apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

This won't solve the problem completely, but perhaps you could paint that far wall white. Try keeping that entire wall, art and all, shades of white with possibly touches of light color in the art. But really calm overall. Then maybe some bold color (plants, art, whaever) for another wall to make something else the focal point of the room.

Hideousity: it looks like the Invasion of the Daleks.

How about building a frame around it, out of trellis, perhaps -- rather like a radiator cover, but larger -- with a flat top that would serve as a shelf?

More surfaces are always useful for an office.

A radiator style cover would look nice - a little lattice or slats would still let the air move freely. Depending on your space, you might go for something the whole length of the wall for a more built in look - maybe some shelves etc. then you don't have to waste closet space to store it!

Good luck! :)

Why did you buy something so Ugly?

put a hat on it...everthing looks better with a hat...

Phauxtoe, I would imagine he bought it to stay cool, as described in his question. Just a hunch.

jason -
there was a similar question on atsf recently ( http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/heat-cold/sf-good-questions-how-can-i-disguise-air-conditioner-hoses-053202 ) though the hoses on that unit are mounted vertically. i have the same unit as the one in the sf post and am thinking i will simply hang drapes and cloak the whole ugly thing when it's not being used.

i also like the idea of hiding it under a tall-ish table and at least gaining a useful surface. i suppose you could also hang a fabric drape on the front of such a table and pull it to one side while the unit is on?

good luck!

I'm all for building something around it to hide it - but you need to ensure that it vents properly - both from the front and whatever heat build-up from the compressor.

If you installed rails, like the ones Elfa shelving uses, on the window wall, so they come to just below the window, and put a shelf on the top, mounted on brackets which attach to the rails, would the unit fit under it and still have room to vent? If so, you could run a shelf along that wall, tuck the unit under it and figure out whether you want a wall or visible storage or to put some sort of front over it all. If you had, say, a wall of white Elfa shelves, mesh baskets with a white top shelf and this thing stuck in the midst of it all, it would be just another component. http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?CATID=77774&PRODID=71362

Make that "want a cabinet facade, door, curtain or visible storage"