apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Hey Splatgirl,

I'm curious to see what folks suggest. I myself am a bit stumped, having glimpsed the further fabulous innards from your blog. To which you should provide links so folks can get an idea of your aesthetic and salivate over what you've done so far.

This gal is no diy slouch, people! if she's asking for help ... it must be a conundrum, indeed.

-- Olga

Those windows look terrific. Their shape mimics the windows in the front wall and are so minimal that they go with the design of the foyer. Just because you thought you were just storing the windows, doesn't mean that you haven't stumbled on an interesting piece of art. You need one or two more, though.

Splatgirl rocks!

It definitely looks like a display space. It would look cool with some sort of sculptural piece with bright colors. Something that could stand on its own or be suspended. I could see something organic as well. Like a nice line of green wheatgrass or tall bamboo. If your lighting comes from the bottom it would be a nice effect with grass or bamboo. You could even hide some plant-friendly grow lights in the soffit above.

Whatever you do, incorporate downlighting.

I'd like to see it lined with random bamboo or snake-grass uprights.

Oops, art beat me to that idea!!

I love (and covet) your window collection! I think the window display should stay but suspend them from the ceiling with some sort of wire and use the space below to create seasonal scenes. That way you can wipe the shelf completely clean when you dust without moving anything except when filled with a seasons bounty. I think it would be great at Christmas filled with oversized ornaments and twinkle lights around the suspended windows...although from this one pic you don't look like the overly decorated type :) In the autumn some lovely gourds, and in the spring some large branches from a tree, in summer-go bare!

I thought of a ridiculous idea. Try to make a cross-section of one of your bikes, that's out of commission, or an old junker and stick it to the wall. I'm just picturing a bike sliced in half lengthwise which is probably next to impossible to do, or even with the front half of the bike coming out of the wall like a deer head.

What about a waterfall / fountain / cascading water wall?

Or a large fish tank?

Yeah, I think a recessed water wall could be great there.

I just looked at your other pics on Flickr and for the love of all that's holy, absolutely luscious!!! Maybe I scrolled through the pics too fast, but I did not see a landing strip. If this is the front entrance, why not put a thin table against the wall and make that your landing strip. Don't fill in the space where the window collection is - it's gorgeous as is, whether the space has the window collection or other art there. I also love patrick (the other one)'s idea of bamboo or snake grass.

I think some big bold graphic art pieces would look great here. Or as someone else mentioned something large and scuptural and metal- given the rest of your home.

I like the suspended window idea. Hang the windows down from the front wall, and behind it you can put whatever you want. Perhaps a collection of colored glassware, or plants, or framed black and white photos.

1) Large built in lizard house
2) Large, built in Aquarium
http://www.aquariumsforyou.com/absoluteig/gallery.asp?action=viewimage&categoryid=10&text=&imageid=442&box=&shownew=
3) Cactus display
If you like animals/plants only!

I knew you guys would rock.
I think part of my difficulty come from the fact that the space seems awkward because it's high, starting 57" from the floor, so you end up looking UP at whatever is in there. Something to keep in mind...

LOVING the ideas so far!

Should I paint inside there? A deep color or white are the two things that come immediately to mind.

Art, believe it or not, we've half joke about putting a motorcycle in there before. I think that would be awesome if the engineering of getting it in there wasn't scary. Got a spare, sexy Italian twin laying around? :)

Maybe this link will give you some more ideas to work with... http://www.etchedclingdecals.com/wallpaper.htm

For the part where the windows are, I would not look for one solution, I'd do a changing exhibition to keep it fresh. I'd also think about putting a table or two in front of the wall too. Simple and narrow. The two elements together could showcase some really cool things, each related to the other. Have fun, as I know you will! :-)

I wouldn't paint the nook itself. But the bottom part of the wall seems to want something:perhaps carry over the red?

or--big fat stripes lined up with the windows? Just to contrast with your funky row-dot welcome mats. That might totally distract from whatever you put in the nook, though, so maybe not.

A riff on the biking idea: is it wide enough for a rusty tricycle?

do a mosaic artwork with tiles

I would make a red-coral inspired sculpture
http://www.ianskipworth.com/photo/csiv2004/red%20coral%201%201600x1200.jpg

or, if you have kids, hang antique/interesting puppets from the top.
http://www.globalvillageimporters.com/images/little_girl_puppet.jpg

My first thought was something warm and tactile, something that's both colorful and sculptural as well -- a collection of ethnic hats and helmets -- vintage or antique stuffed animals -- that contrasts with the hard edges and clean lines of the rest.

I would paint the front wall (top and bottom) the same color (or another similarly dark, saturated complementary color) as the foyer, and paint the remainder (the recessed wall) a clean, bright white. That will make the white Then, create a gallery by adding some sort of hooks up BEHIND the upper wall that you can suspend cable from and then change out the art from time to time.

One thing that I'd love to see is if the cables were to be offset behind that wall. In other words, somehow use a bracket that would make the cables hang down *between* the spaces of the wall, so they aren't actually touching either wall, but are instead, in the center of the air space. (am I making sense?)

Then add the art. I think filling the space with suspended art at varying heights would look awesome and be a cool way to set off the entrance to your place.

~Monica

since its so high up you could put a slim table on that wall or a shelf, as a landing strip.

combining some of the ideas, i like the windows and the idea of hanging them. what about putting a bamboo behind the hanging window, it would be like looking out a fake art window!!

re: "Got a spare, sexy Italian twin laying around? :)"

And if you do, does he play soccer?

put mirrored tiles in it or a very large mirror then lean your windows on it. it will give a strange impression to anyone standing in front. it will also reflect great light from that door.

I think the space is crying out for some sculpture, or series of sculptures. It's already lit and could be really dramatic. Everyone I know has wall art, but I know few people with sculpture. If it were my place I'd probably do something Asian inspired.

totally off topic, but what are the floor mats? I am looking for something like that for my hallway. Are they flor?

"and if you do, does he play soccer?"

And cook?

Thankyouthankyouthankyou, everyone.
These are all such interesting ideas.
Loving the "suspend the windows" thought, and I dunno why I didn't think of this before since one of them already has hanging wires on it from it's previous life in my former home. I think I'll start there.
Also loving the rusty tricycle idea, or maybe something old and mechanical like big gears or pulleys? Or something warm/soft/fuzzy which completely suits my textile an fiber obsession. I'm going to keep an eye out for that kind of thing.

I have this pretty strict rule of only buying things I really, really love and/or that are useful. So, as much as I am against just buying random chachke (junk), I keep seeing these big red sculptural glass pieces at places like Homegoods that I think could work there for the time being and would certainly fit my budget. Would that be too "faux art"?
Save me from becoming the modern/industrial version of Pottery Barn?
Am I just a pretentious bitch for wanting it to be fine art or nothing? :)

Hi Josie. Those rugs are from IKEA. The FLOR ones are bigger and come in four pieces each, IIRC.

rasterbate a photo of the bike, trike, motorcycle.....or look at this gorgeous train
http://www.flickr.mud.yahoo.com/photos/pbo31/73469748/in/set-1646508/

Sorry to chime in so late. Having seen your amazing blog, I'm kind of mystified here. I really don't understand this wall. Where is the TV? And why do you have the large cutout?

I'm kind of surprised at this wall, seeing the rest of your home, you are such a DIY wizard, why do you have a wall that has no function? You are definately not a chotche kind of girl. Close up the wall and put some pretty coat hooks on it.

I'm with you, Splatgirl - it stresses me out to buy things I don't love or have a great need for. I do think it would be a shame to cover up that space. Maybe the solution is to just work with what you have right now (suspend the windows, maybe in front of a giant rasterbated image or something...) and wait for the perfect thing/collection to come find you. Be it a sexy Italian soccer-playing chef, or a sexy Italian rusty motorbike.

Rasterbatin' with a sexy Italian soccer-playing chef.

NOW we're getting somewhere.

But, to the whole "I don't buy anything unless there is a need," isn't "visual completion" a valid need to those who place home visual satisfaction high on their lists?

Rasterbation is on my to do list for my acre of blue wall. That train photo is fantastic!

Hi Peggy. The TV/media stuff is built in to the other side of the wall, below the nook in question, but it killed me to waste that much space on anything, hence: nookage was born. Plus, for reasons that would take me a week to explain, there's a window in it so walling it off seemed particularly strange.

Absolutely yes, patrick, I agree. But personally, and perhaps as a backhanded method of keeping my stuff level down, I want that visual completion to be via something that I really, really love vs. with things that I feel no emotion for just for the sake of having it look nice.
Which is not to say there is anything wrong with just finding a good visual and not to say that I haven't done it.

splatgirl--

That was a general, to-the-crowd-question, but thanks for the response.

I think the "you'll know it when you see it" rule applies here!
I seriously doubt you'll feel a sense of compromise when you *do* find a solution.

Interesting, I work with some clients and try to sell them on a "spaceholder" solution (for art, accessoires) in the very least to make sure their space looks "finished" before they find pieces they *really * love. It's a hard sell!!

My problem is I find *too* much stuff I love. :P

P (too),
I like your "spaceholder" solution, and am glad to hear it named here. I've unconsciously adopted this method while trying to work on my place. And I find that it helps enormously to change my relationship to an area, get to know it better, see what doesn't work (if it doesn't) and why, or what it is that makes it a "placeholder". All of this works together to move ideas forward and make me feel more confident when I do find something I love. Probably real design pros don't need to, or have the time to, rely on this technique. But I think it's a really good idea if one's starting out, and also for any design client.

Your problem space is a perfect spot to highlight art. Our new type of art is especially beautiful when lit from behind, as the colors are enhanced with the light. The images are printed on a semi-translucent fabric, are lightweight, and hang free (no frames or glass). Go to http://www.anandasoup.com/store to check it out. Good luck.