tbd's Profile

Ron: you have a really great apartment and you deserved recognition! Congratulations on all your hard work paying off.
You did some inexpensive upgrades, but not a complete tear-out and renovation. In my opinion as a renter you had a special challenge to work with what was there, and you rose to that challenge. My suggestion is not that homeowners be excluded, but that there be two prize categories.
Also I don't think that designers who enter their own homes should be excluded, but I do think that those who hired outside designers were not quite in the same DIY spirit that Apartment Therapy seems to embrace.
Don't let our squabbling over rules and categories ruin your glory. Enjoy!

This is a great contest. I really enjoyed watching it.

However I think there is the need for 2 categories: renter and homeowner. It's really not fair to the rental entries to be compared to someone who can do a complete renovation, remodel, etc... I'd like to know the statistics of homeownership among the winners, or even among the semi-finalists. It seems to me that an inordinate proportion of them were owners. Custom built-in anything is just not an option for someone who is renting. They have to be more creative by working only with furnishings, and possibly paint. If you're really interested in an apples-to-apples contest, you will split it into two categories next year. Otherwise you are unquestionably favoring homeowners by default, by inaction.

Thanks again for a very enjoyable time!

Laura, among the entrants that placed, you definitely should have come in first! Such a striking apartment!

Nice and neat, but a little bland. I am hoping you add more color.