '60s. It's signed on the underside by Simon Watts. It could use refinishing, but I love it.

What a beautiful little house! I want to see more!

You're home is great! I feel your pain about space for painting. I often have more than one going at a time so they tend to take up a lot of room. Your home seems very warm and cozy.

Gorgeous architecture matched and enhanced by your superb sense of design! Perfect for a creative soul's loft-life!

I LOVE it! Is your Santo on the wall vintage? If not, I'd adore knowing where you got it! :)

I could live here. I love this place: so warm, and bright, so much wood, evenn the cat is wonderful. I wanna it, all of this. House tour please, I wanna see the bathroom and closet below stairs.

Are those Ikea Billy bookcases?

This one is my favorite! I love the place, and I love what you've done with it. It looks like a comfortable place to live and work.

Is this in a cohousing development? Just kind of has that feeling, but really nice windows and exposed timbers.

This is... my favourite place on AT EVER!!!!! I am so so madly in love with this place. Green with envy. I would LOVE a place like this- I'm on the hunt and have been for years. Just can't seem to find it... :(
This is being saved as images on my laptop so I can look at the pictures and sigh for months to come...

This is amazing, I absolutely love the clean look of it all and the red framed windows - this may be my favorite so far!

You'll find it, just hang in there melissacj.

I adore this place! Thank you for sharing.

I love your "creative space" with the desk, flat files, and organized shelves. I'm going to copy your setup for my spare bedroom/art studio.

I'm lovin' how she didn't smack a picture about the couch. It looks beautiful without one as the bookcase is magnificent.

I meant "above" the couch. Btw, how old is your condo as it reminds of the the half-timber houses in Germany?

My favorite of all the Small Cool entries so far.

Perfect ... just perfect! The size of the place is fantastic, and your design choice is beautiful. I want to live there!

I love the red chair and how the rug complements it so well. Actually, I love everything about this place. Simply beautiful.

Thanks again everyone. You guys are making my day! To answer a few questions:

@ Halo Hill - the Santo is the Virgin of Guadalupe and was made in Mexico. I bought her at Two Hands Paperie in Boulder, Colorado.

@ kellyk- Yes, the shelving in the work area is two Billy bookcases from Ikea.

@ daylight and @ ts - No, this is not a co-housing community. It's a very unusual condo community with 50+ units, built in 1974. I did extensive renovating when I bought the place 3.5 years ago.

@ Ofelia -I'm sorry to say you would be disappointed in the bathroom! It's the only area I didn't renovate. (I just had to stop somewhere.) I hope I can get to that some time in the future.

@melissacj - Don't give up! You'll find your home.

Bravo! Excellent use of color, form, light, and cat.

I love how well put together your place is. Not cluttered at all even though there's a good amount of furnishings....same color of wood furnishings makes it all tie in nicely as well.

Very nice, indeed.

Although I have a family that I love, I have to admit that while viewing these photos, I had the sudden intense desire to live alone (with a pet) in this incredible place! You've made a beautiful, practical, day-dreaming inspiring living space. Two thumbs up!

when can i move in? this is the nicest apartment i have seen in a long time - fabulous

Wow... this place is MUCH nicer than anything I had in Amherst.
Amazing style, love the apartment.

nice! cute plans!

Absolutely beautiful. The architecture of the place is unique and you have only added to it. Love every bit about it.

Ooh, this is lovely. Such a cozy cottage feel, while being modern, simple, and stylish.

love it ; very cosy and beautiful but the most beautiful thing there is your cat! :) so cute....

Very warm and inviting. Love the use of red throughout your home.

want, want, want! I love this space.

This home gives me a warm cozy feeling. It is so beautiful and healthy looking. You have done such an excellent job with your home. I hope YOU win!

I want a little house with exactly this layout! I especially like the choice of light wood and the dark rose pink accents (and the cat.)

Can you tell us a little about the wood character hanging on the wall in the window seat? I love it! It is so charming! What is it called and where did you come across something so quaint? Can we see a close up picture?

@ changedmymind: The figure is a sculpture made from trash by the late Matthew Leighton (from Greenfield, Mass.), who named him "Warwick." I can put a photo of him on my blog which you can access through the link in my profile. Most of Matthew's work was made from metal refuse. Warwick is mostly wood, which is unusual. I think his hair is made from an old blueberry rake. Thanks for asking!

@ changedmymind: Well, the light isn't very good right now. I'll try to get a good shot some time in the near future.

I'm in love. Your drafting table/flat file area is fantastic, the lofted bedroom, the exposed timbers. *sigh*

Hooray Amherst! As Amy said, this is worlds above anywhere I lived while attending UMass (Townhouses/Puffton anyone?) Your crafting area is fantastic and your kitchen is really beautiful... and not a Solo cup in sight ;)

Not much to say that hasn't already been said here, but you definitely have my vote!

The black bookcase in the living room is striking and a wonderful contrast with all the wood. It's nice too to see bookcases with books.

Perfection!!!

I like your place, and your cat.

Officially a favorite! I adore your home ... stunning, earthy, peaceful and warm. So many beautiful shades of wood and greenery ... a perfect backdrop for such clever placements of rich color.

Oh & LOVE the kitchen, living room & office storage. Please tell me ... did you anchor your shelves to your walls? I'm asking because I want to stack my book cases, hope that anchoring isn't necessary; but, want to do what's best for safety. Does anyone know the rules about this or what's recommended? Here's info on my shelving ...

My shelving is four very heavy, solid wood units (that have two shelves each) lined up in a row like a sofa table. I'd like to stack them so that there are 2 rows of 2 units. Each unit measures 20 ins wide, 15-17 ins deep (the front of the unit slants outward) & 31 ins tall. If you are familiar with Arhaus furniture, you may have an idea of how heavy their furniture can be. I'm thinking that I don't need to anchor them since they are so heavy and have a solid footprint (more like cubes than your standard shelves that have a shallow depth). I do know that anchoring is a must if shelving isn't heavy, sturdy, etc.

Thanks for any info you can share.

You've got my vote!

My nephew lives in one of those fabulous townhouses and I am in love with it. I'm across the river and your homes are the only ones that leave me feeling like I wish I lived in Amherst! You've done great things with your space.

Just wondering if GreenKey has anything to do with where you went to school...

Thanks again for all the great comments everyone!
@lifeabundant: No, my bookshelves are not anchored to the walls. You're making me think that perhaps they ought to be, but so far, no mishaps!
@AmySRQ: No, GreenKey doesn't have anything to do with school. I dreamt it up many years ago and have used it in various ways over the years. I'm not the only one - I've seen it in a bunch of places online.

I love the open beams and the kitchen. The entire place looks very comfortable and functional. It reminds me of homes in the rocky mountains that I love.

Wonderful home, such a nice feel and comfort to it! I love how beautifully it is decorated and your sweet kitty makes it complete!

I marked this as a favorite the first day I saw it. I only wish I could vote for it again and again. Brilliant use of space and the decorating just feels very warm and homey yet modern and uncluttered.