hollyann's Profile

I think it is so SO cute! I have a bedroom with two small closets, side-by-side just like that, and little floor space.

My first thought when I saw this was: what a great way to allow for maximum play space in a shared bedroom. Plus, what kid does want a secret hiding space to sleep in?

I also agree with "typwc" about changing it to bohemian later on. Perfect!

I would make the center of the room a very open "living room" area, with couch and chairs, and defined by a large area rug. Then put your bed against the back wall, under one window. Opposite the bed, I would either have a desk area or a dining table area (depending on what you use most). You may even have room for both! Keep the closet as a closet/dressing area (everyone needs storage).

My thoughts (ala Tetris).

Flip your desk to the opposite wall, and push right up against the wardrobe. Put your shelves on the other side of the desk, right up against it. So, it is wardrobe, desk, shelves.

With all your bulky furniture pushed together, on the same wall, it might create the illusion of a "built in" unit of shelves and desk. It also frees up some floor space.

Next, place a rod (or hang a tension pole) across the top of the wardrobe and shelves (over the desk). You can hang a poster, art, some pictures, or a piece of pretty fabric down from the rod. All without puncturing the wall in any way.

The opposite side of the room: get another chair, and place them both along that wall, with your coffee table between them. This is your sitting area. Very inviting when you first walk into the room. You could eventually replace them with a couch.

You could also find something to lean against the wall behind them - a large mural on posterboard perhaps? A room divider placed leaning against the wall? Anything to approximate some paint or wall paper.

I agree with the others, move the microwave into the kitchen. Use that little table it currently sits on as your Landing Strip, instead. You may even be able to find some sort of hooks that you can attach from the storage area, to go above the little table.

Use the storage area as storage, but try to make it pretty, not an eye sore. When you lay down in bed, you don't want clutter to make you anxious.

Finally, get some see-through, white, gauzy curtains, and a tension pole. Hang the tension pole above the edge of the platform your bed is on. The curtains will create the illusion of a room divider, to section off your "bedroom." But you will still get the light from your window!

There is absolutely no place in the city where you will not hear trash trucks once a week. Or sirens, or protests, or honking cars. This is not New York, but it still a major metropoliatan city. If peace and quite is your thing, think suburbs. However, there are many places that would be more removed than RIGHT BESIDE the dumpster.

I would worry about pests and smell. There are rats the size of small dogs in DC, and mice, and roaches. You might want to check on how your new landlord deals with such things. Will they call an exterminator for you? Will they spray for bugs?

As far as smell goes... a good Hepa Air Purifier will rid the air of smells, clean the air in your apartment, and act as white noise in the apartment. All in one!

One final thought - are you sure they come on Saturday? My trash gets picked up at 6:00am every Tuesday morning.

I would also love to see more posts on house plants. I am interested plants that are good for allergy sufferers.

Obviously, any flowering plants are bad news due to the pollen. But, I keep hearing that the current moss trend may also be bad for people who struggle with allergies because they basically shoot mold spores into the air. Is this true?

Also, we all know mold can grow in the dirt of house plants. Is there any way to combat this without killing the plants?

Thanks in advance to anyone who knows...

Oo! I love the little tree and planter. What kind of tree is that, and where did you find the planter?

Love it! But, I think I'd like it more if the whole staircase had been updated. The old grainy wood kind of contrasts in a bad way. Imagine if it were a new modern staircase design with the mirrors....cute!

"Quiltmaster" is completely correct! Put some vases filled with water in your window sills, or leave an in of water in the bathtub and you will naturally humidify your home. Another creative solution is putting vases or glasses of water on top of the radiator - heat and humidify in one step!

OOOOOooo... where can I find that coffee table?

My boyfriend's entire house is that medium-tone wood. I found that stone greys, warm beiges and bright greens (think lime) colors actually work very well with it.

I got my color- pallette inspiration from watching ABC's Brothers & Sisters. The set of the "walker" house mixes a lot of wood tones with "earthy" greens, beiges and grays. Beautiful!