apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

If you find it a nuisance, you should absolutely take the opportunity to knock it down. I can't imagine it would make much difference in resale value if you have a straight wall instead of a curved wall. And if it makes you happier while you're living there, go for it!

Yes - I say go for it.
Maybe think of adding some transom windows to the interior wall to keep the feeling airy.

Take a look at this house tour for some inspiration...
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/house-tours/ny-house-tour-claires-twin-ready-highdesign-012891

Lose it. It seems dated--say late 80s or early 90s--and makes for more of a "statement" than you may want. Plus, it's gotta be hard to decorate, since you can't hang artwork flat on it.

And yes, plenty of people live in loft-type spaces without doors to the bedrooms. You should look back at some of the posts from the small cool contest for ideas on how to make it work well.

While I agree with you that I am no fan of the curved wall and couldn't personally buy a unit with no bedroom doors, I'm not sure I love the proposed solution. It looks a bit inelegant, from what I can make out, and less distinctive than the original layout. I'm not sure I would spend the money to make this particular correction if a plain, straight wall couldn't be erected. If you need to sell your apartment, I'm sure this architectural feature will appeal to some buyers and the right person would probably fall in love with it since it's not something one sees every day. Just allow enough time on the market to find someone who is the right buyer.

It does look like it would be annoying in terms of furniture layout possibilities. Also if you are straightening the wall couldn't you add a door?

I'd say go for it.

I don't care about the curved wall so much, but I would not buy a place without a closed-off bedroom. I like having the ability to host guests and it would be more difficult to do so with an open plan like this.

If your place has two bedrooms than it isn't a loft and not having a door on your bedroom is a big deal. Totally fix it!

i don't like the curved wall. go for it!

Yes.

I think that this is the perfect opportunity to put in a straight wall, and maybe add door(s). Also, the transom windows are a GREAT idea (see comment by JenPDX) if you want to keep the loft/industrial feel, but also gain some privacy.

Yes.

Do it. Knock that useless wall down. I agree that transom windows would be an awesome addition to help the space feel larger and airy. If you don't want to pay for new windows you could always check out your local rebuilding center or architectural salvage. As for the door, you don't need one. It shouldn't effect your resale value at all since a doorless entry makes a loft space look larger and that's what people look for when they buy spaces like that.

I don't like it, creates some akward spaces since you can't put furniture up against it. I say take it down.

The no bedroom door thing wouldn't bother me in this layout. I'm sure you could rig up a curtain or sliding door if you wanted that would still fit the feel of the open floor plan.

I second the suggestion of some transom windows or translucent glass at the top of the new wall. Nice idea.

...also post your results if you decide to change the wall :)

Impractical and gimmicky- your irritation is merited. Get out your sledgehammer and knock that thing down.

I wouldn't buy a unit with a curved wall- it's extremely limiting to furniture arrangements, and I can't even imagine trying to hang a picture on it.

I would replace the curve with a straight wall, but take the opportunity to look into a POCKET DOOR!!! If that doesn't add resale to the issue, I don't know what will.

If you remove the wall, add a door. That will add enough value to offset the cost of the renovation.

I would just get a curved couch and play on the swirl look. I guess I'm the only one who thinks the wall gives the room great unique character.

The wall is really ugly, in my opinion, and I would take this opportunity to change it. I think it would look better to have the wall zig-zag back again on the other side, rather than put in the diagonal bit. The door is your call. It could work either way.

I like the curved wall. But if you have the ability to change it, go for it!

I would knock it out for sure. It's oppressive -- wrong scale for an apartment, and so... blank!

Could you make the wall go straight across and install a pocket door or one of those sliding panel doors on one side?

The proposed fix still has an odd angle on one end and leaves a small niche on the other end. For re-sale purposes, you don't want to have any weird things people have to decorate around, which is why you should definitely replace the curved wall. I wouldn't buy a place with a curved wall in a major living area, but it might be OK in an entrance way or someplace where furniture placement isn't a big deal, like a bathroom.

I love the idea of adding a pocket door - then it can be left open for that airy look, but also provide any privacy that folks want. I personally would HATE having no door on the bedroom, and would be reluctant to live in a place without one.

Hate the wall. If I were buying the place, I would consider it a negative when comparing options.

Wow, I guess I'm weird, because I love the wall. But if you don't like it, get rid of it!

Also, what is with that diagonal bit in the redesign? Maybe you can add a built-in cabinet/closet/bookshelf or something?

It sounds like you don't like it. So what else is there. Trust your instincts, it's your home!

The proposed wall appears to have a sliding door, which also explains the angle of that section of wall.

I live in an open plan loft (on the loft level) and don't mind having no bedroom door because the bedroom space is very seperate from the living space below.

In your case I think a bedroom door would enhance the space. I'd be more inclined to make the wall straight and the bedroom slightly smaller.

Keep the layout in the bedroom as is.

Perhaps two sliding doors that retract into a straight wall would be a better option. I think a foot or two more space in the living area would be more useful than additional space in the bedroom.

Good luck!

I have an apartment with a curved wall as well but (luckily) I have doors on either side of it and the inside of the wall is my bathroom, so I don't have to worry about furniture problems.

That being said, I would gladly do without the curved wall if I had an opportunity like yours (we also had water damage not too long ago, but didn't have the foresight! - maybe it's a curved-wall building thing). Get rid of it and get the privacy it seems you've always wanted.

Hmm. I kinda like the curved wall. Baileyb's curved couch idea sounds awesome.

No doors doesn't really bother me either. I'm moving in to a studio soon, I won't even have a wall!

Get rid of it, it was a bad design idea in the first place. Of course if you are planning to use it as storage for a rocket ship, I would keep it. Otherwise where is the sledge hammer?

I love the curved wall. In Edinburgh, curved walls are fairly common, especially in Georgian flats, and are seen as VERY desirable. In estate agent parlance, they are bow-ended rooms. It looks as though the wall acts as a barrier between the two rooms, but you still have access, so you get some privacy but can still use the two rooms together. Enjoy it! There are very few things in the world that can't be improved with a curve.

Vote #2342354 for getting rid of the curved wall (but keep the wall colour, it looks good!). It just looks like you've got a lot of wasted space in a bunch of little pockets, like behind the sofa. Ditto also the pocket door idea--my 8'x10' bedroom has two, one on either side of the bed, and they're very handy without taking up any room. I would put in a straight wall and put some built-in shelving in the little nook where the walls meet, as someone above suggested.

Instead of putting in transom windows, consider having the wall not meet the ceiling and it will help keep the space feeling open.

I'd take it down too.

I like the curved wall, but it's your place; if you hate it, get rid of it!

Keep the wall and get a circle bed!

Yikes....looks like a barn silo. Replace it, absolutely.

If your still going to have the 80's air con duct, I think you should embrace the 80's, ditch the curved wall and put in roller shutters from a shop front. You could get them tagged and sprayed or even a vinyl graphic treatment in an urban street style, if that's your thing.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gandara/2872387959/in/set-72157607354627756/

It would inject a bit of more colour to the room and becoming a talking point, whilst providing a flexible space.
Roller shutters come with doors, so you can have part or full width access.

If metal shop shutters are too much metal for you, you could try curtains, a wooden blind or even a paper wall... as they would allow some light through and allow for making shadow puppets in the bedroom.

http://www.designmuseum.org/__entry/61355?style=design_image_popup

http://www.in-kamiyama.jp/_wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/00000342.jpg

If all else fails, knock it down and divide with, large bits of furniture, then who ever buys next can do what they want.

good luck.

i agree with the minority opinion that the wall itself is kinda cool, though i don't like the way it interacts with the couch in front of it.

i'm not sure what Baileyb was suggesting, specifically, but if it were me (and i had the budget to shop for it), i might try a concave curved couch (so that the curve makes the sitters face inward toward each other rather than away from each other), and anchor it near the right side of the convex curved wall, so that they curve away from each other, and fill the space on the left side (between wall and couch) with a round side table and perhaps an indoor tree. i like the asymmetry of that idea. then i'd look for a small set of tall, narrow artworks/tapestry items to hang on the wall.

on the other hand, the floor plan makes it look like a curved couch might take up too much space and make the living room cramped. your plan looks good too! especially if you don't like the curve at all.

I am with the make the wall straight crowd. It would actually give more usable space. The door thing is really to each their own but if it's a two bedroom space, I'd say add a door - if it was a one bedroom, it would look better without a door.

I live in a loft building where some of the units have bedroom doors, and others don't. We have kids, so we have doors. Our neighbors -- both couples without kids -- don't.

I say knock it down.

It's clearly taking away usable space from your living room, while adding not-so-usable space to your bedroom.

However, I'd vote against putting your couch and bed back-to-back on either side of that wall. If you have a night where you're not feeling well and want to go to bed early, your spouse may want to stay up later and watch TV. Or in general, if you go to bed early but your spouse is a night owl.

Love the proposed wall and the small niche it creates. It seems to me that, if you're asking, the curved wall has to go. Bedroom without doors? Only if you live alone and never have overnight guests.

That wall wouldn't stop me from buying your apartment. But, if you don't like it, get rid of it.

With respect to curved walls...you could tuft the inside like the bed in "Mrs. Pettigrew Lives for a Day." Wow. Maybe another ATer can find a picture.

Thanks everyone for your comments. I will take them all into careful consideration. I will post results, if any!

The holdup is money of course!

Generally would like a curved wall, but your living room isn't big enough - the curve is smushing the room. Keep in mind that there may be code reasons for not having a door on the bedroom - if that window is not operable, you should check with someone on that...

Definitely lose the wall. Door is up to you.

I live in an apartment with a divider to my bedroom, and I do not have a door. I personally like the curved wall and I think it could be easily spruced up with a subtle vinyl graphic or even wall mural if you want a really bold statement.

I think it adds character to the space and if you are willing to work with it and not against it, it serves as a really cool focal point. If you do keep it, maybe you could consider rearranging the furniture so that something other than the couch is in front of the wall.

Good luck!

I never shut my door anyway so I wouldn't worry - but if you do, how about a pocket? of course that means losing the curved wall which we all know is only cool for a day or two.

Part of the problem here is while a curved wall isn't so bad by itself, if used right, it isn't here, it's just a curved wall that kind of takes up space and makes the living room awkward.

I can see a curved wall in a hall say or passageway but not when it's likely to have furniture up against or in front of it rather like in a typical living room.

As for the doors, it's your call but if you can, I'd go for a pocket door instead.

Good luck.

I like the curved wall, but not in your small space. It would work to direct traffic flow in another setting. So, yes, I'd get rid of it and go for something straight.

WoW looks like im the only one but i loved the uniqueness of this curved wall. I don't however like the color.