apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Transformations is incredible. Good Job Brooke. Congrats on both the award and new apt. Hopefully we'll be able to see it in the house tour.

Not loving the comment "In this contest, I saw one too many monochromatic designs, cold spaces organized perfectly for a photo shoot but not for real life..." from Brooke, especially since her place seems quite specifically styled, and I don't see any stacks of mail or "real life" here, either...

That kind of comment always bugs me, but I find it even harder to take from a contestant aboout other entries, for some reason.

Well, patrick (the other one) there is a dog in one of the pics. Of course, he is dressed to match.....

Sorry to offend you, Patrick. But that is truly how I feel. Lots of entries with really expensive things, in spaces that just don't feel "lived in". I don't think there's anything wrong with an honest comment like that.

As for your opinion about the "realness" of my photos, all I can confirm is that this is exactly how I live, day to day. I'm a huge fan of compulsive cleaning & organization. Can't help that.

I LOVED the before and after pictures! What a great job! Can't wait to see what you'll do with your new, bigger space for next year. You're a winner for sure!

Haha, as for the picture of my doggie.. She very generously chewed up my favorite shirt. SO.. I made her wear it.

So great to see an entry that I voted for. This is one of my favorites. Though I am agreeing with patrick (the other one) about the catty comment. Really out of place in the finals, some people really do live in an organized fashion. Some of us just really crave simplicity.

but....... your place is absolutely gorgeous. You did a marvelous job and are an inspiration to me. I live in a studio apartment and am always looking for ways to divide my space. Your colors are so beautiful. I really love all the red dishes. And please, I must know where did you get the little round rugs? Ingenuous how you used them as step stones. I have a very cold wood floor.

Congratulations and good luck.

I honestly didn't intend for it to sound "catty". It was just a simple observation. No harm intended.

(And thank you for the niceness, Peggy & Myra.)

Your comment about the dog made me laugh. Out loud.

You truly do have remarkable restraint. I don't think I've ever seen such a thorough collection of red dishware in my life. I certainly don't have that kind of discipline. Your appartment is/was gorgeous. Good luck with your new place.

And congratulations.

re: "all I can confirm is that this is exactly how I live, day to day. I'm a huge fan of compulsive cleaning & organization. Can't help that."

Why can't you give your fellow contestants the same benefit of the doubt? Anyway.

And can we stop criticizing "expensive things" in other, or ANY entries? Money does not buy taste. Neither does a tight budget guarantee it.

Not sure I would agree with Alana's comment about "restraint" here, either.

And can we stop criticizing "expensive things" in other, or ANY entries? Money does not buy taste. Neither does a tight budget guarantee it.

Whoops, sorry to have part of that repeated.

This was hands-down my favorite entry.

I don't think this entry looks ultra-sterile and void of living -- I understand what Brooke was trying to say, and I don't think this entry reflects what she said she didn't like about those spaces. There are plenty of areas where you see "stuff" from everyday life in this entry. That doesn't translate to clutter or "non-simplicity" to me, it just means that yeah, people do use DVDs in their living rooms, magazines in the coffee table, food in the pantry beneath the microwave, a guitar next to the sofa, etc.

I hate knick-knacks and such and I suppose I'm a person who lives with simplicity, I just personally didn't understand spaces with no evidence that humans lived there whatsoever - anything - books, magazines, food, etc. whatever.

I think it may have less to do with the spaces themselves and it just got lost in the translation of styling the photos and such. I think photos of spaces that looked tidy, organized - and sure, styled - but still factored in those elements of everyday life instead of hiding them for the photo were more successful and impressive.

Wow, Patrick. You've really twisted my statement to sound really hateful. That's not at all what I intended, as I said. I didn't say anything about money buying or not buying taste. I'm just talking about a few of the entries I was personally unimpressed with.

No harm in giving my opinion. I wish you hadn't been so offended by it.

I did not think you sounded hateful.But it didn't come across as totally innocuous, either.

So what exactly did you mean by "Lots of entries with really expensive things..."? Or, more importantly, why does that matter here, and how does it factor into your entry?

I just don't think (imho) that as a contestant, before the contest is over, you should be saying anything even the slightest bit ungracious about the competition. But that's just me.

Geez, why are you still picking on me! :)

Perhaps my wording wasn't good enough for you. I'm sorry. Please just take it as my simple opinion of a few of the entries, and leave it at that. I am not a hateful person. I am just making my own observations.

As for this contest, I can't tell you how grateful I am for it. Seeing other people's ideas has been super inspiring... and loads of fun.

Brrrrooke I forgot to add that I'm curious about that red pole near your computer - what are those little round things on it? I'm intrigued by the texture.

Oh, just some strips of photos (a miniature photo album) I printed from my computer, which is something I'll definitely do again here in my new space. Since hanging stuff on brick proved to be nearly impossible, it's all I could do. Dozens of tiny pictures of my life to look at while I worked at my desk. :)

I am sooo glad this made it!I love this space. Even the kitchen that was not originally posted is a gorgeous use of color!

And I agree...stop picking on her!

Where were you "stop picking on her" people when things got uber-nasty over on other entries?!?

Good luck in the contest, Brooke.

Did someone say something about a pole being in the house!?.....NICE!!!

love it. if i were to find myself in a home like that, i'd just sit and stare at everything. :)

something that surprised me in this contest in general is the absence of personal photos in peoples' homes. maybe contestants removed them for privacy reasons, but personal photos is what _really_ gives a room its character, personality, and warmth. (sorry, this part was not relevant to this entry but i just had to say it somewhere)

Actually there are TWO poles in the house! PERFECT for when your mom & sister come over!

oh, nevermind..i think i see some photos in the kitchen? if you're the only finalist with personal photos in their entry, then i will vote for you. ;) among other reasons, of course.

Can I ask where the white table/cart with the flower pots comes from? Thanks.

hahaha!

Brrroke you truly are someone I'd like to know.

Mar, I agree about the personal photos. What I really love about this entry is things like that - that ingenius problem solving that takes something that I usually think of as looking a certain way and transforms it into something else. THat's really why I thought this entry was so much more complex than several others.

I didn't even notice at first glance the first time around that that was a large canvas against the wall and not a painted wall. And I would never have guessed those were photos. And I didn't really notice till today that there isn't an actual "wall" seperating the bed, it's just another large piece of art.

And I love seeing the "person" in there. The first time around I didn't even notice the magazines, the jacket on the chair in front of the computer, the remote, the coasters, etc. It's like she didn't hide anything and it still looks fabulous. I think most spaces will look great if you strip them of your remote, coasters, a spare jacket, your DVDs, etc. but having it all be aesthetically pleasing with those things still in them, IMO is a different thing completely. Bravo.

This really is lovely.

For me, there is too much going on here. Like the two kinds of rugs (and one of those kind in multiple to boot). Or the green thing under the bowl. And too much warm/cool back and forth (for me).

But I do love how you've used white as an intentional color (coffee table, side chair pillow). And it really does show nicely in the detail shots. The overall room shot (for me) is overwhelming. Kitchen open storage is a pet peeve of mine, even though you do it well.

I'm certainly no minimalist, but I think this space could use one healthy round of subtraction.

It's actually a large piece of drywall protruding from the brick, not a canvas. (And the thing by my bed is likewise a drywall partition.) Unfortunately, I could not take them with me. But the lady who lives there now is totally enjoying them. Dammit.

Thanks for all your niceness, too, DJ. Thanks for taking the time to write all that. Best friends forever!

Slopez--IKEA. It's not actually one unit, but rather two pieces shoved together. Why, you want them? :)

Patrick, let's go bowling.

I think the astroturf lily pad rugs are from Ikea.

Hey - I have one of those drywall pieces protruding from one of my walls too in my kitchen and painted it like a canvas also!

Hmm...and I'm a graphic artist specializing in vector art...I think you're my long lost twin. :D

You in Chicago, by any chance? :D

Love the hookah and, especially, the knife holder. Where the heck did you find the holder? I want one, too!

Rudopal, I will sell it to you if you really want it! Got it on Overstock, by the way. My new place is painted blue, so it doesn't look as suave sitting on the counter.

Soooo happy to see you in the finals! Congrats and all–now tell me...
What is the text over the kitchen?
Is that a hookah?
Did you freehand your graphics or project them or what?
What from your old place do you want to repeat in the new place?

Love everything!

OK so where can we see pics of the NEW place when you're done? :D I rarely see blue kitchens I like, so I'm curious what you've done with yours since I loved your old one. That color was great, I'm sure the blue looks fantastic somehow.

Oh, and that knife holder RULES. haha.

To Pelicolina (great name, by the way!):

+ Text over the kitchen reads: "Here is nothing. Make it beautiful." Sort of my motto for my illustration business.

+ Hookah? Heckyah! We got it just a few weeks ago. (Try double apple--it's the bomb!)

+ The designs were painted freehand. I used the vines all around the building as reference.

+ Repeats? Practically nothing. I lovelovelove starting anew.

Love the fact that even the dishes are colorful. Isn't it great to get to start all over, have fun!!

This room was my absolute favorite and I'm so glad to see it as a finalist because it should be. When it comes to "ingenious and beautiful" uses of color, in my book, Brooke, if you don't come in first you've been robbed!

Congrats for making it into the finals!
Your place is great!
Like everyone else, I have an opinion and feel like I have to share it too.
I don't think expensive designer furniture is what makes a space any better or worse than another. But I do have to say, that I tend to think that people who visit apartmenttherapy.com are those who appreciate well designed furniture and not all of them can afford it. So, that said, some have found expensive designer furniture cheap on craig's list, some may have even picked it up off the curb. And when we find these treasures, hey, why not grab them and be super excited for the find? I don't think that it's necessarily something bad.... I mean, the same can be said for cheap Ikea furniture...we can say "thank goodness this space isn't completely furnished with cheap Ikea furniture." But the reality is that the furniture from Ikea is what everyone can afford.

kk, I think that's true. I think the problem (and I think what gets misinterpreted a lot here) is thinking that expensive designer furniture set, or - at the other end of the spectrum - a room purchased at once from IKEA equals "instant style" KWIM? Because neither do.

I think sometimes a designer here will say something about not having expensive things and its seen as a slam against that, when really I think what they mean is that that stuff is nice but useless really without imagination and taste. Like Patrick said, money doesn't buy taste.

I know I got slammed for saying another entry looked too much like an IKEA page (and not an exciting one at that colorwise) - and everyone everywhere was saying "Whatever, unless you make your furniture you're guilty of that same thing" but that wasn't the point.

I love IKEA, and I think the designers who create the stuff and create the environments are genius, but is recreating an IKEA environment with all IKEA components (or a DWR environment will all DWR components) really an achievement worth winning a contest over? I mean really, isn't its ease of use the appeal of IKEA/DWR, etc.? That can be fabulous with an injection of your own personality, but without it...meh.

An original Picasso is brilliant but a recreation is less so, KWIM? I loved spaces in this contest where I saw personality mixed with pieces we've all seen, and those pieces just became part of a much larger, unique picture.

I know whatchoo mean, Vern.

Where'd you get the lamps with the drum shades, especially the table lamp?

Sigh. Wish I was more of a freehander, I'd vine out my kitchen right now.

Table lamps were from Target! Pretty much everything in my apartment came from Overstock, IKEA, or Target..

thanks brrrrrooke! This is so my fave entry. So creative and luscious.

Oh, seems like I'm in the minority here...but I think the room appears chaotic with a myriad of colors and objects everywhere. I guess what I'm saying is that things don't look pulled together to create a sense of balance and the business makes my head spin (except maybe the kitchen is going in a nice direction). Sorry. I'm sure you loved living in it and at the end of the day...that's what counts.

I take umbrage with p2's umbrage. Whether it was bad form for Brooke to criticize her fellow contestants is an issue that I'm not interested in debating. But "Money doesn't buy taste" is beside the point. Let's put bad taste aside for a moment. If you have good taste and money, you are ahead of the game. If you have good taste and no money, you have to struggle with smoke and mirrors. Hence the admiration for people who manage to create arresting spaces with limited resources. See? It really is obvious.

I'm aquainted with both fantastically wealthy people and people who are wondering how they'll feed their kids next month. Guess who's got the really bitchin' decor? What's that? The people who can afford houses, furniture, housekeeping staff, contractors, redecorating whims, etc., etc., till the cows come home? Duh!

On the other hand, my favorite spaces have been put together by people who aren't rich. But in every instance these people went to considerable expense to achieve their creations, even when they had enough expertise to do a lot of the work themselves.

And no, this has nothing to do with class resentment or anti-capitalism or any of the various canards deployed by the spirited defenders of "expensive things" (I, like everybody else on the planet, do love expensive things). It's just the facts.

I don't know why you take umbrage. I agree with quite a bit you are saying.

I brought it up originally because there seemed to be (yet again) a jab taken at anyone who can afford the Ligne Rosets and DWRs of the world (and no, I do not fall entirely in that category... yet!), and how they have an *automatic* leg up on things, design and/or contest-wise (I got this criticism in the Smallest/Coolest contest). And, conversely, the equally Emperor's-new-clothes-ish philosophy that budget decorators are *automatically* more clever or more talented or more successful.

I see multi-million McMansions in places like the Frontgate catalog that make me cringe. But I see shoestring abodes here that ocasionally cause the same heeby-geebies (not Brooke's, btw). Train wrecks come at all pricepoints.

I say, celebrate the creativity, celebrate the success, learn what you can from ANYONE'S budget solution, but leave the adding machines, and classism at the front door. Don't automatically criticize the people who *can* spend more, don't automatically herald those who can't.

Does it take innovation and cleverness to stretch a dollar? Of course. But don't slam those who only do their stretching at Pilates.

And I think the assumption that all ATers are bargain basement DIYers, living in awe or envy of those with higher budgets, is really not accurate, either.

ps, henrietta... not every statement there was meant to be directly to-- or at!-- you, personally. I just think it an interesting topic, and I'm really just trying to discuss, not argue.

Patrick:

How bout you throw in the towel already? I think we all get your point.

Hey, I don't mind if Patrick has something to say. I don't even mind if he does it here. It's an interesting topic. (Plus I think he wants me.)

And to M--I just want to thank you for giving a constructive criticism, unlike someone in another thread who called my space a "circus tent". I am so very aware that the direction I took my decorating isn't for everyone. I, however, love/need that kind of color all around me. I am an illustrator by trade & my work (& subsequently my thought process) is very colorful. And I'll bet you wouldn't have guessed that I am a shy, quiet person from my space, but I am. I need my personal surroundings to be a certain way.. because I spend so much time there.

Sorry, limited, was just responding to henrietta, and as I said, I think it an interesting topic. Sorry to bore you.

Brrrooke--
re: wanting you
Um, apparently there are a LOT of things people don't get about me. Do you have a brother?

P2,

Since you're being so good-natured I can't really sustain my umbrage. But my point is that people who can afford Ligne Roset and DWR absolutely DO have a leg up! Pointing that out has nothing to do with classism. Obviously the rich are often guilty of esthetic abominations and the not-rich often come through with quite wonderful designs. But needless to say, money is always an advantage. Odds are a person of means with conventional taste will have a better-looking place than a person with conventional taste who must make do. Money buys quality and space even if there's no vision.

What's interesting is someone like that art collector from the midwest who put together an exquisite apartment mixing high-end and low (OK, middle). You have to wonder, why even compromise when you can afford a freaking Picasso (or whatever it was)?! Yet some of the wonder at that apartment had to do with the man's ability to make Crate & Barrel and so on pass as something more refined. Maybe it was the photography, but I doubt it.

Henrietta--
I'd respond, but Limited Tolerance will be all over my ass.

Speaking of which, Brooke, do you have a brother or not?!?

Oh, and Limited--
Thanks SO much for googling my contributions to this site! But not all of those are me. I've never been to the Goethe Institute or had a boyfriend named Marcus. That I remember.

But you have some more googling to do... I originally posted as just "patrick" but someone else is posting by that name now.

This place deserves to at least be in the top three-- this space was a basement dungeon that was turned into a beautiful, personal space, and all this accomplished by colour, texture and pattern. I can't give enough kudos, really.

I believe p2 is a smallest, coolest champ. You could look it up.

First of all, I am still laughing my ass of
about the comment from Satan on Paul's W.S.A
honorable mention............

Brooke-I love it. Period. Gorg-e-ous.
I am sorry that it has to get so crazy with everyone's opinion's...but I guess that's what happens when you're famous :)

OK-can you (or one of your devoted fans) help me-
I cannot, for some reason see the rest of your photos, or any other finalists.

The slideshow will not move forward, it just has this red bar that keeps running, and I cannot see the thumbnails either. I figure ya'll might be able to help.

gracias-chrisy

Sarcastic? Me??? NOOOOO!!!

And I have more fun when I unzip it.

For Chrisy:

I don't think I can post HTML, so copy & paste this link instead:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeinvector/sets/72157594371916309/

¡Viva Flickr!

How did Mademoiselle get her accent grave to work.

gee, caustic, ya think?

Très bien. Mercie!

For some reason this room makes me feel like you're living in the middle of an Urban Outfitters store or it could be the set of a trendy twenty-something show - either way very hip looking and bright.

So, Lynn, not *always* sarcastic, huh? Touche.

Good grief, these threads need a moderator, bad.

Brooke, I love what you did, even though I would have to take out 1/3 of everything were I to live in that space. Still, I'd like to second the comment that your inventiveness, humour and flair make me want to meet you in person.

Une autre Canadienne
(hereby having exhausted the limit of her French, sadly)

love it! would love to be a friend and be invited over for beverages before going out on the town...

Holy crap. Such compliments! (Eat my dust please, my sweet Patrick.)

Thanks, guys & gals!

Wait, you don't live there anymore? Isn't that a contest requirement?

Um, it's not a contest requirement, Confused. However, if it's any consolation, I lived there when I initially submitted my pictures.

And now I am starting anew! Yeehaw.

Lynn--
Apologies if you were truly being genuine. But your turnaround seemed so sudden, and your enthusiasm seemed so extreme, perhaps it was no wonder that both caustic and myself thought perhaps you were being sarcastic.

And your French comment "I am not always sarcastic" lead me to believe you weren't *always,* but perhaps *were* in this case, given your specific choice of language.

Again, thanks for your comments and apologies for the confusion. Sorry to assume the worst. I usually don't.

Broooke--
So glad you are "leading by example" and creating the kind of AT you want to see, with such constructive and lovely comments like "eat my dust please, sweet patrick." The girls on the cheerleading squad must be so proud.

I wish you all the success in this contest you obviously deserve. Stay as sweet as you are! See you in Sophomore year!!! Airkisses!!

Farewell & best of luck to you, Patrick. I will miss your kindness & honesty. I can only hope that my future offspring are as complimentary, sincere, quick-witted, & sassy as you. Big smooches, girl.

And go team, go.

I think this should be called the "True Colors Contest" cuz, GGGIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRLLLLL, yours are REALLY showing.

But, you know, perhaps go back and reread how this all started. Far more nasty things have been said than what I did, and yet you seem to be taking all your frustrations out on me. I didn't even start by criticizing your place (which I originally liked)... I just made a comment about your written intro. And my eventual comment aboout your entry contained positive AND negative, and was deemed "constructive" by your royal self...

Btw, I originally voted you an Insta-Finalist. Where's the retraction button?!

And you'd be LUCKY to have a kid like me.

Hey, I didn't pass any judgement on you until you posted that meanness in the New York thread. I never said you weren't a constructive criticizer. You're entitled to your opinions. I don't see where my "frustrations" are coming out. I think you're reading my sarcasm all wrong.

And the only other nasty thing that was said was by our dear friend, Rascal, whom, lest we forget, I also swang my verbal bat at a few times.

Anyway. Me and my "royal self" are gonna go make some lunch now. Be cool & stay in school.

And you misinterpreted that thread, anyhow, and my own sarcasm (and trying to divert the conversation from the NY thread, to the Chicago site, where it sort of really belongs).

Whatever.

Hope you ultimately take comfort in the fact that the positives by far outweigh the negative comments here, and that you are indeed a Finalist, and that people were much kinder to you than to some other contestants.

I'm very aware. And very grateful. This contest is one of the awesomest things to have happened to me. Regardless of whether or not I win, I'm very flattered to have received so many compliments, and to have made it this far.

And hey, this is lame. We are both being sarcastice, and consequently misunderstood. I'm not evil & neither are you. You're obviously a smart guy, and clearly you care. So let's just go back to being bestest friends, okey dokey? Sincerely.

As long as we cut the kiss-kiss, nauseating, cutesy high school yearbook stuff, you have a deal.

My final vote (drum roll please)...
Insta-Finalist!!!

You are tops in my books, Brave and Brilliant Brooke! Congrats!

Omigod, thanks Brooke!!!!

I hadn't checked back to see the finalists and winners of this contest until just now, and what a great surprise to see you mention my place as a fave!

I'm honored, and I'm bummed you didn't win. Yours was my favorite entry as well.

Okay, so now we're best design buddies for life, or something :)

Thanks again!!!!

Brooke- Seriously... where are the pics of the new pad???!?! Your public demands it!?

yours was my favorite entry!