apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Excellent colors - first thing that draws me in to a clean yet inviting atmosphere. Very practical but inspiring room arrangement. It feels like a place that I could be at home in and also focus to create anything from an amazine breakfast to a first rate mystery novel.

Great bedroom -- immediately draws me in. Wish I could see the headboard better. Overall, looks very cozy. Hard to believe it's only 388 sq. ft.

Everyone in this contest has done amazing jobs. So many great places! And AT is quickly becoming one of my favorite resources too!

I also think the colors make it clean .

I love how colorful the space is ... it really brings the apartment to life. And I love the artwork on the walls.

All my best,
Phyllis G.

Love the colors in the bedroom--not ones I'd choose for my bedroom, which is I think why I like it so much!

I'd love to see bigger pictures, and I think you're allowed one more, aren't you? I like the colors very much.

Beautiful. Would love to know the exact paint choices/brands. Good luck!

Love, love, love the bathroom!

The bathroom is so beautiful! Great tiles, and I love that you offset them with white.

You make it sound like pre-war was your second choice! It wouldn't have been for me, that's for sure. And the layout is perfect, with nice big windows in every room---you're lucky.

In any case, you've done exactly the right things---revealed the beautiful "bones" of the place, made the most of the high ceilings, used color for effect---very nice tile work in the bathroom too.

i really like the dining table with benches, rather than chairs. the ability to tuck the benches under the table to conserve space if necessary is one of those little things that can go a long way. where did you find the table/bench set? my apartment could use one of those...

I love the paint choices and the window treatments in the bedroom, especially.

Wow! Devon and Nick are definitely winners! I want to curl up in their bedroom, drink Pelligrino in their kitchen, and dine on that beautiful wooden table. The colors are warm and the design is inviting... a great space indeed!

I really like the apartment. The colors are very crisp, and it does look lived-in even though it's very tidy.

I'd love to see another photo, too. How about one with a detail of the stripped doors and moldings? However, I imagine you had a tough time with the camera angles. I'm assuming it's the result of the photo lense, because otherwise I don't know how you open the oven or dishwasher!

I agree, excellent color choices here. I especially love the tiles in the bathroom and how crisp the white fixtures and accessories make it.

One small quirk, though.... looking at the photo of the bedroom, the bed is on the same wall tha the closet is. The bed can't possibly fit between the resulting space between the closet and the windows. Have you possibly removed the closet? Or shown it in the wrong location?

Other than that small observation, which really doesn't affect the quality of the submission, I think this is a great apartment.

fantastic way to utilize space - nicely done.
-Liz

Love what you've done with the place... really like the colors in the bedroom! And the wall of masks outside the bathroom. Do you have a view of the river from the window by the dining table?

Curious, is the white 'band' on the bedroom walls some sort of duct for wiring? Asking 'coz we just had the cable folks wire our place and the tracks look so bad - yours fit in nicely with the trim on the shades.

Congrats on a great job!

I really like the paint job in the bedroom. I am sure that David Hicks, the swell London 60's designer (may he rest in peace), would thoroughly approve of the colors, the white stripe across the top and the red borders on the Roman blinds. Totally his style.

Fabulous! I also would love to know the specific brands and names for the paint colors.

LOVE your bathroom.

The bathroom is fabulous! Love the tile.

I think the kitchen is claustrophobic. I would have made do with less kitchen for more turning space. The color in the bedroom seemed to fussy, but that's maybe a question of taste.

One thing that sets this place apart is the lack of clutter. Too often people submit photos of places jammed with stuff--and not cool, interesting stuff.
I love stuff, and have lots, but if I was entering this contest, I'd store most of it out of camera range.

Hi D&N
Wondering if you can open your dishwasher fully? (And would you need to?)

Response:

Thank you to everyone for your comments on our beloved apartment

I will get back to everyone with the exact brand of the paint tomorrow (once I can get home from work and look at the swatches)

Beastie: We are actually able to open the dishwasher in the kitchen, but it is tight - to deal with this, we took off the handle of the bottom drawer and filled the holes with metal caps - which actually has a nice effect - then the opened dishwasher door fits perfectly

Bathroom Tiles: They are grey, white and neutral glass mosaic tiles from Ann Sacks

New-to-AT: The white band in the bedroom is the original pre-war frame molding - our cable wire is snuggly set into the base molding

Heather: The dining table and benches are from Crate and Barrel - we love the table and we have had dinner parties of 10 around it (using the radiator under the window as an extra bench!)

Thanks again to you all - I will continue to respond to any questions

I really like the look of this place but it's the bathroom that really gets it over the top. Gorgeous tiles.

i'll second ruth!

Love this place! Can you tell me what you used to strip the trim? I've tried everything at the hardware store (peel away, jasco, etc) and my hundred year's worth of paint just doesn't want to come off! If you've got any tips on that I'd appreciate it.

D&N

I think that your apartment shows exceptional good taste, especially given it's size. So inviting, warm, and liveable. You guys have alot of class. You must have been raised well.

I'd move in ... in a NY heartbeat.

ellie

As an owner of a pre-war myself, I love the bathroom. It is such a stuggle to balance the old and the new in such a space.

But there is nothing like living in a pre-war. They don't build them like they used to.

Damn I love those prewar tiled bathrooms.

Great spaces----particularly like the kitchen and bath, and both with WINDOWS, no less.

Love the Yaeger bottle

Such a cozy apartment, and such a great job making the space look so much bigger than it really is! Can I move in NOW?

The apartment seems both stylish AND livable and I adore the bedroom. Can you tell me where you got your shades?

The right color, the right camera angle, and the clever lighting make it look clean and sophisticated in the same time.

This entry does a great job of reflecting the owners' specific design tip: the value of investing in a first-class strip 'n paint job and making the most of the bones of your home. Everyone seems to respond positively to both these elements (even if some don't like your color choices).

There may not be a central WOW factor here, but I am really impressed with your restraint and technique.

Way cool. Great job.

lovely. the red in the bedroom is a but harsh for my taste, and i'm not loving the colors overall. i heart the bathroom design a lot though. and the kitchen is gorgeous.

Devon and Nick,

This apartment is NYC cool but with a warm and cozy appeal-modern yet inviting-You certainly did alot with a small place. Great colors and trim..

Gina
March 23, 2006

Lovely apartment! The sideboard in the living room is my fav piece. Do you mind divulging where it was purchased from? I've been looking for one forever.

Million Dollar Red is a Benj Moore color

D&N,

First of all - congratulations, beautiful design... love the pre-war modern look. Secondly - Did you actually do all the work yourself or hire contractors. We are in the process of buying our first ever apartment and are unfortunately not DIYers. We need some help with identifying contractors and don't know where to start... would appreciate any recommendations for reasonable contractors (floors, skim walls, closets, kitchen & bath).

Thanks,
JD

PS: Apt is in NYC East Side.

oh, for such a bathroom i would sell my soul (to the person who did the tile)!

Pre-war tiled bathrooms? Isn't that Bissazza tile? Is Fritz being a bit snide? I love the bathroom -- tile, color, design and all. I did a Bissazza bath in my own place. I like your use of color in the bedroom, too.

wow.. I love your bathroom! And I have to ask
about the kitchen counter..is it seamless with the sink?
Is it Dupont Corian? Sooo nice.

This is what I call a correct renovation-or rather rehabilitation. (compared to today Meg's entry).
I congratulate you, Devon, on your choice of furniture,too. Btw, saw that Big Sur dining table and bench of yours yesterday at C&B' Designer' breakfast, and checked it in my brochure. Along with Nova.They're not exactly D&D material, but much better done than other imitations.

Lovely! But as someone who loves vintage tile, the renovated bathroom and kitchen make me a bit sad. For me, the charm of the pre-war is in some of the details that you guys have replaced, like the tiles [unless, of course, you were updating a 70s era "update" that was hideous, in which case, bravo. :)]. Just not my taste, I guess!

I love the red bedroom, though.

Yeah, a Herge print! I love Tin Tin.

I'm wondering how wide the traffic aisle is in the kitchen. Is its narrowness a trick of the angle and the tall window, because it looks too small to open up that oven door.

Per Devon: "Bathroom Tiles: They are grey, white and neutral glass mosaic tiles from Ann Sacks"

I don't think Ms. Sacks is pre-war. :)

I would willingly pay way over the odds for this place. Hope the bidding war is not too frenzied!

I too am dying to know the name of the tan color on the bedrooms wall. I have a red runner on my steps and have been looking for a tan wall color to compliment the red.

There is NO WAY in a million years I would ever guess the square footage of your apartment! Your very savy use of space, sleek design and great sense of style makes the apartment look spacious and inviting. Great job! Will you come help me decorate mine?! : )

Any idea where he got the floor lamps in his bedroom?

Very Sharp. I like the overall consistency of the space and love the bathroom.

Dig the living room. Neo and Seraph should be fighting on the table.

Very impressive when one considers the size of the apartment that Nick @ Devon had to work with. Obviously one or both of them must have had some interior design training or it is a natural talent.

Very NY, but very warm! Shows exceptional good taste and gives you the feeling that a large family gathering could take place there. And it should!

This apartment breaks one of the cardinal rules of small spaces: to keep the color schemes unified throughout. And yet, it works so very well. The choice of table and benches makes the apartment work terrifically; it can accomodate a number of functions and makes the space feel larger.

What a superb job!

I have the same bedroom set from BoConcept and I love it.

hey guys. great use of space and a pretty trendy sink in the bathroom. I especially like the cool art work. The belgian homage to Tintin ties in all the colours in the living room nicely...very designer! I also like the way the colour of the window frames in the bedroom match the picture frames/headboard etc. Million dollar red is daring yet effective and the blinds give the room a hint of the oriental. Overall a great modern feel with lots of thought put into it. great work guys!
cheers,
joe m

hello,
The texture the colour and the structure of the decor scream 'insta-modern'. Crisp lines yet a comfortable visage. A definite insta-finalist.

I was so close to clicking the first button based on the first set of tables until I saw the living space. :(
The dining table and benches feel too large for the space and the couch and credenza placement only emphasize the long narrow feel of the living area. The paint colour is just to bland for that room too.
Everything else is fantastic.

Sorry to be pestery, but I'd still love to know the specific name and details for the pale avocado color.

Thanks!

I really love this apartment. I love the color palette and the clean lines of everything. It is very hard to believe that this place is less than 400 sq. ft.

Folks - thanks again for all your comments. To answer as best we can:

Mo - Door/Doorframe Stripping - we got our unfortunate contractor to do it after a couple of disastrous attempts myself.

Susan - sideboard was from ABC Carpet and Home - superb home store in NYC. Alot of unique pieces.

JD - Contractors: We unfortunately did not have good experiences and would not recommend the ones we used.

Burpee - yes, it is a corian countertop and sink, and we are very happy with both

Jessica M: Have no fear - the kitchen and bathroom were in disastrous shape - worse than from the 70's

Valerie: The wide-angle lense distorted the kitchen view - there is plenty of room for us to both be in there and both the dishwasher and oven doors open fully

Britt: I am sorry - we don't have the tan swatch anymore

Christopher: I'm not sure if this will make you happy or sad, but the lamps are from IKEA.

Swampy: Pale Avocado is from Benj Moore

And for anyone interested, Million Dollar Red is also Benj Moore.

Thanks again - we have loved reading the comments.

Devon & Nick

If Martha Stewart were a dude, she'd live here. That's a compliment, by the way. I'm a bit out of words at the moment as my eyes are still dilated by Dixie's entry. (Also a compliment.)

The living area is my favorite. Beautiful balance of color and space without being clinical. A feast of chillout honeydew after a long day of you know, Manhattan.

don't tell me you have 2'3 in that kitchen to turn around in. that's pretty crazy :-)

the bathroom tile is so camo meets computer board. love it!

nice space :)

Great job on the bathroom! The apartment has beautiful colors--warm and inviting. This place is perfect!

completely love the paint in the bedroom...

This apartment is in my Top 3 because it uses white as an accent, not as the main event. I love bold colours in the bedroom, and the general use of non-whites.

I absolutely love the color selection and the modern updates. I've seen tons of apartments for sale these days and watched plenty on HGTV to say this apartment would sell in a flash, if put on the market. It's very warm and cozy!

how did you drill holes into the tile in your bathroom? i have completely tiled walss in mine and have no idea on how to tackle this. any info would be tremendous.