| This article germinated from a bet that I made | | | | $20.00 to shorten it to the right height when |
| with my nephew. He was about to go into his | | | | seated on the floor, and to refinish it in black. Two |
| second year of college and had just moved from | | | | pillows on sale from JC Penney for $5.00 give you |
| the dorms into his own studio apartment and | | | | something to sit on when eating at the table, but |
| needed furniture. After telling his parents he | | | | for the rest of the time, it functions perfectly as |
| couldn't possibly furnish his apartment for less | | | | a coffee table in front of the futon. We're at |
| than $4,000, I guaranteed him he could do it for | | | | $730.00. |
| under a grand and be happy with the results. | | | | Bookshelf. Instead of purchasing premade |
| He and I spent an afternoon online, and voila! | | | | bookshelf, we went to a local hardware store and |
| Here's how we did it: | | | | bought unfinished shelves, supports, and a can of |
| Bed. He opted for a futon. We ordered the Baja | | | | black lacquer. Alternating their heights, we |
| Futon package for $385.00 from Futon Creations. | | | | converted one wall-albeit the smallest one-into a |
| It included the frame, mattress, and cover with | | | | "storage and display wall" for his books, CDs, |
| matching pillows. We picked up bed sheets and | | | | sports memorabilia, etc. All in all, it cost us $64.00. |
| blankets for an $33.00 (shipping included) from | | | | Up to $794.00. |
| ebay. The great thing about a futon is that | | | | T.V. Considering we were left with a mere |
| because the studio is small, folding the futon into a | | | | $206.00 for a t.v., we were a bit pressed to see |
| sofa allows a place for guests to sit and makes | | | | if my idea about furnishing this apartment for |
| the room feel more spacious. | | | | under a grand was really going to work. In the |
| Computer Desk for $278.00. We found a terrific | | | | end, it did. We bought a 20" flat screen television |
| computer desk online from Versa Products, Inc. | | | | from NextTag and a swiveling wall mount for a |
| He bought the 30" Adjustable Classroom Table in | | | | total of $200.00. The best part about the wall |
| black laminate and outfitted it with a tilting, | | | | mount is that the television can easily be moved |
| ergonomic 20" keyboard arm and tray. Because | | | | so it can be viewed from the futon, the table, the |
| Versa Products ships all of its products for free, | | | | desk, or even the kitchenette. Because the room |
| we only paid for the price of the product. We're | | | | itself is so small, an oversized television-even |
| now up to $696.00 | | | | though my nephew would've preferred one, isn't |
| Table for $44.00 from the Thrift Store. One of | | | | necessary. The smaller television suffices. Grand |
| the Thrift Stores in our area sells furniture and | | | | total... $994.00 for a fully furnished studio |
| we found a table that was sturdy and large | | | | apartment and plenty of money left over to |
| enough to seat two people. We bought the table | | | | spend on other things. I hate to say it, but... I told |
| for $19.00 then paid my handyman neighbor | | | | you so. |