Posted by Sarah, Editor-In-ChiefAfter seeing my minuscule-apartment makeover in the latest Blueprint, the first question people ask me is, "So what does it look like now?" As if I would revert to my bulky, mismatched furniture and crowded rooms. As if! Here are photos of my apartment taken last weekend. And I swear, I did not do any propping or tidying or arranging before I took these. (Please keep all neat freak/type A/OCD comments to yourselves.)
I bought most of the furniture used in the story and replaced the pretty props (robin's-egg-blue casserole dishes, ethereal framed sunprints, obscure international magazines) with my own stuff (Pyrex casserole dishes, my beloved William Steiger print, my beloved Blueprint). And I painted the rim of my old metal coffee table with white enamel to make it fit in better with the beachy scheme. The apartment's still incredibly small, but it's definitely more livable. And somehow, some way, I managed to cram 20 people into it for a martini party a few months back. No pictures of that—sorry.
UPDATE -- To answer Jennifer's questions: While I don't cook, I love to bake (witness the numerous baking books stacked on my shelves). Due to the lack of surface area in the kitchenette, this year I had to curtail my traditional holiday-cookie making until I headed home to Rhode Island. Bah humbug. As for my cleaning supplies, they're stored in the small cupboard beneath my sink.
Thanks very much!
Posted by: martha | Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at 06:04 PM
Martha, they're canvas storage boxes from West Elm.
http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&partNumber=WE-PRODa260&retainNav=true&parent_category_rn=&cmsrc=SCH
Posted by: Blueprint | Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at 02:01 PM
I cut up this issue and put the pictures in my "inspiration" book and now can't find out the answer to this question: where did the storage boxes on top of your kitchen shelves come from? I can't seem to find anything like them...
Posted by: martha | Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at 11:13 AM
It's a gorgeous space, truly, I'm very impressed. (And especially with the way you've kept it up! But where do you keep your books (or is what's out all you have?), CDs, DVDs, paperwork (bills, accounting, etc.)?
And do you (or did the designers) have suggestions for small-space furniture that wasn't a $900 sofa?
Posted by: Stephanie | Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 11:45 AM
This article gave me hope! My new place also has "masking tape yellow" walls and I can't wait to paint them. Whoever said yellow is cheerful? I feel like I'm trapped in a giant file folder whenever I sit in my living room.
Posted by: Dara | Wednesday, May 02, 2007 at 06:32 PM
I love that the desk (as shown in the magazine article) doubles as a side table and then expands giving you plenty of working space. That is a wonderfully versatile piece of furniture to have! I also love the "egg shaped vessels"... I will have to stop by IKEA to grab a few of those!
Posted by: Alaina | Sunday, April 15, 2007 at 12:23 PM
Sophia:
I was worried about the dust, too. But I bought one of those oversized feather dusters (a bright yellow one we featured in the March/April issue from Sur la Table) and it's worked great so far.
Posted by: Sarah | Tuesday, April 03, 2007 at 04:07 PM
Hi Jenn:
The egg-shaped containers are from good ole Ikea. $6 to $8 each.
Posted by: Sarah | Tuesday, April 03, 2007 at 04:04 PM
could someone tell me where you got the "egg shaped vessels" that you stored your kitchen utensils in?
thanks so much!
Posted by: Jenn | Saturday, March 31, 2007 at 08:34 PM
i've often toyed with the idea of open shelves...what do you do about the accumulation of dust??
Posted by: sophia | Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 03:37 PM
I loved this article, and found many things helpful in it. I may be moving to France for grad school in August and the apartment I want to get is even smaller than this, so it was nice to see a few means with which to make all the space count. Thanks!
Posted by: Rebecca | Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at 09:56 PM
I love the apartment!!!!! One question, if you don't cook, what's up with the huge mixer??? Also, where is your microwave and where do you store your cleaning supplies?
Posted by: Jennifer | Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at 12:58 PM
That looks great! I love everything about it. What a marvelous transformation. I have a question about the bedroom -- maybe you can post a shot -- but how is having the shelf over your bed? Are there any drawbacks? Thanks!!!
Posted by: meaghan | Wednesday, March 07, 2007 at 10:05 AM
Wow! Super pretty and very cute. Love it! Also, must just add how much I love your magazine. Found out about it while watching the Today Show live on the Labor Day Weekend. Have a nice day!
Anna
Posted by: Anna | Tuesday, March 06, 2007 at 10:25 PM
it looks beautiful! (right out of a magazine, oh wait! grin.)
Posted by: jenny | Tuesday, March 06, 2007 at 08:38 PM