Name: Joe, a Video Game Producer and Ayanna, a Psychology Professor
Location: Central Square — Cambridge, Massachusetts
Years lived in: 7 months — rented
Ayanna and Joe moved into their rented Cambridge apartment around 7 months ago, and in that time they have managed to transform their apartment into a place that showcases their shared styles and interests. Before meeting one another they had independently collected movie art and, now that they are living together, their combined movie poster collection is one of the most striking features in the space.
According to Joe, "My girlfriend and I are both film buffs... I like French New Wave and New Hollywood. We both like horror movies and science fiction. We've been called stealth nerds, but I don't know how stealthy we are about it." Along with the posters, the apartment is filled with a mix of primarily Danish Modern pieces with bits of Art Deco and 60's lounge for an eclectic look that doesn't lean too heavily on one era.
The space itself features large windows, a well-designed kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a bookshelf close to the ceiling that runs the length of the apartment, from the living room into the guest bedroom.
The guest bedroom houses another shared collection — comic books and graphic novels fill a bookcase along one wall and can be found in scattered stacks around the room. It is also home to Joe's toys. According to him, "I've picked up a few weird toys from my childhood, like ROM Spaceknight and the Super Joes. My place used to look like the 30 Year Old Virgin, but I scaled back. I like to keep the place pretty spartan now."
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Modern Eclectic
Inspiration: Joe: I'm a sucker for Danish modern, but try to sneak in bits of art deco and 60s lounge as I can. Hopefully that comes off more eclectic than confused.
Favorite Element: Joe: My favorite feature of the place is how there's shelving worked into every room along at least one side up near the ceiling. It's nice to be able to always look up and see your favorite books wherever your are in the apartment.
Ayanna: The kitchen. I love cooking in there. The appliances are high end and it is perfectly designed.
Biggest Challenge: Our dog just tore up the upholstery on the orange couch... so now we're not only looking for the same or similar orange vintage pattern but a place that will reupholster it without charging a lot of money.
What Friends Say: We've been called stealth nerds, but I don't know how stealthy we are about it.
Biggest Indulgence: I ran across that Le Samourai poster in Santa Monica a few years ago and really couldn't afford it, but I knew I'd regret it if I didn't pick it up. It's kind of the perfect poster for a film that's kind of perfect.
Best Advice: Estate sales off Craigslist. Sometimes they mean a long drive and/or slim pickings, but other times you score. (Again, that's how I found that weird dining table and chairs.)
Dream Sources: Ha. Any resources to speak of would be a dream, frankly.
Resources of Note:
LIVING ROOM
- • Orange Sofa: a vintage furniture shop on Valencia St in The Mission, SF
• Eames lounger: It's a fake I got off of Craigslist. It's not nearly as comfortable as a real one, but it was only $200.
• Credenza:That's another find off of craigslist in Boston. You can find a lot by searching "Danish modern."
DINING ROOM
- • Table and Chairs: I got these from an estate sale in northern Mass run by the owner of a shop called, no joke, Beyond Gorgeousity.
• Bar: The old wet bar is from a junk/furniture shop in Berkeley near Gilman Street.
Accessories
- • Lamps: Some are from Valencia St shops and others are finds from Ebay or Craigslist.
• "Tidy" sign: Snagged off a hotel room door in Malmaison in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Movie Posters
- • "The Evil Dead" by Olly Moss: Mondo Tees
• "Susperia" by Alan Forbes: Mondo Tees
• "House of the Dead" by the Silent Giants: Mondo Tees
• The rest are vintage collected over the years: Horror, French New Wave, New Hollywood, and specific genere Foreign Films dominate the collection
Thanks, Joe & Ayanna!
Images: Kim Lucian
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love love love the use of bookshelves over the doorways. somewhat out of sight and frees up a lot of floorspace for their amazing furniture!
The scythe! Amazing!
rock it Central Square! a really fantastic home.
<3 the dog!
OMG you guys have the scythe! Frak yeah, I really want one :(
Very nicely done, like your 'blond' aesthetic. Some house plants or a few pops of a bright colour you like would lift the energy and give a little focus to the rooms.
Okay, I can't contain myself. That dining room set is rad! I love it.
Now that's out of the way. You are not stealth nerds. You are actually overt hipsters. Your place is totally fab. I love your selection of furniture, you have a great eye for geometry. Love the simplicity of the place.
The weapon on the wall (what is that?) creeps me out, though. I can't get my mind around that.
Love: the couches, the dining set, the Godzillas, the scandi wood, and the bar set up as a Shrine to Booze.
Don't love: the layout, the cold white on the walls, and the cheap framing of the posters - proper matted frames would make them look 100% more awesome.
I'm jealous of the Suspiria poster, I'm a big horror film fan myself and often have thoughts of getting some posters but am afraid of scaring the ladies away.. well I do have a Jaws poster in my bathroom.
It's very nice,but from the title I thought it would be more exciting.
limestoneblocks... Suspiria is way more classy than Jaws.
Nice, but the pockets of clutter and underwhelming color scheme seem to make the place look and feel like a dorm room. I guess I was expecting something different from self described film buffs. Like perhaps something in the decor aesthetics that pays homage to a famous cinema interior or something.
Cool but I could do with a little more color. The couch is great. I bet you won't be able to replace that fabric with a simiar pattern. Too bad because it is so cool.
Not many pictures and half of them kind of small...
Clutter--- this place is essentially clutter free! I am so envious! I think you display your comics/books/action figures in a very tasteful and adult manner. A living space should reflect who we are and what we love and it looks like you've accomplished that! Love the bookcase above your kitchen entrance btw!
I'm in love with your dining room set...totally awesome!
The rest of the place could do with some punches of color and plants to help liven up the space a bit.
@robertspeg it is scythe from buffy and fray -joss whedon- ancient weapon wielded by a slayer :P
Thank goodness I wasn't the only nerd in here who recognized the Whedon shoutout! Don't know if I'd want it in my bedroom, though. ;)
The book case over the doorway may look like a smart idea/leave more floor space...but it's not very functional. I'm a "cozy/cluttered look" freak. It's organized/loved/purposeful clutter though. All the furniture in my apartment is black, with some colorful hand painted pieces. Different designs/periods but in black. Tones/shades/hints/explosions of color everywhere. All silver hardware/metalwork/lamps are silver/black or Tiffany. I love leather/metal/wood...no plastic/synthetic's allowed. All the walls in my apartment are white. The carpeting is black with subtle shades/tones of white/grey. It makes me happy when I open the door. My place is a continuing expression of pleasure/life/myself. If it makes you happy, isn't that what it's all about? The black dog is precious.
by the way:)
Okay, no offense to the owners but...
am I the only one who hates (HATES!)when people place their televisions in front of their windows?
I don't get it. Especially considering the versatility of that space.
I do love the compact kitchen and your dinette set is awesome. Ditto the sofas/settee. Yeah, I love that scythe thingy too, even though I don't know why you have it. YAY Momofuku. Love their pork buns.
I agree about the TV as a focus in a main room, I wish they could be disguised.
yaaaaaaay slayer scythe!!!! awesome living room!
The fabulousness of the dining seating is offset by the awful cliche of the Eames recliner. Shame the gorgeous little dog didn't chew that up instead of the sofa!
The flat itself offers much potential that has yet to be fully realized. For starters, look at all that wonderful wall space. I agree with Blandwagon that your posters should be remounted to achieve their full impact. These walls are screaming for big, colorful art. Also, you might try experimenting with different furniture layouts. Finally, I see the guest bedroom but where is your bedroom - or did I miss that photo?
PS: I live across the water from Malmaison - your secret is safe with me!
Rugs, more posters! Fab sofa and dining set.
I actually think a couple of colorful rugs would go a LONG way to pulling this place together. It feels almost there, but not quite as is.
"limestoneblocks... Suspiria is way more classy than Jaws."
I agree. I just picked up an original Dawn of the Dead poster for 10 bucks. I'm getting that framed right now. That will take the place of the Jaws one.