apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Well, hello Ursula!

I've always liked those chairs. They remind me of my grandparents' house.

I think that's why now I'm drawn to the Wegner Wishbone chairs.

From what I can see, smashing job on the floors.

The lighting is doing something funky though.

Above, it looks like the walls are creamy and below, it looks like the walls have a slight blue or violet tint to them.

Maxwell - Have you moved from that complete jewel of a tiny place? That is still my favorite house tour. In fact I ordered two chairs from Cherner (got the armchairs) because I fell in love with them from your house tour.

Loving the short, fat christmas tree. Not loving the table and chairs - they look just like the kitchen at my grandmothers and parents - but maybe there's something to be said for tradition. I'm still holding off until the place is closer to being finished

I love the table... probably because I have an identical one in my kitchen. These days, I'm using four orange Eames shell chairs with mine, plus the ubiquitous Stokke (if someone started manufacturing an Eames-style toddler/highchair, they'd make a fortune). Yours are lovely, too.

I'm sorry, but I don't like where this is headed at all. The carpet is too red and too big, and the table and chairs look totally Wal Mart. The window treatments are shapeless and add no visual interest. So what's next? An overstuffed LaZboy couch?

This looks more West Virginia than West Village.

I'd hang the sheers a bit higher. Quite a bit.

Is Ursula strapped on the Ikea island? Wow, sturdier than I thought.

So Maxwell - are you officially admitting this is your new place now? I think Ursula making an appearance is a good confirmation!

I just don't like the way those white curtains look. Perhaps you can hang them higher? I think they could look elegant, they are kind of just falling flat the way they are now.

It looks great. I wish you the best in your new home.

The priorities of this "quick," budgeted project seem to be in laying an outstanding foundation from which to build and this apt. certainly has that! It looks great, and my guess is there will be future additions as funds become available, in which case I totally get using what you have, suitable for a young family for the time being. I'm not so certain this is Maxwell's new place for it seems reasonable Ursulla could be in attendance whilst the work is being done.

Hey Maxwell - can't wait to see the finished product! Hope you are feeling better.

Hi Ursula :-)

Whoa! LOVE the round table -- look at those claw legs! Floors came out fantastic, too.

If this is the new G-R family home... I know what I want to ask, and it would be too, too mother-in-law-esque to actually ask it. *whimper*

Oh, this is SO the G-R's new place! There's so many tell-tale objects.

I love that you're letting us in on this as it takes shape. Love that phantom lamp.

Hmmm... I think that Ursula squiggle art sheepskin = proof that this the new Gillingham-Ryan residence! Congratulations!!!

Looking forward to seeing more of the apartment as you settle in.

Love the lamps Maxwell.

Am very eager to see Ursula's new room...

And am dying to ask -- DON'T YOU MISS YOUR HENRYBUILT?????

p.s. I lusted after a table like that for years, albeit with a varnished mahogany top. In my dreams (okay! In some Vancouver architect's home!) it was paired with very minimal balc metal Italian chairs. I actually encountered the chairs at a store selling B&B, etc., although I do not recal which ones they are. In any case, they were very solid and heavy, and had an option of laether seat pads, and so were surprisingly comfortable. So, as much as I love classic French rush-woven café chairs, I would pair that table with something more minimal and contrasting... this current pairing does not quite work for me.

Can't wait until the sofa and/or side chairs appear in the living room...

balc = black

yes, please hem the curtains. I can do it for you. It'll take 10 minutes and I won't even charge you.... Lemme know.

What is the stain color you used on the floor? It's beautiful and warm.

i see some little face poking out! she's so cute. i wonder what will happen to the old place?

Who cares who's apartment this is! Can you people stay focused for at least one minute?! Sheesh!

With that being said, and about the apartment's interior design, I'm gonna have to wait until this is complete before I offer up any opinions. So far...I ain't feeling it one bit but that could all change. We'll see...

I really enjoy seeing this apartment come together.

Hello Ursula :)
I think this a great space and I like what you´re doing with it.

I'm so excited, but I want the back story! Why the move? This place must seem palatial to you guys. Seems like you left all your other furniture back at the old place.

I have a feeling the cabinet elves are hard at work.

Was there much furniture in the old place other than the Eames rocker, the bed, and whatever was acting as a desk? And maybe a very small dining table set-up?

If this is the G-R residence, the concept of Maxwell joining the ranks of we aged bourgeoisie who own a sofa -- and, I think, living in a larger apartment than we do -- is just rocking my world on its axis.

I also admire the courage of people who know where they want to hang pictures before they move the furniture in.

Oh, I see, the orange rug has been switched out for a larger red one? I liked the orange one....

How do we know that's really Ursula? We're only seeing half of a face! Meanwhile, I'm not usually a huge fan of a red rug, but I'm quite sure that it's part of an overal plan that's going to look fantastic.

The short Christmas tree is kind of fun for a baby's first Christmas.

Okay, I can't help myself. It's a form of obsessive-compulsive behaviour, I know, just like my inability to walk past a magazine stand, but... I just have to share that I would really, really like to see that table paired with donghia Anziano chairs. There. (whew! bad Monika, bad Monika).

http://www.product.donghia.com/go.cfm/E480A0A5-F705-60E3-B0580E5A29697AA7?navid=C767A5AC-3048-7098-AF7E85190C4ED99C

http://www.donghia.com/furniture/upholstery-seating/

Sheer poetry...

I like seeing the step by step layering that you've been showing us in the photos. When I move, I just move all at once so it's nice to see it done this way.

I really like your flooring. Paint and finish look good from here.
The rug may be a great asset too. But it also may be too large.
But seriously take all the art down and put it back up after you have furnished the place. Rearrange the minor furnishings around the bigger ones. You are going to furnish it?
The windows would look better empty than with those sad 'drapes'; get new ones with some visual and textural 'weight'. Hang em high. Almost to the ceiling. A black rod too.
You might want to check out roman blinds, etc. too depending on your light exposure and your privacy needs.

It is strange to see the things shown done like this on AT, but I guess that's why we share comments.
:)
Good luck.

I am also holding out before forming an opinion on this new space for I feel Maxwell has, thus far, has proven he is a style pioneer. The current favored look to hang curtains near the ceiling is a trend, it wasn't so a decade ago and it won't be in a decade. If there were existing holes in the woodwork, I may have opted to hang my rods from the existing holes, particularly if I was planning to add a fabric panel or cornice above the window to elongate the wall. As well, there are considerations, when renting, of putting molly bolts into the walls. Maxwell's preference for gauzy fabric at the windows imparts a certain ethereal look that I like. Even though this look doesn't convey the cutting-edge contemporary look many look for at this site, I believe there are great possibilities for a wonderful outcome with this beginning. Case in point would be the house tour "Charles' Perfect Garden Apartment" (which was also showcased this week) which uses a combination of traditional/contemporary furnishings, resulting in a look that is quite stunning!

Why do people always comment things like:

"Even though this look doesn't convey the cutting-edge contemporary look many look for at this site" ?? WTF

IF anything, it seems like most of the readers of this site are anti "cutting-edge contemporary."

I myself am a modernist and somewhat of a minimalist. But that seems to be met with much disdain on this site. It's all according to taste.

P.S. My grandmother and mother have been hanging the curtains/drapes from the ceiling to the floor for decades now. How is that a trend, louise?

We keep seeing updates of this supposedly faboo apt. and it gets tons of praise from people who think it belongs to the G-R family.

So far, I have yet to see ANYTHING about it thats so spectacular, avant-garde, etc.

I say, BFD.

I love the rug. A glass lamp on the dining table though?? Wow, not in my family home! ;-)

several things: this rug is so ginormous that you may as well have wall to wall carpeting in the living room, and you definitely don't want to hide those gorgeous floors! also the red is not doing anything for that blah paint color.

the windows seem to be placed in the wall a little oddly. one is right up against the wall? to hide this (and also take care of the no man's land between the windows) i would put a curtain rod up that is the length of the entire wall (perhaps a wire curtain system from ikea) and then hang three or four curtains, with one or two staying between the windows. they should certainly brush the floor (not puddle onto it), but be hung higher than where they are now. sheers don't work for this, because the point is to mask the imperfect placing of the windows, heighten the room, and make that wall look a little more symmetrical. sheers are..well, SHEER...so seeing through them would ruin the effect. plus, gross. shabby chic is horrifying.

this is not because of any TREND (good lord) but because hanging curtains right over small windows is a good way to visually stunt the height of the room.

also, if you insist on keeping that rug (why?), you need to put bigger furniture on it. right now that tiny bookcase and christmas tree are swimming in a red ocean instead of doing anything to anchor the room.

the dining table is a matter of taste, and while it's not mine i can see why someone would like it. however the chairs are not doing anything for it. they make it look like you mistakenly think they go together instead looking like a concious design choice. i would choose a more modern set of chairs (in a color or maybe simple aluminum ones) as the perfect foil to the overly decorative table. the chairs themselves are not bad, and would be nice with a different table.

last but not least, lamp on table = bad! pendant lamp! PENDANT LAMP! that is a pretty sweet lamp though. :)

i can't wait to see this when it's finalized. good job so far, it just needs some tweaking! :D