David sent us these pics - self titled "My Camelot" - without any other description, but it seems as if he'd like advice. That said, without knowing much more we have to say that his pics raise mixed feelings and we're sure our dear readers will find the same thing.
We think he desperately needs COLOR and CONTRAST to really make this style work, but we'd also say that there is an air of comfort and great sense of flow through these rooms. Then again, even Camelot was shrouded in mystery.
I suspect he's not looking for advice. Those pictures seem really in control, no matter what anyone thinks of the taste. Perhaps we wait for some word from him, before we unleash ourselves.
there are several different eras/aesthetics jostling in his place. i quite liked the picture at the top, sort of florida-art-deco-hotel-lobby, which if developed could be quite delicious.... at least to contemplate on a boring afternoon.
who was that famous set-designer in 30s hollywood who did dazzling interiors for movies with jean harlow and joan crawford?
I am a little concerned with his use of woven trays as form of wall hanging. I am not a fan of his overall aesthetic, but I can say that the use of a "level" while hanging anything on the wall would help him immensely. Additionally the pieces seem contrived. The place looks like a model home. Needs more personality. My guess is that he has tried VERY hard to make his place look good, but hasn't been listening to his own feelings. It's really hard to decorate in the beige box apartment, but I don't know that embracing the the look of the management office is advisable. A for effort, at least he cares!
Seems to be a lot of "let's put some stuff here" type of decorating to me.
Now I'm gonna clam up, because I've hit my "mean" limit for the day.
I'm with Joan on this one. Somebody's gonna need to spell w-a-t-e-r into his hand and get some kind of feedback before I'll feel free to offer anything.
I think Joan is right.
You don't call something your "Camelot" if you think it's in need of advice or critique...
Curtis - Hah!
This made me a little depressed. I like the bedroom, though, especially the drapes--there's a little hint of glamour there. The corner area with the urn/table needs drapes, too--something substantial and in a sexy color. Maybe the embroidered silk dupioni ones from Pottery Barn? The single easiest, and best, thing David could do for this place is to get rid of the artificial plants. They exacerbate that "contrived" feeling that Emily refers to.
I agree with Patrick. David is apparently very happy with his place and wants to share it - not put it up on the board for criticism. It's not my taste and not the taste of others but hey, David loves it so good for him. As least he has more nerve than me. I'm scared shitless to have my apt. posted on this blog.
The palette seems very cool and soothing -- I have a very stressful job, so I sort of like it. I'm on a long-term weight loss program, and the doctor told my group that at least eating areas in your home should stay blue-green, far away from anything red-orange, which raises the pulse and energy levels; the latter encourages eating (that's why fast food restaurants use that color range.)
What?! Marilyn this is very distressing. No, I'm kidding. Although my studio is rife with hot pink and bright orange, I have been acquiring blue-green things for the kitchen. But I never eat in the kitchen, so...
Seems to me like David is going for the hotel suite aesthetic. His place reminds me of many hotel rooms I have stayed in on business travel.
I think he can punch it up a notch or two and add some more personality, but it IS clean and flows nicely.
Okay people,
Am I going to have to be the one to do it?
.....I will, but first, I want the people in charge over there to know, that this guy doesn't want help. He loves it. He really loves it. He worked really hard, and.... aw shucks.... I can't do it after all. I just can't. I can only say that he chose a nice blue paint in the bedroom.
that's all.
Having a bit of posters remorse. I did not mean to sound overly critical, but I did sound overly critical. I agree with oc girl about the bedroom, and applaud him for having the guts to send in the pix!
Exactly, P2. "My Camelot" does not suggest asking for a critique, but that's my take.
All non-living plants and flowers have to go. I think the pieces which are in conflict with the rest of the apartment are the leather pieces and the desk chair in the living room. I'd like to see some armless pieces in the living room...maybe two chairs with a table between across from a loveseat with a table on the end. The fabrics in the living room need to have the same 30s drama as the bedroom has.
agree with p2; laughed out loud at curtis' post.
I agree
- this place would look much better with more window treatments. Personally, I've been on a mission to remove all aluminum blinds from my rental. It's very difficult to make them match to any decor unless you're going for institutional.
- the fake/dry plants and flowers should be replaced with potted trees and plants and fresh flowers.
Whether he was seeking it or not, he must have known this was the place where advice flows freely. My guess is that he took a look around, gussied up a little bit and worked up the nerve to send in some pics. He ought to be knighted in his Camelot 'cause he's got the guts to send photos in to the toughest critics around.
Wonder if this is in Florida?
Suspect neighbors might be Blanche, Dorothy, Rose and Sophia.
I enjoy seeing how careful you all are being. This is a little tame for me. It's a personality thing. You know how the TV design shows all talk about "pop"? I'd like to see something pop here. A saturated color, or a contrasting one. And because I like a touch of humor in everything, I'd love to see something here done with a sense of irony. It's all very serious. I want to see something in saffron yellow! I see some yellow in the curtains of the bedroom (which is done in very pretty colors, by the way).
I suspect that the violet curtains were probably somewhat daring for this person. Maybe that daring trend should be encouraged here?
I would love for someone to clue me into the "w-a-t-e-r in the hand" thing. I usually think I'm pretty quick on the uptake, but that one's just zoomed right past me.
Bravo to David for posting. It's great to get an invited look into others' private spaces. In addition to the comments about having some colors that pop, as already noted, I'd also recommend arranging the furniture so that it doesn't hide the fireplace. Accent it to make it an interesting part of the room, even if you don't use it.
Wow, this place looks like 90% of the showrooms here in San Francisco. Now I know who buys that stuff.
I'm sorry, I thought this site was geared towards sharing idea's through decorating personalities. With 3 billion people living in the world today we surely all have our own unique styles or taste. Can we all agree how boring it would be if with every step our visuals never changed.
Speaking only for myself, Ive seen things on this site you couldn't handcuff me to, but I also appreciate the individual styles and accepted the fact that while we may have all been created equal our opinions aren't. No I wasn't asking for feedback but I will take just a minute to answer to some of these comments.
1. I also love real plants, but I'm a single man in his late 40's and don't have the time nor the inclination to spend watering plants. While you water your plants I'm at the beach having a pina.
2. Also being a single man I didn't want to fluff up the place with window treatments no more than I have so far.
3. Nothing bores me more than the theme that runs through every room. The bedroom walls by the way are painted with Silver Sage from Restoration Hardware as to was the bed, linens and curtians all purchased there.
4. My desk is one of a kind to my knowledge and the chair would be a Herman Miller which if you knew anything about the chair you would know it's for comfort not style. As I can say the same about my entire apartment.
5. Yes it does look somewhat like a model probably because Ive had 28 years in property management as a service manager. Also with that you should realize that with every stoke of the brush there going to be charges to return your unit as before and so restricts you to what you can do.
It's about comfort, It's about trying to decorate around personal taste. What a picture will never provide will be the story of your life. The photo's that hang over my bed came from the Historical society of Palm Beach. They were taken back in the 30's of the Breakers Resort. I Worked there.
Yep for every positive comment 10 negatives will find there way. I'll leave you with this one thought. " The positives can only exist after the recognition and destruction of the negatives. This world was created by the pessimist and enjoyed by the optimist.
We crucify the pessimist for there beliefs not realizing they bring life to the optimist.
David's Camelot
Well... This is a tough one.
He keeps him home very tidy, I'm sure he's proud of it.
It looks like a cross between an upscale suite at a mid-brow hotel, and a model home that was decorated as oatmeal as possible, so as to be completely neutral. Maybe a set for a J.C. Penny's catalog. Oh, I feel like a jerk, but for those who couldn't speak up, live vicariously through me.
The beige on beige on beige might elicit a knee-jerk assumption that he's a dullard, yet he clearly planned out the flow of the space well, and sought out this forum to share his creation, so I'll give him props for finding good company, and being self-confident enough to share.
There a certain naiveté that just makes you think he must be a really nice guy, nobody wants to take a dig at him. It just wouldn't be polite.
Seeing as he wrote in as David and not "David and _______" it must be someone's bachelor pad. Not only that, the pictures of the children (but no wife) suggest that he is a recent divorcee. So, it must be judged as a newly bachelorized man, who does not work in a design profession, trying to create a pleasing home. Judged in that context, he's done a great job. Nobody will ever mistake him for being gay (you know it). In conclusion, I'd say his home is a complete success- think of all that could have gone wrong, all the bachelor pad temptations he restrained himself from giving in to. Kudos.
It looks like a retirement home to me.
Wow! He posted before I submitted. He was handled by everyone on this board with kid gloves, and he couldn't even take that criticism well. Oh well. Don't hold back now.
Hi David, I don't know if you own your place, but if you do, I think the one single thing you could do to improve it the most would be to lose the wall-to-wall carpeting and put in a wood floor. Here's why:
1. It improves the value of your property
2. It's more hygenic---no dust mites and allergens to hide in the carpet fibers (and they're their, no matter how often you vacuum)---and wood floors are easier to keep clean (also easier on your bachelor lifestyle)
3. You immediately spice up the place with contrast and character---choose a deep espresso or even a mahogany reddish tone to your wood, and you have color!---which you can then complement with colors you can choose for the walls, carpets, or other furnishings
Whatever you do, stay away from the blond wood tones like oak and the ones in your chairs---you already have a lot of beige and white in your place. You seem to like Restoration Hardware (I do too)---try looking through some of their catalogues for inspiration. They have a lot of silver accents in their rooms now---maybe you can replace some of the fake plants with some of their hurricane candleholders and other tchochkes.
That's my $.02. You have a lot of space to work with, which always makes things easier. Good luck!
Sorry David, but you'll long be a single man in his 40's with this as your apartment.
But on to some legitimate criticism...
What's missing here is you. Your personality does not exist in this apartment and as such this apartment has no personality.
This apartment looks as if it were delivered one Saturday from page 102 of the spring catalogue. I'll leave it at that.
We all know that's an Aeron, thanks.
i'm curious as to what one would send pictures of one's home to a design website FOR, if not feedback -- a thread with no respondents whatsoever?
but to answer my question above, CEDRIC GIBBONS. oh to live in an apartment designed by Cedric Gibbons!
how to express what i am feeling after looking at these photos... it's depressing like visiting my dieing grandmother... if great design is like a fine meal, this is a tv dinner with mushy peas and wet, half-frozen mashed potatoes.
on the other hand, i am glad that he is happy and clean and seems to take care of himself.
i am a b!t*ch.
i will feel regret as soon as i press post...
Can't wait to see ALL your impeccable, creative, stylish homes on here soon...
julian--
Given his apartment, and your attitude, I'd pick a night in Camelot to one minute in Julian-ville.
wow. this is so bad it's not even fun to rag on.
i hate it.
i hate the beige on beige on beige.
i hate the fact that everything that isn't beige is some shade of mauve.
i hate the pretension of coming in here and saying, "that, my friends, is an Aeron Chair, and well, duh, its existence is justified because it is from Herman Miller and everyone else has one."
i hate the ridiculousness of submitting pictures of your home to a design website and defending it against critique by insisting that you did everything 'because it's comfortable'. you know, a lot of my apartment is the way it is because it's comfortable, or because i'm poor, or because i'm too lazy to really fix it up nice. this is why i haven't sent Apartment Therapy pictures of my apartment. Maybe you should consider submitting photos to some "Comfortable Apartments" blog or something.
paint. seriously. or if your landlord is that evil, add color with art, window treatments, rugs, pillows on the couch, etc. and by 'paint' and 'color' i mean something that is not beige, oatmeal, ecru, tan/camel-ish, or mauve. there are other colors.
if you don't have the time for plants, just don't get plants at all.
i hate those stupid puffy leather chairs. why do so many people have those? who designed them? what kind of drugs were they on? do you think they would share if i promised to stay away from the drafting table till i came down?
Thanks Patrick, Isn't decorating a work in progress? Ive viewed other pictures on this site and gotten some good ideas for myself. Isn't that what this site is all about?
i will submit photos of my much-less-than-perfect apartment to this site soon and i'm sure i'll receive some hard knocks.
david, good for you for putting yourself out there.
i didn't mean to sound nasty.
David's camelot is definitely not my style- but I do find his place inspiring.
Right now, I have a hole in one wall, 15 different colors of orange paint on another wall, and a dripping sink.
I believe that this is David's style and he has succeeded in doing what many of us are trying to achieve in the 8 week cure- create a home that reflects who we are and how we want to live.
rasil - if one is proud of their place then posting photos of it isn't necessarily an invitation to criticize. I don't think slamming someone's abode is part of the process here.
i agree with rasil. what is wrong with posting honest critiques or even first reactions? hand-holding and sugar-coating are for children.
it's also telling, david, that you need to imply disdain for work on this site simply to qualify yours. don't turn a deaf ear to constructive criticism.
Ok,
What makes a space a fantastic apartment, a fantastic home is not the furniture, it's not the paint, it's not the lighting. What makes a home is evidence that someone lives there; character.
In the above apartment there's nothing wrong with the furniture, it's clean, opperable and while it may not be to my taste it is cohesive. The palatte is unified and the place is clean and well kept- in fact I'd say it's probally better assembled thatn many apartment I've ever been in. What makes me not want to live there and what led me to comment about it looking like a catalogue, and for that matter the bit about being single (for the record my apartment has not helped me land a relationship...yet) is that there's no sign that someone lives here and one's home is a direct reflection of who they are. This apartment looks as if the owner has no identity; if this is home one can only imagine who lives here. There is little evidence that this place is even lived in. Upon entering it I would no doubt feel uncomfortable as there's nothing personal, or human within the walls.
This is easy to address...I'm sure David has knick knacks, collected items, stuff that reflects his personality and his identity... a little of this would go a long way in making this apartment feel like a home.
That's all
Julian, youre exactly correct. Thats what I meant by a picture can't tell the story of the person living there, or lets say the lack of pictures. I have personal items all over the place. My golf clubs set at the front door with Mickey Mouse a top. I collect Tom Clark Knomes about 60 of them. Family pictures on every surface. I even collect coffee cups.
Yes it really dosen't look lived in because I keep it clean and bed made everyday. J I'm a service manager for a community in North Carolina been in the apartment business for 28 years and I could write volume after volume of what Ive seen and had to endure from residents while they reside and when they move out and the dispicable condition they left these apartments so maybe I'm just a little anal about the way I carry myself when it comes to cleaning my own home.
I understand what youre saying and thats the reason why. Now J maybe youve been on this site a while and understand how it works. I don't mind opinions, do they have to be ugly? Just how many of the folks that voiced there opinons today actually are trained in any shape or form in interior decorating and I might add are good at what they do??
They surely didn't identify themselves as such. I ain't going to call a plumber to replace my muffler either.
Thanks
Bravo to David,
If all the furniture was switched to "mid-century modern" or "Eames Era" stuff many commentators would be drooling over this apartment. Guess what - it works the way it is. It all fits together, is neat and tidy, feels restful because it is not full of clutter.
For me personally, I HATE mid-century modern and "Eames Era" (vomit at this description which is so overused and completely poseur), which totally means Grandma to me much more than this style of decor. Yeah, we all have our era's that we like. David's Camelot is just not the era that is "in style" right now. But you can bet it will come around again soon.
"just how many of the folks that voiced there opinons today actually are trained in any shape or form in interior decorating and I might add are good at what they do??"
This is not a site for people to post pictures to receive opinions from interior decorators. This is a site for anyone who is interested in making a surrounding environment into a home, who wants to share or develop a sense of style, to learn new ideas, etc.
It's absolutely true that people can be ruthlessly critical around here. On the other hand, you post pictures, what do you expect? "oh, that's nice"? And formal training or no, some of the people here have a very good eye and some excellent suggestions, and also experience in renovations and dealing with less-than-perfect layouts and other apartment drawbacks.
Personally, I think the southwest color scheme of this place went out in the '80's. Easiest way to fix it is to get rid of the mauve curtain and the colonial blue placemats in the kitchen. The puffy leather furniture would be my next project.
The bedroom is the most 'successful' at presenting a dimensional/layered comfortable look.
I guess my thought about the rest of the apt is that the monochrome beige (walls/carpet) is too flat (color and dimensionally).
If I could only add a couple of things (and not subtract anything) to this space, it would be several area rugs in richer/warmer colors (yes, over the existing carpet, i've seen it done and it works) to demarcate living/dining spaces and make it cozier...
Wow- This is like visiting my retired ex-inlaws apartment in Florida. Tasteful, safe and I wasn't allowed to touch anything. They cleaned all the time - I was considering getting them a John Deere riding vacuum cleaner for their anniversary.
Kidding aside - some good (and a few great) choices have been made. Don't need anymore possesions - it's just time to take some risks! Paint, wall paper and upgrade the ceiling fans. Grab the color wheel match it to the furniture. Go down to Home Depot and grab some pre-coordinated color chips w/one color that matches the furniture and let yourself go! Live a little!
Don't like the results? Take photos and post them back here. You'll get all the opinions you could possibly want - but you will have shown more than armchair courage - you took the risk - and that, many times, is better than the outcome.
I'd say thanks for sharing, but I've never seen so many plain nice or polite comments responded to with such anger...which does beg the question: why send the pictures in!? There's a reason I haven't shared my space...I don't handle criticism well.
It's calm. It's impeccably neat. It's clean. It's cohesive.
Um, aren't those all things "The Cure" strives for?
Vanessa--
How exactly did your saying " it's depressing like visiting my dieing (sic) grandmother... if great design is like a fine meal, this is a tv dinner with mushy peas and wet, half-frozen mashed potatoes." NOT intend to be mean?
jeez.
And David, there ARE some design professionals of various ilk on this site. Luckily, the ones I know of have been civil... probably because they (we) know how much it SUCKS to have your design choices ridiculed.
This is obviously a *home* to you, and that's all that really matters.
Wow. Criticism? Far from it. I don't think I could create such a perfect a model for this look if I wanted to. The combinations are stellar: the 'plants' that need only dusting--not water (perfect for a bachelor with little time as explained by the gentleman who posted), the wall art that would have hotel industry executives swooning with envy, the color scheme that you couldn't recreate at the DDC if you wanted to, even the stuffed puppies in a box next to the chair in one picture...it's a far cry from my Chelsea loft but man, this guy certainly realized his vision. We should all be so lucky. I'll bet he smiles everytime he opens his front door after a long day at work. And isn't that what it is about.
It seems like what we're missing here was the setting of expectations. The very first line of the House Tour write up states that "it seems like he wants advice." Perhaps the irritation and (most of the) negative comments could have been avoided with a little more up front communication.
Having been on AT for some months now I am fully aware of the kinds of comments I will receive when I post my house pics... because I have read the other comments on AT Smallest contest and. Think the comments on this posting are bad? NOT AT ALL! Excluding the finalists in ATSCC, I think that these are some of the tamest comments I've read.
Time to get to work and brush up on my contructive critism skills.
The classic "If you don't have anything nice to say, keep your big mouth shut" is always a possibility, too.
David, next time borrow a cat for your photo shoot. So many people will ooh and ahh and/or ask where the litterbox is, they won't have time to take potshots at your decor choices.
I was reading all this and thinking -- gosh, I thought my comment was given in good spirit and I hope he didn't take it wrong. And then I read David's peevish slap in the face to all of us:
"Just how many of the folks that voiced there (sic) opinons today actually are trained in any shape or form in interior decorating and I might add are good at what they do??"
Well, David, I am, and I am.
I am baffled why anyone would post their home here if they didn't want feedback.
Granted, some of the posts are cruel and silly, but that's the Internet for you. Just skip past what bothers you, David.
Heather and P(too), you've each made a very accurate point. I agree.
It sounds like David was very neat to begin with, but if I was submitting pics to this site, I'd probably edit a little of the "personality" out of my place as well (ok, first I'd dust).
It may not be a smallest-coolest contender, but is very cohesive and deliberate (I hate the randomness of many people's home purchases). David, I'll leave suggestions to everyone else, but thanks for sharing. Everyone should live in their Camelot!
Well... let's see... I love the suds in the kitchen sink. The photo has a tantalizing air of washus interruptus.
The round table can fit King Arthur and Lancelot, max. Maybe Gawain if she sits on Arthur's lap.
The photos from old Palm Beach are nice, but the pastel fish print must have a million copies out there in the world.
I admit that living in a garden style apartment complex rental does limit the decorating options.
Home Kitch Home
Is the dinette table functional or just for show? I would be afraid of leaning on it, or placing something heavy on it for fear it would flip off of its base?
Bryan.nyc, people can give constructive criticism without saying things like "...mushy peas" etc.
It also doesn't sound like David owns his place (since he is a property manager, presumably living on-site?) so he may not be able to get rid of the carpet and make other major changes.
I would love to see the art deco feel of the Breakers photos (which is a great place) fleshed out a little more. I get touches of that from the striped curtains and some other things. Unfortunately, I have no good suggestions as to how to get there, but you can always have fun watching The Thin Man movies and Gods and Monsters for inspiration.
This makes me want to weep from envy...The space, the order! I have no input on design, etc., as I have no particular expertise in that area. I am impressed with the complete lack of clutter.
Yes, it's clutter-free. Congrats. I actually like some of the furniture, but hate the leather couches - what style is that, Tumor Nouveau?
It's just that the place is so color-less - go darker on the walls, go lighter...it just seems the same test-pattern snooze temperature-zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
I'm really a nice person.
What a talented, witty group we have here. I laughed so many times reading these posts.
And skip past what bothers you, Pat.
And "that's the internet for you" is an attitude that just really sucks, since it doesn't have to be that way, especially not here...
I think he has a really, really valid point... I'd love to see the taste and homes of many of the posters here, professional or otherwise, to help gauge how many grains of salt their tips and ideas should be taken with.
Would you get your hair cut by someone with a hideous style themselves? Would you pay a fat personal trainer?
He is very clean, he does not like clutter, he does not curse, he is a religious man, he is agreeable at work, he plays well with others, he listens, he avoids unpleasant situations, and relationships, he is not a fan of violent movies, and doesn't care too much for art films either, he likes julia roberts, and oprah, listens to 80's soft rock music, and likes children. He wants peace, he likes some fast food, he likes a bargain, pier one, malls, ice cream. he ocasionally reads murder mysteries, and best seller novels. and finally he does not take criticism well.
Wow, I think that I've learned more about his personality just from his apartmen more than from any of the other entries on this site.
I thought this was a posting for the "May is Spring Cleaning" month which I am boycotting. David's style is not mine but I am very impressed with his cleaning skills. It looks like you could eat off his floors.
Doug -- the w-a-t-e-r is a reference to Helen Keller.
Patrick -- the cat comment was the funniest thing posted today.
What's the point to comme here and see every- day decors? we want to dream and be amazed and David's decor just doesn't do it for us.
We cannot even help him,the man cannot throw away all his stuff to buy beautiful ones,and worst, or better,he is glad the way he lives.
Excuse my english, Im French.
P2, the cat comment was the funniest in this whole thread. The need for owners to include their cats in their home pics is something I will never understand.
He is very clean, he does not like clutter, he does not curse, he is a religious man, he is agreeable at work, he plays well with others, he listens, he avoids unpleasant situations, and relationships, he is not a fan of violent movies, and doesn't care too much for art films either, he likes julia roberts, and oprah, listens to 80's soft rock music, and likes children. He wants peace, he likes some fast food, he likes a bargain, pier one, malls, ice cream. he ocasionally reads murder mysteries, and best seller novels. and finally he does not take criticism well.
Wow, I think that I've learned more about his personality just from his apartmen more than from any of the other entries on this site.
Posted by sand at 05/18/06 12:16 PM
And wears poliester
I swear I did not see Dori's post before I made mine. But it does seem as if we have a small band of like minded ppl going against the current mainstream opinion in this thread.
Sorry, don't have time to post much any more.
I reread David's rebuttals, and for those of you who say he can't take criticism well, or that he was making a "peevish slap in the face" back to you, you all REALLY, SERIOUSLY need to submit your homes for world review, and see how it feels to have a place you have put your heart and soul into torn apart.
I think he handled himself with MUCH more restraint than many of you critics would have.
Why share your apartment here if not for criticism? Um, perhaps *tips*, perhaps actual constructive criticsim, perhaps to inspire those wrestling with pounds of clutter and chaos (MANY worse interiors have popped up lately as part of The Cure threads, btw...) or perhaps simple and utter pride.
I also hope you all get "constructive criticism" when you share your wedding photos, vacation slideshows, and baby pictures with your friends.
I'm going to agree with the "pop" comment. I see these pictures and I really want to see more color.
I very much appreciate the cleanliness though, and can understand where David is coming from (if you think apartments can get bad, wait until you see a home someone has been living in for years and years!).
I'd also like to mention how much I enjoy the witty comments and retorts... they make my stomach warm like a good whiskey :). If you have a problem with harshness then get off the Internet, this place ain't run by a candy company.
Dead on Heather, I would have appreciated an email before these pictures were published giving me a chance to explain why I sent them and have them explain this site to me.
I surely can appreciate positive feedback which several of these messages provided. And lets get real, I'm the only one with his butt hanging out in public here so being a little defensive can be understood. My pictures were posted and assumptions were made all without my prior knowledge.
I provided my email address at there request which I assumed they would contact me. In my defense I did attach a letter explaining why I sent the pictures and my long career in the apartment business and how happy I was that we're finally recognizing apartments at least around here as a way of life and not a disposable existence until one day we owned our own homes.
Had it also been published maybe my message would have been delivered as I intended.
Sorry for the confusion and I'll be more careful in the future.
And, P(too) I reread the postings before David's rebuttal, and none of them seemed too cruel to me, at least compared to what I've seen here before. I'm usually in the "let's be nice" camp, but I guess I felt that David's railing was a little unwarranted...if anything, that kind of reaction makes the dogs come out even more. Especially insulting the general AT readership as having no taste and whatnot.
And, like I said, I'd never submit photos of my place on this site as "my camelot" unless I was well prepared for some trifling and mean-spirited comments, being well-versed in the way of the internet world, as right or wrong as that is.
black and white can be an interesting pairing, as can beige and country blue, if thats what you like. i think what happened here is that the black and white(or beige and blue)got chopped up into too many peices and made gray(or bleige). a clam, undemanding, clean, ordinary place. acceptable to everyone offensive to no one.
for instance, the green chair. nice chair, pretty lines, good green, but then, the pink throw. to me it just lost all impact. i could go on and on. for me, that happened with every item he chose. just like a catalog. it really looks like a model home. wonderful job, in that respect.
P2, you need to get you anger in check. It will eat you alive. If you read my first comments again, you will see that I was not criticizing David's place, but reacting to the photos. Most of the readers here do assume that reaction is what is wanted. David's later post (when he had, thankfully, calmed down) supports that notion.
It is a well-known fact that the Internet is not for the fragile. That will not change. I have seen people act absurdly on sites where they are identified. Homo sapiens is an aggressive animal, and the Internet is an open playing field.
And as for P2's strange question:
"Would you get your hair cut by someone with a hideous style themselves? Would you pay a fat personal trainer?"
Yes and yes, and I have on both counts. I do not judge people by what they look like, or how they live, but how they behave with others.
Et tu, P2?
Thank you, Christine, for supporting my point in a calmer way than I was able to accomplish.
Thank you for posting, Sand and Mat. I rarely get anyone backing my opinions here, it seems. It helps to see that sometimes.
David, you seem to have no idea how many people out there are generally in the design field. It was careless and cruel of you to paint us all with the same ugly brush.
Pat--
If you think THAT is my unchecked anger, then you have less of a clue than I have given you credit for, in spite of your typically negative comments.
It wasn't a strange question.. it speaks back to the question of taking direction from anonymous strangers who may be living in a castle, a cardboard box, or a lovely place stacked to the rafters with Elle Decors and cat food tins.
It was not a "judge people by appearance" thing at all.
And I am sooooo sick of the "people can be crappy online because that's the way the internet is." That's a lazy excuse from people just itching to take their anger out on people who can't retaliate.
CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOR. Treat people like you want to be treated. Don't succumb to the lowest common denominator. Online or off.
Sheez.
Christine (toidc)--
I see your point, and yes, there's been worse (didn't we learn something form some of the horrible comments during the last contest?!), but I'm not overreacting any more to the readers' comments than the readers are to David's response.
What he wrote was hardly "railing", and I (as a reader of AT) was not insulted in the least by anything he said. (I think people are overreacting to his Herman Miller chair comment, for example...)
But oh well. I give up.
Pat--
To clarify, I was not singling you out for your negativity originally. Your first post was actually constructive.
I don't know why I keep coming back here...except that I'm really distracted at work today!
Being an extremely sensitive person, I can see how David feels. I actually think his place is nice. Not in the kind of way I would like in my own home, but that's why it's his place.
I can also, though, see how the people who posted before him--some of whom felt they were being helpful--feel.
People should be nicer, it's true...all I'm sayin' is, in a place where people can be mean anonymously, like the internet, lots of meanness can happen. Not only that, but because of the speed of communications, some of that internal filtering that might happen has occasion not to. I think that's why it would be good if this went to a "message" board kind of format, where people register to post. That happens a little less in those situations, I think.
Oh and just to put it out there--I have faux greenery in my bedroom. Gotta say they look better than the real thing in my living room that just looks ill.
P2,
I'm sorry, but I'm not going to censor myself on the Internet. If you want a land of gum drops and butterflies then you should probably start a subscription based message board where you can ban people.
I also would like to ask everyone else here not to censor themselves. I think part of what makes this sites readership so great is that so many people are honest and write about their opinions... which are sometimes visceral!
Mat-
Gimme a break-- there is a huge rift between some of the personal nastiness ("He'll stay single with this apartment") and "gum drops and butterflies."
And this is a site about interior design and pretty things, for a large part...
Why does the crappy, bitter ugliness of the rest of the world-- and how people conduct themselves in it-- have to infiltrate even this kind of site?!
I'm not saying we all need to agree. But please tell me there is still room for civilty even within the context of a visceral reaction. ESPECIALLY when the topic is someone's sacred space... the home they've proudly and lovingly made for themselves.
I've said it before... there is a difference between "Your drapes are dull" and "You are a dull person, judging by your drapes."
And if you fail to see the difference, we're still waiting to see your home posted here...
That's all I'm sayin'.
ok, I'll give you that noone needs to be outrightly mean, it's probably not fair.
I suppose it comes down to a matter of tone and how people read things. I was laughing at some of the early comments, and so when I read "He'll stay single with this apartment" I chuckled at what sounded like a friendly zing in my head.
As for posting my own place, I plan to. My first house closes 6/2 and it's currently painted a horrible peach sherbert color on the outside. I know that's not "interior", but I plan to hit everyone here up for suggestions. As for the inside, well, that'll be a repaint on move in and an ongoing project over the next year as money provides. And I'll happily take brutal comments :) :)
Mat--
Yeah, that comment may have seemed funny. Were you NOT in the shoes of the intended recipient.
I'm just a proponent of the concept of empathy.
But believe me, I can bitch and moan with the best of the pessimists... or is that the worst of the pessimists?!?
Just remember, there's a difference between brutal comments WHEN YOU SOLICIT THEM and even SEMI-brutal comments about a project you feel is finished and complete, that you are sharing out of pride...
But we look forward to attacking-- er, um-- SEEING your home. ;)
I find it really interesting that the conversation has almost completely shifted to Internet etiquette or the lack there of on this site. This is the first time I have actively posted. That being said I am surprised at the amount of animosity that seems to follow the key posters. Design is subjective. We all have an opinion, either we voice it or we don't. I can honestly say that I posted my gut feeling of the place and actually hit the nail on the head with the Management office comment. I don't think that it's fair to attack others opinions in this case, I actually think that David handled most of the criticism with a grain of salt. Like his apartment I believe that he wrote his rebuttals with a clear focus on the topic. He writes like he decorates, clean and to the point. Some people take that as angry when in actuality his posts were very well written, defensive should not be misconstrued as P-off.
I totally agree with you, P2, and in my book, you are qualified to talk because you did submit your house, and even your winning entry took some mean-spirited hits. In fact, Enrique said something to the effect that, while he enjoyed being in past contests, he found out that being so vunerable to random criticism was much harder than he expected.
I think you are spot-on with the drapes-are-dull/you-are-dull comparison. One is okay. One is not. I can only think that people who don't see the difference don't get invited out a lot.
hate to state the obvious here, but - there's a massive difference between constructive criticism/differences of opinion/stating, in a civil manner, one's dislike of a certain style (backed up with specific reasons *AND* trying to show everyone how acerbic and clever and drag-queeny you can be.
people *should* give honest opinions. those who do so constructively (even if the comments are negative) look SO much better (and informed) than those who giggle at their own barbs, and wind up looking like joan rivers. on crack. without make-up.
(sorry, should have closed the parens after "reasons," before *AND*)
After all this discussion, I'm still confused about why David sent pictures of his place to this website. He obviously didn't want criticism, constructive or otherwise. Did he want comments? Decorating tips? Congratulations?
The introduction invited suggestions. Were they not welcome after all?
Maxwell's introduction invited suggestions. Apparently David's attached letter, which he referred to in one of his comments above, was left out of the mix.
On the other hand, this was posted as a House Tour, which usually isn't a request for help.
The invitation *written by Maxwell* invited suggestions.
(Joan-- that was not meant to sound liek a correction to what you posted.. you just beat me to it!)
Perhaps all of this should be parsed into:
Observations
Reactions
Criticisms
Jibes
Cheerleading
Observations are: "You appear to like colors in the same tonal range," and "What you are doing here works well, so maybe you should go with that." Observations are statements of fact (through ones own experience) devoid of judgement.
Reactions include, "I feel cold/warm/happy/sad when I see this place," and "I want to see more color/fewer colors/warmer or cooler colors/more contrast/more personality/more or less stuff." Reactions overlap with criticism, but are offered, again, without judgement (and without ill intent).
Criticisms cover a wide area, and include: "You are doing this wrong, and should be doing it this way," as well as "Your furniture is ugly and I think you are a boring person." They are judgemental, and they are dangerous when the intent is to harm, as in the second statement.
Jibes can be funny pokes in the ribs as well as personal attacks. Sometimes the intent of a post is not clear, and sometimes it is all too evident. I think humor is what makes life bearable, and have little patience for those who take themselves too seriously. But I have no respect for those who seek out and destroy.
Cheerleading is what happens when everyone is so intimidated by this sort of rubbish that they only post things like "Great job!" It's boring, and it does not result in learning.
In my rulebook, observation and reaction are the point of this blog, and criticism is within the rules as long as it is not meant to harm. Jibes are fun when done in jest. Both criticism and jibes are out of bounds when the intent is to hurt. Cheerleading causes me to go to another site.
P2, thank you for ceding a point in my direction by saying that my initial post was constructive. But why throw in there an aside that most of my posts are negative? Why throw a barb while offering a flower?
Don't get it. Never will.
"Great job" is not boring to read when it is your house. Granted "Great job... I especially like how your colors come together" is more learning based, but, um, this ain't school...
The flower was offered after the barb, intentionally.
But to be honest, your comments to me felt pretty accusatory and a tinge nasty (and specifically directed, when I wasn't even really talking to you), that perhaps I had a lapse of "lowering to the occasion." Apologies. I'll do my best to never ever respond to anything you say.
Unless, of course, I think you've done a "great job".
I honestly don't think I would want to see dozens of people telling me nothing but "great job" if I put up pictures of my apartment. I would rather know better ways of doing things I've been trying to do---color suggestions, furniture ideas, furniture placement, etc. Of course, it's always nice to hear it in a nice way, as in "that antique birdcage on the table is great, but it would look so much better with..."
I think the honesty of some of the reactions here would be a relief from all the polite admiration we all get from real guests. My friends are never going to tell me what they REALLY think. As I would never tell them either---I wouldn't want to insult them! But if it's coming from someone I don't know, I don't have to try to be friends with them afterward knowing they think I have no taste.
I do have taste. I don't need compliments to know that!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Most sites that I visit offer explanations of there intent. This site lacks this information. I read there "MISSION" which was the closest thing to there intent as I could find, I surely subscibe to there Mission statement and lessons have been learned here today if only for my future internet experience.
This wasn't about me and If I could turn back the clock I would have asked specific questions to be delivered with my pictures. Such as what would you suggest I do with the room with the large mirror? Please don't answer that. Opinions are very welcomed within my household when Ive asked for specific tips. If I threw out everything that didn't meet with everyones taste from just these 90 + messages I would be eating, sitting and sleeping in the floor.
It's turned somewhat personal not just for me but for you too.. Believe me I'm not made of glass. I'm pure country boy from NC and I have 4 sisters, 2 brothers and a mother that give me plenty of advice. Some I like, some I hate but I still listen just as I have here for the past two days.
My responses were meant to explain my theme which I did a really bad job at that one. Well considering I didn't know I would be justifying myself I did the best I could and unlike some of the messages I surely never intended to pick a fight. Decorating ideas are like pixels of a tv screen. They all have to come together for the color to bloom but provide nothing if standing alone.
Be Safe
If you are brave enough to post, you have to be willing to catch both the applause and, the tomatoes.
That being said, I think this place is likely a sunny, pleasant place to visit.
It could really use some RED!!!!
"Their." Not "there." I need help, I know. I just couldn't take it, though.
Don't you people work??? Geez, if you could measure the productivity that was lost over the past two days while employees were on this thread and translate it to dollars, you could feed a small nation.
David,
Well done... and I don't mean extra crispy, I mean, 'good job'.
Judging by how your home was introduced, you were kinda thrown to the wolves:
> David sent us these pics - self titled "My Camelot" -
> without any other description, but it seems as if
> he'd like advice. That said, without knowing much
> more we have to say that his pics raise mixed
> feelings and we're sure our dear readers will
> find the same thing.
Your place is a very well put together middle America home, and there is no reason that has to be derogatory. I understand that this site's viewership is still about 85%+ New Yorkers. Considering the urban taste of most of the audience, and the ruthlessness of most New Yorkers in general, you were not man handled as badly as some were expecting, I'm sure.
If I took some humor at your expense, I apologize. I did come around, and my kudos were sincere. There are very few heterosexual guys in their 40s, single (divorced?), living out in God's country that could put together a well groomed and thought-out home such as you have, and it took a lot of guts to let it all hang out here. There are no posters of girls draped across the hood of sports cars, no neon beer signs, no giant wooden spool for a coffee table... contrary to another participant's posting, I think this place would be very welcoming to a lady. A chic & retro, mid century do-up wouldn't match the make of the apartment, the region, or the occupant.
Check this out, if you haven't already. It's my favorite part of this website:
Smallest Coolest Apartment Contest-
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/scc.php
It might help you put a little more of yourself into you space. I've found several inspiring ideas for my own renovation there and it's what has kept me coming back to this great site.
I'm planing to post my renovation here when it is completed in a few weeks, and my ass will be hanging out there right beside yours, er, well not literally (least that should be misinterpreted), but you know what I mean.
You had a trial by fire, and came out well done (maybe even a little extra crispy). Kudos again.
Sharon, I share your views. The purpose of this space is to bounce ideas around. I participate in it for that reason. I've gotten leads on many good Web sites from these threads. I like to see how people see a space from different perspectives.
David, you show a good attitude in your last post. I do think that your slideshow intro insinuated AT disapproval, but was too slippery to commit to one thing or another. And everyone else didn't know what to do with that info.
Besides the NY urban vs. NC aspect of this, you are also faced with a lot of folks many years your junior (or so I assume). I'm up in your age bracket myself. I'm sure my place wouldn't appeal to a 25-year-old.
For anyone thinking about submitting your home, it seems that you would do best to steer the discussion yourself by submitting a specific question. The "What color should I paint this hall/wall/bedroom" approach. It gives people a reason to live. :-)
Now everyone get back to work!`
Vanessa - you ARE a bitch. Your prose is not nearly as clever as you think. And that you think you're cute by demurring after the fact is rather sad. If you're going to be ugly, have the ovaries to admit it without the lame-ass faux regrets.
Diva - not only are you a bitch but you also envision yourself as a snob. But it is rather pathetic you strive to reach a level of drag queen cattiness and cannot even spell polyester.
Though both of you (and some others) qualify as trolls (given your graceless comments about someones home) and really need to get more of a life going for yourselves.
David, too bad you werent clear about what you were hoping to get from posting. I do appreciate your sharing. I, for one, like to see all different kinds of decors. Even if what someone posts isnt my taste, there may be a way theyve addressed a challenge that I can learn from. Or someones comment on a post might be helpful.
The only suggestion Id strongly toss out would be unless your fake plants have great sentimental value, lose them. Or box them up for a bit. Theyre just one more thing you have to dust. You can leave the space empty for a while and see how you feel about it. If somethings lacking, then maybe you can find another way to fill the void.
As for rentals and paint, every brush stroke bringing charges, etc. Hmmm. Frankly, Ive repainted plenty of places before friends have moved out of places back to the original cheap paint I moved into. Another options for folks out there, not necessarily for David, who live in apartments and want to add color is go to a discount art supply store and buy as massive a stretched canvas you can afford (or stretch your own). Grab a can of paint in a color you love and just go to town with painting the canvas that one color, trying to let the brush strokes show.
Okay, I should know better than try to type a paragraph while taking a work call. Hence my last paragraph in the above post makes no sense.
SORRY.
Maybe this is clearer:
As for rentals and paint, every brush stroke bringing charges, etc. Hmmm. Ive helped repaint plenty of places friends have moved out of back to the original cheap paint that had been on the walls. Another option for folks, not necessarily for David, who live in apartments and are too afraid to paint but want to add color is go to a discount art supply store and buy as massive a stretched canvas you can afford (or stretch your own). Grab a can of paint in a color you love and just go to town with painting the canvas that one color, trying to let the brush strokes show.
I feel like a lot of people have beige everything because they are afraid their stuff won't match or it will go out of style or god forbid they should have to repaint when they move out. My mother is in the process of building her dream house -- something she's waited almost half a century to do. She's putting in white kitchen cabinets because 'white goes with everything'. Forgetting the fact that it's HER house that she is buiding from scratch - she could pick red and yellow polkadot cabinets and match the rest of the room to that if she wanted to.
It is OK to have color in your life. It is OK to bring home new throw pillows and realize they really clash with your rug -- you can return them and get something else. It's OK to re-upholster your couch after 5 years because chartreuse isn't the thing anymore. You will not die if you have to repaint your apartment before you move out.
Why do people deny themselves these really basic pleasures in life in the name of practicality?
.
> Why do people deny themselves these
> really basic pleasures in life in the name
> of practicality?
um... I don't know.
.
the opoponax and chris(nyc),
Why do you care about other people's choices? Worry about yourself and let everyone else, including your mother, do what they want.
I work with a lady (in a design environment) who has the biggest bubble bouffant hairdo....Now, mind you, she's late 40's, early 50's, and WAY too young for this 'do of hers. Come to find out she's a very cultured, very wonderful lady from old brahmin money...with the mouth of a sailor.
I've often wondered....now how did she decide on THIS particular style, that obviously predates even her heyday?
That's what this apartment reminds me of....that big bubble bouffant. A style that predates even David's heyday.
I say some OCD and a very large closet are just out of camera range...
Geez! How'd I miss all this? Oh, I was looking for a chair. And I found that chair. And I have dreams about that chair.
I read all the posts here. David, nice job with the Restoration Hardware items/colors! I sent someone over there before for the color-coordinated items, including paint. I was giddy and ecstatic that I could have matching walls, towels, and body cream. She's doing a vintage bathroom using the shades of brown, mostly the darker brown, with black, white, khaki floor tiles.
I kind of want to rearrange the pictures in the bedroom. But I'm not sure how. By the way, did the drapes in the bedroom come from R.H.? Lovely! Someone wanted vertical stripes, like the cover of a BHG in chocolate/blue.
Rather than using the arch of pictures above the bed, I'd be tempted to make a gallery, perhaps in the living room, using all the framed art in the bedroom. I mean, more people could see it and enjoy it and don't have to climb on the bed to look at the highest one (unless you planned it that way, you rascal!).
Instead, perhaps an architectural element over the bed:
ttp://tinyurl.com/mcxbp
I started with a couple fake plants and eventually graduated to several small real plants. Always starting with the least expensive, smallest size, and seeing if it could handle my care (or lack of care). There are many living plants that require little care. I can suggest some to try if you are interested.
Say, how come you have two desks? And how come they both look "ready to greet clients"? Give yourself a break, man! Pick one room or the other to be the "office" area. Is the desk in the den also a bedroom area for the kids? Is that thing on the desk in the bedroom a TV? Hey, I'm a woman, and I don't have the "electronics genetics" necessary to identify components.
In my opinion, work areas should be separate, especially from living or sleeping areas. I mean, geez, there we are, sipping cocktails watching a movie and the fax buzzes. I don't want to hear the fax. Or the computer. Or the cell phone. And it ought to be obvious that desks and offices don't go in the bedroom either.
I love the custom desk. I also like the way the muted turquoise goes with the dusky violet. The turquoise is carried onto the walls via the fish prints (who said those were all over, I never saw them before!). And even the throw pillows match up. Cool.
While it's semi-pointless to show you this, since it's discontinued, and it's the style I was thinking of, but IS close to the color I was thinking of, look here:
http://tinyurl.com/gjk69
THAT is the color I might consider adding more of. Whether in furniture or in an area rug or additional accessories, like vases, that would be nice. I think.
Or this color, which is a cover, the Sky color:
http://tinyurl.com/gv42h
You've got a fireplace that you can't even get to. That's kind of sad. You can use candles in it. You could also do this, to keep the black hole look at bay:
http://tinyurl.com/fkxfk
Voila. The firebox just disappeared. You can find acrylic mirrors at your local plastics store, they can be cut to size.
Ahhh, I may have to do a picture.
I knew this would be a huge thread!
I read the comments and THEN looked at the slideshow, and honestly, that's a fine bedroom. The bed is great, the art works well, and the colors are restful.
I agree with the "lose the plants" brigade (if you can't keep plants alive, bare branches in a vase work)
The puffy leather furniture doesn't do it - I think the "brownness" of it is a factor, though you've made a good effort of tying in the color with the throw pillows. I'm sure it's comfortable, but it's one of those strange things - it sells marvelously for the comfort factor but the style isn't workin'.
Overall, I think it's a little bit catalogue-y but there are a lot of worse things than that. I can see you have a Florida aesthetic, and this site has an NYC aesthetic. Put your pics up on the HGTV boards too, and see what sort of responses you get.
But actually, I think it's quite funny to pick on someone for having a catalogue/middle-America look when so many people have big, solid painted canvases, orange walls that "pop", "clean lines only" and mid-century modern items - not that any of those things are bad, but if 100 other people have them, are they really that original? It's really the other side of the coin.
Okay, I did a picture. I'm such a doofus. I love the fish picture and could design a world around those colors. I swiped the chair from Surefit (after brushing out the table, vases, and flowers), and plugged in the mirror that was on top of the mantle in the BHG picture.
The picture looks kind of funky, but I still like those fish picture colors. I guess the drape STYLE doesn't really go now, but I still like the color. DANG, I forgot to put in the throw pillows from the actual sofa!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96179754@N00/
In a lot of apartments, big arms on furniture are a luxury. I'd never have them, if at all possible. They take up space. They take up valuable real estate that could make the room look open, or just provide a way to get from one space to another. Seriously. If you measured out the width of the arms on the sofa and the chair, that IS a pathway width. Or another chair width.
Notice also in the picture, while I tried to get them to be the same size, I also removed the plant. LOOK at how much more space there appears to be!
Wait, and in the first post, the discontinued furniture is NOT the style I was thinking of. NOT the style. Just the color. I do like the openess underneath, but the legs look unsubstantial. Like if two people plopped down at the same time, the legs would splay and we'd be on the floor.
Now, why am I redoing your home? Because I'm really bored. And I really enjoy trying things. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't.
You have some things in your home that I LOVE LOVE LOVE. The gals over at BHG would drool over that bedroom. Me, I'm thinking "How long would it be before the top layer was completely covered with cat claw snags?"
We all see things through our own eyes. People here have a modern/contemporary preference. Over at BHG, there's a traditional preference. HGTV seems to have a little bit of everything, so it tends to be more eclectic.
By the way, you won't see pictures of my apartment. It's a dump. It's gone beyond any known style, and after much thought, I've given it a new style name "Shabby Crap"...it's not just shabby, it's not just crap, it's Shabby Crap.
The main solution for this apartment is a combination of explosives and one of those little Bobcat scooping/plowing machines.
Some of the things everyone missed (and as this is the last post no-one will probably read it) are:
- the reason the bedroom looks nice is it is flooded with natural light
- all the other pics have the blinds closed - very depressing
- there is no such thing as an 'indoor plant' - if you want live plants you need to water and 'rest' them outside - have two of each and alternate them - tenants can't afford to damage carpet. Is there a balcony hiding behind those vertical blinds?
- Silk plants must be washed or dusted and in a pot the same size as a real plant would need; they are brilliant anywhere water would be a disaster eg near computers. The best arrangements are planted out like live plants, with different ones in one pot.
That said, David should buy a few live plants spring & summer and treat them like bunches of flowers - when they die, they die; and keep the silks for winter when indoor heating will kill real ones. Spathyphyllums (Madonna lillies) clean the air; and waterwell pots are good for the forgetful.
- David is an antique-y type guy stuck in a modern apartment. There is a definite mismatch between the purple drapes in the living room and the vertical blinds behind the couch; the green chair in the den and the leather chair next to it. I would ask David why he lives there, & if he owns it, help him to achieve harmony between his need for comfort (big chairs - BTW how tall is he?) and tradition in a high rise.
- A home isn't a movie set. Real people *LIVE* in them. The fireplace is obscured because it isn't used; the tv can be seen from the kitchen; apart from a second tv the den seems to have no other use, but the computer is in the living room, next to the phone plug and food.
One of the things I love about AT is its glimpse into real homes & lives instead of the wanky 'just so' fakery of magazines. People aren't going to post if they get shafted.
Valerie and Andree,
Now thats what I call "Constructive Suggestion". I don't think to "Criticize" to make adverse comments about someone or something openly, often publically and with varying severeity would be a characteristic of any decorator I would want to hire.
I love Restoration Hardware and the bed linens, curtians, black frame pictures, and bed came from there and I might add were just purchased in the past month. As to the sofa ? well yes I loved the picture and surely could have made a better choice of color. Actually the color looked brighter in the store which was purchased from laziboy as was the side chair, cabinet in the bedroom and the large vase that sits on one of the nightstands. I was trying really hard not to purchase a recliner, they look so much like what they are.
As to the desk in the livingroom, sure it seems out of place but I spend a ton of time on my computer for work and relaxation and I like to spin to watch tv. Hey a personal glitch. The Two Desks? I can't get shed of it. I purchased the writing desk from the Breakers resort of Palm beach also the nightstands, the green chair and 3 chairs like the two that sit at the desk. This furniture which is Drexel which is one of the furniture companies here in North Carolina is well built and isn't made out of partical board or that other stuff, compressed cardboard MDF???
By trade I started as a carpenter so I shy away from anything that a cup of water will ruin. My apartment seems to be changing every month. I love color, the more the better. After I put the sofa in my apartment it did'nt POP like I would have wanted either so thats why the throw pillows in hopes it would bring a little color there way.
The room with the large mirror, the pillows and throw are Restoration Hardwares new colors for the spring 2006, I think it's called blush? Well since I took these pictures I have painted an accent wall where the mirror hangs with the same color in 5 inch stripes. Also in the bedroom I painted an accent wall behind the bed and also the bathroom in this silver sage theme.
I don't like loud colors, well not to paint an entire room. Ive noticed it seems to make a room smaller. Smaller isn't what you want in an already small space. Yep I'm kinda old fashion but I like that about myself.
Again it's a work in progress, ever changing and your two messages were what I thought I would experience at the very least from this site. Thanks for your suggestions.
'blush' is not a color.
'silver sage' is not a color.
that that tannish salmon on your couch is not a color.
those are neutrals. neutrals, along with the oatmeal shades in the rest of your apartment, can be lovely. but they need help to really shine. the walls of 75% of my place are eggshell white. i have wood floors and a lot of other neutral wood furniture. BUT my apartment still has color because i've chosen a lot of textiles, knicknacks, and other objects that are colorful. yellow mixing bowls and turquoise dry-goods canisters in my kitchen. red striped table cloth on my dining table. bottle green silk pillows on my couch, which is a futon covered with a bright Indian bedspread. in my bedroom i organized all my books by color -- i might as well have hung one of those huge colorful canvases everyone raves about, it brought that much color to the space.
color is a beautiful thing, and even in small and easily portable (and utilitarian) doses it will bring both joy to your life and style to your surroundings. don't be afraid of it. when i get tired of my yellow mixing bowls, i'll give them to goodwill and go back to target for some purple ones. i brought home some pretty ice blue pillows one day only to realize they clashed with everything -- kmart was perfectly happy to have them back. i get sick of the indian bedspread every once in a while, so i yank it off and replace it with some other big chunk o' fabric every once in a while. my bathroom is tomato red. when i move out, yes, that'll be like 5 coats of white paint. but it will have been worth it for all the lovely baths i've had in there, enjoying the way my dove-grey tilework pops against that color.
my point - you don't have to paint or redecorate in order to bring color into your life! and i'm sorry, but nobody 'doesn't like saturated color'. if you really don't, you need the kind of therapy this website does not specialize in.
Not my taste. I think the pallet is too washed out. Everything seems lost within that pale carpet. Try some nice quality rugs to add contrast and color. Get rid off all of the fake plants and flowers they don't look good anywhere. It looks like your layout is working though as far as furnature placement. Try to simplify some of the accessories. It seems like traditional is your style, go with it but don't get lost in pale pallets.
"Silver Sage" is very MUCH a color. Um, sorry, but it's not even a neutral.
So, it's not a hit-you-over-the-head kind of choice. But not every interior needs to be that predictable or "look at me"-ish.
re: "but nobody 'doesn't like saturated color'. if you really don't, you need the kind of therapy this website does not specialize in."
That is rude, unfair, and WRONG.
Lets move on to the next victim.
P2, most greens are neutrals. Especially that silver sage green from RH, which goes with just about everything. I happen to think it's a nicer neutral than most because it's not beige...
Sharon--
Greens are not neutrals in the same sense as beiges are.
Whether something "goes with everything" does not make it *not* a color, or define it as a neutral in the same way.
Holy Shit, whoa. Certainly everyone has there own style...
Semantics.
Yes, if you want to be really loose and subjective about your color terminology, well then it is *just* a matter of words.
Amazing how this does go on. Silver Sage seems to be a miracle color. I've tried to have it color matched in my preferred paint (and does anyone know who manufactures RH paint?), and the match is never exact. It's a color that's blue in one room and green in another. I'm not an RH fan because of their non-existent customer service (customer torture is more like it in my experience), but that color is one of the main things that got them going.
I nominate P(too) as moral and color moderator of AT.
David:
I moved my computer desk over just 5 feet to keep myself from the "spin and watch TV" thing, I even would end up watching the reflection of the TV in the monitor! Do you know that since I did that, I haven't watched TV? At all. Ever. The TV has not been turned on and it's not even plugged in anymore. Seems I can get by just fine without it.
I think in trying to do too much, enjoy too many things at one time (because we are pressed for time), we might end up not getting what each thing can offer. The fax is buzzing while the stock ticker runs across the top of your screen and the TV is on and the news radio is on, and you're checking email. I say "Down with multi-tasking"!
If you went to the opera, the symphony, the home team season opener, the kid's graduation, I hope that there wouldn't be a laptop and cell-phone in use. The ultimate no-no is watching a cooking show or home improvement while having sex. There's gotta be a limit!
I think a lot of my own comments on the various homes here on AT and elsewhere, are from the point of view of "If you gave me your home and I had an unlimited budget, here's what I might do or consider or try." Apparently I'm not capable of JUST SEEING what is there and liking it. Luckily they don't let me into museums with plaster and oil paints to "fix up" their old masters and new additions.
"Whadaya mean stop that? This Monet NEEDS a little more blue on the left side, it's unbalanced and is driving me crazy"
There are lots of things you can glean from this site, David, in the House Tours and the Smallest Coolest Contest entries. Same can be said for many other sites. Each picture is chock full of ideas. Color combinations. You can look JUST at color combinations. Or furniture layouts, it doesn't MATTER what the furniture is, just how they've laid out their homes and furnishings. Art and accessories, how many, where are they, how do they add or detract from the room overall?
The more pictures you see, the more ideas you have stored away in your mind for future reference. They don't have to be used now. Or in this apartment. Or in YOUR apartment. But someday there might be an occasion that allows you to USE an idea, a color combo, a layout, an accessory in the same basic way as you'd seen before.
Over at Better Homes and Gardens, in the Tools and Guides section, you can play with Arrange A Room. If you looked at the picture I made for you with the Sky chairs, you may have noticed Tony's apartment. That layout was done with Arrange A Room. Before adding any new items, you can check it out on your floor plan to see if it will fit, look too small, too big.
Many of the paint manufacturers have an interactive tool to color rooms in their paints, as well as inspirational rooms using their colors.
I like that you say your home is ever-changing and a work in progress. That makes for an interesting home. But it can also lead to a jumble of crap. Uh, like my place. Hahahahha
When you haven't fully explored your own color and style preferences, or when you really DO love a little bit of this and that. The former will make you unhappy, because you don't know what you really like. And the latter will provide a constant challenge in reining yourself in, because EVERYTHING looks good.
You don't need to declutter, but perhaps there might be some goodies you could use in the Apartment Therapy book. Like the style tray. Figuring out what colors you really DO like the most. And you can move the various items next to each other and see how they work.
Swatches and paint chips are good.
Oh, another thing. Not that I could afford to do it, and I don't even know what it costs, but you can take a style or color for a test run via rental furniture. I think they change the model apartment furnishings here every month or two.
They have fabric swatches for furniture, but that doesn't give you an idea on how the thing will look on a grand scale. And you COULD be daring, just for the heck of it, and give something a try that you probably won't buy.
Consider things that come with slipcovers in a variety of patterns that are made just for that style. La Z Boy DOES have a few of those, not that I can remember the name of the styles.
I'm not a decorator or designer, and I don't play one on TV. I just do a whole lot of browsing, enjoy many styles, and have way too many ideas. I talk too much too.
Instead of spinning to watch TV, I get up to do other things, come back to this Comments area and add more. I should stop the multi-tasking too. ;)
It's interesting how an apartment designed to be so completely neutral has aroused enough controversy for over 127 postings. Maybe being unoquivacally neutral is a bold move unto itself. Or maybe it's not.
David,
I just thought of something. You write about spending your time at the beach drinking Piña Coladas. What about bringing some of that beach life, or the feel or theme of that lifestyle into your home? And if you're into mixed drinks, where's the bar? You certainly have the space there to put a nice bar in. Maybe you're a social drinker that doesn't entertain at home... but my bet is, you'd like to do more entertaining. I'm going to go out on a limb here- most people who invest in creating an atmosphere for their home, do so not just for their own creature comfort, but to make their home an inviting place to entertain (even if only for one guest). I'd suggest finding a good place to put in a bar, or at the very least a liquor cabinet on display. It doesn't have to be flashy. It could be low-key. You have the space for it. Just a thought.
Just an observation, as I have watched this drama unfold. Valerie said almost exactly what others said much earlier in rougher voices and in a place in the thread where tempers were flaring. But David thanks her for her constructive comments, while in response to those earlier posts...hmmm. Interesting, and something to consider.
Even after all this I am not clear on whether you originally wanted advice or not, David. You sure ended up with a lot.
Well to finally clear it up for everyone. I didn't expect nor was I asking for advice and not having the prior knowledge of how this site worked when thrown into the water sometimes it's just better to hang on and flow with the tide.
While in my earlier, earlier, earlier post I made the comment that I didn't send these pictures for advice It just kept coming. And you hit the nail on the head. She did say the same things as others but after reading her comments I didn't get the feeling of wiping spit from my face and will always appreciate the grace in others.
What a talented, witty group we have here. I laughed so many times reading these posts.
Posted by pbphoenix at 05/18/06 11:05 AM
I take it you are joking. Most of the people posting here are neither talented or witty. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, yes even you "talented and witty" people posting here. Having said that, what happened to good manners, courtesy, the the oldie but goodie if you can't say something nice, don't say anything. Those of you that are particularly vitriolic, I suggest getting treatment for that verbal diarrhea. Take a good look in the mirror, do you see Barbara Barry, or Kenneth Brown, no I did not think so. If David is happy in his place good luck to him, not my choice, but then I don't live there.
I have not finished reading all the comments here, but what I wanted to say is - part of the reason people refer to this place as artifical is because there seems to be no natural light in it. The blinds are closed, or mostly closed in every room. How can one live without sun? Do you close the blinds because you are afraid the sun will bleach the furniture?
And actually, considering the chosen style and the preference for neutrals, this place could have been much much much worse. Imagine a collection of Precious Moments in a glass cabinet as a start. This is actually okey, if one is into this style. It is kinda pale, but I think that aspect has been discussed in great detail by now. Some natural light would give this place a bit more color then artifical light. Natural light has a rainbow of colors within it :)
WOW! How catty and righteous we can be - what's this, Gay eye for apartments? Hey, I'm a well past prime gay man, but I've learned to play to yourself - the rest don't really matter. In my day one learned to comment without being mean spirited. The decor may not be totally my cup of tea - but it has some interesting ideas - which is why I'm here. And what's cool today is démodé 2 years from now. I'd love to see some of the catty commentor's pads.
May I have some salt on my serviette please.
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