Name: Uri
Location: East Village
Size: 1600 sqft
Favorite: that it is rent controlled and is a big space with an open feel
Years Lived In: 13
Uri relishes monochrome as a background because of all the possibilities it allows in the foreground. Growing up in a Brooklyn home designed by his father and full of some of the furniture seen here had an impact as well on his color choices. While accustomed to this palette, Uri does not feel constrained by it...
"People stand out more," says Uri when explaining why he chooses to live, primarily, among the colors black, grey and white. But it's not just guests that get highlighted. Uri loves how he can introduce one colorful object--such as the set of blue bowls in the kitchen--and it becomes the instant focus of the apartment. In fact, a couple of years ago, Uri had a yellow phone in the living room and he said, "it seemed like the sun."
Uri's apartment was once the between-act lounge of a Yiddish Theater. If you need proof, take note of the payphone in the corner of Uri's apartment, just behind the turntables! Soon, it might be the only payphone left in New York City!!!
The building is now a movie-plex. To throw out his garbage, Uri has to go downstairs and through the movie theater lobby to the garbage bins in the back courtyard. After 13 years of this ritual, the career ticket-taker finally recognizes him and no longer asks Uri for his ticket!
AT Survey:
My Style About 70% of the way to 2001: a space odyssey
Inspiration See above
Favorite element Argon, or the steel coffee table I made.
Biggest Challenge When I first moved in, the place was a pit. There was a giant hole in the floor of the bathroom that led to a dank, disgusting space large enough to hide a family of six. The hardest thing was becoming comfortable with pouring money into a rental apartment.
What friends say The most satisfying thing has been the change of the median comment over time: "Wow, you have an amazing place!" (2006) from "Wow, you could do so much with this place!" (1993)
Biggest Embarrassment Probably the 'temporary' shades that have been up for 18 months now.
Proudest DIY The bathroom. It went from being truly terrifying to my favorite room in the house.
Biggest Indulgence The 100-pound industrial coffee grinder from the 1940s that I bought at an antique store. The vendor had no idea if the thing worked, so I went across the street and bought a quarter-pound of whole-bean Kenya AA to check it out.
Resources:
Lighting Cords from Ikea; large incandescent bulbs from Just Bulbs; all the others are compact fluorescent
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...
15 Essential Building Blocks for Quick Weeknight Meals
Summer Recipe: No-Bake Strawberry Icebox Cake
Comments (26)
Wasn't this posted last year?
I love it, but isn't it a repeat?
Why are we looking at repeats?
Uri, you rogue you!
This apartment is incredible. or should i say PALACE...
Monday is always the "classic episode"; Wednesday is the new one.
Every Monday, at least one person asks why the Inside Out is a repeat.
At the end of every Monday's post, I clearly state that this particular Inside Our post was originally posted on a specific day, prior to today's date.
Wende thank you so much for helping those of the weekly confusion...
Uri, is that Specialized bike? Possibly a Festina team frame? I love the apartment. A very cool place you have!
Jill-
Can you post that in the title of the post instead of at the bottom, in the fine print? And I second the question from Windwolf; Why are we looking at repeats? Isn't that what the archive is for?
Because some people may have missed it the first time around and not know what to look for in the archives.
Besides, you get a new one every Wednesday.
Now you know spanishfish and windwolf, you can take over from others when the person next week asks why they are seeing repeats ;)
OK, since no one said it yet: n00bZ!11!!
I can appreciate it, even though it's not quite my thing. Very nice job. Like others, the only issue for me is the cluttered kitchen. I think panels that slide on industrial-looking casters to expose sections and cover sections in a really graphic way would look great.
Big loft. Reminds me of friends' places that used to have bangin' parties until the roosters crowed.
I like the monochromatic look and the furniture but I wonder if a lot of the clutter is due the fact that there is so much space to spread stuff out, especially in the kitchen.
The cords and bulbs turned out really well and the gallery wall of photos is very nice.
The tub waterproofing sounds like http://www.schluter.com/, which we installed in our own bathroom renos recently, based on recommendations from AT posters.
I like most of this house tour - Im not really partial to the bed frame.
However in this industry you need to appreciate all types of design styles and remember that everyone has different taste. Uri's interests and personality are reflected in a asthetically pleasing and functional way.
So Although everyone would not like to personally live here - you can't deny that is a successfull space.
Bed side tables need to go! other then that not bad...I wousd find another spot for the desk ...too messy there and also I thinkyou need some wonderful green plants in the dining space area with the long book shelf...that would be nice
I think Uri needs to change his Brita water filter - H2O looks a little brown. I like that he has style.
you have already posted this article last year.. no new places/apt to write about --it's getting boring to see the same images on this website..
stava - read the previous comments; your "concern" has already been addressed. Reposts are for newer readers who may not have time to dig through the archives to find gems like Uri's place. To some, they are new posts. To those, like yourself, for whom they are repeats, simply refrain from clicking through and browsing the post again. It's not hard.
you can buy the half moon type bookshelf from a store in the UK called untothislast
http://www.untothislast.co.uk/
they do them for DVD's, CDs etc.
On the rest of the apartment, not enough colour for me
Saw your home last year, and liked it then. I still like it today.
Props for making a place that still looks lived in, effortless, and stylish all in one go. BIG props for doing this with the tones you selected - I find it is MUCH harder to use less color than more while keeping it interesting.
I hope Uri is utilizing that table for legendary beer pong games.
Nice... I appreciate that it is lived in.
By the way, the Strips sofa is alive and well, and selling at the Conran Shop
Uri,
I loved your place last year and I love it again this year... I fell in love twice :)
Thank you for opening your home to all of us. I enjoyed seeing your disciplined eye and sense of style translated throughout your home.
I appreciate how you showed your home as you live in it. You did not throw stuff under couches and into closets to make your space appear what it was not. You live in your space....you use your closet and you cook often.
Good for you!
I'm more envious of his Bowflex dumbells than anything else.
Wow! Classic, masculine loft living with subtle style. This is a place that is not "precious", one in which you can be human...with a little dirt! I would ride a bicycle in here. Ha! Wish I had his sofas. Cheers.
Uri,
I saw the piece of art on your wall and said to myself, "that looks like Noah's work"... and then read the caption under the photo, 'artwork by his mother'. Wait a minute, your Eli's son!
Even New York is a small world.
cheers,