annoushka's Profile

I like some of the pics from last year better. If it's a Tumbleweed home model, the toilet is opposite the shower. Also, they usually have a front porch that is about 3'x10', which accounts for the missing 30 sq ft from last year.

I've always lived in very small apartments, including a 350 sq foot studio that was a finalist in Small, Cool once. I have done countless projects, ranging from upholstering wingback chairs and refinishing a dresser to sewing quilts to making 25 paintings over the course of two weeks for an installation. Tarps are your friend. Making time for set up and clean up each day is key for multi-day projects. Yes, you walk past it on a daily basis. I also always had a dedicated cabinet for the DIY supplies, so at the end of a day all the tools/supplies are put away, and only the project itself is in the way.

I have done this for friends, but I live in Boston. Most commercial furniture is NOT built to be disassembled, so you have to find a person who is not afraid to break and then rebuild. Find a handyman with upholstery experience (Craigslist might help). Most likely, they would need to take off some upholstery, break a couple connection points, reattach once in the room, and fix the upholstery.

That said, have you tried the window? Sometimes the window diagonal is greater than the door.

We used to have a display at the Boston IKEA that was 250 square feet. I can't recall if it's still there, I haven't been to the store in a year. However, my last apartment was 350 square feet (I was a finalist in the Small Cool a few years back) and it was probably more liveable than this sample...

I have a version of this rack from when I did not have a closet - http://www.amazon.com/Collapsible-Folding-Clothing-Rack-Salesmans/dp/B0038Z7BK6

It stores pretty flat under a bed.

I think the Hospital building is fantastic, and could benefit from creative re-use. However, the points brought up by commenters here are not taking into account all facts that are evident from the articles about this debate:

1. The hospital that was housed in the building has been moved to a newer facility in 2007.

2. Northwestern does not intend to build another hospital in its place. It wants to put up a high-rise that will house offices and research labs for the Medical School.

3. A person of authority with the Northeastern facilities management contends that the University if not interested in creative re-use, and would like to move on with demolition because "demolition bids came in relatively cheap and he wants to take one while he can."

So really, it comes down to economics and private ownership vs. cultural significance, and economics usually win in the end, no matter how sad that might be.

The "hinged hoops" are called "D Rings", at least in theatre. I am not sure they have another name in hardware parlance. They came to theatre and general tie-down hardware from sailing, since most things that have to do with ropes etc. developed from sailing.

@twnt1andcounting - same set of buildings as the one you lived in, on Boylston, looking over Fenway Park. Of course, when I moved in 4 years ago, the rent was only $1000, and it's up to $1100 now.

The OP mentioned they will have vehicles, which means ANY of the neighborhoods suggested will be easily navigated. As a car owner in the Fenway, I have to defend the 'hood to the person who said parking is limited in most neighborhoods - it's been my experience that resident parking is sufficient most days. Yes, you have to jockey with the Sox crowds for paring sometimes, but the city has gotten pretty good about ticketing and towing non-residents from resident spots, and in 6 years living in the Fens, I have trouble finding parking on average of once every couple of months.

No, I would not own a car in the South End, Back Bay, North End etc, but I think the OP is priced out of those neighborhoods regardless. It is ridiculously easy to park in JP, Fenway, South Boston, Cambridge/Somerville, Medford, Allston/Brighton if you are a resident. You have to pay for parking in Brookline. I don't have enough experience with Chelsea and East Boston to comment.

For anyone who commented on the art above the sofa - thank you! Those art pieces hold special significance for me. When I was a child, I spent countless hours in a puppet theatre where my parents worked, and the 3 large prints are posters from some of those productions, designed by a family friend. The 6 prints below are reproductions of early 20th century Russian adverts.

Thank you everyone for the lovely comments. This is the “handy” half of the couple speaking. I am always impressed by the variety of opinions this site inspires!

To clear up the confusion expressed by a couple of you – the area by the entrance serves a couple of purposes – it’s a landing strip, dressing room, and craft room. It’s separated form the main living area by sliding panels because neither of us likes to stare at the entry door while in bed. This also provides virtual separation from the crafting clutter if it goes on longer than a day. The seemingly extraneous table unfolds width-wise and becomes a dining table for 6 or a sewing/painting surface. It’s pretty much the only piece of furniture we’ve hung onto for close to a decade, because it’s so versatile.

yvesy – the lamp is from IKEA, much like the rest of the apartment. It’s SAMTID, but they recently redesigned the metal parts to be in a chrome finish instead of powdered grey…

waterlily – it’s great to find like-minded no-TV and sofa-sleeping readers, most of our friends think we are weird☺

emmelemm – well, why, yes, I DO take commissions☺

sassydo - the sofa is TYLOSAND from IKEA. It’s all foam, and takes a mattress pad that is hidden in a closet by day.

rugbyroad – the kitty litter is in the weird hallway leading to the bathroom, and they get fed in the kitchen.

michpc – the cabinets have been painted over the original wood in crappy white at least 40 years ago, you can’t even see the wood detail anymore, so we definitely enhanced it. This is a rental, otherwise we would have just re-done the kitchen.

Thank you again for the attention, keep the commentary coming!