apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Interesting apartment. I love the stenciled floors.

As for the fur balls.....yuck.

Ummmmm, don't invite me over to eat on the cat's-ass table. Thanks.

Love the fur balls. What a concept. Also love the stenciling on the floors. I like the space too, but need to click through the pix again, since I was so focused on the cats, the furball, and the stencils, that I didn't take a great look at the space itself!

I thought everyone was talking about the "furball cats" before I looked at the other photos. Yuck! I always comment that I could make something out of all the cat hair that my huge long haired cat sheds but seriously.. eww!

Aside from that, lovely place. I really like the stencils on the floor and how they look like they may have rubbed off over years of use or something. Adds character and age.

The character of this space is amazing. The colors are just... wow.

Any other Farkers here? Seeing that cat on the table brings to mind a wonderful thread.

I found it hard to get a sense of the apartment from these photos. It came across as a kind of haphazard empty space with some stuff tossed in it. Maybe it's more together in person?

The furballs gross me out. Seriously.

This is a marvelous space and I love the way you have made it casual and personal and not over-decorated it. and being a cat fan I wish you good luck with the Fur Project!

I really like the yellow and orange curtains against the monotone couch/floor/walls. The pillows further pull it together.

As for the cat fur balls... they kind of remind me of this web site I saw a while ago where this guy collected his bellybutton lint for ten years and had something like five jars full of it.

There used to be a newsletter called Tightwad Gazette that was compiled into a book by the same name, which presented ways to hold onto a buck, including a lot of DIY projects. A major thing for that writer was what to do with dryer lint, which she thought was a shame to throw away. As I recall, she did a lot of kids' projects with it.

Ha, ha! I got confused for a second there. I was looking at the slide show thinking I was looking at Kimhasfivecats! Seriously Liz, I wish I had a friend like you, you are too cute and you look happy, interesting and very comfortable with yourself.

I love your place, but it is too messy for my taste, but what do I know? That's only my humble opinion. I'd like to see it cleaned up and more organized. I really love the yellow curtains, and may steal that idea, they look very sunny.

I truly understand the dilema of to hang art or not? I love so much art, but hate cluttered walls, and I have great architecture in my old building so feel like that's art in itself. I often opt to prop my art on shelves and on the floor, that way I can change it easily.

Thanks for sharing. You made me smile even though I also think the cat fur thing is yucky. Your idea for recycled art is a good one, though.

I love the furballs! I think they're fun and I don't even like cats.

OK in the photo of the stones in the bowl did anyone notice a tiny white mouse head top right? Is this a pet or an interloper? Or have I just had too much christmas candy?

ahahaha, yes. there is a mouse near the bowl! it looks suspiciously like one of the toy mice our kittens bat around so i'm thinking he's not real?

I love the Fur Project. Having just lost my own orange tabby cat very suddenly, I now wish I had more of his fur around to memorialize him. Just the other day, I pulled a book out of my bag, and there was one lone orange hair peeking out. I lifted it up to the light, held it, and now it's taped to my desk. I felt like Heath Ledger at the end of Brokeback...."Seamus, I swear...."

Ya, I have 4 cats (not 5 anymore :( ) and if I collected their fur (never) my furball would be HUGE. But that's gross.

I love the furballs! What a unique and creative idea! I'm surprised so many people are grossed out by them - if it's fur from your own cat, who you love like family, it shouldn't be that disgusting... and this is coming from someone who's never owned a pet in her life. :) Thanks for sharing your apartment, Liz!

This is the kind of person that gives cat owners a bad name. So gross!

I love the space though, but I couldn't be in the same room with those hairballs, it's like a house of horrors!

I love the space. It reminds me of the ceramics studio I used to squat in when I was in college.

As for the furballs...it's no different than having felted wool laying around your house. I have a ziploc full of my cat's hair (he's a persian). I was hoping to get enough to have a few of skeins of yarn spun out of it so I could knit an afghan. But, that's a lot of hair. Maybe I'll just make a furball.

Anyone have a source for those gorgeous orange curtains? Or something similar, they are so vibrant in that light!

I'm quite puzzled about how grossed out people are by the furballs. I think they're great. They're just naturally falling out fur. (Personally, I'm grossed out by cowhides, pony skins, leather furniture...things from dead animals, rather than these very present cats.) I'm surprised the furballs are so cohesive.

I like this space a lot. It looks like a great live and work space and a great space for the kitties. I love the large storage cabinets. I wish I could see more of the moving art walls--that sounds intriguing. I too like the curtains. Oh and the windows. And the sheer vast feeling of the space.

I would wish for more grandly-sized furniture instead of the small size of some things, like the coffee/magazine table, to match the grandly-sized space. More along the lines of the large worktable in the kitchen.

That jewelry cabinet thing--I wouldn't be able to look at that ever, much less every day. Sorry. It must be very special to Liz.

I love the Fur Project! Serious question here: for the folks who are grossed out, how are the fur items different from wool items found in many homes, or leather for that matter?

I think it's a fantastic way to make art from materials in every day life.

People are funny. I was grossed out by the "if it's yellow let it mellow" philosophy but I LOVE the furballs. My biggest fear is that people won't eat at my house because I failed at training my cats to stay off the table and/or counter, and therefore I constantly clean them.

The loft looks like the ones I used to see in movies as a kid that made me want to live in New York. Love it.

This space has some great things going for it (the views, the high ceilings) but I am baffled by this trend of keeping all your junk out in the open, stacked up in piles and spilling across tables and littering shelves. Who wants to look at giant stacks of office mess and clutter? Why would you want all the miscelaneous kitchen stuff and ugly packages out in the open?

Some cabinets or built in storage would make a huge difference. Speaking for myself, it seems like it would clear your mind and help you to focus if there wasn't visual chaos everywhere. I know people must like this look because I see it everywhere, but it would drive me nuts. It's not this place specifically I'm railing on, it's the trend in general. (I blame those faux-bohemian settings in the tv show "Friends!")

There's a cat's ass on the table. A cat's ass. On the table. In the kitchen. Where people eat. A cat's ass.

Nobody else sees it? Am I the only one??????????

The fur is great--I have to admit that I ran into some fluff from my childhood poodle in a book the other day, and promptly got teary.

GIANT balls of it though? I don't know...

Do you wash the cat hair before forming into balls? Just curious.

she eats lemons -

Wool is scoured with detergents to remove the yolk and impurities such as sand and dust before being made into yarn. Also, the finishing of fabrics made of woolen yarn generally involves several water processes. Even in leather production, the skin is soaked to remove dirt and salt.

Not sure I get the point here. Yes, the raw space is nice - the tall ceilings, the open spaces, the windows, the light - but that has nothing to do with what the occupant has done with the space. Which is not to criticize the occupant outright - I've seen some homes on here of new construction condos that seem like 80% of the WOW factor is the responsibiltiy of the developer they bought the condo from.

I'm more interested in what the occupant DOES with the space to improve its design/ home-iness, etc. In this case, its easy to look cool with such big open raw space. And I don't see what exactly the owner has DONE with that space. It looks like so much clutter and blah crap scattered about in cool looking raw space. There is just so much interesting opportunities to take advantage of the light and opening and to set up the huge voids of space with some interesting volumes that was just no taken advantage of.

The space is cool - what the owner has done with that canvas - eh, not so much.

I have a long haired cat that has to be brushed and if I kept the fur I'd also be keeping everything that gets caught in the fur unless I washed it - maybe her cats are cleaner if they never leave the apartment but I regularly have to trim the bottom area where faeces have become stuck in the cats long fur - I really wouldn't want to keep that for four years in my apartment!!

(and cats can easily be trained not to jump up on tables and work surfaces...)

Other than that I like the bones of this apartment but I do agree that it seems a bit messy in places - but she does say that there is limited storage - I LOVE the quilt on the bed - beautiful needlework!

Violetsrose, that's "faeces" twice in three days from you.

Steve,
Cats have the cleanest asses (arses). Cat owners know. And dogs have the cleanest tongues.

I save up the cat hair in ziploc bags. Then when there is enough, I wash it and card it. I have hand spun a little bit of yarn from my cat, but I don't quite have enough fiber for a whole project, yet.

When I'm combing my cat, I only save the bits that aren't from around the arse end. Quite a bit of my cat is not arse, although my DH would probably disagree. So, I comb in sections. It's pretty easy to save the non-feces hair separate from the other hair. Also, if you're having trouble with your kitty getting messy back there, just clip. That's what I do with my wooly guy.

Great live/work space! Good light, love the floors, interesting stuff to check out all over(without a kitschy or too much stuff cluttered feel). Live/work spaces/lofts of actual working artists are often very different(in appearan\ce & functionality) than the lofts and living spaces of other creative people, and especially different from the living spaces of those who don't do art and create on a day to day basis.

And while I am a cat person myself, I am from the school of "no kitchen counters and tabletops please" but it doesn't matter to me if someone else isn't. Anyway, most people I know do wash their tables and counters regardless of whether or not they have pets. I just don't want an animal that thinks it's ok to jump up(next to or in to)while I'm preparing or eating food.

The cat fur ball is terrific. Why not create from that which is most familiar? And there is art that is made all the time from various body parts of animals and people. I save my cats discarded whiskers(as they turn up here & there around my apt)in a glass jar. And it was quite common in the victorian days to have the hair of a loved one in a locket.

I also am compelled to commment on the "house of horrors" remark about the furballs. Ummm, that's just going a little too far. But maybe it's just a personal issue, with animals, or hair, something like that. I find myself particularly adverse to the pubic hair of others, especially in bars of soap, even if it is from my boyfriend. Too much info? Oh well! Welcome to the reality of life!

"and cats can easily be trained not to jump up on tables and work surfaces..."

You must know a secret that the rest of us do not, because my cats (and most that I've met or known) do whatever it is they wish to do, including sitting and jumping up on areas we'd all prefer they didn't go. Teach us your method, and you shall become a saint! What's that old saying "Dogs have masters, cats have slaves."

I love the space and must tell you I looked through the slide show and clicked on comments to commend Liz for allowing her cats free range of the house. My cats sit on my dinner table and sleep on my counters. That doesn't mean there isn't a frequent wipe down with a clean cloth.

The only thing I find gross is when cat owners keep their kitty litter in the kitchen. The box definitely belongs in the bathroom!

PS - I love pic 25. Even the cat is disgusted by the hairball. LOL

i thought the hair-in-fork 'installation' was gross but i can't get over that giant hairball and hair-rug. its a nice space and all, but ew. no.

I'm in awe of the furballs! About 10 years ago, I remember hearing about a book on how to turn pet fur into yarn, and then how to knit with it. Just googled- pet fur yarn--and woah! Lots of links, including one about a bikini made from dog fur: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/pets/110094

If the fur is clean, I think making scarves, etc. out of pet fur would be environmentally responsible. Why dump it in the landfill when you can wear it?!

The bones of the space are terrific. There's a lot of clutter, though, and that's too bad. Kinda ruins it for me. As for saving fur, that's just gross. My cat and I have an arrangement. She keeps her ass (clean or not) off counters and tables and I kindly dispose of whatever dead bits (fur, whiskers, claws)I might find.

I like the "mess." This is a real live/work space, not a showroom. The hairball made me laugh--not my thing but it didn't gross me out either.

I've trained my cats to stay off the tables and counters when I'm in the room but when I leave all bets are off. That's why I spray the counters and table with a mild bleach solution--which you should do anyway, whether or not you have pets.

I think that I am allergic to the pictures of fur balls.

Liz has a very nice web site.

oh lawd! i can't believe this woman. cat hair ball!? that is so incredibly gross

Hi Lizzie, Do you remember me? We went to high school together. What a wonderful surprise to come across you and your inventive living space on this website.

Your cats are lovely, and it's a brilliant idea to memorialize their fur (if you need more I have plenty, btw).

Anyway Lizzie, take care, and great seeing you again, if only by proxy.

...so much potential with so much space. I would suggest creating at least one focal point of drama with color in art, sculpture, furniture piece, view-framing, or something. Right now the energy is just "flying", unsettlingly around the space. I don't think I'd feel comfortable here yet. I 'm not a cat lover, or a clutterbug so I'm not going to say much else. Have fun with the grand space!

I Love The Cat Fur Balls. As the owner of a remarkable cat, who has free reign of my home and bed, I commend you.

I don't know what the big deal is about the fur balls. It's not like they were vomited up or something. Like wool and other fibers, if it's dirty it won't felt. So of course it's clean.

I really like the wideness and openess of the place, love the windows, the high ceilings, the smooth walls, the big dining table.

What I'm missing is some source of "warmth" there. Everything seems so white-cool-ish except for the orange curtains (which I must admit just don't do the trick for me) and some cushions here and there and the clutter. Personally, I would have installed some hardwood-floor-areas, e.g. in the kitchen area or directly under and around the bed - not for the whole place, mind you, just some "hard wood floor islands" quasi. But that's me and tastes differ after all ;) - it's just my feet get kinda cold just from looking at the floor. *LOL* The stencil-patterns Liz created are pretty damn cool though. Very nice to look at!

The cats are very cute. Wish I was allowed to have pets in my place, but no such luck. :( I don't see what's so disgusting about the furballs. *shrugs* I mean, well, people touch money that's gone through the hands of thousands of people they don't know (and probably don't ever want to know in some cases), then go and buy a sandwich or burger or whatever from the street vendor at the corner or whereever and eat with their hands without having a chance to wash them first... but are grossed out by fur balls which were made from probably cleaned and washed cat hair. I don't get it. I think it's a funny idea. *shrugs*

As for the art on walls-problem... try hanging them from the ceiling instead, using wire or if it's a heavy piece of art, fishing line that's up to bearing big weights. Another way to put up art without putting holes into walls or setting it on furniture tops is quite simple actually: just put them on easels. :) Also, using coat racks (like they use in theatres) can be interesting, especially when they got wheels and can be moved around. Just a few ideas...

What is this "warmth" that so many people think is lacking from so many of the homes we've seen? I think AT should do a feature.

Looks like a messy college kid's apartment with hand-me-downs and found furniture. Except for the light coming in, nothing spectacular.

I am owned by two cats. They are not allowed on counters or tables. They understand that the help require certain concessions.

hahah steve, i noticed the "cat's ass" on the table. cats' behinds are NOT sanitary. cute--sometimes. sanitary--hell to the no!
but that aside, this space is great! the concrete floors are gorgeous.

ahhhhhhhhhhh the furballs are back!

I really don't know why I am so grossed out by them. But I really really am :(

i think it's great, although the tony little gazelle doesn't add much. :)

i love the floors. i'd personally want more color, but that's just me. and i don't mind cats or furballs.

I'm with Steve.

Cat on table = GROSS

Why are we seeing this again...?

So we can see the cat's ass on the table again.

liz, i think it's a lovely inspiring place, filled with creative touches.
love your furniture choices. love your textile choices. the storage is great. and the floor stenciling inspired.

am so sick of matchy matchy, every thing in its place, sterile environments. this looks like a space where work and life is happening.

frankly, and unfortunately, i'm over this blog - which i think comes from such a great spirit. but so many of you are just mean. someone invites you into their home, and this is how you respond. shame.

THE CAT BALL 2: THE RECKONING

lol :)

but i'm sure some of these same people will let a dog lick them on the face ...

hell to the no!

I'm sorry, and I really hate to say this because I don't mean to be downright rude, but this apartment is just not attractive to me at all. The "bare" look is not very well executed. It just looks.... well, bad.

The only thing I find gross is when cat owners keep their kitty litter in the kitchen. The box definitely belongs in the bathroom!

My bathroom isnt large enough to house a cat box for two cats therfore the kitchen it is.

I thought we had put this trauma behind us!

this is a very nice APARTMENT I think you applied many steps in the THERAPY manual. IS that a concrete floor? I SECRETLY want 1600 s.f. of space to RUN around in. BY the the way, there are a lot of CATS on this site.

I've looked at these slides about #16 times. Is THE cheese store MURRAY'S near Herald Square?

Doesn't a cat MAKE A furball by vomiting hair that they've licked off their body? They remind me of something in Stimpy's NEST.

That's definately the most original art medium I've seen! When life gives you lemons....

This place is very inspiring to me.
Emos, I so agree with you.

There will never be any agreement between those who have a low tolerance for clutter and those who see clutter as just stuff they need or like. The same goes for those who are grossed out by what they perceive as germy and those who tolerate it or take care of it.

To me, the fur balls are light, airy, and loving. I'd rather see fur released by a living pet than a tanned hide from a slaughtered animal.

And to me, Liz's place is casually beautiful, the home of someone with an eye and love for objects and space, someone for whom things are "allowed" to be. She probably allows her friends to be tired, grumpy, or dishevelled, too.

I am grateful you chose to share your space. Why the repost?

Anyone who can manage to keep a cat's ass off a table, my hat's off to you. (This is why god invented that method stuff you clean with before dinner parties.)

I think the stencils are my favorite part of this apartment. Such beautiful patterns.

Ingrid, I think I agree with you about the fur balls. It helps that her cat's fur looks like lovely variegated yarn.

Trammell, I believe that Monday house tours are always "classic" editions.

One might think this space is cool, quirky or "arty"
It looks like a garbage dump- plain and simple.

Keep the cats off where you eat people - who wants bottom germs next to their dinner plate - if you teach cats from the time you get them not to jump up on tables or worksurfaces they won't do it - its a question of training your pet

Water guns make that lesson quick, Violetrose. Table and food counters are cat free zones in my multi pet home. They have everywhere else to be. Love the fur balls, something slowly accumulating over time is gratifying to me, rubberband balls, fruit stickers etc. I have some beautiful birdnests I found on the ground made of mane hair of horses that have since died and I treasure them for my Christmas tree. We have a pet goat and this is the season to comb out his soft, soft wool undercoat and bag it up. Years from now my son will have a cap from his childhood pet, Suzanne made me laugh, family member hair in soap is so irritating, but I was awed by that gorgeous drawing Rebecca Szeto made with drain hair. See her website if you missed it in a post last week. That has to rank as the most creative use ever of material to produce art. Though the cat hair balls are another inspiring example of seeing the creative potential of lowly materials!
This apartment is beautiful to me. Liz woks here and expends her energy on making art, which requires space, freedom and often making messes. Her photography is her aesthetic statement and her home supports that work. I don't think she is following any kind of decorating trends, just living an accomplished and interesting life. Loved the peek in. Thanks.

If everyone can get passed the cat on the table, the disgusting concept of saving hair balls and whatever other evocative comments have been posted- this hovel is a disgrace. It looks like a homeless person's warehouse. Why on earth would this be placed up on this site? it could not possibly be for the MEDIOCRE photography this person dares to have a link to.

When I saw this, I thought- what a sad, confused and lonely person this must be to gather cat hair in her spare time.

wow spacy, what are you, an ex? it blows my mind that so many people feel the license to be downright mean when someone has given us a glimpse into their life.

i thought the point of these posts was to share and generate ideas. which is what i got out of this lovely post. it reminded me of nyc before developers took over - when artists still lived in soho. (and liz, just between you and me, it reminded me of the great photographer earnst haas' loft, even though it's completely different, and i was there when i was a child.) it reminded me of living with my first boyfriend, a painter. it made me think of paris garrets with their beautiful windows, and then opera of course, and chelsea galleries. and the personal touches made me think of religion, personal connection, travel.

it brought to my mind a much more creative thread than most of the photos we see - when you know people stuffed all their stuff into the closet, and styled the room as if it were an ikea catalogue. personally, i have a more modern aesthetic. but its irrelevant if it's your taste or not. there's still plenty to be gained by seeing how other people live.

there seems to be a certain tyranny that comes with people trying to make their places perfect perfect perfect. (and apparently a certain meanness) i hope that's not what AT is about.

Oooh bitchy!
and I don't want to be passed the cat on the table - I can probably get past it though

I like this apartment - it may not be decorated in exactly my style or be as tidy as some of the others we've seen but its got the most wonderful, relaxed atmosphere to it

and her photography is lovely too - the photo of the child having her hair washed is like a religious icon - she seems to hover in that big black chair - beautiful work

Your space is exquisite, beautiful and inspiring. Thank you for the share.

MY, MY what a space you have! And the last pic should be made into a beautiful b&w poster for sure...love the stenciled floors the bones of the space ect...neat

You do have one of the best collections of chairs/stools I've ever seen! Lovely. I also really like the orange bedspread against the gray, industrial concrete.

The fur balls for sure were NOT the most disgusting element in this house. Revisit all photos, especially the ones with assortments and hand-made stuff and imagine you were not told they belong to an art photographer; what would you think?
Liz, I really hope you have reconsidered since the original posting!

And: I'm a pretty untidy person myself but this thing is something entirely different. I saw one of the readers above mention "trauma".

great space; i love how lived-in-everyday-real-life it is. not down with the hairballs, but to each her own. great asthetic overall.

oh, and the stencilled floors: fabulous.

With that view of the Empire State the rest is just collateral gravy. Wow I love that picture. It is now my screen saver. Thanks. Great space and for NYC the light is magnificent and from what is shown lots of privacy. No brick walls, no peering neighbors. Herald Square a walk from Macy's. I'm getting home sick.

Expatriate in Texas.

I can't understand why people assume that cat owners don't know how protect themselves from cat hairs and germs. Really how presumptuous. I have three cats and they walk all over the place and know when not to jump and a table or counter. Cats are smarter than a lot of people out there believe me. They have to be to live with us and survive! :-)

IF YOU ARE NOT A CAT LOVER DON'T MAKE COMMENTS ON A CAT LOVER'S PLACE. IF I COULD PICK ANY PLACE TO JUST LAND IN, IT WOULD BE THIS PLACE. IF YOU HAVE CATS, BY THE WAY, YOU HAVE CATS IN THE KITCHEN AND YOU'LL LIVE. THIS PLACE IS HEAVEN.

People pleeeez get over it. Just clean the counters, tables, etc. before cooking, eating etc. My cats are cleaner than some humans but I still spray and wipe surfaces.