apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Has potential, but I don't really get a sense of the place. I would like to see another shot of the entire area instead of the two close ups as well as better a shot of the poster that acted as the inspiration.

I do appreciate the fact that you embraced the mis-matched cookware -- I have felt that cookware sets are the equivalent of furniture sets from a furniture emporium.

i really like how in your tiny space you managed to find room for your cookbooks. mine are left with the non-fiction, not nearly as accessible!

You mention a poster as a focal point for the design, but I (literally) don't see it. I also don't see the mini sub-zero. Your description sounds good, but there isn't anything that backs it up for me.

The granite is cool, the cabinets are warm, I don't get it.

phaedrus & maryja - here are some more photos, thanks for the feedback (this is my first contest, so I'm learning as I go!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97629924@N00/458978319/in/set-72157600076311915/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97629924@N00/458961486/in/set-72157600076311915/

labchick - the cabinet color the granite color drives me nuts too... it's a rental, so I'm stuck with it, but would much prefer a white or cream cabinet. Ah well, a girl can dream, right?

FF - thanks for noticing the cookbooks, they are so dear to me and I adore that I have space for them!

sorry, just feels too cluttered for me - maybe try some some covered wall storage to clear those counters....?? The cabinet doors are not my style either, but I see how it could go w/the rest of the home....

Ahhh, gotcha, sometimes its hard to tell whose apartment is owned or rented. And who pays a designer etc etc...

Good lord, don't spill anything on that laptop!

bb - the kitchen doesn't feel at all cluttered to me, and I'm mildly OCD! Different strokes for different folks, I guess... I'd hate to have all my things hidden behind cabinet doors. Minimalism just doesn't suit me :)

labchick - oh my gosh, there was no designer at all! I can barely afford my midget kitchen, much less find enough extra cash to hire a decorator!

jon - don't tell anyone... but I move the computer when I cook ;)

There's a complete tour of the kitchen on Flickr if any of you are interested. http://www.flickr.com/photos/97629924@N00/sets/72157600076311915/

As a fellow Boston renter, I would die for that counter space! But again as a fellow Boston renter, I think you could do more with the kitchen and still keep your security deposit...

I'm all for eclecticism, but I'd agree that this kitchen seems too cluttered. There's not any kind of aesthetic to the clutter (that idea makes sense to me, but I can't articulate it properly). The styles of objects are so mismatched (namely the knicknacks on the shelf and everything over the cabinets), and those items on the cabinet are better off out of sight.

After voting, I did take a look at the flickr album. If it were my space (of course I recognize that this is very personal taste) I'd at least try to swap some of the less attractive small apps and mixing bowls over the cabinets with some of the nice ceramic baking/serving pieces.

Personal pet peeve, the 4 separate utensil crocks on the counter really bother me. You're blessed with some decent wall surface in there; I'd go with a rail system. Or at least a more efficient crock.

Still, this is an impressive makeover for a rental. I think these contests should have separate categories for owners and for renters. It's tough to compete with folks who can change out all their apps or cabinets, knock down walls, or even just paint.

sorry, i see nothing cohesive, no design element, and nothing stylisitic about this at all.

It's unfortunate that I read the comments before voting... because I had to vote NO after I saw that links to additional pictures were posted. That's not fair.

Wow, yuk! Sorry, nice lady, but this looks like it was hit by a cluttered knick-knack tornado, and not in a good way.

I understand your sentimentality, but remember this is a smallest COOLEST contest. What looks like celebratory, sentimental memento-displaying to one person, may look like a precarious, repellent, junky flea market to another. Sorry to be harsh, but this doesn't really fit the usual AT aesthetic for this contest, IMHO.

And I'm kind of wondering why so many people who rent seem to just give up and think they're totally powerless over their spaces. I rented for years before I owned, and can't think of any apartment I lived in that I DIDN'T negotiate with the landlord to make some improvements on. A reasonable, responsible property owner usually appreciates not having to do the work themselves, and are open to improvements that upgrade the unit both in aesthetic and in value, as long as they're within reason, cost, and taste. A REALLY cool landlord eill even deduct the cost of the materials off your rent - a win-win situation for everyone!

Did you even ask your landlord if you could improve upon the cabinets?

Bx, I laughed at your dramatic "yuk"!

Ultimately my kitchen is a really fun, happy place to cook, which is really all that matters in my wee world! As I mentioned before this is my first contest, so I had no idea what to expect at all... I guess the "AT aesthetic" just ain't my bag. It's been fun though, thanks to everyone who took my little tour!

Thanks for having a sense of humor about it. I'm glad YOU like your kitchen.....that's the most important thing. Cheers!

I don't understand why some people want nothing - except what they might see in a professional promo shoot - showing in a kitchen. You have to have things out if you use your kitchen. This kitchen looks entirely healthy to me. You can actually see the range of things that can be cooked in this little kitchen on a regular basis!

The thing I think this kitchen most needs, though, is more lighting. It's hard to tell from the photos and flash, but there doesn't seem to be enough of the right sort of lighting over the cook/prep area.

It looks like you cook a lot by the amount stuff you have in your kitchen and I like your use of granite. I said to myself, I actually wouldn't mind having a kitchen like that, not because I find it overwhelmingly pretty or elegant, but it looks like it functions really well for it's size. The granite is really practical for cooks, and everything looks like it has a place. Function goes a long way in making something "well-designed". Especially on a tiny budget.

Sorry, I had to vote 'no way' - it's too cluttered and the combination of the doors and the grey makes it look very aged. Surely there are better storage combinations you could employ?