apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Too white.

Perfect.

Sexy.

I know I'm picky but I'd say the update itself is pretty dated.

Wonderful...except no one lives there in the "after". Absolutely no personality. A showroom from 1993.

funny the the after looks just as dated in some ways as the before. The best homes IMHO are the ones you let develop over time and have variation on a theme through out the house rather than being a ad for one store or designer.

From black-and-white photos to color ones... is this The Wizard of Oz?

And what kind of sunglasses do they wear when they're sitting around the house?

Wow, hdtex, you were obviously way ahead of the curve in 1993. I don't see any muddied primary colours, country-style fabrics, shellback sofas or any of the things that characterised early 90s interior design.

The backsplash is adorable. The cooktop with barstool seating makes me think there is a very tired cook.

The before pictures at link show that this is a clutter prone person (Lladro head at 11o'clock!) so I wouldn't worry about the place getting a lived in appearance.

Am I the first to spy the cowhide rug? I think it qualifies as our Midwest equivalent of the zebra stripe rug plague that has hit Domino and Dwell.

are those couches comfortable?

Both awful.

Hate the limestone floors.

Wish Living Etc. had done the makeover instead.

Boy, this is a tough crowd...

At first, I wondered why someone had altered the "after" shot to drain all the color out of the picture, then I realized they hadn't. The whole feel is like some old-fashioned sepia-toned photo of a modern setting. This makes it feel pretty lifeless.

I hate the stools, and they look very uncomfortable, but the new shelves look great as does the floor and lighting, but it really needs some life.

I don't get it. An outdated house is renovated from the studs up, resulting in a shiny, catalogue-perfect interior. Of course it looks good, as well it should, but it's nothing new. Where's the hook in this post? Was the house reconstructed entirely from recycled plastic? Are there bodies in the walls? Is Sarah Palin somehow involved?

Wow!

wow... so many critics in Chicago - I think it looks pretty good - not particularly "Magazine-worthy", but definitely not as dated and distasteful as some have deemed.

Yeah, it's nice as far as "good design" goes. It is a pleasing color palette, the storage unit is functional and pretty.It appears to be much more spacious, but I've seen this style (many, many times) before. I do like the the backsplash in the kitchen, though.

Blandwagon thanks (not) for reminding me of how hideous the country goose era was. Ah for the days of country crafts - candle holders made out of soda bottles, etc. Unfortunately, I still see people doing sponge painting (glazing is just as bad). I recall a friend saying how we'd never have seen that in the all white (with black and white checkerboard floors) 80s. Unless it was a custom rehab in shades of gray (featured here, if I recall, last week).

The before wouldn't be that bad if they just rearranged a few things. I'm sure it is much more warm and colorful, since they felt the need to post the before in black and white to make the makeover look more dramatic.

I would feel uncomfortable visiting the after, I would feel like I was afraid I would mess something up or get their perfect white floors dirty.

don't think much of the redo. very clinical

Come on, people. The renovation may not be to your taste, but it's an amazing transformation.

Not really, they basically just recreated a modern version of the apartment as it was built three decades ago. Every single aspect of the design is trendy, uncreative, and destined to be absolutely hideous inside of eight years.

It's a really gross re-design. The fur print on the floor, the zebrawood sink. The only thing that was wisely chosen is the countertop, that will last through the next renovation.

Considering they spent a lot of money on that renovation, they should have created a more timeless look, with natural materials, and functional, non-designy design. The whole thing is so forced and un-human.

Bar stools are too high, they need the counter hight version of them. Also I don't like it either, the couches are ugly and so is the entertainment unit. The kitchen looks OK.

It's a nice re-do if you like minimalism.

Ah AT. At its best when arguing about other peoples' tastes.
I like the redo. It may not be cozy, but it is certainly considered. And that kitchen is way more practical than it was beforehand. I say good job!

Those stools look like they're adjustable, so there probably isn't a height problem.

I'm not a design pro, but I'd say that even if the "after" is or will be outdated, it will never be as awful as the "before." It is sterile and cold, but still a huge improvement.

A gut renovation isn't really a "makeover." It's really just a new building that recycles the old exterior walls and roof.

I don't find the kitchen to be in "dated danger" particularly.

And the stuff that potentially dates the living room is all changeable stuff... in a timeless white envelope.

Looks like a dude lives here - just hired someone and said "make me a bachelor pad that conveys that I'm well-off. Need to impress the ladies."

I like it. Not sure I'd like to live there, but it's nice.

Redecorating aside, the juxtaposition between the "before" and "after" pictures reminds me of a late-night infomercial.

Seems like a lot of work went into this. Too bad the warmth got lost in the process.

wow, super cool!

Awful.