apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

It's very hip--I love the art and all the details--but I think I would be claustrophic in there.

Too busy and too dark for me -- almost Victorian in sensibility.

I think you missed a spot on the wall....

not my style, but still super cool.

Delightful! It's so dramatic and cosy at the same time. It's like a rich dessert for the eye.

It IS Victorian sensibility. And it's fabulous.

I think the dark paint and wall clutter shrinks the space. Hard to believe its 500 sq ft.

I could have fit a few more pictures on the walls!

Nicely done and looks great, but a little too busy for my tastes.

I Think it's a fabulous dramatic cave. Love it!

That gallery wall is splendid - it's like a puzzle made of art!

A lighter color wall would have helped.

I really like this - I wish there was a photo of the bedroom, though.

I had no idea that brothel chic had become the design movement of the moment. It seems to be a theme here

a bit too dark and chaotic for me but I do love the centerpiece on the table...is that coral?

The side of me that wants to display all of my posters and prints and photos simultaneously responds to this interior, but the side that likes natural light feels starved. It works very well in the lounge/bar/nightspot aesthetic. I do see windows on the floorplan, so I wonder how it looks with light coming in--that might help alleviate the claustrophobic aspect. I'm imagining images of an old natural history museum or explorers' society with dusty sunlight and faded velvet chairs.

i think it is different than anything that i have seen before--that is great! though it is not my style, i understand and see your point of view.

one of the best features is the picture placements behind the couch...yes, it is alot but i think you have to either go over the top or not at all...why play it safe when it comes to interior design.

good 4 u.

I love it so much! I adore your couch!

Different and dark. I wish we could actually see the space. According to the print layout, there was a bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen. I saw none of that.

Love everything but the pointy pillows on the couch. Absolutely love that you went against common believe that small spaces should be painted light. Love , love dark walls and abundance of art! Love all the drama and flea market opulence! That place has enough of character and wit to fill a mansion! It has a feel of being inside of a jewelry box or a some secrete hide out. Good for you for taking an unconventional way to live and decorate!

I like this room, but I wish there were photos of the kitchen and bedroom! Why aren't there any? I wouldn't vote the apartment Super Cool unless I got to see it all. So, I definitely think it's a cool room and memorable compared to other entries I've seen.

I would love to come and hang out at this place; it almost feels to me like an attic stuffed with important artifacts. A treasure room. I like that it has so much personality, but I agree - the dark walls are a little... oppressive.

how daring!

I like the drama -- there's a real sense of discovery. I was surprised to see the large bedroom on the floorplan; from the pictures I was expecting a studio. And where's the alcove on the floorplan -- did we see pictures of that?

there are a lot of elements I like about this place, but to me it feels like an antique store.

I agree, not enough natural light for me and the pointy pillows are a little strange, but otherwise fabulous.

As someone wrote on AT several years ago in reference to an apartment tour, it's the kind of place "where you would want to wake up giggling and naked".

I love it. But I too would like to see more photos. I keep referring to the floorplan, but I can't figure out where the fabulous wall of booze is. And what is in the alcove...

I'm very curious about the surrealist painting in the top center of the gallery wall....do you know anything about it? I own something quite similar--even the frame looks the same--but can find no info about the artist. My husband thinks it is a "starving artist" painting from the 60's. I probably paid too much for mine, but I found it very intriguing and wanted it anyway.

I love it all - except for the flags in the kitchen. Flags on the ceiling are a little too frat house for me - and definitely don't seem like they belong in this otherwise totally sophisticated tasted.

Also - many of the entries are only showing partial apartments, or focusing on one room!! Maybe because there is more to come later??

Sorry "otherwise totally sophisticated and tasteful place..."

Reminds me of a little pub.

While there is some interesting artwork, overall, it is definitely not my bag.

People criticize minimalist rooms from looking too much like furniture 'showroom -- This looks too much like a flea market stall.

I thought this was all one space until I saw the floorplan. Now I don't quite understand what we saw in the pics. Was that one room??

brave, but not my thing.

Yea, it seems like we only saw one room. Such an interesting floorplan - wish we could see more.

Although im more on the modern side i love it, and it feels realyl cozy.
great job.

Looks like you went on a Grand Tour of Europe, rather than a spree at Ikea.

Too much! It feels cramped.

Love it - but would like to see more. However, part of me feels like seeing this person's bedroom would be too, er, intimate...

makes me thirsty. too bad we can't see the other rooms, there might have been some nice contrast there.

While it's not for me, I gave it a super-cool vote because I think it's pretty amazing. There's a part of me that wishes I knew how to be so bold and daring.

Not my style at all but I did like the bar (or is that a kitchen counter?).

LOVE IT. The first entry to get me out from lurking in the shadows and actually vote.

i like the salon style method of hanging. i've been bandying about that idea for a wall in my living room for a while...i might just try it out now. love all the color.

It's a bit dark and overcrowded for my taste, but it definitely shows some personality. And it's clear that someone actually lives here!

I'm with Astrid -- love everything except the pointy pillows on the couch. Agree with LisaH -- looks like you went on the Grand Tour, which after so much MCM is truly refreshing.

This is a space that comes to life at night, and overcomes the bland architectural box. Love the fin-de-siècle quality, and love the salon-style of hanging artwork.

What a relief -- a place that is not bland or boring.

hey everyone, this is Matthew. I appreciate all your votes (positive and negative) and all your comments. I often have guests over who repeat the same things about the space, so its refreshing to hear from others. As to why the rest of the apartment is not photographed, I was only allowed to submit 4 photos with 1 being a close-up shot. If I become one of the finalists I will be asked to upload more photos of the apartment. Again, thanks for all comments and votes,

It does have a Victorian feel. I normally like Victorian interiors...

this place is positively sexy -- I love it!

a wonderful modern version of the artist's salon. Pictures of the bedroom really are needed instead of just the living room. Other than the pillows every thing is well thought out and designed. But it has no chance in this contest with other mid century drones voting.

looks like this entry has the same floorplan as yokie in dc's...maybe a mix-up?

Not my thing, but it certainly can't be said that it lacks personality. A nice change of pace to see such different style. I don't want to think about how long it would take to dust this place.

The floor plan doesn't make sense with the images. Where's that table? In the closet with the water heater? No: by the washer/dryer?

Amazing place.

I saw the boogey man in one of the photos:(

I like it cuz it looks like a place someone really lives in, and you could spend a lot of time just taking it all in. This is the most unique entry I've seen so far.

Wow! I especially love the rugs.

Is that the correct floorplan? I think I saw the same one on another entry.

Not my taste, but put together well....and very cozy! Extremely colorful and visual.

I love the kitchen cabinet lighted bar. My favorite entry so far. The maximalists hold my attention longer. This is an place you could keep discovering something new each visit.

Man, that painting wall is just so cool. And I love those words in the kitchen - they are all so random and fun. The rug placement seems a little odd to me though and not so sure about the painted sticks.

The picture of the floorplan is that of another contestant, trying to get AT to fix it.

Love your things, but too much going on at once!

Love! Don't think I've ever commented on someone's home before. Very cosy. The art wall is super cool!

I think the fact that you made black walls look this good is a pretty neat trick. I really do kind of like this.

Oh... and also I think it's interesting how you basically "tiled" the wall with the art. In a way it looks smaller, and in a way, since it makes your eyes massage the entire wall, it kind of seems to make it look bigger in a strange way.

I think I figured out the mystery of the curious floorplan mixup with the same apartment in DC -- the floorplan for this apartment is incorrect. To the best that I can tell, this house has NO WINDOWS. (No windows!?) If you check the floorplan, there aren't any windows where there should be -- like in the kitchen or living room.

The lack of windows is the reason why this apartment feels close-in -- it gets no light!

I love the wall of artwork;and that sofa-red velvet? Very nice and cozy.

What are the letters on the wall that say things like "Roam" and "Rare?" Are they actually raised metal letters? I love how they look! So cool!

Is it true, as someone said above that there are no windows? I'm thinking maybe there are windows in the bedrooms but none in the maybe interior living room? If so, that's a great way to make a window-less room feel more intentional, to make it into an artist salon!

There is a sliding glass door out to the balcony from the kitchen (behind the dining table) and windows in the bedrooms.

I absolultely LOVE your space. I'm so TIRED of seeing sparse, almost empty homes. Your place is exciting and a bit fun. I hope you have MANY years of ENJOYMENT there!

katied, the raised words are salvaged metal deco letters

Matthew G: Your apartment includes many beautiful pieces. But, unfortunately, with so many eclectic pieces in such a small space, the apartment is left feeling claustrophobic, dark, and visually overwhelming. I would urge you to either judiciously prune your collection to enhance the space or simply find a larger home where your furnishings can be displayed more prominently.

Herringbone, I agree completely with your comment, unfortunately I am still a student and this is what I have, so I'm just "saving up" for when I am able to trade up and spread things out.

I think this probably doesn't appeal to the taste of most AT readers, but I love the salon feeling here. I appreciate the theme that has emerged as opposed to seeing another tasteful space.

I often find that people complain "cluttered" when an apartment looks full to me. I guess people have different thresholds for clutter, but to me, everything here has a place, so I don't get that feeling. Of course it seems spaces do look more cluttered in photos too.

Love the salon-style art display. Very appropriate that you live in Chelsea.

Very New York, especially the profusion of artwork. Although it seems to me that the bold choice of that much artwork needs to be offset with simple, uncluttered furniture.

I love the couch with the full picture wall... I would love it even more if there was some blank wall space somewhere else in the room to balance it out.

Not my style either very very busy but I still think is speechs of the invidual's style, I think its pretty kool with a "K"!

great objects but too many of them. as a fellow collector i'd suggest building out a closet for art and object storage. or an armoire. maybe limit your gallery wall by editing off at the edges and closing it in. LIKE YOUR TV AREA (photo 5) which is GREAT.

put doors back on the kitchen cabinets and/or edit the liquor bottles and the backlighting. (it really looks like a great bar, but not a home).

can't imagine dusting this place... and the ceiling tapestry/hanging in particular is bound to house dust and dead insects.

this much something demands some nothing for balance.

Not exactly my thing, I go for lighter colors, however I have done the wall full of art and photos. : )

I don't think I would even think about the city outside while in that apartment.

Really cool. Neo-victorian style rocks!

Love it.
Absolutely not my thing.
But love it.
You've done this 'look' well.
Reviewers calling for 'lighter' walls just don't 'get' this look.
The picture-filled walls are the best features too.
Maybe you could edit a competing area rug or two, but this vibrant cozy place is otherwise an accomplishment.
:)

It is too busy and too dark for me.

i love it. not for me but i love this space. i think the flags need to go but i love the words on the "backsplash"

am DYING to see the bedrooms.

Overall, this is a neat space. Something different. It may not be what others may choose to live in but I love that Matthew chose a very dark or what looks to be a black color for his wall colors. Quite bold to totally cover the wall with frames and pictures. I think it's quite neat.

The flags have got to go and because the cabinets are not shelves in the kitchen, they really looked unfinished like they want the doors back on them. For having open storage, I really thinkg shelving is the way to go rather than taking the cabinet doors off.

Pretty interesting. I would love to see what the bedroom looks like.

Karen

I love this. And I didn't expect to. Must go paint a room black.

this reminds me of chris' friend's way over the top rococo apartment in project runway.

Makes me feel claustrophobic.

It's more World of Interiors than the more typical Domino- or Dwell-inspired AT place. Love the individuality.

That is just too much trash in one place. I hope you have renter's insurance because that place is gonna burn burn burn with all that mess. You can do better!