(This is new from Regina!)
Name: Grady
Location: Upper East Side, low 80’s
Size: 300 sf studio
Years lived in: 6 weeks
Grady moved into his place only six weeks ago. Within those six weeks, he has been on a family vacation to Africa and out of town for several weddings. Still, though, he’s found the time to thoughtfully begin making this apartment into his home.
This has meant, for him, the careful pairing of his dualities in taste: clean light with aged texture, new basics with found embellishments, and special features within a small budget. He has surrounded himself with posessions that have chosen him as much as he has chosen them – coming to him from friends or happened upon in a thrift store window.
The result is an unpretentious space that feels valued and well-considered. This is Grady’s first embarkment on roommate-free living and with the new-found freedom of living alone, he is personalizing this space and relishing in making design decisions that work for him.
The artwork displayed in the apartment is made by friends or by Grady himself. The rug has been around for ages and the brick wall shows the use and wear of many years of tenants. Grady’s used well-worn elements to add comfort and texture to a few basic storage units and the clean white envelope.
What is your favorite room?
There is only one room, so... Qualities of the space? High ceilings, great natural light (tall windows!), dark wood floors, and no big overhead light fixture. I don’t like overhead lighting and am happy to have a clean, white ceiling in my main space and use more concentrated sources to light the space at night. And I love my couch (thrift store find).
What are your design inspirations/ sources?
I am a minimalist in spirit, but not always in practice. As much as I enjoy clean lines and clutter-free space, I do like to mix it up a little bit to reflect my own tastes and how I actually live. My apartment contains both clean, simple lines/furniture and found objects that bring a little bit of a rough-around-the-edges aesthetic into the apartment. My main goal has been to keep it open as possible and I have done this by maintaining white on white (painted cabinets, white shades, picture frames, etc.) wherever possible and using low-lying furniture that is raised off the ground.
Though the space is big enough for just me, it is tight. With that said, I still wanted to create different 'places' in the apartment so I wasn’t always occupying the same corner and did this with the pinwheel approach to the furniture. I like not having everything centered around one function (like watching TV) and how every 'place' has access to natural light.
I always seem to choose very basic, natural colors and materials. Then I usually pull in one or two outside colors to break up the monotony. Last apartment, it was burnt orange. This time, it seems to be olive green.
Is there a problem area of the apartment where you just don't know what to do?
The non-functional fireplace. It is great having an element that brings a central focus to the entire space. But it is also frustrating as it takes away a wall to work with furniture-wise in such a small space.
Also, the bathroom. I like it. It works. But it isn’t great. I want to bring a color in here or something, but I am pretty undecided about it all. Having a rental (versus owning) puts a lot of limitations on what I can and cannot do so I am kind of stuck at the moment.
What future projects do you have on the boards for your place?
Like I said, it's a rental so I don’t feel like I can do much. I already painted the cabinets white to make the kitchen recede a little bit into the wall and I don’t know if I am even allowed to do that. (Don't tell.) The dressing area needs the most work. It has so much potential, but right now it is just haphazard storage space. A headboard and more wall art is on the list as well.
- Regina
Do you have an idea for a house tour? Let us know! jill@apartmenttherapy.com
I like it a lot, but I'm concerned because I can't tell whether that's a pro- or anti-Bush button.
i love the combination of clean lines and white with serious texture. especially given that exposed brick wall. you've really coordinated the needs of the space with your own taste (and, i'm assuming, the stuff you brought with you). or maybe you're just a good apartment hunter?
the only thing i would maybe say is that some of your choices are a tad safe. maybe due to years of having to mesh with roommates? also, i thought that BEFORE i saw the photo of your lime green table and chairs, which i think are genius and not too 'safe' at all.
i like the mix of texture and clean lines too. i like the cozy but spartan feel. however, i was anticipating more clutter when i read the descrition than what i actually saw in the pictures...to the point i was kinda overly excited to see pics, haha (obviously i'm cluttery). bravo grady on the awesome house...and it's your first place, and done in 6 weeks! amazing!
It's anti-Bush. It's the BU-ll SH-it button.
I like the white painting, the brick wall, the small space, and the IPOD speaker.
I love it! I really like the bold green table and chairs and the use of artwork. Would love to see it again in a year or so. Enjoy your new place :)
And Matilda, it's an anti-bush button. If you look closely it says BUllSHit. Unfortunately, if you have that on a sticker on your car you can get charged with obscenity (as at least one person learned the hard way). Don't know learning his political leanings made you happy or mad - but I hope it made you happy :)
I love the clean lines and simplicity of the space as well as the lovely burst of green. I'm moving into a studio soon (my first) and I worry about fitting so many functions in one room. What are the dimensions of your main living space (from dining table to bed), Grady?
matilda, what does his political preference have to do with whether or not he has decorated and organized well? I'm a proud Democrat, but I find this kind of judgment so aggravating. This is a decorating blog. I would like his apartment - the serenity, the pops of green, the brick, the cleanliness, the warmth - even if he had a button that said he voted for Bush. Twice. In Florida.
Grady, thanks for sharing your new place. I can't believe you just moved in. After almost two years in my place I wish it looked half this pulled together :)
Where did you get the pan hangers that you have on the brick wall?
Thx.
I'm guessing that you painted the green table and chairs. Name the color, please!
Green table and chairs—IKEA
Pan Hangers—IKEA
White Shelf on wall—Lack from IKEA
and on and on and on...
I'm interested to know if everyone will still be cooing when they find out it is 50% IKEA.
Grady, high five for being my style buddy!
The mix of textures, cleanness, and modernism, but still looking comfortable is the exact feeling I strive for. Your place totally looks like it'd be great to go in, flop on the couch, and chill!
Keep up the good work!
ikea or not, the apple green table and chairs are sweet - count me among the cooers. but which ikea table is it, pray tell?
I like his place, his style, his restraint and,particularly, his button!
Grady - love the green table & chairs with that artwork. I'm wondering - did you paint it green, or did it come that way?
Also love your peaceful bedroom - lovely.
I was very concerned about the Bush sticker, too!! I can't possibly bear to look at someone's apartment if I can't tell for sure that s/he is not an evil Republican. All GOP voters should be banned from talking about design or posting on AT!
Kudos to Grady for including a floorplan and a street shot of the place -- it really helps me to envision the space!!! A homey and smart apartment. Thanks for sharing
I have checked out this blog many times before (my two stools are actually from an AT classified ad), so it is about time I try being the guinea pig for once...
To answer a couple questions: The main room dimensions are roughly 12' X 20' and yes, a few things in my space are from IKEA as slave kindly pointed out. I am on a tight budget and am completely fine fulfilling my modern itch with an affordable solution. I will upgrade when I can afford it. And I will be the first to admit that IKEA can look cheap, but if you stick to simple pieces and honest materials, I think you can come out looking ok.
The table and chairs were left behind by the former tenant and were red/blue; I just painted them to make them seem more new. I honestly do not think they are IKEA, but they very well could be...
Again, thanks for the comments, both positive and constructive...
I like the picture of the view out the window and the idea of having the "5th floor plane" to yourself--the idea of your personal space extending as if the outside was another one of your rooms.
The table and chairs do look like IKEA, Grady. The table could be INGO and the chairs could be Stefan.
How did you paint them? Spray paint? High gloss? What color. Tell us more.
I love a good detail/vignette shot as much as the next (maybe more) but would have loved to see more "establishing shots" in with the "ode to bricks" shot-fest.
I normally do not like white kitchen cabinets, but you did a great job switching out what I can imagine as standard landlord oak paneled monstrosities for the white. They look fab! Especially behind the steel table.
I like the green table and chairs too.
Nice.
It's challenging in such a small space.
Beautiful art and wonderful light. I especially love the white on white squares (who?) and the painting on the green table.
The green is "Douglas Fir" from B.M. It turned out lighter than anticipated which ended up being a 'good' mistake. I used a latex-based paint and applied two coats... all done on my building's rooftop.
Thanks to Regina for giving me the opportunity to post...
*correction: oil-based paint
hi grady, nice place!
how did you install the pot holders? i have exposed brick in my apartment too and i want to hang some framed posters on mine.
This is an odd question, but what brand flip flops are those in the pic? I like the way they wear in.
I am a republican...and I love his studio!
what size bed do you have?
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Grady:
The way you positioned the tables in the apartment, especially the one in the kitchen, is a very smart way to maximize seating and eating space. One suggestion I have is to replace the black shower curtain in the bathroom with a clear frosted one to optimize the flow of light in the space.
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i know i'm late to the party, but your place is great... very male... and I'm still cooing BECAUSE of your judicious sprinkling of Ikea items, not in spite of it... you made good choices, and that's what good design is all about
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... and that skinny guy above your bed is just perfect
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Love the place!
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