apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

A door? The hinged sort that fold when you open.

a curtain, bamboo shades that you could roll up when you want to go in....anything really.

I'd say a curtain that covers the entire wall (since the circuit breaker box is also an eyesore). That way it's a continuous unbroken block of fabric (in a bold color perhaps as an accent wall). Heavier fabric would also help dampen the loudness of the blower.

Thats a tough one, and I'm surprised the developer hasn't put a small door there. But if it was me, I'd either try to find a tall bookshelf on casters that you could slide out of the way to get into the nook if you need it. Or even custom build a wooden frame yourself and have an artist friend paint something to cover the spot. Another option could be a large mirror or picture.

You could even try to make the interiors of the nook look interesting with some subtle artistic touches and some dramatic lighting.

But any of these ideas would all depend on your personal taste, how much work or cost, and the location of the nook in relation to the rest of the apartment.

If you mean the large opening with the silver tube & boxes (air conditioning?) how about a 'door' - thing with a handle and hinges on one side. Doors can be hip and are useful for covering large holes leading to another space. Many of the best homes have them.

If you mean the small rectangular hole on the left with some sort of black spot half way up, then:
-- cover it with a mirror or picture. A frame 27 x 40 inches would do it, with other pics hanging to its left.
-- put a backing on the hole, paint it and call it a 'niche' & put a vase in it.
-- put an old phone in the 'niche' and call it 'ironic'.

Is that a heating/AC or a water heater? Cause if so, most building codes require a louvered door. And even if there is no code where you are, looks to me like a source of heat, so something realtifely non-flammable would be wise.

And if this is a rental, get the landlord to put in a door.

Ooo la la, chrishelms I like your idea! I've seen this done to cover an entire storage wall, and it really looks nice.

"relatively non flammable"

and to think I used to win spelling bees!

If you are talking about the HVAC closet, the fire code requires a fire proof door, and whomever is selling/renting this cannot get a C of O without one. If there is a source of flame in this closet (heat/hot water), under no circumstances cover this opening with shades or fabric.

I doubt they are just going to leave it open like that. From the picture, work hasn't been completed on the apartment yet. Maybe just chill and see what happens in the next couple of weeks. My money is on a door being put there without any effort on your part.

I honestly like it the way it is. Not sure what type of look you're going to go for once you're moved in but if you're going to for the raw loft look, I'd just keep it as it.

Is that a good spot for a piece of art? Perhaps you could get a huge canvas that would fit over that hole, and paint some cool simple design on it.

This appears to be a mechanical closet and houses a portion if not all of your HVAC for the loft. It would important that whatever you do allows for proper fresh air intake/air circulation/air exchange so that the unit functions properly and heats/cools your space evenly.

That being said. I would consider a floor to ceiling curtain on a ceiling mounted hospital track that covered that entire wall and maybe even wrapped around the corner to carry that element around. You could just pull the drapery back then when you needed access to the mechanincal unit.

My uncle once had a similar problem. He commissioned a stain glass "window" for the size of the niche he had to deal with. I suspect you'd want something less expensive -- and probably less flamboyant.

If there is indeed HVAC issues, as many have questioned, I might suggest a screen with open work, but rather than louvers, how about a North African or Turkish style, such as the sort used on the windows of harems?

i would go for a stained glass door, and have lights behind it.

A bookcase that slides to reveal the nook if needed.

A room divider, cubicle style, on casters, wallpapered.

I also feel like they're not done yet and there is going to be a door on it as well, (although an ugly one probably.) If it's not an issue with the heat/air intake etc., I vote for the large curtain as well. Run the track an inch or so away from the wall, and add a string of tubular lighting along the ceiling between the wall and curtain. Make sure you get the tubing that doesn't heat up too much though, that could be a fire waiting to happen.

Congrats on you new space, it looks like it will be fun to decorate!

I like the bookcase idea, but is this worthy of a entire post? I am not so great in the design department but even I could figure this dilemma out. It seems very JV for this group :) I enjoy reading all the input, but without an idea of this persons style or taste, it's kind of a waste.

While I agree it would have been somewhat more useful to know the poster's style or taste, I disagree that the question is "JV". What may be easy for you may be overwhelming for someone else. We all have our liabilities.

Nonflammable fabric, perhaps, made into a curtain and hung an inch or two away from the wall, with a chair or something?

Or maybe a mirror in a nonflammable frame could lean up over the door and some sort of artwork could cover the breaker box could be a movable, useful, and a somewhat code-friendly solution.

Sorry, that should have been two sentences.

Comments = best thread ever!!

Putting the "T" back in AT: *Why* does it drive you crazy? What do you want to cover up? What about the room as it is doesn't look hip to you? Who will be judging your hip-ness? There are lots of great suggestions here, but if you don't know what the real question is, you may not recognize one of them as the answer. If you sit with it, perhaps the space itself has some good suggestions.....

I have to agree that building codes must require an enclosure for this space.

Nice loft! What is the finish on the floor please?

this panel just posted on AT? It is vented....
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/window-coverings/anno-fin-panel-by-camilla-diedrich-028596

What does "hip" mean to Orpha?

That should be based on what they consider hip, therefore, we still don't know the style or taste.

What about frosted glass? Instead of hiding it, you can put it behind a display case, maybe with a funky color this will make it a conversation piece, I know its a bit left field but I dunno... I definately would stop and be like... whats that.

Yes, It looks to me like the place is not even finished yet. I'm sure it will be covered probably with a door that you will not have access to. I know because pretty much every one of my apartments had this type of set-up for the hvac or or water heater.

Hello everyone! Thank you for all your comments. Last I heard that area wasn't going to be covered. The place has been having problems but the C of O has already been issued. Art- the finish on the floor is just sealed concrete! If the area isn't covered I like the idea of a bookshelf with hinges. Hip for me means just aesthetically pleasing, not too cluttered or busy. I'm looking for something subtle and useful. Thank you again and I will defiantly do this again!!

I'm inclinded to say that the pic as shown, shows the place still under construction and you need to realize that doors and baseboards typically are considered finish work as they often get left until after the walls are finished and painted and floors installed as it's much easier to do it that way.

So, l would suggest you wait until it's finished. My hunch is there will be a door there, one way or the other when done.

I'd also wait until you have moved in and dealt with the space on a daily basis before doing anything. Let the room "tell" you what you should do. As for the circuit breaker, I'd put a picture over it to hide it, or if you can, paint it so it blends into the wall.

if they are not going to cover you should ask developer to put a door and you can tell them you don't feel safe with those mechanicals being exposed.

curious about what city you are in? it's nice to see finished concrete.

A narrow pane of fabric as many have said - but one small suggestion:
Hang it from the top of the wall at the joint to the ceiling and weight it with a wood dowel to insure it hangs flat and still.

Art- The lofts are in Jamaica Plain, MA. Here's the site: http://www.americanbrewerylofts.com/home It's a really interesting building. I think I will ask the developer about putting a door there. It doesn't look safe to me either!

Thanks for the link--those lofts are beautiful. I hope you enjoy your new home!

Not to challenge you crazard, but I am in Real Estate in NYC and have seen hundreds of new conversions both rental and condo. That being said, I know for a fact the dept of buildings here in NYC would not release the c of o if this were to be addressed. Possibly not even a temporary one at that. This will fail inspection due to the door. Consider this...and from experience would someone with this much capital convert and gut a building of this size to leave a door out creating a liability for them? Unlikely. In the event the developer finds a loop hole to secure the c of o, again this is not NYC and no offense but things are MUCH different here and you are renting from an investor have that individual hang a louvered door. Inexpensive. If you bought this yourself well da!! Once you resolve the inevitable door saga. I say go with the a non flamable fabric (bright gold perhaps) across the wall to cover everything. I am pretty confident this does not pose a risk. Check to see if there are vents throughout the loft? From the photos looks like there clearly are, Unlikely that the HVAC "breathes" through just that opening. Regarding the gold fabric, the result would be beautiful contrasting the stone grey floors. Please do not do the rolling bookshelf. Every amature dope here in NYC uses rolling bookshelves to cover something up. Just making it worse. Then you fill that bookshelf with literally s**t and before you know it your drawing more attention to the wall. All else seems fine. The floors are gorgeous and pose no hazard to the resident. That part of the unfinished "look" is purly asthetic. Definitely a cool feature...

I don't think that's a "nook," but a mechanical room for your heating/ac. Codes or no codes, machines make noise. This is not a decorating decision. Get whoever is responsible to put a door on it, then paint the gray electrical box cover to the left and go shopping for the rest of your space.

Orpha - is that the kitchen directly across from the opening? Personal preference - a door (louvered, frosted glass or acrylic in a frame, stained glass or those velum-type sheets with designs) would make it look like a pantry but still give you easy access. Probably wouldn't do much to muffle any noise, tho.

Um, Deb ... that's a door, not a hole in the wall to the left. The little black dot is the knob.

And I agree with the others who said to wait it out ... I can't imagine they're going to leave your mechanical room wide open, but I guess in NY, who knows ...