apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

i LOVE this place. the lucite chandelier and the hanging light in the bedroom are perfect. actually, i like everything about the bedroom. what is happening with the wall behind/above the bed? looks like fabric?--whatever is going on, it looks amazing and warm.

Thom, your place is beautiful and your personal story is very touching. You reminded me of how important it is to have a personal space that supports and nurtures a feeling of well being.

I love the brown and blue pillow in the bedroom and the sculpture in the window and the woods and the red accents.

For some reason I can't take my eyes off the picture on the wall...

Which picture is that, Michael? The one in the living room of the shirtless man with his head turned sideways?

I'm generally not a big fan of 70's decor myself, but then this contest isn't supposed to be judged on my own personal likes, or anyone elses, but rather on the applicant's efficiency, aesthetics, and creative problem solving in dealing with special challenges.

Taking that into consideration, I think Thom has done an excellent job with his apartment. I really can't wait to see the floor plan to see even better how Thom's addressed efficiency and creative problem solving. A consistent style seems to have been carried throughout, at least in the areas the photos show. I'd still like to see better views of the kitchen and of the bathroom too. Thom addressed the judgement criteria by being innovative with his lighting, especially at the crown molding and backlighting of the birch paneled walls in the living room. I'd LOVE to see this place at night to get the full effect of the lighting. The use of birch panels on the walls is great. They give a warm feeling to the space and alternating the direction of the grain provides some nice pattern. The bedroom is my favorite in this apartment. It's very subtly done and understated. The birch panels at the lower part of the bed wall with fabric panels above creates a wonderful headboard. The ledge separating the wood and fabric provides a wonderful shelf for artwork. And with the incorporation of the shelf, the artwork can be changed out and rearranged as frequently as Thom wishes to change the mood of the room.

All in all, I say job well done, Thom! Without the floor plan and photos of the bath and kitchen I can't consider this an "instal-finalist", but definitely consider it a strong contender.

please, please, please don't say "san fran." we usually call it "the city."

and we longtime residents really don't call it "bagdad by the bay" -- unless we are the late great newspaper columnist herb caen, reincarnated.

New Yorkers call Manhattan "the City" too, so better to be clear for out of towners.

I really like the "tiled" upper wall areas. What are those squares made of?

There is so much going on in such a small apartment and the ceilings seem really low and yet it's gorgeous! Some magic alchemy of over scale art and objets, strong colors and ornate wall treatments makes it all work. I just love it when someone does the opposite of what would seem obvious and pulls it off like this. So many great entries today, I'm glad I was parsimonious with the *insta-finalist* votes in the beginning since I've been scattering them around so wantonly in the past two days.

LOVE the chaise!

finally, SOME PERSONALITY!!

nice job, thom! show some style without placating to minimalism.

Is your bedroom wall upholstered? I have only seen it done on a full wall once before, and I LOVE it.

Daily Nuance - yes, that one

All the wonderful warm colors truly shows who this person is now. Congratulations to the most colorful
man around. You truly are an inspiration and a celebration of life.

Nice choice, Michael. My eyes were rather captivated by that one as well.

ay caramba, bedroom bliss!

I too would like to know about upholstered wall in the bedroom. Luxe feel.

It's too busy and cluttered.

I'd tone down the walls with a solid color and get rid of the white drapes. There's also some checkered, multicolored thing that I'd reupholster or get rid of.

I get the feeling that this person is a bit of a pack rat.

I like the way the tall colorful cabinet in the lving room and the picture in the hall way bring everything together. Thom, you have a bionic eye for the selection of your purchases and how you place them in your unit. The bedroom is a dream. Well done on the choice of brown and blue. This is a true santuary!

Love it! Great job with a typical San Francisco floor plan -- I adore your walls.

That's not clutter, folks: that's a level of warmth, texture, and color that's necessary to endure the cold, gray summers here. This is San Francisco Style you're seeing -- and it's not the same as what's chic in Los Angeles. We're a different state (of consciousness) up here.

As an anal minimalist-weaned east-coaster, the furnishings strike me as something of a hodge-podge. However, I love the brown+blue color scheme of the bedroom, and the way it contrasts the brown+red of the living room. Very original use of color.

Thom, please tell us how you accomplished the upholstered wall. I've been wanting to do this in my apt. and your wall looks great.

my god...

talk about overkill. please, try to edit. my eyes can't focus anything. i think it would be better if you showcased select items instead of everything at once.

it's too much.

I disagree with cammy. Sure. it's no Pawson temple to minimalism, but it feels pretty cohesive. And each piece seems selected, personal.

I think this guy is refreshing. And news flash: Making fake trendy minamalist homes out of current trends using furniture made of particle board is not everyones dream of cool living. Some people actually buy quality pieces that have pressence.

This guy obvioulsy has taste and works his rooms more from a warm, nurturing place rather then those over simplistic sterile enviroments the current design trend leads you into belieiving is "investment furniture" when in reality is disposable.

I also like that nothing looks like it came from one store only and that ultimately, the way he hand picked and designed the space, it all works well.

Fantastic, cozy, sophisticated, intimate, and vivid. Great use of a small space, and i recognize the photography of a New York artist named Michael Alago. The splashes of color unify the living/entry way and bedroom is sleek very masculine. Gets my vote!

Love it! This is a home with a heart for sure.
I also love that almost the same amount of people says "not my pick" as "insta finalist."

I think this speaks to the fact that this is a very creative and personal space.

love it...you should win

I'm usually not a fan of the 70's, but this is a GREAT layout. The color scheme flows. Definately worth to be top 5. -t

Horrible. No sense of continuity among the furnishings and decor. Looks like a trading spaces makeover. Nothing special here, sorry to say.

I love it, too. I might quibble with an artwork or two, but the real-deal personality shows through, and the color sense is fantastic. The transition from turquoise accents to orange is helped along by the brown anchor.

I hope we can discuss lighting tricks some more. Lamps vs. overheads, for example.

I agree with you on the lighting - creative use of lighting can change a room dramatically. Love your home and all the interesting artwork and furniture pieces and the gorgeous brown/blue combination in the bedroom. Doesn't it feel good to step out of that black and white world into a world full of color? Enjoy the beautiful colors!

Your bedroom is fantastic. While I don't remember much about the 70s (if you can remember you weren't there) your apartment has great style and livability. And that upholstered wall. Tell us how you did it.

Absolutely love the color schemes, 50's pieces and unique artwork. Sexy, sexy, sexy while at the same time inviting.

Really creative detailing. Not just a compilation of current cliched forms.
What's most appealing is that there is real personality expressed.

You are brave to enter your colorful, busy apaptment in the same contest as all these minimalist, sterile places. It's not my taste, but it is obviously completely you. You get points for going for it in a big way.

Makes me smile, bold and humorous and made to be lived in and for friends to come over and enjoy noticing some new object they missed on the last visit.

Love the colors, and ideas, themes, and textures. I little too cluttered, with all the textures and accessories. The space could use some weeding out, but over all very snazy!

Unlike most every other entry in the contest, the chairs look comfy! I want to sit in those squishy soft chairs. This looks human and alive and vibrant! Not sterile and cold and made of plastic. Such a personal and creative space; I cannot help but love it.

I love your bold use of color and display of unique items that please you. I love, love that blue pillow on your bed!

What a great use of space. I want to live there! Will you come and help me with my house?

I want that blue and brown hanging light fixture in your bedroom. I don't know if I would ever hang it up. I might just hold it in my hands with a strange look on my face. I'm sure of one thing: it's Super Fabu, man.

I was looking back over entries that didn't make the final cut. The judges must have had a tough time. I really liked this place too, especially the wall behind the bed. I wish somone would make one for me!

OK, Thom, I love your space. I came to this site and the contest late. I moved from San Francisco to Memphis a year ago and your space made me miss SF (and the friends I met there) so much. Ironically, I even miss my way-over-priced 500-square foot studio at 2000 Post Street (in Japantown). Your place reminds me of my old apartment. By "minimilist" standards, it was "cluttered," but (after a move from a 3,500-square foot home in Ohio) I thought it demonstrated remarkable restraint. Your space is wonderful! I hope you're truly loving and feeling at home in it.