apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Last night after he announced them at the party, Maxwell seemed to give everyone there his blessing to go ahead and spill the beans on here, but that they would be doing the announcement on here formally today. Meanwhile, I hope I remembered correctly when I put them in this thread!

I CAN promise you that there was no 2nd place, because there was a 2-way tie for 1st, because they had these big posters up that showed the 4 winners, and I actually met the very handsome and sweet 4th place winners, Hakarl and Jili before the winners were announced.

I hope Shauna!

Woo-Shauna!!

Hakari & Jili. Hakari & Jili.

A chance to make a quick buck or two!

#1 Shauna for pure style and vivacity, and representing the essential elements of personal and local style
#2 Jane and Darko - Humor, and clever use of space to make the apartment feel huge
#3 Jenny and CLove - a live/work space for 2!! In the smallest of spaces!
#4 - I'm torn between The pocketknife and silverlake, and hakarl and jili's colors.

What I liked though about everyone is that there was a real sense of personal design and personal ownership to almost ALL the spaces. I was TRULY dispoointed by the responses to Diane's entry from minnesota, I thought they were in exceedingly bad form and reflected poorly on a lot of people.

If the vote is for Coolest Most Awesome Wow
and not Who I Want To Get The Merch
for me that's
#2 - Wayne's Diagonal Conversion

click my name for the Sunday NYT article
about diabolical architect/development schemes
to oversize places with split levels disguised as storage spaces.
It puts these sleeping lofts in a new light.

Sorry I managed to bust the link
when I put it in the Open Thread

If I HAD to pick one, (and in spite of *slight* wine rack-overkill!) I'd pick James & Margaret's Iconic Studio.

Jane and Darko — For intelligent humor, incredible attention to detail throughout the whole apartment, and an open feeling.

James & Margaret's Iconic Studio - For a brilliant way of getting light into the bedroom.

Shauna's — 'cuz it's a damn sexy apartment that makes this East Coaster want to move to LA.

o GOD
James & Margaret's Iconic

THAT'S where I want to live
Wayne is for Chicago visits and
David and Im's is more like what I'd hope to be able to actually pull off, and live in happily - best small rental

(honestly, you're all gorgeous!)

There are so many good ones! I think these are my favorites.

1. James & Margaret's Iconic Studio
2. Wayne's Diagonal
3. Gideon & Tracy's Pocket Knife
4. Jenny & Clove's LAish Pad

It was fun to see everyone's indivdual style. They all had excellent spaces for sure!

Frankly, I haven't seen much of anything that knocks my socks off. I've seen a couple of nice places, but virtually nothing new and exciting that really grabs me, gets my attention and inspires me. No terribly innovative ideas for small space living. I am sort of disappointed with the overall quality of the designs both in function and in beauty. My vote would have to go to p(too)'s place from last year.

Who I hope win DWR prizes:

#1. Greg and Em
#2. Thicket!!!
#3. David and Im
#4. Lucy or Shauna

Where I'd want to live:

#1. Wayne's Diagonal
#2. Jenny & Clove
#3. The Thicket
#4. Iconic Studio

Good luck to all!

Voting is too hard with such great entries. I also loved Rob's place (Rob's Acid Trip Modern, I mean), and so many of my favorites didn't make the finals, like the Venice loft, Lynne's Seattle loft, and Jonathan's Squince Box... Marc's Eminent Domain, Vince's High Tech, Janet's high-rise...... etc etc etc.

shauna's is definitely the coolest. which to me means the most chic, comfortable, spirited, original, and the least architected/designed/snarky/ironic.

i vote for shauna, greg and em and lucy's love shack.

their homes have personality and style. some of them are jsut TOO cold and modern. where is there STUFF?? to me a home has to have STUFF.

Who do I think will win:

Tracy and Gideon
James and Margaret
Wayne

Who would I like to win:

Jane and Darko
Lucy
Shauna

Jane and Darko get my vote

my top four are, not really in any order:

* shauna
* greg and em
* james and margaret
* hakarl and jili (or jane and darko, or lucy, or also david and im)

so there you have it. top four.

i never said i envied the judges. whew. better them than me.

Jane and Darko's place!
But also Greg and Em, David and Im, Shauna, Lucy...

They each inspire me in their own ways and make me want to actually say hi to the people who live there. Because I bet all the residents are pretty cool, interesting people.

I hope Jenny and Clove but I'd put my money on James and Margaret.

I was TRULY dispointed by the responses to Diane's entry from minnesota, I thought they were in exceedingly bad form and reflected poorly on a lot of people

rachel (in denver), I couldn't agree more.

One of the most striking things about this contest has been noticing the distinct regional/urban aesthetic trends that emerged. I feel like I have a real sense of Boston, DC, LA and NYC, and the diversity is so exciting. I really hope that we get even more strongly regional flavors next year, instead of frightening off people who worry that they won't pass muster because they don't live in the right place or have the right styles.

Revealing my own regional biases ... I gotta go with Shauna, and Jenny & Clove. The latter did a genius balancing job of sticking to their inspiration while also decorating for where they lived.

(not in any particular order -- just liked these four the best)

LAish Pad - Lucy's Love Shack - More Dash Than Cash - Cozy Thicket

I'm partial to places with a sense of whimsy so I love the "thicket" one with the bear painting above the bed. I also loved Shauna's place--each photo was like a beautiful still life painting. But I also loved Wayne's place in a "lost in space" kind of way, and, of course, Dave and Im's "One Space." The fact that they made a lot of the furniture themselves gives the place a great bonus "energy."
But of course, all the finalists did amazing things with their spaces. It's sort of apples and oranges at this point. They all deserve to win for different reasons.

Finalist #4: Jane & Darko's Cozy Thicket

Love the color, whimsy, lighting fixtures; overall nice composition and inexpensive decorating solutions.

Jean:

If the winners fall into a particular group, I'm sure there'll be a lot more of those kinds of places coming next year and a lot less of the other kind. Same with the people who read the site. More of one kind, less of the other. It will be a public display of affection for one kind over another and sends a strong message to the viewing audience.

1. James and Margaret
2. Jenny & Clove
3. Greg & Em

Let's see...
1. Efficiency: Innovative use of small space to maximize livability
2. Aesthetics: Beauty and stylistic achievement in Decor
3. Special Challenges: Creative problem solving in dealing with adverse conditions

WINNER: Lucy's Love Shack

Because:
1) they had NO closets
2) they were the smallest**
3) the creation of the closet/pantry that spans the length of the apartment
4) its beauty and simplicity
5) lucy's own mini-pad within the apt

The coolest, smallest apartment that I would "live in" would be the Silverlake Sanctuary and I would add a special honorable mention for Bri and Chad's pad (Beauty for less $$).

**Of all the apartments that created solutions to the adverse conditions of their living spaces.

I appreciate everyone's contribution ot this fun contest, although I was dissapointed that most my favorites did not make the finalists. I support Shauna's and Rob's entry for the win.

You know, I just went through all entries again. And I still can't decide. Such creativity and wonderful designs. I love many of them. For different reasons. Some handle space more effectively. Some are ingenious and clever with hidden storage. Some just have a stamp of personality all over them. My sentimental favorite has to be Shauna, though. That space (and maybe, just as much, the spirit that spills through in her writing and comments) somehow speak to me.

Wait, what channel is the live broadcast on?

I guess they never did say when it would be announced here. No sense in hitting reload anymore.

Andree, I said whom I like and whom I think will win. Period. I have no idea of what you are talking about in your post addressed to me.

I forgot to mention Silver Lake; I love that, too.

I think Jenny & Clove should win. The tranformation of their original space into such a gorgeous,classy apartment showed extreme vision, creativity and hard work- along with great taste!

Shauna's for glam spirit and problem-solving (overcoming small budget);

Lucy's for quiet comfort and problem-solving (teensy), and cute dog;

And the cozy thicket for humor and woodsiness.

But congrats to everybody on an inspiring bunch of apartments!

i vote for shauna and christine. you girls both did a great job!
congratulations! beautiful and welcoming homes both of you!

1)SHAUNA
2)SWANKY ROB K.
3)JANE AND DARKO'S THICKET

Jane & Darko!
Greg & Em!
oh!--and Hakarl and Jili!

good luck, everyone...

1. Wayne
2. Shauna
3. Gideon and Tracey

Lucy's Love Shack, hands down.

The apartment that inspired me the most was Lucy's Love Shack. It seriously made me start thinking hard about ways I could create space where I thought there was none. To live that well in 370 rented sq ft is just amazing.

James and Margaret's iconic studio is so well balanced, though. They have clearly defined spaces for work, sleep, cooking, dining, and living, all in 565 sq ft---plus it has such a strong sense of design---the lines and the wood are beautiful.

I'm surprised that no one who actually went to the party tonight has SAID who won!

4th place was Hakarl and Jili, and I think it was the Thicket for 3rd, but there was a tie for 1st, and it was the David and Im's One Space and the one with the Jenny and Clove's LAish Pad. You gotta be kidding that I'm the first to say this!

Cozy thicket. I love it.

I really loved Lucy's Love Shack and Rob's Acid Trip. They both felt so calm and spacious.

Jane and Darko! Go Jane and Darko!

All the finalists are amazing.

Shauna, Shauna Shauna !!!

It was a nice party; it was fun to meet Hakarl and Jili and a whole bunch of other people, too, like Nora and Tat and Jackie.

Greg and Em all the way!

Sorry I couldn't make it to the party as hoped. Congrats to the winners- and Curtis YES you *are* the first to announce it! :)

Emily and I just wanted to congratulate all four winners announced tonite, alongside all the other contestants who put their places up for scrutiny, praise, and sometimes criticism. We're really happy that David and Im won, as they were our own top pick, and Jane and Darko's pad were our East Coast darkhorse favourites, so we were happy to see them as winners. Twas fun...and a bit stressful, but we're glad we participated!

Congrats winners. And Jenny & Clove.

Jean, if the winners fell into a particular group...such as architects/owners/serious modifications, vs. people who worked solely with what they had and didn't have the option to take out walls. That seemed to be an apparent divide during the contest, too.

Curtis, thank you so much for posting the winners. Glad to see Hakari and Jili as well as Jane and Darko in the winner's circle.

Shauna!

Wayne's Diagonal conversion!

Whoops...should have read the thread before posting.

hi all, Curtis is right, we (the Thicket) came in 3rd, and we are thrilled! it was a lovely evening at DWR, where we briefly met Hakarl & Jili as well, and had some great free wine. thanks to all of you who were apparently sending your good thoughts our way, it worked! ;)

and congrats to all the winners *and* finalists *and* anyone who sent their home in to be scrutinized; i am really impressed by everyone's homes and courage.

1. Lucy's Love Shack!!!
2. David & Im !!!!
3. Jane & Darko!!!!

!!!!!!!!!