Name: Cedric
Location: Chelsea
Size: 700 sqft.
Favorite element: That the apartment has one extra room
>> Enter Slideshow with Captions!
>> See All Pics at Once
Cedric is a gregarious fellow who founded and still organizes the US Air Guitar Championships when he's not being an ad exec., so when I heard that he had bought an apartment and renovated it, I really didn't know what to expect. I walked in, pleasantly surprised to find a very subtle space, dignified in a somewhat old-world sense...
A showcase for those who transform their residences into homes
via innovative intervention
Do you have an idea for a house tour? Let me know! jill@apartmenttherapy.com
For all House Tours, click here!
Cedric embarked on a rather large task with no prior experience. With the help of friends of friends who happen to be colorists, architects, and contractors, Cedric transformed what he referred to as "a dump" in 3 months.
At first the details kept him up at night and then he learned to enjoy it. In that he had a wonderful contractor, in whom he could trust, he never had to deal with all of the subcontractors involved. Now that the process is over, Cedric says, "I love my apartment. It is one of the most satisfying things I have done."
Cedric was intent on "preserving the old aspects" of his 1927 two bedroom apartment. So he skimmed all the walls, replacing some moldings to match the original, and restored the original floor and wall bathroom tiles. In the living room, however, he removed the upper molding that breaks up the wall in order to give a feeling of maximum expanse. It works! Minimizing the color palette also serves to emphasize the spaciousness of this 700 sq/ft apartment.
It was a thrill to witness Cedric's enthusiasm for his new apartment and for his poured concrete kitchen counter in particular. In fact Cedric had already amassed a small arsenal of home renovation humor that he was happy to share. "In the rest of the country on a Saturday afternoon, men are standing in their driveways waxing their cars, here in New York, the Chelsea boys are waxing their concrete countertops." (It is recommended that one wax concrete to increase shine and stave off cracking.)
Originally posted April 14th, 2005
Once they, themselves, have had a thorough waxing.
Bikini?
love this place, why? not overly "done" ie- doesnt have that decorated look. But looks like the bones are absolutley meticulus. When you have good bones you can put a folding chair in the room and it looks like a sculpture in a chelsea gallery.
i love the transoms and the "get your war on" artwork!
"the mackin' fresh captions!"??? Maxwell, there is nothing funnier than a white WASP trying to talk street! ;) you be hangin' in Bushwick?
That coffee table is so awesome. Glad to hear it's in the "Keep" pile!
love this place. looks great and looks like somebody actually lives there, but without being sloppy or overly cluttered. i just can't bring myself to like any apartment that doesn't have books in it.
i love this place. love it!
d*s
love this place.
wow I'm in love with the kitchen area and a lot of the decor =D I agree with jako and anna about the lived in look- very comfy but stylish, and has a lot of personality (almost as much as Cedric seems to have ;D)
V. nicely done. I have a question about the shower curtain on the hospital track. Does a normal curtain still work? Or is it too short? I have thought about doing something similar, but then a custom-made extra-long shower curtain would be needed... I think. If you have a secret source or solution -- pls share.
(p.s. Love the new captions. Worth slowing down the slide show speed to enjoy.)
If there were more bachelor pads like this, I have a feeling there would be a lot fewer eligible bachelors out there. Well done.
As for the shower curtain, it all depends on how high your ceilings are. Cedric used a regular curtain and it just brushed the top of the tub.
Concrete counter tops..I had no idea
It works so well with the SS appliances.
The concrete countertop is really cool and works well in the kitchen. (Big ups for no clutter in the kitchen.)... Hospital track is a good thing.
is this the first small apt dweller we had had the pleasure to see as well as the pad? Kudos for appearing Cedric!
I am sure cedric appeared so to maximize the potential of his beautiful apartment profile performing double duty as a mega personal ad. with such a great place and his swinging chelsea location, i am sure cedric will find the man of his dreams soon
Very nice. I'm getting some ideas for my new space, actually.
As far as the shower curtain length, I'd imagine you could take care of it from the other end, making the clips/rings/etc. that you attach it to a bit longer. Just my 2c.
I've also seen regular-length shower curtains used on hospital track when ceilings were high, by using chain to extend the gap between ceiling track and top of the shower curtain. Kind of a cool effect that lets more light in.
Between that coffee table and the color of the concrete/stainless steel, you have an amazing jumping-off point for a total "non-color color palette". As Jako mentioned, great bones (meticulously done!). Can't wait to see your future choices in furniture. I know I would love to furnish a place like this.
This post was super inspiring (first time I've seen implementable ideas for my impending 2BR redesign). I loved the palette, kitchen, bathroom tile (yum!), and prewar things. I've been struggling with wanting to keep the spirit of my prewar apartment but having it blend well with modern furniture and kitchens.
And, Cedric is way cute!
I think this feature should be called "Voyeur"!! In a good way!
i could move in and live happily ever after as is...good job cedric
p(too) you are so outrageously funny and quick too!
Good thing about concrete is that it has the strengths of materials like granite (impervious to heat so you can place hot pans on it, long lasting, no peel, etc) but it can be cheap to do yourself. Taunton press (they do fine homebuilding mag) were the first to come out with a DIY book on concrete counter tops a couple of years ago. With the correctly designed and built form you can even add things like drain grooves into the sink.
BTW, I like this place a lot for many of the reasons already cited.
what kind of dishwasher is that?? it looks like it would solve my dishwasher dilemma! please share. pleaseohpleaseohplease.
Dishwasher = Fisher & Pykel
httpcolon// usa.fisherpaykel.com/kitchen/dishdrawers/dishdrawers.cfm
Can be installed as single drawer or two drawers one on top of the other. Saves water (do a half load in one drawer only) and/or space (if you only go for one drawer)
The thing that impresses me is that there is space to fit a gas cook top above it!
oops
fisher & paykel
Very, very nice. I want to see the comic strip on the dresser!
I like this place--but am I the only one who doesn't love it? it looks great, but the only colors in the entire apartment are tan, brown, white, chrome and red. There's a little light blue here and there, and nothing else but book-binding color. I personally couldn't live in a place without complimentory colors. It's comforting, but too comforting, a little bland.
That half-coated naked bulb! So cool. Prehaps I'm an idiot, but I want one. Where can I get one?
Where is the oven in this kitchen???
I'm not sure I agree that this place has no color. They're not bright, they're not deep, but the colors of the "shell" of this space, and some pieces Cedric hopefully will keep (the table, the maps, the air guitar poster) all have color that, in such a neutral (but elegant) envelope, will really go a long way. Besides, I have a feeling HE is the most colorful thing in the place. Why compete with the furniture?! ;)
Uh oh, do I have to become Shannon (the other one)? I love Cedric's apt. The color palette reminds me of one of Maxwell's color chips from the wintertime, the snow with red boots and brown grasses and something pale blue peeking out. Color can be constricting.
LOL patrick(too).....great point!
my experience in finding things such as half-coated bulbs, (which I have in my bathroom as well) is to search out small hardware stores and other small supply shops that have been around for more than a few years... I cannot complain more about big-box stores such as home depot, how surprised I am visiting the neighborhood hardware store the day after a disapointing late night trip to Home depot only to find exactly what I was looking for at the 1500 sq foot hardware store around the corner. I do like the Home Depot Design Center, drove about 2 hrs to find one, where I bought my awesome Brabantia kitchen trashcan, which I am in love with-looking all stainless and Italian.
charlene, go to www.mnftiu.com to see "Get Your War On" also several other great strips by a brillian guy whose name I keep forgetting
i meant "brilliant"
So sorry Shannon, you were here first. I'll be shannob.
It's very tasteful, just a little too muted for me.
I hope he doesn't get rid of the comfortable-looking red chair.
Oh! Thanks Martha!
I think the colors are actually quite rich. They are used well and with a lot of depth.
i love this apartment. best i've seen. well done, Cedric.
Who was your contractor? I'm looking for one and whomever did yours did a great job!
This place looks fantastic; the hospital curtain is fantastic, and I think it would also make a great room divider in a loft space, as well.
But it seems a tad confusing to put this kind of "feature" piece on here at the same time as that coolest, smallest contest is going on -- it wasn't immediately obvious to me that this wasn't trying to be an entry.
I really like this apartment. I love the coffee table! Very nice juxtaposition of rustic and urban.
I love the blue/white shower curtain and its tie-in to the utensil holder in the kitchen.
Where is the shower curtain from?
This is a space I would LOVE to help furnish (hint, hint...)
Cedric,
I am amazed at your care in restoration and at your impeccable choices in not using chair rails while using moldings. My feeling is that you've got the bones down and that anything you do to this apartment in the future will be successful.
Would you share information on your tile guy and whether he was expensive? I need to do SOMETHING about my bathroom--but I'm in a rental so I must keep costs down.
Truly--KUDOS! I can easily imagine this gone completely awry, and instead you've got a masterpiece.
Love the transoms, and the wonderful light!
The hospital track is an excellent idea for shower curtains. Where is the best place to get them ... Home Depot? Thanks.
I got mine through a place called CurtainFair.com.
Quirky guy but great prices and he knows his stuff.
Oh, the growing pains of a wonderful website! Looks like I may now need to call myself "Curtis (the first one)" or something, because we have yet another Curtis?
By the way, VERY nice job here, Cedric. I love the idea that you can do a chic, gorgeous concrete countertop in a small space.
Um, Curtis, time to take your Gingko Biloba.. I think those were your comments from a year ago, no?!
P2-
Well, I thought the whole dang post looked familiar, actually, but I didn't notice where it said "first posted..." until you just said that.
Well, feeling like an idiot is not exactly virgin territory for me, so there's kind of a limit to how embarassed I feel about this.
The backsplash is genuis.
oops -- "genius"
Curtis--
We love you anyway! :)
am curious -- why the reruns of the house tours?
Wow! This is the 3rd posting of this house tour - and just as I thought the recycling of AT content was over.
view Downeast Suzy's profile
I love that glass backsplash idea.
I am, however concerned about heat around it.
Might be a good idea to specify the right type of glass here.
(I don't know the specs).
I used white (mac tac) vinyl to match the white wall around my stovetop.
Also the fung shui experts believe that a mirror behind the stove top is a good move.
Anyways, a beautiful apartment and essay.
view paulmuscat's profile