Fix it Friday: My Son’s First Apartment

About the client:

18 year old Scott Robeson… yes, my son! I remember it well.  Fresh out of high school, Scott was accepted into the most prestigious drumcore orginazation in the world requiring him to not only move out, but move 1,200 miles and 3 states away from home. We created a game plan starting with online apartment searches. Once securing his place and downloading the floor plan, I got to work on the possible furniture layout. We carefully shopped IKEA with a maximum of 4,000 budget for the project. Scott made detailed notes on what to buy once he arrived in his new home state and within 48 hours of arriving his truck was loaded to the gills with everything on his list. Never one to put off to tomorrow what he can do today, Scott stayed up through the night assembling his new Ikea furniture. By 8:00AM Scott emailed me photo of his new place, nearly completed! The following weekend I flew out to spend a few days adding all the final touches!

Its amazing what you can do on a budget of time AND money!

WE DID IT SCOTT! Scotts new place was the envy of all the crew members on his team… pretty cool start to his new life!

Challenges:

Renting an apartment sight unseen was risky and we didn’t want to pay a moving company to get his things to his new location of Washington State

 

Changes I made:

• I added chocolate velvet window treatment panels on either side of the windows to crete warmth and symmetry.
• I hung rice paper lantern lights on white cords were hung at random heights on either side of the sofa. Woven wood panels hid the cords as they hung against the back wall. A rice paper floor lamp lit one corner and the Medusa inspired table lamp served as ambient lighting on the Dining table. 2 white ball lights sit on the media shelving acting as both accessories and light sources.
• We worked with the neutral carpeting already in the apartment.
• From Ikea we purchased a contemporary sofa, 2 side chairs, a coffee table, 2 glass door shelving units, a media shelving unit and dining table. I donated 3 iron and wicker chairs I had at home tying in the woven wood panels behind the sofa.
• Perhaps the most striking aspect of the design were 2 oversized posters from The Gap! One was hung above the sofa and one sets a fantastic focal point to the plain dining room wall.
• Taking color cues from the posters we added orange pillows and accessory pieces to tie in the warm orange color throughout.