apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


NYT: Inhabiting without Decorating

4-25-cpw1.jpg

Good Bones are Enough. Architects Tom Killian and Françoise Bollack have lived in the El Dorado at 300 Central Park West for sixteen years. Their modest apartment is Letting the Architecture Speak for Itself. The walls are white and nothing is nailed to the walls...

 
 

We like this description: Its living room is 24 feet 1 ½ inches long and 14 feet 11 inches wide — a length-to-width ratio very close to that of the golden rectangle, believed by architects, at least since the Renaissance and perhaps as far back as ancient Greece, to produce the most pleasing proportions.

4-25-cpw2.jpg
4-25-cpw3.jpg
4-25-cpw4.jpg

We're totally jealous of the terrace! Check out the slideshow for more images.

(Photographs by John Marshall Mantel)

Tags

inspiration

Related Links

Share

Comments (14)

Okay, bearing in mind that I like white walls... a subtle color, maybe a lighter version of the gold on the sofa and in the Bonal poster, would showcase that great fireplace and give a beautiful tailored line to the shallow soffit that runs around the room, without making color the star or interfering with the natural play of light in the room.

posted by wende in the twin cities on April 25th 2007 at 5:21am
view wende in the twin cities's profile

aaron, almost nothing is nailed to the walls, there is artwork in the 1st photo hanging on the wall.
i'm glad this was posted; here is another way to live, not decorated and uncomplicated. to me it is a classic upperwest side look, the focus is how you live and what you do, not how you look.

posted by patrik on April 25th 2007 at 5:26am
view patrik's profile

As Tom Killian and Françoise Bollack, who are architects and have lived in the El Dorado at 300 Central Park West for sixteen years, approached, they gestured at the framed prints and posters leaning on the wall and said in unison, "the walls of the apartment are white and nothing is nailed to them."

posted by Rick on April 25th 2007 at 5:30am
view Rick's profile

lol

posted by Michael on April 25th 2007 at 5:34am
view Michael's profile

I agree with wende.

posted by beamish on April 25th 2007 at 5:44am
view beamish's profile

It's a gorgeous space, and I like the idea of the "inhabiting without decorating" approach, but I really think a subtle color on the wall would benefit the entire look. And the space does look pretty decorated--well chosen furniture, rugs on the floors, art on the walls (even though they're not nailed), plants on the balcony... but none of that discounts that it's comfortable and nice looking. I'd love to have dinner there, but it's not my type of living space.

posted by kristenasaurus on April 25th 2007 at 6:14am
view kristenasaurus's profile

Undecorated = no nails, no wall color and no curtains?

Because the furniture, art, and rugs seem pretty decorated to me

posted by LaDonnaNichole on April 25th 2007 at 7:02am
view LaDonnaNichole's profile

This *is* decorated, I agree.

Their schtick, to me, is just architect's pretention. Cuz, um, how is living the way they describe any different than like, 99% of all renters in New York?

With the exception of that terrace, that is!

posted by patrick (the other one) on April 25th 2007 at 7:31am
view patrick (the other one)'s profile

Oh, for half of that terrace...

posted by Tatyana on April 25th 2007 at 7:41am
view Tatyana's profile

Fantastic apartment, great terrace, and I appreciate that the owners don't feel the need to replace/update everything, and don't waste energy on a/c (that was in the article).

But how pretentious!

posted by kristine on April 25th 2007 at 7:50am
view kristine's profile

Yeah, right, A/C is destroying the world. How simplistic. What about those single hung uncovered windows? Imagine the energy that escapes from those 9 months out of the year. Although, I do find them goodlooking.

posted by Kurt on April 25th 2007 at 8:28am
view Kurt's profile

I was just at a dance at The LGBT Center this weekend, and I hope Ms. Bollack is not the reason there was little or no air conditioning inth ebuilding she reshaped.

A/C was GREATLY needed. I likes me some sweaty men, but LORD!

posted by patrick (the other one) on April 25th 2007 at 9:08am
view patrick (the other one)'s profile

the golden rectangle, no obligations, no presumptions and definativly no expectations.

history and Leave no trace.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burden_of_proof
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pack_it_in%2C_pack_it_out

posted by ion/?/ on April 25th 2007 at 6:55pm
view ion/?/'s profile

Oh this is too funny! - so all of us who have artwork propped against the wall because we haven't yet got around to hanging it are actually quite hip for not "decorating" our places?? - purleese! - what a lame excuse for not doing DIY!

But I absolutely ADORE their kitchen

posted by Violetsrose on April 26th 2007 at 3:30am
view Violetsrose's profile

Feeds

RSS icon New York

+ City Feeds