apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I want to pick up on something that another poster commented on in one of the bedroom threads.

The comments we are getting seem to be from ppl who actually need help when it comes to design rather than ppl who have a good sense of design already and are contributing ideas etc.
I have commented on certain design features in open house slide shows that are quite significant in terms of verring away from the old, established way of doing things and also in terms of what I believe AT stands for - which is to find innovative solutions and designs to address the issues of apartment living - yet no one else seems interested in those comments.
I am not put out at all but found it interesting that ppl would rather comment on color and fans rather than those innovative design and architectural elements that really made a clever use of space.

I will be posting some pics of both "cut in" shelving that I did in the deep wall between rooms (deep because it was where a plumbing stack and duct work was) and also my bathroom so feel free to take me to task over my design sensibilities.

Jamie,
I do agree with you that I love seeing truly innovative, inventive, thoughtful design. But I do also think that part of the challenge of apt. living is that often architectural change is not an option because of non-ownership or finances. Plus, in some of the rooms posted, it doesn't seem like anything esp. innovative would be necessary to make them more attractive. If people need help with furniture placement or color or what to hang on the walls, then talking about something more advanced seems premature. You gotta ride a tricycle before a Vespa.

While there should be comments regarding space utilization for small apartments, I find that style and decor comments are also a great sources of inspiration and ideas for people who are just plain stuck. Getting an outsider's opinion really helps because it's a fresh set of eyes seeing a room for the first time. When you live in it, you don't see the flaws. Having AT readers see it is almost like having a guest come over at your home and having them voice their opinions about your space.

I'd really like to see the shelves you're talking about- I always found them to be great looking. Brave person to do it on the wall with all your utilities, but I guess that's the only option you have. Do they have doors or are they just open for decor?

Jamie,

It seems to me that there's been a pretty even balance between people who need help of whatever kind, and people who have good suggestions, whatever their design sense.

Of course most of us are interested in finding innovative solutions and designs to address the issues of apartment living (okay, maybe not just apartments); probably a large proportion of readers found the blog after that NYTimes article featuring Maxwell's bedroom, which is definitely an innovative solution. But issues related to living space are pretty varied; AT readers and Maxwell have risen to the different challenges admirably.

I agree with Jamie-- I've been kind of surprised by the lack of "grown up" bedrooms... although I REALLY don't mean that as snootily as it probably sounds, I promise!!

As I've said before, it is really awesome (and very moving, in a way) that so many people have "put it out there" on rooms they truly love. THAT'S what it's all really about.

I guess it also has to do with your own expectation of the contest... pure design, or space-saving solutions are two VERY different categories. Not mutually exclusive, tho, but different!

I think most people are here because we want to learn and read other people's opinions, not because we already have the answers. I think this is a blog for people who want to get a great design sense, in all aspects, not necessarily those who went to design school and have their style set (although it is always good to keep learning). Which is why this is a great site. I don't live in NY (Georgia is far, far away) or a 300 square foot apartment, but I enjoy reading about both the innovative design solutions and the color difficulties people may have. No one (or most people) don't have all of the space they want, or the design they want, or the shape, etc. This is a great site (getting better all the time Maxwell, Oliver, Sara Kate, Shannon, and everyone else who contributes). Thanks for providing an inspirational site and Jamie thanks for putting more new ideas out there.

I do the best I can with the limited funds I have. And innovative design usually costs more money than I am willing to shell out for a rental.
And yay another Michele with one "L"--awesome.

MRoman--
Based on your recently posted pics, I think you are doing just fine (better than fine!!!) But I don't agree entirely with "innovative design usually costs more".

Wow, thanks ;)

Wow - great comments!
I didn't want to come off as snooty or antagonistic, but did want to stir up some discussion about a subject that I am interested in, and everyone has responded in the spirit I intended. Thanks

Miya - I will be sending the pics over the weekend (they're on my powerbook - yay for Apple!) but to answer your question, no doors though on the opposite wall I did a similar cut in, mauch larger with an MDF door and hidden european hinges to hide the alarm box and also provide hidden storage.
BTW, boxing around the duct work and pipes, instead of bringing out the dry wall to be level with the largest obstruction, is essentially what I have achieved in terms of safety. Unless you were talking about mistakes when drilling etc that could have led me to puncture a pipe.

Just thought I'd share the new Thom Filicia site--hes from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, I like his stuff, most of the time.
www.thomfilicia.com/index_.html
Especially under Portfolio/Urban/Chelsea Loft.

The talented Thom had one of the best room's at last year's Kips Bay Designer Showhouse.

I think folks pick on surface stuff like colors 'cause they're easy and obvious. But also I think that sometimes innovation is not obvious and it is hard for people to change their way of thinking. I suspect that it is a symptom of a larger problem in society where everything has be be simple, quick and easy. It's something I've been thinking about in another realm-crafting. I'm not going to go into the details of what I've come across in that world, but I think it's just important to recognize that there are folks who are very quick to lean toward the quick and the easy rather than the innovative even when it seems impractical. I hope that made sense.

Ooops, in advance of the apostrophe police, I meant "best rooms". Sorry.

I'm all for innovative solutions, but so often those I see are too specific to a given situation and don't translate well to another space, especially in NY rentals where even painting can be an issue. What first attracted me to this website was the asesthetic MGR displayed on HGTV, not necessarily the specific solutions he used. Many of us do come here hoping to learn more of basic principles to guide us to create more comfortable, functional and attractive apartments not to exhibit our own design skills. Don't get me wrong, I do want to see the innovative solutions people come up with, but I'm not expecting everyone to have all the answers either.

Speaking of a renter of a relatively run-down apartment who isn't moving anytime soon. I think a lot of people look to AT for ideas and inspiration for large and small scale, high and low end, simple and more complex projects...
In my studio rental an "innovative" solution was positioning a hand-me-down wide dresser with a mirror on the back so it divided the space into living and sleeping areas, and buying a plain basic screen in Chinatown to put up against the back of the dresser so someone sitting in my "living room" on the loveseat wouldn't see the back of the dresser.
This solution may seem lowbrow, to someone who lives in a classic 7, or a spacious loft, but in my place and with my financial resources, it was quite the creative solution.
AT appeals to people in all types of living situations because it presents a wide variety of projects, products and ideas.
Somethings I see I think- ooh! I like, or ugh! I don't like, or Ohhh! if only someday I could afford- and that's the fun and learning of it all isn't it?

I meant speaking as a renter of a relatively run-down apartment...

oops.

My apartment doesn't have any clever or interesting architectural features. I bought a tall white box with a crappy kitchen, tiny bath and minimalist moulding. I work all day with color and design and I'm a wee bit houseproud, so while I feel comfortable suggesting to people that a little pink might perk up the place or hiding your laundry will do you a world of good, I really can't contribute the sort of comments that jamie pup is looking for... Besides, as cool as your inside-the-walls storage idea sounds [it looked great in ReadyMade!], I don't know how I'd react if I submitted my bedroom and that's what you suggested... Most people who are worried about their bedroom are more interested in moving around the furniture or buying something cool, rather than quick renovating fixes.

Speaking of the thing you'd grab when you're running from that fictional apartment fire...

www.nytimes.com/2005/02/20/fashion/20poss.html

Hi MRoman, Checking back in after a while and noticed your comment on the 1 "L" michele. I do feel it is the best way! That, and my parents looked in a baby name book that spelled in that way ;). Sorry to all others for the inaneness of this post.

I, too, have been an avid reader of the site since I first stumbled upon it - can't say how, at this point. I guess, for me, the thing is this... one's nest is always, for some of us, an obsession. When I owned a place with some land up in the Berkshires (which sounds unbrearably precious here in e-print, but it's true), I found my obsessions running to things like trees and driveway material (in the long run, gravel is the best option for severe cold, fyi). Back here in the city, it doesn't take long for that sort of compulsion to focus itself down to no more than an exposed pipe in the bathroom. I think what's revealed on this site is that the desire to improve one's little corner of the planet cuts entirely across social and economic lines, and that we each tend to mentally modify those bedrooms, for example, according to our own set of solution skills. I've done a lot of contruction and painting over the course of the past twenty years or so (ouch!), so my suggestions tend to run toward the permanent.

A note to the renters here - trust me on this. What landlords fear is bad taste, and bad construction. I've repainted, changed molding, inset shelves into walls (as was suggested above) on rental units without issue. Landlords, for the most part, ain't stupid. They know what shows well. On the other side, I've also done a fair amount of repaints for building manager pals who've needed to quickly bring an apartment back to that simple, yet ugly, apartment off-white to cover a previous tenant's experiments at chinese red in a bedroom.

Probably what's most satisfying and surprising (in a pure democracy-in-action sorta way) to me about the site is my constant surprise at the variety of responses. I find myself saying "you gotta be kidding me" as I read responses as often as I nod and say "really good point." And that's rare.

Hi Maxwell - Did you get my emails with the pictures? I sent them to editor@apartmenttherapy.com

i love ur bedroom!! may i join u!!! wink wink sex me