Name: Joel
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Type: Loft, rented - a sewing factory in a previous life
Go to: Joel's Original Entry
Joel's favorite OTHER entry:
My favorite entry in the contest (besides my own) is: #42 John & Anna's Old and New Rendezvous - Not only does the overall aesthetic appeal to my particular tastes, I like the use of color. It's interesting that even though the wall isn't white, the green (in the first picture) manages to become a canvas highlighting the artwork in front...
All the colors in the art piece work well with it. In the second picture, despite the brightness of the rug and artwork, the simplicity of the combination is warm and interesting without being overdone.
What do you want to do next in your home, if anything, to improve it?:
There are actually two things I would like to do to my place next. The first is to completely finish the living area. It's almost there as you can see in the pics but it's not quite complete. That's why a CB2 prize is so appealing!. Then, I also want to finish my kitchen. It is the room I like to spend a lot of time in and right now it still has the industrial unfinished feel of a typical Brooklyn converted loft. I like the industrial aesthetic but it needs to gain some human feeling to make it comfortable and a pleasure to work in.
- Joel
Copyright © 2007 Apartment Therapy
Gorgeous! This place makes lime green look lovely where it may not otherwise.
Well, lime green sure is the color of the moment, isn't it?
It's completely personal, but the insane greens we've been seeing this year is not a trend I want to get behind. I do love the texture in the apartment, especially the big bricky things. Maybe someone's asked this before, but how do you make the lightbulb chandelier? I saw what was probably the inspiration for this one at MoMA, but couldn't figure out how to make it for myself without 50 electrical cords and potentially blowing out my fuses.
There is just so much I love about this entry...the art, the amazing chair, the lightbulb chandelier (from ReadyMade?), the Ugly Doll, the cartons in the kitchen...great job! Congratulations on making the finalists! (And did you have that chair upholstered, or where is it from?)
i was trying to figure it out myself -- since only a handful of the bulbs actually light, you could attach the rest to a base with wire or cord and only have a few with actual electrical wire running to your power source. i love the way it looks, though.
Wow. So cool! Lime green certainly seems to be the color of the moment. It looks so good in the pictures we've seen. I like the light bulb fixture, but what about that industrial looking chair with the blue flowers - is that decoupage?
I LOVE. LOVE. LOVE your house....maybe because it's the house I dream of one day owning.
Cheering you on hoping you win!
While I'm disappointed that John's Harmonious Hues only placed as an honorable mention and even sadder I didn't place at all : ( I'm thrilled to see one of my faves among the finalists. So nice to get to see more of it too!
This place is fantastic - great colors, layout, texture with just the right amount of unique accessories. Contemporary and warm, this entry has it all. Way to go Joel! Congrats!
Where's Joel's vidoe? It rocked my socks off!
It's on youtube: Joel's lime green loft. Can't find it now. :(
Oh crap! The competiton just got a whole lot harder! Way to bring it Joel - I knew there was a reason why I picked your place as my favorite. This is amazing. The DIY style is totally where its at. Glad to see the finalists are shaping up!
Okay.. I just watched the video (link wasnt there before...odd) SOoooooOooOOo much fun. Made me smile, gave me some great ideas. Good luck!
Looks awesome! Love your floors (what are they concrete?) and the brick walls. Was one of my favorites from the original round and I am so glad I got to see more. Oooooh green competition! ;-)
Love Love Love it. Please win! :)
What was the name of the song/artist that was playing with it? I was hopping around in my wheelie seat. My co-workers think I'm nuts...
Joely-baby,
I am so happy for you. Your entry was one of my favorites! I even showed it to my sister-in-law because I was suggesting she paint a wall in her family room lime green. I am not with the lime green (or chartruese as I call it) critics. I have always loved this color. I had been thinking about doing my place in this color but now seem to be in love with raspberry and turquoise. Ooops - don't want to talk about my place, want to talk about yours.
I love:
The color obviously, and your graphic punches. It is so amazing how you have turned ordinary and mundane objects into art. I adore how you have turned potential coldness into warmth. (examples, the cold steel of the letters against that beautiful green and that fab metal chair covered with flower wallpaper.)
I find the collection of GI Joes displayed intriguingly and they add to the cohesiveness of your place. I love the milk cartons lined up (what is litago?). Again, I love ordinary and mundane objects displayed as art, also I find that repetition adds ooomph. I also love amateur art and was fascinated by the collection of (crocheted?) bowls. At first I thought they were ceramic. I bet your girlfriend made them. Of course I love the chandelier, that almost goes without saying.
Most intriguing is the white textile in your dining area. At first glance I thought it was bricks. I can tell by looking at your place that you and your girlfriend are artists. I wish I had some artist friends! I am so jealous, it must be wonderful to be a creative couple.
Your video was great too. I love how you had clips that showed your inspiration. I am amazed at young people's creativity and techie ability.
You had asked if I work in graphics. I have a very boring computer desk job, but am fascinated by design.
Would you and your girlfriend like to come to Cleveland to share a pizza and knock down a wall or two?
I hope you win (unless Fernanda's place makes it into the finals). That would be a tough choice. My favorites were: Fernanda, Melonie and Peter's Home Studio Harmony and Joel's Lime Loft.
Good luck. Maybe you can post your place with the prizes you pick!
This is such a great entry; far and away my favorite of the so-far finalists. Watching the video made me want a margarita and some time in that apartment.
I would love to know how that great light bulb chandelier was put together. Best of luck in the final judging!
hey everyone! Thanks for all the great comments so far!
Here's a couple quick answers to questions:
My room mate made the chair out of drywall and metal studs a couple years ago for an exhibition. So since it was drywall I used wall coverings (paint and wallpaper) to finish it. We cut the wallpaper in places to let the color below come through it.
The chandelier isn't from ReadyMade... (although maybe I should submit it?...)it's a 99 cent store special. I bought almost everything for it there... It has 4 lit bulbs in it (which I've kept at 60w) and all four plug separately but directly into a socket in the ceiling. The cords are hidden by all the strings tied to the light bulbs and a ring on the ceiling. I liked the idea of using bulbs as a shade.
The floors are concrete - they feel kind of cold which is one of the reasons a warm bright color was chosen. The other reason was that it compliments the couch. I'm amazed at how many people have been using it! :) Go Green, Becca!
Christine, I'm totally with you. I liked John's Harmonious Hues, too!
Adam, you rock! congrats and good luck to you, too!
If you'd like, you can see the video on blip, too. The sound and images got a little out of whack on youtube for some reason but it works on blip: http://blip.tv/file/101470/ weird...
The music is "El Watusi" by Ray Barretto who (just coincidentally, as I found out) was raised in Brooklyn.
"I LOVE. LOVE. LOVE your house....maybe because it's the house I dream of one day owning."
HAHA, Athalie you knock me out!
This is one very groovy pad.
I love your place! (and video to boot..)
You, Tyler, and Brooke. The final three thus far.. in my books. Congrats!
super video - well done.
Well played!
I love this place.
It looks like a great place to entertain.
And the video is great--seems to have a hint of Nacho Libre to it. Do you wear strechy pants around home sometimes?
This place looks fantastic.
loving the chandelier too, and with your description of using just 4 lit bulbs, one could conceivably use eco-friendly fluorescent bulbs for the actual light and others for the decor. any chance of getting a pictorial tutorial on how you made it?
Your sweet video totally made my day. I'm crossing my fingers for you.
You have so many fun things to look at in your place and I love the green and brown knitted bowls. Who the heck made those? I want some.
I'm glad to see this one included.
Joel, you HAVE to win.... your home is amazing!!! And your use of colors is remarkable. That lime green is just the perfect color to complement your dark floor and brick wall. I love the idea of using colorful fresh fruit as an adornment in the living room. The cushions with different colors, shapes and fabrics give so much life to your grandma's gray sofa (which is beautiful, by the way). Lime green articles (tablecloth, apples, bowls, etc) are strategically placed all over the apartment to give a sense of unity. Besides the green you have used other vibrant colors such as orange, blue, yellow and red, in a smaller scale, which add variety to the whole look.
Before I found out that you were a finalist, I had looked at your entry several times and was totally inspired by your creativity, your sense of color and design... and by the fact that you did so much without spending much... that's the best part. I truly admire people who decorate skillfully (like you) with beautiful homemade things and "recycled" inexpensive (or free) furniture.
Congratulations!!!! You have my vote. By the way, I love the video. Hope you win :)
While I liked this place originally, it was not one of my favorites, however, upon seeing the additional photos, I'm definitely impressed, if nothing for your amazing chandelier (I showed it to my hubby and even he said "wow"!)! I like the green, but it doesn't take over your whole place, which can be a problem sometimes - I think I painted my bathroom that same green and whenever I go in it I think I look like the hulk.
Nice entry and very fun video! Love that chicken at the end :)
Thank you all so much for your extraordinarily kind comments! We had a lot of fun creating the space and making it ours.
Peggy, I appreciate your long post tremendously and am happy that you like it. Yes, my girlfriend made the knitted bowls. I think she's fabulously talented but I could be just a bit biased :)
Susan, I agree about Tyler and Brooke, I like them very much. Both have done great things keeping thier personality through the design.
Christine, are you #60? I like your space, too. Well done. I'm surprised if you're not a finalist!?!
Lemons, the eco friendly bulbs is a great idea. I like the compact fluorescent ones from ikea. I have them in my kitchen and bedroom. You can't beat the low 7 watts they use! and sure, I could do a pictorial thing... I'll start working on that.
Spinny, "sometimes when you are a man, you wear stretchy pants. You know, it's for fun."
Wow, that video sure deserves a prize! I raise my caipirinha to you.
This place is 15 pounds of groovy in a 10-pound bag!
Really cool and beautiful. The creative people who scrounge around for furnishings on the cheap inevitably come up with a way more interesting mix than the Richie Riches of the world who make one stop at DWR with their credit card.
My sister painted her formerly little-girl pink bedroom that acid green color when she was about 11 in the early 60s... I thought it was cool then and I think it's cool now!
Congrats Joel on your win, you deserve it, this is by far my favorite entry.