apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I have some drapes hung from the wire cable system from Ikea and it works great. Good luck.

I am just about to plunk down some money and buy the Carter sofa from Gus Modern in urban tweed Banff which is a light grey in color.

http://www.moddecor.com/Gus_Design_Carter_Sofa_p/gd-cartsofa.htm

It's going in a pretty sparse room with chocolate brown walls. I want some bright pillows to warm up the couch. Any ideas?

- curtain idea of course
- very large blinds could look nice
- a screen, why not a moroccan or indian style claustra
- a large cupboard or nice closet, vintage or modern, with no backing : from the living room side you've got what looks like a piece of furniture, but is actually a door leading to the room (this requires some handiwork). If you ever move, just add a back and the piece finds its original use again. I've seen this once in an old French decorating magazine from the 60s, where an 18th century armoire was actually a door leading to the rest of the house, I loved the idea.
- very tall tree like plants
- something on wheels that can be moved like a sliding door (ok I'm running out of ideas...)

I think that curtain idea sounds good, but I'd like them to be heavy curtains, so I'm not sure that wire would work.

IKEA now offers casters specifically made for the Expidit which could make Daniel's suggestion of "something on wheels that can be moved like a door" a better possibility. I don't know how well, or in what direction the casters move, but it could be an option.

Hang a curtain rod above the opening on the bedroom side and hang floor length curtains. You can hang tie back hooks on the bedroom side as well.

Don't skimp on the fabric. Use several panels to get the right fullness and use something heavy that will drape well.

When you want them open, you can use the tie backs and it will look lovely from both sides. The archway will really make this effect look beautiful. - Kind of moroccan.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/riadim/76563016/sizes/o/

Laura, that is a really good idea. That photo is very pretty.

The other option might be to do something like Maxwell's sliding felt door, the heavy felt might be the best way to muffle sounds between rooms.

what about this?

http://www.continentalwindowfashions.com/category_UMBR_Umbra-Drapery-Hardware_4.html

The picture above shows a swing arm system that you could hang a nice heavy curtain on, and it could open or close over the opening like a door.

I would go with Daniel's idea of a sliding panel. Something you could slide into place when privacy and quiet is needed but then move back against the adjacent wall/s to keep the apartment looking as open as possible otherwise. Looks like a really nice place you've found, Becca.

I have a really large room that I want to break up into two. I am planning on getting some doors and making a sliding wall. I imagine you could do that as well. I have seen posts on here showing barn doors as sliding doors.

Also, I like the idea of a bookcase as a door. You could put casters on it and either leave it so you can slide it back and forth or put hinges on it.

I like Laura's idea as well. Definitely position the tie backs low, it will make the curtains and the opening look taller.

How 'bout a door?

I'm curious - if it's a one-bedroom apartment and you live alone, why would you need more privacy?

Why not live with it open as-is for a while and see how you like it? I'd kill for a wide open space like that.

I live alone but like the option of closing off the door when I have guests. Makes a difference with th comfort level of how I sleep. I like the idea or something like shoji doors, which could be installed inside the bedroom, provided you do not need those walls to have furniture placed directly against them. I would install them inside and keep them open until I had company. Then voila, privacy while maintaining all that light.

http://www.chopa.com/ShopSite/shoji_door.html

This is costly but mind you, if you plan on staying a while, it might be a nice option. I like to stay at places for years. I do not move often, so I am willing to put in a bit of money to make it home. This could be done without causing a whole lot of damadge by getting on that has a slider option attached at the top rather than both, like a sliding closet door.

Naked slaves, standing on their heads to please you...

Failing that: a wooden screen, and don't get up to hanky panky when you have guests!

My friend had a very similar Queens apartment that she shared with a roommate. Her bedroom was the "living room" that had an opening like that.

She hung two curtains, one on the inside that matched her bedroom decor and one on the outside that matched the entryway. That way she had a thicker barrier without being too heavy.

There's a simpler version of the armoire suggestion here.

The room is very deep, so you should have ample space to build an entryway inside of the room. Put a large piece of furniture (like an armoire, or a bookcase) with its back facing the doorway, about 3 feet into the room. Then use a curtain or another piece of furniture to block off one side. Then decorate the entryway with a few items (small table, a plant, a picture, etc).

Another curtain on the door could serve as further decoration, cut sound propagation, and could be used as a 'do not disturb' indication as necessary.