Name: Misako and Doug
Location: Upper West Side — New York, New York
Size: 850 square feet
Years lived in: 3 — owned
Misako is a Canadian born designer who designs custom stationery and paper goods. She has a background in Architecture and Landscape Architecture, which pretty much means she's got the skills to pull any kind of space together. Her apartment is a lot like her stationery — unique; with a creative mix of mediums resulting in really beautiful, elegant, well-crafted work. Doug works in commercial real estate. That, of course, means that he listens to Misako when it comes to design aesthetics. I'd say it was a perfect match!
Their home is a generously sized one bedroom, prewar deco co-op with arched doorways, original fixtures, ironwork and gorgeous casement windows. Their style is mix of uptown and downtown, possibly because they started dating while living in Greenwich Village and Soho, but for the past four years have been uptown on the Upper West Side. Their apartment feels classic but relaxed with contemporary touches curated by Misako and Doug.
Misako is also an avid baker and cook. In the kitchen, she is constantly testing and inventing new dishes for dinner parties attended by lucky friends and a semi-regular knitting circle. The home functions beautifully for parties with a hidden galley "cook's" kitchen with tons of counter space, yet maintains a great flow to the open plan living area. The apartment gets tons of natural light via the beautiful windows that occupy most of their northern wall, with views to a classic scene of New York City rooftops and lots of sky. Though they love their home, the apartment is on the market as the couple is in need of a larger space.
Resources of Note:
KITCHEN
- • The kitchen is outfitted with a dishwasher, microwave, convection oven and refrigerator - all stainless steel GE Profile...mvp's: le creuset dutch oven+ 12" all -clad stainless steel pan and the a/c in the summer
BEDROOM
- • Custom made shelving unit made by Misako's uncle as a wedding gift for the happy couple. (Its frame and supports are welded steel, and clad in cherry wood)
FAVORITE PIECE
- • Eames Lounge chair!...best seat in the house
FAVORITE RESOURCE
- • A combination of design shops, flea markets and Doug's mom, Ellen Neye, curator for The Gathering Place, a non-profit benefitting the a cancer center in Cleveland, Ohio. Our most prized items are gifts from family and friends
ARTWORK
- • The author of this article, Gregory Sparks! We also love our Keith Haring.
Thanks, Misako and Doug!
Images: Gregory Sparks
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Nice place, lots of cool pieces. I really like the layout ; the two levels and the railing is cool. I wish I had a step or two in my home ... maybe one day!
Okay, that fish is AWESOME.
LOVE and want that Batman poster!
Love the fish!
Their style is mix of uptown and downtown, possibly because they started dating while living in Greenwich Village and Soho, but for the past four years have been uptown on the Upper West Side.
... what does that mean, exactly?
Picture 30 is a perfect example on how pedestal sinks are nice but not very practical. Notice the cleaning products on the floor.
I LOVE the tall red and orange striped vase! I wonder where it's from?
Fabulous! Love, love, love the use of space and design. Love the knitting as well.
cozy!
I absolutely adore the fish painting. If anyone has the contact info for the artist please let me know.
Amazing art.
Loved the order at your study nook.
color-filled,yet neat.
And those sea scapes.
The knitting is pretty impressive...what exactly is that stone thing next to the books?Are those diyas, Indian style?
:)
there is no "there" there. What IS this? I see brown sofas, white walls, bookcase clutter and a melted candle.
I agree with medusa...There are some nice pieces, but arrangement is hit or miss. The yarn table in the bedroom is nicely arranged, with the lovely photos above but then there's that awful brown armoire right next to it.
The bed needs a headboard. Possibly in a contrasting color/texture. The fish painting is bold, but the table beneath is cluttered and detracts from it popping. IMO it should be a focal point but the eye gets distracted.
That said I really love their stuff, just wished for more creative arrangement.
Please hang the fish painting a little higher so that it clears the assemblage of stuff under it.
@ Katie Marie, I believe the fish is a work by Gregory Sparks who is cited as the author of the house tour and noted as one of the artists. Search "Gregory Sparks Art"
OOOH! I had that exact Mikasa teapot and Tivoli stereo before I moved here! (Teapot went to to a new home via ebay, and stereo is in storage - miss both!!) Cute place, generously sized NY apartment, love the windows, and the office nook. Good luck with the sale, guys!
can I please get a link or something to Gregory Sparks' work?
thanks!
Wow, another post I made--deleted. I said (yesterday, or the day before) that I thought the space was amazing but the decor was studenty and unsophisticated. Sorry--it is, despite the fabulous fish painting. What has happened to the AT we used to have, where people could state their points of view without their comments being taken down?
I love the fish and the photos over the table with the "knitting equipment"!!
Definitely some nice things to look at, though I agree with some of the previous posts, some spaces feel cluttered. The kitchen calls out "recently remodeled" and doesn't really feel lived in.. Where is their design aesthetic revealed in the kitchen? Would have liked to see some of the character of the couple there too.. the wall across from the sink just seems big and bare.
Whereas I absolutely love this space...partly *because* not everything matches. There is nothing trendy here, nothing that screams to me "bought just to look good." The couch looks, dare I say it...inviting.
I like the eye candy of the places that are perfect in every way, but they are rarely inspiring for my own home. This place is! Particularly the way that she's got her yarn arranged AS decoration; I never would have thought of that; my goal is usually just to get it out of sight.
Hm, nothing really special about this one.... the design is all over the place. The apartment has nice kicks in walls and ceilings though; I would use it somehow... there are so many ways....
www.interiordesignarts.com - for ideas.
i agree with Mishka
Love the casement windows.
Thanks for sharing your home.... I agree with all that the fish rocks, but also feel that it would be better suited to a different wall -- perhaps above the sofa. Some of the artwork, which is great, should be moved so that the size correlates with the space in which it is shown. Also, the wall color doesn't seem to do your lovely place justice. Thanks again for sharing...
I agree with Ginger and RunsWithScissors. You are on your way to a great place though. I would definitely play up that entry-way lofty thing. I'd get rid of the small shelves and country bench. A glossy black round table with fresh flowers on top in the center of the room with the fish painting on the wall instead of the three barely visible art pieces would look gorgeous! Perhaps a club chair (or two) can be placed in the corner(s).
You have some beautiful pieces but it's visually confusing when they are next to each other with no space between. For example, the buffet looks gorgeous with the dining table, but it's skewed to the right and placed next to a darker wood side table.
I also agree that there is too much "stuff"; pare down a bit, and you have yourself a place to really show off!
Gorgeous apartment. I'm currently looking for an apartment in NYC and this reminds me of an apartment I saw at The Claridge's through Manhattan Skyline. They've got some great apartments all throughout Manhattan, I highly recommend them. NYC No Fee Apartment Rentals from Manhattan Skyline
How much is the fish :)
Def, the master piece
I love this whole space, particularly the knitting shelf and photo wall about it.
Blah, meant the photo wall above it, not "about". :)
We really love the utilization of space in this Upper West Side apartment. The decorating looks great. We think it's beautiful.
OK - I LOVE Apartment Therapy and the internet. I was enjoying browsing through a few articles and came upon this one. I love the fish painting! So much so that I have been working on a very similar series for over the past eight years! HAH! TAke a look at PatrickMarston.com to see what I'm talking about! Great minds think alike!
@CITYGIRLSF, @JACKS_MAMA, @KATIE MARIE, @BETH PERRY, @RUNSWITHSCISSORS, @ALEX FROM ATHENS-BSAS, @GINGER PEACH, @gregorys
I LOVE Gregory Sparks work! I found this: http://www.artreview.com/photo/photo/listForContributor?screenName=3hysspwt4asdg
I read this AP article, then quickly added a comment. Then, after reading the list of comments, I saw that there were many that enjoyed the fish art. If great minds think alike, then Gregory Sparks is amazing. Turns out that his BEAUTIFUL painting in this article very much resemble the work that I have been creating over the last eight years. Take a look at www.PatrickMarston.com. LOVE IT!