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Anna Gabriel's Downtown Pad
House Tour

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Name: Anna Gabriel
Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Type: Co-op apartment
Size: 1,500 square feet
Years lived in: 3

It's no surprise that Anna's biggest home embarrassment is the lack of storage for her Rock Band guitars and drum kit, since she's the daughter of Rock legend Peter Gabriel. Within minutes of visiting her Lower East Side apartment you get a sense of Anna and her love for people and the arts. Her home is a soulful pad and you realize the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Anna is an amazing artist in her own right — a successful documentary maker, photographer and humanitarian.

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Her home reveals her passion for Cambodia, Mexico and Africa with travel treasures dotted around. Most of Anna's pieces were gifts from friends and family and as a result her home is a beautiful nest with an open door policy to those nearest and dearest to her.

Apartment Therapy Survey:

My Style: Pretty eclectic as I have collected various pieces of furniture throughout the years and when I moved in to this apartment they all just seemed to fit.

Inspiration:Travel to different places around the world always inspires me. Most recently I have spent time in Asia but Africa and Mexico have also inspired me in the past.

Biggest Challenge: Trying to create storage space as there was only one cupboard when I moved in. I had closets built in both bedrooms but the space was difficult to work with.

What Friends Say: They say they want to live here. In fact I often have friends from the UK come visit for a week and stay a month.

Biggest Embarrassment: I have nowhere to hide my Rock Band guitars and drum kit so they sit out in the living room for all to see. Plus, I am not even very good at playing them!

Proudest DIY: With the help of a friend, I put three old window panes in to the wall between the bedroom and living room to let more light in to the bedroom.

Biggest Indulgence: I put in a new kitchen and bathroom and a steam shower in my bathroom.

Best advice: Live in a space for a short time before you fully decide what to do with it. This way you can get a feeling of how you and your daily life work within the space.


Resources:

Kitchen Furniture: Home Depot

Accessories: Mainly gifts from friends

Lighting: Home Depot

Rugs & carpets: Home Depot

Window Treatments: Bed Bath and Beyond

Tiles and Stone: Artistic Tile

Art: All of my friends artwork (paintings in living room by Lydia Mullin and Kon Trubovich)

Beds: West Elm (my bed was given to me by a friend)

Bedroom furniture: West Elm

Dining Room: Table from Amaran

Desk: Found on street.

Thanks Anna!


Images: Liezel Strauss

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House Tours, Lower East Side

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Comments (34)

I must admit that the rail with the lights in the living room puzzle me a bit, but I love everything else, even the smallest detail! I'm envious...

posted by Thea77 on November 9th 2009 at 4:56pm
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That painting over the sofa looks like Nixon with his tricky dick hanging out.

posted by nene on November 9th 2009 at 5:19pm
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It seems that in these house tours quirkiness and energy gets confused with good design. It looks like she has a living and dining room that are bigger than most NYC apartments and there totally being underutilized. I think it's a problem when the back of your giant tv is one of the most prominent features in your home.

That being said, I have no doubt that Ms. Gabriel is a delightful person.

posted by MiklakMiklak on November 9th 2009 at 6:49pm
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I loved the close up details of this place. The art, the photos, the light in the hallway and absolutely LOVE that french side table.
The layout of the space was a big disappointment. I just don't get a good feel of the space as a whole.
There is this odd dead space as you enter the living/dining room and the dining room table appears too small.
The one bedroom with the brick wall looked cool,while the other bedroom with the blue bedding was just another disappointment. Bigger photographs above the bed would work better.

posted by Aster on November 9th 2009 at 6:57pm
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I'm baffled. Her greatest accomplishments are the new kitchen and bathroom, but they're not shown...

...instead we get 3 photos of a Chinese silk coat draped over the same chair, a TV in the middle of the room, furniture clumped into corners with acres of space in between and some artwork that I'd be embarassed to have in my home much less allow my mother to see if she were to visit (Nixon's Penis? A farting Drag Queen?)

She does have some cool items and cool collections - but this is not good design.

posted by bepsf on November 9th 2009 at 8:12pm
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I love the art. The living room and dining room, however, feel off-kilter. I agree with another commenter that there seems to be a lot of potential here that's not being met.

posted by PaminBoston on November 9th 2009 at 8:15pm
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It seems like all of the spaces featured lately have the most amazing large wall art pieces. I need lots of large stuff and have exactly nothing, so I am insane with jealousy. The painting in the first picture rocks.

posted by splatgirl on November 9th 2009 at 8:17pm
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I agree with MiklakMiklak. There are a lot of really cool things and an obviously creative and eclectic mind behind this home, but I don't think it all comes together in a coherent way. A work-in-progress.

The arrangement of the living and dining room could definitely use some work. The space is a little awkwardly-shaped and that's emphasized by bunching the furniture up at either end. I also found the ceiling lighting system to be kind of distracting. That and the off-white walls everywhere give it a sort of suburban feel. I'd also love to see the windows with richer, more colorful draperies to balance out the bold colors in the art and upholstery (especially if the walls are going to be left that color).

posted by slowdown on November 9th 2009 at 9:28pm
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Why is this a house tour? Blech.

posted by rlmesq on November 10th 2009 at 12:27am
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The space planning is definitely off, and the collections and furniture feels as if they're owned by two people who had to mishmash their styles together in a hurry.

There's potential here, but it needs some more art direction.

posted by HCVMama on November 10th 2009 at 12:40am
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okay, i didn't even notice the penis in the painting. you pervs.

posted by nickety on November 10th 2009 at 12:53am
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I thought it was interesting. Not over-designed. I liked the inset windows.

posted by AustinSarah on November 10th 2009 at 1:17am
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First: Anna, thank you for opening your home to a house tour.

Second - may I recommend a flat screen TV? I also own an older TV that is the approximate size of a Mini-Cooper, and I cannot wait to reclaim the space wasted by my electronic behemoth. And not to sound preachy, but if you spread out your living room a bit, I bet that room would feel even larger.

Third - your couch is to die for. I adore it! Anyone have any ideas where it's from/what it is?

posted by Nesser on November 10th 2009 at 2:11am
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posted by wujinbing on November 10th 2009 at 2:31am
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I'm not sure I could feel entirely comfortable sitting on that couch, constantly aware that there's a painted penis dangling over me like some squishy Sword of Damocles.

It's a great painting. I just question the placement.

posted by Blandwagon on November 10th 2009 at 3:15am
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I love this intireal,living room and bad room is very impressive.when next time i think that about interial i use these designs.
Muscle Might

posted by wilsniki on November 10th 2009 at 4:24am
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It certainly looks well lived in and comfortable but it doesn't inspire me at all.

posted by tokyolady on November 10th 2009 at 7:04am
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Nesser -- that couch looks like a Ligne Roset Nomade. The fabric choices are almost endless...

That tag hanging out underneath is driving me nuts.

Just want to add, that Peter Gabriel was "it" for me when I was in high school!

posted by mschatelaine on November 10th 2009 at 7:39am
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I love your place. The light streaming in from those white sheers is lovely. I agree that the furniture placement might seem a little awkward, but it really is hard to tell what's going on without a floor plan. I love the artwork in your home as well. Truly not sure why people are getting wound up about the penis...
Thanks for sharing.

posted by mjr on November 10th 2009 at 10:44am
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Thanks, mschatelaine! I now have an expensive sofa to pine for :)

posted by Nesser on November 10th 2009 at 12:06pm
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love that painting over the couch.... simply phenomenal. all of the furniture could be covered with tarps and used kleenex, and I think I would still only notice the art.

the decor isn't my taste, personally... but who cares if you have a good collection on the walls :-)

posted by modern on long island on November 10th 2009 at 2:54pm
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Wow, what is the deal with the giant bowling alley separating the rooms? She has so much space that is sorely underutilized.

posted by suzy8track on November 10th 2009 at 6:13pm
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user wujinbing...is total spam...and they don't even have a user profile! I wonder how they are even able to leave a comment?

posted by suzy8track on November 10th 2009 at 6:14pm
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Great stuff, great art, great space but you really need some help putting it together. It would drive me crazy to walk into a room & see that TV first thing. Spread your furniture out a bit & hide the ugly stuff so the good stuff shows better.

posted by Delberson57 on November 10th 2009 at 6:55pm
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I like the apartment overall. Maybe it's just me, but I think this apartment definitely lacks some space. Other than that, loving it!

Muscle Might

posted by johnstiff on November 12th 2009 at 2:40pm
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While I love all of your possessions, I feel they are not being placed well within your space. Everything seems to be a little off-kilter.

Either you arranged your place to be totally anti-feng shui or your in need of a little tweaking here and there. One item I would get rid of is the track lighting rail - they really take the eye away from the rest of the room.

Some people here are very rude - if you can't give your opinion in a constructive manner then don't post your destructive comments. Just remember we are talking about peoples homes!

posted by edgardo60 on November 12th 2009 at 7:51pm
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love the space! I agree, about maybe rearranging that large front room and you may find a storage option for your rock band stuff that way, maybe in an old trunk or something for a coffee table.

posted by LittleLovables on November 13th 2009 at 1:05pm
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this all looks off balance to me. Furniture crowded into corners. Track lighting looks dated, and being able to see the back of appliances like tvs always looks messy to me.

Some nice art and the architectural details of the place are cool.

posted by marsek on November 14th 2009 at 6:45pm
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i like it, it looks like a real home and not something designed by a designer but not lived in.

i feel if you visited the space in person you'd get more of an idea re the layout and the space issues. i am pretty sure that the empty space between the living and dining rooms is not as big as it appears in the photographs.

love the artwork too, since when has nudity been a problem in art?

posted by dsm on November 14th 2009 at 9:36pm
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Well, DSM, it's not the nudity that bothers me, it's that the figure looks like a nude Richard Nixon. That creeps me out.

posted by nene on November 15th 2009 at 9:22am
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ok so maybe it doesn't look like it came straight out of a magazine, I wouldn't know as I'm not an architect or interior designer, BUT you have to admit this apartment looks so much cooler than 99% of the homes in America.

You can tell that she doesn't have much of a choice with the TV Placement in that living room from the picture. The only thing she could do would be to flip the couch around which would be a terrible adjustment. Could she even enter the room? Maybe she needs smaller furniture? Maybe there is other space that she could utilize instead in another part of the apartment? Maybe, but hard to tell.

Furthermore, shocking art is the most effective.

posted by delg23 on November 15th 2009 at 9:50am
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There is something to be said for seeing where and how actually interesting/cool people live, instead of just an endless parade of design addicts who do everything by the book.

posted by robotropolis on November 16th 2009 at 1:41pm
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I guess shocking art is effective at shocking if that's what you want.

posted by nene on November 16th 2009 at 9:01pm
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"...shocking art is the most effective."

What a juvenile way to evaluate art. There's a difference between mere shock value and being provocative. And what does "effective" mean anyway? Is art to be judged according to how well it offends or nettles? That's just as bad as judging art according to how pretty and soothing it is.

posted by slowdown on November 22nd 2009 at 8:48pm
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