when can i move in?

Ellie's dad could be mine too. This is fantastic!

It has a very "retail" look to it. I see everything but the cashier's counter.

I agree with Josh, this looks more like a Mid-Century Modern furniture store rather than a home. It's nice, but a bit cold.

Amazing!

I love that swoopy yellow and wood chair, anyone have any idea on who made that?

have to third Josh's comments. nice place, but perhaps this designer has been spending too much time in showrooms.

Fantastic! Love this! I think this home has a level of sophistication that not everyone would be used to. I don't think it looks retail at all. It looks like great high end taste. I want to hang out in the AJ Egg Chair! With the proper lighting the photos would really pop which I am sure everything does in person. Pictures don't do this place justice.

I think it's sophisticated too. The use of color is superb, as is the use of texture. The owner decluttered before taking pictures. I don't think that should be held against him.

I don't know....I don't think it feels retail, but I don't think it feels so high end "that most people wouldn't be used to seeing it" either. I don't dislike this one...but I can't say I really like it either. I don't really see the 'color' part of it beyond the artwork (which feels very gallery and I think is part of what contributes to the retail impression) ...but the contributer flat out says he needs a break from color... but this is a color contest... I guess I'm confused why this was entered?

COOOOOOL !!!!!!!!!

THE WINNER... i guess

I am glad I'm not the only one that needs creative relief and paints their house in all neutrals.

I don't think this looks retail - I think a number of AT viewers are used to only seeing this style in a retail setting. This is deft and well finished. It reminds me of why white walls came back into fashion in the 80s. Very nice.

So true EAM. Lots of well finished and well styled rooms exist outside of showrooms. Of course, the owner cleaned the place up before the pictures were taken. That's just class. But I can easily see him sprawled out on that couch reading the newspaper on a Sunday morning. Good job. And I am NOT a fan of MCM.

I dunno. The nursery pic didnt look much like a friendly space for little Ellie. I loved the "cover" shot but the rest of the place, not so much.

I love the metal cabinet with the clear glass panels. Does anyone know where you can buy one of these?

That metal cabinet with the glass panels is awesome. I've been looking for one for a while too (or a bookcase like it). What kind of search term would you use to look that up? 'Glass panel bookcase'???

I like this home - seems well edited and inviting.

"What kind of search term would you use to look that up? 'Glass panel bookcase'???"

That's a Barrister Bookcase.

Love the sofa, and the red desk. I'm not sold on the kitchen or dining area, but the rest of the space is pretty much perfect.

It's really impressive. But to me, what stands out about this is the quality of the styling and the photos - they are very clearly professionally done.

And that's perhaps what people are reacting to, in the 'showroom' comments. Not that it's a bad thing, but I think we're just conditioned to seeing more real homes in the AT contests...

I think that the reasons people are calling this home too "retail" are twofold:
First off, a lot of care, expertise, and restraint went into the selection of every single object shown in these photos. This person is a designer. This is what he does, so of course he does it to a tee in his own home. I bet he spends all day shopping around for his clients, and the best of the best of what he finds goes into his own home. The rest of us simply cant spend that much time finding great pieces for our homes.
Secondly, this is a home that requires something that most AT readers don't have much of: MONEY! Everything seen here is actual high end, not just trift store and ikea finds that are designed to simulate high end. I'm not saying one or the other is the "right" way to go, I just think that this home is very much in contrast with the usual AT aesthetic. In this home the driving factor is a sense of style, not an ability to be creative with limited resources.

I personally aspire to a home like this when I'm rearranging my craigslist and ikea furniture. It just... doesn't quite look the same.

I love it! Very eclectic =o)

Wow...again I seem to among the minority of dissenting voices.

I think that, despite having almost every conceivable mid-century iconic piece possible (and more money than god) this place falls short. And I LOVE Modernism.

Overall it feels very random. There aren't many obvious relationships between scale, colors, textures, etc. Look at the dining room. What is the relationship between the chairs, the table, the rug, the lamp, and the shelves? The rug is too small for the table, the chairs are warm and organic - which seems to link in with the copper light, but the table is stark, cold, geometric aluminum. And the shelves seem like an afterthought -not really relating in color or shape to anything else in the room.

White walls aren't the only way to achieve color relief. You can use any number of neutrals - as was done very well in the livingroom shot with the couch and the Birches rug. Applied to the walls soft neutrals will make art pop even more, because it will take it out of the 'white box gallery' feel and make it much more homey and warm.

And I'm not sold that the photos are "professionally" done either. Some are yellowed out, some are over exposed, some under...

What a gorgoeus home. It's obvious the owner has thought carefully about every area of the house.

I've noticed that AT'ers (myself included among them) react in a "nice but negative" way and are generally just turned off by homes whose sense of style was achieved through a big bank balance and privileged resources rather than "work with what you got" creative ingenuity.

We could probably all make our homes look fantastic if we were designers who had access to special resources and had unlimited budgets, but AT is more angled towards those who want to create a warm, stylish, personalized home on a super-small budget. Not all homes fit in with the AT reader aesthetic, even if they are still nicely done, and I think that is where the dissenting voices (again, mine included!) come from with some of these "checkbook" homes that have been entered here. Very nice and certainly stylish...just appeal to a different readership. It's kind of like looking for a Holiday Inn but somehow getting info for The Millenium Hotel in Dubai...nice to look at, but not what we're looking for.

Fancy & beautiful!

i love this place...but uh what are those two grey chairs facing towards? they seem backwards, instead of being close to a wall and facing it shouldnt they be turned around and open to the room... or am i missing something, seems trippy

First of all, thanks to everyone for the comments posted about our home. My partner and I have worked very hard to get it pulled together in time for the arrival of our new baby girl, Elliot. She is three months old and so much fun (...and yes a lot of work too).
Well...where do I begin? I have to say I am a little taken back by some of the comments posted. I understand that by posting pictures of your home (and being a creative person) it is sometimes hard to take criticism. BUT- remember that old saying "before you judge someone, take a walk in his shoes" (or something like that).
We are not "rich" and do not have unlimited resources. We have worked very hard to get what we have. For one, I put myself through art and design school by working three jobs and I lived in a camper trailer while doing it. And, if you look a little closer at the pictures you may notice a few things that are a little less than perfect. We found a lot of the pieces at thrift stores and consignment shops just like a lot of AT readers. And yes garage sales (it is amazing what a little glue, paint, prayers, broken fingers and reupholstery will do to what someone may call a piece of junk with a cheap price tag). Our space may be pulled together a little more edited and more minimalist than AT readers may be use too. I am a very organized person (and have been since childhood when rearranging my sisters barbie clothes by color). I just wanted to show a way that you can have a well edited home with nice pieces (that looks like you spent a lot of money) when you may not have. You cannot see in the photos the chipped base on the tulip table or the stained rug that was discounted or the artichoke lamp that was bought on e-bay that needed major repair or the egg chair that had nasty fabric that I recovered...I can go on but that would be listing almost every single item we have. And finally, it is funny that someone posted that it looks "retail". So ironic because I design retail accessory and apparel stores (I guess I take my work home with me :-) ).
Thanks again for the comments. They are very fun to read!

Ellie's dad (aka Patrick)

Patrick, don't feel like you need to defend yourself :) Everyone likes something a little different. I posted my space on HGTV's Rate My Space and got slammed because they love the highly stylized, professionally done, architecturally impressive homes and mine is far from that...I posted here (with a lot of trepidation!) and actually got some credit, lol! I pouted for a minute when HGTV had nothing nice to say and then said "Well, *I* like it!" and didn't even bother with trying to convince them that they should, too. My guests have had every reaction from squinching up their face in disgust to running around checking everything out and taking mental notes. You just gotta shrug and carry on..as long as you love your space, thats all that is really important :)

Patrick, It is not my habit to get into dialogue but in this instance I feel a strong urge. I repeat, I really do believe that AT viewers are simply NOT used to seeing such a sleek style outside of a showroom and many have assumed that you sort of cheated by having a limitless budget. (Not a sin - just not relevant to AT devotees.)
Perhaps AT staff should slightly alter the criteria for future competitions in a way that makes it obvious that entrants really are working on strict budgets.
I am am an avid collector of all sorts of genres of 'stuff' from thrift stores, flea markets and sidewalk freebees. Because I spent quite a substantial amount of money on my couch (bought in a sale) and armchair, everyone assumes that I have paid out big bucks to decorate my house. In fact, it happens that I am VERY frugal and I edit ruthlessly.
Much as I love MCM, I think AT viewers are getting a bit bogged down with it. There are SO many ways to enjoy interiors. I particularly enjoy the seaside shacks, the Berkeley punk abodes, the homes of artists, and the eccentric collectors' houses just as much as I have enjoyed peeking into yours. I am sorry that you felt that you had to explain yourself, and I hope that you can forgive and allow us a full tour at another time.

I don't get this comment about "retail". These pictures have enough personal touches to make them unique. What do you expect to see laundry hampers and clothes on the floor??? There's nothing wrong in investing into timeless pieces as long as they fit people's aesthetics. For me, it boils down to taste. And this family definitely has it done tastefully. Where do I vote? This entry is a winner :) I also would looooove to see more of this house.

honestly, nicely done on most finishes and furnishings, but I'm a little taken aback by the "taste" level on the art.... celebrity portraiture? Coffee cup and pizza art in the dining room? Eeeeesh, sorry.

Patrick,
If AT stands for anything, it's to 'Be Yourself'. I think some people here haven't taken that to heart when posting comments. It takes all kinds, folks. While some may have more resources, they may lack creativity and style. Others may have a tiny budget but can really turn up the creativity. You've achieved a balance of livable modernism. I, for one, do enjoy it.

It really just comes down to personal aesthetics and taste. If you like it, you like it. If not, then it's not the end of the world, people. Appreciate the diversity of entrants!

It's a beautiful place. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Be proud of your crafty, selective nature. If only every DIY I've seen could be so well executed. I will have to go on a shopping trip with you and learn your ways. :)
Much love,

(But remember...this is a contest...not all comments can be love, love, love for every home posted or we'd never get through the brackets...while I'm sure many of us appreciate the home..there are others we like more for this particular contest...it's just the nature of the beast)

In other words, don't take it personally :)

LOVE this!

I think this hits so many of the right notes for me. I love how shapes of various things are echoed back and forth in surprising ways, and I love the scale and everything. I do realize that things can be made to look expensive without actually being costly if they're put together just right. And yes, sometimes you have to splurge on one or two fo the right things to make it sing like you want to.

This really has a lot to be said for it, and it really makes me happy. Thanks for sharing this amazing place with us.

Hello matchjames.

The artwork (pizza, coffee cup, and "big Louie" in the room with the black, white, & orange pillow) are from Artist Burton Morris. You should look him up. He has done some really amazing things in the pop art scene.

The 6 pieces on the wall are my partners "rat pack" & "mob wall". He loves Sinatra & the mob movies, so this was his addition to our home.

As you know in design (especially when combining two peoples styles, it is about compromise)
:-)
He loves pop art & I love more abstract pieces. So our home is a mixture of the two.

Thanks for sharing :-)
patrick

Nice.

I'm all for self deprecation...but please..... One doesnt just 'find' a Poulsen Artichoke Lamp, a Wegner Shell chair, a Jacobsen Egg chair, and an entire matched set of Eames DCMs at a yard sale. And yes, we saw the Eames Elephant as well. None of which should be held against you - but please... if you've got it -own it.

My comments were about the space - not the money that went into it. And looking again 3 days later it still feels random. A lot of potential, but it needs to be edited and arranged in a way that makes sense. Putting a larger rug under the dining table would help anchor that area.

The 4th and the last picture show that there are some areas that are very good and strong. What works in those needs to be brought around the rest of the house.

This is a little stark for me. I'm not much for the modern look, but I really like the art that you've chosen.

Modfan, your posts contradict one another -
"I think that, despite having almost every conceivable mid-century iconic piece possible (and more money than god) ". Then saying, "My comments were about the space - not the money that went into it. "

The tone of your other comment also reads as petty and, dare I say it, jealous.
"I'm all for self deprecation...but please..... One doesnt just 'find' a Poulsen Artichoke Lamp, a Wegner Shell chair, a Jacobsen Egg chair, and an entire matched set of Eames DCMs at a yard sale. And yes, we saw the Eames Elephant as well. None of which should be held against you"

It seems you and many others are doing exactly that.

Baby blue again, was there a sale on baby blue paint and nobody told me?

baby blue?

GG you need to adjust your monitor..I don't see any baby blue here.

shooz..don't get it twisted.

Why are other readers attacking other readers and their opinions? We're entitled not to like it...it's a contest...it's not personal. I fully expected my place to get slammed when I entered it, and wouldn't have attacked anyone for having a less-than-glowing opinion the way some readers are doing. I think the worst is when someone says they don't like it, but they don't say why...at least posters are saying why.. If one person says they don't like it, but you do, then balance their "I dont like it and this is why" comment with an "I like it and this is why" comment, but don't disparage the "don't like it" crowd as somehow being less intellectual than you...

Well Hula, if thats what you got out of my posts I think you should have your reading comprehension skills evaluated. Let me recap in short, easy to read sentences:

I like a lot of what's going on in the space. But I dont think it works in its entirety - despite having a lot of strong pieces. Some of those pieces cost a lot of money and that's okay. Simply having the pieces doesnt equate to a well designed space. Some small changes and a slightly stronger color on the walls would make the space much better.

It's a critique, not a criticism. I'm envious only of the Wegner chair. And the white coral. So pure and clean!

love it!

A lot to like in here, but is the idea like a coral "Where's Waldo"?

It looks nice, a bit over done by far. The bookshelf in the kid's room has a lot of sharp edges. It doesnt look like a very safe room for a child. The kitchen doesnt look usable with all the stuff on the counters. The child is only 3 months, i am sure the look will change greatly as she starts to move around and injure herself on all the sharp corners.

Patrick-

I don't know if you design mid-century modern environments for a living or understand the concept of fall colors for this is just horrid. This color scheme reminds me of moist colors in my worst nightmares with being attacked by leprechaun's and eskimos over cookie treats.

J/K.... don't worry to what the others say for this is awesome!!!

I think the animal skin rug under the table is way too small and I get grossed out by the thought of a baby crawling on it! I dont know where people get that this place is minimalistic when it seems every inch has something piled on top of it. Parts of it look like a thrift store display where anything goes.

I am bothered by the kid's room. It looks like all the toys are wooden with sharp edges and totally unsafe! I dont see anything in that room that wouldnt poke an eye out or choke a child. Is this a practical room or just for show? This guy seems to just throw things in without thinking it all the way through. Totally unsafe house for a kid!

It also looks like he wants every piece of iconic mid-century items in this place. Seems a bit overkill and doesnt make any one thing stand out as special.

I wouldnt want him to decorate for me. Or babysit my kids either for that matter!

Must have been a sale on corral pieces somewhere, its in every room almost! Fake plants and leaves are tacky.

I do like the gangster pictures though in the first pic. They stand alone and make that room with the simple bench under it. I would be afraid my kids would stand on the bench though and knock them off the wall. Ellie should be kept away!

I LOVE IT! It looks sooooooo like a place I have seen before, very Vinatge Modern! Great details!