apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

You know, I think that if you framed that piece above the sofa in a wood matching your coffee table and chair--and hung it about 6" up from the sofa--you'd have a nice contrast. As well, flank it with a couple of modern looking wall brackets with upright transitor radios on either side. I think that would be a cool statement too.

Nicely done.

I agree with Alana about the art. Another option (and these are not mutually exclusive): Hable Construction's stretched canvases.

http://www.hableconstruction.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16809&category_id=449

Hey, I've got that globe lamp! It was one of my first purchases when I got my own place back in 1812.

I like the way the style and scale of the furniture works in this space, and I love the radios.

Speaking of radios. . . I have a KLH FM radio from the 1960s and wonder if anyone knows where in NYC I can get it repaired.

law student?

Worse -- lawyer.

Thanks for the advice, all! I like the idea of mounting the radios on brackets. Any tips on finding them?

I agree with Alana's first comment; the relationship between the ear diagram and a couple of antique radios would be lovely. Otherwise, lovely place. I would move in tomorrow if invited, and when I did, I would bundle the cords under the entertainment center and hide them from view!

Good point re: cords under the credenza. I really noticed it when I looked at the pictures. Also, the cords from the antique radios (three of which are plugged in and work beautifully, after about 30 seconds to warm up the old vacuum tubes), which I've been meaning to secure to the back of the bookcase.

As for moving in, I certainly appreciate the enthusiasm for my decor, but I think my lady friend might take umbrage...

david - brackets for the radios: maybe try the Umbra invisible bookshelves, on the Umbra site, and I think they were covered on this site too.
I agree with framing the piece above the couch, and I think the wall would be beautiful painted a gold or warm yellow, to complement those lights.

White paint and beige rugs? Uggh.

Ok then Brian - which would you change? the wall color or the rugs or both? Patterns or solids? I like the idea of one wall of wallpaper - I can't think of a patterned rug I'd like with the decor.

Im not trying to speak ill of this person's apartment at all, but don't know where else to ask this question. Ignore if inappropriate here. But, I wonder, does anyone feel like this look is so dated (beyond the true date, but say for the last two years)? Is absolutely everyone on this site trying to do mid century in their apartment? Do people really like it? Isn't this look over? Again, not insulting the place at all but the repetiveness of apartments that look like this is really fascinating to me.

Might be interesting to spead the radios around the room rather than grouping them all together. I know that grouping is common for collections, but because the radios are larger, they may integrate into the overall decor more if they are placed about the room on various side tables, chairs, etc. Anyone with a keen eye would still notice that you collect them even in a non-grouping arrangement. Since they are usable, though, you may be limited by how many outlets you have... Just a thought :)

Love your radio collection!
I'm not that happy with your bookshelf, it looks a little bit crowed and empty at the same time (you know what I mean?), so I would look for better place to dispay the radios.

Me -

I am generally a trailing indicator, fashion-wise, so if the NY Times piece did not confirm it, my apartment is certainly strong evidence that mid-century modern is, like, so over.

In my defense, I really do like it, and I have the advantage of having grandparents who bought wisely in the middle of the century to which we are referring, and who also never throw anything out. And I've had most of these pieces (the desk & dresser, most of the chairs and lamps, all of which are hand-me-downs) in my various homes for nearly ten years. So both the style and much of the furniture itself have an emotional connection for me, above and beyond their temporary retro vogue which expired, per your comments, circa two years ago.

But have no fear: in five years, when damask/neo-Victorian or what have you is about to jump the shark, I will no doubt latch on to the tail end of that bandwagon as well.

david -

whether or not MCM is "over" (some people probably declared it over about the time the case study houses came around, circa 1947), I love your space and wouldn't trade it for all the damask in the world (which I like, in pieces, but in a way I feel like that's already jumped the shark too).

i agree re: 'crowded but empty' - it looks too busy. i think the bookcase would look much better if you took out the framed pictures, or kept only the framed pictures in a given shelf. also, like missmobtown said, bundle up the cords (but leave the radios on top), and the globe lamp looks kind of funny - like a bull's eye there in the center. a little too cliched. with just a little tweaking, i think it's a knockout.

the bookshelves are too big and black, they dominate the room. and the hodgepodge of chairs is distracting.

I like it. It reminds me a lot of my own unit. I get the addiction to chairs - I have had to curb buying anymore myself. May I offer a tip? The electric cords behind your bookcase can be easily hidden by taping them behind the vertical bookshelf supports. It will make your bookcase look a lot neater. Just my two cents. Nice place.

um yeah, i have the same unit in white and I like that it takes over a whole wall, it's like built-ins. and i also have too many chairs, but i usually have lots of people sitting in them so i feel it's justified.

and for all those who've decried MCM being 'over' well trends catch a little slower outside of manhattan and for some of us we might actually be living two years ago as far as trends... or maybe we just like the lines and the quality of the furniture and like the idea of collecting. poo.

would you consider painting the wall behind the bookcases a darker color?

Sure, I'd paint that wall. In fact, the previous occupants had that wall painted a kind of tennis ball green-yellow (very fashionable these days, if you believe the Fall Colors Contest!). But since I have the white sofa on the other wall, I though about maybe painting the other wall instead...

Any ideas on color schemes? I got sort of waylaid at the stage of choosing a color scheme; I was looking at some bolder colors, but I chickened out and went very conservative, very neutral.

I'm new to this business but I think you have wonderful ideas and taste. Your grandparents must be super people