Look at what I can do!

We are starting a new project in my drafting class. We are to design a 40'-0" square, two floor "loft" space. Pretty much the best assignment ever. Especially since my idea of a fun evening is chilling in front of the TV with some flimsy and an architect scale (seriously--I've been drawing floor plans for fun since I was like 12.) So here's what I've come up with thus far:

On the first floor there's a distinct entry way, with a concealed/ private hallway leading to a guest bed and bath. Open floor plans are all the rage, but I've always felt a little bit of buffer is needed when one is sneaking off to pee or retreating to a bedroom. "Loft" may imply "open," but a few walls never hurt anyone. Where else are you going to put your art? And your plasma screen? Cause that's in the program. My personal program, anyway.

Trying to be a good little design student, as soon as I was done with this I flipped the page and started one a second, completely different layout. But it just didn't work for me. I love this one. Is it okay to be completely smitten with your own work? Can't wait to see what my classmates have come up with. I'm always totally floored by the variety of solutions presented, while I'm in my corner thinking I've come up with "THE ONE."

But back to entry ways. Something that sold John and I on the apartment we're currently living in is the half wall that separates an entryish area from the rest of the space. Our apartment is tiny, and one would think that adding a partition would just shrink it more. But no! It helps divide this place up, and adds interest. And I hate just entering a space straight away, like *BAM!* you're in the living room. Last weekend we gussied up our entry way by adding a floating shelf. At first I was worried that it would project too far into the hall, making it feel narrower. But no, it's fabulous and I love it. Plus it provides an overflow storage for all the crap that accumulates on the half wall. Check it out.

On the very right is a tiny hint of the column that frames out the half wall, with our sad spider plant perched next to it. The manzanita branches are new too, courtesy of my father who ripped out almost an entire bush for me. He said it was hanging too far over the driveway and it had to go anyway, but I always feel a little sad about robbing plants of their appendages. Other elements were already there, the wine racks from Ingrid and the HUGE crayon encaustic from our buddy Daniel. Now they feel more deliberate, and I have something even prettier to look at from the sofa. So my redesign thus far has cost about seven dollars, for wall anchors (the shelf was hanging out in the attic of my parents' house, waiting to be reclaimed).

always, carolyn