apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I like this place. I love painted brick, love the Asian theme, love the french doors to the bedroom. the only thing i would change is the fan in the kitchen that has a large orb-light dropping from it....looks like dripping mucus.

1. MyPhuong & Jacob: where is your couch from?

2. Kathryn: where is your sectional from?

Thanks!

LOL The orb is hanging from the ceiling over the table, not from the fan. It's just the angle of the shot.
Very nice use of the space. Love the print of "The Wave" in the bath. The bed is very cool.

What a nice big kitchen! I agree that French doors give the option of one large or two smaller living spaces. This site has certainly made me readdress walls, and whether it is better to live in a small space with or without them.

Curious about the under-bed storage. Do you bang your shins against the hard edges? Is the storage only accessible from the foot of the bed?

I think that the placement of the shades must have been to level out the uneven windows, and I think they make a certain kind of sense and give the windows kind of an Empire detail in their way.

I agree with others who think that a landlord would have preferred even dark paint than contact paper, but regardless the effect of the color works VERY nicely with those coffee tables.

I see what people mean about covering that fireplace, and yet that sofa and the artwork above it work so nicely together, and those pillows toward the center make me SOOO happy, because they match each other, and yet the lighter one ties the painting above the sofa to the sofa, and the green one kind of points to the plants near the window. The composition of that wall is just lovely.

In the bedroom, I'd kind of prefer some thin dark frames around the artwork above the bed, but I don't think it's any huge detraction. I like this a lot.

It always amazes me to see the floorplans of other apts. with the same square footage as mine and to see how utterly different they all are. I have 465 sq. ft. and yet your place looks so much larger.

Just a couple of things to think about - rugs and paint on the base of the bed.

I really like a lot of things about this. Are you covering up a fireplace? That seems like breaking a cardinal rule of design or something. Where did you get the mirror? I really like it! And, the contact paper--ingenious! Could've fooled me! I was just complaining here on AT that I couldn't paint (and partially, I'm too chicken to ask my landlord about it...). Does that come off easily? Is it the normal brand or something new and spiffy. Nice place!!

Very sweet. Curious why they won't let you paint, but did allow contact paper on the walls -- seems paint would be the lesser of two evils.

Yeah, I really like this one, nice furniture and beautiful color and very light and airy, but um, covering the fireplace IS a cardinal no-no (like covering a beautiful window with aluminum foil). But I can see how maybe the furniture wouldn't have worked otherwise.

I disagree that covering the fireplace is a "cardinal no-no". I don't think that you must pay homage to a fireplace just because there is one.

I made the conscious decision to partially obstruct mine and I'm fine with it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kcweiss/52576406/in/set-1086981/

I think if you're going to cover the fireplace--and while I love fireplaces, I can see why you did--you really should slide a console table behind the sofa or something. It's a bit jarring to see that little fireplace arch poking out from behind the sofa.

Other than that, very nice, particularly with the furniture arrangement. Looks like you really maximised your space.

Just curious, why are the window shades hung outside the window frame? Hanging them inside would feature the windows in such a better light.

I love your apartment just a couple of questions, I'm sure you tried both of these things...

Just curious as to why the wall above the dining room table doesn't have any art. It seems like the perfect spot. Is it plaster or some other surface that makes it impossible? Or was it a picture of a naked Pam Anderson and you were too embarassed?

And the red asian carving... did you try it in the LR between the windows? Did it dissapear?

Great job with the contact paper! I was going to try fabric and starch in my old apartment, but never got around to actually hanging it. :(

A brick fireplace covered by a sofa? That's an absolute travesty.

No it is not

Of COURSE covering a fireplace is foolish. I would kill to have a fireplace, even if it didn't work. It's just such a perfect visual focal point. If I had the apartment I would have put the sofa perpendicular to the fireplace with it's back to the window and the TV in the corner opposite from it, across from the closet. To me, small = cozy. What is more cozy than a fireplace? Why not work with what you have and celebrate it? There is a lot of great things about this Place (the French doors, the brick, the tile in the bath room) and I love a lot of the pieces but I think it would have much more impact with just a few adjustments. Also I COMPLETELY agree with the design tip.

I like the kitchen and living room, but I agree with the other posters as to why someone would cover the fireplace.

I'm not very good with interior design and all, but if I was going to cover the fireplace I would at least use plywood and paint it white to cover that opening. At least the plywood would blend in with the wall and won't be so noticeable.

JMHO

Of COURSE covering a fireplace is NOT foolish. I would NOT kill to have a fireplace but that's just me.

Very fresh and open.

I'd agree about it being okay to cover the fireplace if there was literally *no* alternative option for the furniture placement. But I think there is...

I'd like to see a rug (seagrass?) anchoring the living room seating area, and possibly under the dining table, but that's just me.

Wow, that kitcehn uses up a lot of floor space!

If u dont mind sharing........Where are the prints above the bed from? What's the artist's name?

And for art on the cheap, you have done a GREAT job!

It looks like the artwork above the bed is probably Japanese artist Yosimoto Nara.

BTW, I do agree though that there is an alternative place for the sofa with the back to the window but a sectional would work better in that case with the chaise part coming out at you, so to speak.

However, that hardly focuses the seated person's attention onto the fireplace. The fireplace is then peripheral, albeit on show somehow.

Basically, the layout is not done well (not MyPhuong & Jacob's fault) because placing any seating to take advantage of the fireplace is severely compromised.

Ho-lee crap! you guys get my undying love and devotion for having the kozyndan bunny wave picture in your bathroom!
YOU RULE!!!!!
for those that don't know the bunny/japanese obsessed artists, here's a link
http://www.kozyndan.com/posters.html

Aquarabbit, you gotta love these too!

yoshitomo nara and hokusai! very cool.. i've got hokusai over my bed and nara in my office cube. and i see the cover of giant robot in the corner:)

oh my goodness. i have that same kozyndan print in my bathroom.

Thanks for all your great comments everybody!

It seems the biggest issue for everyone is the covering of the fireplace. There are a lot of reasons for this. I did try the sofa against the windows with TV in the corner nook by the sleeping alcove but then the 2 leather lounge chairs would be opposite the couch, blocking the TV, and the TV would be a little too far away. (I know, priorities, right?) We also didn’t want to block one of the windows to the fire escape or have someone sit right in front the AC in the other window. Also didn’t want to face the bed every day while sitting on the couch. Another maybe not so great reason: it’s my trophy couch, and I wanted it to be the first thing seen in the living room. It’s the most money I’ve ever spent on a single object, even though it was over 75% off at a warehouse sale. The couch is from Cassina; it’s the Nest sofa by Piero Lissoni. We would’ve had more flexibility had we gotten a smaller one, but we wanted something with at least 6 ft. seating area for a guest to sleep on… and there wasn’t a smaller one as we got there on the last day of the sale. And I think it’s prettier than the fireplace. Now if our fireplace looked like Kathryn’s, it may be another story.

We did a patch test of the contact paper. It came off without taking any paint or leaving residue. We’ll see how long it lasts.

The window shades: at Ikea, the measurement on the box made us believe we could do an inside mount, but unfortunately it didn’t include the width of the brackets. AND the window tops are very uneven. (or we actually meant to achieve that empire look… yeah! what Curtis said!)

The bed platform should be painted; didn’t get around to it. I don’t bump it cuz it goes pretty much straight up from the floor, no big protrusions at shin level. We made a storage trunk that acts as a step so I can easily walk up to the platform too. Cool party trick: we rotate the bed 90 degrees so more of the platform was exposed to create a long seating area.

The shoe bench I mentioned was actually in the entry area opposite the round mirror. I didn’t end up using the picture, but it is nice as a little shoes-off station. And there’s a string curtain from Mxyplyzyk covering the coat closet behind it. Now I really wish I included that picture.

I made the entry mirror from strips of leather cut from sample swatches wrapped around a plain round mirror.

Haven’t found anything suitable to hang above the dining table. Actually, we have a nice photo we took of Coca Cola bottle at a restaurant in Morocco (looks cooler than it sounds) that we haven’t blown up yet. It’s been on the to do list for about 5 years.

Red Indonesian door between the 2 windows: I didn’t want her staring at me while I was in bed; in truth, she creeps me out a little.

Stephanie, Anne, chris, and optimus (sweet name!): so cool you guys recognized the artists and prints. The Yoshitomo Nara prints in the ‘bedroom’ are the 3 in the 2006 calendar where the characters have their eyes closed. I love the Kozyndan bunny twist on the classic “Wave.” Almost cliché to put it in the bathroom, but whatev. And yes that is a “Giant Robot” magazine cover tryptic. Good eyes, people.

"I didn’t want her staring at me while I was in bed; in truth, she creeps me out a little"

i knew there was something about the owners i liked. woman after my own heart.

i really love this place. so much warmth, so homey without being fussy or cluttered. this looks like a well-designed, artful space that people can actually live in.

fwiw, i don't object to covering up the fireplace--but i agree with an earlier post that it would have been nice to somehow cover up that little sliver behind it. maybe even just rolling up a pretty blanket and resting it on top of the couch?

I was too busy drooling over that red indonesian door to even notice the fireplace cover-up! Love it! Want it! Where did you find it?

My god this is a great place!

you had me at "the brown wall is contact paper"

the red door is absolutely fantastic!!

i too think covering the fireplace with white plywood is a good idea (it's a frustrating image),
and striking the little table near the red door,
to stop crowding her.

A good solution for fireplace hiding is a white fabric-covered short screen. White ultrasuede would rock. (+ a liberal coating of scotchgard) ... and you could use it somewhere anyplace you go, or it stores easily under a bed.

Thanks for the fireplace suggestions.

Covering a fireplace may not jibe with feng shui, but if the darn thing is bricked up anyway, it's already blocked.

Lovely, warm, serene home. My fave!

yay for giant robot junkies on AT! they are such a great resource for interesting prints and housewares. i'm definitely trying out the contact paper thing in my rental. this gets an A+ for inspiration.

Hi MyPhuong and Jacob,

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.

I like your place, especially the sofa. Where does it come from? Also did you make your bed yourselves?

Hey, Kathryn (from Flickr, with the Chicago loft),

First, did your BF work at Draft? I think I know him (Hi, it's me, Yvonne).

Second, where did you get those two sofas? Is the brown one from Room and Board? They are both awesome (as well as your place).

M&J -- your place is SUPER-FAB, btw.

Jules,
The red door is from Elizabeth 260 at 17 Clinton Street. The shop owner has one more.

it's perfect. the art over the bed is something i have purchased myself - therefore, you both rock. good luck ! It's lovely and so lovable!

myphuong, i'm looking to build my own platform bed. how'd you do it? did you get the lumber place to cut the wood to your specs? i just moved into my studio and looking to build one for myself. who.is.the.cluu(a)gmail.com

slthamza de l'agerie