apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I really loved this place when it was an AT House Call, and I'm so happy to see more of it now. Thank you for giving us a broader look!

The Jasper Morrison coffee table is seriously awesome. Sigh.

I just don't know how I feel about their decor within the gorgeous original details of the brownstone. I can imagine it's difficult to furnish & decorate within those constraints, but I'm just not feeling it. I do think it's possible to have beautiful white minimalist, gallery-like decor in that great space.

What an interesting space and love how you juxtepose more contemporary/modern furnishings w/ the more ornate details of the space.

Personally, I find the dining table and chairs a little too stark. I'd have found a nice rectangle or oval table, perhaps vintage that can seat 6-8 in ebony or black/brown and use white/parchment Eames plastic shell side chairs w/ the eiffel wire bases instead but it all works one way or the other. Love that square lamp in the corner though.

Other than some additional bright, colorful/strong colors to work against the white, the space works quite well. Good job.

A little too bare for my taste, but I guess that's the idea of minimal. I would have integrated pieces that reflect the bones of the space a little more. The furnishings would appear more at home in a new condo. But, I've also never really been into that whole juxtaposition thing.

Love the pracitce of questioning whether a possession adds to the quality of your life. It's such a good habit.

Also appreciate the contrast of the dark oramental trim and simple furnishings. Would work on space planning a bit -- furniture seems to be lined up on the walls. Also agree that a judicious splash of color would improve the space.

After more thought...
I do like a lot of the individual pieces of furniture, i.e. sofas, coffee table, but I don't like them in this space at all - not because I, personally, would decorate this space differently and more in line with the character of the space, but because the minimalism that they're striving for misses the mark (and the kitchen appliances are just bad). Granted, I think you need a LOT of money (and you need to own the place) to pull off the white minimalism with contemporary art on the walls juxtaposed look that I think would look fabulous in this space (think Architectural Digest budget).

to ciddyguy's comment I like the idea of switching gout the dining table for solid wood, Originally I thought of using the Hans Wegner wishbone chairs with the dining table, but the integrity of the architect's design may have been watered down. If I could redo it, new dream table would be the B&P dining table from www.espasso.com

I am also planning to change out the rugs for a new vibe, I like these rugs made by Shakers http://www.shakerworkshops.com/catalog/rag-rugs.php/18V11
I was thinking blue under the table, and brown in the living room.

I agree with AliceG, the juxtaposition works well, with a sort of elegant timeless1980's italian design feel and the victorian/edwardian doors. I just feel the kitchen looks a bit crammed (table fridge fireplace), but I suppose there isn't that much of another solution. I agree that a splash of coulour would look faboulus, like a very big modern abstract painting or graphic poster like the one already hung.

One word though, I always feel kind of sad when I see formerly grand and proud homes cut up into akward spaces, and especially closed up doors. In the city I live in there are several turn of the 20th century revival houses that have been purchased by the town hall and made into social housing. I suppose the idea is good of course, but inside some apartments you have the feel of a cut up home, a huge former living room turned into kitchen/ dining space with a bathroom built in the corner respectless of the mouldings or doors, or tiny rooms with huge fireplaces. I know its WAY better than demolishing but for some reason I find this sad, sometimes actually even opressive sometimes. I think the kitchen here, as well as the plastered door are the result of that kind of slicing up.

Nevertheless your apartment is veru chic, it has the cool elegance of a chic uptown art gallery :-)

Oh, for example, the main door juxaposed with the grand (very italian looking) parlour door is also a mistake, not yours of course, the landlord's. The proportions look all wrong... he could have at least made a dark coloured door to match.

Very cool space. I think it's great how well the architecture is highlighted by the minimalism. Also love the terrarium! However, I found myself oddly distracted by the beige-colored switchplates and outlet covers. It would be a quick job to change them out for white.

How about creating a "box" around the refrigerator with a dark frame and shelves on top mimicing the dining room book cases. Might work to integrate the space.

Sorry to be picky but spelling errors in resources.

Dining Table: AJ Franzioni/Capellini should be:
A.G. Fronzoni/Cappellini

Media Center:Antonio Citerio/B&B Italia should be:
Antonio Citterio/B&B Italia

Desk: Antonio Citerio/B&B Italia should be:
Antonio Citterio/B&B Italia

What a lovely home. I like the fact that the minimalist furnishings don't compete with the gorgeous woodwork. I also like that they didn't let themselves be limited by the architecture.

The first thing I thought when I looked at this post was "wow what a grown up space"

not really sure that its my style. I am tall and tend to feel awkward in places with really low furniture, but it certainly is well put together.

ohhh two more things...

1. so glad you kept the wood dark. forget everything else in the whole place, that woodwork is awesome.

2. where is the radio on the desk from? its so cute!

Wow, what incredible woodwork! I like the mix of modern with the victorian woodwork. The only thing I would suggest is a punch of color with some pillows or artwork. Other than that I love what you have done here.

I love this home!

I am so jealous of such a space -- the wood work, the high ceilings. The juxtapositions work beautifully in my opinion; each is more beautiful for it -- the historic space and detailing, the natural materials, as well as the modern and machine-made.

The B&P dining table is exquisite, and would work beautifully in that space. Thank you for introducing me to it.

While you say the kitchen works well, it strikes me as awkward and unfortunate. In the States, tenants are stuck with the kitchens their landlords provide, but in many parts of Europe, tenants supply their own kitchens. I am sure that you would come up with a more appropriate and elegant solution.

The kitchen (for me) underscores Daniel Poitier's point about the space being awkwardly carved-up by the landlord, the product of trying to maximize their number of units. I can imagine how perfect the space would be had there been a little more of it. However, you have crated something sublime nonetheless.

The use of colour, the emphasis on white, is gorgeous. I particularly love the glossy red bedside tables. I am less enthusiastic about the swivel chairs and desk -- the chairs do not seem comfortable, and the colour does not fit well (of the chairs and desk). For some reason, I think a Danish modern desk would work better --

perhaps like this piece by Jens Quistgaard
http://www.mapesauction.com/images/pastauctionsimages/Feb%20Live%20Auction%2006/AFEB.LIVEAUCTION1s/217_1.jpg

As for a rug, have you thought of a very hairy white goathair for the living room? I think the texture would really work in your space. Here is an example of what I mean:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/inspiration/recipe-for-style-opposites-living-room-077340

Thank you for sharing your amazing home with us!

I am so jealous of your home!
BTW: is that lamp in your kitchen a recent buy? Because it looks so much like the Lotek by Benno Premsela (http://www.lightanddesign.co.nz/view.php?id=378&type=&act=view&cat=light)

Indeed, the woodwork is awesome, and I'm sure it's just me, but it's jarring to see with all the minimalist furniture. And that room with the fridge just parked there beside that huge ornate doorway. Come on...is everyone else comfortable with that? It gives me the feeling of Alice...growing larger and smaller depending on whether she nibbled a biscuit or sipped from a vial. Clean, pretty, tidy but a little spooky, too.

Hi, okay lots to reply to..love the grown up comment, that makes me laugh. The danish desk is a great piece, thank you for the link, the trick in here was wood blends, the original floors have an amber tone and then the mahogany, so I like the "nude" wood of the desk and the top has untanned leather. Another thing I imagined for the spot was a black glossy with a black glass top simple long console type table, just thought it would have been a bit deluxe and tom fordish.
Ahh the kitchen, yes as a renter we are limited, but after seeing Maxwell's own kitchen that he renovated regardless of renting status, I was inspired to go to Henry Built in Tribeca and get a quote, but then realized why get a kitchen from Seattle cabinet makers when we know plenty of Brooklyn wood workers our age, so that is still in mind, with the idea of asking the land lord to contribute. Our idea is to get rid of the fridge and have an under the counter fridge, and freezer and a pull out trash/recycle container, and the top be a full butcher block counter top, then either storage above, or one of the half moon shaped pot racks. My husband want to redo the cbinets in Glossy Italian white with stainless to push the envelope on the modern interior.

I agree with your philosophy about furniture.
You made some suburb beautiful choices in furniture.

buy very well and what you adore, because classic good furniture endures, and will being you joy for many decades.

It 's nice you found a rental with such beautiful woodwork and high ceilings. It seems you have to live within in the confines of the owners odd kitchen layout.

Your choice in furnishings has won my heart!

ah, the radio if Tivoli, we got it a while back from the conran store on 59th and 1st. and the lamp in the kitchen is B&B I can't recall the designer.

really great place! where are those red side tables in the bedroom from? and the little red box of light? they look great!

That dining table is beautiful!!!

I do love the mix of an old classic detailed building filled with modern furniture, but for some reason this just doesn't work for me. It's a beautiful space and I'm jealous of that ceiling height!

The classic architecture in contrast to the modern minimalist furniture are precisely why I like this space. Beautiful.

Love the moldings and place overall, but the entry is really wanting - walking through a plain ole regular door, right into a modern-ish kitchen, only to then realize the amazing ceiling height and moldings. Still, very nice place overall and I personally like the combo of modern furniture and rich architectural detail. I think it highlights each.

I wish people wouldn't confuse relatively sparse with minimalism a la John Pawson. To me this home, whilst nice, still has far too much stuff in it to be called Pawson-esque.

MrCranky

Yes! The word 'minimalism' is so often used inappropriately.

I like the aesthetic of this apartment. Best of luck with your kitchen renovation - please submit the 'after' photos. And I disagree with the other comments about adding colour!

Contemporary style furniture looks lovely. The interior colors are well blended and balanced. Love the dark wood color. Like the simple clean look.


Jeanne

That deck has such potential...the lavender plants will be such a great addition.

It's really lovely, but the thing I always wonder when I see minimalist spaces is, where do you actually keep your stuff? I don't see a book or a television anywhere. While it would not surprise me to learn you don't have a tv... where are your books? And is that desk really comfortable?

i agree with ndvheller's first comment.

There's a picture in the slideshow of their bookshelf, thankfully, not arranged by color - and with plenty of books.

The circular marks under the kitchen cupboards look like mine--are they IKEA? If so, you could leave most of the cupboards in and switch out the doors. There are shiny colored ones and glossy white, too. It's an amazing space--and that roof deck looks like it'll be a great place to entertain, once you have it arranged the way you want.

Nicole, I would turn you lose in my place anytime! Beautiful; so peaceful, calm and uncluttered. Love it!

I've never seen a place with so little furniture that had so much character. A job on using the bones of the place as your main design element. Love the little light box on the bedside table.

I love the area with the stereo equipment and couldn't help but notice that you had a situation similar to what I had with a power strip under a floating cabinet. What I did was mount the power strip to the underside of the cabinet with some Scotch Clear Mounting tape, Heavy Duty:

http://www.concordsupplies.com/3m-scotch-clear-mounting-tape-4010/69551.html

I've been able to find it at art stores. This is what they use at the Apple Stores to keep cords in place. It's really strong and doesn't pull paint off or leave any residue when you need to remove it.

i love that coffee table!

I absolutely love modern minimal in an ornate space.

Likewise, I love ornate furniture in an industrial loft.

If you put ornate furniture in an ornate building, it tends to look fussy and boring.
If you put modern minimal furniture in an industrial loft, it tends to look stark and hard.

Yay for the mix!

Beautiful!

And props for really going ahead and trailblazing with the monastic style. I feel like with so many homes I see (my own included)... our tastes are all so similar. It's like we're all using the same torn-out magazine pages as inspiration. Which is fine :-), but, it's great to see someone truly do their own thing.

PERFECT marriage of ornate Victorian and clean minimalism. A joy to behold.

I admire your philosophy on living spaces. When I was younger, I was very compulsive about buying things and surrounding myself with objects I found to be beautiful. The only problem was, all of my things were constantly in competition with one another...so I never really got to enjoy their beauty and I began to feel overwhelmed and confused all the time. Things really got out of control. Now in my early thirties, I find myself wanting very little in my personal spaces. I have learned to appreciate the smallest of things and to seek inspiration through nature. Instead of buying something to fill a personal void, I now pick fresh flowers or light a candle (or even just open my windows) to find inspiration.

Nicole,
Could you tell me where to find the plant hothouse? I LOVE it! Thanks!

Very cool space, with a lot to look at and be inspired by. Have you painted? It looks like it's still a beige-y landlord white, and it looks too yellow for the space. Going with a cool, more grey white could add the final polish.

Great space. My only critique is that the enormous walls cry out for a few large pieces of art!

I love your bed by Jasper Morrison. Can you tell me what fabric type it is? I was thinking of getting the same bed and I have been unable to find a color I like. I really like how subtle the fabric and color is.

As others have said, I love the simple modernism with the ornate woodwork. I also love the (super) tall bookcase in the dining room. I am looking for something similar for my dining room/library. Where's it from?

I know this is late, but still wanted to comment. I just wanted congratulate you on your lovely apartment! I love the spare furnishings, the well chosen furniture and love the tension created between the Victorian detailing and modern furniture.
I wish you luck in your kitchen remodel attempts. I hope you were able to execute your plans for the patio.
My favorite part would the fourth slide. To me, it demonstrates exactly what you set out to do: natural elements with simplicity. This will be one thing I will copy at my own home.

Why would you put all straight edged furniture in a home with this much architectural detail? While I agree that you could go too far with this detail, the juxtaposition is not working well for me.

Is anyone else having a problem with these little roving "commercials" across the house tours screens. This is driving me crazy. I use TIVO because I hate commercials and to have them roving through the housetours is becoming unbearable!