apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Very nice, especially the kitchen!
Details on the back splash tile and the counter top please!

Wow, I was thrown for a loop when I saw the hideous red kitchen, but then I realized I was looking at a 'before' photo. Great job! I especially love your Saarinen pieces. The 'yule log' TV is hysterical. I wonder how sturdy the Tord Boontje curtain is as a shower curtain; it seems so flimsy. I hope you're happy with the cat-scratchers by Susan Kralovec. I went to school with her and have the utmost respect for her recent work. And your cat matches your home!

Lovely! Great job. Love the kitchen counters and bathroom.

Love how the kitty's head is peaking over from behind the couch. So adorable.

Great way to hide the litterbox, however, I wonder how the cats feel about having their eating and toilet locations so close together?

Beautiful. Very impressive. I would love to know where you purchased your entry calendar?

Wow! Great job! I love the bathroom floor tiles, and the cat situation in the kitchen is genius. Where is the dining table from?

I'm interested in the dolls in picture #21 (I think). I saw something like them in Amsterdam and have been unable to find them.

So beautiful!! In addition to details on the countertops and backsplash tile, could you also say what kind of window treatments you have and the name of the bathroom sink and fixtures? Thanks!!

tastefull, beautiful and lovely

ok, so how much did it all run?

To all who asked about sources: I included a very very thorough list that Avery wrote up as to where he purchased almost every single thing in his home. Please check the list for your answers. Thanks.

I love your kitchen!

Holly

Love the cat litter solution. given that cats lick their genitals on a regular basis and cough up big globs o' fur I would think that they have some nerve to protest over litter /food proximity issues...

I think this is so interesting to see. You did a beautiful job on the remodel and I particularly love the tile on the bathroom floor and the kitchen backsplash. But it seems to me like you have filled your home with things I have seen so much on this site that it's like Accessorizing with AT over there. The table, the chairs, the lighting, I even recognize some of your art and pillows! Are you one of the AT editors and is that why you have all the same stuff? I am realizing now that I will never have the guts to submit a house tour here, I feel like I'm being way too harsh here and I don't mean to be. But I'd love to see you on Etsy or finding some funky local artists so this place isn't full of so much familiar stuff. It sounds like you've already put a lot of time and money into it but somehow as lovely as it is it feels very curated and not too much like somebody lives there. Does what I'm saying make sense? If it's what you want I'm not bashing it but it just strikes me as odd somehow. Anyways, congrats on the remodel, your home is very inspiring and your bathroom is gorgeous. Hopefully my bathroom reno will be half that successful. Thanks for sharing.

P.S. all your cat gear is awesome.

what a beautiful and fun home -- i am very impressed! thanks for sharing.

What a great reno! i wish i was a kitty in your home!

beautiful renovation! what an improvement!
LOVE the Scratching Swirl!!

Love the "White Porcher Sapho Wall-Mounted Lavatory", if that what the seemingly wall-mounted bathroom sink/counter combo is.

I've been thinking of what sort of new counter material I wanted in my bathroom when I finally reno it - now I have my answer.

The whole place is great. Surely the Eames barstools were a DIY combo of the chair tops with some other swivel bases?

Maybe I missed it, but where or where did you get that lovely wallpaper in the bedroom? Me gusta!

Very thorough list of resources/inspiration. Thanks!

Killorn, the entry calendar was originally designed by Stendig and is available seasonally at Crate and Barrel. It doesn't seem to be available online at the moment, but you could check back in November or December.

I'm in awe of your bravery for taking on such a project, and your talent for pulling it off so beautifully! I'm echoing the chorus of praise for the kitchen. Congratulations on a job so well done!

vinny - Modernica lets you mix and match the Eames shell chairs. There are nine different bases, some with multiple wood/metal options, that you can combine with an arm chair or side chair shell in the color of your choice.

Hello Everyone,
Thanks so much for all the great comments! AND to Jill for a great post!
You should be able to get details from the outline that Jill listed with details but in case you didn't find your answers here are a few bullet point replies:

-Anna in Reno, I am not an AT editor but thanks for the compliment. The overly curated feel is a valid comment. It is really a factor of our style being very popular right now, when mid-century fades from the mainstream our place will still look like this. AND I am a little OCD so it is always overly neat. We are on the lookout for more art for the walls, and that could add the funky touch you are seeking.

-leroy Jenkins, W/o posting raw $ I can say the renovation cost 25 percent of the purchase price. Hope that gives you a rough idea of the overal "value" we invested.

-Sharona, All the details should be in the list above but to be brief: Italian slate countertops cut by Atlas in Newark, NJ. Backsplash is "winter blend" from Mosaic Tile Market online. Window shared are Duette honeycomb from Hunter-Douglas installed by Interior Motif in Hoboken. Bathroom sink is Sapho wall mount sink by Porcher with Graf faucet.

-Lucy, the figures are "Munny" 2.0 in white. Available at Kidrobot.com

-designnoob, the dining table is Knoll Tulip Table by Eero Saarinen. I purchased from Circa50.com, free delivery to NYC area!

-Killorn, entry calendar is the Stendig calendar from stendigcalendar.com also available at moma, unicahome, and hivemodern I think

-Maya, the Tord Boontje curtain works great as a shower curtain. It needs a plastic liner and you need two of the Boontje curtains to span the length. The tyvek material is very water resistent, the same durable stuff that they make FedEx Paks out of.

-Purvi, Backsplash and counter details above in answer to Sharona and listed by Jill as well.


CHEERS!
Avery

Beautiful but I agree with Anne (in Reno)

More:

-Bursy, The wallpaper is from Cole & Son, New Contemporary Two Collection, "Woods" in color 69-12147

-Vinny, Erin T is correct. Modernica mix and match. If you are looking for a deal you can go to their annual sample sale and pick up shells and then order the base of you choice.

Cheers,
Avery

The apt itself is really a great space and I think the reno was a very wise idea- kudos on that, it looks as if it makes a huge difference.

Alas I can only give this place a C, maybe a C+ as the cohesive lack of anything but readily purchased furniture pieces and nick nacks screams showroom. I am really disappointed to not see your idiosyncracies shine through.

Now I'll be honest in that I wish I could grab a few items from your home and make them mine. I understand your appreciation of MCM and I'm guilty of that too- but what I am missing is something not iconic.

I just feel like I'm flipping through a catalogue and what's missing in your home is YOU.

I agree with Julian 100% with Julian,
nouveau riche ala design cliche left and right

I was pleased to read that you put in time and effort into the shopping and didn't just walk into DWR and point.

Really sweet place. I like your little NOC cabinet as well. People are starting to rapidly understand the importance of good data-design in their spaces! I assume the "grab in case of fire" drive is a mirror of the kitchen drive?

Great apartment! What an ambitious undertaking with beautiful results! I hope I haven't missed it in your sources, but I was wondering about the medecine cabinet with the extra frosted cabinet above. Is this all one piece or two that you put together? I would love the source if you have it.

thanks!

"I wonder how the cats feel about having their eating and toilet locations so close together?"

I have a similar setup and the kitties are fine with it as long as the litter is changed frequently--which you'd want to do anyway for the sake of kitty health and your nose.

what interests me the most in this home tour, i think is the elegant and thoughtful integration of the high tech elements, the kitchen cabinet that neatly houses the computing headquarters of the house, the backup drive in the bedroom.

we are a computer heavy household with a central music and video server and three routers and man is it sloppy looking!

your place is lovely and neat and you did a great job.

What tremendous care and thought you put into this renovation! Thanks for having the the guts to give us a tour. At first I would've agreed with those who say it's too catalogue-y, almost flat -- but the "follies," as you call them, tucked about here and there, hint of something charming, playful and quirky. I'd be very curious to see another tour of your home in a year, when you've really lived in it for a little while and taken some of the shininess off the edges.

Nice! Any place that incorporates Munny as part of the decor scheme gets my thumbs up.

More Replies:
-Claudia, the bathroom cabinets are 6 Ikea Vattern cabinets bolted together. 3 tall skinny ones on the bottom and 3 squarish ones on the top. After they were on the wall we added aluminum trim made from home depot aluminum angles on the top and bottom as well as under cabinet light on top and bottom. The lighting effect makes the cabinet float a big visually and balances out the ceiling light.

-Max, yep the bedroom drive is a copy of the kitchen drive, which is a select backup of our iMac data.

-Meredith, I am now a firm fan of hard wiring when you have the opportunity. Wireless is nice but wired is faster and more secure in most cases. I hate wiring clutter so I spent a lot of time planning out the central cabinet and all the distribution.


Cheers,
Avery

That scratching swirl is the best scratching post I've seen yet!! I need me one of those (for 4 cats, maybe 2 of them).

Oh ya, great space!!!

Is that a fukasawa +/-0 humidifier in your bedroom? If so, what's your source, and does it come with a US-compatible plug?

irksomecushion, yep it is Humidifier by Plus Minus Zero V.3. We got it at compact-impact.com and it works on a US outlet, instructions are all Japanese!

link http://www.compact-impact.com/contents/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=63&category_id=8&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

Cheers,
Avery

Thanks Jill for the great post and the details on the sources. I posted those questions and a minute later found all the details right here. I tried to post again and "answer" my own questions, but couldn't because AT had pulled the post from the main page! Good to see that this is back up, I'm bookmarking this for my kitchen reno (whenever I get to it).

Love that desk. Might be the only thing not to carry a designer label in your apartment (nothing wrong with designer) but I love it. It's exactly what I have been looking for.

Very impressive! It's been noted but I don't think anyone has yet asked (or answered): What is the source for the floor covering in the bathroom? Thanks in advance!

ooh, i see munnies! i like to decorate with my little dunny collection too!

Great slideshow -
great job...

The kitchen renovation is a massive improvement over the old! And, while I love French doors, I agree with Avery's decision to leave them off.

I don't get the cat box in the kitchen, though. Many people do it, but for me, it goes in the bathroom always.

Andy, the desk is Steelcase vintage from the 1940s found on craigslist. Finding one with a file drawer on each side was hard but well worth it. with 2 30" deep file drawers you will have no need for an ugly file cabinet!

Alexis, the bathroom floor is Ann Sacks Paris AS7683 Matte Periwinkle 1" Hexagons. We used a pewter grout instead of white.

OH and BTW, the white boxes on the hall wall under the Warhol soup can are for recycling, hence the soup can print. Top is for glass/plastic/aluminum and bottom is for paper.


Cheers,
Avery

the scratching swirl rocks so hard. i didn't see it on postmodern pets though, so assume they no longer carry it..?

amazing job! the attention to tech details is truly stellar.

What a neat place. You guys did an awesome job.

wondering where you got the shower curtain from?

I think the apartment is beautifully put together and, despite the designer furniture, it still looks like it's very "homely" and livable. The blinds in the bedroom - where are they from?

Nora P, The shower curtain is by Tord Boontje, you need 2 for a full curtain width. Available at momastore.com

Aquarabbit, Postmodernpets moved coasts and it doesn't look like they got back up and running. :(



Thanks again to everyone for all the nice comments,
Avery

I was wondering why you kept your mustard in the hallway ...

LOVE the reno-gut work (the bathroom floor is to die for), but I agree that the place needs more homey-ness ... too DWR catalog for my liking. I appreciate that you tried second-hand and vintage, etc. but for all that effort, it still looks like you just picked stuff out of a catalog.

And I agree with the others ... cat box in the kitchen cabinet? Totally gross. (And please tell me the little kitties get grabbed first in a fire and NOT the backup hard drive.)

Ridge,
Yes, mustard is in a recycling bin of sorts.

A lot of the furniture is second hand, I have a talent for finding gems on craigslist. Most of the pieces have better stories than "I ordered this from...".

Anyway, I like living in a catalog :) so I am taking this all as a compliment.

The catbox works great in the end cabinet, it isn't really near any food and the alternative would be out somewhere in the apt or bathroom. I have done that in enough apartments to know it is a smelly eyesore. This way it is out of sight.
Yes, the cats get grabbed first in a fire. I have 2 collapse-able pet carriers under the bed just for that purpose.

Cheers,
Avery

This looks so comfortable and homey to me. Really gorgeous, and I don't think it looks like a catalogue. Just ready for photographs and obviously occupied by someone who doesn't like clutter.

But my, my. Nothing brings out the AT haters more than a couple of recognizable "DWR" pieces.

I really like the place, good work
ok so the furnishings have a vernacular that is easily recognizable, but that is what makes them classics.

nothing wrong there.

my question, how did you find your architecy? how was his pay negotiated? did he design the entire reno? how hands on was he during the reno? did he help find the contractor? how much free reign did the contractor have or was he just following the architects plans?

i'm really interested because i need to reno my apt and its about the same size and age and i really need help planning this all out...

best of luck and thank you for sharing your space with us!
peace!

I'm one of the first to say it looks like a DWR catalog, but for some reason it seems to work better here than most.

Would like to see more originality though.

Hi Avery,

Why did you select a casement window over a newer double hung window? Because I am making a similar decision, I am trying to understand the reasoning.

Bravo! This is a fabulous space... be proud! What an achievement...
I had some questions but they have all been answered. The swirl cat post is a piece of art unto itself. *Love* it!!

Hi Avery,

I love what you did with the place. I particularly like the molding through your apartment. I have one question, though. What are the dimensions of your bathroom window? I am in the process of installing a window in my bathroom as well, and I like the one you have. I am still playing with the idea of installing mine horizontally instead of vertically, but seeing your window is making me reconsider. Please provide details regarding your window.

Piere, the window in the shower is a casement windows and is roughly 14"x45". We replaced the double hung window that was there b/c it was totally rotted out and no longer locked. The molding is original. The contractor took the molding we carefully removed in demolition, stripped it, then put it back together in combined sections for the new openings.

Leroy Jenkins, We found the architect by calling a firm in the city whose work we saw a lot online and in Dwell magazine. They referred us to an architect who did projects similar to what we were planning. Looking back I think it was probably overkill to have an architect for what we ended up doing.
Initially our plans were more grand to make the space totally modern, eventually we scaled that back b/c of costs and ended up with a traditional space with modern upgrades. It ended up matching the character of the building quite well so we are pleased.
The architect was very valuable in brainstorming design and developing plans. The construction management helped in the beginning but towards the end we ended up doing a lot of that ourselves.
My other critique is that our design phase was too long and we wasted time designing things we couldn't afford. Our in-experience definitely contributed to that.
His fee was a flat rate for the project paid in installments with additional per use charges for printing plans, travel, and purchasing materials (an architect can get you a good discount but they will add a small % for the service, totally worth it in the end usually).
The contracter had very little, if no, free reign. Suggestions were welcomed and changes were made but the build must meet the designs 100% unless you specify otherwise. The architect helped us find contractors and put the project out for bid; it is best of you get contractor recommendations from friends but we didn't know anyone who had used one yet.

I would recommend our architect, he does work in NJ, NY, and PA (I think). He is a nice guy and enjoyable to work with. Here is his contact info:

John DaCruz, DaCruz Designs, Princeton, NJ. 609-252-1998

Cheers,
Avery

You've obviously worked really hard on this place and it looks so much better than before but its not my cup of tea at all - my idea of desing hell actually - however, I LOVE that shower curtain

That cat is wonderful!
And I love the kitchen. Well done!

maria

Pierre, The casement window gives you more ventilation when opened b/c the whole area of the window opens, instead of only half of the window like a double hung. Also since it is in the shower I wanted something snug that closed tightly all the way around with no gaps.
Cheers,
Avery

No rugs?? No drapes or curtains??
That means you have echos inside your home, and your downstairs neighbors are pissed off by the noise. You need the soundproofing textiles can provide.

Killorn, as Doug and Avery said the wall calendar in entry hall is called Stendig Calendar designed by Massimo Vignelli. You can still order 2007 from few places on the Internet like Unicahome.

Victoria ... EXACTLY! You hit right on the head of what it was about the place I didn't like, but couldn't figure out. I think that's what's making it look showroomy to me (besides just being bored of all the same iconic chairs, tables, etc. that many of the other house tours have.) It needs softness ... texture. Even if they still want mostly stark white everything, white textiles with some dimension to them would be awesome. (And yes, as someone who has previously lived below high-heeled clydesdales, I can't stand when people don't have any rugs in apartments...)

Wow - your home is gorgeous. The kitchen is dreamy - I lurve the backsplash. Soooo nice!!

victoria - we don't have rugs or curtains either. We find it collects dust and pet hair and requires more time to clean than bare floors/windows. Old homes have often have thick walls and high ceilings, and don't need much in the way of extra soundproofing.

But maybe they just haven't lived in the space long enough to figure out what they want/need, and where to put it?

It's true that older homes with plaster walls are more soundproof. The thing that lets in sound the most is the space between the wall and floor in between apartments, and general draftiness.

I think the from-the-bottom shades are great. They let in a lot of light at all times, which goes well with the open layout.

The scratcher in front of the litterbox is a good idea for keeping stray litter from spreading around. I have a plastic grate-type tray in front of ours, the advantage of which is that since our cat likes to throw up on it, we can just wash it instead of replacing it each time. It sure is ugly though. Why do pet product companies think cat lovers like dark sky blue so much?

Love that bathroom tile, too. And the Porcher sink. Do you know if there's a vanity cabinet that works with that sink?

AMAZING. It's gorgeous and the list you provided is so, so, wonderful.

I have kind of a nerdy question, though - I am a craigslist junkie, but I'm in Phoenix, AZ and it's awful hard digging through all the grody southwestern couches to find the good stuff. Would you mind sharing some of your more productive search terms, or is that too much of a trade secret? ;)

Also, have you considered using an RSS reader? On CL you can do a search for "bar cart", say, and at the bottom of the page it returns there's an orange RSS or XML link. I copy and paste that link into my newsreader (Newsfire, for Mac - link in my name) and every single time a post pops up with that term my newsreader makes a cute sound and jumps up in my dock. Very handy - you don't have to type in 20 different searches every day, and you get the update before anyone else sees it!

Thanks for inviting us into your lovely home.

Oh, and was that bathroom wall that's up against the kitchen plaster? We have that and I'd love to have cabinets inset, but don't want to do extensive demo, so I don't know if that's worth it.

You know? The bathroom you replaced? That was beautiful to the people who had it done. We don't have to like everything, but we should be respectful. So saying unhelpful things about someone's personal space is just not done. Oh, but I'm a Midwesterner.

You did a fine job on your renovation, but I am curious, do these jobs always move so slowly in NY/NJ?

avery-
i am wondering about the written "home sweet home" over your bed. stencils? would love to know where you found this/the supplies to make this.
your home is lovely.
-jessica

So jealous! We are in the midst of a reno, and it is absolutely brutish. I can't believe how tidy your demolition shots look. I only hope that our space will be so pleasing, if we can possibly get our contractors to finish it. Amazing job-- I hope it gives you both great pleasure to live there.

jess, the home sweet home above the bed is from urbanoutfitters.com

Melanie, no special terms really except lots of designer names or descriptive keywords I am looking for. I used to run Opera saved sessions to open up all 20+ pages with one command, now I use Firefox and save sessions or open a folder of links in tabs. I scan then quickly and close by mouse gesture or keystroke, it takes a few minutes but I do it every day. RSS would be a good alternate method, perhaps I will try it.

Victoria, arza and Baly, we are a shoeless household and are quiet as mice so there isn't much noise in our place. The spin cycle on the washer/dryer in the kitchen is the most nuisance we cause as far as I know. :)
I don't mind a nice carpet but they are cat hair magnets. I abhor drapes and curtains, they are definitely not our style.


Thanks everyone for all the nice comments!

Cheers,
Avery

Im inspired by the eating area. Love the pendant lamp (unsure of the name) it really compliments the space. Congrats!

Hi Avery,
Your house rocks! I loved the green Buddha sculpture. May I ask where you bought that from? Many thanks in advance,
Cenk

Hi Avery, great apartment, love what you've done to the place. Please may I ask where you got the multi-coloured spiky clock from that's in your dining room?

Cenk, we got the Buddha bank (coin slot behind his head) at Mxyplyzyk in Greenwich Village. You can find it on their website at www.mxyplyzyk.com under kids and pets. It comes in a few different colors and poses.

Neil, That is the George Nelson Sunburst Clock in multicolor made by Vitra. You can find it at MOMAstore.com, DWR, hivemodern.com and many other stores online.

Trammel, The pendant lamp is Le Klint 172 by Poul Christiansen. We agonized over finding the right pendant for the space. Thanks for the compliment!

Dunny collection! yay! I love your space.

9 months and how many $? Just curious how much it ended up running you. I'm looking at places right now with my wife and they all seem to need a gut job like yours.

Your home is amazing! I absolutely love it. What a skillfull and restrained hand you have. I love your happy pops of art in your simple decor. Your place is truly happy, cozy and sophisticated. Great job.

I am not a pet lover per se, but I found it intriguing how you built their environment into yours seamlessly. It is remarkable how the cat's appurtenances are works of art. Thanks for sharing.

Good job guys!

Where did you get that media console? I have been searching for one that would fit in my diminutive living room...

Love it!

Mark

Hey Avery,

Congratulations, your bathroom is beautiful and I love the tiles used for the backsplash. I hope my bathroom turns out as beautiful as yours when I use the tiles:)

Nice renovation overall but I have to agree with other posters who comment on lack of originality. Sorry to sound so negative but most of your choices are one big cliche and ultimately it plays like a sophmore architect school students idea of how to decorate a first apartment. The lack of floor covering must be torture for neighbors, especially after enduring 9 months of construction. I would be curious to see if the space evolves if you implement some original ideas.

We recently installed Pietra Cardosa countertops in our kitchen but we're finding that they stain easily. What did you use to seal yours? Are you happy with how they are holding up?

Laura, The installer sealed them for us and we haven't had any problems. Are you cutting directly on the counters?

stefan, apology accepted. I wish you luck in becoming more positive.

coco, thanks, hope you enjoy them.

Mark, the credenza is from Ikea. I don't recall the model name. It is 59" wide and about 18" deep. Inside we store dvds, books, and electronics (iPod HiFi, Network printer, cable box, DVD player). To keep heat low from all the electronics I vented the back of the cabinet with a hole saw.

Peggy, THANKS!

Lenny, I'd rather not share raw number but we basically spent another 25% of the purchase price on improvements. We also rented an apt. while the major construction was underway. It wasn't cheap but we ended up with a place that would have been beyond our price range if someone else did the work prior to our purchase.

Cheers,
Avery

Thanks for sharing your home! We are about 1/2 way done with a kitchen redo. We also took our old plaster walls down to the studs, rewired electricity, added lighting, etc. Like you, we're doing most of the labor ourselves to save money. It's inspiring to see someone who finished and survived to live happily in the space. We can definitely relate to the comment about taking a toll on your personal time and relationship.

For us, the messy part is mostly done and we can see the kitchen taking shape. A few more sacrificed weekends and we'll be able to enjoy.

Congrats on your space!

Looks fabulous.

Where did you get the standing mirror in your bedroom? I may have missed it but I don't see it written anywhere. Thanks!

Jack, the mirror is the Hovet mirror from Ikea $99.99, a bargain compared to modern mirrors that are smaller and look pretty much the same.

Cheers,
Avery

I think your greatest genius is facing the side of the kitchen cabinet with slate. It provides a seamless transition from the counter to the floor in a way one never sees. Did you seal the slate? Also, the wiring in the kitchen cabinet is beautiful. THAT'S how a wired box should look, but never does. They ususally look like a rat's nest of wires. Congratulations!

AmyChicago,
Thank you thank you thank you!!

We also love the results of the slate sides. The stone cutter was a little worried about fitting the pieces together with a 45 degree miter cut but it came out beautifully.
Yep, the slate is sealed, it was done by the installer and we are very pleased.

I did the wiring hubs myself after the electrician pulled all the cable and hooked up the outlets in each room. I learned a lot, got a few new tools, and actually enjoyed it.

Cheers,
Avery

Could you tell me the shades and name brands of paints you used on the walls througout? It looks like a gray-white with white trim. Matte, semi gloss, gloss?

RCMSLC,
We used Benjamin Moore "white" not any of their several "_____ white"s just plain old "white". I can get the numbers if you have trouble finding it. Matte everywhere except semi-gloss on the trim.
Cheers,
Avery

Job well done --- very well done --- but I love French doors, so would have kept them in place... also loved seeing the kitties!

Love your space. I've seen the wall calendar before but didn't know who made it. My husband and I just got married in May, and it actually gave me the idea to have May 2007 framed for our new house; problem is that the calendar is sold out for 2007. If anyone has the 2007 calendar and doesn't throw away their old months and has May, I'd love to buy it from you. jaauxter at hotmail dot com. Thanks!

How did you address environmental concerns in your renovation?

I couldn't believe some of the negative comments- your space is absolutely beautiful, Avery! So you used some catalog pieces- they are still chosen by you and thus reflect your taste and style. And it's a place you can grow and explore and experiment as you see fit. For version 1.0, I would say you did a brilliant job!

The plaster walls in our home are one of my very favorite things, yes, they take some care to restore, but I love them when they're finished (ours came wallpapered with more then one layer!!). They have such a different feeling then sheetrock, not just how the paint looks on them, but how sounds sound in the rooms. Viva la difference, huh?

Congrats on finishing your reno.

regards,
trillium

Nice apartment but I'm afraid that I must sneak into it some night and steal your kitties! Watch out! I just LOVE black and white cats! Yours look like big sweeties.

I recently had this same problem when renovating my loft in Tribeca, when a real estate agent friend of mine gave me the number of a contractor he knew. It was difficult for me to believe that a "20 something" had the experience to handle the job, but now I'm a believer. He's excellent and has excellent references. He gave me a fair price and did perfect work. I've given his name to all of my friend. I recommend anyone in need calls him. His name is John Wilson and his number is 610-509-2794. Tell him Tovah sent you. Good luck!

I couldnt see the answer within the replies, but definitely point me in the right direction if possible - I love the white paint in your home, do you mind posting the Brand # colour if possible? It's exactly what I'm looking for. Love the house tour!

Great renovation! I love how edited it is and that is the beauty of just starting out in home ownership. I had the Malm bed and head board in my Miami condo and loved it. Only down side was that I would hit my shins against the side occasionally and I wish they had the foresight to put drawers underneath it.

Textiles take time to figure out, esp rugs. I do agree though that if someone lives below you, rugs help cut down the foot traffic noise. I was tortured by inconsiderate neighbors above me in Miami Beach (built in 1949). I could hear them walking at all hours in boots and heels and all the creaking! It was a nightmare.

Bravo on your creative solutions to undercabinet lighting, kitty litter and cat hair in general (black furniture...so smart with black cats)

You can sit back and say Ahh...the worst is over...don't kick yourself about the windows...it's hard to think of everything esp the first time! There should be a special design degree/certification for DIY home renovation ; )

Some things just can't be taught in design school and life experience is one of them.