Whether you think he's an icon of modern design or a preposterous one-trick PR pony (we think the truth is somewhere inbetween like all commercialized personalities), it's hard to not at least take a look at what Karim Rashid is up to. This time it's his own digs...a spacious loft done up in a colourful-bubbly pastiche of his own designs (of course!) that will either give you a toothache or bring a smile to your face with it's enthusiastic use of soft pinks, yellows, greens, and oranges...
We think Karim Rashid's loft will still be an interesting interior decades from now. But whether seen as revolutionary or an example of poor taste, we won't gamble in guessing. We're torn between thinking it's a reckless-courageous example of design done to 110% effect, while also feeling the whole place looks like spit out pieces of HubbaBubba bubblegum sitting in a pool of Pepto-Bismol...a hallucinatory hangover of late 90's 3D influenced shapes realized into a real life living space. We guess the whole point is to make you look, and Rashid is almost always successful at that, whether it's his own home or any of the wide range of products he's designed.
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Comments (36)
disaster. foolish. the emperor has no clothes.
i would have a panic attack if i had to spend more than 10 minutes in this loft.
There's a lot of stuff going on in every single room!!
I hate it.
I'm not really a fan of his space, or his design esthetic.
FUGLY.
I can't stand Rashid's work, but I'm actually amazed that he lives like this -- it's like he walks the walk, I guess. I think I'd have a panic attack if I were to visit...
He has mentioned before that he doesn't keep stuff very long and he is constantly changing things in his apartment. Every time I see an article about his place, it is furnished very differently than the previous time. I guess that's how he's able to stand all that craziness; he just changes it when he gets tired of it. (That's a luxury I'd LOVE to have!) There was a Met Home article about his loft a couple of years ago, and it was much more toned down than this mess. I actually thought it looked very cool then. Now...not so much.
Complete hack. Maybe good decor for a Libby Lu's or a Claires in the mall.
I actually like the furnishes, they are all unique, not ugly & and definitely not boring. The walls are too busy though, maybe one or two tones is enough. Am quite surprised that pple are not impressed. Loved it
Ugh. This makes me think of the Nuni and Nooni Schoener skit from SNL.
i don't hate it...except the kitchen. the kitchen is SO ugly!.
but the rest isn't bad at all.
Hmm, I actually kind of like the kitchen. The rest I could leave.
Does Karim minidresses and wedge heels?
oops! I meant: Does Karim *wear* minidresses and wedge heels?
WoW! He certainly elicits strong responses. As you say, the whole point of art is to make you look. In that he is definitely successful. I say, God love 'im. Doesn't offend my senses at all. It's certainly not to my conservative taste, but I love the LR. I would want to know and know more about the person who lives there.
On another note, I'm very pleased to see something, anything creative and original peeking thru the usual barrage of tired variations on the Nelson lamps, Eames chairs, & Flor ruglets. Please continue to show more views from the edge.
I love it. Seriously- there is so much here that makes me smile- The dining room table is amazing. The couches are all spectacular. The colors are crisp, clean, fun and well coordinated. There is a ton of white, clear furniture & natural light which makes the place airy and crisp feeling, despite the irreverent use of color. I love all the sinuous lines and curves to everything.
The only things I don't like are the yellow rug with the brown thing in the middle and maybe that dreary looking painting in the living room.
Extra love for the pink standing lamp in the living room and the neon garbage can in the bathroom.
I think the haters are jealous. Maybe the sum of its parts is too much for them but there are spectacular pieces in this place - you have to admit.
And god bless the talented artists who are "left brained" enough to know how to make a nice living while maintaining their vision.
He's an industrial designer, not an interior designer, so the room concept is not the point with him. I do like his individual designs and they can be used very well in interiors to great effect.His sum total is too much for me as a living space, but I look at this more as a store set up. The apartment was photographed to promote his designs of sofas and chairs, etc.
I don't think the haters are jealous, unless one of us happens to be Hello Kitty.
I'm not at all surprised that he lives in his work, it's quite egotistical and I'd honestly be disappointed to see any other decor in his living quarters.
That being said, it is overload any way you look at it. The pieces may be entertaining and even (dare I say it!) incredibly well-designed, but together they are chaos.
Almost each individual piece, like the white sideboard and green Orgy sofa, can stand on their own. There is no need to jam eight uncomfortable seating options into one area; he should give his guest a seating option that doesn't end with a chiropractor visit.
The bedroom is quite toned down, he could have done much more with that...and I'm thankful he didn't. Although, is he a vampire or something? Most people who actually use a bed for sleep require more padding for their head. Where are the pillows? (I love the throw on the bed!)
If I were to design a fantasy room for my eight-year-old I would pick that desk. It's kind of fun.
The more I examine the rooms, the more I like individual pieces. Altogether, though, I need some comfort from Rashid's muse, Pepto, to settle the curdling in my stomach.
Basically, I like for a room to hang together in some way. Any way. I think these rooms hang together beautifully, and I like something about most everything I've seen him do.
When whimsy informs design, it hopscotches from one side of the line to the other and sometime steps right on it, and I would LOVE to see this place in person.
Really, only HE has to actually live in it the way it is, and I think the real test of his (or anyone's) designs will always be the way they'll get along with other designs, and I think they would and do. I'm kind of surprised he didn't go for wilder kitchen appliances, since they're available, by the way.
too much at once, but some of the individual pieces are great. For example I love the desk - it's fun, smart and looks good. Some of the chairs look great as well.
I would gladly take one or two of the more retrained pieces along with a rug...
I would like to have the desk for my office.
I agree with dandy. Karim Rashid is an industrial designer, which has nothing to do with what an interior designer. I love that he doesn't care about conventional taste and just does what he loves to do. Most of us are so afraid of what other people think that we tend to stick to "normal" decor. And come on, he created the Garbino. He can't be that bad!
Wow, for a moment I thought I am mistakenly looking at a Karim Rashid "Rate My Space" post and the subsequent comments of the ladies who lunch. The man is a successful designer and relentless self-promoter, what is his apartment supposed to look like?
I'm a fan of Kreamy's work, I love is perception of colours, bright green, flashy pink etc.
Maybe it's difficult for lot of people to live in colors but I'm sure I could live in a space created by Karim Rashid.
I dont have lot of big piece of great designers but my walls are green, orange, pink! And it's good for the mood! Try to live in REAL colors and not only in mustard yellow, or blue grey :)
Any time I see a Karim Rashid product I instantly think - WalMart. I just see an overload of plastic. I for one like design that has a more varied tactile approach.
wvchickpea! The Nuni and Nooni reference flashed into my mind as well, although I'm quite relieved that he doesn't have a chair made out of hair!
I want what he is on.
There is a lot going on here, but I can't help but like it. The colors are bright and happy and definitely put a smile on my face. This home looks like a lot of fun to live in.
Is this 60's Barbie's apartment?
To gryt: that's exactly what I was thinking!
When I was little I used to have the Barbie Townhouse...and the photo of the LR reminded me of the curvy, low lounge chairs and couch (Barbie's, not Karim's) that were covered in lime green and pink wavy stripes. They came with the set and it was all so groovy.
This place is like a giant, endless playroom for adults. Not for me, but to each his own.
if i was going to living in a giant, endless playroom for adults, it would be peewee's playhouse, not karim's playhouse.
Perhaps we'll look back in 50 years and celebrate his genius. Right now, not so much!
I love the colors but overall it's just TOO much. It's overwhelming and not inviting to say the least. There's elements in each room that I love but all the other stuff takes away from it...
this is freight-train creativity
I'd rather live in PeeWee's Playhouse...
I just threw up in my mouth a little.
With all the respect... he is truly someone who breathes his work and talent and shows it in his everyday life.... I do love some of the things he's done..
on the other hand... where's life? This place just looks completely dislodged from our real world... no plants, no pets, no partner........ i do think a little spark of natural life could really make his place magic as it is...