Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Wet works: 10 storage solutions for sinks, showers, and tubs

Wet works title

I read some article a long time ago that interviewed professional maids and asked them for housecleaning tips. One maid mentioned splitting up duties between "wet rooms" and "dry rooms." Wet rooms were obviously where there was a sink or tub, like the kitchen or the bathroom, and dry rooms were everything else. Because I've seen too many spy movies, my mind immediately made the leap from "wet rooms" to "wet works." I can see it now. You come into your target's house, disguised as an unassuming maid. But in your mop bucket is a pistol with a silencer, and you take out the bad guy, use your Swiffer to remove any fingerprints, use the vacuum hose to rappel out the window, and make your escape.

… But since we're more likely to have to wipe up in the kitchen than wipe someone out, I guess it makes more sense to offer some organizational advice for wet rooms on TAA than it does spying tips. Not that I even have any; the closest I've gotten to being in a Bond movie is daydreaming about Daniel Craig.


Most renters have to make the best of the tub that they've got, but if you're in the enviable position to choose a new one, consider this nifty "Stowaway Bathtub" from GW International. All your bathing or cleaning supplies can be tucked out of sight into these clever racks. From Apartment Therapy.


These curtains remind me a bit of the NeatSheets TAA featured a few months back. With pockets sewn right into your shower curtain, everything you need in the shower is at your fingertips without taking up space on the rim of the tub… or the shower floor… or on the shelf… From Freshome.


We've also covered using a hanging metal fruit basket in the bathroom before, but not necessarily in the shower, as Real Simple does here. The wire baskets allow for plenty of drainage, and being able to hang the rack from the ceiling is ideal if you're unable to install things on a tiled wall.


Our last shower solution is for people like me who are shampoo bottle hoarders. What can I say? I see a new product, or something that's on sale, I buy it, and I want to try it out right away! Now I've got three kinds of shampoo, three kinds of conditioner, two face washes, a face scrub, a body scrub, shaving supplies, body wash -- and yes, I do use them all! (Not at the same time, of course.) Thankfully, this hanging rack from Urban Outfitters can handle a bottle collection like mine.


As with the tub, people in apartments don't often get a say in their sink. Still, it's fun to drool over this creation by the Bouroullec Brothers, as seen on Design*Sponge. The multiple tiers and appealing curves elevate this storage sink from bleh to beautiful.


Pedestal sinks may look wonderfully old-school, but they offer nothing by way of storage. Add a hidden area for storage while giving your bathroom a glam look with this sink skirt from Dollar Store Crafts.


Or, if all your sewing projects end up with stitches reminiscent of Frankenstein's monster's face, you can purchase a cabinet that fits right around the pedestal, adding under-sink storage and some additional surface space. From Ltd. Commodities.


This bamboo over-the-sink-shelf (from Organization Makes Sense) can be used in either the bathroom or the kitchen, and is especially useful to keep things up off a wet countertop.


I really like this rustic shelf seen on The Polo House. It stretches from edge to edge of the sink, maximizing the space, and offers little cubbies to keep your things upright and within easy reach.


Finally, a pretty tiered server can be used to hold more than just petit fours or scones at afternoon tea. (Although I would not object to a server filled with baked goods anytime, anywhere!) In the bathroom it can hold soap, toiletries, and cosmetics, and in the kitchen it can be a spice rack or fruit platter. No matter what you put on it, it'll look simply delicious. From Amazon.




Just another quick reminder that Tiny-Ass Apartment is in the running for Apartment Therapy's Homie Awards for Best Home Design Blog! Do me a solid and give us a vote, wouldja? Click here to go to the nomination page. You'll need to scroll to the bottom past the nominees (the list of blogs) and then either sign in or sign up. Once you do and you're on the voting page, a lil' trick is to hit Control+F, search "tiny", and vote for Tiny-Ass Apartment! I'll love ya if you do!

Monday, February 27, 2012

Facebook finds

Facebook finds

It's that time where I recap all the awesome links I've posted to Facebook over the last week! This week not only do we get two awesome small homes to drool over, but some practical information for us broke renters as well. After all, when you're renting a tiny-ass apartment, you're likely going to have these two things: IKEA furniture and a crappy landlord.


Now, one of the links I posted has a bit of self-interest to it. Apartment Therapy is having their Homie Awards again, and, well… I'd sure appreciate it if you threw Tiny-Ass Apartment a nomination. More exposure for the site opens up more opportunities for things like contests, giveaways, and special features. If you could, please take a moment and nominate TAA here!


CNN: Ultra-small is beautiful for Japanese homeowner (Via Neatorama)


Apartment Therapy: IKEA launches a "how to build" IKEA channel


Lifehacker: How to avoid getting screwed when renting an apartment


Shoesbox Dwelling: "Swiss Army" style apartment

Sunday, February 26, 2012

TAA on Pinterest: Sunday pins

I think San Francisco just up and decided not to have winter this year. It's been another gorgeous weekend in the city; my gal Megan and I hit up Japantown to melt our brains over the super-kawaii stuff (looks like I'll be trying the elbow patch felting project I saw on Pinterest last week after finishing this lil' kitty craft I got there), and redeem a Groupon for Gussie's Chicken and Waffles. Oh snap, that shit was good. The syrup for their waffles, their peach cobbler, and their peach champagne cocktails were all incroyable. A++, would eat again.


Here's the image, featured on Tiny-Ass Apartment, that has been most popular on Pinterest this week (click the picture to go to the pin page)…



I love the soft and feminine color palette of this room, and a two-tiered coffee table offers lots of storage.



Next time I go out into the city, I'd like to be wearing these badass shoes from ASOS and sip on a delish lava flow cocktail...


Thursday, February 23, 2012

Well hung: 14 wall-mounted organizers for any room

Well hung title

Before we get into today's post, there's someone I'd like you to meet first.


His name is Mark. Well, Accu-Mark. (I guess it's a family name?) Anyway, he's totally level-headed, and really useful around the house. Whenever you don't know which way is up, he's always there to guide you. If nothing else, I can guarantee that he's well hung, and sure to leave you satisfied.

Seriously, though. Before you attempt to purchase and install any of the awesome organizers I've found for you, please please please get a level and use it. I know I can be anal-retentive, but I once lived with someone who installed a towel rack on the inside of our bathroom door crooked and it was all I could stare at when I was sitting on the toilet.

To save yourself (and your houseguests) the pain of cocking your head to the side and going, "You know, it is a little off," a level, a pencil, and a second opinion work wonders. And in the end, you'll have a perfectly level, perfectly useful wall organizer that is so amazing that people on your toilet (or couch or whatever) will be forced to either gape at it in awe, or avert their eyes lest their retinas be burned by its perfection.

Floorspace, countertop space, tabletop space -- all surface space is precious when you live in a small apartment. It only makes sense that you get your little odds and ends off the desk, table, or what-have-you and store them someplace else -- the wall, perhaps? Here, we see the (very expensive) grandaddy of the wall organizers: the Vitra Uten Silo. Its 1969 mod design and vast array of differently-shaped cubbies make it incredibly appealing, but at over $400, it's not likely going to fit a tiny-ass budget. Via Nova68.


Much more reasonable are organizers such as this felt one as seen on Apartment Therapy. I myself have a small version of this that hangs by magnets to my fridge door. Here, you can see that it can also be mounted to the wall of any room, like a storage closet, entryway, or crafting space. Via Aesthetic Ourburst.


This is an organizer to die for. Now, I find myself saying weird things like that all the time ("I want to make love to this wall organizer," "This desktop inbox/outbox system and I were meant to be," "Have you ever seen such a beautiful remote control caddy?"), but this time I really mean it. Sadly, this vintage piece sold on Etsy some time ago, but it can still inspire the search for similar products, or perhaps a DIY project.


There are two things I love about this particular mini-cabinet: the simplicity and the name. A small shelf, just perfect for bedside accoutrements like an alarm clock, notebook, and glass of water, is perfect for someone who can't squeeze in a nightstand to mount next to their bed. The "roof" also not only accomodates a book, but cleverly keeps your place as well. But to cap it all off is the name Ferm Living gave it: the "One Bedroom Cabinet." Well, one bedroom or studio, it's still designed for someone with smaller living quarters! Via Outblush.


While perhaps not the most aesthetically pleasing, this organizer from Great Useful Stuff (they really get to the point with their name, don't they?) is ideal for an entryway or office space. With some well-placed cables it could even double as a charging station.


Read on for nine more wall organizers to get your neat freak on...

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Narrow it down: 20 inspiring narrow home offices

I'm pretty confident of my grasp on the English language. I "know the words for words," as my friend Elena said once. But sometimes, even though you know the definition of a word, you still pause a little before using it. Now, if I told you that I had a hard time narrowing down a roundup of my favorite narrow offices, would that be "ironic?" Hrm. I certainly don't want to end up like poor Alanis Morissette (even if she did date Ryan Reynolds for a while). Hang on while I look it up…

irony: noun. The use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning.

Well, that certainly isn't it.

coincidence: noun. The occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection

Much better.

Now that that little language lesson is out of the way (if you're studying for the SATs right now, I expect a cut of that sweet, sweet Princeton Review money), let's get on with the roundup! While we've covered closet offices before, sometimes the closet isn't ideal for conversion for one reason or another. But there are still many overlooked nooks and crannies where a workspace can fit quite nicely. Here are my favorite 20 narrow offices; they're the perfect places to stretch your creativity and productivity, even if you can't stretch your arms at the same time.


From Lovely Undergrad.


From Desire to Inspire.


From Design*Sponge.


From Apartment Therapy.


From Apartment Therapy.


15 more fab offices after the jump!

Monday, February 20, 2012

Facebook finds

Facebook finds

One of the drawbacks to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter is that you post something, it goes out to all your friends/followers, and then… it's gone. Now, I've been finding too many awesome links to have full posts for 'em all, but I can't just let the links I post to Facebook disappear into the online ether like so many funny cat pictures. And so, here's a roundup of what I've been finding and posting on the Tiny-Ass Apartment Facebook Fan Page.

To get these links hot off the presses, be sure to like Tiny-Ass Apartment on Facebook!


Apartment Therapy: Out of sight - five space-saving desks


Gawker: These are five of the smallest rental apartments in America


Lifehacker: Make the most of your tiny kitchen


Offbeat Home: 9 ideas to bring fun and comfort back to the dorms


Sunset: Inspiring small homes

Sunday, February 19, 2012

TAA on Pinterest: Sunday pins

I have to make this week's Sunday pins post quck, because the finale of Downton Abbey is tonight and I need to steel myself emotionally for it. Anna and Mr. Bates! Mary and Matthew! And what awesomeness will the Dowager Countess bring this week?

My own past week was pretty awesome, I have to say. Good Valentine's Day, good Galentine's Day...

… although my mom's dog Dexter doesn't care much for the holiday…


Here's the image, featured on Tiny-Ass Apartment, that has been most popular on Pinterest this week (click the picture to go to the pin page)…



These two were neck and neck for Most Repinned this week. Both come from the ol' "Heh." board. Our first features some muthaeffin' cats…


And the second features Juanita Weasel, courtesy of The Bloggess...



I'm only a kinda-crafty gal, but I love the final look of these felted elbow patches, and the tutorial is easy enough. It sounds kind of stress-relieving too -- who doesn't want to just stab their clothes over and over sometimes?

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