apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

OH Emilie! I really enjoy what you've done with your bedroom and wherever the three wave shot comes from.

So HGTV. Yikes.

Love the bedroom, too. So cozy and inviting...

I'm definitely gonna look you up when I buy my first place.

It looks like all of the effort went into the bedroom, while the rest of the apartment was an afterthought. Red satin pillows? In that livingroom? Very Tacky.

yawn.

not much personality.

Does this place come with a guitar player? Make me want to jam!

Prosafe Security

It appears that you've created a comfortable and largely serene space -- particularly in the bedroom where it can be most enjoyed. Congratulations.

The living room/dining area doesn't seem, from the photos, as cohesive as the design you achieved in the bedroom, however.

The one thing that does jump out at me that I'd recommend changing is the height of the "leaf" pictures above the table. I'm 6'4", but from the photo it feels like I'd have to tilt my head up to see them. (Though this may just be because an uninitiated eye may process the frame of the mirror as the top of a door.)

I love the colors in the bedroom. What's the paint?

I would agree with Doug that the leaf pictures seem a little high. I understand what you were trying to do with the waterline; and it worked beautifully in the hallway with the vases, but lowering the pictures 6-8" would fill the empty space between the pictures on the wall and the photos on the table below.

The living room does not seem as finished as the bedroom. The basic elements are there and I like the red statin mixed in with the warmer browns. It just needs something to pull it all together.

I'd say it's a far cry from tacky or void of personality.

o Emilie, thanks for showing your space

we're in late contest smackdown mode, I think
which results in big no votes -don't take it personally

oh man, so awful, don't know where to begin. well, how about throwing out all the furniture, all the decorations, and definitely that red satin curtain?

this is worse than tacky, because the person obviously spent money, time and effort on this look.

Hey Alli, if you look at the apartment pictures you can see that in different shots the curtains look different colors. This would lead me to think that the pillows also are not represented as they truly are. So maybe they aren't "tacky" red satin, perhaps they are cabernet Tussah silk, or some other lucious color in slubbed silk. Why be so nit-picky, when it is not necessary?

To clarify, I only mentioned the fabrics, because it seemed that red silk was being seen as "tacky" and perhaps if it was more expensive or unique, it would have been more acceptable. I think your place is lovely, Emilie.

I love this space. It seems to be the perfect blend of do-it-yourself ingenuity and carrying out a vision. Many kudos.

To the aptly-named "beeatch": A simple "not my pick" vote would have sufficed. There are many less-offensive ways to offer up constructive criticism; yours wasn't one of them.

Don't lower the leaf pictures -- put another pair of same-sized pictures under them. That should put the bottom baseline low enough.

Or go up with a large vase or two on the table.

it's not my style but I think people have been a bit harsh. It feels calm and relaxing. I might find another space for the table--maybe a sqaure table againssst that wall? You know how when you go to a restuarant you always want the table by the wall rather than be in the center of the room? that's my 2 cents...

Emilie, if you decide to give up and move out because of all of the negative feedback, would you please let me move in? Don't change a thing. It's comfortable, and it works in my book.

I lurve the wall color. What is it? Your space is so serene. I agree with the suggestions for the pictures. I'd also like the coffee table to be closer to the couch, perhaps "leaning" into the "L" and I'd also like it to see something on the coffee table, perhaps glass pieces like those on the shelves, candles, or favorite books.

And people wonder why it's a hard decision whether or not to enter these contests!!! I can't believe people are so negative (wait, yes I can!). I think this is nice...I really like the bedroom--it has a very swank feeling. I might suggest putting an area rug under the table to anchor it to that space...maybe in rich tones like the red in the drapes/pillows that everyone's mouthing off about. Thanks for sharing your space!

emilie-\this is really nice!! I like the spacde, I like what you've done - the only change i would make would be to swap out the wicker type dining chairs and table, maybe put a reallt substantial gate-leg table there with some folio chairs.

I adore the view. Seriously, people, do you see that sunset view? That's choice right there.

Good job, a contender in my boo - it feels spacious from what I've seen.

Emilie - what a beautiful space! I love the hallway, the artwork, the rich and beautiful bedroom and the living room arranged to highlight the amazing view. I could curl up on the couch and watch the sunset, read, dream, write and on and on!

I like the suggestion someone made about a rug to define the living room space a bit and I think it would be interesting to have a dining table similar to the table you have against the wall but turned the other way - coming out of the wall. As far as the leaf prints mentioned by others, maybe you're saving the space below them for another piece? My husband recently hung four identical prints in our bedroom and I was wondering to myself why he left a large empty space next to them. He must have read my mind - he informed me that he left room for two other pieces!

Great job on creating a warm and rich home!

Emilie, I really love your space. I was shocked that you received any negative feedback. I have looked at most of the entries and read most of the comments, I never post a note, but had to in your case. Yours is one of the few spaces that actually look comfortable. No strange-looking "artsy-fartsy" chairs that look like they would kill your back in 10 minutes just trying to read the paper or watch tv. Love your colors, furniture, decorations. I think it looks classy. You've got my vote.

great sunset pic! i think everyone should have to photograph their places during sunset. it coulod become the "2006 coolest sunset picture from a small apartment contest"!!

Very warm and comfortable. Excellent job with color and lighting.

Emily, it's not that bad. However, your color palatte needs some BOO-YAH, like, get completely rid of all the leaf art (unless you really like it, then just wallpaper a corner with the fragments and make a mosaic or something), get rid of the little square ikea mirror config next to the bed, do it now. Trust me.

Tear out the art and keep the frames. Use all the small frames in a configuration on some empty wall, but buy a bunch of small posters online - Picasso, Chagall, whatever. Something with color. Something you really like.

Better yet, go to http://www.pixelgirlshop.com/?artist=One+Good+Bumblebee
and just buy some up-and-coming local art like that- Put that everywhere. It's going to punch up the overly boring richy gold you have going on - don't get me wrong, but it reminds me of a hotel instead of home.

Don't feel you have to match your pillows to the drapes - you can, but instead, add more pillows that have personality and maybe a little touch of your drape color in them.

Get some real plants. Big ones. Little ones on a shelf here and there. Stop making things hang in formation, like 3s. Get more color in there and a little less control over the configuration and you will have fun doing it and it will look like you have a personality - which you do, you are just hiding it right now.