ellearRVA's Profile

This is really helpful as I'm currently fawning over this bed online! I previously had an similar style bed (it had a curved iron though on the headboard and footboard..circa 2002-ish). I craigslist'd it and got the Ikea Hopen frame two years ago which I love as well, although a pain to put together (major understatement!). Now I'm in the market to replace my current full size Hopen with a queen and new frame and after reading reviews I'm 99.9% sure this is what I'm coming home with. Gotta love AT for posts like this!

Really curious to see all these suggestions as my main hesitation with loft living has always been how the layout works against privacy/noise....

I second @Aninhas this is definitely my dream home. So much character! And to see it rescued and restored to its original glory...love it!

I agree-these are great suggestions for both college students and even recent grads (like myself) who aren't ready/don't have the money to spend on items that probably cost a months rent. Items like the Lack shelf (love that!) are great pieces for the interim. Noone expects them to last forever but they give you something nice at an affordable price until you are more settled.

@pier723 - I also have my tv/sofa set up the same way and it works well for me since I like to lay down and watch tv at night. I also like that it takes away the focus on the living room being for tv watching and allows me to configure my sofa and chairs in a way thats better for guests.

I think @shannonashley has a good suggestion with the bamboo roman shades to cut down on the light. As for noise blocking, my suggestion would be thick drapes of some kind.

Its funny because as much as I love the open floor plan of lofts, my main reason for never really considering them in my rental searches has been because of issues like this. Noise carries so much in lofts even with the addition of rugs, drapes, etc. But those additions do seem to help my friends who live in lofts.

I love seeing the IKEA Stockholm Rand rug in AT posts :) I have it as well in my living room so its nice to see how others style around such a bold rug!

@zimmerwoman- yes! Here in Richmond, VA its 101F - HOT! My living room is a wall of floor to ceiling windows facing direct sun up on the 3rd floor of my building. It gets hot in there! On top of tuning up my AC in preparation for the scorching summer, I also purchased the light blocking thermal curtains. I just clipped them to the existing curtain rings and voila! Heat be gone! It’s a tad dark for my taste (I'm a girl who loves natural light) but my apartment stays cool which is the main thing!

I love your bedroom, at first I thought the curtains were a little wacky but actually after a second look I sort of like them hung low like that! Can I ask what neighborhood you live in in Baltimore? I love Baltimore but really don't know the area very well even though I keep finding myself there for business :)

Also question in regards to all the Small Cool 2011 contestants but am I the only one who is dying to know the rental prices/neighborhoods of these apartments? I'd love to know what a certain amount of money can get you in other cities where I've heavily considered moving to.

Not my style but I can't express how impressed I am! Fantastic makeover!