anastasia's Profile

Bepst-

In some studios having the bed as an open part of the decor is optimal. However, no space plan, organizing or decorating solution will work for every space... which is why we're all addicted to AT! :)

I urge you to review my pictures in a few weeks before making up your mind, but I will attempt to explain here why dividing the space is right for me. I have a good space with fabulous natural light in a great part of town; unfortunatelly, it also has some features that make space planning a bit awkward. The placement of the heating vent, closet, front door, fireplace, and kitchen all conspire to make one place logical for the bed, in front of the windows. Seriously, if I could just move one door or half wall or get rid of that firplace (gasp! sacrilege!) i'd be all set. No divider necessary. I've been here a couple of years now and it still really bothers me. Every time I glance towards the windows, I see the stupid bed... move it, you say? Well, the only other place for it is right inside the front door... as in within an inch of hitting the bed as you enter. Not good feng shui, and a rather odd first impression to boot.

So a couple of months ago I was reading Maxwell's book and I took his advice and sat in every section of the room. I had an epiphany. If I used a divider to create a small hallway, I would actually gain useable space. My couch will finally face towards the windows! I will have the best light in my living space instead of my sleeping space Envisioning myself sitting with a book and glancing down at the gardens is what is keeping me sane through the cure process.

Lastly, I am not one to limit myself to only inviting my closest friends into my home. I invited everyone over for drinks when I'm done. Seriously, if you're ever in Boston, the offer is open. :)

For those of us who choose to live in studios, dividing the space properly can be the difference between functional and fabulous. Some are happy with functional; however, I was uncomfortable having any but my closest friends into my apartment when my bed was openly displayed.

Openly displayed? It was by the windows... taking up the most valuable real estate in the apartment. With only 275 sqare feet, options were severly limited. I was doing the cure when I had an 'aha' moment - the bed could be moved to the other side of the room (right inside the front door) if I used a divider. I finally found a sliding door to create a little hallway, and the transformation is amazing. My couch now faces those fabulous windows, and I even have room for a chair. A couple more weeks of the cure and then you're all invited for drinks!

There's a great show called "Wasted Spaces" on DIY network. It shows how to build in drawers under the eaves or shelves in a nook, and it's very creative at finding 'wasted' space to use. They even put a closet that in the attic that lowered through the ceiling to the room below.

Of course this is little help to those of us who are at the mercy of landlords, but you never know. I've adapted a few ideas to be mostly free-standing.

to my fellow sponge microwavers...
next time try adding a slice of lemon or a bit of lemon juice to the bowl of water that you microwave the sponge in. microwave for 3-5 minutes, wait 5 minutes, then use the newly cleaned sponge to wipe down the inside of the microwave -- fresh sponge, fresh microwave. ahhh!

I'm a huge fan of liquor store boxes for moving - they're sturdy and fabulous for dishes and books. and they're free. you can also use your office's copy paper boxes or boxes from the grocery store.

With all of these free boxes to be reused, why would I pay to use plastic? plastic that has to be delivered? and paid for... They need to use these boxes to deliver to the grocery stores and liquor stores - then I'll use them.

Oops! it's "mind", not "ming"

My current apartment therapy story for everyone's amusement. Enjoy!

I have a small studio (>280sqft), and I got a fabulous idea for a new floor plan: if I built a divider and created a small hallway, I could move my bed next to the front door and have all of the lovely windows for my living area. Genius, right? I also decided that as long as I'm moving everything, I may as well put some color up on the walls and FINALLY get rid of the extra junk that's shoved in every available (and not so available) corner. The holiday weekend seemed the perfect opportunity. In hindsight I'll admit that I should have started the eight week cure. I have the book, I love the book, the book is genius...

Instead, it was a bit like an 'I love Lucy' episode... and not unlike that little shuffle game where you try to put the picture back in order with only one empty square (by the way, I suck at that game). At seven o'cock on Sunday night I looked around me and didn't know whether to laugh or scream. Piles of stuff EVERYWHERE, the front door blocked, the bathroom blocked, the walls half painted. I took a deep breath and tried to decide what to do next..., oh yes, move the couch to the window wall... where's the couch? on the opposite wall, only ten feet away at most, but it's buried under a mountain of books and clothes with my bed leaning drunkenly against it and semi-full bookcases in front of that... did I mention that the couch is blocking the front door? Damn, of all the times for the alcohol to be inaccessible! I considered calling a friend for help, but A) how would they get in, and B) one more person in that tiny space and we would technically have been having sex...

It's currently three days later, and I'm slowly digging out. The couch is in position, my closet is immaculate, and the books are back on the shelves. Conversely, the walls are still only half-painted, my bed leans against a wall, and there are several stacks of boxes that I still have to go through. It's okay, I can sleep on the couch for a while. Does anyone know when the next cure starts?

The only part that tempts me is the self-cleaning part... Oh what I would give for a utility sink!

lurker2200, ignore the rules for rentals and invest in some paint. I've made a deal with my past four landlords... let me paint and I'll paint it back to navajo (nava-NO!!!) white when I leave. I've only had to honor this bargain once. Usually the next tenants love the colors and ask the landlord to keep it as is.

wende in phoenix has great suggestions for color (see above) asdo other ATers. Best of luck andlet us know how it turns out.

I looked t the FAQs on the SIGG site, which answered a lot of my questions, including this helpful bit on how to clean them...

"Rinsing your SIGG thoroughly under the faucet with warm, soapy water at the end of every day and letting it air dry with the top off provides sufficient cleaning in most cases. When more thorough cleaning is required, you can use baking soda and vinegar. For tough jobs, pick up some SIGG cleaning tablets and a SIGG brush. Do not use a hard bristled brush to clean the interior of your SIGG bottle as this may damage the liner."

They also explain not to put them in the freezer, but a fridge or a cooler is fine.

I think I'll get these as valentine's day gifts for kids I know whose moms currently reuse plastic water bottles until grotty...