apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Whoa...was she in her skivvies in the last pic? Almost felt like a Peeping Tom seeing that pic.

Love love love walls in living room.

Was that a mirrored closet in the bathroom? Seems strange to have that much reflection while doing your business.

Love those blue/black/beige pillow in the bedroom: leaves on the bed & circles on the chair. Anyone know where I can find those? Thanks.

LOVE it. Beautiful. (psst, please put the toilet seat down, thanks.)

great paint colors and trim details, but the furniture on an angle?
if you look at any design magazine or books you will not see this technique and there is a reason.

Where can i get find that brownstone lampshade in the bedroom?

beautiful apt!

Was that last shot for her craiglist postings? People in bed pointing their cameras at themselves in a mirror, not good.

I like the furniture on an angle, adds a little dimension and freshness. If it was a more traditional layout it would get to formal, especially against all that decorative trim on the walls.

Who is Drea M.?

Nice apartment. Love the lampshade. The porn shot is kind of tacky.

You can make a lampshade like Christine's (which is probably what she did). There's a project in a great book I have titled "Photocraft: Cool Things to do with the Pictures You Love." (Click on my name.)

There's so much I love about her apartment and I'd already been looking at her photos before this post! (Except the last one.)

Patrick,

Can you please explain the reason why furniture should not be angled?

Frankly, kinda' bleak, banal, and dismal.

I wouldn't go that far, but for me it lacked the drama that certain architectural features called for. She started to get it right with the drapes and a few other items. It's all about evolution.

I don't know why having the word dream painted over the bed kind of bugs me. It's stating the obvious in a way, isn't it?

I'm surprised by all the negative reactions. I thought the paint colors were great, and while it isn't exactly what I'd do, I thought it was very warm and inviting. It's definitely a female apartment, which may be why some of the guys aren't enthusiastic.

I'm curious about the shade of yellow paint!

Wow. First - amazing apartment!

Love what you have done to your front room. The way that you have blended the different colors of the sofa (is it purple?) & chair, yet maintan the same fabric is very cool. Also, I like that you have used a number of materials - metal, wood, etc.

Your kitchen is hip, too. The curtain totally works!

I was actually expecting more in your bedroom, though. The word "Dream" and the black/white lampshade is definitely your own personality coming into play. Maybe add color and texture to your bed? I could see pillows of various colors, sizes and textures being used. Can you do anything different with your mirrored closet doors?

Overall - great apartment!

yecch. too busy, too girly.
the post-mod soft-porn shot ain't so bad.

sarah and casandra, i feel that if you put furniture on an angle and like it, then go forth and angle. but, it is an overused trick, that shouts i am putting my bed and rug against the conformity of this right angled room.i am a decorating rebel. i should know i tried it many years ago in my first apartment and realized it made me feel uncomfortable to see furniture floating in a room unanchored. and i'm talking about a grouping furniture, of course i don't mean all pieces of furniture.

First thought...that's my rug in the livingroom! I like the overall look of her space, even though it's not my style (except for the rung, of course). However, I'm surprised by the use of the overhead flourescent light in the kitchen and would prefer something lower and softer. Maybe some undercounter lights or even lamps on the counter.

I had to look again. The colors in the LR make me happy and I love the divider drape. Could the kitchen rug be from Urban Outfitters?

I see Christine took down the last photo. It did make the bed look very comfortable.

I like what she's done with the living room. The angling of the furniture works in this case, it's not forced. If Patrick was a little more observant he'd have noticed how the angling of furniture flows with the similarily angled parquet floors.

Her nod to the traditional with the interjection of some interesting comtemporary pieces is great. She has an eye for the accent pieces.

Christine, I think you could do more with the kitchen though. Consider replacing your mundane dinette set with a warm French styled bistro table and chairs.

I can see why you highlighted the Brooklyn accent lamp in the BR. I like it! Your bulletin board does fly in the face of your living room's great look, but sentimental value wins over style here for you, I guess.

Hey, I like your last shot. You're a cute girl who loves her new place is what that says. People behave! ;)

Something about the authoritative "DREAM" right over the bed frightened me - it seems almost like a command. I think that if I was having sexual intercourse with this woman, it would seem like God himself was yelling "DREAM!" at me, or at her, during coitus...it would be intimidating. I believe it would ultimately cause a loss of the so-called "erection".

pbphoenix,

thanks for the link.

Hi folks,

YIKES! First of all, the last shot was not meant for Apt Therapy. I didn't tag it, so I didn't think it would show up when you looked up apttherapynewyork on the search button. I just joined flickr last week and am still trying to figure it out. Anyway, MY BAD for all those people that felt like a Peeping Tom. I am SO sorry; THAT was so not my intention. The picture is not part of the Brooklyn Apartment slide show anymore.

Okay, to respond to the other comments...

My apt is a rental so it came with the awful fluorescent lights and sliding mirrors in both the bathroom and the bedroom. With that said, painting was my only splurge since I hate spending money on something I can't take with me when I move. Now if I owned this apartment, that would be a totally different story. I'd have no problem gutting out the kitchen, bathroom, and definitely changing out the very 80's sliding mirror doors. Oh well, one can only dream.

Hmmm... the "dream" on the wall had double-meaning for me. However corny this sounds, moving to NYC was definitely a dream come true. So I didn't mind having the word on my bedroom wall as a reminder, especially when I'm having a very bad day at school and work. Also, I'm sort of an insomniac and only sleep about 3-4 hours a day. I was hoping the power of suggestion might help me sleep more. On the other hand, I might be just a total masochist. My other choices for the stencil were "bite me" which my sister talked me out of and the Dr. Seuss quote "Be who you are and say what you feel..." which I thought would require too much work for a first-time stenciler. Should I have reconsidered?

Yes, I agree with the dinette set being very mundane. I would love to find a french bistro set that wouldn't take too much space. I like to cook w/ friends... so even a small 28" round would be too big for my galley kitchen. But if anyone finds any possibilities, pass it my way. I've been definitely looking. Nothing too expensive please... I'm dreading when my student loans kick in...

With regards to the angling of the furniture, I respectfully disagree. I think that you can float furniture in a room if you anchor it with perhaps a rug and other pieces of furniture. I've used that "technique" in several design projects at school and I've yet to have a professor tell me it doesn't work. As Pedro mentioned, the parquet floors do go on a 45 degree angle, so in a sense there is a visual continuity. I don't think of myself as a decorating rebel. The way I see it.. I wanted 3 zones in the main room - a living room, a work area for my drafting table, and entry space with a console and coat rack. By angling the living room part, it created that zone, opened up the space and also provided a pathway between the bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. Believe me, I spent a whole afternoon trying out several configurations with the furniture and I still found this arrangement the best for the space. Also, my friends were ready for mutiny after the umpteenth moving of furniture! :P

Anyway, thanks so much for all of the comments- good, bad, kind, not so kind, and absolutely hilarious. ( Jonathon, please take a bow!) Being that design is so subjective, it's always interesting to hear about other people's opinions and perspectives. I really welcome that. But I guess in the end, the most important criteria is that the person living in the space is happy and finds that coming home is always a pleasure. I have to say this apartment have so far fulfilled that requirement for me. Ironically though, I'm itching to try something different... perhaps something with a neutral palate and a more masculine and modern aesthetic. Hehe.. I think it would look stunning against the traditional architectural details that are original to the apartment. I guess you just have to stay tuned. LOL

Sorry...a couple more comments.

The kitchen runner is the Moroccan Rug from West Elm.

All of the blue pillows are from Thomas Paul.

The brownstone lamp is from A.E. Jennings Design.
I wish I had the talent and time to make such a cool lamp. I took the easy route and bought the lamp from a store called Overtures on Hicks Street in Brooklyn Heights ( 216 Hicks Street, 718-643-9345). Btw, pbphoenix, great link! Thanks.

The yellow paint in the bedroom and bathroom is called Blonde and is from Ralph Lauren. From what I've heard, they've discontinued this color.

The sofa is actual a deep chocolate brown, but in a certain light you can see the plum undertone.

I guess I got here too late. I don't mind feeling like a peeping Tom.

Oh, nice apartment too.

I am also surprised by the negative comments. I love this place! (also live in the neighb, so it's a bonus). No it's not picture perfect but someone actually lives there so it wouldn't ever be. I think you've done a fabulous job with it Christine. Don't change a thing.

I read through the comments before checking out the pictures and was expecting not to like anything but the opposite is true.

Without meaning any offense, because I am merely stating a fact about me, I would not have chosen to furnish a place like this in the way that Christine did and would not have chosen any of the same furniture. But my taste is different.

However, I do like the look of the LR a lot. It has a richness and depth that I would not be able to achieve and it does not looked cluttered.

Just as some ppl may think of putting furniture on an angle is a design cliche, then thinking that this is universally wrong is also a design cliche. Obviously it depends on the layout and the person living there.

Kat, 50% of the pictures of the toilet showed it with lid down. Does that count or make your suggestion only 50% valid? ;)

As to the dream word above the bed, again I was expecting the worst but again I was pleasantly surprised at how well it turned out. It looks like the whole panel is a stencil with the words cut out instead of the words being as a result of spraying through a stencil. I think it works well with the moldings and the colors.

Finally, I know a lot of commenters did not know this when they posted but because I know this is a rental I am more impressed that Christine made it look it she owns it (mirrored closet doors notwithstanding of course).

Exceptional!!!!!!!!

I love your home. I especially like your window treatments in the living room. Care to share where I might find them (curtains and hardware)?

Thanks.

What a fun apartment- I love your eclectic style- although I think "Bite Me" Would have been hilarious....

And as for the angling of the living room furniture- I think it's dynamic- it works- why do people think that furniture should always be parallel to the wall near it?

The diagonal living room arrangement was the feature I liked best because it gives a cozy space while taking the focus off the adjacent kitchen and avoiding "movie theater syndrome." It's not about being a decorating rebel -- it's about setting off the space for its function.

actually, i think this is one of the rare instances where the sliding door mirror thing works. the combination of that and the overall look of the place creates this nice 'hollywood glam' look that keeps it from being just an uberfemme chick pad. you've pulled that feature into the room in a way that makes them seem like a design choice rather than an annoying obstacle.

Hmmm...the bathroom/vanity area is the best thing about this apartment. i really dislike the living room rug and the armchair, which do not go with the brownstone brooklyn interior look. C. did a good job with the galley kitchen though.

It is a nice "uberfemme chick pad" (thanks for the new phrase opopo). I second the notion that the "bite me" stencile would have been better though.

Kinda makes me want to put something totally out of place in there and try to make it work. Like buying a nice replica shotgun, enameling it white and hanging it by the door with a LV printed shell bandolier.

pretty girlie space

it has a lil bit of the Las vegas bordello look
with the the brightly colored sheer curtains inside the kitchen, the red and green colors, the animal prints...

the tiger print pillow along with plain black and a leaf print is obviously a sexpot screaming to leave her mark on the basically plain jane bed

http://www.earlyranch.com/Bordello.jpg Bordello.jpg

PORN?! I saw the picture before it was removed from the slideshow and as usual, folks in this group tend to over-exaggerate. Man, some of you guys really need to get rid of your Quaker attitude.

Love your place Christine! I too read all the comments first, then looked at the slideshow (because I couldn't get it to work yesterday!) and was pleasantly surprised. I love the dining area of the kitchen, but the rest of the kitchen not so much. I know it's a rental though, and you don't want to invest so much into changing the cabinets etc. I guess these are the types of cabinets you can't paint... Anyone know about these things?

As for the sliding mirror doors-- I wish I had something like that in my bedroom... *wink, wink* but I'm not keen about having in my bathroom. Would something like these window adhesives work on mirrors?
http://2jane.com/detail.aspx?ID=124

Anyway, my comment turned into babbling... Sorry. Thanks again for sharing!

Really nice, Christine - thanks for sharing.

My sofa and chaise are at an angle too - the fireplace is the corner, so I'd rather face that than a wall.

I think it works in your space.

Saya, I think that would work. Most bathroom mirrors are simply glass on top of a reflective surface. Those films should stick fine.

And I must add that I'm sad I missed the panty pic. From your other pics we think you look cute! Maybe next time I post something from my place I'll have K. take the photo. I prefer boxer briefs.

Wow.... thanks again for all the interesting comments. I enjoy reading the various POV's and am so appreciative for people taking the time to give feedback. I especially love the ones that really go in-depth.

The curtains and hardware were from Restoration Hardware. I coveted the duchesse silk curtains from the Silk Trading Company but found the price too steep for my student budget. I thought the ones from Restoration were a nice alternative.

I love the idea of a lacquered rifle and and an LV bandolier.. Anyone know where I can find them? I envision changing out the stencil to Bite Me and hanging the rifle and bandolier over the bed. What do you think about that Jonathon? :P

The 2jane window adhesives are really cool. i might just do something like that for my bathroom.

Anyone have any ideas to fixing up my kitchen cabinets? I don't think I'm allowed to paint them; I'll have to ask my landlord. The cabinet doors are made with cheap looking faux laminates. I should be able to peel it off. I've never tried so I don't know how difficult it would be.

Panty pics?! LOL. Good lord, there were never any panty pics. FYI, I was actually wearing a summer cotton sun dress but I guess people think they are my skivvies. Go figure. Boxer briefs, Max? Hmmmm....

Christine, if you really wanted to do the laquered long gun I'd buy an Airsoft replica, they are usually only about $25-$40.

Here's a nice pistol grip shotgun: http://www.21stcenturyairsoft.com/details/p788

You'd have to dig up some replica shells somewhere. I'd make the bandolier out of some LV fabric bought on Canal St. For extra class I'd paint the metal "seat" of the shells gold.

Christine-

Went to Restoration this weekend. Thank you so much for following up on my question. Not only a beautiful apt., a wonderful person.

Happy Fall!
Marnie

Love the wall color!

Max-

Thanks for the pistol link and the suggestions on how to make a bandolier. I had no idea you can buy LV fabric in Canal. I've seen the fake bags... are you suggesting I buy one of those and take it apart? Damn.. I can't wait to do this project. It's going to be so chic! Haha... if it looks good, I'll take a picture of it along w/ a panty pic... Yeah right, just kidding. But thanks again for your help.

Beautiful place - I've been there, and the most impressive part is that I know that Christine keeps it looking like that all the time. She did not clean the place for these photos. I doubt that most designers actually live like their showcased apartments.

Too bad you removed the panty shot. Jim wanted to see it.

Christine,

I think you can buy LV fabric on Canal, I swear I've seen it. Otherwise I'd just buy one of the real cheap bags and take it apart like you mentioned.

Love the apartment! You have such great taste!

Personally, I like the angled living room. When you enter the room, the angle of the setup into the visitor is more inviting. I'm not sure what to call the motif, because it is not necessarily contrasting (everything seems to go with each other), and it is not in the same color palette (browns, blues, purples, reds, greens, who would have thunk?!) The circles and lines go quite well. It really gives the room a lot of character.

I love the kitchen... the pattern above the fridge, and how the browns are broken up by the splashes of color (such as the wired hanging candles). Very nice touch. And the deep brown rug gives the wall a bit more color than just brick.

I don't mind the mirror in the bathroom. It does what a mirror is supposed to do, which is i) practical use to check out your outfit, and ii) makes the room look bigger. (And, you don't want to look at yourself doing your business, you can just look straight ahead).

The bedroom looks so comfortable. The yellow makes it very relaxing, and the white sheets are so simple and clean. Love the lampshade, love the "Dream," love the pillows. Zebra and leaves. Again, it goes so well together that I can't call it contrasting. For now, I will call it "Christine-ing" for lack of a better term.

Keep it up!

It is true. Christine's apartment is always this clean. It was not staged for the photos. Also, the angled couch is great because she can store a lot of crap behind it (not that she does). When people come to visit, that's where the suitcases go!

Christine also redid our apartment in San Francisco, her sister's loft, and her parents' house. Each place has a completely different style. She's so talented.

Grace --

Can we see more of Christine's work somewhere? Sister's loft sounds interesting, as well as your SF place.

You'll have to ask Christine.