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International #1: Aad's Compact Dwelling (Suitable for Laziness)

Here come the internationals! Sorry for the delay and watch out, because these folks will blow you away with their cool international style and the seductive accent of their words ;-).

Name: aad
Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Size: 624 sf
Rent/Own: Rent

What is the advantage of SMALL? I really like my compact dwelling because I'm Iazy and hate cleaning. Different functions are close together, you're never far from a beer in the fridge ha. This particular apartment I truly love because there's large windows and light coming from three directions into the room, all windows surrounded by large trees giving you the ultimate tree house feel...

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What is the advantage of SMALL? CONT'D

I tried to keep the focus of the livingroom onto all that green as much as possible, so left the walls relatively uncovered. Shiney white flocked wallpaper on one wall reflects a lot of light into the small and dark hallway to liven that up as well. Nothing beats reading a book in that open window in summer, it's like sharing a tree branch with the birds. That's why small is cool.

What's your favorite resource for your home?

Ebay, flea markets, Ikea for bookshelves and kitchen stuff, loods5.nl furniture&design outlet store for lamps and pillows.


What is your one favorite element in your small, cool home?

The windowsill that I built to to fully enjoy the view of the trees and the garden, at the same time storing my AV equipment, cd's and dvd's in the crates underneath. Tried to maintain the feel of a tree house by using scrap timber for the crates and the dining table.

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Small Cool 2008 - International

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Comments (57)

Is this the same "aad" of the happy artwork and dandelion wallpaper? (I miss the dandelion wallpaper!) But, gorgeous apartment and personal style...

posted by Anokha on 2008-04-18 11:35:03
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wow, this is my favorite so far. i love the big, low, lighting fixtures, which some may have been afraid to go for in the small space, and the mixture of modern and cozy. but is it fair? aren't the Europeans always better at this?

posted by buyersremorse on 2008-04-18 11:38:44
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where did the leather arm chair in the office come from?

posted by mschatelaine on 2008-04-18 11:39:41
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Europeans ARE better! They drip cool from their little pinkies.

I'm sure I'm going to be referring back to the LR (and prob. the kitchen) pics for inspiration.

posted by Pixie on 2008-04-18 11:42:14
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I like the long low cabinet-bench tucked under the windows, wide plank floors and clean-lined dining table. Nice work!

posted by lightspeed on 2008-04-18 11:42:46
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I love this! It is hard for me though. I have this weird appeal for color in my life, but then I go overkill and it looks like rainbow bright died in my bedroom!

The subdued color and bright directional light in you kitchen and living room make the space. I also love your use of grey. By choosing the yellow to accent it really pops! ;D

posted by Rookster on 2008-04-18 11:42:51
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yeah yeah...it's perfect...

posted by Frau on 2008-04-18 11:51:37
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Thats what I'm talkin' about!!

posted by HeatherT.O. on 2008-04-18 11:57:33
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i love the island in the kitchen

posted by Enamorada on 2008-04-18 11:58:01
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I love this one--it's my favorite so far! Clean lines without looking sparse. Lived in, and graced with a lot of organic, softening touches. It looks like a well-organized, functional, and aesthetic space. Very inspiring!

posted by OneWallKitchen on 2008-04-18 12:00:45
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Love it!

posted by Rob in PDX on 2008-04-18 12:00:51
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Really lovely.

posted by jennifer in sf on 2008-04-18 12:08:21
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Now THIS is small and cool!! I love love love it. I want those giant kitchen light fixtures. Don't change a thing.

posted by spaceagemouse on 2008-04-18 12:09:00
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I love it -- especially the low bench in the living room that both props up the TV and provides clever storage. Buuuut, I'd be totally hesitant to do any kitchen prep on that glass island -- I think I'm too accident-prone and I'd miss what I was cutting and break it with one swift chop (accidentally, of course).

posted by darcidoodle on 2008-04-18 12:09:02
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for some reason this year entries did not impress me much.I do not know if it is just me or is it because we saw so many apartments through AT, that we are now looking for unique, sophisticated and creative solutions apt only.

But I appreciate that people are opening their doors and sharing their homes here.

I love how the light enters to the room, in this. It is so beautiful. Kudos for making the living room, green.

and the kitchen & reading nook are so inviting.

posted by New York Muhtari on 2008-04-18 12:11:03
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I love this place! The kitchen table is great. Who makes it?

posted by pronetowonder on 2008-04-18 12:17:09
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Wow, not only do I love your home but your fat cats are awesomely adorable!

posted by suziegoombs on 2008-04-18 12:21:42
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Looks great! And in the "small world department" -- I am toally amused to read that sources (Ebay, flea markets, Ikea) are the same on the other side of the Atlantic. Thanks for showing your place -- dank u!

posted by Mid-C Frank on 2008-04-18 12:50:01
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this home is just gorgeous! beautiful, comfortable and filled with light! you don't even notice the size!!!

posted by susie b on 2008-04-18 12:54:23
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This one is a WINNER.
Nice light pieces.
Pulled out from the walls too. Good.
Yet still filled with every-day things, and comfortable.
Well done.

posted by paulmuscat on 2008-04-18 13:04:03
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marvelous!

posted by STYLeyes on 2008-04-18 13:05:06
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I am such a sucker for the European entries, every year. I don't know if it's the light or what.

posted by beamish on 2008-04-18 13:11:14
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I am so wild for this apartment that I find myself forced to (mis)quote post GoGo's Belinda Carlisle.

Heaven is a apparently a place on earth after all.

posted by anablackburn on 2008-04-18 13:13:57
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Gorgeous. Kind of minimalist, but still cozy & warm. Love!!

posted by gryt on 2008-04-18 13:17:24
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winner

posted by reiskid on 2008-04-18 13:28:10
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Oh my goodness I love the.....EVERYTHING about this..100% yes.

posted by AndreaU on 2008-04-18 13:32:16
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Love the living/kitchen rooms. One question though - did you paint the floor white in the living room? Where does this stop when you get to the kitchen?

posted by Hilary P on 2008-04-18 13:33:56
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so pretty

posted by sarahduckie on 2008-04-18 13:50:13
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Jealous.

posted by Ramstone on 2008-04-18 13:57:08
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um, i voted cool but... is the roof terrace part of the apartment too? just curious...

posted by saya* on 2008-04-18 14:14:36
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Loved this! Would have liked to see the roof terrace though. Very cute how there is a kitty in several pics. I voted super cool.

posted by suzy8track on 2008-04-18 14:21:47
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No Saya*, DAK terrace is ROOF terrace. Ik woonde in nederland vorije jaar! This is by far the best entry so far. It could be in a magazine. My favorite elements are the dining table and chairs, the island, open shelving, wall storage and lights in the kitchen, and the dark colors on the walls in the den and bedroom. Oh en de tulpen, natuurlijk-miss those!

Really gorgeous!

posted by Tiffany on 2008-04-18 14:23:02
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I am loving this! Thanks for a breath of fresh air from the other side of the pond. And that kitchen! This is the kind of eccelecticism that I was hoping for from the US entries. Not quite so sure what happened there.

posted by DesignGod on 2008-04-18 14:35:22
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...and fat cats they are. Great space!

posted by VickyA on 2008-04-18 14:40:55
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winner thus far

this years competition is really tired...

us Americans just don't get it

posted by fowkswe on 2008-04-18 14:55:18
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This is really great.

posted by otis on 2008-04-18 15:19:50
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I really like how airy and composed the space feels.

Not that small though... 624 sq ft is not small.

posted by LuckyMonkey on 2008-04-18 15:25:52
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Aad, you know I love it. :)

posted by gretchen on 2008-04-18 15:39:45
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Maybe my standards are too high but I say "okay" at best.
Love those fat cats though.

I Like the big windows and the white living room.
Not a fan of the storage solution under the TV.

The bedroom looks very inviting.

posted by Mr. Dangerous on 2008-04-18 15:57:38
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probably the best so far. Hope there will be a lot more European entries to follow.

posted by Nina79 on 2008-04-18 17:03:29
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aad here. thank you all for the kind remarks so far. will try to answer some questions posted.

---

~ message from my kitties: "us iz not fat, we haz big bones"

~ yes I'm *happy art/dandelion* aad. but I moved, and had to leave the dandelion behind. that's how wallpaper works unfortunately.

~ the leather chair in the den was thrifted. next to it is a dark red version. they were called *cocktail chairs* here and popular in the seventies. very comfortable reading chairs.

~ the glass kitchen island is not for sale anywhere, but a versatile shop-window display case from an electronics store. didn't cost me much.

~ livingroom floors were put in by myself and painted very light-grey right up to the kitchen area, where I used a different kind of wood to mark the area.

~ roof terrace is shared with the other tenants in the building. beautiful outdoor area, and I'll be happy to add pictures of it if we make it to the next round.


thank you all! :-) aad

posted by aad on 2008-04-18 18:42:53
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All i can say is, the Dutch are fabulous! but we knew that already

posted by moddog on 2008-04-19 00:37:14
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I like the glass kitchen (and the rest of the apartment) very much too, but I bet it's a pain to keep clean.

posted by lolax on 2008-04-19 02:01:51
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LOVED you previous apartment, and LOVE this apartment as well! I really hope you make it to the finals because I want to see more pics - more more more!

- From a fellow Dutch AT-er

posted by f.in.eur on 2008-04-19 02:24:48
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loving the open windows and the lack of unnecessary curtains, the shelf/ledge/windowseat, the white floors, and the white vs. dark bedroom/office.

one of the best.

posted by healthyhome on 2008-04-19 13:15:31
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If this is the same aad person that was so belligerent with my entry then I have a present for you if and when you arrive, otherwise your space is magnificent.

Captures exactly what this comp is about. The principal with the living style in this place is not far off from the way I choose to live.

At least you have good taste to back up your abrubt commenting.

posted by recon1 on 2008-04-20 10:53:50
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love it! Yellow is my favorite color and I love your pillows. Fresh fruit always looks to pretty too. Love your dining table.

posted by denverdigs on 2008-04-20 22:04:04
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Nice. I really want to see more.

posted by Caitlin in Seattle on 2008-04-21 02:06:37
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Fabulous. I can't decide if I prefer it by day or by night.

posted by Lesley - London on 2008-04-26 15:29:40
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i dont understand why this rated so high, this is very unimpressive. another garage sale turned apartment.

posted by 519Wilson on 2008-04-29 03:43:08
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A winner! Where did you purchase the white bench in the living room?

posted by DebiG on 2008-05-03 00:28:38
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this one is my favourite of the finalists. love how vintage and modern melt together. very vivid looking home with a lot of nice details.

posted by gunstreetgirl on 2008-05-03 07:26:45
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Simply beautiful!

Question for you - do your kitties nibble the food on the lower level of the kitchen cart?

posted by KathinCO on 2008-05-08 17:21:11
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This is my favorite of the European finalists too. It's so unpretentious.

posted by zephy on 2008-05-09 09:28:22
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This is gorgeous, and I love how comfortable it looks.

posted by SandytheDandy on 2008-05-12 13:32:54
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If I were your cat I'd be one lucky, happy kitty. What a cozy home for you both!

posted by charlitstar on 2008-05-14 21:24:24
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this house is shining!!!

posted by pindik on 2008-05-15 06:20:44
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