apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Beautiful... cool... inspiring... great space. Thanks for sharing!

i like how one eames chaise wasnt enough... i really like that brown chair with the chrome swivel (the one with the brown ball on it). who makes that? i love that!

"Enter Movable Type" error requiring login to view the slide show.

I'm getting the Movable Type login thing too.

I have given up on the slideshows. It's easier to click thru the thumbnails.

I can't look at the slide show either:(

hi all - sorry - all links are now working

I figured it out...you must use the top link:)

Contemporary.

New slideshow works great for me. Thanks to whomever figured it out.

What a gorgeous loft!! The paint color in the living isn't my fav but I still love the place.

does anyone know where i can get the dog figures that they had above their kitchen and out on the deck??

those outdoor "couches" are amazing (similar to what I have seen on Boston Legal)...where did you find those?

I agree with hanako...the outdoor couches were fantastic...I want!

Oooh lookie! The outdoor furniture's on sale at DWR!
http://www.dwr.com/p2p/searchResults.do?method=view&search=basic&keyword=bubble club&sortby=ourPicks&page=1

I've loved that furniture forever...you can find it at DWR.

The outdoor furniture, that is. Whoopsie!

cool thanks darcidoodle!

I don't find the design cohesive at all; it's too too.

looks like a design student with too much money threw up in there.

http://www.unicahome.com/p17653/magis/puppy-by-eero-aarnio-for-magis.html

here is the dog hekela:)

How do you find a book if all the spines are turned in?

The backward books - why?

AT - the photos are all warped/stretched/squished.

"books with pages facing out create a surprising visual"

Someone forgot to insert the word "stupid". Look, visual is all dandy, but books are often read. We can't all tell them apart by smell, ya know.

Try less whimsy and more sense. I don't even want to look at the rest of the space, no matter how great it is, because this is just dumb as dirt.

Not a huge fan of the color choices..not very fresh. Also, it just seems so busy...too many focal points. Perhaps some editing is in order to choose the favorites and rotate?

The books with pages facing out has been very prominent in design publications and catalogs lately. Kind of a funny trend.

Hello - owner person posting here. Thanks AT readers for all your comments & feedback. Much appreciated. I wanted to answer some questions/comments ...

Re: the books, this was done on purpose because I liked the cream colors of the book pages. Matched the sofa and the mood I was shooting for. Rest assured - these are all books that we look at hardly ever but are important to hang on to. We have lots of other bookshelves about that are covered in books that we use all the time - spine out of course! We love books.

Re: brown chair with silver base, that is from Roche Bobois in River North

Re: outside furniture & "yuppie puppies" (what I call them) - someone nailed my Boston Legal inspiration. The orange puppies can be purchased for less at CB2.

Re: cohesiveness - I couldn't agree more. That's why the title is "in transition". As AT readers know, it takes time and money - and there never seems to be enough of each. We have on the wish list to re-do the downstairs hardwood to the new dark walnut hardwood upstairs. I hate our burgundy paint color that we inherited and that is on the replacement wish list too along with new curtains in the dining area. Actually there is a pretty long 3-year plan of upgrades. My husband has cut me off on more changes for this year. : )

Thanks again!

Homes are always a work in progress. You and your husband are doing a great job creating a space that is both attractive and comfortable. Good for you for taking design risks (outward facing books, etc). It may not be other peoples cup of tea but it is far more interesting to be surprised by something unconventional rather than the expected.

I can't believe how critical people are being! Of someone sharing their home! It may not be my taste, but I like to take a peek into other people's homes!

I would LOVE to see a floorplan of this place - I can't get a grip on the layout! When I got to the upstairs lounge I was all like "What?! Upstairs who!?"

Nice job!

The books turned out reminds me of some blank books I saw on a furniture display today. I guess there's no rule that you have to be practical.

I think I may be stealing the table and stools behind the sofa concept. maybe.

Those who are unhappy about the book spines, please note that the book case (Expedite??) is on wheels and my guess is: it's pretty easy to take a peek at the titles.

The sofa tables with the stools look to me like a lovely way to really have dinner and also watch a movie! Was that the idea?? Good for digestion and posture and a cleaner carpet perhaps.

I love love the sofa table/dining tables. I am currently looking into making some of these for my house, but also really enjoy the ones that you bought.

Roche Bobois?

Palmetto, you don't get out much, do you?

Where did you get those awesome lucite sconces?

The bookcase (with the backwards books) is from West Elm. The lucite sconces, we have two different versions - one in the stairwell, one in the office - are from Ligne Roset.

justjude nailed our idea. When we eat dinner watching tv or movies - sitting up straight is better for digestion. I was trying to create a "sushi bar" concept there. The tables are made of raw steel and are from Room & Board. Our roof deck for entertaining is beyond so we have a spot to set drinks, and food etc, we are carrying outside.

Both sofas are from Roche Bobois. We like a contemporary look but warmth & comfort and being able to plop down and throw your leg over an arm or something is key.

Thanks much for all comments!

i love the media room, and the way you arranged the bottles on top of your liquor cabinet.

Its very nice, but I have to say it looks a little overly staged for me. (Yes, yes, I know that you clean when you photograph your house but some of this seems a little overly done)

Also - some of the design choices are a little funny. Two Eames seems like a bit much - it's a visually powerful chair. You could have balanced one with something better - even another (different) lounge chair. Same goes with the puppies. Everyone loves Aarnio, but you need either a single puppy, or so many that it's ridiculous.

And, I second the books things. I hate books treated as decor. One solution a friend of mine tried was to buy lots of sheets of the same color paper to cover the books with. He laser printed simple titles onto the same color paper and glued it onto the spines for identification. It looks beautiful AND its functional.

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

All I see is a design student with a lot of money and not much originality and taste. Blargh

Just wanted to chime in and say I love your place. I don't agree with *all* the choices, but I am fond of the overall look. Well done! Thanks for sharing :)

It looks like a model house of condo...
No personal touch, just a whole bunch of brand new stuff mixed together. Too many knickknacks. I know it's in transition, but it this place does not need any more stuff.

Not a fan.

i must agree with theserovingeyes - it is quite rude to call somebody else's house "Blargh", or be overly critical. at least state that as your own taste and opinion - or would you say that to people's face when they give you a tour of their home?

i would love a floorplan, too, you lost me somewhere :-D

(and being in transition does not necessarily mean adding stuff, does it ...? )

Are people not allowed to say what they like and don't like about a space? I think that when you put your house up on here you have to be prepared for both positive and negative comments. I find it interesting to read what folks say about the houses, what they like and don't like. Perhaps they could be more constructive in their criticism, but I certainly don't feel like we all have to pretend like we love everything everyone puts up on here.

I like some elements, but overall agree it looks like Pier One or some other sort of showroom. But I don't live there. Obviously the owners love it and that's what's important!

Why do we have the 'be nice/be honest' debate on every house tour?

- - -

My opinion, fwiw: too many pieces of furniture and art in the space; they compete with each other for attention so much that my eye never settles anywhere (at least when photographed). The framed art (and the frames) often do not compliment the color palette or style of the rooms in which they hang--in the TV room especially. You should consider editing down the amount of stuff in each room before re-doing the floors, etc. ... that is relatively easy, inexpensive, and will help reduce the visual chaos. Give visitors the opportunity to marvel at the structure of your loft and then a few carefully chosen elements.

It's a beautiful space, but the stacking shelves next to the kitchen island (as well as the low bench in front of it) gives me feng-shui heebie jeebies.

Having or expressing one's own (contrary) opinion is all well and fine, but it's pretty constant from the usual rogue peanut gallery here. That's one of the unfortunate things about the internet, it allows people to behave like horse's asses with impunity and anonymity. The accumilative effect of all the sniveling, it's like a bunch of bitches in a beauty salon.

No OFFENSE, mind you.

Oh, and again....I would love to see what would happen to any of the usual harpy brigade if they had the guts to pull this kind of thing in person.

Dear btoddster -

Excellent well written post. The owners of this flawed and transitional loft hereby invite you over for drinks anytime!
: )

Kimberly and Josh, thank YOU for showing us your home, and likewise for you, as well.

It's all a bit twee. Remove 30% of it, re-paint those purple walls, and re-frame the artwork over the sofa and over their bed with something other than that baroque gold. Definitely lose the teapots mounted on the wall in the dining. The book thing is just so overly precious. Ironically, this place would look better if they had spent LESS money.