apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Lots to love here, especially the gorgeous red and orange walls and the paintings (!!). My only quibble would be with the kitchen ceiling.

I think I'm in love.....Daniel, do you need a husband?

The first half of the slideshow, I was holding breath because of the overpowering of the wall color and all, the second half I was breathing much easier...
I absolutely love the white wall with a little bit of Asian decor here and there.
Lovely home!

There are some nice elements here and they seem to be thrown together by someone who only sees them as design pieces, not as having any tie to culture, religion, heritage, tradition, history, or any greater meaning in the world than existing in his apartment.

I found myself wincing at the two dragons nose to nose. Dragons protect the pearl by fighting back to back, fending off all comers. Placing them nose to nose would mean they can only see each other - and have no understanding of the world around them. Maybe a little too accurate in this case.

Smoking hot...I love the contrast of the more warm, overstuffed rooms with the lighter cooler, more zen spaces. Plus his paintings are lovely. As for Scydream, frankly, you just sound jealous. The man has obviously made a lovely and abundant living as an artist. If you had any idea of how hard that is you'd be aware that he has an extremely keen understanding of the world around him - artists have to, otherwise they simply don't survive. As for culture, etc, you actually have no idea about his his cultural background and experiences. Are we only supposed to buy things from Ikea, designed in Sweden and assembled in China? Design, art and ideas have been flowing around the world from for centuries, and your fetishizing of what you assume is the purity of
"culture, tradition,and history" comes across as a lot more colonialistic and reductive than any of his home arrangements.

Stunning.

Oh actually I am a person of color talking about my culture. It's not a fetish, I know my history, culture and traditions. What are you talking?

Please keep discussion, criticism and replies civil. Thanks!

Wow! What an amazing place! Love the colors! I'm usually not a fan of asian inspired decor, but you have done a remarkable job!

I love the dining room. And I don't give two hoots if he's placing the dragons in an non-traditional way. If the dragons were alive, I'd think differently, of course.

I love the red on the living room walls. Paint info, please.

contrived.

Your living room has the feel of a colonialist without the charming and valiant ratpack-iness of an explorer who is more interested in curio than in decor. It made me cringe a little bit. But your white rooms are more in tune with what I've always associated with "Asian decor": a great concern for space, and the harmonious flow of emphasis and focus throughout the room. (Some people call it feng shui, I just call it common sense) But what's the deal with the buddhas? In Asia, he's revered. In the West, he's used to hold little succulents. Cute, but WTF mate?

Although the way this man's house is decorated may not be to your taste aesthetically,historically or culturally,( whatever that could possibly mean) there really is no need for some of you to be so precious. I mean uncouth. I really mean rude.

Wow!!!!!

I'm surprised at the level of nastiness that I've noticed on a number of AT threads recently-- but most especially this one. If you have an idea for someone to improve the look of his home, offer it. If you have a suggestion for sourcing objects, share it. If you really like something, bring on the complements. But there's no good reason for folks to post comments like "contrived" or "colonialist" and lacking "charm" and "valiance" (whatever that means). If you don't like something, then I've got good news for you: you don't have to live there. When people share their homes on this site, they're essentially treating us as guests. Would you ever tell a host that his home makes you "wince" over his dining table at a dinner party?

Here, here, PhillyLass!
Daniel, your place is superb! Thanks for sharing.

And Chris should know.

I don't mind critical posts, but those that pretend to know the mindset of the homeowner/creator or the author of either the post or the comment hack me off.

I've said it before: if you don't like the comments, too bad. Yes, we may be "guests" at people's homes, but it's not as if the owner of these homes do not in some way get some narcissistic pleasure out of seeing their homes admired by others. The favor goes both ways: we get to see cool houses, we get to rub egos. And hey if the house is great, complements all around. Daniel's house deserve major cool points, and cool points are given. But don't lecture everybody else to hold their tounges just because [i]you[/i] don't agree with the comment.

And hey, one also doesn't get to cannibalize other people's culture and expect not to get called on it. You may not give two shits about dragons, and buddhas, and blue, but you don't get to dictate if people should or should not cringe by their misuse. Your taste might be different culturally, but it also happens to not be your culture that your messing with.

somedudeinvicenza,

it is not the criticism in itself but the way it is doled out. There is such a thing as constructive criticism, and I am sure everyone here knows how to use it but some choose not too.

not to

I thought somedudeinvicenza's criticism was very constructive and well said.

I don't think many people understand there own history of colonization therefore it's understandable that they get defensive.

I hope that this is a learning opportunity: If you're going to fetishize someone's culture, please get it right.

Reminder: please be courteous with your comments. Whether in agreement or disagreement, it is in everyone's interest to be polite. We would hate to lose our sense of friendly and helpful community that is the hallmark of the people who read and contribute on AT.

I do believe the dinner party analogy makes the most sense and we would all do well to remember we are being invited into someone's home and criticisms will hopefully be shared with consideration. Let's all just enjoy the party and each other's company respectfully!

I liked the studio, hallway, kitchen and garden. Everything else is too overpowering. I just can't see myself resting and winding down in this place. But, to each his own, right?

Oh spare me--buying mass-produced objects and arranging them isn't a cultural statement. This is an absurd argument. The Chinese government destroyed art objects left and right bot in China and Tibet. Is anyone here suggesting that the homeowner is a temple looter?

Anyone can pretend to be anything on the internet, and self-appointed guardians of Culture can spout their rhetoric endlessly.

This is completely off the topic but I just wanted to put in my request that AT in October features Haunted House Tours, replete with creepy stories of paranormal activities.

I really like the mirrors (they look like windows!), patterns and light reflections in the Dining Room. These create a sense of ambiguous space and a soft, dream-like quality. In my opinion, the artworks and decor are well integrated. The contrast between the lush red and orange (persimmons?) rooms and the subdued white rooms is surprising, yet effective. Is that the same persimmons color that you took through into the kitchen? As you say, you definitely are not scared of color!

I like it mostly ... but the red room feels a little cliche Chinese Restaurant to me. And it feels a little too crammed with furniture, with the fabric sofa, leather loveseat, leather chair, other chairs, reads a little tight to me. And the all black furniture in the living room feels shoved up against the walls. And I also think there needs to be less of the black leather furniture, it's a little too matchy matchy for my taste. But I LOVE the fireplace, so pretty! I really like the hallway too, I like the gallery effect of the artwork and I LOVE that large painting in the studio. I think the bedroom is pretty, love the deco inspired dresser. Love the orange or persimmon wall color and the stark contrast between that and the white walls. And I'm not bothered by the Asian influences, it doesn't bunch my Buddha's panties.

Hah! You're 2 blocks from me!

meowmineh.blogspot.com

I skipped over the argument/discussion. Let's not get too arrogant, just enjoy or say nothing.

As for the white scheme, I really prefer the hot, gorgeous colors and the decor. I, too, in my Greenwich Village apartment have such decor, though my walls are neutral (too many objects from all parts of the world, many colors). I'm definitely not a colonial, married one of the "natives" and love, love the mix of furniture, plants, blue/and/white pots, etc. Folks, red IS THE COLOR OF THE EAST!!! Get used to it.

I prefer a mix like this, and if ever the proprietor wants to rid himself of those beautiful tchochkes, call or write.