Uhm, yeah, no. Dead plants and peeling posters, not the kind of pride of home I can get behind, a lot of potential though.

"dirtbag chic" - I love it!

The phrase that is, not the space. The space looks like my guy friends from college live there - which isn't inherently a bad thing, just not my speed these days.

All together, it just looks really, really messy, but I like certain individual elements. The wall of guitars - envy. The delightful cat - love. That old brown table with all the (albeit dying) plants? Awesome.

What I see is an apartment where some very focused musicians live. You know what you want, and you have your priorities straight in order to achieve that. While I admit to favoring more creature comforts, I am very familiar with spaces such as this and the work (and fun) that goes on in them. Congrats.

I think it is sweet. It looks like good people live here. Nice boy energy.

No hipsters in the neighborhood? It looks like there might be at least three... ;) I do dig the space, though. I wish I had that much freedom with my rental!

While it is interesting to see how all different kinds of people live, I'm not really sure what we are supposed to glean from this tour.

Fantastic. Gives new meaning to the phrase "living your dream".
Congratulations, boys, that is one fully realized chick magnet!

the guitars are awesome (great way to display!) and some of the office furniture looks super cool (that wood table and chairs-divine). The last pic though looks like a dorm room. It's definitely a man cave!

You guys should DEF feature this one in the next AT book. SO INSPIRATIONAL.

This is by far the most interesting HT I've seen on AT. It's so not the typical tour, and I completely understand why it frustrates others.

My favorite thing throughout this whole tour is the cat! =) seriously.. the cat.

If it weren't for the obligatory Eames Shell Chair and cat, it might not have otherwise made the cut...

i dig the weapon wall!

This was by far one of my favorite house tours ever. My house isn't in the same vein design wise, but I can fully appreciate the dirtbag chic vibe they have going on. Also, the survey bit was *actually* entertaining. Ribs through bulletproof glass!!

I'm not familiar with the location, but I hope their 'hood is not on the cusp of gentrification. That'd be a shame.

It's nice seeing something as offbeat as this at this website. Dog knows there's enough naked capitalism in the house tours here to last a lifetime.

Good job on the weapon wall. :-)

Um. I kinda want to clean the place. But I love the kitty!

This is a refreshing change. No Eames chairs, either. :)

Although it's not really my style, I find this place very charming and cozy. Plus, the beautiful cat adds so much to the charm!!

maybe not Dwell but definitely World of Interiors.

Both pleased and surprised to see something like this on AT. Possibly needs a slightly different approach to photography than the usual AT look though.

Been there, done that.

It's so refreshing to see something different for AT. Not everyone is OCD, neat freak, clean and tidy. =) Love the style name "Dirt Bag Chic" made me giggle.

Lived like this for five+ years. Now my basement just looks like this (the same biggest indulgence to this day, though). Love it, and love that Smith chose to do this!

Am I the only one worried about the lamp cord next to the stove?

Then again, I'm wondering how much cooking is going on in that kitchen...maybe it's not such a concern.

Love, love, LOVE Snake Lady!

I like the efficient use of space, and how much they are able to fit into 800 SF. It's compact but seems cozy and functional. Looks like fun!

"Oooooooh I bet the folks at AT are shaking in their boots!!!"

Considering AT earns dollars thru by advertising - and among the metrics that contribute to the formula of internet advertising pricing is "Site Stickiness" - and registered commenters are far more likely to spend more time on the site than unregistered viewers - Yes, it's a valid comment.

one more thing- this belongs on The Selby!!

oh thx, I was wondering how to hang my weapons. I couldn't find anything on Martha's site.

There's a lot going on in this place...most of which looks like a potential electrical fire.

"What I see is an apartment where some very focused musicians live." said home body. I am a very focused professional musician. NEVER lived like that, never will, I don't care how bad the music world suffers in this economy. But, whatever. Its a look.

the over the top negative comments are seriously making me laugh. get over yourselves....not every single home that is to be considered interesting enough to post on this website has to look identically sleek and modern.

rock on....unique and fun home!

If you can't say something at all don't say anything at all.

Ergo, "____________________________."

Perfectly wonderful starving musician space. Caring more about making music than about making a decor statement is a valid life choice, and I love that you're doing that!

The funny thing about the "chick magnet" comment is that it probably IS! We tend to think we can clean up and "fix" perfectly happy slobby guys...when there is no real need to fix that.

I like the musician's girlfriend who makes room in her life for her mate's man cave in its true non-designer form, while the boyfriend makes room for whatever her taste in home decor is.

Life is messy. Not everything has to be photo ready

rock on

The wall of weapons looks a little "serial killer chic" to me

"Caring more about making music than about making a decor statement is a valid life choice"

But its a Very Poor choice for a blog that's all about improving one's life through creative home decor...

I see Horn speakers!

Wow, I'm seeing some "criticism" that has NOTHING to do with the article here at all... Now that's the kind of unnecessary flame-bait that needs deletion.

Flamewar aside, I love this place. It actually feels LIVED in, a cozy nest of creativity, unlike some other picture-perfect tours on here. And that cat clearly has attitude. :) Though the occupants must be tall to have their microwave over the refrigerator... I wouldn't even be able to reach it!

I think AT has been punked.

Dirtbag chic (such a cool title) would have debuted so much better if the photos had been edited down to about a handful of photos.
I'll bet though that it's a great space in the flesh and complete with sound effects.
And I'll bet that Snake Lady is allowed outdoors...
Thanks for sharing.

The guitar wall is a great idea - storing instruments is such a challenge. Don't like the weapon wall, though. Snake Lady is gorgeous!

While I can appreciate this is a musician's space, I don't get the LED rope light and menacing kitchen area. One tip, Andy Warhol covered his studio in tin foil, and the Velvet Underground looked great playing there.
Love the kitty cat though!

I love it! It is the antidote to HGTV homes we are supposed to desire and it is REAL. Give me this over Karim Rashid's pink floors and antiseptic rooms where I think any human activity is totally frowned upon.

I really like the mezzanine studio/closet. Has AT done a feature yet on mezzanine spaces? If so, where can I find it?

I like the cat.

I have to admit, when I was a bit (actually, a lot) younger, this place *definitely* would have magnetized this chick. I get it.

Whoa, really? AT deleted my post? C'mon, grow up.

Someone at AT is being a touch over-sensitive when it comes to deleting comments for this post.

Right now on this page, I see 49 comments, but when you scroll through the main site, you can see that there have actually been 84 comments.

I simply refuse to believe 35 comments have been so rude or inflammatory that they needed the heave-ho -- in part because my comment on this article was deleted.

What was my comment? "Where have all the comments I agree with been going?"

Please, AT readers and editors, tell me what about that question:
1. Was dishonest and unfair, and ungracious.
2. An ad hominem attack or gratuitous meanness.
3. Off topic.
4. Taking away value.

@AcidBubble, what was your comment that got deleted?

I basically said that I really didn't see how this post would be valuable because I look at this site to garner ideas for use in my own home and I really couldn't take anything away from this house tour and that it really isn't the caliber of tours we are used to (maybe it's because I said I felt like I needed a hazmat suit just to look at the tour?). And, my father is a very dedicated musician and you can be focused on music and not have... a pig sty. Hmm, people at AT are very sensitive I guess. But allowing comments (and having a tour such as this) you should be allowed to criticize if the points are on topic and I feel mine were.

This just reminds me of an apartment a bunch of guys lived in during college. When all the female friends would try to spruce it up with plants (that always died, of course) and lights.

What an odd tour for AT?

akay and acidbubble, mine got deleted, too. I don't remember everything I wrote, but I bet it was because I was critical of both their space and their music.

I guess I could see how that could be considered an attack, BUT only if they were amateurs or something. They're professional musicians whose work is regularly critiqued all over the internets. And you know what? They're getting pretty decent reviews out there, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm unimpressed with their new album and unimpressed with their house tour. Why am I not allowed to say that?

Actually, even if they were amateurs, I see a double standard going on here. When people regularly post their amateur DIY efforts on this site, I don't think that half of the negative feedback usually gets deleted. I feel like there's some sort of defensive mentality that the negative commenters are all typing away while lounging in their Eames chairs from their spacious penthouse condos or something. This isn't about elitism, MY place is a mess, MY houseplant is dead! That's why it has no business getting posted here

I do not have a spacious penthouse AT ALL. Haha. I live in an empty two bedroom apartment in Virginia Beach with my new husband and all of our belongings in the apartment fit into the back of a PT Cruiser all the way from Arizona. No elitism here.

The way I view house tours and posts is that I put myself in the picture, I try to imagine how being in such a space would make me feel and I'm trying to replicate some ideas in my own space. When I put myself in these pictures I want to take a shower and I didn't find it inspiring at all. I don't see how this apartment is [therapeutic].

Black kitties are the best !!! And it's refreshing to see a totally different type of home, for once...

I think a lot of the negative comments are either from people who look forward to moving on from this stage in their lives, or people who remember this stage in their lives--without fondness.

But I totally disagree that this home doesn't belong on AT. If AT's mission is to help make peoples' homes beautiful, organized, and healthy, then I have no issue with this place. (Okay, maybe the plants need some water.) Yes, it's filled to the brim with instruments, but these guys are musicians. (Okay, and some weapons.) I also see computers, clothes, bikes, olive oil. This is all useful stuff. I don't see that's it's disorganized, or unhealthy, or dirty. It's just....... a "look." Maybe not *your* look, but definitely a look.

I just think that people need to be open minded and realize that not everyone chooses to live the same way. There are definitely ideas to steal in this layout. How about that awesome, cool bench against the wall? I love that funky mix of pillows. And that old photo-forest? With the semi-dead plants? Maybe it's just me, but I'm definitely diggin' it. And that kitchen? With that counter and bar stools? I'm sorry, but I'd like to incorporate a bit of this free spiritedness into *my* adult life!

Sometimes tours are just meant to be fun. This certainly was. Thanks AT, I enjoy the variety.

I agree, I think AT got punked on this one. Somewhere, someone is having a really good laugh that this ever made it to the site.

I don't mean to say that everyone has to live the same way. What I mean is that I hardly see the place as a "style." To me, it looks like a bunch of stuff thrown together by some guys that don't really care about their home having a "look."

And I don't mean to be rude but I cannot see the design merit or ingenuity of putting some bar stools at a counter.

In my disappeared comment I just said that it was awful.

I love it!! And I love the fact that it's not a big fat show-off of the same old design cliches and status symbols that many house tours are, but a look into a real, functional space belonging to people who put emphasis on function over form. That itself is inspiring!
I absolutely love seeing photos of people's art studios, and this is the musical equivalent :)

AcidBubble -
AP isn't JUST about showcasing "looks" or "style", even if that's all you like to take from it personally.
Though this post may not be valuable or useful to you, consider that it is very much appreciated by others who frequent this site for different reasons - if you don't like it, feel free to ignore it and wait for one that does inspire you, but please! Why spend time and energy being negative?
There's no need for mean-spirited and rude comments - saying the place makes you want to take a shower is just plain rude - shabbiness, DIY, clutter and cables don't equal filthy.

I agree with @wormy: it was a nice change of pace, and I agree with those who liked the musical aspect of the space. I know a lot of musicians who would love to see the way the recorded gear is tucked away and who would love to copy the guitar wall.

Sure, it's not the home of people who have private designers. I guess the question is whether or not AT is only for those who have breathtaking homes because they are wealthy or super-creative. On the one hand, shouldn't this be a blog that's inspiring, something to look up to? But on the other, shouldn't we look at the way the other half lives, too, and let the not-so-wealthy and young show their homes? Both sides have good points.

Ultimately, I come down on keeping all sorts of homes for the sake of variety. Even the negative comments are clarifying our values about what our spaces should be and do (so long as they're not deliberately mean-spirited). As long as we keep our attention on the SPACE ITSELF and not on judgments about the inhabitants or the designers, critique shouldn't be banned.

Sorry, "recording gear."

Very lived in! I think someone just pulled AT's leg a little.........Love it ;)

I thought the point of AT was to inspire?

And, to be honest, this place did inspire me because my husband is into music, so I thought the mezzanine closet/studio was a great idea, and the guitar wall.

I think even though the execution lacks somewhat, and most people would do things differently, we should all appreciate the ideas.

"home body", who is among the first comments, said it better than I could have. The place definitely looks inhabited by people who have a passion.

I'm always trying to make my place look like I'm doing something besides eating and watching television, but I only succeed at making pretty.

the snobbery on Apartment Therapy never ceases to amaze me.