apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

interesting. i think i would've passed out w/ all the spray paint. :P but yeah, gutsy move.

Cool... but I'd replace those curtains STAT.

I love graffiti but...I feel like this looks really out of place in this room...There's nothing else that reflects back to it except maybe the lonely pillow on the couch :(

I think I would appreciate this more if the surrounding walls weren't stark white...

Gutsy, but not my style.

In one of the photos, the graffiti mural seems to really heavily weigh down one side of the room in contrast with the other white walls. I wonder if it might work better if the entire wall had been a color, and the graffiti spray painted on top of that, or if more white had been incorporated in the graffiti design.

she's luck i'm not her landlord.

Obviously not for everyone, but I really like it.

This graffiti mural is AMAZING. I want to congratulate you for taking that huge risk. It looks great against the grey sofa. Love the color palette of tomato red, grey, and yellow! Not sure about the purple but if it makes you happy, go for it. I would consider replacing the curtains with something more sleek and tailored such as a Roman shade or a solar shade. It would be more complimentary toward the mural's sharp lines.

No. I hate graffiti.
Graffiti on a wall is like a dog pissing on a tree.

Plus those colours are ugly and don't match the rest of the place.

1st photo is intriguing, 2nd photo loses me. But I love the gray/blue of the kitchen.

I love it. It looks like a place people actually live in, not just a piece of design.

I think this is a great incorporation of graffiti into a very real, livable space. I also like that the whole room isn't graffiti or "street" themed, it's just one design element among many.

I think it looks great. obviously some of the above comments are made by WASPs somewhere in a red state.

Rainierzed, Im Black and a Hip Hop music/culture journalist so....yeah...you're a lil off-base lol. Graffiti is cool, I just didn't think it was executed that well in terms of the interior design

So jealous. I've wanted a graffiti wall for just about ever, but I've never known anyone with that particular hobby. I've even considered advertising or recruiting someone in person, but that seems just a little weird...

I get that you haters might not want it in your livingroom, but saying you hate graffiti is the same thing as saying you hate art. IMO, good graffiti requires a higher degree of talent than most any other kind of painting and is often much, MUCH more creative.

Splatgirl, it's not weird at all to commission a graf piece for your wall...just like any other artist, many graffiti artists are contacted with requests for custom art.

What state do you live in? I might be able to recommend someone...

I agree with abc123. The graffiti looks out of place. Perhaps it would 'speak' more to the rest of the apartment if the other walls were painted in the shades complementary to it. Perhaps a marigold or sky blue.

And the rest of the apartment is really kind of staid compared to that lively wall. You need to spread the energy around! Bolder artwork for the other walls (perhaps pop art prints or graphic black and white photography). The curtains are sort of an afterthought--too small and kind of bland. And you need to replace the little cube thing with a proper coffee table.

Awesome! My ex and I commisioned a friend to do a big 7x4 piece of graffittii on canvas so we could take it with us... he's got it now though. Sigh.

I meant: graffiti

Christina's entry had my attention and I was attracted to the ostensible letters seemingly defining a pillar that draws magnetism and power.
In contrast to the blue background which draws the expression of coolness and fascination

I love the concept but the placement does render it a bit "unfinished" looking...so I do agree that color and a different window treatment would definitely remedy that. I find myself wondering how it would look if the graffiti surrounded the window instead. I would probably then continue the design onto a flat shade ... I'll bet a lot of decision making had to go into this effect. Love your kitchen, by the way.

Only a true artist can find beauty in the "grittiness of Central City Philadelphia" and make it compliment the fine, yet austere, elements in the room.

She achieved the vision she laid down in her rationale. Her writing, btw, is exquisite.

Well done!

I love the table setting and the kitchen.

I find the mural a bit gutsy; but still, I would not have a problem relaxing in this apartment.

i love it, but it's about to swallow the window in one effortless gulp! would larger, more substantial drapes help make it more balanced, i wonder?...

hmmm I like the kitchen.

I also agree with slowdown's comment that the energy needs to be spread around. The graffiti is so vibrant but the rest of the room doesn't really "pop" anywhere else--making it seem really out of place. But to each their own! As long as she loves it, then it's exactly how it "should" be :)

Adventurous and aggressive! Don't we all wish we are such? How many of you want to be ordinary, run of the mill, common place?

Surrey, I don't think people are arguing that its not adventurous...i think most of the criticism comes from it looking out of place.

Had the graffiti been integrated more with some of the suggestions others had ( more colorful walls, more substantial drapes, a few pops of color elsewhere to tie it in etc) the I think it would be more appealing. But instead, the boldness of the graffiti on one side against otherwise white walls throws the room off balance. Because of the colors used, it looks too heavy. Perhaps if different/lighter colors had been used in the piece, she could have gotten away with keeping the walls white.

I actually liked the first picture, because I was under the assumption that there was more to the design/ color scheme --but there wasn't; which was disappointing :(
I've seen graffiti on interior walls done in amazing ways that still work from a design standpoint. This, for me at least, does not.

But again, to each his/her own, I'm glad the owner enjoys it enough to share with us, which at the end of the day is all that matters.

the owner is a renter. It makes it more difficult to go too crazy. The ceilings are 14 ft. and the space is really small.

psst...I'm the husband and I love it here.

The graf artist is a guy who was getting arrested for doing this in the wrong places...I got him started in a business to do it for people who want it and I helped him market it. It is a nice solution for people on a budget who have huge loft-like spaces but can't afford large pieces for the walls. I didn't take money for it but love the idea of freeing up this guy to explore his art. He works in my building doing maintenance.

phillystef, thats great that you could provide a (legal) creative outlet for him! :)

I enjoy the discussions here.

I agree with rdameron and moxielady this apartment is livable and that there's evidence people live and entertain here. It does not look like its for transient guests nor for adolescents. I am 62 years old and I would feel at home here just like the current tenants. I like its general serenity as well as the energy from that one corner of the room. If I were to move in here, I will keep the graffiti. That graffiti will energize me as well as make me trendy or... hip.

I like graffitti in general and I like you graffitti column a lot.

I also like how the grey, red and yellow are carried through the apartment - the grey paint in the kitchen, etc. (love that chair)

But I think that set of shorty curtains is out of place and that the graffitti, like the rest of your furnishings, calls for something sleek and unobtrusive - maybe a white roller blind set inside the window frame?

Good luck in the contest!

I was fascinated by Christina's entry. The graffitti type of decor itself was very colorful. Its unique design added elegance in the room. Her creative skill in interior designing which she showcased in her home reflects her personality. Job well done, Christina!

Nette B. Espiritu
Chicago, Illinois

Albeit, everyone has their own style, however, I think everything is out of place. The wall mural is awesome, however the rest of the decor does not flow in colour or furniture to make the most of it. The white walls do not represent colour to me.

Love the graffitti, very edgy. Need to replace the curtains with some cool blinds. Other comments are correct in saying you need to balance out the room with more edgy stuff that ties in with the graffitti.

Just read phillystef's comment...this is aside from the contest.....you are an amazing individual..thank you for helping that guy out...WOW, the design is amazing and what a brilliant idea to employ that fellow to create wall art..KUDO'S to you for not looking the other way.