apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Love:

--Paint chip border.
--"Built in" red shelves.
--Change buckets.
--Creativity of the various forms of open storage. (Not Me because I can't deal with the visual clutter of seeing "stuff," but uber-impressive as inspiration.)

Naveen -

Thanks - that red is Benjamin Moore's "RYAN RED", #1314. Bejamin Moore's current color collection is called "Color Preview," but Ryan Red comes from the "Classic Collection." The paint FINISH I used was Regal Matte: this is a fabulous finish because it gives the velvety look of a flat paint, but has the wearability & washability of a gloss, :) I used 2 coats, but in person some blotchyness can be seen, although it's subtle. So I'd recommend 3, yep, 3 coats.

Wow. Is Phyllis the bohemian second-cousin of our Curtis? Wildly different styles, but the same singular strength of vision, and similar attention to detail and the narrative behind the design choices... Really liking the reading area and the bedroom. (But why is the Moroccan tea table placed on top of the low bamboo side table in the reading nook?) I'd almost like to see the walls of the bedroom draped in a bold fabric to replicate the inside of a desert cabana/tent--to make it feel even more cozy and womb-like.

I just love that the look is pure Rhoda and her name is Phyllis.

Thanks, Wende!

Phyl's apartment may not be huge, but you'd never know it going inside it. It's like being in several rooms at once, all tastefully decorated that blend together in her studio. She is the QUEEN of paint picking!

Hey, Enrique, funny ya should mention Curtis! So did Jill. I guess he's a kindred decorating spirit.

And I LOVE your idea about doing the drape-y, tent-ish look to make it more "womb-like." Some people might wonder how I could sleep in such a tiny bedroom, but it is not at ALL claustrophobic, just very cozy! You've definitely given me food for thought! Think I'll trot over to ABC Carpet & Home & check out "The Silk Trading Company" store (which is on/within ABC's premises) and check out some silky panels...

Oh, the reason I have the tiny table on top of the bamboo one is: guess it's hard to see in the photo, but on the top table I have candles and an incense burner, which I prefer to have separate and apart from my cup of tea which I keep on the bottom table when I'm reading the Sunday papers.

Love love love the napkin rings on the wall, mirrors behind the sink and stove (might steal that idea!), and coins in diff. buckets! Love it!

Phyl,
Thanks for the invite to look at your "new" apt. I love it. You've done a wonderful job with your space. I would love to drop by again. LOL Enjoy.
Dympna

Phyllis. You burn incense? A friend just gave me some really great incense that I love--scented "burning sticks" from Voluspa (www.voluspascandles.com). The scents that I have are Italian Tangelo and Lemongrass from their basic black-label line. The sticks have a smoother, cleaner burn than traditional incense--still as aromatic, but with a purer scent. You should give them a try.

Enrique, yes, I am constantly burning incense and candles - thanks for the tip-off about the site, :) I would definitely like to check out this purer type incense.

Nice! It's good to see all the little details that make your place yours... Thanks for sharing.

I put up light beaded viney looking decorations in my bath and added in little bird ornaments... I think I bought both at ABCs post-christmas sale...

Phyllis! My mum just showed me this and it is awesome. I love your apartment and I hope that I get to see it aswell as you very soon. Love the photos!! =DD

Love,
Gabby

Would you believe that I actually did once glaze a corridor and dining room in a very similar way to that Tuscan area you have going on?

Yes, I am quite the paint freak (so to speak) too.

Hey, if you want to take that lavender bedroom even farther into Morocco, you might have a look at rollerwall.com and try to ONLY look at the actual patterns, and not the sample rooms they have on their site, which will scare the hell out of you. Because you might really enjoy painting a pattern on there, or maybe more than one.

What? More than one? Like if you put one pattern in either a barely contrasting color, or perhaps just a different finish in the same color (egg-shell finish lavender over matte-finish lavender) so that it looks like some kind of woven damask-ish thing, and then a different color with yet a different pattern on it. Methinx you would love love love it. Plus you would be designing it yourself, so to speak, as you go.

Regardless, I would probably paint the wall behind the bookcases the same red color as the bookcases, though to make them feel even more builtin, I think.

Very groovy pad!

Curtis, methinx you are right, right, RIGHT! I just visited rollerwall.com and it is awsome! Oh, man, I am so excited & totally turned on! And I told Jill that I was "retired from painting." Yeah, RIGHT! The entire wall behind the bookcases IS red; where I got lazy was the old bookcases themselves: I didn't paint the complete insides of them... but one day I will.

You and all the posters here (thanks again, to one and all) are chock full of fabulous ideas, and I'm definitely open to suggestion! What a wonderful site this is, and what a wonderful community we are (kudos to US!) I guess it's true: decorating gets me hotter than a human, regardless of gender! And it DOES keep me warm at night, :)

Phyllis, your new look is as beautiful as before! I love it!

I LOVE the apartment, and as someone looking (and looking!) for the right shade of red for my kitchen, Id really appreciate info on the paint name/brand, and how many coats it took for that yummy color on the bookshelf walls! Thanks so much..

Phyllis,
I was searching docorator's stuff and just happened on this site. I envy you....I would live in a closet just for your view. AWSOME!!The color on your living room walls is smashing. What is the color and technique? Just what I am looking for. Lizz

Hey Lizz, thanks. I started with a warm taupe as the base color: Benjamin Moore's "STONE HOUSE", #1039, and then I "shmushed" on - well, rubbed on would be more accurate, using a regular ol' kitchen sponge, 4 other colors, separately, ALL mixed with glaze. The other 4 colors: one was Benjamin Moore "SEMOLINA", #2155.40; a metallic rust-colored paint (can't remember the name), another metallic that was a kind of terra cotta, and also used a bit of the red from the red wall, Benjamin Moore's "RYAN RED", #1314.

But the important thing about doing such these color treatments is that there really are NO rules: you can combine whatever colors and techniques YOU want!

Love the complementary colors of the decorative pillows!

we have a peter play pal that needs a girlfriend and a home - if you want him peter is all yours free of charge just pay the shipping from boston and the new couple can live happily ever after
thanks

Jon,
There was a PETER Playpal? Never knew that! I have friends in the area - actually, they live in Middleboro. But perhaps when I visit them, I could "adopt" Peter and bring him back to NYC so he could hang with Patty? Thanks, :)

You're the girlfriend I'd leave my husband and 3 kids for to have a groovy weekend. Love it.

I'd come and help paint your bathroom ceiling. (a flattering burgandy red?) Just a gut feeling from a kindred 'paint-freak' spirit. Lush it up in there too.

You're so organized! Impressive.

I love everything about this apartment. Phyl is fearless!!

Phyllis! You are the BEST!!! I lurve, lurve lurve your place!

FINALLY...someone here that shares my own design asthetics. What's more...the audience, for once said nothing about "clutter".

You GO GIRL!!!

Groovy! Great Ideas!!! I may steal a few...... :-)

I can't be the only one who doesn't like this...

no you're not sadia... i don't get it at all

i'm with sadia and Anna Toy!
i feel suffocated even by looking at it.

Agreed. I looked at the house tour before i looked at the comments and thought, "they probably ripped this woman apart." Surprisingly it was very complementary. I'm all for the moroccan vibe, but this goes a little too far for my taste. It's like the inside of a theme restaurant. And I know that we shouldn't have to sacrifice just because we live in small spaces...but girl, do you REALLY need five round brushes? or six zillion kitchen utensils, candles, hair clips...? less is more!

The AT audience is generally very kind and encouraging. There is usually an abundance of compliments for very little attempt and an avalanche of admiration for really tasteful ideas and projects. And then some entries...draw a polite silence or couple of "trying to not be critical" comments. i figure that is an established culture of this respectful gathering. This house tour.... Thanks to three fellows with last comments. I started to worry.

I'm pretty sure theis is Rhoda's apartment....Are you sure this is Phyllis's? I remember Rhoda living upstairs from Mary, and Rhoda downstairs.

i really don't like it. but if the person is happy living there then that's great.
but it just looks really tacky to me! sorry.

i never thought it was possible for every single thing you own to look out-of-place in a living space...i am proven wrong by this post.

i say yes to the narrow table in the kitchen and no to hair clip trees.

Phyll, you have some serious talents! Way to go!

Oh yeah... I do the same thing with my coins! But instead of buckets, I use a bunch of thrift store/yard sale wine decanters.

you guys are too kind.