apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

oh so classy, plus i LOVE that lantern! this is all so inspiring!


www.alexladydesigns.etsy.com

Love the paint treatment on those paneled doors!!

Oh, Brad. I'm mad!

Where were the cuckoo clocks purchased? Adorable.

It's great, but are those nine cuckoo clocks on the wall?

I smell a potential house tour!

Brad's got style!

I'm confused - How do the sofa and chair factor into the redo?

Shouldn't there be some discussion as to coordinating the color of the walls with the wallpaper, and perhaps some additional text on how to outline the mouldings that contribute so much to the overall context of this room?

I'm not sold. There are definitely elements of the "After" that are nicer, but I think the colour scheme has been taken a little too far. It's a bit matchy-matchy. My least favourite part is the portion of the crown mouldings painted dark. I prefer the wall colours too from the "Before."

Having a superb marble fireplace as a focal point doesn't hurt either.

"Having a superb marble fireplace as a focal point doesn't hurt either."
... as well as a gorgeous panelled greek revival door with Corinthian pilasters!

I have to agree with anmar - I think this was taken too far, and now only detracts from the amazing classic details in that apartment.

$3500!!!!! I have painted most of my house in benjamin moore and behr paint for 1/3 of that and it is 1450 sf. each floor.

We have two of those marble fireplaces :) they don't work though. And we rent, so anything close to this would be impossible.. not to mention $3500?!?! Apparently he's not struggling in these "tough economic times."

I do like the after in comparison with the before but I do agree with wanting to have the classic details be the focus.

But I'm confused aren't we missing some pictures?.... Where is the tools and process shots. I will see those to be convinced you did this in 3 days. Unless paying someone else to do it was in your $3500 budget!!!! You should fire your painters for forgetting to take those pictures.

Yeah, this space would be amazing even without the nice paint job.

Apropos of nothing, here's a great example of how a gorgeous room can "handle" a flat-screen TV without an enclosure or (perish the thought) being hung over the mantel.

Thank goodness Brad has finally managed to escape the living hell of the "before" interior.

I think it looks great! I don't feel that it's too matchy matchy as some have pointed out (although that black/white houndstooth pillow throws it a little far for me).

Great job!

Super sexy. I will aspire to this!

Whatever one thinks about the taste involved, I don't think this is a good inspiration for a more typical room. Without great architecture and high ceilings and natural light, the same paint and wallpaper would look drab and lobby-like.

I actually like both rooms, though I definitely prefer the artwork in the second, but what I relly want to know is -- what is the lighter paint color that was used in the BEFORE room? I am trying to find the perfect taupe-y grey with some brown but not too much, and it looks like a possible candidate.

I'm seldom moved to post, but I have to say that the fireplace in the "before" shot was head-and-shoulders superior to the "after" treatment. The original design certainly could have used something to elevate it a bit, but this was wrong, wrong wrong on so many levels.

I think this is a great example of a modern style within a vintage home. Great job.

The room was beautiful before, and it's beautiful after. I think the "before" was more serene, but I prefer the composition of the artwork/wall decor in the "after" room.

Can you share the paint color please?

Does anyone know where the credenza/media cabinet in the picture comes from?

I like the before better.

Don't hate on Brad because he has the money to spend more for professionals! Jesus H Christ!?!
Maybe he worked and saved up!!!!

Brad, your apt is the S**T!!!
Especially the architecture. The dark moldings are so beautiful and dramatic...love them, so european. I want THEM!!!

I live in a 70s condo and i think they figured the water view was the architecture. I mean the baseboards are a scrawny 2 inches wide!!!!!!!!LOL

I also prefer BEFORE.
Sorry. Too dark and matchymatchy.

Where does the art over the mantel come from?

i really liked that brown wall surrounding the firplace, and the mirror... oh well, change is good... isn't it?

Hello Everyone!

This is Brad, the person who submitted the photos.

Thank you for all the remarks, both the good and not so good ones. I can appreciate constructive feed back.

Also, I live in Boston, not Chicago.

In regards to the $3,500 spent on this project, please know that it included the Paint, Wallpaper, new decorative items,
T.V. Credenza, Sectional Sofa, Arm Chair, & a Dining Table w/ 2 Dining Chairs. In my opnion, that's a heck of a bargain.

The furniture is from BoConcept and I used to manage the
Cambridge, Ma. Store and the Employee Discount is wholesale.

Yes, above the T.V. Credenza are (9) Koo Koo clocks, purchased from Urban Outfitters, on clearnace for
just .99 each.

Currently, I own an Interior Painting service, and did all the
work MYSELF, in 2.5 days. Please visit my website.
(www.colorTHEORY.vpweb.com)

I also was responsible for the before photos and I too think the condo looked beautiful then, but my wife and I felt a need for a change. Who's to say we don't revert?
After all, it's only paint, right?

This is really nice brad! There are several things here that I am going to copy in my own space!

I like both the before and after! The after is esp. lovely. The color choice and wallpaper patter work beautifully together and compliment the traditional (and FABULOUS) architecture in a beautifully unexpected way. Love the paint detail on the ceiling and the pedant light black medallion. Great, attractive way to have a flat screen and fireplace on the same wall without placing the former over the latter (ugh)--well done! I think Brad took a lot of design risks here with remarkably attractive results. Beautiful, interesting room.

God I love the before so much. What are those colours?