apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I really like the modern take on mouldings and the colour scheme. I think the room would benefit from a large light fixture in the room.

I loooove this! It's so creative, so dramatic, and so theatrical. Fantastic!

My fave of the bunch. Love the eclectic mix and dark bachelor-y mood of the space. I do agree with Carla that a large hanging light fixture would be a welcome addition. Nice work, Patrick.

I enjoy that it's different. Nothing wrong with the other 2, I enjoy them as well, but they are more predictable.

Where in bloody Hades do you vote?! I've clicked every place it says to click...nothing!

voting page is being finalized now...should be up and working very soon...

Interesting color palette, but you lost me on the frames and the pictures of old white dudes. It just seems a bit over-wrought. As the old saying goes, "less is more..."

Patrick's room is so disappointing, at at the same time totally predictable. The high gloss aubergine wall color, extensive use of empty frames and male-figure portraits and dark/light theme is such a cliche (think 90s boutique hotel lobby/lounge).

Sorry to disappoint!

Actually, the lighting makes the wall look Aubergine (although I *do* love that color too!)... it is a deep charcoal/almost black color, Benjamin Moore's "Wrought Iron."

To anyone in New York City, I encourage you to get to Bloomingdale's to see all the windows... there are great vantage points and SO much detail in all the windows... the (beautiful) photography does not do the spaces, or the work and though that went in to them, full justice.

As far as "less is more" (Ah, Hejira, always a joy to hear from you!), I personally thought this was a perfect opportunity for a bit of "restrained excess" and some theatricality, given the assignment and the context. But, of course, to each his/her own!

a shopping mecca seems the perfect place to me to exhibit a little "restrained excess"

I wish I could be there in person to see them...they look great

I love the effect of the lighting, being a fan of aubergine myself, and I definitely wouldn't have thought of using a charcoal to achieve it.

I think though, that if a larger light fixture were introduced, the room would lose much of the dark drama that Patrick's clearly going for.

Overall, a lovely job.

I like it its wacky enough to stop and look and take notice.

Window displays are very hard to photograph, you never get the full impact, the details, scale, drama..much like it is very hard to photograph a theatrical stage.

I'm not a designer, just a curious bystander. So I cannot comment on design style, etc.

But how can you look at patrick's room and not just be curious as hades as who in the frick lives there? What creative soul surrounds themselves this way? Is he moody and dark like the room? Or would I be surprised - like when a cool voice comes out of someone who looks like (fillintheblank) and I'm surprised? Questions, questions...

I love the other rooms, they are beautiful. But I can pretty much predict who would live in them, and yep they'd prob. be some of my friends.

But Patrick's room....just makes me want to know more. I don't know if that was your intention, OPatrick, and I hope I haven't overstepped. This is just just an observation.

I think the window of a high-end department store is the perfect venue for excess, restrained or not. I really like the effect of the light on the frame-laden charcoal walls and imagine that it would be even more dramatic in person. Too bad the photographs will have to do.

By far the most interesting one! This one really catches my attention. It's not easy to figure out. Has a sense of mystery to it.

yeah i love this one the most. it is by far the most dramatic of the bunch, and absolutely perfect for the "worldly urbanist" it is said to be designed for.

I LOVE Patrick's room.
For the person who asked would live in it, I would.
And I'm not a bachelor but a mother, wife and dog owner.

It evokes a womb like interior, cozy to read or watch TV.

This is the only one of the three windows that feels complete to me. It's a finished space, and it's one I want to hang out in. It's sexy, it's dark, it's glamorous.

I love the monotone walls/frames, and the lighting is spectacular.

Wonderful, Patrick!

This window is by far my favorite. Great job Patrick! Very sexy, very masculine. Replace the wine with a decanter of bourbon or rye and make sure there's some dirty blues playing on the stereo and I'll settle in for the evening.

Hi Patrick, I think your room is very very cool. It's like a psychedelic-ified Old World library.

I know this may not be the best forum for this, but I love that marble sculpture on the table: Curves in White. It's made by my company (AM) and we'll be at the NY Gift Fair next week. We'd be thrilled if you came by: Booth 2301 at Javits Center. Judging from this window, I think you'd really like our collection.

It's too bad the color of your display didn't come out in the photographs properly. Aubergine is a bit of a hard sell for a bachelor. Love the room otherwise.

There are all kinds of bachelors. :)

Max--

Theres' a fully-stocked bar (vodka, gin, vermouth and whiskey) on the desk/dining table on the right...

So do I have your vote??? :)

Patrick--

LOVE the place. I know this is random, but where did you get the paintings of the "old white dudes" from?

This window definitely has a "mood" to it. I'd like to listen to records in that room. Lovely. I want the frames when you are done with them, they rock.

J from DC--

With only two exceptions, the portraits all came from eBay.

Those two exceptions came from an antique show in Miami, and the 26th Street Flea Market here in New York.

And some of them are "old pics of young dudes." :)

I'm just glad all these mostly anonymous subjects are getting a second moment in the (halogen!) sun.

Ptoo - this looks awesome, I cant wait to swing by and see in person, love the pink stool things. I might have to go in and look at those!!!

Ptoo gets my vote fo sho. Loving the rugs. Missing the steer from the sketch, just a little.

The empty frames evoke a time-traveling louche dandy with (perhaps) a hidden agenda. Nicely done.

Patrick...when are you coming down to Miami? I want to go shopping with you (and discuss the merits of aubergine, naturally)...

Depends... do I have your vote?? ;)

Patrick, you've totally got my vote. I would seriously move into that room. If I had a room like that when I was single I know it would have been a deal-closer.

Patrick, you've got it..... ;)

haters are you kidding?
This is the best one!!!
I wanted to see someone go all out and Patrick did.
You got my vote.

Splomo--

Your "time traveling" comment just registered... love it!!

And Azkathy--

For someone who says they are no designer, you sure do understand the mental process behind it! Loved your write up, so if that is you "overstepping," PLEASE keep on steppin'! :)

And again another plea to the NYCers to get down to Bloomingdale's to see the windows... these pics here are great, but in person, the color, lighting and detail of these windows real come to life. You'll also notice very cool details... cigars, Dior pumps, wristwatches, Bombay Sapphire... NOT all in the same window, mind you!!

You'll also see that it is the very cool theatrical-style lighting in mine that is casting a purple tint on the dark gray walls, and turning those BRIGHT red Chinese painted stools pinkish. And while it may tint these photos a bit, in "real life" that lighting makes the whole thing very "moonlit-magical..." (I *was* shooting for a "night time space."

And a BIG shout out to Bloomingdale's window guys for doing such an incredible job lighting all the spaces!!! You guys rocked it, and made us all look pretty spectacular.

A few weeks ago, I replaced a blown light bulb with the only one I had at the moment---a yellow one--in my ochre livingroom. Ay carumba! Awesome things happened to all the colors, and I started to think about uses of colored lighting for magical effects. So here goes the Other Patrick doing just that.

It's almost impossible to tell from the pictures just how this is working in Patrick's fabulous room here, though. Some of the (purple? blue?) light seems to be refracting up on the bottoms of the white vases and onto the open book on the floor--and he says the fuscia stools are really red, but the blond wood credenza seems unaffected, as well as the painting behind the white vases. . . . Is there a directional thing going on? Patrick, did you use theatrical gels?

All in all, screamingly original, unique, and wonderful---

PS

I'm not likely to get to see the windows in person. Is there any link to a website where I can see bigger pictures?

Thank you , Aulaire (and you are a tough critic sometimes, so I am humbled and flattered!!!)

The Bloomingdale's display magicians get all the credit for the lighting, although my notes to them did ask for a nighttime/"moonlight" effect, with a bit of color to it, like blue moonlight was washing in from an unseen window. Boy, did they deliver!

As far as what is and what isn't effected, I'd say it has to do with the amount of shine (or not) of each piece. That credenza (gorgeous, btw) is fairly matte, for example, so less altered by the light.

Also think the walls are effected because that color has a lot of pigment in it, so it responds to a lot of different lighting types and colors.

All these color extremes, though, are very much enhanced/exagerrated by the camera lens, so again, get to Bloomingdale's if you can!

Don't think there are bigger pictures around... but I'm working on it!! :)

Thanks again, all. The support of the AT community on an endeavor like this really means a lot.

This is the first time I have EVER liked the use of empty frames, also one of the most creative wall treatments. Kind of like one of my dreams where everything looks right, (but the background is alive,moving and changing.)
Looks like a room where something happened just before you walked in, but .......hmm?
I dont think I could live in a room this dark, but I love it anyway.

He had me at purple and red.
http://www.porterhousedesigns.com/colorsizzle/?p=876

How can I get selected to design a window in the D.C. area??

Is it really eggplant? looks gorgeous.

Ha! Fascinating about the element of gloss/flat finish, Other Patrick! Another tool for the arsenal after I now have to get my !$%*! advanced degree in Theatrical Lighting to learn how colors of light work with colors of things. But Yay, a whole new subject to pursue in '09.

I think the empty frames work so brilliantly because they're painted to match the wall. The effect flickers between gentleman's-library-panelling elegance and hey-where-did-all-the-other-guys-go? frisson.

I guess I'm the only one who was reminded of Hogwart's Boarding school by the wall of empty frames. It is a night out on the town for the magic portraits! ;)

Patrick, this is so lovely -- whimsical and mature at the same time. I'm not at all qualified to say much besides that, but I figured this was as good a place as any (well, probably better) to let you know that over the past couple years you have helped me develop an aesthetic of my own, and design-related priorities of my own, in a way I never imagined I would. When I first came to AT, fresh from the college dorms, I liked some rooms or houses I'd seen but I didn't know why, and moreover I didn't really care why -- it seemed like it was the realm of other people, people with money and style and fabulous flea markets right next door. But now my apartment is slowly, surely becoming a home I truly like, as opposed to just some place where I sleep -- and your frequent comments have really helped me out a lot.

I mostly just lurk, unless I'm trying to get free stuff in a giveaway contest, and so I've never really had a chance to thank you before. So: thanks! And congratulations on the window!

Wow. Okay THAT totally makes this all worthwhile. You made my day. More than you know.

I just saw the window in person this evening. Awesome! I'll have a Bombay Sapphire martini with a twist.

I'll put a twist in your martini anytime. ;)

Hey, finally got a chance to take more pictures! (Thanks, Mike!)

View them here:
http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Other-Spaces/The-Bachelor-Party/detail.esi?oid=6224688

Does anyone know who that credenza is by?

The credenza is a Calligaris piece, called (I think) the Horizon Buffet.

Available at "Furniture on 5" at Bloomingdale's!

Thanks Patrick. It's exactly what I have been looking for in my living room. i saw your window in person the other day....it's stunning.

I think that this room design lacks universal appeal. It seems to suit a certain clientele that is very limiting. The room certainly exudes theatrical flair, and you must have had fun putting it together; however, I do not think that it is livable on a daily basis. Thank you for allowing me to share my opinion.

Hmmm. I'd live there on a daily basis. Plus, um, IT'S A DEPARTMENT STORE WINDOW.

I'd be interested in hearing more about what you mean by "certain clientele that is very limiting."

I was able to get some more shots of the window... (thanks Mike, aka "sitegeek"!!)
http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Living-Rooms/The-Bachelor-Party/detail.esi?oid=6224688

Congratulations! It looks like you won! I wonder why they made the results bars disappear, though. That's odd.

Thank you Curtis... and I was in good company on this one!

Congratulations, PtO. My next question is: do you take clients? (I don't know if we're supposed to talk business here, but I'm sure it's OK to ask if you have a business website---)

http://www.athomewith.com/community/patrick/portfolio.esi?userid=10595548

:)