apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

It looks pretty narrow, so tables and pretty decorations are out, but what I would do is give it a moody color (something dramatic - purple or a crimson), pick out an elaborate sconce with an uplight effect, and hang some art that you love to look above the sconces. If you make it gallery style, it'll give a bit of interest to an otherwise dreary hallway. Good luck!

I'd make it a gallery. Beautiful pictures/art the whole way down........

Hire an artist to do one long cool painting - better than the cluttering pictures route - it is long enough for something great. I'm thinking Matthew Richie...

We had a hall just like this.

We painted both sides "Outrigger Orange," a Ralph Lauren color.

One one side, we framed 7 very colorful posters acquired during our yearly pilgrimage to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. All framed in black, same size frames, even though the posters were different sizes.

What are those panels? Just wood?

Yes just wood

Are the panels recessed? They would make for stellar Duratrans (illuminated) photo boxes. Paint will look like you are covering up something....

If you are lost as to where to start with an artist - start by finding someone/thing you like and post on the bulletin boards at one of the local art schools - as for a CD of images portfolio only, for a flat sum stipend. There are very talented people out there.

J

Since it looks like the cieling is painted black in the hallway, I think investing in some decorative lighting to run the length of the hallway. Something in light would contrast the black nicely and draw your attention upwards upon entering the apartment. Something with an ornate design that will run the length of the hallway. I'm being pretty vague, so I'll try to find an image of something similar somplace

I agree with T.P. on the halllway gallery, I only WISH I had the space to display large paintings or prints. You can even make your own, blow-up a beautiful photograph of something or someone you love.

For the panels, I would suggest painting them to match the wall and adding molding. In the same color for added texture, or even a contrasting color. You could make them the art for the room, or add artwork to the center. There was a great brooklyn apartment in Jane magazine that had the same thing, with posters and old record sleeves hanging inside the molding.

Xtra long hallway=kitty runway

What's with the dark/black ceiling and upper wall in your hallway? Get rid of that, and your hallway won't be as dark and narrow.

Suggest painting hall ceiling a lighter color (or white), and adding light color(s) to the walls, then follow suggestions above for art or other framed artifacts/photos/mementos on the walls. There is really not much you can do with a long hall, but it is a wonderful opportunity to "tell your story" and the things you place there can be great conversation starters for a party or dinner.

The wall panels are totally strange -- never seen them in any UWS apt I've ever been in. They don;t bother me, but I can see why you don;t like them vis-a-vis your furniture. Do you own or rent? If you own, I think it would be worth losing them and have the plaster/sheetrock restored. If you rent, check with landlord -- there is a chance he/she thinks they area "selling" feature and wouldn't appreciate you painting them.

Stephan, I am soon moving into a condo that has a 24 ft. long hallway, much like yours, w/doors all on one side, the main living room at the end. Here's my plan:

17 ft. woven wool runner from Afganastan, which I like because it's unusual in that it has a detailed woven tribal pattern, but it's all in one neutral color, similiar to unbleached linen.

I will use a bench that will fit into a small, 1 foot deep, alcove at the door and above that, I plan on using a shaker peg rack, painted to blend into the wall, spanning the alcove width. I am considering using an accent color on the one wall of the alcove to brighten the area as there are no windows.

In the opposite corner, beside the door, there will be a solid brass tube for an umbrella, a collection of walking sticks and a small, antique, reverse painting mirror will hang above it.

On the long wall, with no doors, I am using only one object, off-center -- a large, sculptured sunburst, made from iron, burnished to provide varying hues.

Though I would love a gallery on the long wall, I do not have enough art and am not prepared to splurge on art, framing, so, for budgetary purposes, I'm going to keep it simple, using just the one piece of sculpture alone.

I'm embracing the thought "less is more" and think I will like the simplicity at my entrance.

That hallway looks so familiar. In fact, I am close to positive that I used to live in that building.

I would agree with painting the ceiling white (Papo has extra if you live where I think)and breaking up the hallway with huge art. I used vintage posters with good results. You might consider looking into swapping out the lights to something that hangs for a bit of visual interest.

For one, re-think that black-painted ceiling ...

I used my huge white hallway walls as a gallery with lots of mismatched frames...you can check them out on today's house tour in San Francisco, or on my blog. Seems with some great lighting and a cool runner it would look great.

http://sfgirlbybay.blogspot.com/

Stephen,

I live on the UWS too and We have the same problem in our hallways between two apartments. We put up wide crown molding at the top of the walls to bring the ceiling down visually and a chair rail to break up the wall and make it less of a bowling alley. A few pictures and/or mirrors will help too. The black ceiling has to go! You could paint the upper walls a dark color and the bottom a light / white color and this can help too. - Deb

in my old park slope apartment, we had a very similar hallway. the previous tenants left us with their hallway decoration: a series of paper lanterns strug on a wire the length of the hallway. no lights, just the paper lanterns. looked quite nice, i thought, and we kept them up.

I would probably silver-leaf (or similar) the ceiling and do the walls in a dark color. Then do three or four tiny chandeliers or interesting lanterns along the length of the hall.

Barring that, go with it. Mirror the back of the door at the end of the hall (the bottom of the mirror has to be flush with the floor) and make the corridor look freakishly long for effect.

there are lots of possibilities, but here's one thought; with the terrific runner idea from san fran, paint the walls a rich color or dark neutral, convert the ceiling lights to down lights, like a high hat shape with a spot bulb. this will focus attention to the floor and diminish the tunnel effect. by the way i love the photo, it looks like a still from a movie dream sequence when a character can't seem to reach the door regardless of all their running.
as for the living room panels i can't get a handle on them, how they are attached, are they flush with they wall, are they as weird as they look in the photos. good luck

Get some art students to do a mural in the hallway. Plan the ceiling around that. On "Freestyle" a couple of weeks ago, two art students had all but the finishing touches on their wall mural. It was really great. The show made them finish it and placed the furniture around it.

Either a mural or hang art/photos for a gallery effect.

I'm not sure what your floorplan is -- but is it feasible to blast through one side of the endless hallway and open it up to the rest of the apartment?

I just renovated my place which had a rediculously long hallway. I ripped out the wall all the way down and opened all the rooms up. If you rent, you don't have that option. However...

1.) Get a good rug

2.) Repaint the ceiling. Keeping it two tone is fine, but not black.

3.) Hang a drop track-light 12" to 18" from the ceiling.

4.) Put an art hanging system all the way down the hall, then you can experiment with artwork, height, placement sizes, etc. without putting holes all over your walls, and you can change it out, throw parties for artist friends as "gallery opennings"... Great fun...

Here is the art hanging system I use, I cannot recommend it enough:

http://www.arts-supplies.net/(S(usyepwrq401w2h45tvkdya45))/shop/ShopLine.aspx?L=C

I would say, if you're going to stay in this apartment for any leangth of time at all, just tear out the wood paneling, and if they want to dock your deposit when you move out, cross that bridge when you come to it. Unless you landlord is a jackass, they'll probably thank you. If it is managed by someone other than the owner, they probably won't even know. Rip it out. It will be worth the cost in quality of life, you obviously hate it (go aheah, just do it, you know you want to... do it, do it).

Question: Re an art gallery wall, I always thought with art you were supposed to step back to view the art. Wouldn't it be difficult to view the art up close in such a hallway? Suppose if the pieces were small enough it would not be an issue, like w/ photos. Can larger, abstract pieces work in a narrow hallway? TX

right at the trim build a 6 inch deep shelf that runs the entire length of the hallway. put all your paperback and small books along the length. it will look so neat! but you must have lightingthat hangs below, like chandeliers or lanters so the shelves aren't blocking where the light hits. so it still looks bright. it will bring the hight of the ceiling down and be so cool to look at.

This probably isn't a practical solution, but take a look at this image from Wong Kar-Wai's "In The Mood for Love." http://numb.deslizo.net/arquivos/2006/04/in_the_mood_for.html It's a very dramatic look for a hallway.

My hallway isn't quite that long & the ceiling not quite that high, but I've often thought about turning it into either a dining room or spare bedroom. For either, I'm envisioning some type of Murphy bed (twin size, obviously) or table attached to one wall, which would fold down. Does either idea seem feasible, or am I nuts?

The narrowness and the grain of the floor boards add to a cramped feeling in your hallway. Paint the ceiling a lighter color and add 1 or 2 rugs with horizontal stripes to counter the pattern of the floor boards and make the hallway appear wider. Stay away from glossy paint finishes, which make surfaces glisten unappealingly. Matte finishes in a narrow spaces help make the walls disappear, while glares draw attention to surfaces. As for what to put on the walls, I'm afraid if you have large pictures or a mural people will be unable to get a good view and feel even more smashed in, while smaller pictures will invite people to focus on one area. This might be a good place for pictures of friends and family.

One thing to remember about distance is the eye goes to the light.

1. I would get rid of the black ceiling, but it is high enough to go to a pastel colour, perhaps a colour from the pics you intend to hang.
2. Install track lighting to wash the wall on the door handle side with light, which is where you hang paintings for about 6 feet or 2 metres. Then have a pool of 'darkness' and wash the wall opposite the side passage with light and hang some more pics.

When you stand at either end of the hall, your eye will go to the pools of light and any room at the end of the hall (behind the photographer). You can already see a bit of this effect with the existing lighting, but the door is in shadow which makes it seems further away.

One way we solve 'long hallways sydnrome' in older houses in Australia, it to have an arch or two of plaster (Victorian) or timber fretwork (1920s to 1939). They fill the space between the ceiling and the top of the beading and break up the space.

I will check back - if anyone is interested in this I will look for some pics.

Looks like my hallway, except mine is all white with a beige carpet. I have considered the hanging pictures thing, but it seems wrong to me. I really wouldn't be able to step back far enough to see anything on the walls as the corridor is just too narrow.

Since it's so bland I really want to add some colour, but I'm finding it hard not t end up with 'quirky'.

Replace the boring lights with some adjustable track spots, and make it a little art gallery. I would personally hang the pictures from important evetns in chronological order from the main entrance to the other, so that you get a little timeline. Its like a personal museum of yourself and your travels.

And please, please, please do not cover that hardwood!

Use a nice egg shell enamel paint - to reflect the light - a pale blue

Use crystal chandeliers to replace the lights

Put glass shelves - 3 to 4 feet away from the ceiling. Only one not many all along the hallway - to store your books.

In order to bring color you can use a navajo rug on the floor

Echi=oing sentiments above:

Paint the hallway ceiling white - you'll see an improvement instantly

Get better lighting - the door at the end definitely needs to be lit to bring it forward more

The runner with horizontal stripes would work well but personally I like the wood of you floor too much to cover it up

I like the idea of a gallery of small pictures along the wall - make the frames all different but all the same in one respect e.g. all the smae size and shape but different colours or all different sizes and shapes but in one colour

My immediate (and possibly totally wacky) thought was to hang one of those bead curtains half-way down the corridor - this would totally break up the space and give you two smaller corridors without actually taking up any room

As for the wooden panels - paint them to match the walls right now - they are awful!!

i can't really tell how high your ceilings are in the hallway, but this is an idea i was toying with for my long entry hall. using cheap paper lanterns in all white (or your favourite colour) fill the entire ceiling with them side by side by side. some can be illuminated while others are left empty. it would create great interest and texture while distracting from the long empty hall. as for the walls, i would go with INTENSE colour. it's not like anyone is spending long amounts of time in the hall, so a super vibrant colour would be easy to live with and create an amazing conversation starter for anyone who enters your space. and art always makes things better. maybe even a chair-rail height mini shelf full of prints or photos. or a system of wires running horizontally with photo clips where you attach polaroids of all your guests and friends with small poems/messages that they leave then they come to visit. much like a guest book for your home.

Louise wrote:
> Question: Re an art gallery wall, I always thought with art
> you were supposed to step back to view the art. Wouldn't
> it be difficult to view the art up close in such a hallway?
> Suppose if the pieces were small enough it would not be
> an issue, like w/ photos. Can larger, abstract pieces work
> in a narrow hallway? TX

As a rule of thumb, it is usually said that a painting (piece of artwork, etc.) is best viewed from a distance equal to its largest dimension. The artwork in the hallway should not be very large.

I like the idea of silver leafing the ceiling. Actually it's aluminum leaf and I really would like to use it on my own ceiling (but in my living room), because it's KIND of like the idea of gold leaf which is a very old fashioned thing, but the silver idea, instead would update it.

I think that really IS too close to view artwork, and although I love painting murals myself, I wouldn't recommend them in that hallway.

What I think would be majorly fabulous is this kind of wallpaper that AT blogged a few weeks ago (via Design Sponge, methinx?) that had a transitional design, where one roll is one pattern, another roll is another pattern, and yet another pattern is kind of an M.C.Escher transitional thing that connects the two, and which they actually had like 4 different patterns with transitions in between.

The good thing about using something like THAT would be that a wallpaper pattern that interesting would propel the guest down the hall looking at how the pattern morphs, instead of boring them with ONE pattern, and yet... a pattern like that would read pretty well up close MUCH better than artwork would.

If you wanted to have it be viewed from a slightly longer view, you could put it only on one side, and paint the other side of the wall a solid color and do a huge collection of various kinds of mirrors on the solid painted wall side, so that each mirror would reflect a different slice of that VERY interesting pattern PLUS the fact that the mirrors would KIND of make the hall seem wider (even though they wouldn't be huge plate glass).

If I didn't know any better I would swear that Stephan lives in the same apartment building as I do. From the long hallway, the kitchen, the french doors separating the living room and the bedroom, is practically how my apartment is laid out. What the previous tenant did, and which I have not changed, was to place pictures of varying sizes along the both sides of the wall as suggested by others.

Your hallway already appears to have a picture hanging molding running along the walls. Many old NYC apartments with plaster walls used this. Depending on its condition (the molding in a former apt. of mine was extremely sturdy) with a simple "S" hook and picture wire and you've got yourself a gallery system already built in. I ditto the better lighting and floor covering, also your hall paint appears to be glossy. I think a matte finish would work better.

The wood panels are very bizzare looking. Perhaps large fabric panel inserts would work and could be removed fairly easily later?

http://www.wainscot-panel.com/wainscot-paneling-flat-panel.html

Even though you don't like the panels in your LR...what about doing some wainscot paneling in your hallway?

You could even take a faux-approach to the paneling by creating 3-large frames down your hallway - using wood/picture molding (painted white). The area inside frame could be painted a slightly different color (lighter and deeper hues of celadon green?) to break the hallway up into subtle zones.

Definitely repaint the black ceiling....

I say go with the art gallery idea. I bought a ton of inexpensive lowbrow art and turned my long hallway into a cool art space.

I found the AT link to the wallpaper that I was talking about it, so you really must have a look. Click on my name in THIS post to see. One thing that would be cool about it is the fact that wallpaper was "in" back when the apartment was build, and THIS wallpaper is incredibly hip now. (Plus all the other stuff I said about being able to watch the transition as you go, etc. AND the fact that being wallpaper, you wouldn't really HAVE to stand that far from it.)

hi stephan,
I would leave the paint in the hallway the way it is and install some system for the wall and/or the ceiling that will allow you to change the style of your hallway completely. You can use an art hanging system or go for something more affordable like several curtain holder systems (with a wire like the ones you can get from IKEA):

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15594&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=41222&langId=-1&categoryId=15846&chosenPartNumber=40078030

and then you are free to change the decoration according to your mood, the seasons, you can make a color theme and put up different things all the same colour, put up pieces of paper with something on them, or empty and you can write on them when you come home and feel like it, you can put up pictures, art, your nices dresses, your worse dresses, things you have collected on a special trip, lamps, cook books in see through plastic bags, flowers in small plastic bags, your childhood toys, decoration for a motto party...
well, I think you got the idea.
of course you don't have to change the decoration all the time but you can!

Many great comments on the postm for this amazing space. Repaint the ceiling, maybe not white, perhaps 2-3 shades lighter than walls to rid "cave" feel. Walls light colors. Trim/molding looks great. Agree with prev. posts, wall art, long pieces, fabrics for texture?

Floors appear to need refinishing with lighter or no stain as the floor seems to greatly contribute to darkness. Maybe not something you want to tackle though as it is a dusty job. But seems the hallway could be an easy area to contain dust from rest of the apt.

I wouldn't stress too much about the hallway and the paneling. Just hang a few pictures in the hallway. Just look for a couple of big ones that you like, and not a lot of small knick knack things.

As for the living room, don't stress about the paneling. I think the mod red leather couches don't match though. if you get more of a neutral interior, the paneling will blend in. how about putting more things in the living room-so it has neutral couches, with some colors in the accents.

??

You could also get wall graphics, if you don't want to paint or wallpaper anything. There are a large selection of these available now:

http://www.wallwords.com/

http://www.wallconcept.com/wallconcept.html

http://www.whatisblik.com/

http://www.raredevice.net/category.php?cat=2

I do, however, also like the gallery idea. What a great concept and use of space. You can always get a custom runner made from a carpet remnant at any carpet store.

If you're reluctant to remove the paneling. I've heard of a solution that might work for you. I've never tried this myself, but it may be worth the experiment. Apparently you can paint the paneling with liquid starch, then adhere fabric to it, like wallpaper. If you decide later to move or to remove it, you can simply peel the fabric from the paneling then wipe down the paneling with soap and water - no damage. Using a neutral fabric or something contrasting depending on your taste, you can completely change the room.

About your hallway.

I agree that you should turn the hallway into an art gallery. Get rid of the black ceiling then get a cable lighting system and run it down the center of the hallway, above the door headers. Most hallways are too narrow to run track or cable lighting other than in the center and the beam speads of the fixtures will be difficult to aim other than straight down. You can manipulate perceived ceiling height by the height at which you mount the the light cables. Make sure that the art you hang is viewable when you stand near the opposite wall. The narrower the hallway, the smaller the pieces should be. However you should be able to display pieces at least as big as 22x28. You can get cable lighting at most lighting stores, and Ikea.

When you're done, the artwork should break up the walls and a runner will do the same for the floor. Hang an interesting art collection and you and your visitors may wish the hall were even longer.

I agree with the idea to turn the hallway into a gallery space. In the living room, I like the idea of adding wallpaper to the pannels and then painting the trim and the upper wall in a complimentary color. From the look of your current furnishings - maybe a toile or a pop-art type of paper.

Regardless of what you end up doing to the walls, I really like the idea of Flor carpet tiles which LOOKS like (though it might not BE) what's shown in the left-most picture that Maxwell shows.

Flor comes in so many patterns, that you could transition THEM down the hall with various patterns kind of like that strange-and-wonderful morphing wallpaper that I recommended.

I still think that hall is a tad too narrow to appreciate artwork, although maybe small pieces might work. I just think that the height might help them get lost, though.

i would lighten the ceiling. i'd make it as minimal as possible. then, make that door a real piece of interest.

The hallway of doom!

My piddly crack suggestions:
1. Lighten Ceiling. No discussion on this one. My new favorite trim and ceiling white is pratt and lambert seed pearl...
2. Paint that door...Same orange as sofas would add some flow and tie things together. it would also make door a focal point.
2. Very very light yellow green color on walls would be nice and would compliment the orange sofa (like a celery color)
3. I would actually not put in a carpet...I like the wood as is...
4. As for art. I'm envisioning postcard or slightly bigger simple framed art with either same wood color frames as floor or a mix of different frames...actually framed post cards would work nicely hanging at different levels from one long thin wire or white string. It would break up the space without overpowering it...

Sigh. The Panels...As for the panels.... Just paint them the same color as the walls...they will magically look like they are not there...

Not to disagree with everyone, but the glossy black ceiling (especially the way it comes partway down the walls) is fabulous. You could even paint the door glossy black (very effective on Queer Eye). The wood floors are equally great. I would play UP the long narrow dimensions to create a dramatic entryway. Ideas:

1) Paint the long wall or both walls the same shade of orange that your couches are. Then if you add art, stick with black & white art.

2) A mural. Strongly agree that a traditional mural is all wrong - can't get back far enough. Instead, this simple bamboo mural: http://www.muralsyourway.com/myw3_panorama.cfm?sea=bamboo&st=1&pid=MMPIPI1103 - (paint the walls a matching brown or green first!) OR NY cityscape: http://www.muralsyourway.com/myw3_panorama.cfm?cid=115&st=1&pid=MMPIPI1078

3) Paint each side in a contrasting color (ex.: orange & lime) then hang small square mirrors at staggered intervals the entire length so that each wall reflects squares of the opposite wall's color. http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10103&storeId=12&langId=-1&productId=11268

4) Paint the walls a deep dark red and hang paper lanterns the entire length for an opium den feel: http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=3/133&mode=Searching&erec=10&D=lanterns&Ntt=lanterns&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&N=0&sd=CHINESE+LANTERNS+%283PC%29

5) Wallpaper or stencil floor to ceiling zebra stripes the entire length of the uninterrupted wall. Similar to this but sideways: http://www.stencilledgarden.com/images/big/129.jpg

p.s. when I suggested an 'art gallery' i didn't mean REAL art that needs to be viewed from an appropriate distance. nothing as serious as that - i just meant a gallery of old photos, mementos, sketches on a napkin, even! just things that mean something to you so as your guests walk down the hallway they'll be treated to more intimate views of you and what your all about. cheers....victoria

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