apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

It's an interesting, and yes very small space, but I don't see how this design complements the character of the space. It's a tough space to make work and I think you could make it less busy. The kitchen cabinets you've inherited are pretty homely and would be immeasurably better with under cabinet lighting instead. I like the sofa!

What a great space. Some of your accents are not to my taste (are you celebrating mardi gras?), but what a great space. It looks lived in and loved.

wow! what a fantastic space -- great bones, interesting furniture, and looks well-loved and lived in daily. congratulations.

This is what Boston does best - grand victorian lines, imposing ceilings, tall windows, fantastic brick. Brings me back to my days in Boston...before I left that godforsaken hellhole for New York. Love the lit balls above the doorway. Love the marble fireplace. I like the window treatment also...something about the way the fabric folds is imposing and just shows off the height of the windows. I like the coffee table too, the ridges give it structure and depth and the glass lightens it. What I dislike most is the "vericose vein sofa" and the kitchen cabinets, sort of 15th century monastary. This is nitpicky and I could be wrong, but I should think the wheat above fireplace ought to be removed, it somehow seems to shorten the distance between the ground floor and the loft and I would think that distance ought to be exaggerated not shortened.

babydoll, in a space as small as this with beautiful interior details, minimalism works best. I would go for shaker chairs and a maybe a period style sofa or setee. The way you have it decorated now, is very cluttered with furniture that does not match the space. The beautiful fireplace should be the focal point of this room. That cheap mirror next to the fireplace does nothing to make the space look larger. The kitchen cabinets are horrendous.

I for one, love it. I think the "clutter" makes it feel homey and lived in, and itsn't cluttery at all. I love the pieces, and the very stark difference between they're style and the builing itself.

Do I have helpful comments? No. I normally hate having lots of "things", but something about it feels "right"

Great space, and it looks like you really love where you live. This space is clearly Boston.

i LOVE the architecture. i like the furniture. i really don't like how they look together though.

Architecture of unit is rich and gorgeous (high ceilings, fireplace, dark wood trim, wonderful wooden ladder up to loft). Congrats on finding such a terrific unit.

But the furniture, though quality pieces, seem way too modern for the unit and therefore a mismatch, especially in opening photo.
Rather than accenting and highlighting the strength of the apartment, the modern high-end furniture seem to be competing for attention.

I enjoy how you've made use of the awkward layout of your main room, especially how you featured the offset fireplace with the chaise.
Have you no closets whatsoever? I couldn't even find a dresser for clothing storage. You must own only one pair of shoes.

Makes me miss boston, what a great apartment! I like many of the items in your apartment but I think it could benefit tremendously from some clutter removal. I can tell that you have sentimental items hanging but maybe there is a better, more cohesive way to display them? Or a trunk to put them in? I would go for something really grand (maybe a big mirror, check Home Depot/Expo for some good deals) over the fireplace. It would really open up the space and show off the fireplace.

A mirror over the sofa and an acrylic coffee table (Storehouse) would open things up -- the dark woodwork needs to be balanced by introducing lighter funishings -- in very small spaces transparency works best. I feel this entrant has done a good job in accessorizing the kitchen considering the little they have to work with.

Christina: this is a lovely apartment that made immediately made me miss Boston too. Then I remembered the wretched food, those hideously ugly accents, the abundance of "tails" on the hair of teenage men when you step out of city limits, the lack of nightlife, the stupid layout of the city, the horrible traffic and the smug, idiotic campus politics. Then I didn't miss Boston anymore.

Ouch! There's still some great things in boston. :)
Austin- where in Boston is your apartment? I'm guessing Back Bay/Comm Ave area?

amazing marble fireplace.
for the record, I have a sort of perverse affinity for the varicose sofa, but I don't think it works well in this space...

Those windows are gorgeous. I agree that more minimal furniture would bring the architectural details out. And my nitpicky bit - the coffee tables seem random in the middle of the room. I think it would open up the space if they were in front of the couch. And I think the couch would work better with a solid colored covering. I'd love to see the loft area.

I love it. The colors could be different, but overall I like the space, and I like the treatment. It's lived in, bordering on cluttered, but it feels good, as if the space is used, loved, and comfortable.

This is what apartments in Boston are like? I should move to Boston. What amazing windows. And the crystal doorknobs, and the moldings, and the floors---not that I'm complaining, I love my NY townhouse apartment, but it was hard to find.

Now, for the decor. I agree, the coffee table doesn't look right in the middle of the room like that. I imagine myself sitting on the couch and having to get up every time I want to put my drink down. The color of the rug looks kind of washed out against the floor as well.

The curtains are terrific---you get light control and drama at once, very important for windows like those.

I could totally live in that space. I would probably want to add more color, but sometimes, the architecture is enough!

What's funny about those kitchen cabinets is they are EXACTLY (hardware and all) what my Aunt & Uncle had in their kitchen (we're from Boston as well). I sorta like the juxtaposition of the classic South End (I'm guessing) Brownstone and the modern furnishings.

I agree w/Jonathan, those wheat things could be really cool if they were even higher. The curtains bring the eye up, same should be done over the fireplace.

Oh and no lie, I had a friend who actually had a tail WOVEN IN when he couldn't grow his. Believe it or not though, the rest of those things have actually gotten better, and that's coming from someone who most times can't stand it here.

I think that with all that dark wood everywhere, those kitchen cabinets are kind of fun, actually.

But I dearly love those curtains!

I think I understand why people paint walls white in spaces like this. They're trying to bring in as much light as humanly possible, but I think that the epic scale of those wonderful windows tends to make you count every square inch of the very little wall space when it's so starkly different like that.

I kind of agree with others who say that furniture that's less modern might work better, but since you're pretty likely to keep all you have, I would love to see the walls a mid-tone grey so that the depth of color would be a little closer to the door frames, but they could still be cool enough to still contrast in a way. I think that might help reconcile everything and tie it in together better.

I also think that a more epic presence above the fireplace would be good. That might be the best place for a huge mirror, or something with a substantial frame on it to flesh out what's going on with the huge gorgeous mantel.

My wife's family all have those ugly boston accents. Take a bunch of really smart people, add a Boston accent, and it's amazing how stupid it makes them sound.

I've seen lots of designs that fuse modern with period, and it seems to me that it's very hard to do it right. This is a great effort, and while there are things I don't like (the kitchen cabinets, the checkerboard kitchen floor, the turned railings of the loft, the coffee table, and the window treatments--all of which are too fussy for me), I think this is a valiant effort. Love the paper lanterns above the door. Very dramatic. And the chaise looks great with the rest of the place. A good effort, overall.

I'm torn. Part of me thinks, why CAN'T you have modern furniture with victorian architecture?

But part of me wants to see a wrought-iron candelabra and some vintage stained glass in here. What's wrong with 15th-century monastery? I don't mind the kitchen cabinets.

I love the windows and the drapes, like everyone else, the drama, the folds, wow. Is there anywhere else for your imac? I'd love some weathered-wood diamond-cube wine racks stacked there instead. (On top of the stove is probably the worst place to store wine.)

The paper lanterns above the door-frame moldings are a perfect example of mixing modern with period, and doing it right.

I don't know about the rest, but I can't give you any good reasons why, or what to do better.

I was about to say that I hate how the chrome looks in here, but maybe that checkerboard tile can bring it together a little? I don't mind it so much.

Maybe it was the four glasses of wine that made it seem right to place that mirror there? Function vs. Form would explain that one, but not the MardiGras masks and in-full-view feather boa.

Loving the doorway and ball lamps, though.
One suggestion : a hospital curtain to separate the kitchen from the rest of the space.

http://www.cubiclecurtainfactory.com/products.htm

I guess my white trash roots are showing because I think Boston and especially true Maine accents are hot. The woven-in rat tail tale did make me shudder though.

Wow. I love how tastefully you blended the old classic Boston elegance with contemporary design. It's not easy getting the warm earth-tones of the brick and wood to mix with the cooler black-and-white-and-chrome of modern furniture, but you did it very successfully. I think the marble fireplace and kitchen floor help make that all happen too. The repetition of chrome and the simple use of color are just right; the spacing of the furniture is perfect; I love the positioning of the chaise. You've done exactly what this contest was after -- you've put a full house of useful living in a small space without cramping or having overdone anything. You inspired me to plan another visit to Boston!

Oooh! What a great place! It looks comfortable and chic all at the same time. Your window treatments do fabulous things for those great windows. These photos inspire me to take a road trip to Boston, stat. Fantastic work!

This space makes me want to subdivide my 700-sf house into three units. It's so cozy when every nook and cranny has to be carefully used - like a boat.

But I think there might be a Victorian murder victim behind the curtains.

considering the size of the room, i think this is an amazing success. combining good modern furniture within the victorian shell is very nice. i agree with someone who said the kitchen cabinets in the place are a horror. but under cabinet lights would remove their visual impact...and maybe a folding screen.

i don't see ANY clutter. other than the computer, it looks like you don't own much but furniture. the things you have are nicely placed.

would love to see pics of your bed loft and the shelves, though.

not trying to debate, but rather understand. i still don't understand the negative clutter statements. at least this one of the entries that look as if someone lives in the space. in my thinking people tidy up before they take pics of their apartments. even the "sterile" entries aren't like that everyday (box of cereal on the counter or something mucking it up).

but beyond that i like the lantern treatment. she used an awkward space to her advantage. nice job.

Been lurking for years, finally giving my two cents.

Lovely details in the space, one of the thing I miss in my own nyc white box rental. The thing that struck me though, is the fact there seems to be no real usuable table. The coffee tables are in the middle of the room...where exactly do you eat? In a recent domino magazine, there was a coffee table that coule be raised up to standard height. That may be a more useful option.

Is this a rental? because if not I'd get rid of that Home Depot railing in the loft, and the kitchen cabinets, asap. You've done a great job of creating contrast between High Victorian and High Modern with your furniture, you've just got to clean up some middle-of-the-road details. Totally simple laminate in the kitchen (coming down on the High Modern side) and some kind of industrial metal railing on the loft, and industrial stairs. If it is a rental, new kitchen cabinet doors anyway. And get rid of that coffee table and replace it with a noguchi or something. It looks like the only thing that survived when the tornado blew grandma's house away. Otherwise a really cool place.

An aside: y'all don't think that New York accent sounds stupid?

Love how proud people are of their homes, and how brave they are to submit to such scrutiny. That said, I agree with the person who's wondering who's lurking behind those curtains.

The laterns work great, like Anna said, as a mix of modern and victorian. I wish I could say the same for the rest of the apartment. Unfortunately I just don't think the space seems comfortable. I am however impressed with anyone who can live in 288 sq. ft. and put any effort into creating a comfortable feel. The space obviously works for you, but I agree with the "cluttered" comments. It doesn't necessarily take lots of stuff to create clutter. Simply having the "wrong" stuff will create a sense of clutter even if there is ample space. I would go minimalist modern leaving the bones of the apartment to add the drama and texture.

Too many textural elements make the space seem cluttered.

Suggestions: remove the rushes (grasses?) from above the fireplace, replace the curtains with thick paper shades in white (the beautiful moldings are accent enough), toss the afghan on the chaise, and replace the rug under the coffee table with something not so... ruggish? maybe something in a smaller black and white check to pick up the tiles in the kitchen. Four itty bitty Eames tables in black and white would be beautiful, and would greatly compliment your Wassily chair.

I meant "complement."

Too many textural elements make the space seem cluttered.

thanks, erendiragirl. from that perspective, i agree with the clutter argument. some things could be streamlined. the table in relationship to the couch and the reeds on the fireplace are taking away from the space. but overall there is a lot going for the place.

I personally enjoy the mystery as to what is or is not lurking behind the curtains ... the coffee table is not centered on the rug ... courageous and refreshing ... the fireplace will ultimately be your Waterloo ... should you embrace it as a focal point or not???

I'm always wanting to glimpse the insides of these great old Boston homes, so this is a treat -- from the built-in stuff (high ceilings, woodwork, fireplace) to the decor.

I never heard a couch referred to in medical terms (varicose veins? but ain't they red?) -- what I mainly noticed was the quirky echo it gives back to the checkerboard kitchen floor, and somehow the black-&-chrome chairs fit in with that too.

I love the eclectic touches -- the modern and the old and the theatrical (the drapes seem all of those, given the modern liking for gathered drapes that come from the theater or the good ole days). That's what some of my favorite pics from British bohemians offer, in buildings of similar age.

And hey! you clutter mutterers: what ARE you talking about? Don't you see all that lovely wood flooring? Don't you see basic articles for every day use, with a few jazzy adornments? The place would be stark and without character if you took things away from it.

Go Austin go!

Doth mine eyes see heaven?

Not since my days in the wild Ottoman empire have I seen such magnificence and "saveur exotique".

A million thanks for this illustrious experience in interior wonder.

Godspeed, sir. Godspeed.

Being a bostonian with neither a rats-tail nor the bitterness to take out my feelings toward the city on you...

I absolutely love what you've done with such a spacially-limited layout. It is clear from these pictures that you have given this apartment a totally fresh look using/in defiance of its pre-existing elements. As many have said, this apartment looks like someone actually LIVES IN IT, while also maintaining its class and cleanliness.

To the contrary of what most people have said, I think the couch makes a wonderfully bold statement - I get a feeling that if we were to be given the opportunity to see the whole apartment, its relation would be far more clear. I love the way its organic shapes (in conjunction with the paper lamps on top of the closet) are in such sharp contrast to the straight lines and squares/rectangles found through the rest of the apartment.

Overall, I love it!

Oh your place is darling. I can't believe I have never crashed your place for drinks!

This is another space where a little bit of rearranging and a little bit of purging would go a long way. Move the couch and table in front of the fireplace. Move the chaise in front of the windows. Move the desk and that small shelving unit against the entry door wall, where the couch is now. Now, you can sit on the couch and you won't see the kitchen or the desk. Nothing should be visible in the kitchen besides the kettle--there is already way too much going on with that woodwork and the checkerboard tile. Get a solid dishcloth. Get a trash can that fits under the sink. The urn thing and the stool it is on can go. Take everything off the mantel except the candles. I don't consider bottles or glasses decorative, so put them away. Pick one or two favorite pieces of art for the walls, then take everything else down. That should be enough to get you started. ;)! P.S. I LOVE Boston, and I would LOVE to have an apartment like yours, old with nice features. The windows are spectacular.

I really enjoy your combination of the modern furniture with the old architecture of the apartment. Lovely job!

Austin - ignore all the haters. This place is wicked pissa. Where, specifically, did you find the fabric for the drapes?

I love the apartment!!! The architecture itself and the furniture/decorations have so much character and warmth. you've made great use of the small, limited space and have successfully integrated modern pieces into the room. i love the curtains on the huge gorgeous windows, and the lit-up ball lanterns are an especially nice touch.

and in terms of such a small studio, avoiding clutter would basically require not having any furniture or belongs at all...so i think that you have successfully avoided as much clutter as possible in a small studio. There is lots of beautiful hardwood floor exposed and there is plenty of space to move around...you've managed to make it look homey, lived-in and loved without it being too busy or cluttered! It definitely looks like the kind of place perfect for having both small evening parties as well as curling up for an afternoon of reading on the sofa.

Austin- Was this space advertised in craigslist last year - it's over near Symphony Hall? It just reminded me of a rental I saw about a year ago posted there. Anyway... Nice fireplace, brick exposure, and that great sleeping space. It looks like you're in a brownstone. Don't you just love them?

BTW - your name totally fits your shagadelic pad, especially the sofa and the rainbow boa. YEAHHHH BABBBY!

Classy yet comfortable. You're doing Boston proud, Austin.

I love this! You have combined aspects of your personality with what the apartment has to offer. Your apartment has one of the most beautiful fireplaces I've ever seen. I adore the sofa! I appreciate your use of combining modern furnishing with the victorian architecture! Gorgeous!

Why shy away from the inherent grandeur of the space?

I personally think the apartment is all you..... I think everything in it shows stuff about who you are... I love it..

This apartment had all of its charm before it was furnished. None of what the occupant has done enhances it. Those reedy things on the mantel read sea grass and nothing else in this space is reminiscent of the ocean front.

Um, clown boa?

cornflake,
only to you.

austin,
love the varicose vein sofa. love the jean harlow noir computer/window treatment. love the spheres. i like the tall bouquet idea and i think some of that gnarly corkscrew wood would be beautiful for winter. pussy willows for spring. etc. beautiful apartment, the mix is the key.

i think i'd make the coffee table more convenient, ie., turn it into tiny side and or end tables by each chair.

very different, love the couch

I am continually dismayed at how contestants seem to take beautiful spaces with good bones and ruined them with less than appropriate furniture. I for one hate it.

I disagree with the person who said the modern furniture went well with the architecture of the apartment. I think that the sofa is great, but the rest of the pieces should have had more solid cube-like (or club-like) weight to them. The wassily chair just looks like clutter -- airy pieces like that need a lot of white space around them to make them pop. And there is too much going on around that great door. Love what you did with the mantle though. Hate that little computer desk -- even if there were nothing on it, it would look like clutter.