apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Cool place. My only concern is that "wall of rectangles" in your living room.

Wow. Now I know why London Terrace is so coveted...That bathroom is pure pre-war New York goodness...

2 questions: what is the paint color in the bedroom, and where did you get the ceiling fixture?

The owners have clearly worked hard to make this rental their own. You can tell it works well for their little family.

I think the writing is over-the-top, though, and needs to be toned down. A "masterpiece?" "Once you visit a London Terrace apartment, you don't forget it." The "brilliantly composed window sill"? I think not.

And please, if these people care about their vintage cameras why do they have them in the bathroom?!

ummm.... no. Why is everything pushedupagainstthewalls in the living rooms? why is that picture hung almostagainsttheceiling in the same space? why does Blik everywhere start to look like a college dorm room gone horribly bad? sorry, bad taste in my mouth.

I agree with matchjames... apartment has lot of potential but there is a lot wrong. furniture pushed up against the walls, way too much furniture, pictures haning close to the ceiling, that wall of stuff in the living room, and is there a picture of children's clothes?
Love the color of the bedroom and the bathroom is great. Looks like a college apartment to me.

I beg your pardon? The girl's bedroom is A CLOSET? Who are these people, Harry Potter's aunt and uncle? And they plan to confine their second child there too? For God's sake, the BATHROOM has a window and the children are to sleep and play in a badly ventilated, artificially lit "addition". If they had any sense, THEY would move to the closet/addition/dungeon and put the children in the real bedroom. Disgraceful.

I'm not too fond of the furniture, it looks worn out, but overall, the apartment looks nice. I totally love the cameras in the bathroom and the toilet paper stacked above - I have never seen toilet paper displayed so beautifully. The cameras in the bathroom add that very unique touch.

I love this apartment! I imagine it might work better as an apartment for a single person, namely, me!

This is the New York apartment of my dreams. If I ever move there, and I hope to, I would love to have an apartment like this.

I like it but I really hate the wall decals. It's so beautiful with antique furniture and great paint colors, and then there's those icky decals all over the place. Okay for a child's bedroom (or...closet), but not so much all over the house.

I have less issue with putting children in a closet than others since I remember what it's like to be a child and to crave cozy spaces as opposed to a large room. Their daughter seems to have all the space she needs.

I've been in about 15 London Terrace Apts. (shoulda bought one a few years ago before prices went out of sight) and the proportions and details are indeed splendid. That pool is one of the most glorious spaces in the city, and lots of celebs and successful people in the design and fashion world live there.

I'm guessing (and hoping) that the furniture is pushed against the wall so the kids can play, but what is with that picture being hung so high?

Natalia: I don't have a problem with the girl's bedroom. This is an example of what NYers have to do to fit into affordable space. If it gets stuffy in there, fans can be brought out.

Kudos to your efforts and living big in a small space.

I too was struck by how everything is pushed against the walls but I guess the space is used as a play area.

The tp does look kind of cool displayed in the bathroom, but it gives me the creeps to think of all the moisture and dust that must be lingering on it. Maybe you go through it so fast it is not an issue, or maybe I am just anal (pun intended) about clean tp.

I like your place though, and understand you have to make compromises to live in a place you love with two small kids and pets.

I think Barbie is a strange toy. At least for a 5 year old...

Veeery nice bathroom - but why oh WHY are those cameras kept in there?

I found the comments rather off-putting.

Ahhh, nostalgia. I lived in a 1 bedroom terrace apartment in a Georgian crecent in Earls Court (Philbeach Gardens) for a couple of years. I still have the key to the private estate, heh heh heh.

hrhprincessfiona - me too!

What a place! I absolutely love it. Lucky kids, have total claim over the tub!

Emily

This looks like a college apartment? Jesus, college kids should be so lucky!

I am really interested in the desk/cabinet that was in the bedroom. There wasn't any info posted about it and it was one of the highlights of showing how this 4-person dog family can fit into a one bedroom apt and make it work! Please someone - tell us where they got the desk!

ehh :(

I am convinced this is a paid eview. The apartment is next door to horrible. Impossibly, the reviewer refers to the items on the bathroom window sill as "brilliant". Please. It is simply a few unremarkable pieces placed on a small window ledge. There is nothing particularly brilliant or outstanding about it. Also, there is not a single creative design element or furniture arrangement in the photo series. It's just a simple, average apartment. I simply cannot understand what the siteowners felt was so great about this apartment.

Families live in smaller spaces all over the world. This is a nice apartment and location location location.

The challenge in renting is if you have lots of furniture and you move into a smaller place sometimes it has to be pushed up against the wall. I don't know their situation but as someone pointed out they might have needed to make enough space for their kids to move around without bumping into things.

I thinks its a nice warm and cozy apartment.

When I was little, I had a huge walk-in closet for a room. Surprisingly, I survived to adulthood.

blueenigma: I don't know where you live or have travelled, but in NYC this is a good apartment, with nice amenities, and this post is an example of tenants making a home that works for them in a rental unit, staying within the parameters that they have been given. While some of their choices may be antithetical to current tastes in design circles, the photos convey, at least to me, the feeling of a comfortable home for this family of four.

There is nothing new or innovative about the choice of items or their arrangement on the bathroom windowsill, but they demonstrate a thoughtful attempt at organization and clutter control. I think it is calm and pleasing.

Y'all, let's all give each other a break. We do things in our abodes to accommodate our children, our pets, our significant others, our own quirks. This site is about making our apartments our refuges. We can view these items and take good ideas from them and leave the things we don't like on the computer screen.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Juliescript: heheh.

Great tour. Having two young children myself, I really appreciate how this family makes a small (well, small for a North American family of four) rental space work for them. And I think the closet-to-bedroom conversion is a cool idea for younger kids. Heck, my three-year-old would happily live in a medium-sized cardboard box, if we'd let him.

I would LOVE to know where those desk cubes came from!

When I was a kid, I would've loved that little bedroom with its secret-fort vibe. As an adult, I'd love to get my hands on some of those antique furnishings. In sum: With the exception of the decals (in grownup areas), I like this place a lot... lofty pictures and furnitureagainstthewall included.

Given that the children are called Lulu and Sailor, what's the bet that the dog's name is Matthew or Emily?

I like the space a lot, and the little girl's room is actually very cute. The last apartment I lived in was a studio that had a walk in closet converted to a bedroom, and that's where I slept. Believe me, it didn't scar me, and I very much doubt Lulu minds sleeping in her little room.
That said, there is definitely too much Blik, and I don't like the sofa and chair pushed into the corner and facing the tv. It makes the space look much too tv centric, and frankly just looks awkward.
Thank you for sharing with us!

I thought this place was nice, but it didn't knock my socks off. But I like Lulu's little bedroom.

Lulu and Sailor? Just one vowel away from the lead characters in Wild at Heart.

Like the bedroom ceiling fixture. You have way too much stuff though.

It's not my taste, but it's a good use of space. And to the above commenters: the daughters room isn't a closet -- there's an addition (from the living room) in ADDITION to the closet, which has just the bed. I've seen much tighter quarters in NYC, believe me. (That's largely why I no longer live there.)

weirder

Other than the decals outside of the kid's room, and the loads of barbies (but that's personal), and the living room picture hanging too high, I don't think this apartment is as bad as people are making it. I agree that the living room could use a coffee table in the middle to break up the "against the wall" alignment, but otherwise, they have some fun things and neat vintage items. I love the grey paint and ceiling fixture!

Hate to break bad news to you, but NYC law requires that at least 85% of the floor area be covered by rugs. I'd hate to be your downstairs neighbor with all that exposed wood.

It's a nice place, but putting the child in a room without windows... that creeps me out. Otherwise they'e made a great use of this small space. I'd just have rathe rput my own bed in the expanded closet and given the kids a room with direct sunlight. When kids grow up, they tend to live in their own rooms while adults use the living room and kitchen more.

Gator - it's not a law. But many standard leases have a rug requirement written in. Good luck getting it enforced.

i love this place i think it is a wonderful mix of classic and now. it looks effortless and stylish, adorable and comfortable and inspiring!

I slept in a closet as a child and managed to live through to adulthood, too.

I wonder how the apartment would look if the owners took a few of the larger pieces of furniture out? Their excess in this regard forces them to push everything against the wall. They would have to push the dining table toward the center of the space in order to use it, it seems. Why not re-compose these rooms and get rid of a few things and avoid the hassle?

Can you tell me where did you buy the toy boxes you have in your living room?

You know before I go through these pics again, I have to say something: I started visiting this blog daily because it is so relative in my life right now, however it is really discouraging to read some of your comments. Really just disgusting. I can understand stating your opinion and, even having enough design knowledge to critique/criticize some of the design choices. But some of you are just blatantly mean, questioning people's parenting abilities? People make choices based on what works for them and then they kindly open that up, a very personal thing, with the hope that it may inspire someone else. If it does not inspire you, say that, and that's all you need to say. Please don't turn this into AOL blogs cuz then I'm done.

OK, sorry no one questioned thier parenting ability, but still...

I love a lot of things about this place. The effect of the chandelier off the ceiling is stunning IMO. And what I absolutely love is that it's real and tangible.

Over-door shoe racks, ah, DESIGN! Thanks for sharing this masterpiece...

Wow, people can be mean on this site. I don't know why people think they can make really rude comments on blogs that they would never dream of saying to someone's face.

Why are these "I-grew-up-in-a-500-sq-ft-bedroom-with-the-window-that-overlooks-the-tennis-courts" people complaining about the little bedroom? I'm quite sure she doesn't spend every minute of every day in her bedroom. It's cute and an ingenious way to expand space when there is very little. The idea of what a "bedroom" is has been forced in our minds and it's hard for people to break out of that.

I agree that the wall decals are a bit overboard, but that's just an adult's opinion. Ask the little girl and I'm sure she doesn't mind.

Great job guys!

I think the bedroom is cute and a smart way to fit a family into a tight place. I'm also sure the child does not mind this at all.

I'm wondering where the desk in the bedroom and the dresser were found.

kjpierre its comments like yours that irk me most

nice to learn about how a london terrace unit is laid out and that the renters respect the pre-war detailing. the decorating is nyc-typical, not impressive, some creativity but needs improved arrangement. code does not require 85% floor coverage; a lease might. code does require, however, that a room be habitable. the older kid actually sleeps in a closed-off space without a window min of 12 sf to the outside, the short wall is

I'm with Green Martha and Amisdottir.

It may very well be that the child "doesn't mind" or even "likes" this arrangement. Does it make it sensible or beneficial? No, it doesn't. Probably 90% of children "won't mind" having chocolate ice-cream for dinner every evening and "will love" wearing their favourite ski boots in August. The child's preferences (pure speculation on some posters' part, by the way) are irrelevant here.

I certainly do criticise Adam and Alison's decisions and feel entitled to do so, just like other posters are entitled to share their very positive opinions. When people choose to show to their homes, they know they are bound to get mixed reactions.

Feel free to criticise my views and my non-native use of English --I for one feel that all opinions (not just positive opinions) are welcome.

Great choices in everything but furniture placement - it can only get better!

http://www.micasarevista.com/salones/salones/salones13/plano.shtml

So in an apartment as cramped as this, is the photo of the lady of the house preggers meant to act as a reminder to use birth control?

Really, two kids in that closet will be cruel.

The wallpaper in the livingroom is just stunning. I'm going to look it up from the sources posted.

I think my favorite is the Barbie collection in the door shoe hanger. I used to do the same thing when my daughter was a little girl. It brought back great memories!