It’s reader request time, and this one comes from Sarah. “I love your site, and wanted to write in with a design problem I’m facing in an NYC apartment into which I’m about to move. The apartment’s front door opens into a very long, very narrow hallway with no room for furniture and no windows. Do you have any wall decoration recommendations to create a cool entrance effect?” Here are some inspirational photos for you Sarah. Now, some are not THAT narrow and have room for a bit of furniture but I found how the spaces were designed very intriguing (ie. the Domino mag photo after the jump).

Marie Claire Italy	Target Living
Gaelle Le Boulicaut	Elle Decor
Apartment Therapy	Adrienne Chinn
Stuart McIntyre	Margaret Mulligan
Sköna hem	Eric Roth
jj Locations	Location Works
Decor Demon	Sköna hem

Apartment Therapy
Apartment Therapy
Callas Architects
Domino
Elle Decor
Marie Claire Maison
Living Etc.

I found this home on Contemporist and had to re-post it here because I am completely in awe of the architecture. It’s mind-blowingly AWESOME. And inspiring because Jeff and I are in the process of researching architects for the work we want to do to my ok OUR home and I would love to something even one iota as creative as this. The space was created by Spanish architect Héctor Ruiz-Velázquez and is the attic space of an early 20th century building in Madrid. It’s composed of several different levels and angles yet it’s continuous which makes the space appear much larger than it is (it being all white helps too)….and frankly, WAY more interesting. It’s just plain NEAT-O.

I am pleased to present a fabulous renovation of a reader’s home today. This one I can relate to. Interior designer Sary‘s home looks about as narrow as mine (12’) which is quite a design challenge. Here is a bit of history of her home: “It’s a typical brick Philadelphia rowhouse built in the early 1900’s. The previous owner was an elderly woman that had been living there for over 60 years and probably hadn’t renovated it in about 50. It was filled with paneling, peeling wallpaper, drop ceilings, dirty carpets…” The result was basically a gut job by Sary and her family turning this into a spectacular makeover that is SO inspiring. First let’s look at a couple of before photos of her living/dining space that was dark, dingy and just plain NASTY.

Sary essentially redid every surface – the walls, ceilings and floors. Track lighting was installed, a brick wall exposed, the railing removed on the stairs, the stairs redone with wood treads….

I loooove the bench/tv stand/book storage unit Sary and her father built (in an afternoon with just a nail gun, using wood she had pre-cut at Lowes) that extends from the living room into the dining space. Talk about multi-functional which is so necessary in a small space.

Next, a couple photos from the powder room located just behind the dining room.

And lastly the kitchen, which had a drop ceiling (that was removed), awful cabinets, countertop and flooring (all replaced). The window was replaced with a larger one and the door with one that is mostly glass. I’m loving the little nook she created with an ottoman opposite the back door. Great for friends to chill out on while she’s cooking. 🙂

CONGRATS Sary! You should be very proud of the incredible job you’ve done. It shows everyone that you can make any house a home with a little creativity and ALOT of hard work.

Dana Wolter is a designer in Birmingham, Al whose website recently went live and she wanted to share it with us. This is a synopsis of what her firm is all about: “Known for custom interiors that blend comfort and elegance into one, Dana and her team create clean-lined spaces that feel as though they have evolved over time. Through the art of layering the various textures of fabric and wood, contrasting hard and soft surfaces against one another, using light to affect how a space is perceived, and combining modern, antique, and classical elements in a room, Dana Wolter Interiors designs spaces that are naturally sophisticated yet truly functional.” Her living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms and bathrooms are classically beautiful, but she also has a way with creating wonderful children’s rooms that are classic in their own right, yet perfect for a youngster.

If you’d like to send us photos to include in next week’s “pets on furniture” post, please ensure your photos follow our basic rules: First, the pet must be on a piece of furniture. And said piece of furniture must be clearly visible in the photo, so it takes center stage rather than your pet. (Think of it more of a photo of a great piece of furniture that you want to show off…and your pet happens to be sitting on it). And second, the photo must be of decent quality. If it’s dark or fuzzy (from a camera phone) then it may not make the cut. Thanks! (Photos, your name, location and a brief description can be sent to desiretoinspirekim@hotmail.com and PLEASE don’t send me closeups of your pet!)

“Attached is a photo of our 100 lb Lab, Hawk on our leather sofa!  Before Hawk, dogs were not allowed in my house, but this big lovable sweetie showed me the err of my ways.”
– Heidi (Peachtree City, Georgia)

“I’m sending a picture of Glico, who loves to sit on this ikea chair, in our parisian apartment. He’s a really sweet dog, who loves playing and eating!”
– Amy

“This is Mel (Honey in Portuguese), my lovely golden retriever! On the first one she on my Sergio Rodrigues chair (Poltrona Mole) and the second is at my porch (on a wood couch with futons and pillows).”
– Patricia (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

“Scout on Japanese camping chair”
– Caitlin

“The first photo is my boxer in college on a great leather chair that he claimed almost immediately as his own. The second is a bullmastiff, too lazy to get his back legs up on the bed.”
– Stacey

“Play date Tuesday went awry.  This is Sugar Baby, my best friends mothers dog on my dining room table.”
– Leah

“My friend Meg’s beloved dogs – Iggy and Cha Cha”
– Karen

“Attached are 2 photos of my baby Lucille. She is about 3 years old (but looks really little still) and she, like most cats, sleeps all day long on various pieces of furniture. I’m pretty sure she was raised by a dog since I frequently catch her drinking out of the toilet bowl and begging for (and stealing) food from the dinner table. Needless to say she is a character. The first picture is her curled up on the couch with remote in hand. Not really showcasing the furniture but you can see her face well, and the second is her on what she would probably refer to as her bed, where she sleeps for about 8 hours a day.”
– Sarah (New York City)

“i send you my lovely cat LEON. first with habitat apperture lamp:) second on my project son- chair”
– Ann (Poland)

“This is Buddy sleeping on the new couch he knows he shouldn’t be on.  The smile says it all…”
– Christina

“I would like to submit this picture of our Lhasa who loves looking out the window!”
– Joan