apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I like it, but if I were Margaret I would not use the tiny room as the bedroom. I'd use it as a closet cum office (so can move coats out of the walk through closet), and have the bedroom be the big back room. What is the point of having two living spaces? I love the 'temporary tile' in the kitchen.

okay first of all, margaret is ADORABLE. and this space is going to look wonderful (more wonderful than it already does!) when she gets all settled.

This place has so much potential - I'm really looking forward to seeing what it looks like when Margaret is all moved in. It already looks really inviting.

Fireplace and built-in shelves? Those floors? Luckyyyyy.

Why doesnt Margaret unpack and then send some decent photos of her real tile. I also never understand why people who have house tours send photos of their house with themselves, is this a fashion site or home decor site, confused?

I love this house tour! It's nice to see a space in progress rather than completely polished. I love the space too.

I also have lots of plants and I'm envious of the great window sills and mantel for them. Mine are cluttering up my dining table and any other flat space.

I also chose to put my bed in the smallest room (although not that small) because I figure I'm just going to sleep in there. Since I've taken a roommate, it is now crazy cramped with furniture I had to move out of the bigger room, but it was still the right decision for me.

Let's hope Margaret rethinks some of her possessions - like that ridiculously oversized 1980's chair and the postage stamp rugs - and I agree w/ using the little room as the closet/office and one of the larger rooms as a proper-sized bedroom.

Thanks for this glimpse - I enjoy seeing apartments in transition and imagining what will happen next, and I always love seeing their occupants.

I like the bed in the tiny room. It will take some arranging to make it cosy, but I would rather have more space for living in rather than sleeping in. And that screen is a great idea for hiding the visual busy-ness of a closet.

And so many gorgeous plants!

i love the apartment; thanks for letting in on the 'in-progress' phase. look forward to some updated pictures.

@ lyla: personally, i like the occasional glimpse of the inhabitants of the houses/apts we look at (be it adults, kids, cats, dogs, etc)...it's a nice reminder that the places we look at are homes and not these sterile/unlivedin (should be a word) decorating exercises. the apt is gorgeous, her furniture looks pretty cool, and the plants are lovely and numerous! i'm looking forward to what a little time will bring...

lyla and bepsf, do you need a hug?

Wow, I love the bones of this place. Beautiful detailing. This is coming from someone who rents a mid century box. :( It's going to look great.

Is that painting on top of the toilet an original? It looks a copy of the artwork on Rickie Lee Jones's Album "Flying Cowboys." Great CD btw.

There is more than one photo here showing more or less the same. How about some photo editing?

I am having a hard time visualizing how the hallway/closet connects the rooms. Any chance of getting a floorplan?
thanks!

Nice! I'm glad I'm not the only one with an apartment in disarray.. then again, I moved into mine almost a year ago. ;D I'm just always moving stuff around.

Cannot wait to see the finished product.. and I hope you, like many, don't bother listening to what other people have to say about your personal space/items.

As if you're inviting them to move in or something. ;)

Lovely place.

My scuba-diving wetsuit hangs on the back of my bathroom door. Maybe a thought would be storing it in there.

Nice bones in the apartment.
Sorry, a nice apartment should never trump safety in NYC.
You must be a non native NYer to live in this still unsafe neighborhood!

Have you gone to your local precinct to read the crime statistics of murder, robbery and rapes in bed stuy?

Yes, I completely agree with most above - the small room should be used as a closet/office. The room divider would be great left there so no one stresses while doing work. The small alcove in the living room would make a nice place to either make into a vanity or put up a few hooks to hang coats.

The hallways walk through closet is very hard to visualize and it might be better suited as bookshelves as one half is and turn the other half with lots of shelves for storage of decorations and other collections. Then there would be room to walkthrough and have something to look at.

Most of the living room furniture needs to be rethought - it's way too big for the space. If she must have the couch, she should lose the chair for a much smaller one. The small room is almost too small as a bedroom - especially if she wants to keep clothes in there -- and the hallway walkthrough closet is way too narrow to hold coats or really any kind of clothing.

If it was my place, I'd take the largest of the living spaces to create a living room and dining area, use the second one as a good sized bedroom (I'd probably consider putting the office there) and dedicate the smallest room as pure use as a closet/dressing room. Seems like the best way to get a nice organized layout.

dewi: Bed Stuy is re-generating. Look at Harlem 1970-1989. The city was impoverished and crime was at an all time high. Now look at how trendy it's become (good thing or bad?) Let's just hope Bed Stuy doesn't lose too much of its culture (aka gentrification.) The point is, white people cannot live in fear until the neighborhood becomes predominantly white!

You're right about the bones though. This apartment has SO much potential. Also, your red accents really warm up the place.

A beautiful apartment stuffed with beautiful things. Very enjoyable to see it as a work in progress.
On camera it seems that the bedroom is depressingly small but having said that, if you are not a 'bed lounger' then it IS best to devote the second large room as another living area - especially if the lighting is good. Would I like to have two great living spaces? You bet.
Looking forward to the updates!

What is the need for two living spaces? It's not like you can sit in both at once...LOL...so why not use one as a bedroom?

Hell if she wanted, she could rent out the small room (even something that small in NY would bring it money) or use it as a guest room.

dewi - you think only non-native New Yorkers live in Bed Stuy?

Lovely apartment, and I like seeing shots of a home's inahabitants. Does need some serious editing though.

Nope, only white non-native NewYorkers live there.
I'm not a huge fan of gentrification by well heeled white kids.

Correction: Neighborhood is Fort Greene, not Bed-Stuy.

Thanks very much for sharing, Margaret! Your place has great potential (how I envy you that fireplace...) and I can't wait to see how it turns out when you are all settled in!

Love the built-ins. Interesting walk thru closet. Not crazy about the enormous white chair.

I'm in love with all of the plants! They really add great color to the place.

http://thebluepearlgirl.wordpress.com

Just ignore dewi's post ... I live in the neighborhood and it's amazing.

Besides that I love seeing your place in progress and seeing someone who has a lot of stuff to store! The usual house tours only display small collectibles and trinkets. We've been struggling to organize over 4000 records and my collection of books but that's the way it goes.

Can't wait to see the outcome.

I agree with sjvsjv - any chance of getting a floorplan? Having trouble understanding why some doors are blocked with furniture. Are they permanently closed doors or do they lead to rooms in your apartment?

great place with lots of potential but that hideous (and huge) 80's looking white chair has got to go. it matches nothing else in the apartment, looks ridiculously uncomfortable and takes up too much space.

It would be fun to see an update with how the place looks after all the boxes were unpacked. Bet it looks fabulous.