Simplified spaces?

Hey, a gal I met on a dating site asked me "How 'minimalist' are you?"
So I took some photos of my place. And when I saw them through the camera lens, I thought: "Hey, I am doing pretty dang good at minimalism!"

So I am going to post a handful of pics of my "simplified spaces."

Jane and Yppej, feel free to take pot shots. Everyone else, I am open to constructive criticism or ideas for improvement.

But more so, what I am really interested is any photo you might want to share of your simplified spaces ("simplified" by your definition and standard, not mine).

So please feel free to share!

Attachment 2589
Living room.

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Kitchen.

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Clothes closet.

Initial comments:

1) Love the dog, you got me there. Everything else is gravy. The skewed lamp is bad feng shui.

2) I'd keep the spices and oils away from the heat and light if possible.

3) Too many hangers

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Originally Posted by bae

Initial comments:

1) Love the dog, you got me there. Everything else is gravy. The skewed lamp is bad feng shui.

2) I'd keep the spices and oils away from the heat and light if possible.

3) Too many hangers

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All duly noted! Especially the hangers... I get them from getting my dry cleaning done. I should toss the dang things. :)

Yeah, Harlan just had to get in the photo by "his" couch. haha

Is that the "closet" kitchen?

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Originally Posted by SteveinMN

Is that the "closet" kitchen?

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That is indeed the very one I referred to.

Sorry UL, but your living room looks so depressing to me.* I couldn't live in space like that. My living room is pretty sparse too but I have colorful pillows and fleece blankets on the couch, art on the walls, and a couple of side tables with plants, lamps and pictures on them. I like having a simplified but homey space. I don't like to share pics online, otherwise I would share so you can see what I mean.

My question would be: does this space bring you pleasure or contentment? If yes, then good for you. If not, is there anything that you can add that would make it a comfortable or pleasant?

*I truly don't mean for my comment to come across as judgmental or critical. It's just an honest response to seeing the space. I suspect that my dh would find your space perfectly acceptable!

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Originally Posted by Geila

Sorry UL, but your living room looks so depressing to me.* I couldn't live in space like that. My living room is pretty sparse too but I have colorful pillows and fleece blankets on the couch, art on the walls, and a couple of side tables with plants, lamps and pictures on them. I like having a simplified but homey space. I don't like to share pics online, otherwise I would share so you can see what I mean.

My question would be: does this space bring you pleasure or contentment? If yes, then good for you. If not, is there anything that you can add that would make it a comfortable or pleasant?

*I truly don't mean for my comment to come across as judgmental or critical. It's just an honest response to seeing the space. I suspect that my dh would find your space perfectly acceptable!

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The living room is essentially Harlan's domain. He seems to like it, with a blanket on the floor, his pup tent beside it, and a couch all his own from which is his perch to look out the windows.

I use the empty space in the living room to exercise M, W, and F mornings.

What about when you bring a hot date home? Some cozy ambiance might help with that endeavor. ;)

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Originally Posted by Geila

What about when you bring a hot date home? Some cozy ambiance might help with that endeavor. ;)

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Got it covered!

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Not!

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Originally Posted by Teacher Terry

Not!

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Come on!

Yeah, I agree with TT. That ain't no cozy ambiance there. And having a transitional space would be really nice for a date situation. A teenage guy isn't going to care about ambiance and romance. But a mature woman? I think so.

Why are you still doing dry cleaning? You dont need that! We told you ages ago to stop it!

Harlan is cute. He is more delicately boned than I imagined.

You kitchen is big enough for most all things.

I think it is very clean, and the kitchen is actually really nice and has space according to my standards. I have a very small shared kitchen in a house from the 50's, Thanksgiving here was interesting.

And some warm and fuzzy stuff would be more to my liking as well. When I visit a friend I want a couple options of where to sit possibly, an afgan if I feel chilly, a place to set a drink or snack, maybe even something to look at on the wall or a book on a shelf. I know it can get out of hand easily, however the Buddhist monastics I know have more than what you have! Like others said, if this is a space that makes you really happy then you should simply enjoy it.

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Originally Posted by Ultralight

Got it covered!

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Dude. No.

I have been having about a 200% success rate (counting repeat visitors) with the following approach:

- pretty much everyone here, unless they are local, if they come by for dinner, are committed t staying here overnight because of the ferry schedule, even if from an adjacent island.

- at the end of the evening, without presumption, I simply offer them the upstairs guest room, which can be too warm this time of year, the downstairs bedroom, which can be too cold, the nice day bed on the main floor by the fire, which can be just right, or the master bedroom with me, either in a platonic way (the bed is huge and comfie) or a not-platonic way, their choice, no assumptions.

I think the many options, lack of any pressure, and clean linen have been doing the trick,

It seems as though you are quite comfortable with it (or without more "it" as the case may be ;)) and that is what counts. The only thing that jumps out at me is the bed. While I've done my share of sleeping on the floor, at this age of my life I need to be up a little bit - simply to aide in the getting in and out of the bed. lol.

Thanks for sharing!

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Originally Posted by happystuff

The only thing that jumps out at me is the bed.

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If I got a life parter you better believe I would get a real, big bed. :devil:

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Originally Posted by happystuff

Thanks for sharing!

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No problem; fun so far! :cool:

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Originally Posted by bae

Dude. No.

I have been having about a 200% success rate (counting repeat visitors) with the following approach:

- pretty much everyone here, unless they are local, if they come by for dinner, are committed t staying here overnight because of the ferry schedule, even if from an adjacent island.

- at the end of the evening, without presumption, I simply offer them the upstairs guest room, which can be too warm this time of year, the downstairs bedroom, which can be too cold, the nice day bed on the main floor by the fire, which can be just right, or the master bedroom with me, either in a platonic way (the bed is huge and comfie) or a not-platonic way, their choice, no assumptions.

I think the many options, lack of any pressure, and clean linen have been doing the trick,

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I am just a workin' man. I don't have a mansion on an island. So just don't have those kinds of options.

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Originally Posted by Zoe Girl

...the Buddhist monastics I know have more than what you have!

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Yes! Excellent! Have you told them about me?
I love feeling superior to others! ;)

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

Harlan is cute. He is more delicately boned than I imagined.

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Thanks! He is slim and trim.

Your room reminds me of Peter Lawrence's place ("The Happy Minimalist")

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw4E8nXcrTk

I personally find your apartment to be a little stark, but I'm not sure if it's because there are so few pieces or because it's trying to be a drastically minimalist version of our culture's aesthetic. To bae's point, it may simply lack a little feng shui. Rooms that I absolutely find peaceful in their simplicity tend to be Japanese-style--with very calculated use of natural elements, light and architectural detail to bring balance and harmony to a minimalist room.

But, you have a right to be proud! You are living your values and truly walking your talk. I'm impressed!

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Originally Posted by Ultralight

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Originally Posted by SteveinMN
Is that the "closet" kitchen?

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That is indeed the very one I referred to.

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That, my friend, is substantially bigger than a closet. It's still worth considering how to use the space more efficiently, but if the refrigerator is in the same room as the kitchen, you've got some space.

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Originally Posted by Ultralight

If I got a life parter you better believe I would get a real, big bed.

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My personal experience tells me that the real, big bed precedes partners, "life" or otherwise.

If nothing else, buying a real, big bed will show you have some money and doesn't make it look like you're ready to pack up and leave in the middle of the night...

I'm glad your space works for you, but for me, it's missing a few key things: a place with a good lamp for reading or craft work, a place to view the outside world, some warm cozy blanket/afghan to snuggle under, a place to have a meal with someone else (you may have a table you just didn't show). The bed on the floor would be tough for me at my age- I sometimes use a rolling start to launch myself in the morning. :D I do love the lack of tscotchkeys or any clutter.

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Originally Posted by SteveinMN

My personal experience tells me that the real, big bed precedes partners, "life" or otherwise.

If nothing else, buying a real, big bed will show you have some money and doesn't make it look like you're ready to pack up and leave in the middle of the night...

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I would rather fund my emergency fund now than buy a big status symbol bed. But your point is well-taken. Even if I can't afford multiple bedrooms with their own micro-climates like bae, I can put together a cozy-looking sin-bin in my bedroom. haha So perhaps a real, big bed should be on my list of near future expenses.

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Originally Posted by catherine

Your room reminds me of Peter Lawrence's place ("The Happy Minimalist")

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw4E8nXcrTk

I personally find your apartment to be a little stark, but I'm not sure if it's because there are so few pieces or because it's trying to be a drastically minimalist version of our culture's aesthetic. To bae's point, it may simply lack a little feng shui. Rooms that I absolutely find peaceful in their simplicity tend to be Japanese-style--with very calculated use of natural elements, light and architectural detail to bring balance and harmony to a minimalist room.

But, you have a right to be proud! You are living your values and truly walking your talk. I'm impressed!

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I watched that video a loooooong time ago. I was inspired by it!

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Originally Posted by Ultralight

I would rather fund my emergency fund now than buy a big status symbol bed. But your point is well-taken. Even if I can't afford multiple bedrooms with their own micro-climates like bae, I can put together a cozy-looking sin-bin in my bedroom. haha So perhaps a real, big bed should be on my list of near future expenses.

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I'm kind of on your side, UL. Why should you modify a space that you find perfectly adequate to suit other people?

OTOH, even Thoreau said one should have 3 chairs: one for solitude, one for friendship, and one for society. In other words, unless you are a hermit, you might consider conceding some decorating/minimalist choices to the desire for your guests to feel comfortable. You could perhaps get a carefully chosen used full or queen mattress on freecycle. (I know many people will not use used mattresses, but I've been discerning about the ones I've gotten and it's all turned out OK).

Your kitchen is positively luxurious and well-appointed compared to my own.
I agree that the bedroom and living room are too stark for my personal taste, but I'm sure mine would be too cluttered for your taste. I do have some single male friends whose apartments are in a constant state of cluttered squalor. I definitely prefer starkness to that.

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Originally Posted by herbgeek

I'm glad your space works for you, but for me, it's missing a few key things: a place with a good lamp for reading or craft work, a place to view the outside world, some warm cozy blanket/afghan to snuggle under, a place to have a meal with someone else (you may have a table you just didn't show). The bed on the floor would be tough for me at my age- I sometimes use a rolling start to launch myself in the morning. :D I do love the lack of tscotchkeys or any clutter.

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Table. At the moment I took the photo I was doing some internetting and was about to return my library books/DVDs.

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Originally Posted by catherine

OTOH, even Thoreau said one should have 3 chairs: one for solitude, one for friendship, and one for society.

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Oh, Hank and his strange wisdom!

Well it looks like you have 4 chairs, so the party is at your house!

That video - a lot of space but few things - at first I’m thinking he needs to move to smaller place. Then I saw how he uses the space and it seems just right. Not all space needs to be filled with stuff. It can be used for people. Nice concept.

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Originally Posted by Tammy

That video - a lot of space but few things - at first I’m thinking he needs to move to smaller place. Then I saw how he uses the space and it seems just right. Not all space needs to be filled with stuff. It can be used for people. Nice concept.

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I totally agree! My apartment could be 1/3 smaller with no issues. Maybe even half the size. But I like space enough to move around in. If I lived in a warm climate though, I could live very tiny and just go outside most of the time.

This is my minimalist dream—rooms with fabulous architectural features. Little to no furniture needed.

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

This is my minimalist dream—rooms with fabulous architectural features. Little to no furniture needed.

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That is minimalist!

Do you have Ikea? I love their beds, I have one, my son has one and I just bought one for my daughter. We tend to move a lot and they are easy to take apart and put back together often. Otherwise bed frames are on next door and craigslist all the time, if they are not fabric in any way I would not worry about getting one used.

If you want to add a few cozy items it could be a minimalist game. Give yourself a list to stick to (one coffee or side table, one afgan, etc) and then see how creatively you can find the item. If it gets to be taking up a lot of time then you can stop because you were fine before you had all that stuff.

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Originally Posted by Zoe Girl

Do you have Ikea? I love their beds, I have one, my son has one and I just bought one for my daughter. We tend to move a lot and they are easy to take apart and put back together often. Otherwise bed frames are on next door and craigslist all the time, if they are not fabric in any way I would not worry about getting one used.

If you want to add a few cozy items it could be a minimalist game. Give yourself a list to stick to (one coffee or side table, one afgan, etc) and then see how creatively you can find the item. If it gets to be taking up a lot of time then you can stop because you were fine before you had all that stuff.

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I got Harlan's couch at Ike's!
But I really got it for the woman I was seeing at the time. She wanted me to have a couch. I did not need it, so when we split I just gave it to Harlan.

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Originally Posted by Ultralight

I would rather fund my emergency fund now than buy a big status symbol bed.

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I definitely agree the emergency fund should come first. But the bed doesn't have to be any kind of big status symbol. Just a frame and a mattress big enough for however many living things you want on it (we never allowed our dog to sleep with us but I know other people do); maybe a nightstand (because the floor is a long reach away from current-day mattresses). Go trompe l'oeil with the headboard (someone with your drawing skills would do a great job!) and that's one fewer possession to care for or move.

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(image courtesy of Apartment Therapy)

Oh I have painted on the walk before, I really like it. I did it in California because I didn't want a heavy thing hanging over my couch. The headboard looks fun.

The most important thing is to have fun and be comfortable in your space.

Another thing that goes a long way towards hominess are window treatments. Even something as simple as a valance along the top to hide the blinds would go a long way towards cheering the space. And something, anything, somewhere on the wall to give guests something to look at while they sit on harlan's couch.

I need pictures, curtains, etc to make my home feel inviting. My house is very important to me as I spend a lot of time there. If a house is too stark I don’t feel comfortable. Same as being too messy.