Apartment Ideas

I love interior decor. I feel like I missed my calling as an architect and instead ended up as an Economics and Development Studies graduate. Well, that's okay. I can think about ways to spruce up my new apartment! I really love it, apart from a few things.

1) It's a little on the dark side. I dislike the red accent wall in the kitchen and the dark purple in the living room as I feel it only adds to the darkness.

2) I don't like how little storage space there is. My boyfriend has commandeered the built-in wardrobe in the bedroom, which is fine, but my wardrobe system is now somewhat haywire. The kitchen is also chock-a-block with pots and pans in odd nooks and crannies, and no cutlery divider that will fit...

I need to find storage solutions, in short.

Idea for hanging items in kitchen:

Idea for hanging necklaces

Idea for using old crates as shelves (second bedroom?) :

Idea to create two rooms out of master bedroom:

Idea for kitchen utensil storage (note: how are the tins attached to board?):

Idea to use an old window shutter as a letter holder (in the main entrance?):

Idea for kitchen storage -- hanging mugs, mits and pans:

(ideas for shelf relocation)

(what about relocating the high table so it actually blocks the dining and living rooms?)

(all photos from www.apartmenttherapy.com)

-- move desk to center and have the desk chairs on either side like a conference table