This is just fabulous, no questions asked. Maybe too fabulous? But also double a+ kudos for the biggest turnaround out of any of the entries.
Jen Bekman - Gallery owner and editor of Unbeige.com
great transformation, even if it is a little modern cliche.
Josh Rubin - Founder of CoolHunting.com
Ready for Metropolitan Home. Impeccable, stylish, ready to photograph. Just a little too cool.
Harry Wakefield - Editor of MoCoLoco.com
Because it is ready for its Elle Decor close-up (only its relatively large size, 485 square feet, has kept it out of 1,2 or 3rd place for this judge) and because its before and after shots suggest that two completely different people are inhabiting Patrick's body (and that's fascinating).
PGreen
Who writes the Habitats column for the New York Times
Good god, all this in a rental?? Im blown away by Patricks ability to make a rented space home- his attention to really creating a pulled together, cohesive apartment is spectacular. I love his use of fabrics, texture and color to add character and warmth.
Grace Bonney - Founder of Design*Sponge
I made the mistake of reading these after just getting back from a two-day trip to the West Coast, so, jet-lagged and cranky, they didn't all strike me as falling completely in the "Praise" category. Unless of course "cliche" has an alternate meaning in blogland.
As far as "too cool" or "too fabulous", I've been called worse. ;)
Patrick. Without question, you have one of the most enviable spaces in the city. I don't think you should let a few snarky comments from the peanut gallery irk you. (Although I completely understand what it feels like to be scrutinized by COMPLETE STRANGERS when my kitchen went up in last month's competition.) Those comments may sting for a moment, but you'll never have any those folks over for a cup of coffee or glass of wine... And at the end of the day, you live in the space. And you do it beautifully. Go Patrick! Actually... Go Brandon, Hilary, Paul, Patrick and Robert! All of you have an unswerving sense of style. Keep on keepin' it real... Um, "Kumbaya" anyone? (Sheesh, I sound like a sap this morning.)
I was just thinking about those photos in the apartment. I have many, many walls to fill - and no ideas. And then I see Patrick putting up these nice, bold photos. And they are meaningful, as well. I enjoyed hearing about how he actually bought one from the artist. Having a connection to the person who made a work of art can be one of the most compelling reasons to love the work itself. The photos Patrick chose are very strong, very specific. Even though they could not be on my wall, I like his ability/power to choose. In my days as a dog and cat-sitter I had a chance to visit so many apartments. And I saw so many wonderful things hung on walls - everything from precious photos to artwork for sale (gallery at home). Some people would proudly show me their choices, others considered them like background wallpaper. I still remember one couple that chose to put a huge Romero Britto pint in their living room. They loved it so much and it really spoke to who they were - fun, vibrant people. I also smiled whenever I would enter their living room. Patrick's photos are emotional choices - do they prep him for a hard day's work? Are they an outward show of his inner strength, independance, determination? Not sure, but they make me think. I wonder what my walls will say about me when I finally commit to something...
"Too cool", "too fabulous", "ready for Elle-Decor close-up", "Metropolitan Home" these sound like rather back-handed compliments? I don't understand these comments and others referring to Patrick's and other apartments as not looking "lived-in". They seem to me to come from the same sensibility. I should hope they all look photo-ready. I don't want to see photos of people's dirty laundry on the bed or whatever. Day to day these homes may not look as pristine, but when company comes over (to photograph) its only good manners to clean up the mess.
Hear hear jimkk, I know what "lived-in" looks like, I want to see beautiful, fabulous, brilliant solutions and made beds, like Patrick's.
Don't forget, the very fact that this apartment has comments from judges means that it made it into their top 5 selected. If I could afford it, I would want to live in practically anything that was featured in Met Home.
This place is huge.