apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

i absolutely love the quilt on the bed, and the soft colors really work in this space. beautiful and clean. love it.

I love how clean and simple it is, but still comfortable and lived in.

I love some of the furniture -- I'm a total sucker for horseshoe chairs and all forms of square-edged cabinets with lots of drawers, plus I have a destined-never-to-be-fulfilled "thing" for Danish Modern. But this looks under-accessorized to me, and I'm usually in favor of bare surfaces.

Well done.

wow DC is rocking the house.

That's a nice place. Close up on the artwork in the den during the finalist stage, please.
Thanks,

I'll have to walk down the hall to check it out in person!! Looks awesome, y'all. Perfect!!

Nice work, guys--this is one of my favorite entries. Very tasteful furniture, especially the side chairs. I would suggest following your own advice and losing the metal bookshelves in the large room. The shot with the sofa also seems to be missing something--perhaps more visual interest or color on the wall to the left (from my perspective). Overall, though, this is a winner in all the ways that count: good use of color, nice pieces, good repurposing of the dining room, and very comfortable looking. I'd be curious to know why several people gave this a "no way." None of them appears to have left a comment.

I believe your square footage quote, and perhaps I have been in a studio too long, but dear god this place looks huge (in plan and pics).

So jaded am I from "no interior doors save for bathroom" that this place, and floorplan, looks like a total cakewalk to me. But still shows great style and a really restrained aesthetic.

Winston--
Minimalists have not been fairing too well of late. Unless they show a cat in the pic. Then the place goes wild.

very calming atmosphere

I enjoyed that Good Eye website. Thanks,

I love the way you painted the wall with the white lamp. It makes the space seem larger. What a great idea!

Good "Shout Out" for Good Eye....they inspired me years ago to get into Mid-Century design....they always have new and interesting pieces.

Your place looks great BTW!

Art on the den wall.

I think it is this...
http://www.finnstyle.com/malugr.html

How weird - I made a comment on LA open thread yesterday referring to using this fabric in the exact same way...

http://tinyurl.com/ez8ee

Would you mind revealing where that lovely quilt came from on your bed?

Holly

and you have a balcony! i really like this space, you have some nice pieces of furniture and the color of the quilt on the bed is so pretty. i think what impresses me most is that those floors can really turn me off but here they look fantastic! you really worked with them and i'm impressed with that because i find that task daunting. really nice, and thanks for the fabric tip.

Since Winston asked...I voted no way...I hate following up on my "no ways," because I don't like not saying nice things. So, nice things about this is that I like the wall color and quilt. My no way vote was because I don't see anything particularly interesting or innovative about it. I was trying to decide between the middle vote and the last one. The places that get my "insta-finalist" votes do a lot with a little (not necessarily budget) and really make an impact. This just seems "nice," but not particularly innovative--and it's so hard for me to look at someone's nearly 650 sf 1 br with dining nook in comparison to some of the small studios out there (for the record I have a 1 br that is about 450/500 sf...so it's not that I live in a studio--but those are the ones I'm most impressed with).

god love good eye! my family is from d.c. and i make sure to stop in whenever i'm home. all my large pieces (including an 8 foot long gondola sofa) were shipped up to nyc from them...great guys! A+ to you!

I think Megan and Jamie have done a lovely job with the space. And the furniture is beautiful and the space tasteful.

But, Winston, I really like to see entrants who have not only beautiful living spaces, but creative kitchen and bath areas. For me, it fits into the "special challenge" aspect of the competition to make the kitchen and bath areas appealing, decorative, special or highly functional. I know we only get 5 pictures, but I like to get a sense for at least one of those areas.

I'm getting a good energy vibe from this one. Each piece seems at peace(!) where it is and relates to the other pieces well.(This is Apartment therapy!)

Christine (the one in DC)--
The way I get around that, since "No Way!" always seems so harsh, is to *not vote* at all if I don't think it makes my list of top contenders.

Granted, the longer the contest goes, the easier that gets since I have stuff to compare each new entry to. Which is why I rarely vote for anything in the first week or so... but then I go back and vote once I have a better sense of the entire field.

ps: Christine, I think you did a fine job in explaining your negative vote in a way that was not too personal or snarky. You could/should give lessons!! ;)

ps: DC and West Coast are making super-duper strong showings...

I will add, though, that I was hoping to see some modern takes on Federal style from our nation's capitol.. since that is how one of my (many!) fantasy apartments is decorated... "DC Federal Chic."

A boy can dream.

Another follow-up on Winston. I voted "no way" and did comment. Love the furniture; think the place needs some accessories with punch. I might have voted higher for a place with creative storage/arrangement plans rather than straight minimalism.

At this point, I'm feeling burned-out on "boutique hotel" entries with a mid-century modern feel. They're all lovely to see. They're all based on the same fundamental aesthetic. And I can no longer tell them apart.

None of them provides guidance for incorporating a hobby -- or any quirkly personal tastes, or even significant storage -- into the design. The answer is always to "edit" anything quirky or unusual or space-demanding out of one's home, in favor of a neutral-toned look that could pass as an expensive hotel.

Clearly, this works for many people, and I applaud them for creating beautiful spaces that work for them. But I've done enough business travel that I don't want to come home to something that looks like a hotel! My home is for *self*-expression, and I've never pretended not to be kind of weird.

Laura: I also have a vintage 8ft long gondola sofa! I've had it for years and have always loved it but I'm just now considering trading in for a smaller more practical piece of furniture. Any tips on how you use and decorate around your sofa would be appreciated. I hate to get rid of it but it's becoming unwieldy!

P(too), I waited a little to start voting too. I like to think of myself as diplomatic...in DC, apropos, no? Seriously, if I can't think of something nice to say or something I feel is constructive, I try not to say anything at all.

Wende, well put, too. I like the plug for hobbies, too, because i have lots of supply stuff I store, and I always wonder: where do people put this stuff? Am I weird?

I think the end result of my voting is that I have a few in the top and bottom categories and a lot in the middle category. The bottom category is too severe to put something nice into that I don't necessarily think is coolest or special or innovative. So my middle category covers a huge spectrum. If the bottom category was named differently, I might vote that way more often. I think there's something to be said for a 5-category rating system.

yeah for weird! and for having some stuff, we've all got it.

No Christine, you are not wierd. I have hobbies/pursuits/interests and a lot of books and - surprise - political memorabilia. I agree with you and Wende.

And, I envy your occupation/profession (tried to get into planning law school) AND your square footage.

I've been called "bohemian" and "a free spirit" --but that's just what's been within earshot. Perhaps those terms fit for Wende, you, me, and several entrants.

Jean, Don't envy me too much...I could never do planning law or any law! I like doing downtown revitalization analysis, but it has its boring moments, for sure! And, not sure if that's my actual SF...but I tried to measure the place once, and I think that's what it is from wall to wall. I do love my apartment, though! Neighborhood could have more retail/service nearby, but it could be worse!

Pixie, I think you're right about the 5-category system. I can't choose between the 3 half the time.

I like the color scheme the best. You got the tones just right.

I get warm fuzzies with these mid-C designs because my mother had our house like that when I was a kid (she was late to the trend, I'm not that old!). It's funny, the only difference between then and now is that now you don't see those fabulous ash trays on every flat surface in the house.

Still, 647 sq.ft. seems like such a huge amount of space to work with...

The one thing I will give you extra props for is for using the dining alcove for seating. I think that lends the whole space a more gracious,"old world" (not quite the right phrase...) "residential" air.

I think, as I've said in other minimalist posts, this could use the teensy-tiniest extra layer of color (but as wonderfully muted as your home is now) and "stuff" (but as wonderfully curated as your home is now).

That lamp is so familiar! Where is it from?

yawn. i'm more excited about the entries that have really innovative solutions or components. this is a totally nice apartment, but there's nothing "wow" about it. so, that's my explanation about why i don't think it's the smallest, coolest, apt.

Maxwell,
Re: ChristineDC & P2's comments about harshness of "No way Jose," how about switching back to "Not my pick" that used to be an option?

This is very grown-up looking as you say, and tasteful to the max. I guess that explains why it is not one of my favorites:)

It is really beautiful, subtle, and clean-lined, but there is nothing that inspires me personally. It looks like many different types of people could live here comfortably.

Mr. Short-Term Memory here, who can't remember exactly how I just voted, although methinx I said the middle category. But man! You gotta love the photography in this entry. Those chairs look very nice the photographs.

Wow, thanks for all of the comments -both complimentary and critical! It's kinda weird to expose one's living space to the critical Apartment Therapy eye, but it's fascinating to read what complete strangers make of it. Rock on AT.

Oh and FYI, the duvet cover is 7 or 8 years old from IKEA. The fabric wall hanging in the den is from Marimekko (textilearts.com) and the floor lamp is from Random Harvest with a shade from Pottery Barn. Wishbone chairs from hivemodern.com.

I really like the marimekko canvas and the space is very light and airy.
I must say however, that this seems like a standard one bedroom and not a great challenge in terms of space. Thank you for sharing.

This looks really grown-up (in a good way).

Megan, Love Random harvest! I've only been to the one in Alexandria, though...thanks for sharing the apartment with all the critics on here (me included--and notice I don't have MY apartment in the contest--yeah, there's a reason for that!) :)

Definitely nicest entry from D.C. You seem to have a great touch for picking AND combining good pieces. Also, your pieces, while mid-c, are not the standard picks that continually appear in AT entries. Maybe I also like it 'cause it looks so Danish (blue rug, Hans Wegner, etc.). Yep, you basically had me at the wishbone chairs.

(Of course, now that Room & Board has begun carrying those same chairs, will I get tired of seeing them crop up in next year's AT entries? I hope not.)

I think this shows how a few (or a hundred) extra square feet of floor space really make a difference. It would be great to have room to turn around in a place like this!

I love this. It's so frigging classy I could just die. When I grow up (again), this is what I want my place to look like.

Thanks, Megan! But I guess I should have specified *which* lamp! I was thinking about the white-on-white table lamp.

Nice. What's with the odd fetal-chicken art?

Hi Sandra,
The white ceramic table lamp is from Hold Everything. Have fun!

The furniture placement is perfect. I love the furniture pieces also and agree with the person above who stated that using the dining nook as a seating area gave this place extra oomph.

To unify the space a bit more, I would have carried the color scheme into the kitchen (it IS possible to paint kitchen cabinets) and I also would have put in unified shelving (even hidden by doors) instead of the metal plus other unit. (There is an entry in this contest where the people put in floor-to-ceiling doors; that would be an excellent idea here.) Also, I would please ask this couple to install some sort of lighting over their art in the den. (I think there are battery-powered picture lights available somewhere.)

This design is versatile: I see spaces that could be used for different purposes throughout the apartment.

I envy this couple; they have wonderful taste and a lot of imagination. Insta-finalist vote from me!

Megan, I checked and didnt see the lamp in hold everything. By the way, like your place. please gimme a little more details about the white lamp.

I can see how much care and consideration went into choosing the furniture, the layout and the colors. It is a cozy space where, when I visit, I can feel very at home and comfortable. Great painting in the bedroom. . . who is the artist? This apartment is a sure winner!

I really love this place. I also love the table lamp on the side table in the first pic. Can you please tell me where you got it?!? I looked at Hold Everything but it's not there.

Great work. Congratulations

WOW! Can't wait to see your place in person! Peyton will love crawling all over :) Sometimes you imagine a whole different perspective of how things would look. I was way off on this one! Finally after almost eight years I will get the privilege!

Good luck with it- you have my vote!

Not sure if the posters, Megan and Jamie, are reading this, but can you tell me the color paint (and the manufacturer) that you are using in the living room? It's a fantastic color because it changes so dramatically with the interplay of light and shadow... Overall the place is in the top 2 of my list...

Hi Danny,
Since we are renters and can't really paint the whole place, we chose to do a few color blocks that can easily be primed over when we decide to move. The base wall color that was here when we moved in and remains is Duron Bone White. The beige block on the living room wall is Duron Siena Sand and it really is a great color to live with. On the opposite wall is a large block of Duron Apple Peel which really brightened up the dulling 8 year old wall color and expanded the room. In the bedroom, which we don't have shown in a photo, is a block of Duron Stucco Greige which is also a very soothing color. Our base color was a flat paint so we also used the flat finish on all three blocks. Thanks so much for your comments.

The White lamp...
It appears that it is no longer available at Hold Everything. The number on the lamp base is 6899413. They do, however, have a smaller version of the same lamp with a striped shade. See the Hold Everything website and look under Sale Rugs and Lighting -ceramic kids lamp with shade $19.99.

Why she didn't take a picture of her organized closet cleverness I don't know. This would show a creative use of space AND her hobby. I just love Megan -- she folds her underwear into tiny packets.

While some people do have less "stuff" cluttered around, consider that these places are photographed one room at a time, and undeniably "set". There's nothing wrong with that, I've photographed my prior apartments for show for sale, and anyone who knows what their doing stages these photos. People often comment on how impeccably clean and organized my apartment is, yet there is always a little pile of papers on the bedside table, and some mail on the coffee table, I just know to push it in a drawer, or close the bedroom door when guests come over, and move it 'out of frame' when I photo is being taken. Even a junk filled apartment can look tidy and minimal in photos if you move the junk from one room to the next when you photograph. I'm not saying anyone here is going to that length, but generally these photo essays are presented as the ideal state of our being... as they should be.

Sela,

If you do decide to get rid of your sofa, let me know; I may be interested. Feel free to forward pics -- my 'name' is hyperlinked.

Well, at least you can pick up my email address (sans 'http://') from the hyperlink.

Stupid coding ... stuff.

Megan,

Great apartment, as has been reiterated here!

Can you detail where you got another one of your awesome items? The sofa?

And, thanks for the link to Good Eye. Great little shop.

Thank you for mentioning our store and website! And thanks for the positive feedbacks - your apartment looks fabulous! -Travis & Skip, owners of Good Eye 20th Century Interiors, Washington, D.C.

Everything is so organized and tastefully
decorated. Has to rank near the top in
this catagory. Getting info about Good
Eye website a great place to find Danish
Modern.

Hey Designmag junkie - the sofa is the Theater Sofa from DWR in Khaki leather. I'm still paying it off but I love it!