Name: Maxime
Location: Gramercy, Manhattan
Size: 650 square feet — 1 bedroom
Years lived in: 9 months
When Maxime (of house call fame) takes something out of a drawer to use, he puts it back immediately upon finishing the task. After a few minutes in Maxime’s incredibly sun-drenched apartment, I noticed this pattern and knew that as perfect as the apartment looked for my arrival, it was likely the normal state of affairs.
Maxime moved in to this apartment 9 months ago with his partner. His contribution to the design is everything except the brown living room vintage sofa. As an architect/interior designer, Maxime knows what he likes and wherever he finds it he buys it and makes it look integral to his home. Most of his larger pieces hail from IKEA or 17th Street thrift shops. He might splurge on accessories at places like Calypso or the Conran Shop.
The sun — thanks to an open courtyard, southern exposure, and no window treatments — fills the apartment with light during the day. And at night, Maxime, a fanatical lamp collector, has managed to achieve equally stunning lighting for the space.
Most people would have been turned off by the default rental white paint that covers every wall of the apartment. Maxime liked it, kept it and adapted it to serve his purpose of a bright, uplifting, and relatively monochromatic home. The bedroom best illustrates this point. It is so monochromatic, that shadows play a crucial role in the design of the room!
Maxime and his partner like to entertain. They host 8 people for dinner parties and 40 for cocktails! They have a lot of seating and high ceilings so, even at capacity, it doesn’t feel claustrophobic.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My style: Eclectic
Inspiration:Daryl Carter, Thomas O’Brien, Frederic Mechiche
Favorite Element: The bay window with Southern exposure brings in a lot of natural light
Biggest Challenge: To fit 8 people for dinner
What Friends Say: Is it always this clean??
Biggest Embarrassment: The bathroom could benefit from a makeover.
Proudest DIY: TV stand
Biggest Indulgence: Baie Candle from Diptyque
Best advice: Your home should always feel inviting
Resources:
West Elm (accessories/bed/linen/reading lamps/folding table, trays)
Pottery Barn (accessories, vases, pillows, floor lamps, picture frames)
White on White (rocking chair Eames, Saarinen side table, Bertoia entry bench)
Room and Board
Aero (accessories, picture frames,trays….)
Calypso (accessories)
Design within Reach (Narrow bookcase, Desk lamp, Eames desk chair)
Nancy Koltes (Medicis vases, Mercury decoration, candle holders,Linen, home fragrances….)
Conran Shop (Metal cabinet in bedroom)
Thrift shop on 17th Street (Pine console)
Antique shops allover the country and Europe (pair of chairs, console in entry, bench in bedroom hallway, oval desk, dinning table with droop leaves….)
Kartell (lamp bougie)
Cyan design (garden stools)
Habitat (accessories, glassware, tableware…)
Le Jacquard Francais (table clothes, towels, dish towels, napkins)
Diptyque (candles, room sprays….)
Apartment 48 12W 17th Street (silverware, service utensils….)
Sur La Table (kitchen utensils)
ABC Carpets and Home (vintage sofa)
The Door store (day bed)
IKEA (large bookcase, carpet, drawers in bedroom)
(Images: Jill Slater)
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Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
lovely!
Putting everything back as soon as it's done with, that's a habit I would love to acquire!
It definetly looks much bigger ... I love the kitchen & bedroom...and some wonderful pieces in the living room too.
and I like the fact that I am not the only person who puts everything back once I am done... My friends think I am weird, but I cannot go to sleep if things are not in its place.. gotta love organizing..
hey the slideshow doesn't work for me, anyone else have the same problem?
loved the shots i saw a few weeks ago and am very happy to see the entire space. so nice, quirky, & beautiful. this place is put together with great style.
BTW AT, i'm have lots of difficulty maneuvering through the unwieldy slideshows & only because i wanted to see this particular space did i patiently go through the complicated process of scrolling up & down, etc. but for the last couple of months, i've actually stopped going through all the slideshows, sometimes only looking at a few pics. anyone else having difficulty?
If you click on show thumbnails and then click on the 2nd pic and then hide thumbnails, you should be able to go thru the rest of the tour easily.
Gorgeous house tour. I really like how so many items are multi purpose. I am working on "everything in its place." Thanks for sharing! Inspiring...
lovely! reaaallly digging that floor lamp next to the bed
i want this apartment so bad.
Absolutely gorgeous. One of my favorite kitchens I've ever seen on this site.
timmy jr. so am i. it's only showing me the first photo - no arrows or second photo to go to.
interesting fluke with that first image in the house tour gallery - we will check it out ASAP! for now, follow frenchfry's instructions as a workaround!
Only 1 photo for me in the slideshow.
please fix the slideshow!
Aaron, never mind should have read frenchfry's comment. Thanks f.f.
Gorgeous apartment - house tour! You have terrific lighting to show off all your lovely placed treasures!
Can someone please tell me where I can get one of those cute white stands that he has between the kitchen and the hallway - i'd love to get one to hold a few glass jars and vases like he has.
I still love the house tours, but haven't been loving the new slideshow set-up either. I don't look at as many new house tours, and I don't revisit as many old ones as I used to back when they were searchable by square footage.
Beautiful, great style, quirky. Oh so New York.
I'm so glad we got to see the apt. in its entirety. What seemed confusing to me about the living room furniture arrangement when we first saw this place, makes much more sense now, in the context of the apartment. I love it; just beautiful.
rebeccaae- it looks like the west elm stand. Looks like they don't have it anymore.
Cb2 has one somewhat similar. you could always change out the tray with one from westelm.
http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=114&f=3701
I love this place! So light and airy. So many posessions, but it doesn't look over-stuffed or consumption driven. I really this this one could be inspiration for a re-do of my place.
Maxime --
Have you had the TV over the radiator during a winter? I've considered putting a TV over or next to mine but am concerned.
I have been staring at that daybed that folds up into a couch from the door store for a while now... Does anyone know how comfortable it is as a bed and/or as a couch?
I love the place. Even the bathroom is cute. Really.
Kushkush-
The TV has been at that location since the beginning and over the winter. The place gets extremely warn (radiator cannot be turned off!!) in the winter and so far so go....
Saya-
The Day bed from The Door Store is comfortable, however it could be better!! I use it most likely for house guests.
thanks for all your great comments!!
Love it love it love it! And I feel your pain about the apartment bathroom.. I'm in the same vote. There's just nothing you can do til you get your own place... and it sucks!
Saya, this sofabed has worked for my husband as an alternate sleep place for the last three years. He likes a firm surface. While his torso lies on one side of the split, he sometimes swings his legs diagonally to avoid feeling the "dip" down the center. To further minimize that, he tosses on top a full size latex pad from BB&B. That extra inch of foam increases the comfort level. We both enjoy it as a sofa, but it's not a "sink-into". I recommend it for its simple lines, strength, and practical features for small spaces, not for family entertainment centers. It sits low and looks best in white vinyl, which can be washed off with a mild cleaning agents and a scouring sponge (gently). The micro-fiber isn't high quality. I think a new fabric option is available now, as well as a version with arms (cheapens it in my opinion). It can't be recovered. Made in China, as predictable. The price has dropped over the years, so for under a thousand it's a good purchase. Hope this is helpful. Sandra
i love the lampshade on the top of the dresser in the bedroom... what is it made of and where did you get it?
great house tour, i love how the space is so open! this place looks perfect for entertaining!
Nice mix of mainstream modern and vintage! Where is the metallic lamp in the bedroom from? Thanks.
love love love....
Beautiful! Which IKEA bookcase is in the living room ?
Does anyone know where I can get a white chair like the one at the desk in picture #28 (the one with the metal legs)? I really want one but can't figure out where to get it! Help! :)
Love your space - nicely done.. Good mix of furnishings. What is the brown sofa?
Love the kitchen. Too bad about the AC unit in the middle of the wall, any ideas for hiding it in the winter months? And I have the same kind of pipe you have in the bedroom in my kitchen, bathroom and dining room. They get really, really HOT! Any problems with that right next to the bed?
I love the mix of high and low, modern and vintage in this space. There are lovely details and it still looks comfortable and lived-in. I especially like the lines of your desk and the smart layout in the living/dining room.
love this love that bookshelf or whatever that is what is that?? just books stacked or a shelf?
Anyone know where the lanterns are from? Thanks.
well done, boys!! the apartment looks fantastic, my fave rooms being the bedroom and kitchen. you've got some excellent pieces! thanks for sharing your place...
http://mylittleapartment.blogspot.com/
Great space, love the style, the light... and how much I love the Bourgie lamp, it has been on my wish list for a long time.
I don't get it.
stylish, comfortable and not "designy". i like it alot.
I understand you say you've had no problems so far with the TV over the radiator, however, heat rises and eventually it could present a serious issue. To me, it would be no different than sitting the TV somewhere that gets direct full sunlight during the summer - bad idea. Electronics should not be exposed to heat like that. Anyway, lovely place you have there.
Maxime - you could always just paint your bathroom tiles with tile paint if your landlord isn't interested in making upgrades. The existing tiles appear to be in good condition and a nice size.
Hyped description. Lots of upractical "solutions". Lots of upractical "solutions" shot from too many different angles. Not monochromatic but colourless. Indifferent. Oh, and isn't the statement "the biggest challenge was to fit 8 people for dinner in a big space" somewhat narcissistic?
Oh, and isn't the statement "the biggest challenge was to fit 8 people for dinner in a big space" somewhat narcissistic?
No. Some people have friends and family and it can be a challenge fitting many people into a small place comfortably.
This is a lovely home. Obviously these people have talent. I love it. I'm sure the daybed is a great for casual seating. It's fabulous. I love the kitchen and pot/spice rack. Everything is gorgeous and does not look contrived.
Well done! I could move in tomorrow. Lots great solutions.
Don't quite know what tupeloid issues are but, whatever.
I love the console over the radiator where the TV is stored, where did you get it from?
The place is stunning!
One of the best on this site.
--Oh, and if you use the desk as an extension to the dining table and the side "tables" (log and white jar) for extra seating, you could serve 10 at dinner.
terribly terribly chic. Love it!
I agree wtih tulpoeid. It's a nice apt, but I don't get the hype.
I also don't get the biggest challenge statement about seating 8. On the photo with the table he says, "Dining table has leaves to expand for 7-8 person dinner parties! There are plenty of folding chairs in the closet." Doesn't sound like there's a problem at all.
Fastkat. This is not a "small place".
Yeah, by NYC standards, your apartment is huge! I'm so jealous. I *heart* your French chair... and the fabric's color. Yum.
ikea kitchen storage over stove, I was not able to find those shelves???
I love your home!
Wild-er: The Lanterns are from West Elm
Kibwe: TV console from a Ikea bookcase converted in tv stand!
Peachpie: The brown leather sofa is from ABC Carpets&Home, vintage piece from the 50's
Valbythebay: The white chair at the desk is from Eames - Design Within Reach carries it
Stylish and chic beyond words. Thanks for sharing.
I love it, simple, neutral and with style
Sandra Handloser Co and max10010: thank you so much for answering my questions about the Door Store daybed.
My s.o. and I are definitely the type of people that need a very comfy sofabed for movie watching, video gaming, and board gaming, and the family members that stay over quite often. But it sounds like it would be ideal for a lounge spot in the study?
Love the office table. Saw one very similar/same? in a thrift shop for $20!!!! and it was quartersawn oak. Already sold, but I tried offer them more to "mistakenly" resell it.
I thought I was over it - but now I've started the hunt again for a similar table! Very nice place. Bedroom grays and white are very dramatic, but probably not feasible for my place with the kids and critters.
Thanks for sharing!
Maxime, I love the details - many of the stunning details, more than the whole - in the living room. I guess I'd prefer something a little more cohesive rather than a space filled with lovely spots of atmosphere. And your bathroom is beautiful. If the tiles are the color they seem, I would not touch them. You might want to paint the WALL a different color, but don't touch the tiles. Surely, with a minimalist bedroom such as you've created, you can recognize the spare beauty of the bathroom. The pieces are vintage NY. I used to have pink and black tiles in my bath. Try living with that unless you like 50's retro. No no. Bring out the unusual color of the tiles.
Late to the party I may be, but there is a good eye at work here!
Lovely.
And I agree, the bathroom isn't as bad as you think.
The loungeroom looks too bare. I like the white, fresh, airy look too however I think this room looks unfinished. Walls far too bare. I'm not into overcluttering walls or spaces but I can't help but still think that with this room. There needs some more texture and things to 'soften' the bare look - even if it meant covering that small protruding wall bit with floor length sheer white curtains just for starters.
As for the bathroom - I think placing tiles all the way up to the ceiling is a lot nicer and a lot more practical.
The feeling I got when looking at the kitchen is that it's a lovable person. LOL
Ever thought of putting white pearlescent yet textured wallpaper on one or a couple of walls in the lounge for instance?
Another thing you might want to do is to have small white, square painted 'platforms' on a part of the wall big enough to fit a potted plant on- maybe two, even three platforms, with white potted plants that drape their soft green foliage over the edge. You could position the platforms in different levels on the wall, maybe one being the highest in altitude and following another diagonally lower, and the next diagonally lowest for instance. With a nice large white laquered framed picture next to it. Obviously the picture needs a good dose of colour that does not compromise the colours you have chosen in your furniture pieces.
Personally I would do away with the brown table and brown cupboard furniture items or paint them glossy white (or since you made that TV stand - why not make something matching suitable as a desk for eg?)
Come to think of it - I realise that one thing that disturbs me about the barreness of the lounge room is that it is in dire need of a soft very very large plush rug ! Move the gorgeous cow skin elsewhere in the loungeroom and have a plush, sink-your-feet-into rug (that has colour) between the lounge and the TV, or if you have the money - a large one that runs all the way from the lounge to rather close to the kitchen. The only problem is, is that a new plush rug could make the brown lounge you have look even older than desired.
I live in Sweden (the home of Ikea) and there are doors you could get particularly for that bookshelf if you wanted to. You could buy a few and cover just a few of those book holes for the sake of artistic flair. If you didn't own so many books I would leave some of the holes in that bookshelf for display items like bold coloured vases or something.
Hmm... I can't flick back to the picture now that I am writing this post however if it is doable - I wonder if you were able to make the tall part of the bookchelf stand up so it reaches the ceiling even more? That way you have more floor space and more wall space. The brown square piece of furniture in front of the bookcase, though nice in itself, disturbs me, cluttering the space by being in too close proximity with the bookshelf. (Again - paint it white?)
Umm.. one last thing - but ever thought of making arches to those doorways? eg archway to kitchen and whatever other doorway that connects directly to the lounge room.
Okay I will stop writing now !! Sorry. I just enjoy looking at interior design pictures and get inspiration.
Re: bookshelf. I meant turn the whole bookshelf so it stands vertically rather than horizontally (if there is room to do so).
Maxime doesn't need an ounce of design advice...he clearly has "it". This aesthetic is by far the hardest to achieve and he has accomplished it masterfully! Please keep us in the loop when you make changes...not that it needs any...would love to watch your place evolve.
Maxime, I am looking for a pot and pan rack. Where did you get yours? It is fantastic!
Interesting, clever, exquisite.
please come redo my home!