apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

why wasn't this in the small cool contest? hands down winner. amazing.

What you have done is perfect in every way. Congratulations on making your small space beautiful and functional.

Superb. So many things to admire... the living room rug, the shelves, the stove, the paint colors...
Very inspirational.

Wow. Unbelievable use of space and great attention to detail.

oh my god! this place is unreal!!! definitely should have been in the small cool contest and definitely would have been a hands down winner. this place is absolute perfection!!! all the colours, textures, fabrics, proportions and the amazing lighting all bring together the apartment and make it feel enormous! i can't believe that was 350 square feet... unreal. even the dogs are extremely cute, and well groomed.

very, very inspirational space! kudos to you guys.

This is an amazing use of 350 sf. I also really like the way some of the furnishings are mcm but the organization and placement don't make it feel as minimal as that usually implies. There's such a good balance of clean lines and busyness, held together by fantastic organizational skills and composition. This should be a finalist in next year's small cool contest - perhaps it was in too late for this year's?

I couldn't agree more.... edit edit edit! So crucial no matter what size space you are working with. I love that giant painting above your couch! Never edit that one out!

Beautiful. I would love to see a floorplan, as I am confused as to how this could be a studio or 350 sq ft...

Really well done. I love every inch of it. Totally inspiring, and how cute are those pups? Thanks for sharing!

BRAVO Lance and Harry! This apartment is masterfully edited yet still has a brilliant attention to detail that is full of life and interest. I'm particularly taken with all of the textures you have layered throughout your home--they are rich and elegant without being stuffy or overdone.

More amazingly, you've managed to take my one absolute NYC deal-breaker--no natural light--and make it work for you.

One of the best I've ever seen on AT! Thank you so much for all of the valuable inspiration.

Lance, I don't know if you'll be reading these comments, but incredibly I was just thinking of you yesterday. I was thinking of the way you said "Hopkins Inn" and of an insane photo shoot we worked on in Connecticut. And then BOOM today here you are on AT. Totally nutty.

Cheers, Poppy

Wow! You should have entered the small cool contest, you would have won for sure!

Congratulations on a very beautiful, stylish and organized home. I adore your kitchen. I wish I could fit a table in mine! And how lucky that your pantry had a window in it.

I adore the painting over the sofa. Can you tell me the artist? Also really love the pottery in picture 13. Can you tell me their source.

Thank you for sharing.

Amazing use of space. I love the detail. What paint color did you use in the hallway?

This is definitely one of my favorite house tours. I hope I can learn some lessons from them.

Fantastic house tour! I too live in Murray Hill and looking to renovate my kitchen. I was wondering about your experience with Renaissance Cabinets. And the color/maker of the cabinets. Thanks!!!

I'm in awe of everything that you've done with your apartment and agree with the sentiments above - wish you'd entered the contest. This is a winner. I love it!

WOW!! What a great use of space. Now why wasn't this in the small space contest?

I love absolutely everything about your apartment!!

Lovely, esp the rouge sofa.
Don't care for the cowhide rug. Doesn't work. Lose it.

Amazing!
The concept of an "evening apartment" really embraces what others might think of as a negative. Reminds me of the "couture kitchen" on the Kohler website. (I can't find the link now but you can probably Google it.)
Of course, the key difference is no one uses the "couture kitchen"; it's just for inspiration, like so many couture fashions.
Even more amazing than this home is the 2 people who live here (and I've never met or heard of either one of them). To merge 2 lives into a space where 1 person lived for almost 20 years is a testament to both of them. To do it so stylishly, well, there are no words.

What a pleasure to click through! I covet everything, but most of all, am inspired to try and make better choices in my, in contrast, enormous little house. What a great dramatic view as you open the front door! One query: Doesn't little Ella use that rug as a yummy chew toy?

Wow, your place is heavenly! You have given me so many ideas. Thank you!

I am really happy to see where the bed is. I have an apartment that I may move into, but the space is sort of open with a small room off to side that could be used as a closet or office. I've imagined stuffing my bed into it, therefore leaving the rest of the apartment for entertaining and dining. Can you confirm the location of your bedroom and the size of your bed. Did you downgrade to a full size bed?

Great taste all 'round, but, my god, who needs that much stuff? If this were my space I would feel an overwhelming need to go through all those storage pieces/boxes/shelves and do a severe edit keeping only the essentials.

With a rent of $350, why wouldn't they invest?

I do agree that the use of space is astoundingly efficient, however...

this seems to me a nice, even remarkable, place to visit, but I would not want to spend an evening in that living room! I'm finding it difficult to verbalize why I find it so discomfiting, but something feels very wrong to me. It's somewhere in the pairing of the wall treatment and the sofa/chairs; the dissonance is heightened by the art on the walls.

I agree with Kumquat77....this is one the best spaces I have seen in a long! I'm extremely jealous!

Thanks for all the great feedback.

Harry and I have worked really hard to make our apartment a place we can both call home as well as a warm environment for entertaining our friends.

In response to questions concerning the painting, it was done by Craig Schumacher a family friend and a fantastic contemporary artist from Dallas Texas.

The color we used in the hallway is Benjamin Moore HC67.

The green and blue pottery was purchased at Ochre in New York City. I'll check the artist and get back to you.

Just for the record.... our rent is not $350.00, that is the square footage!

Loved scrolling through. Again, a "would have been" winner in Small Cool for sure. Thanks guys!

This is such a beautiful place ! Bravo to Harry and Lance for their taste. Love it! One of the best housetours i've seen here.

I just saw these stunning pics and had to comment. I knew Lance a billion years ago and to this day, although we have not been in touch in years, he continues to be a huge inspiration in my design aesthetic. When I met him he had the smallest apartment I had ever been in yet it was without a doubt the chicest. He taught me (without know it) how to make visible storage look intentional, how to use a small bowl of peonies to complete a room, how scent and lighting are crucial, how to save up for the beautiful thing instead of filling your space with "place holders". For me, this apartment (and these men) are quintessential New York!

Where is that folding gizmo that holds the file folders from?

Mandervince, that folding file folder thing is common, can be had at I think virtually any office supply store and I think the Contianer store may carry it as well.

Now as for the apartment, the subject of this post, OMG, what a place and to think it's only 350Sq Ft, no view and not much natural light and making those potential negatives work for the occupents is astounding and yet be so stylish and so liveable is a very tall order indeed.

Harry and Lance have done a supurb job on it in bringing in color and light to such a potentially dingy space and have definitely thought well outside the box in making it all work.

I do like how they integrated MCM/Danish modern pieces w/ other pieces into a cohesive eclectic, but modern style that works great with the rather rough, barebones elements of the space itself to create a welcoming nest for the two of them and their pets.

Some things that struck me about the space.

The use of bright red and other colors to bring in color and warmth to the space.

Using gray or black to help "push" walls out so the space feels larger than it actually is.

Not afraid to use darker colors where appropriate in such a dark space w/ little sunlight.

The artwork, especially that large painting above the sofa

The wonderful use of lighting to help illuminate the space.

Making the pantry the sleeping nook

And I love that kitchen, small as it is and I love how a photo shows Harry working the 15" of counter space, illustrating that you don't need a large kitchen to actually cook in, contrary to what so many seem to think. I know as I cook in a small kitchen even though I have more counter space, it's often cluttered w/ dirty dishes and such so I actually cook in roughly the same amount of space and use the pull out cutting board for additional space when needed. I just love how it's done, gray/black w/ white and some wood in the cabinetry to keep it warm and love the pendant over the table.

I also love the pic of Lance working at the desk, brings a human element to this tour and it doesn't hurt that both are easy on the eyes. :-)

Simply a job well done you too.

And I should say, this one is worth bookmarking for future reference.

Alec H, your kind words brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes.
I know we haven't talked in a "billion years" but i would love to catch up.

The file folder rack is from Sonrisa furniture in Los Angeles.
They have a website www.sonrisafurniture.com

I am currently looking at that 24" oven (I believe it's the Bertazzoni). How do you guys like it? How did it compare to other options you considered?

This is really fantastic but 1) how do you make your bed? & 2) This is probably better for a general forum but I live in San Francisco and there is no way in hell I could do such make overs in my rental without trouble. It seems the New Yorkers are able to do this all the time on AP. Do you ever have lease issues? When/if you ever DID move out, would you have to return it to a certain state or do most landlords consider the make over an improvement and move on? (email tedderglyphics@mac.com if anyone cares to answer...)

Anyway - it's an amazing place. I'm in about the same sq ft with molding galore so thanks for the inspiration.

Yes Jesikka it is a Bertazzoni.
We love it.
I bought it because i loved the way it looked first and foremost but harry really wanted something that was practical.
We first considered a Viking but it was just too out of our price range and everything else just didn't combine the look with the price and usability.
it was the best option in the 24" range.

love.

love how the color story flows through the entire space.
great job, you're home is lovely.

Lance! Yes to catching up. AT is like the Facebook of the design world! Also, Im stealing your living room paint color.

amazing what you have done with such a small space - gorgeous colour and displays. Got to say though it breaks my heart to see what is obviously a beautiful old building (judging by the window panes and panels etc.) beign 'chopped up' into SUCH small proportions - I mean to have to have a bedroom in the PANTRY?? Naive viewpoint I know given real estate market and again, fabulous adaptation of space

It's settled. I'm moving my bed to my walk in closet! Your place is gorgeous...bravo!

i don't usually post comments, but i think this is the nicest home tour i've ever seen on apartment therapy. well done, gentlemen!

Genius. Gorgeous. And with two dogs - I'm blown away! You are an inspiration.

Hi Alec H,
i'm so flattered that you're "stealing" the paint color.
it's a great neutral if you need something that will allow you to hang art or photography.

Hi Nona68,

I know the pantry bedroom is certainly not everyone's dream space but having that space allowed us to avoid having to live with the fold out sofa in the living space.

and it does require a bit of acrobatics to change the sheets every few days but i guess it beats yoga class.

just wanted to say thank you to all of you that took the time to post such amazing feedback.

thank you so much for all the positive reinforcement!!

This is absolutely gorgeous. You are models for making this space work so well - and it is a BRILLIANT approach to making the inside beautiful, when you have no view. Inspiring. Cudos!!

Wow! This is one of the most inspiring apartments I've seen in the 6 months or so I've been viewing this website daily.

Like a lot of people who posted, I find the use of color, texture, and space, quite thought-provoking. Maybe Lance's profession also helps, because his comments are more insightful to me (someone not well-versed in design at all) as far as the effect he was seeking, the use of color, light, etc.

The apartment reminds me of subterranean jazz clubs I visited in Paris in 1999.

My own place is filled with sunlight so I am considering how I might adapt some of the elements I admire in this gallery to such a different (though equally small) living space.

Last note is that I would really enjoy hearing more from couples who have successfully combined their lives into small living spaces: the conversations and discussions that were held, the questions posed and decisions made. I'm so curious to better understand how to create a successful relationship, and it strikes me that our society is often preoccupied with the wrong issues altogether in this area.... small spaces make me remember that our needs are really so basic as people, and maybe, we ought to study how people create a HOME, or how the creation of a HOME is also the creation of a successful relationship.

There is much talk of "editing". Something feng shui-ish about this... the editing causes us to reflect more deeply on what we value, and to be more thoughtful in our choices. It's something the whole world has to do now, as space and natural resources dwindle, not to say financial prosperity.

sassifras: here is a link to an apartment therapy roundup on "closet bedrooms":

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/inspiration/roundup-closet-bedrooms-on-at-041105

I am in the middle of building a platform in my closet on which to place a futon... I'll try to get you pics when I am finished! I don't have a room for a bedroom, so it's the best option for me as far as allowing my living room to function as a living room.

Dear Lance & Harry,
You are my dream come true! The place is unbelievable efficent, beautiful to the senses, organized, tasteful, elegant! I SUPER LOVE IT!!! It was great to be back at AT and see something so new and refreshing! I am amazed at the good use of space...I will show this to my husband so he can see what space-wise concept is, :) and just use and keep what you ONLY need.
Question: bathroom window? or you just put the blind there to make the window effect? I think it is brilliant if its only for the effect.
I adore your place and state of mind that obviously is reflected in it!
Cheers,
Dina542

hi dina 542,

we actually have a window in the bathroom, but because we have no view and no light we turned it into our medicine cabinet. we had a frame made and then backed it in small bamboo from a roller curtain.
we then put shelves for towels and essentials.

thanks,
lance

This is beautiful! Great use of space, love the art, love the colors - amazing!

wow lance!, it was great to come across this!--first off--the apartment looks amazing. kitchen remodel is fabulous!
though your apartment from memory was amazing and stylish before the changes as well. it was a weird dejá vu
when i first saw the images this morning. then i realized it was not strange for i was in this space daily for several years to walk little miss Ella. i have to say i was always inspired by your apartment and am sure i have applied more than one inspiration to my own space(s)--one thing i remember was the dark/bold colors in the hall and kitchen. you had painted the ceiling the same as the walls--i remember how brilliant i though this was and
how it made a small space feel womb-like and also sculptural. I have done this myself since in several spaces
and am always impressed with the results!--thanks !
It did my heart well to see Ella--i knew she would be getting up there in age and just glad to see her there being her lovable self. our dog,Sally is 13 now and really starting to slow down. it is sad that dogs do not have longer life spans than humans. i am in the city often would love to see you and Ella sometime.!

Lance and Harry,

This place is absolutely charming. I love your personal touches, but it never gets kitchy or overdone. Classy, personal, inviting space. The dogs are adorable too. Who is the photographer?

Emily

Your place is amazing! I have a random question for you: Who makes your kitchen sink and what size/model it is? It looks fairly large for the size cabinet -- especially for an undermount -- and I've been obsessing over the same.

Lance & Harry:
Your home is!
...so beautiful.
The kitchen, so well done...and the rest... always amazing!
Lance has again perfected perfection.
Miss you.
C

AMAZING. AMAZING. AMAZING.

is it wrong for me to want them to come to Boston, and do something similarly miraculous with my 800 sqft place?

;)

One question about this fabulous apartment...are the floors stained or painted? We have considered dark brown paint for our bedroom floor, but can't quite get up the courage. It seems that you two have enough courage for several people!

& love those doggies...

MAGNIFICENT!
and ella brought a big smile to my face. CUTE. both of your pups are adoreable.

where ever did you get the clock on the kitchen sill? i've been having a really hard time finding a really simple clock.

What did they use for the desk and the desk shelves does anyone know?

this is the best house tour i've seen here at AT. not too many 'stuff' shots, but nice vignettes coupled with primarily room shots that give you a great sense of the space. *and* the descriptors are fantastic. that kind of behind-the-scenes information really helps. thanks!

I LOVE your place. I didn't think I could live in something so small with someone else - but this looks effortless. It is amazing how much larger your place "lives". I feel like I have less room in a 2000 square foot house. I would like to see any old pictures of your old styles as I have transitioned through different styles myself. What pictures were the critters in - I missed them.

C'est magnifique!!

What about a/c -- or do you do without?

This is glorious and a total inspiration. Elegant yet warm and inviting, and the attention to editing and organization speaks volumes about the respect you have for your own and each other's personal space. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the thought that this is only 350 sq. feet. So well conceived and considered, and there's a sense of peace and contentment in every room. The pups are adorable, too.

I must mention how it made me smile to see containers of homemade food in the fridge, and to know that quality living takes place here. Claiming it as a nighttime space and working with it instead of fighting it, has yielded a classy, beautiful, peaceful, cozy, and warm home that I know I'd look forward to coming home to every night. The shots of orange feel like a dreamy sunset wherever they're located, among velvet skies. Amazing job--thanks for sharing your lovely home with us.

I was always taught if you don't have something nice to say, etc. but I can't help it in this case, Lovely,& well organized doesn't change the fact that it is a prison cell. And what is with the posters of the proletariat being squashed by the man?

Thanks so much to all of you for being so kind and generous with all of your comments.
When i started the kitchen renovation I looked to any post on apartment therapy that i thought would give me any information. So i wanted to take the time to answer some of your questions.
The floors are just black deck paint that I purchased at Janovic here in new york. It wears really well but you do have to touch up now and then.
The clock on the windowsill is from Muji and I think is available online.
The shelves and desk are by Vitsoe and available from Moss here in New York. They're great because they are sold in custom units and can be added to as needed.
We do have a small a/c unit in the window next to the desk.

I'm happy to answer any of your questions so please keep them coming.

Thanks again,
Lance

Hi Omordah,

Thanks for taking the time to feedback but all personal tastes aside I would hardly call my apartment a "prison cell".
I have spent many happy years charting the course of my life by the many paint colors and friends I have shared it's 350sq ft with. We all strive to carve out a place that we can call home and I am very happy with my small slice of New York City. It brings me joy and constant inspiration.
One man's "prison cell" is another man's home. Don't be so quick to judge.
As to the Cultural Revolution posters, I bought those on a trip to Beijing last year with a wonderful friend of mine.
I was really struck by their color and graphic quality as well as the history they represent.
Thanks again,
Lance

Hi Omordah,
Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback but
I would hardly characterize my home as a "prison cell".
One man's prison cell is another man's paradise.
Don't be too quick to judge.
And in regard to the posters, they were bought in Beijing last year on a vacation and remind me of a very good friend who happen to have been with me at the time.
If you have any further questions or comments please let me know.
Thanks,
Lance

Thank you for sharing! Your home is very inspiring. I'm planning to move from the suburb to the center of Paris to a smaller apartment and now it doesn't appear to me as a "sacrifice" like it used to be but as a good opportunity. Bravo Messieurs!

Ooops, sorry for the double posting.
i guess i got carried away.

Thanks smileandrelax!!! Will take a look. If you'd like to leave a link to pics, you can reach me at my blog. http://myexitrow.blogspot.com/

I think you guys have fantastic style, and if people think you have too much stuff it may be because you've fit a lot of things into a small space. That said, you've done it wonderfully. A lot of beautiful spaces, even those with colour, appear staged and sterile but your home seems very well lived-in and warm. Congratulations. I love your bedroom. It seems so cozy. I do have a question about your 'library' - how did you pare down all your books to one bookshelf, plus the collection under the cabinet? Are you constantly editing and second guessing purchases, with your limited living space in mind?

True Style...It is easy to be briilliant with a lot of space and $$, but to create a home in 350 sq ft is a testament to real talent.
If this a prison cell - then put me on Santa's naughty list

Can I move in with you guys? I mean really, this is like a cocoon! Your objects are controlled, but not contrived. I love that the television is an afterthought and you have layers of texture and color. The books are great on the floor... lucky you, your dogs must not pee on low objects like mine do! I'm inspired now to do something with my space. Thank you

Why someone would collect communist propaganda is beyond me.
It's offensive for anyone who ever lived in a communist regime.

Hi Lance - I am absolutely inspired by your apartment and your design aesthetic. What a wonderful use of space!

I do have a question for you -- I am also living in a small rent-stabilized space and plan to stay here for the long term.

I'm looking to convince my landlord to let me redo the bathroom and redo the kitchen with nicer tile, cupboards and a new stove. I also want to paint the floors black, as you have done in your apartment. Our wood floors are very worn down and in need of refinishing anyway.

How did you talk to your landlord about it? Were they cool with you painting the floors black and installing a new oven? I'd love to know how you went about doing that, as I plan on having "the talk" about some upgrades with our property manager soon.

Well done.

Lance and Harry should definitely enter next year's Small Cool Contest!

hi meg,

thanks for the positive feedback.
my landlord is very easy to deal with when it comes to dyi home improvements. he takes care of the basic and really leaves the rest up to the tenants. i started with a conversation concerning upgrades to our electricity which hadn't been done since the building was converted to electricity from gas, so you can imagine what we were dealing with. he agreed to do the upgrade for a capitol improvement rent increase which in a rent stabalized apartment is 1/40th of the total cost added to the rent.
he was very amenable to the reno of the kitchen since he wasn't outlaying any cash and we were improving his property with no effort from him. i had a great contractor in anthony riccio who basically organized and orchestrated the whole job. he was a god-send and i highly recommend him.
we purchased the stove with the agreement that when we leave we can take it with us and purchase a very less expensive replacement.
now in regard to the black floors, when i moved in the floors were covered in carpet. i lived with that for a few years and then decided to remove it. the floors underneath were in really bad shape and had been painted white by an even earlier tenant. i decided that the best thing to do was go the way of black paint in order to hide the flaws.
i didn't get prior approval for the painting of the floors simply because the floors had been painted before and i felt it wouldn't be a problem.
it really depends on your landlord and the relationship you have with him. if you feel your not sure definitely err on the side of caution and ask first . in the light of the current housing issues regarding rent stabilized apartments you don't want to run into problems down the road.
i hope this helped and if you need anything else please let me know.
good luck!

Hi Lance, thanks so much for the great advice and the contractor recommendation. We are in the midst of doing a top-to bottom makeover of our little apartment (slowly but surely) and I will definitely heed your advice regarding dealing with our landlord.

Thanks again!
Megan

This is how we all should live. I'm about to rent one that I plan to model after yours.

May I ask what color paint you used in the long hallway and in the main room; and where you obtained the rug (or runner) in the hallway?

Thanks!

Congratulations on a beautifully designed home.

I have a 'Lance & Harry NY' bookmark and I keep returning to it again and again. I love everything you've done with the place from the overall colour scheme down to the details. Truly inspiring and certainly the best House Tour I've seen on AT yet.

As a Hong Kong expat I'm more than used to 350sq ft apartments but have never seen one so beautifully and thoughtfully furnished. Having lived very happily with my husband in 400sq ft for the last two years I love the challenge of making every corner work. Your home is inspirational to those of us working with small spaces!

Lance, would you be so kind as to take a moment to tell me where you purchased the black storage and filing boxes you have above your desk? Have been searching fruitlessly for the same.

Thanks and all the best.

hi

thanks for the great feedback.

the wall color in the hall is benjamin moore HC67 flat and the living room is ben. moore #1536 flat. i recommend using the new aura line as it's easy to wash and goes on great.

the runner is by madeline weinrib atelier and available at abc carpet and home.

the storage boxes are all from container store and available online.

thanks again and let me know how it goes.
if you have any further questions email me at lboyd@nyc.rr.com.

thanks
lance

Thanks Lance!

What can I say that hasn't already been said? So, as concise and well-edited as your mini-domicile is, so too my comment (after the preamble): Simply Stunning!

And your little Ella is just like my Lola :) http://twitpic.com/8t2qp (with her little brother, Hamlet)

Small, cool and Style! Great, great editing of "things". Also very cool choices in what possessions that were selected. Oe question though--where did you get those Super Cool shelves (pic 14). Looks like some sort of track system. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Congrats again on a very cool apartment....

harrylancehousetour14_rect640.jpg

Lance (or is it Harry?)

I'm not sure you're checking this posting anymore, but...
I'm writing a story about my own endeavor to upgrade and invest in my stabilized apartment. It flies in the face of popular wisdom, but (like you) I'm smarter staying and spending than I am leaving. I was wondering if you'd be at all willing to share some of your own story for the article.
I have a couple of interviews lined up, but not one that has done such remarkable work on a space. You have truly made it so much more than a rental. Its just divine.

My contact is sublima33@yahoo.com (if you have anything you could share-)

thank you,
christy

hi arthur,

thanks for the great feedback.
the shelves are by a company out of the uk called vitsoe.
they're available online or at moss in nyc.
they are in the process of opening a retail location on bond st in manhattan so check them out there.

they're great shelves and the best looking things on the market. not a cheap date but well worth the extra money as they can be altered and added to as needed.

good luck!

lance