It's been awhile since you posted and you've probably made changes, but I wanted to chime in anyway. First, don't worry about trends - let your own sense of style dictate what you do. Some of the furnishings that look so up to the minute contemporary in the new millennium were actually designed almost 100 years ago. I do agree with other posters - the pictures should come down on the walls, some of the furniture needs to come out from the walls in the living room, the media center is overpowering (it should be heard and not seen except when the TV is in use). I'll add that you need shelves for that stack of books. It looks good, but totally impractical for anyone to actually pull one out to read. The only problem other I have is with the living room - with the exception of the couch, it just doesn't look comfortable. I'm not sure about the red (orange?) chair - that may be comfortable, but you may want to add a piece somewhere that could be used as an ottoman so a person could kick back to watch a movie with you. The fiberglass chair I know from personal experience is flat out uncomfortable for the long haul. Back in the day you didn't find this type of chair in a living room - it was used mainly in waiting room or office type situations. Same with the side chair in your bedroom. I'd look into replacing it with something like a Wassily sling chair or a Barcelona chair or a stylish chaise or lounger. However, I do understand you were only in this place for 4 months when this was originally posted, so perhaps you've already done something like that. And get rid of the fireplace? Not! Like someone else suggested, play it up.

did you use a ruler to measure the distance between each object on the floor of the living room (distance from each other and distance from the wall)? the 'precision' of the look inspires uncomfortable and on-guard feelings. not so 'organic', you know? you do have great taste, though. and your home is really really beautiful. i envy your place's layout!

Hrmmm... While I dont immediately hate the place as you've laid it out, I dont love it either. I can feel what people are saying when they say "staged" or "set designed". But I dont think thats a huge obstacle to overcome if you do a few things.

1: bring almost all the livingroom furniture closer - they're too far apart, and nobody believes for a second that you sit on that little stool and read books. You sit on the couch or the coconut chair. Bring the bookshelf closer and move the artwork.

2: Get rid of that horrific entertainment center. Seriously, Greys Anatomy is just as bad on a small screen as it is on a 48" HD.

3: Books and chairs are meant to be used - and not as decorations. Put your books on the shelves and move the wire chair from the bedroom into the livingroom. Bring that and the second Eames chair to the edge of the rug...surely you entertain more than two people at a time. Fill the void with a low bench and some more plants by the window.

4: Shop somewhere else besides DWR. They have really really great stuff, but not all of it goes together in the same space. Your concern about modernism and MCM remaining in style is valid. As pointed out above your look will remain fresh if it really is YOUR look, and not the look of a giant company. Keep the pieces you have, but mix in something totally atypical that you like. Example: A friend has a livingroom with a Wassily chair, a DWR couch, a fancy abstract painting AND a crazily ornate carved wooden chair from his grandmother. It works famously. The red coffee table is a step in that direction. Keep going and you'll be golden.

I don't live to read catalogs, maybe the IKEA one which is always bathroom reading material, so I can't tell where you buy your stuff. I love your place. It's very soothing. One thing that did bother me was the big screen tv, but who am I kidding, if I had one it would be smack dab in front of my couch. I'd reposition my couch to put it in front of the HUGE tv. We personally bought a mountable projection screen so it disappears when not in use (and we use it almost every night) that way it's still there but not so much visually when not needed. I think your colors are very understated, yet wonderfully chosen. You COULD add, mix and match, pattern, clutter, and follow someone else's vision of your space, but it seems complete and if you're happy with it, I just say congrats on such a nice place.

Hmmm, that's a pretty broad and general question to ask an opinion for. I've definitely seen more minimalist living spaces, so in relation to those ones, no it's not too minimalist... but in relation to my personal taste? Yeah, it's a bit too minimalist. But keep in mind... I don't live there, you do, so my opinion is a bit moot.

If YOU think that it's too minimalist, but still don't really want to change your design scheme, I think that adding soft pieces (like soft blankets, throws, pillows, or even just fabric!) to your space will add a bit of warm and charm and personalize your style.
But you should do anything "just to do it," you should do it because you WANT to. If you WANT to add Mid-Century Modern pieces, then go ahead! But it doesn't make sense to do so just because it's what's "in" right now, because, like you said, you'll have to change everything in a couple years anyway!

Damn...What a tough crowd! Not much love here. MCM is not my personal taste, but you've done a great job.

I taste lots of sour grapes in this crowd...It's also called "envy".

Who cares what these folks think...It's what you like that counts.

You've created a great looking home...Is it MY home? No, but you live there, not me.

Looks great! and if MCM is a fad, its a fad thats going on for 60 years, thanks for the tour.

I agree with "hdtex" that what we think shouldn't matter to the apartment dweller, but it obviously does or s/he wouldn't have requested our opinion. Although I do not love this place (not my style, feels sparse) I do like many of the individual classic pieces and see a lot of potential. However, "hdtex's" sour grapes/envy comment is a bit simple - to think that everyone would love the look of this place would be a bit naive on the part of the poster. Certainly, just because some of us prefer plush seating, plants, less symmetry or even (god forbid) silk curtains does not make us envious of this poster's apartment.
Previous posters said it best: if you love coming home, are proud to invite people over, and can kick back and relax in your own skin then the place is perfect for you!

I really like what you've done here, particularly your color choices. And I covet the window shades in your LR - the lines are so clean! Thanks for sharing your space.

Lots of good pieces, great start. It surprises me that nobody here has mentioned that you really need REAL ART. San Francisco has a decent art scene -- start going out to galleries and thinking about what you love. Once you get away from the safe, mass-produced prints and into more personal choices I think you will find your sense of style really starts to ignite. Also, spread that wealth around to actual artists instead of artposters.com or whatever.

Other comments I agree with: find a few pieces with a more beat-up patina, especially if they are natural wood (possibly look in some of those high-end Japanese/ Asian furniture stores in the Japantown shopping centre).

Get a big dramatic houseplant. Try the Plant Warehouse -- they're extremely helpful. A fishtail palm might be just the ticket.

all best!

It strikes me that with this look, everything is about scale and proportion, and mis-steps will hit sour notes (eg, the row of square-framed pictures needs to be perfectly straightened; ditto the tall pile of books). I fear that if I lived in your space, I'd become really OC about positioning things just so. All the time. Arrrgg. That said, I love your space. I think your lighting's fabulous. The fact that it's not my style does nothing to keep me from loving it, and it would be good if you just knew in your heart that YOU love it, and enjoy it--it's your home!

I agree with some of the other posts. You have a lot of great pieces but its missing a little personality. The art work is definitely hung too high, by at least 6 -8 inches. The coffee table is too far away. You could add another chair over by the window in the living room to create a conversation area. Also, agree with a much larger area rug in the living room. Lastly, maybe some paint on the walls....the color looks like a "move in" color. I appreciate the clean/white walls but there are many many shades of "white" (which technically are not white) but will give you the same clean aesthetic but can add a bit of depth. You place is really really nice...so my comments are really minor suggestions. Good luck!

I'll bet the resident of this loft is sorry he asked!

At first glance, your place is stunning!
I don't get all the fuss here, someone has to buy the stuff at DWR!!! Don't hate! But then it will truly be a fad. Try to go for the originals (craigslist finds, etc.). Your place will have more soul. Not everything should be so new!
Plus, maybe a plant or some family photos so you won't be soooo anonymous, Anonymous!
Good job!
Call me when you have a sale in 5-6 years! I'll buy your stuff!

I hate to beat a dead horse, but I do agree with several of the comments posted regarding the 'staged', or not 'lived-in' living room look.

It's a beautiful space, no doubt!
But a home needs to be just that, a home.
Not your grandmas curio full of Precious Moments figurines that no one has touched since the big bang ;-)

I think there's a way to make minimalist comfortable and inviting. Fewer pieces doesn't necessarily mean having to do without, but living with only what you love the most. There's no room for 'kinda like' or 'luke-warm' in a minimalist space! If you have any reservations about something in your home, and minimal is your esthetic, curb it! That's your chance to get something you can't possibly live without.

Lastly, to create more of an impact, I'd suggest using larger scale pieces sparsely, or grouping a smaller scaled items in a cluster. This will help fill visual space without actually acquiring more 'stuff' and taking up precious real estate on your floor.

I think your place looks fab! Both warm and full of style. I love your use of pops of color without it being overwhelming and/or juvenile. And I'm bored with the "looks like a dwr catalogue" critique that so often appears here.

Firstly kudos on the lovely place....you've done a wonderful job with it. Super neat, too...an inspiration to us all on that front alone.

If you really want comments, I'll throw my view into the nitpicking ring.....

1/ I think this issue is that this place lacks wit. That's why people are saying it's anodyne/charmless....too much like a furniture showroom. You want a place to envelop you warmly but subtly in charm, wit, and a point of view. I feel this space, though perfectly lovely, doesn't quite achieve that.

The way you get there, in my view, is through more personal touches as people have mentioned, and things that are less safe. (It's not just about, say, the idea that your pictures are simply too high. Put them on the ceiling for what it's worth.) That spirit of wit and distinction that I am describing can be achieved in many ways...it's kind of an intangible, creative, instinctive thing. It shouldn't hit you over the head, but should be subtle.

2/The tv side of the room...that whole side of the room is being sucked into blackness with the bookshelf, the stereo/tv system and the fireplace all in a row overpowering everything. I would definitely make the fireplace more of a feature and downplay the a/v setup. Can you get those speakers out of there? What about moving the sofa to that side of the room to make use of the wall depth, or closer to the fireplace, maybe on an angle? The angle of the fireplace is tricky with the window right there, but it's possible....

3/The planes of space...there is way too much open flatness going on, which is what's causing it to feel kind of modern vanilla. The place needs more visual texture, dimensional balance..again the idea of clustering comes up...see how your poor little coffee table is being dwarfed by the a/v setup? It's like all the other features and furniture are ganging up on it, about to attack it.

4/Mirror over fireplace. Once again...I hate to sound too traditional, but some kind of large mirror over the fireplace could possibly liberate that wall and the windows even more...it's a little hard to tell how it would work since in the photos the shades are down, but it's worth a try.

5/Although there's nothing wrong with it per se, I don't really like the stainless bar table because of how it plays against the fridge. It looks matchy matchy...again, no visual texture. The kitchen cabinets are a hard color to work with, but if you could get an interesting colored table in there, that may be cool. Or like a stoney or concretey thing.

6/This may hurt, but: brown. I personally am very anti brown unless it's wood wood wood. I hate that whole West Elm retro 70 school of thought that brown is okay. It's not. It's barfy. It's compromising your bedroom. (Brown is second only to pea green on that front.) Don't be seduced. Camel, however, is just fine when used well.

Please forgive any offense and bravo for your bravery!

Good luck to you and thanks for the peek.

I also love the kitchen table! And I think your place looks great. I love to use chairs as tables or catch-alls, so the fact that you have some in your bedroom is not offensive to me at all.

Also, to the person that said the pictures are too high, I really don't think that is up to us. Pictures should be hung at or around eye level and at my house, that's about six feet from the ground!

I love your loft. I don't think it's too minimalist at all. It's clean, modern and sleek. However, I would suggest like many others here, that you get a larger area rug for the living room and group the furniture closer together so it forms a conversation area. Also, maybe you can hang the pictures above the television a little lower.

Before I even read Modfan's post, I was thinking that an antique wood piece from the early 20th or late 19th century would be good.

A small bookcase, side table, chest, or even a small curio cabinet. Perhaps there is something in your family you could buy/beg/adopt.

I *don't* mean victorian carved on every possible spot.

I do mean old, with some (not too much!) timeworn character.

Ok, as a resident of Potero Hill for 12 years, I have to add: When are those quickly slapped up lofts going to go out of fashion? I think it's hard to make those spaces feel personal because they are basically the urban version of cookie cutter developments. Seems like an uphill battle to give those places a true sense of place!

What a wonderfully well designed, clean and minimal place.
With regards to your questions.

I think MCM, as a trend, is already on its way out. Just looking at some of the European interior magazines, Elle Decoration and BoBedre for example, we are seeing lots less of it and more of a seventies or eighties style mixed with way older influences. Well at least thats what I notice.

I personally have evolved from a strict minimal asthetic 5-10 years and more towards MCM and I am now starting to move towards a more 70's/80's look (I just got a marble coffee table and painted one wall in my living room mustard yellow)... HOWEVER I still have (and love) my MCM things and I still try to keep things uncluttered and minimal because I love that look too.

Generally I think well designed pieces, like the ones you've chosen, will stand the test of time. And if you get tired of MCM in some time you can start to blend other things in, I find MCM goes well with most styles .

With regards to your flat I think you should reduce the visual impact of the TV and media things. Maybe get a white cabinet with sides and some doors.

I dont think you should get rid of the fire place. I love it...

just my 2 cents. love your flat you should be proud of it.

I've noticed from AT comments lately, it seems like more and more there is a backlash against the pristine DWR/DWELL aesthetic...

I love all of the furniture you've chosen, and am always tempted to go that route myself. For me, the decision ends up being about money... too much of the DWR furniture-- although beautiful, perfectly constructed in every way, timeless design-- is beginning to feel generic, after you see it in one too many lofts or magazine spreads. If I were to splurge on a chair today (in my case, DWR is definitely a splurge, not within the commoner's reach!) I would probably seek to get something that is more one of a kind or personal...

I personally dislike the minimalist look, but I don't think your apartment is too bad. One thing that I would suggest to lessen the minimalist appearance would be some color on the walls. Not too neutral, but not too bright. It would also add some personality and make it less showroomy

Hi Anonymous
I think you were smart to submit this essay on your space.
I think everyone was politely opinionated; and nothing wrong with that.
Why else would we comment?

You did a great job of utilizing red and green together.
Very brave. And it works.
In fact, you did a great job on the majority of the place.

I will now comment on what 'I' would do if I had your place and stuff.
Get all that living room furniture away from the wall.
Your place will FEEL cozier, and it will look larger.
Pictures are enjoyed when seated. lower them to eye level and consider the comments on regrouping them.
I have experimented with lots of kitchen counters and seating.
In a space that small I would never use such cumbersome barstools again.
They gotta swivel!
You have your 'work' cut out for you with all that stainless steel too.
Thanks for sharing it all.
I learn so much from all the submissions here.
Maybe my place will be shown sometime.

This home is GORGEOUS. I love the color because it isn't over-done.

The only thing I would do is pull all of the seating in to meet the rug. I don't agree that the front of the sofa needs to be ON the rug, just closer.

And I think the speakers are just over powering that wall. They should be concealed or replaced with smaller (just as powerfully-sounding) ones.

Besides those minor things...I'm envious. LOL.

Good selection of high quality designs from the mid 20th century. I know it often seems easy and safe to buy anything at DWR/Modernica and that's indeed very true, but it's also true that these pieces are all extremely good designs, which is why most are in museums. This "look" may fall in and out of favor but these pieces will always be well designed.

-

The arrangement is a bit tentative. As you spend time living in the space try other arrangements. Experiment to find unexpected solutions to problems of traffic, seating, or storage. Your taste and style will evolve and so will your courage to add new pieces that aren't in any museum ... yet.

It's taken me 17 years to get my house to the point it's in now. I finally feel absolutely at home. See my house tour.

I'd much rather look at this place than the majority I am seeing now. There is a particular site I am rapidly falling out of love with (won't mention the name to avoid drama- not this one) because everything, from their features to their "tours", even their layout, seems to focus on the same style. It's an alright design, but it's overkill, as most trends seem to be.

Only you can decide if your place is too minimalist, since comfort is subjective. Most of my family would look at the majority of house tours here and think they look cold. Unless there is a big chunky lazy boy, oversized tv, and sectional in play they are not happy. I dislike their homes and they dislike mine. Who cares? Do you like it? If you design your home to please others you are going to end up missing the mark.

All in all MCM pieces are good investment pieces to have. It dosen't matter what's the latest fashion, there always seems to be a least one MCM piece thrown in for good measure.

You seem to have alot of it, and if that's what you love than so be it! If you have the urge to mix it up in the future you are in a good position to sell a few pieces and bring in others. Meaning I don't think MC pieces are overly trendy, maybe all bunched together, but not in and of themselves, and mostly all are crafted well provided they are not knockoffs. So if you take care of them they'll probably sell well should you ever go down that route.

Get rid of the tv, speakers and so instead of the fireplace.
Imagine your living room with a nice flatscreen mounted to the wall and thats it, you have to much going on in this part of your living area, it seems very 90's to me. And dont be afraid to be too minimalist... less is more in many cases.

This place makes me uncomfortable. It's nice and all, but I can't imagine feeling welcome as a visitor. I'd be afraid to touch anything. It looks too fake/creepy, almost as if no one lives there. The soap in the bathroom isn't even used. Lived-in = VERY good. Use the soap, leave newspapers out, a book on the coffee table, glasses on the counter.

I have a (walnut?) MCM dresser that my mother got for her high school graduation in the 1950s. She used it until the early 80s (when she went French Country) and then passed it on to me (after it spent some time in a guest bedroom). It wasn't so much in style when I got it in the 90s but I thought it was cool and loved the dark tones and grain of the wood. It's a very clean and simple style and the wood is beautiful.

In other words, if you choose pieces that you love for their quality, beauty, and simplicity, I think you will want to keep them for a long time whether they meet the current trend or not.

I have counted 76 very envious people on this post.

This place looks completely staged. How far away is that coffee table from the sofa?

Your "concern" about whether mid-century modern is a fad sort of betrays your insecurity with your own design sensibility. the fact that you're seeking approval from strangers on the interwebs about your choices sort of confirms this, but...If you purchase items that you genuinely like (and not just because you saw them in DWR and decided they must be hip) then you shouldn't really CARE what's faddish.

I think you should be more concerned about comfort and livability rather than staging some iconic piece in a spotlight and then seeking approval.