apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

very nice! tasteful, elegant. the stripes make it feel very cozy and yet the space feels fairly open. it looks like the color scheme makes it easy to think there.

Oh so tasteful.

Lovely. Just lovely.

Love it! I really like the striped cloth (rug?) draped on the sofa. Very nice!

"Frilly and pink" make me gag just thinking of them; this is a lovely 180 degree turn from that. I usually prefer something more minimal, but you've done a great job here. Love the geodes (hate the antlers) and color palette. I really like your furniture and the arrangement of it. Very well done; should have entered the "smallest, coolest" contest.

Nina, you have done a GREAT job. The elements are chosen very carefully. The only question I have is: Where you going for a monochromatic environment? There is no color and you might try to add one accent colour to create movement in the space. If you like one colour whatever that might be, try buying a few pillows in that colour (small ones) and throw them all over the apartment. You will see that it will change the apartment for the better I hope. If you get tired of the accent colour - you can always change the few pillows... Job well done. (oh and try to tie the wires under the tiny desk with a matching fabirc to the wall - they won't be as visible as they are)

Your space is wonderful! I love your rug and shades -- where are they from?

Thanks for sharing!

This apartment is perfect in every detail. Love the rug. Can you tell me more about it. Thanks.

A very nice space indeed. Love how you used the space to good effect w/ the furniture placement.

Had to do a second look, but is that a miniature long haired Dachshund on the dog bed? If so, very cute.

Lovely apartment. The only thing I would add is a big green plant by the window to add some life and a pop of color.

Nina, Words are worthless *sigh* Thank you for sharing with so many pictures. I wish I owned, I would love to paint my walls like yours! I am in envy!

What an adorable dog! Can you tell me what kind of dog bed s/he's snoozing on? It's really lovely, and I've found it so difficult to find sophisiticated and functional ped beds!

I think it's a pity that you have a gorgeous springbox skin on the floor - if you put it over the back of the chair you'll see the "mohawk" for which they are famous pop up.

Sorry.... Springbok, not springbox!!

I love this space, I love the colors, I love everything about it. What are the paint colors you used?

the space looks beautiful. although it does seem a touch too carefully selected for my taste - perhaps lacking character. but, you use the space very well. maybe some personal items, and less hip items like the antlers, would make it feel more homey and less curated.

Love it. Your home is simply gorgeous!

Is that rug real?! ugh.

sehr nett.

Thank you for all of your comments and ideas! I just wanted to get back to you with some of your questions!

1. The dog bed is from West Elm - it's actually one of their "floor cushions" - much better looking then the ones from the pet store!

2. The colors are all Farrow and Ball - estate emulsion, and used Mahagony, Elephant's Breath, and Shaded White.

3. The Zig Zag rug is also from West Elm, and the lamp is from CB2 - although I recovered the shade on my own.

4. And yes, Sophie is a minature long haired dachshund!

I am another commenter for whom words fail to express my admiration.

This apartment achieves a balance between a bedroom studio and a living room studio. Too often a bed is somewhere in a corner divided off by a bookshelf. Here the bed is part of the room, without dominating it. This is just elegant. I know I would do it differently, but I know I would not do it as well. Beautiful.

very nicely done. love the kitchen and the bath

Are you 100% the piece to the left of the Horse on the ledge is a Goya? I ask because it actually looks like a Salvador Dali. I grew up with something very similar which was a Dali and part of the Divine Comedy series. Here is a link to a piece titled "In Dark Limbo"

http://www.lockportstreetgallery.com/Dalis/dc/dcinferno/i11.jpg

Can I ask where you got your bedding? Beautiful home!

The dramatic effect does look good on the sofa back. and the bed looks gorgeous too.


Jeanne

i love the color palette and looove the ikat pillows! source of the pillows anyone??

http://pearlsandgreentea.blogspot.com/

Love Nina's blog: Cultivated Home. All very inspiring.

This space is nicely put together and quite pretty but it is a cliche of trends and for me comes off a bit boring and predictable. Sorry, it is very nice just nothing new.

Oh, funny. I sort of worked with Nina on a small, headachey corporate office design. Good times. Anyway, on to the praise. Well done with the element of drama I personally look for in professionally designed home. I'm pleasantly surprised at the accessibility of many of the items.

Just two things...

I am sure tiny pelt rug feels gorgeous underfoot but it is so very disturbing. Consider changing it. Even to flokati (and that's saying something).

And also, the addition of a contrasting color would really do wonders to humanize the space and add that last bit of punch. Brown does love pink. Maybe just a touch of it as an homage to the living space that once was?

does anyone know what kinda of Miele cooktop that is? electric or gas? Im intrigued.

Bravo!

Time Out New York already did this ... last month.
http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/real-estate/72003/easy-does-it

Sorry, all that brown is depressing to me.
I covet the Barcelona chair tho.

I love this place - although it has a very masculine feel. For me to live there I would add fresh flowers and a contrasting color. I think soft pink or a lime green would work great with the greys and browns. Love your dog. Growing up my grandparents had one just like that.

she should have entered it in smallest coolest. she would have won. btw, how is this a sublet? i mean, it looks like she added massive numbers of custom touches. Or was the bathroom and kitchen that cool to begin with?

Ahh, i should learn to read more carefully... the owner did many renovations. Awesome place.

Nina, very beautiful! I always look at the pictures first, then read the article. I could tell by the pictures that your are a Designer. It shows in your attention to details.
I have to say I disagree with adding any color pillows are what-nots. (reference picture 10) The balance in the room is occurring by the geometric shapes. The large picture over the sofa rising above the horizontal stripes of the wall. Followed by the slightly smaller picture above the bed, then the smaller mirror above the chest of drawers, then to the pillows on the bed. See how your eyes flow around the room? If Nina had not place the pictures where they rise above the horizontal line or had each element dropping to a different level, it would have been boring and every item would have been pressed below the horizontal stripes. That's how you make movement and balance in a monochromatic room. Well done Nina.

Nina-

I wholeheartedly agree with English Accent.

As I'm SURE you know, your place is fantastic!

This comment is really directed to the few that feel there is a lack of color, movement, and personalization in the space...people please!!

What a lovely apartment. Thanks Nina for proving that in even in NYC, one doesn't need to sacrifice style or their firstborn to have a fabulous place! Truly an inspiration!

Thank you for all of your amazing comments! I did want to respond to a few questions about sourcing:

1. Sheets are from Restoration Hardware, they always have a great selection.

2. The pillows on the sofa are Madeline Weinrib pillows, I love all of her work.

3. So right! The painting in the kitchen is a Salvador Dali, but there is a Goya also in the ktichen.

4. The miele cooktop is gas

Thank you again!!

Good pick for the wall paper - nice earth tone, cool stripes. Those framed pictures, however, look odd with it . They 'go against the grain', them being vertical.

Perhaps you can consider panoramic pictures on canvas, instead. Don't frame, else you'd defeat that sleek look of your decor.

Hey can someone tell me who the designer of the narrow vertical book rack is?

Pet08, I thought I saw the book cases in CB2's catalog. Check their website catalog.

I absolutely love this! Great use of browns! Thanks also for the Madeline Weinrib tip - just went to her site, and her stuff is awesome!

Also, can you mention the source for your shades?

Hi! The shade was a standard CB2 shade, and I just went to Purl Soho in NYC, which has light-weight quilting fabric. With a hot glue gun, it's a piece of cake!

springbok anteloupe? a beautiful animal. pity.

Dachshunds... The ultimate accessory.

Poor animal. He looks so sad.

Nina...such a beautiful apartment! I cant help but notice that you have 4 paint colors on your wall, but only listed 3. What is the fourth color? Thanks!!

lovely! was wondering on where your kitchen cabinets are from?

Is that a wide striped throw on the back of the couch? anyone know where I can find a similar one? i love the black and white accents

Love the paint colors! Can you share the color names?

Love it!!!

Also, if you like mid-century modern, check out my recent article on DUX's Folke Ohlsson Estate Sale:

http://simplifiedbee.blogspot.com/2009/07/blue-moon-duxs-folke-ohlsson-estate.html

xo,
cristin

i love it when someone is able to take a simple, almost monochrome color palette and make it work, rather than look uninspired and boring. brilliant.

but i gotta say, not a fan of all the animal art.

All of my favorite colors. Lovely.

This is so gorgeous and serene, you've got guts painting those giant stripes over the walls- it really paid off!

I love the carpet in the living room area-can you tell me where you found something like this?

Not sure I love the idea of color-coding books.

It is all so designed and so planned and well thought out and follows the clear rules set out (albeit unusual and innovative rules.)
The overall concept is a suprise, but still... uhm... I wanna see a chipped floral mug that was inherited from a college room mate, stuck up with those soldiers on the kitchen shelf.

Color coding books? A bit anal retentive.

This is one very sophisticated apartment. It's a simple design yet daring at the same time. I'd never think to mix those stripes with the other geometries.