apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Wow, what an incredible, exquisite apartment. You've done an amazing job with it.(Though I must say, I did find the bedroom a little, um, unnerving....) Sorry you don't qualify for the contest, because you'd be a real contender.

WOW this is an A-MAZING apartment...I can't even really describe what I like because it all just leaves me gaping. =D

However, I will attempt..
Everything. I love everything. The furniture works so very well- even the antique colored sconces and chandelier look GREAT with the green/black&white modern/vintage theme. The color is great- it put a smile on my face when I saw it. I want to go sit in that alcove by the window...it looks so comfy. You say you went for a mix of stuff- but you really managed to pull together a look.

Who is the artist of the black and white art above the TV area and chair? It's interesting.

And those speakers next to the tv- where did you get those? I've seen silver ones just like them and have always wondered where they come from!

Wondering what your bathroom and kitchen look like though....more pics please?

Too bad this is too big for the contest! It would have EASILY been in my top 3.

Fantastic!

Marlon -- I have the same cube chair and table, also purchased secondhand.

Can you please share your refinishing/upholstering tips or your sources?

I'd love to get them as pristine as yours!

Oooh - the wall color is strikingly similar to the infamous Fresh Melon Green discussed on AT in January/February. It's soothing to me (I painted my foyer that color!) but not so much to others.

You showed lots of discipline and consistency, Marlon... I dig this. Big green kudos to you!

Hi. I'm actually in this contest. My apt. is #17. This is the first post I've put in so far for anyone. And for good reason. You would be the winner hands down if you were eligible. I love your place with a passion.

If you check out some of the posts on my place, you'll see that a lot of people said they like my place because it does not look like a catalog. That was the one thing I feared and I'm happy people picked up on it.

Your place sets the bar. It does exactly what I wanted to do with my place and what I will continue to do with my space but in a different way. It's personal. No one can copy it. You can't just go to a store and buy that stuff. You made it happen. That was the point of my fish tank in the wall. I wanted something that truly separates it from the norm. You have dozens of things that separates your place!!! I'm astounded.

It looks nothing like anything I've ever seen in my life. Yours is the only one that made me write. It truly surprised me. Congrats. I envy your place.

Thanks to Apartmenttherapy for posting this masterpiece.

Cool - hardly anything I would have done but I like the look. Love the lower section of the cabinets, especially the doors and the plinth. You made an excellent choice with the Panasonic plasma (usually ppl who are into style pick Sony because of their rep but they were always behind when it came to plasma and panasonic have everyone else beat - anyone else want to know why they can emial me) but I would remove the carrying handles to complete the look and perhaps hang it on the wall so that, with the removal of the base, it looks like it floats just above the cabinet. I also like the mix of the more traditional lighting with the modernist decor.

Finally I thought you had your (colorful) y-fronts all neatly hanging on special hangers in your wardrobe then I realized they were your hats.

I'm in the contest too, #23, and I don't love your apartment at all.

I do like your use of color... Very seductive.

But the place does not feel... comfortable. It doesn't look like it would feel like a home... It has a formality to it that doesn't say "sit back and relax".

And this "second-hand" stuff is a crock. You must have an inside connection to the items you got second hand, or you did some kind of a trade, or you have extremely wealthy, restless friends who change their decor on a weekly basis and have nowhere to put the old stuff. Your furnishings are gloriously expensive, from places like Dune and the Conran Shop. They certainly didn't come from Housing Works or Craigslist.

Just what exactly does "second-hand" mean? Yesterday's golden handcuffs that was put together "on a certain budget" left me feeling the same way... like there was something being hidden from us.

Now THIS is a swinging bachelor pad, 2005 STYLE. The nuns, hilarious. The way the speakers relate to the Bibendum/Michelin man collectibles, inspired.

Okay, the gun/knife art over the bed scares me, but other than that...

OMG patrick... the nuns are God awful...

i'll have to say, while painfully perfect and pristine, this apt isn't one of my favorites. it shows a clear knowledge of all sorts of interior design principles, but it's a bit too designed for my taste. maybe it's the louis vuitton scratch tables, but something about it feels very "label"-y. it's just a little too "done" for my taste. i don't know how to describe it, it just feels too perfect and too arranged, i mean, where is all the real stuff?

of course it'd be a finalist for most anyone, but i don't think i would have voted for it, because it feels a little too perfect for me.

but that chandy is FABULOUS. and bravo on the guts it took to pick that green. i applaud people who aren't afraid of color.

d*s

Great place! Love all the Kaws. And your bedroom is very Matthew Barney.

I also have the same Steelcase sofa and chair (who knew there were so many of them), purchased for cheap from the Internet company I was working for when it went belly-up. I've been thinking of restoring them, but didn't know how. Did you just do the upholstery, or did you do work on the fiberglass as well?

Amen, sister.

Sister design*sponge, that is.

Paul-- Nuns. Yes, awful but totally hilarious. Just like the ones I had in schoo;! ;)

d*s-- I find it totaly ironic that you would call anything "over designed", just because of the nature of your own blog, which is all about celebrating things that are "designed." And, to your question "where is all the real stuff?" Er, um, closet, shelves, bookcases, on the walls...

Dayum Paul

ps, d*s-- I DO get where you're coming from on this one...

I had the same thought - the place looked *too* done and therefore uncomfortable. Like the coffee/side tables, for instance. Funny sculptures, but where do you plonk newspapers and coffee cups and other table debris? And the colour scheme seemed a bit overwhelming. Someone obsessive like me would worry about not matching the chair I'm sitting in.

That said, it looks very, very beautiful as a display room, and I love the aerodynamic furniture combined with a frilly chandelier.

I liked the bedroom art, too, though I felt it begged for a pair of white handcuffs.

The question I have is what is the purpose of the space? The answer impacts my opinion of it. If Marlon is a frequent host of parties/gatherings, I think his green room is wonderfully effective. Indeed, it looks like a bar/lounge I would like to go to. Marlon's prominently displayed turntables indicates that this might be the case.

Overall, I think this was a very effective implementation of his design goals. It's bold, clean, and only slightly too self-conscious (i.e., it errs a littl too far into the area of being "created" as opposed to organically developing; the latter being my personal preference). I think this would be one of the top 3 entrants in this competition if it were eligible.

However, as a place to _live_, I think it's less successful; while I like going to bar/lounges, I wouldn't want to live in one. The bold and stark color, and the uniformity of the design would be overwhelming in time. Moreover, I would see myself losing visual interest in the space and the novelty of the choices. It strikes me as cold and distant with very little of the personality of the owner. Rather, it appears to be reflection of the _design_ that Marlon likes, rather than Marlon.

And as I noted above, it seems too "designed." I prefer spaces to look as if they organically developed with a guiding style. Not ones that appeared as if they were created all at one. This, again, is a preference, but given that it is a living space, I don't think wanting the space to look like it has been lived in is too aberrant. (And of course, many places are actually designed overnight even if they don't look it)

To compare, Centro-Fly (a club in NYC that I think has a similar aesthetic as Marlon's space) was relatively unique when it first appeared and I found the space really interesting. Indeed, the design was often lauded in the press when it first opened. However, that spark hasn't remained and it doesn't have the same "shock of the new". I believe that is the general concensus.

Perhaps the fact that I find the overall design somewhat derivative impacts my opinion on it. Moreover, given that Marlon is at least interested in DJing (i.e., the turntables), I'd be surprised if he wasn't familiar with this particular aesthetic. The lack of originality, generally, makes it less impressive. The fact that he did it _at_home_ is very impressive.

Clearly, Marlon has been very successful in this space and has shown more initiative and care than 99% of the apartments one will encounter on a day to day basis. However, the relatively derivative aesthetic, and coldness of the space prevents it from crossing into "amazing" IMHO.

I have to agree with d*s on this one. It is way "over designed" to my taste and has no sense of being lived in. That being said there are a lot of bold choices starting with the color which I'd like in smaller quantities. It just seems to harsh to live with. The nuns are a hoot, but again seem more like an over-thought design choice rather than a personal collectible. I would like to have seen the kitchen and bath as well as more detail on the storage solutions (there must be some other collections hidden somewhere).

MOD-tastic! Since I come from a family of deer hunters I swoon at your mounts. And even the bucks sipping at the cool refeshing water that is the reflection on your coffee table bring me joy. Pelts on pillows? I swoon again. I don't care that your place is flash the cash cool - it rocks.

Personally, it would drive me crazy to live with this color for more than a week.

But aside from that there is so much to love here. You can feel how much thought and care went into each section of the apartment...I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

I do love the displays and the juxtaposition of so many different elements. Good job!

The nuns in the cabinet bore me to death... Maybe if the cabinet had a collection of nun statues from the past 200 years or something, like a collection of antique toys that express someone's interest in collecting, but this is just taking up room to make a design statement... It's just not working for me. I hope there's something more personal to Marlon that he could inject into this space...

What about plants? Some sign of life would do wonders.

I'm having too much fun and need to go back to work.

rr wins for Quote of the Day with "I swoon at your mounts."

Hey AB-- You said you posted above... which one?

Marlon, you deserve much better criticism than this.

Paul,

I have one question for you. Are you kidding me? All I keep saying to myself when I see people put down others in this contest is "I'd love to see his/her place." I've been waiting for someone in this contest who has their place posted to make a comment. Finally you did. I can't believe you have the balls to put down Marlon's amazing place considering the place you have listed. Your place is nice and I have nothing bad to say about it except for the fact that it's light years away from Marlon's. Not even in the same league, planet, or galaxy.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions and that's what these posts are all about but there's a distinct difference between constructive criticism and your pathetic criticism.

You are judging Marlon's place because he paid money for stuff instead of finding some old crap on Craig's list like you did. I'm insulted that you put down Marlon's place who's is the most stunning of all.

Marlon, once again, I envy you and your taste.

Marlon has been successful. But I agree with other posters - like Patrick and d*s - that it is over designed. The space feels very staged, and screams to be noticed. Everything works to create this overall effect that I would be afraid to ruin by wearing the wrong pants and shirt when I visit.

You cannot deny the functionality of the space, though. It DOES have places to sit and places to plop things down and places to store items. They just happen to be intimidating to use, I think. Very high upkeep if I were living here.

But I love all the nuns! My father was tortured by nuns with rulers when he was growing up. They made him do funny and horrible things when he was growing up. I remember hearing about how they made him sell used greeting cards when he was in 2nd grade. They would have to neatly tear the front covers and remount them and then sell them on the streets (in rural N. Grosvernordale, CT). They would have to stand out all day and get something like 5 cents for a card and then hand over all the money to the nuns. Kind of like organized crime.

I do feel, though, that I would feel extremely energized by this space. I would love to pass through this room before coming in to work - like having a huge pep-talk - and walk into work feeling full of lime-green energy! I think this place would be the BEST for watching fun group shows, like the MTV music awards or Idol or Survivor. Great space, depending on what you need it for.

paul-- I agree with you that there could be a better choice than the nuns. I think the other display actually works better, to your point. They just made me laugh. But yikes, what *actual* plant could compete with that wall color?!? ;)

patrick (the other one),

Sorry, to clarify, I was just referring to an earlier paragraph in the same posting.

Frank,

Never fear, I have no problem with being criticized, and I was when I submitted... and I expected to be. I've always been vocal about my opinions here. Go take a look at the discussions from the bedroom contest (I like to thinnk those discussions were, in part, the point of conception for the small apartment conest), or the hilarity that ensued with the half-fridge event. Go on, have a look. I used to think I was just having a grumpy day, but now I just think I like complaining.

Anyone who regularly follows AT knows I'm constantly voicing my honest opinion on whatever I see... So go ahead and tear me to shreds... it still won't make marlon's place any more comfy.

Like I said... I did like his use of color I really think it's seductive. But there's something missing. So that's that.

Frank/FRANK/FRANCO-- First of all, Paul questioned budget since Marlon's Pitch referenced second-hand stuff (perhaps only referring to the furniture), but some of the stuff (as Paul astutely notes) is straight out of Conran's. Second of all, this isn't even a contest entry, so chill. Third of all, "nothing bad to say"? I think the "old crap" comment falls squarely in that category.

Third of all-- WHOSE.

Hey Frank,

are you the guy with the bachelor pad and the bar and fish tank? If so, I think you owe us all an apology.

In addition to a good mount (bwaaaa), I also enjoy grammar. Who's and Whose are both wrong. Frank's sentence should be "I'm insulted that you put down Marlon's place, which is the most stunning of all." You're referring to the place, not Marlon.

God, I'm a friggin' nerd.

Paul, you may have history here (as do I ) but I still find your comments overly offensive. Just because you can take as good as you give does not mean others can or indeed want to hear it or see it in print. Patrick (too) is telling Frank to chill - I would like you to chill. Please.

rr-- I thought "the place" was "understood", grammatically speaking. But always up for a good grammar spankin'. Thanks! Nuttin' wrong with nerds.

I'm having deja vu. Twice.

LOL you all are being overly amusing right now- and I must say that it's making me laugh, though it shouldn't.

Jamie,

I'm not mean, but I'm not coddling either. I'm not making apologies.

Paul

Ooooo, nice Michelin Man collection. That green would make me want to kill people, but I admire the discipline.

I'm not asking for an apology or to be coddling. I am asking for common decency and respect for others so I am asking you to tone it down. Listen to what Miya said in previous threads about this kind of negativity about ppls' personal spaces.

correction - or for you to be coddling

Final correction I hope - There are better ways of expressing yourself without coming across as mean. You may not think you are and I am sure you are not a mean person but your choice of words are poor.

Marlon-- Where do you buy most of your art? What are the two black and white pieces above the TV?

I suppose I did not express myself accurately, but hopefully my spelling is right on, since we all seem to be English majors...

What I should have said was I have no intention of changing.

At this point Marlon ought to be delighted that his choice of color, nuns, and his expert eye for "second-hand" pieces has caused such a clamor.

The AT audience is simply polarized on an otherwise dreary dull Thursday.

i like the space and the uncluttered magazine feel. it's spacious, sexy and quite daring. unlike many of you, i wouldn't mind waking up there (minus the bedroom art).

This is so entertaining.

I'm beginning to wonder if we should make a distinction here. Should we offer advice and our opinions only when people ask for help and advice? When people post their apartments out of pride, do they automatically open themselves up to the possibility of, um, constructive criticism? I find it kind of interesting that while I've just tried to say nothing at all about the apartments that completely freak me out and make me want to run screaming into the night(childhood memories of "don't say anything at all if you can't say anything nice"?), other people don't have such qualms.

Maybe the key is truly **constructive** criticism? Maybe the trick is to just mention things you like rather than trash people's pride and joy? Out of curiosity, if you've entered the contest(s)or posted your apartment on AT, without asking for advice, and you've received advice or been criticized, are you okay with that? Do tell. Inquiring minds want to know.

I schitzophrenic on the apartment, as apparently the AT community is.

Love the shock of the green color. (Probably couldn't live with it for more than a few days, but I love the photos of it.) Love the framed artwork and the chandelier and sconces. Like the furniture, the display cases (Michelin men more than the nuns).

I get the same disquieted feeling off the guns and antlers as I do from the green paint. (And I'm pro-gun.) But maybe that's the point. I think a strong comparison can be made to the tension created by the design and our reactions to it.

I missing a verb!

oops. that should be trashing. says another english major. i was just rushing because i was too afraid of what i might be missing while writing my own post.

i really should be working.

when mgr gets those counts of how many hits per day AT gets, does that include those of us who keep checking on it throughout the day? that seems as if it might skew the numbers.

okay, to work, to work.

I love it overall, but that bedroom is a little freaky, and this is coming from a goth girl. I feel like it's not really expressing anything about you, which is fine -- most people's bedrooms really don't express anything about them other than their ability to distinguish white from ecru. [If it *is* expressing something about you, I don't want to know.] It really reminds me of early Laibach videos -- deer, faux totalitarian uniforms -- which is totally out of keeping with the other room. It's like the fancy bubbly green room is hiding a dark secret -- you open up some door at Centro-fly and end up on the Frying Pan...

I love the Kaws pieces and the nuns! I have nuns from a dollar store in a neat line in my bathroom. One of my friends came over and had to turn them away while he peed. He had a flashback to catholic shool and just couldn't go while they were staring at him...

You can buy smaller works like the Kaws pieces at places like Toy Tokyo in the East Village and Kid Robot in Soho.

What is it with people and nuns? I went to Catholic school my whole life too, but my fellow laymen were always far scarier than the clergy.

I did get a thorough tongue lashing from one nun... Sister Kelly... in 9th grade algebra... The complete shock of her dark rage actually had me in a pile of tears... but I really had to dig into the recesses of my memory to come up with that one. The funny thing is, after that one event, we were great buddies...

In response to a question from one of the first posters in this thread, the speakers are Podspeakers; check out www.podspeakers.com.

Color....retinas... burning... must...get....water.......

*splash* ok better now.

Interesting apartment, but its too magazine-perfect for me. I would love for the owner of this apartment, Frank of Frank's Bachelor Pad fame, and the super-tidy architects (one of the first sm-cool-apt entries) all get together for some cocktails. That would be great and interesting. Oh, and throw in the Star Wars guy from the open thread.

yet another me -- Maybe they could all collaborate on a perfect girl-getting apartment for the Star Wars guy. I can't quite make a parody Queer Eye title out of that one, but I love the idea...

Yesssssss! Frank, Marlon, and Jen & Roy (entry #5) can all collaborate to get StarWars guy a date! Excellent!
Not sure of Jen & Roy's purpose in that group, except to add some design-school philosophy and stuff-hiding lessons. Plus, somehow I imagine they're horrified by both Frank AND Marlon. (Just guessing.)

Well, I frickin' love this place. I don't care that it looks like some kind of magazine spread from SPIN magazine. I have to admire anybody that takes risks--bright green, Michelin Man collectibles, mod furniture combined with the chandelier--and manages to pull it off. Marlon has committed to a strong design aesthetic and good for him. It's bursting with personality, which I think is lacking from some of the other--albeit more traditionally "well-designed"--Smallest Apartments. But I prefer a fun, boisterous place over a meek, "tasteful" one anyway.

I've never been to Centro-Fly--I'm from Chicago--and most of the time when I go out, it's to dive bars and Irish pubs. So I don't know how original this scheme is, or how much of it Marlon's borrowed from nightclubs. But I do think that either way it's more original and imaginative than some of the Pottery Barnalikes that I've seen.

Marlon-- Here's another piece that would be a great fit in your digs...
www.sexyfurnishings.com/html/bibendumchair.shtml

I'll take a crack at "me (the first one)"'s questions (short answers first) ...

"Should we offer advice and our opinions only when people ask for help and advice?"

No.

"When people post their apartments out of pride, do they automatically open themselves up to the possibility of, um, constructive criticism?"

Yes.

"Maybe the trick is to just mention things you like rather than trash people's pride and joy?"

The term "comments" is suitably broad and accurate enough. No need to limit the acceptable discourse to, essentially, "only happy comments."

"Out of curiosity, if you've entered the contest(s)or posted your apartment on AT, without asking for advice, and you've received advice or been criticized, are you okay with that?"

If I had, I would be. I should expect it. The purpose of the "comment" functionality is not merely to serve the egos of people who decide to open up their homes and expose their "work." It's for people to say what they want.

One would hope that people follow some general rules of decorum and are respectful. But it's the real world and not every body is sweet. And people shouldn't expect that everything they do is absolutely wonderful. Sometimes what they do is terrible. They should be prepared to hear it if they're going to tell people to look at it, by, for example, having it posted on AT.

Frankly, based on my experience in "critques" o3f various sorts, this place a tea party, relatively speaking. The first time I saw someone bothering paul for his comments, I had flashbacks of my first crit in high school. Someone had the "audacity" to actually be critical and the room went silent.

Everybody's delicate egos were suddenly very vulnerable.

After a few years, I realized those comments were the most useful and actually made you think about what you were doing. All the happy thoughts enabled dopes to rationalize their work and keep making crap (not a reference to Marlon or anyone in this thread).

Of course, comments directed at the person are never excusable. However, the "work" is fair game.

Another view/vendor--
www.directfurniture.com/eigrbch.html

AB-- Post your own space and then get back to us to see if/how your opinion has changed.

Is it safe to post now? This thread was turning into a Kauffman script...

Yes, AB, yes. Not that I want this site to turn into a cat fight, but jeez, if I want hot air up my skirt I'll ask my mom how she likes my apartment.

Ha, this is why I stopped posting to AP, and stopped frequenting the site as much, people are soo catty about Interior design. Adios.

I do see P(too)'s point -- reading that I had Don Johnson elements to my place did cause me to cry a little inside.

How about we go back to focusing on Marlon's apartment? (This IS still categorized under the contest, even if it is an extra)

Save the discussion for an open thread?
Though, I don't like seeing everyone so catty about everything OR making snide remarks about who should go with who and why. =/

MRoman (wow I remember you!)- AGREED.

How about we just move on to the House and Home roundup...

As other have said too planned. Too arch. I admire anyone brave enough to use that green but everything is too matchy-matchy. Sort of like your spinster aunt LaVerne only not chintz. Nice to go to a party there but not stay over.

Sorry. It. Just. Seems. Stodgy.

It's definitely on the masculine side of the Upper East Side judeo-WASP asthetic that keeps Jonathan Adler employed. But wordy pillows don't suit everyone.

Overall, I think a lot of it works. And I don't think the "nuns 'n' guns" are intended to be beloved by everybody.

WOW, did I miss a lot by being away from my laptop for most of the day! This has certainly been an interesting thread to follow. (Insert nervous giggle here.) Must say I like the ballsiness of Marlon's place. It's so in-your-face and obviously elicits a strong reaction, which I'm guessing was part of Marlon's intent. I especially like the re-use of the Louis Vuitton trunk as DJ coffin/stand. But WHERE did you get those genius LV slipmats for the turntables?!? If I had those badboys, I'd probably break out my DJ set-up and vinyl from storage just to showcase them...

The Kaws art is incredible. One of the best personal collections I've ever seen.

It's funny that so many people read this site regularly yet only about 20 or so people comment regularly.

Maybe it's because you guys are ruthless.

Most of you are terrible, just really, really, really mean.

Come back, MRoman! We need your sensibility!!

Marlon--
Just noticed the Fink Cheerleader shot. Awesome.

I think some people have stopped reading because of a lack of acidic remarks.
In this contest there hasn't been a single "ghastly"; i think overall this group should be commended on the civility and following the tone set by the AT creators; forgive me for stating the obvious (and for sort of maligning P.Barn taste while defending an earlier entry).

The nuns (altho maybe irritating to those of us whose parents were actually abused by them, like mine),
i actually imagine the sound of their voices, like in the Sound of Music, so the silliness or possible crassness of their presence in the equally mixed mundane/grand wall cabinet becomes sublimely fun.
Just had to explicitly appreciate the obvious.
We don't know Marlon's background (for me they remind me of when my dad asked me at dinner if i'd considered the priesthood instead of being gay, i replied that i'd always dreamed of being a nun, so having my own little choir subliminally backing me up every day would be a kick. Ok, don't mean to make this about me).

i _love_ the deer sipping from the glass....

Now all you need is a white cast resin piglet (available at Propeller in San francisco, on a large cube chunk table of petrified wood) , maybe there's some in NY, or they might ship it...i forget the artist's name, but part of the sale he's donating to the SPCA).

uhh. why would you set up your turntables like that? theyre supposed to both face the same direction.

Everybody sing, "How do you solve a problem like Orangered?"!

This apartment induces shock, awe, and terror. In that order.

Incidentally, did anyone read William Gibson's Pattern Recognition? The Bibendums in the cupboard totally reminded me of it...

Stunning chandelier. I like the color of the bedroom walls, too.

Orangered, I think ghastly is in the eye of the beholder.

In theory, I would hate this furniture, but I love this apartment. It just all comes together here. I don't think it's overly designed. I think it's well designed. For once here are old and new pieces mixed together well. I would just love to hang out and sip cocktails here. Now I want to add Kaws to my must acquire list.

Faith, I thought the same thing! And given how strong the overall style of the apartment is, I thought Cayce would have an amneurism in there.

I'm sort of like Cayce in that I often find design/fashion semiotics overwhelming, hence my "too designed" reaction.

I think the living room is great. Sure it seems a bit overly done however if I was submiting to a contest I would also make sure my place was abnormally clean as well.

The color choice is a really bold. I don;t think i could live withit but..woudl love to visit sometime.

Since it's not in the contest I don't mind the glaring lack of some photos (bathroom, kitchen etc)

However the bed spread being the same color as the wall?

I'm going to make a leap here and guess Marlon is a DJ. Being a DJ leaving the club i'm just guessing the party picks right back up at home. Black glass tops being perfect for doing lines..etc etc

The sofa set is lovely, but way too overwhelming for such a small area. Only two pieces should appear in this room, mixed with maybe a glass coffee table. The television stand could be replaced with something sleek,tall, thin and modern.
This specific green should only be used as an accent color and absolutely only on one or maybe two walls max. chandeliers are in at the moment but tracklighting will look much more interesting and sophisticated in my humble opinion.

Beautiful lighting fixtures, lovely floors, hot turntable, great mathew barneyish heraldry, charcoal walls, furry pillows. Smart photography on the walls. I even like your closet/office. In this apartment, I am drawn to the warm and moody moments, but I am intimidated by the chilly green and all the plastic.

Love the colours and the chairs, the lounge is great. I'd be tempted to wall mount the plasma. Like your G5 in the closet, shame such a beautiful machine can't find a place in your main living space. Hope the clothes don't restrict the airflor too much. But great place.

Actually, maybe I'm the only one, but I like the over-the-bed tableau. It looks great against the wall and I don't find it particularly creepy, just interesting.

Great wall color, too.

I like the whole place, and it's really not my style at all. But I think I would rather something else besides green in the main living area.

Its big and its tacky and the guy is a poseur dj, one of his technics is set up backwards.

It's got a Blade Runner meets the Easter Bunny vibe.

Hey, what's all this talk about mean comments? I didn't read anything here that was out of bounds. And I'm sure Marlon doesn't really care what any of us think. Just look at his apartment--he's a guy who knows what he likes. He's busy painting mounted antlers white and testing the courage of his dates--something about that bedroom gives me the hebegeebies. Maybe it's the weapons within easy reach.

I love this place. It's amazing. It reminds me of a mod version of the Kelly Weartsler(sp)-type Hollywood Regency. (And while I know some people hate her, I really like some of the stuff she does, so I am complimenting you.) As for the second-hand debate--all of you people should drive to upstate New York or visit Florida, where you can find a plethora of this type of stuff in thrift stores. Of course, it won't look this pretty, but there's tons of stuff out there. (And even if he bought it from a big vintage dealer, who cares? There's no budget limitation here.) Kudos, Marlon! I've been wanting a chandelier and this "crystallized" the decision for me. (Bad pun intended ;)

PS - I've been to CentroFly (though not for a few years since it headed downhill) and I don't see ANY similarity.

It is like living inside a iPod ad

flippin sweet

and just think
one day a woman will ruin it all

You are all being WAY too hard on Kermit. This is his first post Ms. Piggy apartment (and remember she got all the furniture when they broke up), and perhaps he took a little too much advice from Gonzo when he was decorating. I don't know that I'd trust a known chicken-lover to help me build a babe magnet bachelor pad.

Just kidding, love the place. I dig the guns and deer, and the LV turn tables are too good.

Max - Ms. Piggy already entered the contest. Remember, pink poodles in the bathroom?

Count me in with those who are disturbed by the viciousness of comments and who do not visit the site as often, because of it.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - the space (what ever contest it is) does not have to be your taste - that doesn't mean you have the right to be nasty and personal when commenting on the particular room, decor, etc.

I've seen only a handful of apartments that replicate my taste, but that doesn't mean the others are "bad". Maybe my taste is.

Whew! Ya'll are hard to keep up with today. A few thoughts, however -
While I'm frightened by the concoction over the bed (feng shui NIGHTMARE)and agree with the retina burning comment, if I walked into this apartment I would instantly want to know a LOT more about its owner.
It shows laser-sharp style, even if not MY style.
As for the question of which comments are welcome and which aren't, I personally speak up if I think I "get the place," whether I like it or don't like it, and/or have something constructive to offer. I keep mum if I don't like it and don't "get it."
Example- Look at Frank's place, Patrick's place and Paul's place. Frank gets Marlon's place and I'm guessing wishes he had thought of it. Patrick gets it, wouldn't choose it, but sees some great things he could take from it. Paul doesn't get it (and that's okay) though his wording is too harsh for most of us.

Well said, Sharon.

Todd-- "Blade Runner meets the Easter Bunny vibe"-- hilarious.

MRoman-- my attempt at a response got anti-spammed. Wanted to know how your room is coming along. And seriously come back to the site!

Why are there so many
Posts about Marlon's
And what's above his bedside?

Marlon’s got vision
Not only Louis Vuittons
And Marlon’s got few on his side.

So we've been told
And some choose to believe it.
I know they're wrong,
Wait and see.

Someday we'll find it
The Marlon Connection
The players, the DJs and me!

Who said that every bitch
Must be heard and answered
When bitched on the comment board?

Somebody thought of that
And someone believed it
And look what its done so far.

What's so amazing
That keeps us Marlon-gazing?
What do we think we might see?

Someday we'll find it
The Marlon Connection
The players, the DJs and me!

All of us under Kaws’ spell
We know that it's mightily graphic!

Have you been half asleep
And have you heard gunshots?
I've heard them above my brain.

Is this the sweet sound
That calls the young hoochies?
The sound might be one and the same.

They've heard it too many times to ignore it.
It's something that we’re supposed to see.

Someday we'll find it
The Marlon Connection
The players, the DJs and me!

AT just give him a prize!!!!

This is my vote for the winner, I love the space and the bed crest. Great job Marlon you have got my vote

Hey Marlon,

I love the way you used my art in your apartment, it looks great. Green is the New White.

**Doug**
You deserve to won a prize, too - your parody is verdantly hilarious.

(It took me a minute to place it, but then the Rainbow Connection melody started roiling through my memory. And now it won't leave. Thanks.)

Marlon knows - perhaps better than any of us - it ain't easy bein' green.

cristal, plastic fantastic, guns and green this is an apartment of a male new york socialite if I have ever seen one.

Dammit, that should have been 'win' - WIN a prize! Doug needs to WIN a prize for his parody - and I need to have mine TAKEN AWAY for being the spelling bee champ in 1982. Aargh.

AT forward marlons apartment to AD.

Incredible. This apartment appears to have just burst fully formed from a very mathematical, musical mind (I'm guessin'). While it's true that when you set out to create a home, you don't often know what you want until something is right in front of you, or the nifty, sought and unsought elements fall into place. This apartment seems to defy that happenstance principle.

I'm not a big fan of sleek modern design, but your sensibilities just glow here. The green is sweet and earnest, but for some reason, and feel free to laugh, it makes me crave sour-sweet candy.

See this is so tipical....... "Marlon looks well-off" so people feel they have the chance to diss him, but no one else got a diss. Marlons Apartment is the best by far. Paul and patrick are just envyous of his style and money. "who cares were he got his stuff it is great!"

PLAYBOY MANSION meets 2001

Hey Marcus-- I happen to like Marlon's space very much.

Marlon-- It may be a little cliche these days, but I think a Koons Puppy would fit right in there.

you should buy him one that would be so nice of you.

I love a good blog-brawl.

(ps-- I did not mean that I thought your place was cliche; far from it... )

wow... what's left to add?

love the color statement, love that work is in the closet where it belongs (along with a computer camera set up?! and a row of hanging hats i thought were hanging speedos, at first =) )... as a humanist, LOVE the statement that probably only *i* would read into the carboncopy nun collection...

on the comments about it being "comfortable"... different people find different things comfortable. not everyone wants soft pillows and The Touch, The Feel of Cotton (tho that tends to be my bent). i could still see myself crashing here. and it DEFINITELY looks like a social space - everything seems set up to encourage interaction and creativity. also a good place to talk to clients?

the bedroom... hm. not sure I'd want the American Gothic McCauley Calkin watching me sleep. as for the weaponry, I appreciate that there's two of everything. gives both parties a fighting chance.

kudos, marlon.

I'm sorry, I can no longer contain myself. I think this is hideous. Although I can see where it would be an excellent party space. So many conversation starters.

I don't understand why this apartment is so popular; for me, it's one of the least interesting, and shows very little sense of "good design."

The color on the walls? It screams, "look at the BOLD DESIGN STATEMENT I MADE," but is really just banal. It takes a much better eye to find a "bold" color that actuall works, and has a bit of subtlety behind its aggressiveness.

The furniture? Ditto the comments above - this is NOT "second hand" furniture one finds serendipitously in a thrift store or on Craig's list - or, if it is, it costs a fortune. To me, the whole thing has a "let's dye the shoes to match the purse and belt" look, without any sense of irony or individual stamp. It's less imaginative than IKEA out of the box.

Lastly (and perhaps most importantly) - there is NO sense of designing the SPACE. The matchy-matchy furniture (which kind of screams "look - I'm hip and retro!") is just crammed into the room in a grid-like pattern, making the entire flow of the space totally stunted.

All in all, imho, cookie-cutter pseudo-hip. The message is, "I had a lot of money to buy some 'groovy' furniture in an expensive LES 'vintage furniture gallery,' but had no idea what to do with it, so opted for an overly-literal, overdone overdose." Straight from the crate.

Hey phill,

that job at Mc Donalds just aint payin the bills is it? I bet it is frustrating designing BIG MACS, thats why you put down people you dont even know. Don't worry one day you will be a cashier. I like that matchy-matchy uniform you got on, it makes a bold design statment "I am a banal person".

Ironic design............. PHILL furniture is ment to be furniture not a ironic moment. let me guess phill your house is what west elm. At least marlons stuff is one of a kind and a complete collection, something to be said for a theme.

I dare you all to beat this apartment with something better!

Fantastic fantasy phat fun! That is the most whimsical amazing design!

1. Apologies for my vitriolic posting. I don't like the apartment at all, but I went over the top. (Note to self - do not post when you have a painful ear infection.)

2. I'm at Wendy's - WENDY'S. Free chili for all those I offended.

3. Wouldn't West Elm be a "theme"? (But no, don't own anything from WE, PB, C&B - no wait, maybe some plates, on sale.)

(BTW - I actually love the individual pieces of furniture, I just don't like the whole mass together in this specific space)

Damn, I go to Chicago for a few days and miss a total brawl. I've got to get WiFi!

.... and pphillipp neatly sticks the landing on his 180.

(Well done, pphillipp!)

(Pphillipp was a jerk, wasn't he? Thank you Anne.)

(*extending chalk-smeared hand for a shake*)

The issue here is clearly based around Marlon's 70's vintage modern Steelcase sofa, chairs, and tables, and the set's cost... The space is not overdesigned.. The placement of the funiture and art is well thought out.. The furniture is large and bold, and does seem to overtake the space it occupies.. Picture the same pieces in a large space that allow's the pieces to breathe and showcase's the architectural theme of this furniture.. Marlon's choice of furniture could not be better.. When the "Soft Line" group of furnishings was first designed in 1971 by Warren Platner and offered to Steelcase's top sales executives as a Christmas gift, it was hailed as the most aesthetically pleasing and progressive design statement ever by the top design critics of the world.. Most detailed books on 70's modern design give some mention of these pieces... Someone said they felt the furniture would be too uncomfortable for them.. Don't knock it, until you try it... When you sit in the chair you have a leather cushion under you, two cushions on your sides, and a cushion behind you, all of which serve to comfortably cocoon you, while offering generous/supple support and angle and posture... As far as the set being second hand, that simply mean's it has had more than one owner.. Marlon obviously has great taste, and he undoughtably paid good money for the set, especially in mint condition... As far as the vibrante, electric APPLE GREEN color for the walls, it is a little shocking, but is also fresh and exciting.. I give Marlon an A+++ for his choice of furniture, which blend's very well... Regarding the nuns and Michelin men, his art theme is a bit repetative and hail's from the 70's, when using a number of the same items repeatedly and together was a pop-art do; he obviously like's this old art-trick.. I have not seen the bedroom, but the use of antlers and hunting attire sound's a bit simplistic to be interesting.. Otherwise, a very good layout... Carey

Ohh lord, I seriously think I could kill for that sofa. It's amazing!!!

Hi there, I just found this site and saw the picture of your furniture and it looks great! I just wanted to ask if you still had the steelcase furniture set and wondering if you had intrest in selling it. I lost a set on ebay a few weeks ago because I forgot to bid but just thought I would ask? Have a great day and it looks fantastic. Take care, Dana Bowen (704)507-4712