Bright Shiny Objects

One day I want to build ...

I start a lot of sentences like that in my crazy head. Particularly when I see something like this studio apartment built atop a 2-car garage in Auckland, New Zealand. Maybe I could possibly, someday — you know, after I leave Japan AND win the lottery AND learn to focus on one thing for longer than 30 seconds — build something like this at my Denver bungalow over the existing detached garage.

What a great use of space. I love the idea of accessory dwelling units for extra space for homes like mine that are too small for guests. These units can also be rented for extra income either long-term or as vacation rentals on AirBnB. You might recall I'm big on the sharing economy.

My house's current zoning doesn't yet allow for the bathroom & kitchen elements but just to have bright airy studio space above the garage sounds like a wonderful idea to me. Well, as long as I actually use the space ... and that does not include using it as storage!

At the very least I'll be looking into this idea ... one day. We all have crazy dreams, so what are yours? Let's hear em.

design by Karin Montgomery Spath | photography by Matthew Williams | seen on Remodelista

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Escape to a Tiny London Flat

Okay, I'm spoiled. In August I spent ten days in London, one of my favorite cities. After almost a year in Japan where I'm a total freak-of-nature-mutant-alien-outsider, it was amazing to be somewhere I don't scare the shit out of everyone because I look "just like their favorite zombie comic book character". (Awesome.)

Unwanted Japanese fame aside, I'm all about renting apartments when I travel. It's less expensive than a hotel and I get a much better sense of a place when I pretend to live there. (Uh, take-out anyone?) Besides, I have a short-term rental apartment so I consider this research and development.

Hahahaaa. As if.

Anyway, in my travels I've used Arbnb, VRBO, Homeaway, and private rental companies but this time I went with One Fine Stay, a new company letting homes and apartments in London, Paris, New York, and Los Angeles. I was impressed by the way they present properties, their styling and photography.

My spouse was there for work (officially) and this lovely little studio apartment in the middle of swank Chelsea is where we "lived". The flat is small but charming and was perfect for two. The wee kitchen is a converted closet but has a window, an under-counter fridge, a two burner stove and even a half-sized dishwasher. (No dishwashers in Japan, so this was decadent.)

The bathroom was luxurious, considering my Japanese bathroom is utter utilitarian sadness. (I hate it.)

One Fine Stay is still a young company, and our stay wasn't entirely problem-free but overall the flat was comfortable and the staff was responsive (if sometimes slow) to our requests. A staff member meets you there to get you set up and they even give you an iPhone, a major advantage when navigating a foreign city.

Maybe it was the time of year or global warming or the influx of Russian gangster money or being surrounded by the English language again but London was just what we needed. It was a smashing holiday and now I cannot wait to go back.

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Smokin New Studio Shots

Whaaat, this is really my studio? I had no idea these shots would turn out so well. I cannot stop looking at them. Gonna be the next big thing on Pinterest is what.

Here's how it all happened. I love to barter. I started this little habit when my husband and I owned a restaurant, because everyone has to eat, right? I'd offer up gift certificates in exchange for whatever, usually stuff from other small businesses and friends. Like drugs. One time I threw in a case of booze on a real estate deal to make it happen. Not only is it a gesture most people really appreciate, but it's an alternate currency and a perfectly acceptable way to avoid taxes. Just sayin.

But we sold our restaurant years ago so I have to come up with other ways to take part in the sharing economy. I mean, short of selling my body. (Hahahaaaa.) The leverage I have now is my vacation rental apartment in Vail. I need people in there paying real money this summer and fall. You know, so I can eat? These are my two favorite seasons in the mountains but it's still tough to get overnight stays, even at deep discounts. People are cheap, Vail isn't, and they have to eat too. They also need cash to buy killer Colorado pharma-dope. Priorities! I get it.

Anyway. I thought of kicking up advertising by trading a couple nights in it the studio itself to a professional photographer. Win-win. I score a professional portfolio of my property and the photographer gets to party in Vail.

Time is money and a weekend in my place holds real value. The building might be vintage and fugly but it's still Vail. The interior is chill and the view includes a fucking waterfall. What more do you people want?

Kinda stoked I hustled this all the way from Japan. And just look at what I did, you know, those renovations, all by myself. (I need validation here!)

Still can't get over these shots. Though I'm reminded that my photography pretty much blows. This was the under-ass fire I needed to finally buy a real camera.

For the a full photo tour go to its sick website or listing on Dwellable or Facebook page. BOOK IT while you're there, by all means! Don't make me beg. You can also check out all the fascinating deets on how I revamped the kitchen right here.

Styling and everything pictured is by me obviously but all images in this post are by Joseph Deats Photography. Thanks Joe, you got serious talent.

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Sadass to Badass: Studio Kitchen Overhaul

I've been meaning to post this kitchen renovation forfuckingever. Yeah, I'm all slo-mo about blogging. So this is my little studio in Vail I renovated last year. Did almost all of the work myself because my thug spouse was working overseas and I'm a batshit crazy determined bitch.

Wouldn't it be funny if these were the 'after' shots? So funny.

Hell yes that is one fly kitchen. I sort of hate posting these photos because they scare me a little. The realtor used these to advertise the property and nothing about that makes sense to me. And they just don't go with my whole punk blog aesthetic. Forrealz.

 Your observations are spot on. The previous owner was indeed a cat lady.

Things began to calm down, thank fuck.

But then it got worse. Like there were at least five hundred grimy cat toys under the stove.

Hot damn, those fleshtone cabinet interiors.

Amazing what appliances, paint, and decent lighting do. I bet you're thinking all that shit on the counter is maybe not so good. Oh, is that boxed wine next to the hand saw? But I get so much more done when I drink. You think I'm kidding.

Wood floors help too. Actually it's engineered wood. Which is cheaper and therefore boss.

And now begin the sparkly-shiny 'after' shots. Read on for the all the fascinating minutiae of this small but magical kitchen transformation.

KitchenAid stove, hood and dishwasher, a bitchin little 13 cubic ft Fisher & Paykel fridge, and small undercounter Panasonic microwave that I built in all by myself. I searched for weeks for the right size stove, if its depth were 1/2 of a centimeter more the dishwasher wouldn't open. Good times in small spaces yo.

I painted all the things. Because I'm a punkrock painter. However, I painted the cabinets 3 times before deciding on colors. Sometimes I hate myself. My go-to colors (black, white, grey) were not working with the counters so I went with something that would. I mean, as far as anything can work with the color of a loogie. Fuck if I can't remember the paint colors I used right now but it's Benjamin Moore Aura satin. Bomber paint.

 

I agonized over ripping down the upper cabinets and installing new ones or open shelves. In the end I ran out of time and money. Same reason the lame formica counters are still there. That always happens. One day they will be so not there.

The devil really is in the details. The LED fixtures, shelf, and most accessories are from Ikea. Newgate clock from Horne. Budget Pfister faucet from Lowe's.

Russell Hobbs coffee maker and there's a chrome Dualit toaster but you can't really see it. I wasn't being as thorough as I should have (what?) because I took these photos at midnight just before driving 14 hours to catch a plane from California to Japan. That's just how I roll.

Approximate cost breakdown: Large appliances $4250 (got the $2800 stove for $900 because it has a small ding on the underside of the handle), small appliances $250, faucet $50, electrical and plumbing labor (not mine) $200, paint $100, accessories $150, light fixtures $100, random shit $50, already had flatware, dishes, clock, toaster and most everything else. So that's just over $5k not including flooring.

Someday I'll do a full redesign the way I want it with open shelves, tile, new cabinets and dope countertops. But for now this is all kinds of awesome (people tell me) and it's full on ready for your next mountain weekend escape so please rent it and make your friends rent it.

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UPDATE: Fuck yeah professional photos!

Tür 8

I lived in Vienna for three years in a 1-bedroom apartment in an old building in the 18th district. Sorry I can't find better photos. We bought most of our furniture from a Swiss store called Interio. Scope their most recent catalogue.

The round chair is a Stokke Planet. I'm not too fond of the taupey color of it now and tried to find it stateside for a new cover. No such luck.

I love this bed but unfortunately it doesn't fit in any of the small rooms in our house now. It's now in many pieces, in storage somewhere. Sold it on Craigslist!



Not a great shot but the bookshelf is the Chaos by Georg Doblhammer. It's a bit of an engineering marvel, but that doesn't change the fact that I want to burn it every time we take it apart and put it back together.

Just sold these chairs on Craigslist!
 

This was the 'hood. Aumanplatz. That was our streetcar, the 41 line.