apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

gorgeous. i have to go back and look through these photos some more. i love the kitchen, just beautiful.

I love the contrast of the cool kitchen, warm sleeping area. It makes the kitchen seem very clean, while the bed area seems livable.

THe wall is brilliant. I love it, the exaggerated shape is great, really fun.

I would love to see more 'tools'

Good job! I like it a lot!

With out a doubt the best one yet. Looks huge, really modern and werry livable.

I like the space overall, but to be picky, the swinging wall is such a dominate element for such a simple (and questionably necessary) function. Architecturally, it's very massive, and it's unsettling in the way it appears to be coming off its hinge. It also bugs me that it can't straighten out completely because of its own leg. Rant over, I'll still give it my vote...

Woah! More pivoting perfection!

Love the overall look as well as the details such as that pivoting partition and the built ins. The place seems very open and airy due to its layout and the fact that kitchen and built in seating is set into the perimeter.

The only small quibble I have is that when you swing the partition out to watch the tv from the living room, you expose the bedroom to the living room. But when it looks that good who cares right?

BTW, is that a gas fireplace in your bedroom?

The pivoting wall (at least, I think it's supposed to pivot, based on the diagram?), while cool in concept, doesn't do it for me.

Too much of a gimmick.

Awesome! What a cool way to divide your space.
Also love the floor... something I could potentially do to my apartment.

I love it. This is my favorite so far. Airy and light and spacious but also extremely comfortable.

And I'd love it if the winner was in Jersey!

whoa!
do you actually swing that wall?

either way, instafinalist

This is by far my favorite.

The layout makes the place look huge and the ceilings do not look low at all. Until I read that comment I assumed they were 9-10 ft.

Please tell me what color paint that is in the kitchen. It's gorgeous.

I spy the contest's 2nd Eames splint!... This one's another stunner. I'm not in love the look and pegboard motif of the pivoting partition, but wholly appreciate its design. But everything else, I love unconditionally--especially since the place is loaded with so much character. And, is that sleek-looking thing to the left of the bed a fireplace? Um, wow.

This is a very cool space, and I love that divider. And those holes in the pocket knife thing remind me of that wonderful building on Columbus Circle that's being completed re-made at the moment.

Wow!!! The kitchen's great and I love that you didn't use stainless steel appliances. And the wall is amazing...nice fireplace, too.

Now that's hot. Best in show. There are details I might have done differently, but that's a brilliant idea.

man, skip the finals! this has got to be the winner. amazing.

Wow - this is amazing space design!

Love the WALL (Pocket Knife) and it's flexibility is creating a different size of living / sleeping space. totally amazing! Kitchen looks sweet and clean cut. Very sharp!

holy cr@p that's cool

and I'm an art damaged freak-- I don't say that very often

I second asd's opinion. I am so over stainless steel, especially if it's note commercial grade equipment. I love how clean white is. The floors in this place are beautiful. And I like the wall. It's a big piece of kinetic art.

I like the idea of the rotating wall, but it seems very unecessary.

Love the knife! Talk about not being the same old IKEA stock...!

The overall design is so appealing that you've gotten me to feel happy in the presence of greige, which is ordinarily on my oh-please-no-just-paint-it-orange list.

Eames splint . . . that's what I learned today on AT.

Now we gotta hear all about that divider. I'm feeling all that love, and I don't like the details either...but I totally want to know WHY. So why is the top of that thing curved?

love the space, and love that you did it yourself
little by little

AMAZING! A clear winner - very creative - nice work!

You just blew my mind.

And why clad it in plexiglass/acrylic? Why not just leave it open to the perforated surface?

Absolutely brilliant. I love it.

Seriously guys, great work. I SO wanted a moving wall in my place but was talked out of it by many. Amazing work, you're to be commended.

Now if only I could find that required eiffel tower....THEN, we'd know we have a winner.

This place = the definition of this contest.

i think i'll just recall my contest entry and slink into a corner...

Ok, I feel the love too, but since when is oak flooring cheap and common? Is this because it's not some endangered rain forest wood or am I missing something? For a while there, in this part of the country (pdx), fir was cheap and therefore common, but oak, being more expensive, was reserved for living rooms and other high traffic areas. And oak flooring these days isn't what I'd call cheap. I love my 70 year old Oregon white oak floors, and would really hate to see their beautiful grain covered up with black stain, I made a point of getting the most neutral re-finish possible.

Uh-oh...does this make me a straight male when it comes to decor? Oh sh*t, I have navy colored sheets too... I'm off to have an identity crisis.

regards,
trillium

PS- do I spy IKEA cabs in the kitchen?

regards,
trillium

Just wanted to add, it's amazing what a difference crisp, thoughtful photography makes!

This place is AMAZING and captures what this whole contest is about (as someone already mentioned). It's a beautiful apartment that looks good and actually looks lived in, warm and comfortable without looking schlocked together or cluttered. Way to go NJ!!! Winner here!!!

Ahhhh. A kitchen at last, and a great one at that. Love the low built in seating along the wall, too. And the white carpet. And the black floor. Love the idea of the wall, but it's a little too much like some of the cartoony IKEA kids furniture for my taste. But I'd sleep with it. Or at least behind it.....

This Jersey place is as great and almost as innovative the architect-couple tiny studio apartment in Kips Bay. Which is truly an Apartment Therapy masterpeice!
The framed baseball jersey here ruined it for me, but that's just my taste.
This is an impressive and livable finished space....and endlessly interesting to try to figure out how it all got done.....I suspect they started with a clean box, not there is anything wrong with that. Yet that is not what most of us in NYC get to start with....
This place should win silver...it's inventive and hope that they have the artistic view the NYC waters & skyline from their windows, so there's no need for art....
I suspect and predict, due to the HQ photos, that soon this place will be on the website of many a Real Estate firm....please tell me I am wrong.

This is definitely a statement apartment. And I thought at first the first photo was a CAD rendering!

Beautiful photography.

Love the net effect of the place, but I tend to agree the pivoting portion of the wall borders on look-at-me overkill. Very Space Odyssey monolith (size) meets Ikea (material and perforation). Which is not entirely a bad thing.

I think that piece has a great sense of humor, while the rest of the apratment seems to take itself deathly serious, if that makes any sense.

And kinda funny that that pivoting wall is built around a piece of technology that makes the space look dated already.

This space soooo needs a flat screen TV.

Please tell us the kitchen paint color!

Whoa...I'm speechless.
Definitely my fav so far.

this apartment would be so great, if it weren't for that eyesore of a wall. it certainly took a lot of thought (and obviously time and effort), yet so ugly and seemingly unnecessary.

nonetheless, I love the kitchen and the low wall shelf.

the most interesting of the entries so far. the images are well done, and the effect is a space that has almost a 21st century look. as patrick mentioned the television stands out. it pulls the space back to pre-millenium.

More thoughts on the wall:

I agree that the fact that it does not fit flush with the bench was something that I thought was not a good thing initially but, after taking in the look again, I actually think it fits the overall look of the whole wall, non-moving as well as miving parts. The whole wall reminds me of the kind of background buildings you see in certain cartoons. An exaggerated, stretched yet linear(ish) look that contrasts with the main characters.

I like the fact that the wall adds a large element of fun when most living spaces are either too functionally serious. Even though my place is sleek, modern and, um, considered, and my other favorite entrant is the walnut wood place (a serious looking architectural design) I can appreciate and even like this wall for the constrast that it provides.

Trillium, I must admit I am not keen on the overly swirly grain of oak and I can't stand the sight of the medium brown stained oak floors that are indeed common in a lot of apts I have seen. For those floors I would ebonize also.

I like everything except for the partition. Too chunky.

Now I have argued against Alec H (AT:LA editor) in the past about having a plasma on wall (I was for it) but in this case I would argue that the old skool TV works in the wall. There is that cartoon like quality to it again.

I say Great Job!

Regarding the pivoting wall, some so far think it's ugly and others love it. I stress as I have before, this contest isn't about our own personal likes and dislikes but on efficiency, aesthetics AND problem solving. Whether you personally like the design of it or not, Gideon and Tracey made an ingeneous decision with that pivoting wall. It lets them invariably alter the look, feel and use of their apartment depending upon their needs and mood. They can have a relatively spacious living/dining/cooking area by day and a huge master bedroom at night. Or they can pivot the wall half way and create a whole different look all together.

Also, long low seating along one wall... brilliant.
Long low shelving along another wall... brilliant as well.
The long, linear lines they creat makes the space feel larger AND as they pointed out, makes the ceiling seem higher.
All this AND an entry hall AND all that closet space. Superb job I say in really defining the separate spaces of a small apartment without making it seem even smaller.

This is one of the few in this contest so far that, IMHO, qualifies for Insta-Finalist.

Gideon & Tracey
This should come as a big compliment given that I am a fellow contestant - I sincerely hope you guys win. Your space is - to put it mildly - mesmerising and dazzling. Not only is it functional and classic and beautiful and elegant, it's by far the most innovative space entered so far.
Good luck guys!
Colin (the Curator)

sorry -- the wall looks like something out of 'toon town to me. Maybe it's the curve; maybe it's the shape and size. I LIKE the concept --don't like the installation!

Wow. I have to give props to the Jersey folk. This is lovely, stylish and pratical. I nice blend all around. Especially love the perimeter seating and shelving.

Um. I meant, "A nice blend..."

Daily Nuance--
re: "this contest isn't about our own personal likes and dislikes but on efficiency, aesthetics AND problem solving."

Um, but interpretation of all that IS highly personal.

There seems to be, for instance, a lively debate here about the aesthetics of that wall. And I'm not sure what it accomplishes, efficiency-wise...

Patrick2

I was a little puzzled by the TV choice too. But you know, once you've spent so much time on the other stuff...well, I don't know.

Chae--
What do you mean?

patrick... I do have to agree that the pivoting wall could have been more efficient. I'm wanting to see some storage hidden within it or something, for it to act as more than just a screen and a place for the tv. But I do still think it's innovative. True, I would have done things differently myself, as far as color choices, etc. However, the key here I think is that they were generally very innovative and resourceful with the design and use of their space.

Looks like a crowd pleaser and iit is a couple instead of a single pad Hmmmm? maybe the chemistry made the tiny pad come to life?

i like the idea of the partition, but it looks like the only reason it's so chunky is to support the television, which sort of undermines the spirit of multipurposefulness (is that a word?). i feel like i want some thing lighter. surely this was not the only possible way to deal with the tv.

also, that bench is a very pretty, sleek substitute for a sofa, but i can't help but think it looks very uncomfortable to actually sit on.

Patrick -2

I was just referring to the fact that the tv was of the clunky variety. I thought that odd when every thing else was so streamlined. You had also mentioned that it was an quirky throw back.

On a different note, I have to say I'm quite worried about my pics being posted. There has been some serious nail sharpening going on. It's almost as bad as a creative writing workshop.

It would be so beautiful and perfect if it werent for that giant...THING! It seriously overpowers every other element of an otherwise amazing place. Something with similar function but nice, simple, and elegant (and not enormous) would fit the feel of the apt so much more.

The rest of the place, though, beautiful. I love the built in seating and storage. I love it all other than the beast.

Chae-

Gotcha, and agree... on all counts. This contest can get nasty.

But be brave, we'll try to keep things civil, and thank in advance for sharing your home with us strangers.

Some, stranger than others. :)

you know what, i LOVE that chunky ole tv in its own special spot. thank god. you've got midcentury references all over, bravo for some continuity/nods to mid century technology.
yes, please disclose kitchen paint color. we all want to know.
and i love the long long bench between rooms. how much more versatile can such a simple seating choice be?
bravo!
and i don't mind the swiss cheese, swiss army knife partition at all.

I wish I even knew where to begin telling you how much I love what you did with the floor.

The post so nice, it posted twice! Eh? ...Oops.

Crazy! The swinging wall breaks up the space in a striking way and has, as you say, a sculptural quality (part Richard Serra, part Amazingly Big Band-Aid). I like the rest a lot, especially the sleek perimeter seating and the kitchen. The place is original, a quality few dwellings attain.

You win!

lovely kitchen, white applianaces!

Please tell us more about your kitchen.

I am sooo glad I am not judging this contest. I don't know how they will do it.

I agree that the design of the swinging wall is a bit overbearing, but I still think it's fun. There are three elements - the swinging wall, the floor treatment, and the restraint used in the kitchen, tell me something about the imagination of the owners.

Color me impressed. And Dean, at least you had the nerve to enter; after this year, I don't think I would dare! (Unless there was a 'smallest...with pets'!)

Oh...My....Gawd.
The first three words out of my mouth when I saw that opening photo. It simply took my breath away.

Definitely think of the swiss cheese divider as sculpture/art. Yes, it's clunky and slightly awkward but without it (for example, had there been open space or white sheer curtain divider instead)and the impact would not have been as dramatic.

Bench seating is streamlined and offers storage, but am wondering how you have a conversation pit when guests are over (saw only one cushioned chair)?

Great job, Gideon and Tracey. Reward yourelf with a treat of fresh flowers for your dining table. : )

Love that you designed it all yourself.

Thumbs up: what innovation!

How does the thing move? Do you need stage hands to move it into place every night. Obviously the two of you have a great sense of design. But I think the swing wall eats up too much air space, a bit of a white elephant. But that's just me. Cheers!

Hands down, instant finalist! Ignore all of the criticism, Gideon and Tracey. You have done beautiful, beautiful work here, even moreso that it's all DIY. I love everything about it -- colors, playfulness, serenity, storage, simplicity. I love that it's human and reflects your interests (ie baseball), but still shows great design sense. Not so studied and intellectual/uppity as some examples of great design, but rather very liveable. Primo!

Hey! there is another "mj" posting here, I've been meaning to say hi for a while now!-MJ

I have to chime in with others: great place!
The kitchen is very nicely done with great color choices and design decisons that all work to create the illusion of space, along with, your choice of built-ins for stuff around the perimeter of the living space. And the black floors complete the illusion of higher space above.


At this point, with only these pictures to go by, I think that pivoting wall's form is outweighing its function a bit. I mean, I can see that it delineates the hangout space and the bedroom. As well as, allow the TV to be in both spaces. But what else does it do? Does it have storage in it? Does it have a light box inside it?
If it was my design and if I am correct about the above assumptions, I think I would have installed a privoting projection TV on the ceiling with a movable scrim screen as a divider (and viewer)

Anyway good luck fellow New Jerseyians!

Although I absolutely love my Murphy bed, I really do love that they decided to blaze a new trail in adapting their studio like this. It's just sincerely beautiful and wonderful, and would not make you feel like you were looking at "the same four walls" which this space probably felt like when they moved in.

I keep loving this more every time I look at the photos. I'm not the owners, but I'd like to hazard a guess about the curves. I think that they wanted to throw something into the interior architecture that gave it something other than straight, harsh lines.

It immediately make the place warmer, because curves DO warm things up; they're sexy, however you like to thing of them -- muscular? Check. Busty? Check.

And I think the way they kept the "Swiss cheese" holes level to the floor and had the curve play off it is at once grounding and leavening.

And it doesn't look like it's "white by default" with that dark floor. It's completely delicious. I think that it is a fantastic blend of serious, functional architecture and just enough whimsy to make it homey in a very modern kind of way.

I think this place is pull-out-the-stops fantastic. And I think that the baseball jersey reminds me of a kimono the way it's hung there, and that's kind of fun/serious, too. And although I'm a Manhattanite, I'm so happy that New Jersey has some damn good design going on in it!

But still the wall is kinda space-age cool. I'm curious, what position do you like it more in? Wait, that sounds wrong.

Really like how the place looks and the swinging room divider idea is great --- but (always a but) it is a little to Disney in character for me. Does it just hold the TV and that is it. With all its thickness and the Swiss Army knife concept it seems like it should do more than swing and hold the TV. Would be great if it could also act as additional storage or become the dining table ect... really multi-multi functional (just thinking out loud) It does have a huge WOW factor and I'm probably just speaking out of envy.

I guess I'm in the minority because the pivoting wall just looks odd and clunky to me. It looks out of style and proportion with the rest of the sleek design. With a more streamlined partition this would be one of my favorites.

For the stainless steel haters; that looks like a stainless steel fridge over there. Could be a subzero which, btw, have never been built for commercial businesses despite what some people think - so I guess that does not pass muster either. I hope that doesn't dampen your enthusiasm for the kitchen.

As to the function of the wall, I said it and others have said it but I don't think it needs much more function than what others have mentioned already. It exists as an element to be admired in and of itself. It lightens the seriousness that you usually get in such a well deisgned place.

And to the first mj; I'm glad you kinda agree with me.

Well, goes to show you what MONEY can do for a space. But "that thing" looks like Godzilla walking through a beautiful Monet painting! The rest of the space is warm and classy. I'm jealous!

Give 'em the gold star! Beautiful, innovative and stylish. The floor is georgous.

Filbert, they did a lot of this themselves and also used day labourers over two years which suggests that they did not have vast amounts of money to throw aruond. Rather they saved carefully, planned and spent carefully. You can do it too.

I love the apt! Now, about that wall. It's the one thing that truly makes the apt unique. The other things: built in low seating, low shelving, kitchen, bedroom area etc, although lovely, have been done and seen before, not that there's anything wrong with that. The wall, on the otherhand, is one of a kind and for that reason alone, you get my vote. It certainly is huge. Is there really no storage in it? I'm not so keen on the perforated look. I would prefer to see the entire thing clad in the same non-holed thing, be it painted drywall, copper, cement, frosted glass, backpainted glass/acrylic, a huge lightbox.

I am loving the fabulous places we are seeing in this contest!

Win-win-win! Great pivot-sculpture-divider, takes your mind off of the space limitation...space is balanced and refreshing.

surprising that given the the aesthetic sophistication of the project, generally speaking, that you would be so crude in your handling of the interior partition. what kind of hang over do we have here.? too much admiration of the eisenmann cult, i suspect, or, more likely, too many copies of wallpaper, the early years.

i like the way this plan works. i can breath.

i agree with rr.... the tectonics are lacking coherence

I love the bookshelves and the sofa -does it have storage under under the seats?
Your apartment looks bright and comfortable and the dark floors fit very nicely with the tones on the walls and your furniture.
I love the idea of the pocket knife wall, still I think it looks a bit out of scale (did you use a very wide angle lens?).
I guess I'd like the wall to be more simple like the pivot panels at storefront for art and architecture on Kenmare street ...and then I'd get a projector!
still ... a great place!

While I'm really glad to see someone from NJ enter this contest, I don't like this apartment at all. It looks too much like a mid-century furniture showroom with a something from the Jetsons randomly plunked down in the middle. I don't like the wood paneling in the sleeping area. I don't like the white country chairs with the chunky wooden table. I don't like the big swinging thing with the TV stuck in a hole. And I don't think that fabric-covered foam on benches make for very comfortable seating, especially with those low backrests. That part looks like a doctor's waiting room. I like the colors of the kitchen wall, but I don't think it works in this space nor with those cabinets - the kitchen looks plastic. I think there's too much incongruency here. And not enough warmth or artwork.

dIANE, you are being a bit harsh and a little too subjective in your criticism, but i have to agree with you about the seating. as much as this foam cushion bench solution creates a nice effect, conceptually, its never going to be comfortable. .. infact. the striking thing about this design, as a whole, is that there is no where to be comfortable in this space, except when in bed, or when you are sitting in the uphostered chrome steel armed chair. damn. thats a pretty big problem, i would say... rats in a cage...

(i'm learning a lot from this thread...)

(specifically - to take time to digest entries, to read what people have to say [both the owners and the people posting here], and to understand that "first impressions" are valid and valuable, but not the "last word.")

(not that anyone aksed me)

I think that swinging wall thing is awful. Makes me feel like I'm in a theme park, which isn't ALWAYS what I look for in a sleeping space.

Believe it or not, I love the kitchen table most of all. So many of these places are cool to look at, but leave me wondering, "so you eat on the coffee table in front of the tv?" Then I get all depressed. Or there is some tiny bar and stool built in. Or even that booth - cool, but small.

Here's a design that honors the kitchen table! Good for you!

pphillipp--
We ALWAYS care what you think!!!

dIANE--
Um, time to switch over to decaf this morning, perhaps?
(but ironically, while you dub this a mid-century showroom, not much technically midcentury in the space, really, especially the pieces you rant about-- er, point out.)

And, um, did someone else actually say that TV is mid-century? Dear god, we have to get tighter terminology. The Craigs List definition of "mid century" is rubbing off too much!!

Next thing we'll be seeing is an "Eames-era plasma TV".

Gosh, I don't think was being harsh at all. There are others here who are much harsher critics than I. Can a personal opinion be *too* subjective? An opinion is naturally subjective, is it not? If I were being objective, it would just be giving an unemotional observation. But, I decided to state my opinion. It was hardly a rant - I was saying what I liked and disliked. I often vote without saying much.

But anyway, okay, after looking again I realize the "showroom" feel I mentioned is not really mid-century. I edited the post a few times before submitting and was having trouble trying to express that part of it. I just think it's too slick and impersonal. The only part I like about this place is the low bookcase with the sculptures and pictures on top of it. And I do like the kitchen table, but not with those chairs. Mostly, the wood paneling and that middle swinging thing really stand out as unappealing to me.

Hmmm... I actually think I need more coffee.

I guess I just interpreted the unending string of "I don't likes' to be, well, sort of ranty-negative.

And yes, this is all highly subjective.

Not to say that we all have to agree, especially on a space that I would fully expect to polarize the audience.

Nice space.
I love moving walls, but the curving top and the off kilter angles makes me uneasy. Looks like it's about to collapse.
I'd like to see more stuff built into this pivoting wall to further emphasize the swiss army knife idea, such as a computer, a fold away desk, ironing board, etc.
A more subtle color complementing the rest of this cool interior would be a big improvement, it's just so bright and beige.
Great effort though!

dIANE, yes, a personal opinion should be more than subjective if you are going to share it with a group, i believe... otherwise, the opinion is just about you and not about something more interesting like, e.g. why you don't like the white kitchen chairs.

probably you don't like the white chairs because it contributes to the clinical feeling of the design. if this is true, i agree with you.

in a nut shell, what we have here in this design is a kitchen and a bedroom without something most of us would generally recognize as a living room..... hmmm. i don't think i want my bed to be the only comfortable relaxing space in my apartment.
its an eat, sleep and lie down kind of place. no?

I think what would be fun is to have people redesign the pivoting partition. I think something with that function in that location is a great idea. I have a feeling that people who are not excited about its shape/style would still respond to the function of separating space and providing a dynamic change. A friend in Japan had sliding wall dividers with grooves that were cut into the floor in a way that he could reconfigure the space any number of ways. It was a great system. If the space were mine (I wish it was), I might make the pivoting portion look light an airy, like fabric. I would love to hear what others would conceive of, but I suppose that is a dicussion for another thread - or another contest? We're here to judge what is presented. And with that, I think it is a great space with imagination and definitely 'livable'.

Also count me among those who want to know if that is a gas fireplace. That would be neat-o.

"pphillipp--
We ALWAYS care what you think!!!"

that's the royal "we," right?

I find the jackknife wall more innovative than a moving bed, whether Murphy or futon. Can the designers pursue a patent?

pphillipp--

But of course. Otherwise, this tiara just looks SILLY.

ps: Gideon wins the contest for hottest contestant name so far.

Just occurs to me that the first picture actually looks like a stage set (in a good way... I love stage set design, and as they say, "All of life...").

But if I went to see this play-- something taut and witty about a sleek style-y couple-- and this pivoting item (an incredibly effective device in the development of the story/plot, for what it obscures/reveals), I'd still wonder:

Why is one side shiny?
Why is it punctuated with big circles, yet sealed by the plexi at the same time?
Why does it have a (good) comic air when the apartment is otherwise uber-sleek? (aside from the kitchen chairs, which I actually think DO relate)
What am I supposed to take away from how it is handled/shaped/skewed?
What's the set designer trying to tell us, cuz he/seh is obviosuly saying SOMETHING.

So, I'd still have the same questions.

All said, this place could slip EASILY into the pages of Interior Design magazine. And I say that as a compliment.

just a quick question. other than being able to view the television from the couch, what purpose does the movable wall serve in the "open" position? the folded position divides the room so nicely for both entertaining and private living.

jamiepup- I agree, medium brown stained oak floors can be mugly at worst and stodgy at best. I had ours sanded down to bare wood and sealed with a "Danish" finish that is illegal in the state of California and doesn't stain the wood much at all (it just looks wet). Since we have no patterned anything in our house and a few big pieces of aged teak (ok, no patterns except the awful wallpaper I'm not done stripping) the pinkish oak with all it's swirly old growth grains looks pretty sexy to our eyes.

The shiny black is sexy too, but still, I'd hardly call solid oak flooring cheap and common. And I'd hate to be in charge of keeping those shiny black floors free of dust bunnies and cat fur. I just don't think you (not you, you, but the general you) have to trash one thing in order to complement or appreciate another! Vive la difference.

regards,
trillium

We can learn a lot about inventive stoage from this apartment, but maybe storage should be an isolated subject on AT. What about a competition regarding only storage? No matter how much stuff you pare from your belongings, you still need storage and in NY enough storage is a rare commodity. More on proposed competition: divide the competition by rooms and homemade versus new uses for existing cabinets or appliances. (Like the guy on SSBS who kept his towels in his kitchen cabinets because he simply didn't cook.)

As far as ingenuity, the rotating wall is an extreme and fun implementation of a basic concept many folks have employed more simply with things like cabinets on wheels. The novelty and flawlessness of this particular approach deserves recognition, but I found more richness in the problem solving demonstrated in some of the other entries--especially those facing severe budget restrictions, difficult floorplans, and/or a lack of flexibility imposed by rental conditions.

While this entry is a fine example of design immediately invoking an emotional response (well done!), I'm reluctant to so quickly write it off as "the winner".

Hey trillium, I hear you.
In a good question thread about wood stains I posted some comparison pics of the oak floors that we had and the teak or walnut (supposed to be walnut but floor finishing guy we employed to finish the floors again reckoned they were teak) floors we now have. I said that I actually liked the very light look that we had with the oak floors even with the shiny poly.

I think this space is clever and deserves to place.

But I donÂ’t think itÂ’s brilliant and thatÂ’s why the comments are so polarized. For me, the wall doesnÂ’t feel as easy and light as the rest of the apartment. It takes 2 people to move the wall, you have to move a chair and a seating pad to get it into a new position and the pay off is essentially being able to watch TV in two places or have a semi-partitioned space.

I assume all the padded seating, both on the perimeter and on the peninsula closest to the dining area, lifts up for storage. It would be brilliant if the bulk of the unit also served a storage purpose. Or, if the unit was really knife-like, collapsible and sleek (using sliding partitions made from the holey wood construction) then it would fill the light mood set in the rest of the space.

I'd also like that partition better if you could control its transparency... say, with some sort of louvers, or if those portholes had camera-lens-like aperatures...

Hello? Owners? Are you watching? We need answers! Please take some of the hen-pecking with good humor and give use the scoop of some of your nifty tricks. (And you can't say you are busy at work, that's what all of us are supposedly doing!)

Really, I love it. I agree with one or two of the criticisms made, but I can't even imagine having pulled something like this off. Kudos.

Thanks for all the posts! It is just so amazing that there is this great community of people talking about progressive living, small, efficient, environmentally sound...This is the stuff that makes me believe in the future.

We are also a little stoked to have sparked some debate...For what it is worth I am in charge of interiors for a small New York City architecture firm and when we bought our own condo (btw. it was not a clean box it was in deplorable barely post crack house condition) we figured that it would be my one and only chance to totaly color outside the lines...Tracey is very indugent of my enthusiasms and we just kind of went crazy. So it is a big experiment...an act of faith...and waste of money, all in one.

Patrick is totally right about the TV but after spending all our money on material, labors, the unanticipated deflecting ceiling structure...We just plain cheezed out.

To answer the questions:

-Yes the wall moves it sits on a hidden caster

-Is that Pee Wee's Play House looking thing functional? Mostly we leave it closed, TV toward the bed...But Tracey somtimes likes to have people over to watch a ball game and we open it up so the TV faces the couch. Its also good for dinner parties we use the built in couch as a banquette with a long folding table, and swinging the wall out allows space for this function, while screening food prep mess in the kitchen from the Dining/Living area.

-The paint colors in the kitchen are Benjamin Moore HC 141 (green) Benjamin Moore OC 17 (white)Ceiling is HC 81 (beige) and the monster wall is HC3 a (yellow)

-The upper cabinets are from Ikea, the lowers were a wedding present from a cabinet maker we know.

-Oak flooring comes in different grades Clear, Select, and Common. Common is the cheapest, but the wood is not of the best quality, board length also affects price. We used the shortest junkiest stuff. You can get it at the Home Depot for about 2.95 a square foot, and then cover a lot of imperfection with dark stain.

-The Fridge is a GE... Sub Zeros cost more than our car.

Thanks for the lovely response Gideon.

This interesting ... The wall is some Sci-Fi stuff.

All my best,
Phyllis G.

I have to join the naysayers here re: the swinging element. First of all, it doesn't work. The peg stopping the wall in its "open" position stops it from reaching a place parallel to the seating area, which makes the latter an awkward place to watch television. Secondly, all of the curving shapes and circles and glass makes it seem very arbitrary, especially when it is placed in the otherwise modernist environment. Why spend all that money on curvy and holey surfaces when one could spend it on more shelf space or working cabinetry? Thirdly, is the owner really going to move that heavy chair everytime he wants to move the wall? Oftentimes, moveable/modifiable elements are never moved.

Thanks for the particulars and clarifications, Gideon. You guys did a great thing with your floors if the HD stuff is what you started with! I'm glad you're not expecting me to ebonize my nearly 80 year old floors.

It was funny, I kept squinting at the kitchen photo and thinking, "those uppers have to be IKEA but the bottoms don't even look like IKEA boxes unless they have much more tweakability then I think they do!".

Too bad DWR doesn't have plasmas, if that's really something you want. I have a feeling you'll get to do some shopping there soon.

regards,
trillium

Thanks Gideon! If I can ever afford an architect, I will give you a nice freelance gig so you can play some more outside the box!

The room divider is insane, but inspired. It would be much more "functional" (or justifiable, rather) if the occupants had a giant 50" screen plasma installed within it. Perhaps they'll eventually put that where the cheese grater is now. For all the hating, you know what? This would be a great entry even if the crazy room divider wasn't there.

This place reminds me of those kiosks in malls that offer you a massage from some creepy guy with a beer-gut hanging out of his too-small logoed polo shirt while your husband/wife/kids are buying shit they don't need. Meaning: it's offensively tacky, moreso because, like a massage, it sounds enticing, but if you spend more than a few minutes looking at it you need a shower.

And that's a shame, cuz it's all due to that heinous swinging Jetsons iMac wall of shame. The walls/color palette/furniture/artwork is all beautiful, but add in that funhouse partition and it's like someone took a dump in the middle of the Louvre!

Hadley--
Are you by any chance related (or married) to Jonathan?

I ask because you have the same "poetic", "lyrical" and "subtle" qualities about your critiques.

I'd rather it be genetic/matrimonial relation than a trend on this site.

That pivoting wall is genius! What a great way to really utilize your space, especially if a guest comes to town and stays with you! I wouldn't have thought of it!
This is a fun place. Really different! I think it deserves to at least be ooh'ed and aah'ed over. Keep it light people! This is all in good fun!

dearest patrick (the other one)
even though your name's so dumb
my heart's all yours, tis absolutely plumb
full of love for your policing
and moral fleecing
of disparaging remarks
for playing your part
keeps AT free of glum.

suck it. no that that one - (the other one).

This kicks ass. I've only looked through helf the EAST entries, but if I had to vote now, this would win.

My dear Hadley,

You are onto us...We grew up in suburban Californa/New Jersey in the 80's... The mall was EVERYTHNG... the center of the universe or at least of cuture. This is where you turn up your nose and say...Eweew...How sad...But please think about the way that bad taste and high style are incendiary bedfellows.

I could be wrong but I don't think it's the I-Mac or the Jetsons reference that you realy object to in this aspect of our design, rather it's the Slightly 80's, Neo-Memphas, jucy fruit chewing gum, Duran-Duranifycation that really bothers you. Is it a little close for comfort?

The best American design, weather it is a Stratacaster, or a T-bird, or The Gugginheim, or Disney Hall always has an optimistic futeristic brassy but inocent quality. That is what we were reaching for...Was it huberous...Did we get our tail fins burned?

Conceptually, this is amazing. Honestly, though, its executuion could be better. The design of the jacknife doesn't equal the engineering. I am sure that it was meant to be lopsided, but it just looks awkward, esp in comparison to the clean elegance of the mid-century-ish stuff there.
I love the wood wall and the overall crisp appearance of the rest of the place.
But what is with the baseball jersey hanging on the wall? That little touch of frat house doesn't work here.
The initial visual impact of the place is great, but one great feat of imagination isn't enought to secure this place as the winner of "smallest, coolest..." in my opinion.

Hey Boo!

Hi Gideon and Tracey,

We're interested in your space & would love to talk to you about our HGTV show, "Small Space, Big Style". Would you be able to email us at smallspaces@brainbox.tv so we can get in touch with you?

thanks,
Sage.

Not fair! This looks like it's work of a professional. This contest should be for non-professionals who are trying to make their apartments better.

Amazing!!! I am so inspired!

Amazing! I am so inspired!

The room divider is so eye-catching without completely dominating any one of the rooms; the "perforations" and the plexi make it airier and allow shifting light to play around with it. The black floor anchors the room. I love all the textures in play here. I'd be very interested to see how the closets work. And what's the significance of the baseball jersey?

Hi,

Just thought I would help out with a few questions that keep coming up about the decorating:

-The base ball shirt belongd to my grandfather in the 1930's when he played for City Collage, and is more about family and sentiment than about sports fandom.

-The "Country" chairs are actually vintage Paul Mcobb planer group chairs aprox 1950.

-The vintage coffee table is the X base coffetabe by T. H. Robsjohn Gibbings

-The Club chair is our prize posession, it is a peroid Bouhaus chair from Germany by Franz Singer aprox 1928-1935

-The glass lamp over the kitchen tabe is a Vini aprox 1960

-The kitchen tabel is cherry and of our own design. It was bulit by my father in his home shop.

I haven't given many "instafinalist" ratings here -- maybe three. Your space gets one. It's beautiful, original, just restrained enough. Well done!

Everything is quite nice, really - completely ruined by that post-modern and cartoony partition that is so ungraceful and, well, ugly.

I really enjoy this entry, but I do think this one and a few others represent the end of this contest. I wouldn't take part in a battle of the bands if I knew U2 was playing too. I wouldn't try an open mic night with Chris Rock.

This is a superb apartment, but it harms the spirit of the contest. I don't blame Gideon and Tracey. They're simply showing off their work. I simply wish AT had clarified rules for the contest.

An apartment like this deserves to be highlighted as the work of talented design professionals. Putting it in a contest against amateurs insults the anyone-can-do spirit of AT.

Just my opinion. Again, Gideon and Tracey, your home is breathtaking. As it should be.

love the celadon kitchen walls, the bench, the old table, the lovely dark and deep floor, and that wonky jetson divider. good work.

I agree with "not sure" on the rules of this contest, and I posted as much on another entry. It is not fair to pitch professionals against poor students, and multiple home owners (fewer personal posessions to hide) against people who only have 450 sq. feet to call their own. Makes no sense to me. Should have been at least two categories, if not three.

i like the idea of a pocket-knife divider; i've just never seen a pocket-knife this clunky.

The wall is huge but it is FABULOUS. Wow!

This is definitely an insta-finalist. Absolutely amazing. Is is me? No. Does it get my vote? Yes. For the same reasons I love Yves Saint Laurent; even back in the day when I was thin I could never wear his clothes.

This is ingenius. More artful than livable I'd say - but then, we're not voting on "homey-ness" we're voting on efficiency, beauty and problem solving - this has all three.

Wow!! This ones a winner

That wall is one of the most genius things I've seen. I think it works really well with your space and it looks great.

I love the light and airy feel of the apartment in general, and I admire the fact that it looks sophisticated and sleek without being intimidatingly so. Love the framed baseball jersey. This is an apartment that I could happily spend an evening in were I invited to dinner. I have no problem with the idea of built-in seating along a wall as I can imagine the chairs easily being drawn over into a conversation grouping.

OTOH, I'm of two minds about the pivoting wall. I love the concept, and I love the touch of whimsy in the overall shape. However, its proportions are daunting and, when opened at right angles to the living space, it disrupts all the lovely sense of harmony that's there when it's swung back toward the bedroom. If it were my apartment, I'd be thinking "Drat, not quite there yet." and would be going back to the drawing board on that wall. I'd love to see what it would look like if you sprang for the flat screen and made the very same wall no more than 6-7" wide as I think it's the sheer bulk of its current incarnation that isn't working for me at the moment.

I just discovered this site on Sunday, so I've been greedily devouring all these lovely offerings. Personally, I don't mind that designers and regular folk are all thrown into the mix. Some of my favorite entries have come from people who wouldn't necessarily know an Eames chair if it bit them on the butt. To me, it's about form, function, livability, aesthetics, personality, originality, and that ever-necessary problem solving that comes with small spaces. I only wish there were a third category so that foreigners could get in on the fun!

Jo (up in the Great White North, where Spring has FINALLY decided to make an appearance this week. Hallelujah!)

Where do you put your stuff? This looks more like a model suite or a hotel room than it does a home. If I walked into this apartment I would not be able to tell you a single thing about the people who live in it.