Here's Laura's final post! Comment away.
Name: Matthew Kowles and Joseph Runfola
Location: New York, NY
Size: 1 bedroom, approx. 750 square feet
Years lived in: 3 years
R or O: Rent
Who else lives here? Just two and a dog, Mijo
>> Enter House Tour
Upon entering Matthew and Joseph’s apartment, you experience the instant calm of a boutique hotel room: Light fills the space, there’s no clutter in sight and the palette is comprised of soft tones and shades of grey.
But this clean-lined space contains the punches of personality and touches of life that hotel rooms lack. It’s no surprise the two have such a well-dressed home: Joseph is the store manager and visual merchandiser for Carolina Herrera Madison Avenue, while Matthew worked for a New York-based interior design firm for several years before joining the staff at Charlotte Moss’ gilded interior design emporium, the Charlotte Moss Townhouse...
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The space was a blank canvas when the two moved in three years ago. The midtown rental was blessed with simple, tasteful bath and kitchen fixtures, and they added texture to the space with washed, glazed walls and crisp, white trim in the living spaces and a dramatic shade of blue-grey in the bathroom.
The furniture is neutral and classic, which leaves the couple free to incorporate new, colorful accessories when the mood strikes. Their uptown jobs don’t prevent the couple from shopping for affordable furnishings—Ikea and West Elm are frequent resources. However, the mix of old and new—like an architectural fragment atop a West Elm shelf—keeps the space looking anything but off-the-shelf.
The real secret to this space is their organization. This is a home where everything truly has a place. (Opening a perfectly organized kitchen drawer, we were instantly inspired to go home and tackle our own “junk drawer.”) The lack of clutter gives the space its relaxing atmosphere. As Matthew says, “It's the perfect Manhattan pied a terre—we just happen to live here all the time.”
AT Survey
Your style? Clean lines, but luxurious.
Greatest inspiration? Light, space and Vincent Wolf.
Favorite element? We like the calmness we feel very quickly after entering a space where we are comfortable, surrounded by things we have chosen, rid of the outside.
Biggest challenge? Dust. (It could be worse.)
What do friends say? They wonder where we put our stuff, but it's just organized. (Joseph sees to that.) We entertain constantly and people are able to relax here and enjoy the simplicity of it.
Biggest embarrassment? The dog's wee-wee pad and Matthew’s closet. (Yes, it's a tie.) But we work and the dog is very well trained.
Proudest DIY? Joseph did the wall finish (washed with a tinted Benjamin Moore glaze). Matthew did the trim: high gloss white.
Biggest Indulgence? Besides the piano, which isn't such an indulgence if one actually plays it (which we do), it would be the Carlyle sofa. We figure it will outlast pretty much everything else (except the piano), and it is the central location for lounging, entertaining, overnight guests, the dog's permanent look out, etc. It ought to be nice!
Best Advice? The most important factor to making a space livable is good light. Windows yes, but also understanding how to get the right type of light where you need it, and obviously its source should be attractive as well.
Dream Source? Poltrona Frau
Other Inspiration? Peace, Excellent craftsmanship
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Resources
Kitchen: Appliances, GE.
Dining area: Table, Ikea; shelving, West Elm; chairs, “Ghost” by Kartell.
Living area: Piano, Yamaha; vase (with palm leaves), Jonathan Adler; couch, Carlyle; dresser, West Elm, stump, West Elm.
Bedroom: Armoire, Ikea.
Bathroom: Shower curtain, Gracious Home.
>> Enter House Tour
- Laura Fenton
(This is the last of four posts by Laura, with all previous posts listed below)
• Huggable Hangers in the Test Lab
• Billy's Antiques & Props
• Quick Trick: Little Leafy Arrangements
>> To All Blogger Tryouts
Is it my eyes, or were a lot of these shots out of focus?
view AT4H's profile
I might need some real therapy after the apartment envy this article inspired!
view annepierson's profile
Anybody have a source for the mirrors in the entry, or something similar?
view robinseggblues's profile
I like, but the only thing I didn't really care for was the cheap white Ikea dining chair in the bedroom. Maybe it's because I have the same chairs in my kitchen but it just looks a little out of place.
view Cheryl K's profile
How does anyone keep from getting fingerprints all over those ghost chairs? I marvel....
It's stark for my tastes, but it shows tremendous dedication to its mission statement of light and airy.
view DrRubyDoomsday's profile
just lovely
view hanako66's profile
Matthew tells me the mirrors are from Crate & Barrel. Here's a link to the Dubois mirror:
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1420&f=3134&q=mirror&fromLocation=Search&DIMID=400001&SearchPage=1
view LauraF's profile
amazing how much warmth the patterned shower curtain brings to the powder room.
view studio07's profile
I want the dog!
view careinthecity's profile
The attention to detail is impressive, but I can't help but think it's a lovely canvas waiting for color to make it pop. Not too much, but something.
view dtremit's profile
Are all of the walls really sponge-painted, or is that just an illusion created by low-quality jpegs?
(I'm not trying to be mean, I honestly can't tell.)
view Anna at D16's profile
What I really like about the monochromatic color is how it allows texture, surface areas and materials to show. A splash of color is easy, but it makes a dramatic impact to see curved vases arching into ornate frames. The lack of color lays bare the beauty of wood, glass, polymer, shag or suede. I like it--I don't think it's for everyone--but it inspires me to clean up my cubicle, my room, my life.
I freakin LOVE the dog, though.
view D & D Darling's profile
Great looking place, and I especially like the way they incorporate "the old" in an otherwise very modern design. Are they really that neat?
view davisvictorianranch's profile
I would be afraid to visit this place for fear that I might soil something. Do they have a no-shoes-in-the-house rule?
view daddio's profile
It's beautiful, but it makes me feel like I need to clean. Immediately.
view vrok's profile
I've never been so enamored by the Ghost chairs. They are lovely in this setting. I love the bathroom as well. What is the package in the last shot?
view HeatherAB's profile
I feel like this is a nice apartment, but the photography has done it NO favors. Sorry.
view small clever rooms's profile
I love that they mixed gold and silver accents. I've been thinking about using a glaze paint finish on some furniture pieces - anyone know of a 'how to' link and how difficult it is?
view Yizzer's profile
I've always been more brico-bobo myself, and have snubbed anything with the "m" word as sterile and uninventive, but the notion that thier pared down basics leaves them "free to incorporate new, colorful accessories when the mood strikes" makes me rethink my prejudice.
One recommendation: lose the Louis Stark. It's played, Lucite feels cheap, and the "concept" comes off less as a conceit than a simple gimmick. That said, I really dig the stump - could do with a few of those myself, and the wall piano is pure class. Bonus points if they can play it.
view grandin's profile
Thanks Laura and Matthew for tip on the mirrors!
view robinseggblues's profile
The interior designer's name that they're referring to as inspiration is not Vincent - but Vicente.
http://vicentewolf.com/index_.html
view bepsf's profile
Beautiful Place. I have a similar esthetic. I disagree with some of the comments about the quality of the photos. This site is about apartments and inspiration not about photographic how-to. I do agree about the Ikea Chair in the room. I love a chair in the room, just not that one. Kudos to a lite and airy atmosphere in a city full of dark and lifeless apts.
view hutchhalo's profile
Dreary. I felt a cold chill going through this appartment. I hope the floor is heated.
view obdimples's profile
where did the art (picture of the chandelier) come from? I dig.
view loftlover's profile
Very clean and simple design. I like. I enjoy the neutral tones too, but I feel a splash of color somewhere like a throw or pillows or something would be somewhat of a relief. the writer mentions the neutrality allows the couple to be "free to incorporate new, colorful accessories when the mood strikes", but I don't see any evidence of colorful accessories anywhere.
Wish the pictures weren't blurry.
view Spiderbite's profile
I like the simplicity of the design. I like the muted colors and washed out look. I wanted to make you aware of myperfectcolor.com untill now if someone wanted to sample a color they would have to either buy a quart or choose from limited color choices available in jars or pouches. MyPerfectColor invented a pint size can for any color and you can browse all the colors on the web. They also can make any color from any brand using Benjamin Moore paints. They ship all samples to your door fast. when you get a chance please check them out.
My favorite is the color combination page
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Color-Combinations-Myperfectcolor-com-s/3254.htm
Check Brands they matched
Benjamin Moore
Ralph Lauren
Martha Stewart
Pottery Barn
Sherwin Williams
c2
Donald Kaufman
Valspar
Berh
And Much more.........
view nowstarter's profile
I love that sofa. I want to curl up on it and take a nap.
view PhillyLass's profile
Ohh, I want that sofa
view ilovemymini's profile
nowstarter seems to like Myperfectcolor. All your posts are about that. Its like a record on repeat.
view ilovemymini's profile
lovely space-can you source the set of nesting tables next to their bed?
i ask because i picked up the very same set at Housing Works and have been wondering their origin...west elm? IKEA?
thanks!
view brooklyngrace's profile
What colors are those grays? Awesome!
view mgindc's profile