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Name: Marsha and Javier
Location: East Village, Manhattan
Size: 850 sqft. one bedroom co-op.
Years Lived In: 21

Six years ago, Marsha and Javier met on a Greyhound bus, each on route to respective Thanksgiving festivities. Recently, they've merged their lives along with their belongings in Marsha's sturdy and generously sized one-bedroom apartment.

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Marsha and Javier decided to not only rearrange all the furniture, and incorporate an office and bookshelves for Javier, but to do a gut renovation of the bathroom and kitchen. In an unusual twist of fate, they managed to find a contractor who was not only reliable, but who went shopping for materials with Marsha and Javier, and who made many aesthetic choices in their absence.

Marsha, a prominent dermatologist and Javier, a computer programmer have an array talents and hobbies outside their profession — a somewhat rare phenomenon in work obsessed New York City. In addition to excelling at their jobs, Marsha and Javier find time to make pottery and amass art. Marsha who is currently writing her first play, has been collecting art since she moved into the apartment over two decades ago. Their collection is aggressive — the pieces are often thought provoking and hard to miss.

Living life to its fullest is a constant theme among Marsha and Javier. The apartment they have created together sends that message in every corner, on every surface, and under every pillow. It is a beautiful space, full of arresting art. The furniture, having been moved in from the perimeter of the living room, is not static. The apartment seems to be in motion and ripe with enthusiasm just like Javier and Marsha. Inspiring!

Apartment Therapy Survey

Style: Mix of mid-century and contemporary

Inspiration: The apartment was originally Marsha's. We wanted to make it Javier's too by creating a personal work and storage space and redesigning the rest of the apartment together.

Favorite Element: Leathered granite countertop

Biggest Challenge: Biggest resolved challenge — our living room is divided by a hallway which separates it into two awkward spaces. By rearranging the existing furniture and removing exposed wires, we were able to create a unified space. Biggest unresolved challenge — clutter.

What Friends Say: They think the apartment looks bigger.

Biggest Embarrassment: Clutter

Proudest DIY: Painting the entrance hallway with 4 layers of shiny gold paint and the hallway with 6 layers of silver paint.

Biggest Indulgence: Long term — the art on the walls. Short term — the Toto toilet.

Best Advice: Follow your own ideas and don't be limited by convention.

Dream Source: Buddy Schussel of Cubiculum Home. He was our contractor and also our designer.

Resources:

LIVING ROOM

    • Couch: Cassina
    • Rug: ABC carpets
    • Roger Capron table: Geridon
    • Secretary: Alan Moss
    • Desk: Desiron
    • Spun lamp: Design within Reach
    • Barcelona chair: Design within Reach
    • Bookshelves: Desiron

BEDROOM

    • Female shaped floor rug: Kathy Ruttenberg

BATHROOM

    • Subway tile: Dal Tile
    • Floor tile: Dal Tile

Images: Jill Slater

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