APARTMENT THERAPY 02.28.07

Inside Out: Jennifer and David Find a Middle Ground

Name: Jennifer and David
Location: Jamaica Plain, MA
Size: 1500 sqft.

Don't be alarmed at the size of Jennifer and David's apartment. . Keep in mind that they rent outside of Boston.

They have spent the past five years transitioning from just-out-of-college-we-need-something-to-sit-on, to discerning adults who make active choices about their surroundings.

While David, a video-game artist, prefers an utterly clutter free home and feels calmer in the presence of clean lines, Jennifer, a designer, likes to surround herself with her favorite drawings, mementos, etc. In fact, according to Jennifer, "if it weren't for David, the walls would be plastered with stuff!" To compromise, David has helped Jennifer edit, while Jennifer has shown David that sometimes a little visual nostalgia can be inspiring as well as restorative.

The open bookcases from Ikea that they use in the office and the dressing room are great examples of their compromise. The fact that the shelves are exposed has forced Jennifer to be very selective about what she displays and David appreciates how the bookshelves create uniformity. The ease of putting things away balances out the need to fold clothes neatly. In the end, David and Jennifer are happy.

To read the entire interview and view slideshow click here