apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Does he want to use the entertainment center, or just not have to look at it? It's a tiny bit involved, but he could build temporary walls around all of it, leaving only the fireplace and the shelving just above it exposed.

He could also affix wallpaper to the back of each shelf to make it a bit less imposing.

You could hang some fabric screens on tracks from the ceiling just in front of the shelving units. The fireplace looks deep enough into the marble to avoid heat issues, and you have plenty of display space elsewhere on that hulking piece of furniture.

Yeah, I think Marisa's onto it - build a plywood enclosure and wallpaper or paint that. You'll lose some storage, possibly, and it'll be a huge task, but damn, that's a hulking monstrosity.

Building something might be a little costly but I like the drapery idea. I saw you drape the sides and the top of the fileplace with a funky textile that suits your furniture but feel free to leave the fireplace exposed. It'll add texture to the space.

Ooooh I love that idea, Marisa can you tell me more about how this would work? Or rather how to game plan it?

Put a couple of plants in front of the drawers and be done with it.

You could cut plain flat drawer fronts out of wood if it is the rope detail he'd like to cover. Just drill two holes in the new drawers to match where the drawer pulls are, and then get extra long screws to attach the pulls and the new drawer front to the old drawer front. He can then stain or paint or decoupage the new drawer fronts to match his taste.

I'm with art on this one...

we are on a foreign posting, and are renting out our house... if our renters did the sorts of things being posted here as suggestions, we'd hit the roof and start thinking about suing. If it really bothers him, this obviously was not the right house for him to rent.

It's not my taste either (I am living in a rental I'm not wild about either, but didn't have any choice in the matter), but once he gets a flat screen tv in their (or an artwork), fills the shelves, and hides it with potted trees , it won't be so bad.

the best suggestion I have is to remove the drawers, and fill the space with books or speakers -

Seriously, if you hate it that much, why'd you rent the place? It's not THAT horrible, jeez. Stop with the design-snob whining, already.

Stick a couple of lightweight drapes on either side, get a few plants, fill it with your stuff, and you'll hardly even notice it. If it's still offensive and you can't live with it, move when the lease is up. But don't start building false walls and scuffing up the floor and ceiling and losing storage, for heavens' sake.

you might be able to take the drawers out, and i see that you can take the shelves out. do that, and then line the back of all the alcoves with wallpaper, fabric, foil, plastic, mirror...
if you pick something that can't stand by itself, you can cut a piece of particle board the size of each alcove and attach your decorative element to that and just set it in the back of the opening. no glue, no fasteners.

I second the suggestion to just take the drawers out and fill the spaces with books and decorative items. easy peasy and no damage to the unit!

i have to agree with jezebella and monkia1- this isnt your place- you are renting. and as monkia1 mentioned, if you damage any of the permanent fixtures, you are liable for the costly repairs and even breech of contract. The curtain idea is good, but doing anything to that nice looking wood (as ugly as the carvings might be) like drilling holes or removing things, it would truly be an atrosity. make temporary improvements curtains, plants, and yes once you put your own things on the shelves it will fell more like your own. find great furniture and art pieces to draw the attention away. or repurpose the room! use that as the dining area- put plates on the shelves and mugs in the drawers. as it is with any rental, you just need to add your personality to it- that's the challenge!

Frankly, I don't see anything that wrong with the unit. I'm sure once you place a TV in it and fill it up with some nice knicknacks, it will look very nice. The unit appears to be a very nice walnut or walnut-stained wood. I would never want to cover up beautiful wood. Keep in mind that wall units always look overbearing when there is nothing in them. Once you get furniture in the room, some art on the walls and some books, ornamental stuff, etc in that unit, it will likely be in harmony with the rest of the room.

Yep, i'd try taking the drawers out first and secondly the idea of making false fronts to go over the existing drawers could work if you have the right tools, and it wouldn't damage the set-up which agreed is not a good plan.

Easier would be to tack a peice of fabric cut to shape inside the edge of the top drawer front so that the panel hangs down the front of the drawers hiding them and stick a plant in front as last ditch.

This will look much much better with stuff in it.

Leave it alone.
Either learn to enjoy the mix of traditional and modern or rent another place.

I think Travis is onto the right idea. If you use a lightweight fabric it should be easy enough to velcro to the floor/ceiling or similar reversible solution. If you use velcro you could still open to access the storage on occasion). You could commision someone in chinatown to do a cool calligraphy on fabric....pearl mart in New York sells those fabric doors you often see in chinese restaurants (the ones that are 2 panels split down the middle) those could work too, depending on his taste obviously....

Get nice modern boxes to fill the shelf under the TV (if thats what will go there. that will keep him for turning it into a knick knack area (or looking like an empty knick knack area).

But the first thing to do is move in and see what it really looks like once he (and his stuff) are in the space. It may fade into the background....

I can't believe THIS is such an eyesore. At least it's (seemingly) good quality and neutral in colour. I've been renting for several years and would happily take this over pink toilets, uneven floors and rancid appliances . . .

Suck it up, toots.

Don't mean to be rude but why rent here if he doesn't like the (presumably) largest feature in the house?

fill with books and be done with it. it isn't so bad - at least it isn't peeling laminate which is what i will be left with in year or so!

Hey guys, great suggestions as usual! I'll tell you, he got the house because it's big enough for his kids, has a backyard, a great deck and is the right price. He could totally live with the media center, just thought I'd help him out if there was a way to minimize it. That's all.

I'm very (very) aware of larger issues with a rental (remember I'm the one that had to be out of my last apartment twice: once for mold and therefore construction, and once for a flood and therefore construction) so I know that this is peanuts, but if there's a way to improve and make a space feel more like home then I'm in! Appreciate the perspective and the tips!

hang white curtains all the way around it, up to the ceiling and suspend a piece of art, or an old window frame, or even a plasma tv in front of it on fish wire.

Plants in front of the drawers,or take the drawers out and use the areas for a magazine rack. Or, an easel with a terrific painting. You can't really tell how much he'll hate it until all his "stuff" is in it. As for curtains in front of it----sounds horrible and it will use up too much space and the kids will play behind them.

I can't imagine that someone who likes a streamlined look is going to be keen on hanging curtains or making false drawer fronts. And constructing a facade around this piece seems like much ado about nothing. Your friend's best bet at minimizing the scale and style of the entertainment center is adding interesting art and personal items that will draw attention away from the structure. Diffused lighting in that area would also help to avoid the kind of extreme highlights and shadows that will emphasize the rope detail.

He could cut cardboard or foam-core to fit on the backs of the shelves and then cover them with wallpaper, fabric, or paper in a neutral color or funky design to break up all the dark wood.

It's fine.

I would change the pulls on the drawers to something more contemporary, which can easily be reversed with 10 minutes and a screwdriver when you're ready to move on. Restoration Hardware or Lee Valley have great options.

Also, if you accessorize with simple things in a monochromatic or calming palette (say, recover all your books in white DIY dustcovers), it will detract from the fussy detailing on the drawers.

Embrace mixing styles, and you're golden. I have very contemporary taste, but I think this is lovely.

Constant porn on the TV.

Nobody will notice the drawers, then.

Put a smashing piece of large art in the niche over the fireplace, and fill the shelves with books and bric-a-brac, and you have a lovely centerpiece to the room. Frankly, I'd kill to have that unit!

ohjodi has the best idea yet :-P

Seriously, embrace it! Beautiful piece of furniture. Fill it with personal items, books, plants and it will look a ton better.

It would be cheaper and smarter to keep looking for an apartment or house you really like. The costs of exiting your lease early might be less than price of a wall of custom curtains ($2000-$3000) or a false front over the fireplace/bookshelves.

A word of advice - Spouses and rental units are never "fixer-up-ers." If you can't live with their faults, keep looking.