Name: Claire
Location: Union Square
Size: 2000 sqft, 3 bdrm condo
Favorite: The master bedroom, "like a little perch."
Claire has degrees in architecture and graphic design and twin 5 year olds. Weighing the importance of each of these realities, she has crafted, with the help of a friend Bill of Brockschmidt & Coleman, an interior that matches her tastes but honor her children...
In other words, Claire was very proactive in choosing materials that would resist the test of children, but at the same time she taught her children the value of beautiful things and that some items are to be treated with more care than others.
Apparently, the twins paid attention during the design/renovation process. Claire's son says he wants to be an architect, and after sitting in on every design meeting, Claire's five year old daughter wants to be an interior designer!
The apartment has been through a couple of transformations since it functioned as a glass factory. Before Claire's overhaul of the space, it was in what she calls "Love Boat mode," a victim of the rampant trend of nautical themed 70's lofts. Claire restored the columns, was able to keep the raised bedroom spaces and opened up the main living area to allow light to travel through the home as much as possible. What is most striking is the consistent pale blue and orange tones that run through the large scale space, bringing at once, intimacy and grandeur.
Years lived in: 6
My Style: eclectic
Inspiration: the color at the base of the 1940's bordello lamp found at a flea mkt
Favorite element: use of vertical space for cozy bdrm with storage below
Biggest Challenge: light and privacy for bdrms.
What friends say: gorgeous, love colors, so unusual
Biggest embarrassment: constant hair shedding from white cat
Proudest DIY: commissioned lamp collages from Tim Groen and then framed them with very inexpensive prefab frames.
Biggest indulgence: raw silk curtains in living room
Best advice: buy ikea kitchen cabinets but use other hardware
Dream Source: crate and barrel furniture, but with custom fabric--saves $ but looks custom
Resources
Appliances Viking stove and warming drawer, Bosch dishwasher and sub zero fridge
Hardware Simon's Hardware
Furniture Greene St. Antiques, Crate and Barrel, bludot.com (kids dressers), Ikea (kids chairs)
Lighting chandelier over dining room Alan Moss on Lafayette, Crate and Barrel with shades replaced with JustShades shades
Paint Benjamin Moore Harbor Hays (flat finish--throughout apt), Stone Cutter (painted bookcase along living room wall), Crown Hill yellow (girl's room). Wolf-Gordon vinyl wall covering in kids' rooms (first seen at Kip's Bay Showhouse)
Flooring outdoor rated Woven PVC from Aronson's in kids' rooms
Tile/Countertops Sorrel counter and sink in kitchen and bath, subway tile
Rugs and Carpets ABC Carpets
Window Treatments Restoration Hardware, West Elm.
Upholstery Martin Albert Interiors (for anything not done by Crate and Barrel), Custom Laminations (for dining room chair fabric)
Beds St Charles Illinois Kane County Fair (girl's bed)
Artwork color xerox blown up and framed, commissions from Tim Groen, arch drawings from Sotheby's
Jonya & Brad's Modern A–Frame 
Quick Cleaning Tip: Keep Baseboards Cleaner With Fabric Softner
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Profile Chair by Ma...
Mac and Cheese: The Secret to Making It Rich and Creamy
Summer Recipe: No-Bake Strawberry Icebox Cake
Comments (14)
I think you did a great job in this amazing space! You improved on an already impressive apartment.
Loves: I love the mirrors in the window bay! That's a great idea, especially if there's only partial sun or something in the view that's so neat ya gotta see it twice. I love the hat-shaped lampshade. Very clever! I love the metal lip on the bottom of the bedroom door, and am wondering if it's possible to do that on all four sides somehow (for my front door, which lets in a lotta apartment-building-draft and hallway-noise). I love that you indulged in those fabrics for the windows. They rock!
Random thought: I wonder if it irks you to see the back of your monitor when dining. I think the odd crawlspace (Alice in Wonderland!) under the bedroom is actually really cool. It's great for the cat (love the kitty condo area), and hey, it's even like a "safe room" that no one knows about, yaknow?
Me, I'd like to see more of the bathroom w/ the chandelier in it. Not my style, but looks very interesting!
All in all, this is a real fine dwelling :)
All of the Inside Outs are repeats lately. Jill, are you having a hard time finding new apts. to showcase? I'll bet there are people here who would love to show off their digs.
Anne,
New Inside Outs come out on Wednesdays. Monday's are always repeats or reviews.
Oh my favourite: eclectic... full of character and personal style! The the way a home should be... Wow!
Thanks Lisa. After 3 yrs. on this site I never noticed the pattern. I just seemed to notice the Inside Out Redux all the time.
Hello Claire,
Your home has a really nice traditional feel but without the "heaviness" that I usually associate with that sort of style. It must be the high ceilings (do you fly remote controlled toys in there? So fun!). I really like the acrylic pockets for photos in your boy's room so he can change the pictures when he wants. One thing, though--the placement of the slipper chairs on either side of the column seems awkward to me. Why did you make that choice, and what do you do when you have guests to sit there? Rearrange the furniture?
Regards,
Mlle Kate
This thread makes for fascinating reading - I know it all happened months ago, but Claire has to tell us if she got any dates after this posting!!! And not to resuscitate the completely irrelevant Lydia/Pedro argument, but after clicking through to Lydia's links I have to say I come down firmly on Pedro's side. . .
This is a huge space with a lot of good elements. I'm also sure that it looks more impressive in person than in photos (though some of the areas have charm that shines through even in the pictures).
One thing I'm curious about though is how much the entire renovation cost. It seems like an awful lot has been done. I'm betting duplicating such an effort would empty my entire savings account.
You had me at the suit of armor. This home is definitely not my style, but I found myself loving it anyway. Great work.
I'm confused. Is this supposed to be an update to her decor? Didn't the reno happen a couple of years ago? Her kids must be in junior high by now.
I liked much of this home then, and still do. I'm wondering what's changed here?
Nice Work Lydia,
Great tips! Decoration is so important when living in a small apartment or by yourself. As a property manager, we always stress strong communication between our residents and our managers, so if something appears like it is taking too much space or needs to be changed, they get in touch with us immediately. We've also given out decoration tips to all of our residents through our weekly
I meant to say :
Nice Work Claire,
Great tips! Decoration is so important when living in a small apartment or by yourself. As a property manager, we always stress strong communication between our residents and our managers, so if something appears like it is taking too much space or needs to be changed, they get in touch with us immediately. We've also given out decoration tips to all of our residents through our weekly Brian's Blog - Helpful Tips for Renters.
Great use of space and storage. I love the kitchen and child's room.
Ok, so this post coupled with the Melaluca thing really makes AT look bad. Strange, creepy MLM thread and now this mile long arguement between two clearly pompous asses. Sorry I could read the whole thing, but from what I could stomach- Lydia/Pedro -You both look like idiots. This is not the place for these exchanges.
Maxwell?? What the...? Can't you edit these things down?
I usually read AT everyday. It looks like I may need to get my design fix elsewhere. This place is going in the toilet.