Wow it looks like a totally different room! nicely done

looks like it is in a different house. it looks so much larger and deeper than in the before.

wow, what a transformation, love the airy feeling the room has now.

Proper white balance and better lighting can make a lot of things look "transformed."

Very nice. Your duvet cover in the before gives me a visceral feeling that isn't pleasant.

I prefer the layout before. The headboard and cleanliness in the second photo are better.

What a job refurbishing that Bertoia chair was; looks fantastic now. Hudson Bay blankets are the BEST! Your new room looks amazing.

The biggest difference is the change in lighting.

Wow, a major improvement! Looks fantastic, but I did prefer the position of the bed in the first photo.

I'm sorry, but I agree with ryancn and mindfeck. Just use the lighting and white balance of the second photo with the first photo, and I think I would like the first room better. Just needed to put the art on the wall, add a bed frame, and take the mirror out of the window. The second one still looks great, though!

Is that a genuine Hudson's Bay blanket??? That isn't cheap! Those babies go for over $650 Canadian (about $645 US). Plus tax! I love the white walls and the red carpet. The room is clean, comfy and cosy. Nice. x

A Hudson's Bay blanket!

As someone who's also on a shoestring budget, I can see that I lot of effort and care went into this bedroom. Perhaps for those can afford to throw a bedroom together in a day it's just a trifle, but for a student who thrifted and labored over a period of months, it's masterful.

different yes, amazing...no. white paint + white bedding + picture taken at different time of day does not equal good design.

It IS a Hudson's Bay blanket! But, apparently it was a gift from his mum, so he is forgiven and can still say this room was done on a budget. I love this room. The fact that it's in Manhattan makes it even better (and makes me hate him even more. Lol.) x

It's obvious that at least one reason the position of the bed changed was so he could get a desk in the room by the window. Whether you prefer the before position for photo-taking purposes or not, from a functional perspective, the latter is a big improvement.

Clearly, this room is now much more livable than it was before. And I definitely think it's much more stylish as well! Nicely done all around!

"white paint + white bedding + picture taken at different time of day does not equal good design."

And if the only differences you see are white paint and bedding and time of day, then maybe you should have your eyesight checked.

I'm sorry, but my patience for rude and pretentious people is clearly unequal to Apartment Therapy's supply today.

Unabridged, I completely agree.

I've been following Dan's progress on manhattan-nest.com, and what he's done with his place is nothing short of amazing.

He built the desk.
He built the shelving.
He upholstered a bed.
He thrifted like a mad man.
And probably learned to take better pictures of his progress along the way.

Eff off RyanCN.

unabridged, you are judging too hastily. Dan is neither rude nor pretentious. He is a college student working on his place in good faith and an open mind, and by himself, as in literally building stuff with his own hands. You should check out his blog, you will appreciate the process better.

Dan rocks!

I think I prefer the before in this case. The after is too ultra-white/modern for my taste. I think the before feels both warmer and bigger all at the same time. It would be interesting to see the before with the same lighting as the after.

Is it me or does the second photo make the room appear much larger? I also, happen to like the furniture placement in the first photo. I just like being able to view my door from where I sleep.
I do like the after. I like the white walls and new bed and rug. And love the blanket! Just too pricey for me.

i was turned on to his blog by Morgan over at The Brick House..so it is nice to see that now AT has picked up on his blog as well.
He has done some great stuff to his place!

carrefour_ny,

unabridged was critiquing RyanCN from earlier. I believe that unabridged is pro-Dan. Reread the comment.

"unabridged, you are judging too hastily. Dan is neither rude nor pretentious. He is a college student working on his place in good faith and an open mind, and by himself, as in literally building stuff with his own hands. You should check out his blog, you will appreciate the process better."

Haha! I'm hoping this is subtle humor. Because I love subtle humor.

You're right, though, perhaps I am judging too hastily. It's quite easy to judge too hastily.

In fact, after checking out Dan's bedroom post, I learned two things:
1. He does, indeed, appear to rock.
2. His blanket, in a queen size, costs $200: http://www.pendleton-usa.com/product/Home-Blankets/Blankets/NATIONAL-PARKS-BLANKETS/GLACIER-NATIONAL-PARK-BLANKET/166372/sc/1839/c/1821/pc/1816.uts.

There. I feel like something has been learned here.

I love the transformation. From dingy/drab to dashing!

My eyes are fooling me...
Where is the Bertoia Diamond chair? I see an Eames shell desk chair.
And I also don't see the Alexander Calder lithograph. Is it on the wall?

Oh and I'm glad he put away his trains duvet. He's the second adult male on AT that has had that juvenile pattern.

Absolutely lovely! Especially that Hudson Bay blanket!

Don't get me wrong, I like the room. But if you're showing off a true before & after, the lighting and angles need to be the same. Otherwise it can seem a little smoke and mirror-y.

Personally, I'm enjoying all the before and after's - I know I'm proud of myself even when my 'after' is just due to a bit of rearranging and cleaning/organizing - makes it feel like a new room, and makes me happy to be in it.

I say, keep them coming - even the small ones.

Good work, Daniel!

What is the name of that oval ceiling lamp?

Wow, I love it!

I realize I'm in the minority, but I love the 'before' picture. There's something about a mattress and books on the floor that I find inviting. Maybe I'm just trying to re-live my college days.

That said, the 'after' deserves kudos. It looks very clean, very open, and very Swedish--in a good way. It's a bit too sterile for my tastes, but only a bit. Nothing a window treatment, a framed print and a throw pillow or two couldn't fix.

@sagekitten85

It looks like a George Nelson Bubble Lamp.

To all of you who think that the main change is the lighting, just head on over to his blog. There are many other angles to be seen. Thanks to Morgan from Brick house for turning me on to his blog. It's great, and it totally deserves to be shown here on AT.

He did a great job cleaning up both his thrifted Eames and Bertoia chairs, and fixing the Nelson lamp. He did a great job building storage and furniture to accommodate all of the things that were on the floor before. The desk in front of the window is a lovely location to work from, and it looks like the layout functions better this way. I love the lightness of the lucite nesting tables as a bedside table. I love how the Hudson blanket plays with the Calder litho. Fabulous!

"I'm sorry, but my patience for rude and pretentious people is clearly unequal to Apartment Therapy's supply today.
"

hmm...i thought i was being bluntly honest but i guess rude could be another way to look at it (wonders of the internet). pretentious i was not, and never have been. althought i do think that plastering this room on a design blog with all these adjectives like "stunning" and "amazing" is a bit pretentious, or misguided.
it's a perfectly nice room that the guy put a lot of work into, i just don't agree with the way the post author presented it. i've come to expect a little more from AT.

Hey, that's my room!

@RyanCN- Trust me, it's WAY WAY more about a fresh coat of paint than white balance and lighting. The paint before was a high-gloss yellow-y white and disgusting.

@mindfeck, suzy8track, and others concerned about the layout: this room really isn't very big and there isn't any space to have it any other way unless I put the bed against the wall. Which I avoid if at all possible.

@peteG- as has been pointed out by a couple people, the blanket was a gift from Pendleton Woolen mills but was nowhere NEAR that expensive. I think they're $200. They do last forever though.

@E.I.F- The second photo was taken after I purchased a wide-angle lens. It does make the room look deceptively large, but it's the only way to get everything in frame.

@burnttoast- Go to the post and you'll see both!

@sagekitten85- It's a George Nelson Saucer Bubble Lamp, size medium.

Thanks, Kathleen!

I will never grow tired of looking at this wonderful transformation. You can see that an enormous amount of time and patience went into it. It's not just a splash of white paint or better lighting, most importantly, it looks like someone with excellent taste lives here.

This room is many times better looking than my room when I was in College and I was a design student.

I love the transformation can't go wrong with clean white lines. I do like the picture in the blog showing the bed wall elevation.

Keep this picture Dan its fun to see how our spaces evolve over time and I am much older than you wish I had a digital of my peach/gray/white room with butterfly chairs and the infamous Nagel poster - our room is much better!

Your room is much better ^ typo

I love Dan's blog, and as beansprout pointed out, he has done an incredible amount of work. I think his bedroom is beautiful and streamlined, not to mention more functional (and may be just the push I need to paint my walls white!).

!!!!

Awesome.

one more fan of dan chiming in.

The before and after ARE amazing...but more so if you follow along with his blog. A lot of the components in his room were not found at full price, but thrifted and refurbished by Dan himself.

This is the most complete "room" transformation he has done, but he's also made some amazing updates to the rest of the project.

And, as someone who dissuades myself from putting too much effort into home design (due to being a renter and poor) I definitely appreciate the inspiration from another person who is not necessarily in a long-term living situation and who is operating within a limited budget.

I love it. It's youthful, but pulled together. Well done!

before look cosy, aft look pristine. if i wanna snuggle up and be 'digested' by a room i'd choose the former =)

Am very impressed! Love the way the colours work together in the "after". But would be good/helpful if before and after photos could have the same/similar light AND ESPECIALLY the same lens. . .

I love Dan. I follow his blog and wrote him an email asking about his thrifting technique, and he wrote me back. I think the "after" looks amazing, and am so impressed with his job. It would be helpful to have before and afters shot in the same time of day/with same lighting so we could judge more objectively. With so many kitchen make overs as well, the "after" has crisp natural light, while the before is shot at night with a flash.

Love the new look. So much cleaner looking. Also, if you want a Hudson Bay Blankets at half price:

http://www.amazon.com/Hudson-Bay-Blankets-Queen-Blanket/dp/B000T2VLH0

Dan likes cats and has great decor instincts, he's okay in my book!

It's gorgeous, undeniably, but I've got to agree that similar photos would have helped me appreciate it more (it's a bit like a diet ad with a fuzzy shot of an overweight guy in a sweatsuit before, and then after with his hair cut, teeth whitened, etc.)

And Hudson's Bay blankets can be had for a little less than their huge retail price – secondhand on eBay, and even at the Bay itself, on sale, occasionally.

Sorry, Hate-a-rator's he has done much with a tiny budget! Those who have been following Mr.DK know he is a genius thrifier. He has a keen eye for design and has mad DIY skills. He's a student also, so let him evolve his room and style. Dan is THE MAN!;)

I'm sure all this scrutiny must be difficult for Dan. I for one know how challenging it can be to listen to everyone's opinion on something as personal as your home.

I really like your after. The lighting and paint make a world of difference. Though most would probably disagree, I think the blanket clashes with your rug. Also I was wondering what happened to the ethnic piece of artwork that used to be above your desk? I loved that thing!

It looks fantastic. The DIY bed in particular is so impressive! I wish I had even half of Dan's ingenuity.

I'll admit there are elements of the "before" that I prefer to the "after." But that's a personal preference. I follow Dan's blog, and what impresses me, both about the transformation of this room and his decorating sense in general, is how he has a vision of what he wants, and the way he goes about achieving his goal.

The "after" room shows a clearly defined taste. I love his wall shelf. He worked hard and took time to get this room to where he wanted it. So what if I personally would put a different paint color on the wall and throw in a plant or two? It's not my room.

It's a clean, fresh, inviting room. It suits the person who lives there. It works for him. And IMO, that's what good design is all about.

I think this whole project is just amazing! And Dan is a thrifting God. I couldn't imagine buying a chair and carrying it down the street. I'm such a MidWesterner in that sense. I'm used to tossing them in the back of my car.

For anyone interested in taking a cue from Daniel, I found this Hudson blanket on Etsy today!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/63836685/caulfield-collection-4-point-hudson-bay

NICE.

I REALLY like the transformation, perhaps it's the lighting, but maybe not. I think he did a great job, but truthfully, my favorite part is the Hudson's Bay blanket~I think it pulls the whole room together, and I think it was established that it was both a gift, and expensive. Take away the blanket and it's kind of just a plain white room~although I still think it would look great.

very inspiring ..i plan to do something like this for my guest bedroom

@ach: without the hudson bay blanket there would still be: the amazing diy desk, the cool diy little pipe bookshelf, the amazing original calder print which he and his mom thrifted for very cheap, the diy ikea-uppolstered bed, the nice, cheap oriental carpet he found on ebay, the bertoia chair he found on the street I think (or thrifted for very cheap, I can't remember) and restored, the nelson lamp, which he got for cheap at a dwr outlet because it was broken and repaired himself and the super-duper cute moonlight beam clock (I have a crush on this clock).
In this picture you mainly see the bed and can't really see how fantastic the desk or bookshelf are or the calder print or the bertoia chair, but if you go to his blog you can see more pictures and will see that while the hudson bay blanket is fantastic, it really isn't the only fantastic thing in this room and the room still would be gorgeous without it!

now THAT is a transformation worthy of posting! gorgeous.

Hi, You are posting a nice & beautiful article, Thank you for creating this article.
Thanks
Jenny Tabassum
"Adjustable Mattress"