Name: Silvia and Axel
Profession: architect/musician and architect/sculptor
Location: Financial District
Size: about 550 sf (1000 with a low duplex level) 1-bdrm rental
Years lived in: 2.5
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Silvia is from Portugal and Axel is from Germany. They met in graduate school in Cambridge, and decided to see how it would feel to live in New York City. Smitten by the city, but not blind to its drawbacks, they know they are not here to stay. In the meantime, they have found some great deals on furniture, engaged in some select curbside shopping, and designed and fabricated the rest themselves...
Silvia and Axel do a lot of entertaining, so it was important to have a space that worked for living as well as for hosting events. The brown curtain in the living room is the singular solution. It closes off the room, it hides Axel and Silvia's books and work station, and it creates a warm and plush 'wall' in both directions.
The apartment is a very piecemeal exercise because it is part of a late 19th century utilities structure. In the 1980's, the building was converted in a most haphazzard and seemingly random order, to residential units. It seems like no two units in the building are the same--some taking up two floors, some with many windows, others with one. While Silvia favors the spontaneous--distrusting anything that seems too staged, Axel prefers to arrange things a bit more. This space provides a springboard for each of their approaches to design and when it doesn't, they adapt. Slowly but surely, it has become their home.
AT Survey
Style: contemporary
Inspiration: New York Leftovers
Favorite Element: Table (Bric-a-brac)
Biggest Challenge: Installing and knitting the brown curtain
What Friends Say: spacious
Biggest Embarrassment: Twiggy's pee on the carpet (our dog)
Proudest DIY: ceiling lamp (bric-a-brac)
Biggest Indulgence: cow leather carpet
Best Advice: be inspired by what others throw away
Dream Source: the streets of New York
Originally Posted January 31st, 2007
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Hi, love the dining space.
Where can I get similar dining chairs with the woven seat and back rest?
Great artwork. What is the story behind the large white sculptural piece in the first pic?
I could live there. Love it.
What a beautiful space!!
i like the glass-topped cardboard base table and the suitcases as night stands.
Amei, a "maquetagem" nas paredes ... fantastico! A casa esta fabulosa ... parabens ...
... now in english ...
The house is absolutly amazing ... I loved it
Good Luck, Rui from Portugal
I love that wall sculpture and that chandelier.
Wow I would love to know how to make a similar chandelier - it is wonderful!
What I love about this space is how dramatic it is.
The entire thing reads as though it is on a stage.
Absolutely gorgeous. You have inspired us with the chandelier!
Fantastic! I LOVE that white table with the glass top - where did you get it?
Wow. Looks pretty nice in there, but I see some shelves buckling! You guys should check out the 606 Universal Shelving System by Dieter Rams, could be a nice fit in your space.
Your artwork is amazing!!! I love the texture and simplicity. I love the homemade chadeliers and might be copying your idea. Thanks for sharing.
Re Chandelier - http://www.iamanangelchaser.com/processes/fractal_chandelier/fractal_chandelier.html
Fantastic use of space and found objects. I too gather from the sidewalks of NYC and you have jump-started me onto another "shopping trip". Also inspired me to EDIT again. Your results are simply beautiful. Thank you.
Does someone know where the glass coffee table with white base is from?
Thanks
view ejs's profile
I love seeing the less pristine creative space as well! Seems like the spare areas are only made possible by the creative-work spaces, especially for creative people.
view JG's profile
AC, that is Marcel Breuer's classic "Cesca" chair.
view Anna at D16's profile
Other than the dining room, which looks great, I found this apartment to be depressing and lacking in warmth and character.This is not a bedroom I'd like to sleep in at night nor a living room I'd like to entertain in. sorry, but it's an opinion.
view sammie2's profile
Wow! What an amazing place. The dining area is fantastic! Love the wall sculpture and the light fixture!
view suzy8track's profile
The artsy apartment.
view RobertTheChicken's profile
Devia ser uma escola primaria muito a frente :)...
Gostei!
view ritajoao's profile
It's really wonderful.
And I LOVE that bed - it looks so inviting.
Who did the strip of colour photographs, the ones with animals? They're super-great.
view Jaze's profile
Am I missing something here? This place left me cold, as did the paintings.
view Lori's profile