apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Lovely, ladies! The only thing that bothers me is the rough edge of the desk - but I applaud your refusal to demand all brand new objects.

Did you refinish your floors? What was the stain recipe? I like the colour.

the indoor/outdoor connection to your garden is so drool-worthy of course, i see great things happening out there (you've got to have a cherry tree!)

I love your place and I'm so glad you're in the finals. Go ladies!

I love this place too, and I'm so glad you made the finals! One small question: where did you get the "caddy" near the door (for keys, etc.). I'm looking for something very similar.

Love it, always and forever.

Love. It.

I soooo enjoy the rough edges verses polished style of this place. I've been hoping this would make the finals!

Yes!
My three favorite apartments made it to the final.

I love your place, and I agree with you about Shauna's entry. I just saw it for the first time (would have voted for it if I'd seen it before...living room is delicious). I do want to hang something on that big wall over your sofa, both otherwise, great job! And it seems you even have a mixed-breed dog. Thank you from animal rescue people everywhere.

One caveat. I am bothered by the display of a religious sculpture in your linen closet (acting as a bookend of sorts for towels). Leaning toward Buddhism myself, I tend to notice these things. I know that crucifixes and santos carvings are routinely used as design components in Mediterranean and Southwestern homes and, for the record, I'm also bothered by that. Before I place a Buddha (or any Buddhist sculpture)anywhere in my own home or garden, I always keep in mind that it's a religious icon for someone. They should be displayed in a place that shows respect. For all I know you are Buddhist yourselves...but I thought this was important to mention.

It's kind of nice how these finalists are posted one or two at a time. It's fun to check in occasionally to see if a new one is up.

ohhhh....i LOVE this one and forgot about it because i believe it was one of the earlier entries.

love it. i love that you used distress wood in the kitchen and if i remember correctly, you sourced all of your fabulous furniture from craig's list, ebay, etc. to have the beautiful pieces fit your budget.

inspiring, beautiful, comfortable, creative. i would love to see you have the garden of your dreams. : )

I really like this space and am so envious of that outdoor space. you can tell that creative people live here.

unlike the previous poster, i dont really mind the buddha placements, since I have sentimental memories of my catholic grandma who had all manner of religious artefacts around, not as objects of reverence but more as companions to her daily life. (ie. saint statue on kitchen counter, on sewing table, on the front door...you name it!)

congratulations on making the finals!

This is so impressive. I love the furniture placement in particular. I wonder, though, what Jenny and Clove do when one of them needs privacy. I don't see a single place (other than the bathroom) where one could be away from the other.

This apartment is more ideal for a single person, IMHO. Jenny and Clove must be very patient with eachother to co-exist here.

The reno is fantastic.

I don't think Buddha would mind.

Oh yay! You all didn't get hurt too much by having your home toured earlier it seems. Congrats again on a lovely place (no small feat with a shoestring budget and yucky contractor). I am still in awe of your craigslisting ability.

Admirers, answers to your questions are in the original entry comments or the home tour comments. I think I remember there was a recipe given for staining the floors, and that the key holder was bought at a sample sale at DWR.

As for Buddha, what Buddha minds seems to vary from one practitioner to the other. I was given 2 prints of Chinese character calligraphy prayers done at a temple. The only instructions were, no putting it in the bedroom, I guess Buddha doesn't like watching you get your groove on. Someone else once gave me a Buddha prayer thingy to hang in my car for protection, so review mirrors are OK. Right now, it hangs by the front door over my Jesus calendar from my favorite taco truck, I'm guessing neither of them mind.

regards,
trillium

Goodlord, you ladies are too kind with words! Thank you and back atcha!

Your windows are gorg, the lighting is warm, the murphy bed fabric is d-lish & I have open kitchen envy.

Cheers!

i like this place even more this time around. i even love it. very deserving of a place in the finals.

what a great space, and those windows (with a door, no less) - fantastic.

Jenny and Clove:

Re: Patio

Looks like a nuclear winter out there, brrrrr. Being artists, I thought maybe you could do something with an idea I've posted for other people here:
http://tinyurl.com/zfjmz

I lost all the originals I made when I lost one of the hard drives (I've lost a couple hard drives in a couple months).

Yeah, I go on and on in that thread, as usual. But the key item were the ceiling tins/tiles that can be painted or left to age and rust. You can probably find them locally. They run $18.00 for a 2'x4' section on www.tinman.com.

They can be hung or propped along your patio walls giving you something other than a block wall to look at. The exterior becoming a gallery of color and art for you to enjoy, inside or outside.

Your living room windows would perfectly frame the created wall art on the block wall. And the contrast between the "old" and "new" is nice and carries the theme outdoors.

My favorite part of the apartment is in the kitchen. The glass door cabinets with lighting, the blues and greens of the items within illuminated, misty outlines. It's art.

Uh, did I miss where you all sleep?

Hi Andree. One of the things I enjoy about this apartment is where their bed is. If I'm not mistaken, the blue pattern on the wall is actually a Murphy bed.

Yes?

actually an apt entry that "does something" with the space of a small environment rather than just rely on hip furniture to draw all you sheep to climax. murphy bed, storage space, set up of living, sleeping and dining space are all well done here. this is an apt for this contest. ..did all of you forget what the contest is supposed to be about? next year i'm just gonna cut out pictures from my ikea and dwr catalogs and dwell mags and send them in as an entry to get all your panties wet! as for the use of religious stuff, maybe they, like me, think religion is a joke, or maybe they just don't care what you think. . .it works for them. Goodnight sheep. .. . baaaaaaaaa!

Thanks Rob!

I went back to the original entry and looked at the floor plan again.

I still haven't decided if I like it or don't like it. The apartment, that is. LOL! I have that weird mixed feeling. It's an unbalanced feeling, sort of. Hard to put into words.

I think I've got it though...I LOVE the contrast between "old" and "new"...aged and smooth, sleek and rustic.

What I don't like is the contrast between the clutter wall (bookshelves and fabric over the bed) and stark wall (behind the sofa). And the contrast between finished interior and nuclear winter patio.

Other folks have commented negatively about other finalists in regards to "unfinished" space. And, yes, this isn't a contest about patio space, nor is patio space counted as "living space" in this contest (or by law, LOL).

It's not like Jenny and Clove can level off the patio by blasting down the buildings next door to have a park atmosphere either.

The very last picture of the slideshow has a picture of the patio area (and the reflection of the handles for the windows scared the dickens out of me, it looked like a really big spider!).

So while I'm looking at the great IKEA kitchen cabinets, lit up with blues and greens and turquoise, I eventually get to the picture that shows the patio, which looks like crap. It does. I wouldn't have put that picture in there. I would have shown the bed out of the wall, and where the other furniture was moved to, if it has to be moved.

I mean, how can I tell if it's a good use of space if it turns out the chairs are moved on top of the sofa in order to access the bed. The bed comes down, is there enough space to walk between the bed and chairs? Or do you have to walk through the living room to get out of bed? The person sleeping next to the window, that is.

I sleep nekkid. There are no window coverings. There are a lot of windows out there in the other buildings. That alone would bring down the value of the neighborhood as everyone flees for their lives. Or would have very strange, creepy people sneaking around on the patio at night.

Remember, all these things I see are from MY perspective. I put MYSELF into each home. What works for one person doesn't always work for the next person. I have no way of judging anything other than from my own perspective.

So, with the unbalanced clutter wall and perhaps the window area, I have a suggestion (take it, leave it, tell me to blow it out my...uh...pipe?)

There's the hospital track idea seen in David and Im's? Miles of fabric to use over the windows as needed.

However, for the clutter wall, I'd rather see the IKEA rail system, with flat panels. Play with this interactive design tool at IKEA. You can change each individual panel by clicking on one of them, and then choosing a fabric from the right side. Obviously, you do not need to use their fabric and could create a wall of colorful art fabrics that you can slide into different arrangements.
http://tinyurl.com/nu99l

Using that at both the clutter wall and the window wall could be endlessly fun, as you can mix and match fabrics, old and new, solid and patterned, sheer and opaque.

Again, no, my apartment isn't nicer. My apartment is crap. I'd need to drape the entire apartment in fabric to make it look decent, and pretend Christo just left. Hey, there's an idea. I'll just cover all my crap with fabric. hehehe

I love how this space has been handled in terms of furniture and design! The floor is gorgeous, the unfinished elements add interest, the furniture is warm and inviting and the space doesn't even feel incredibly small. I personally feel like the pattern on the murphy bed is the wrong color combo or maybe a too busy for this space, but thats my opinion. I suppose I would choose something with more of an organic inspired design and warmer tones. All in all, I love every element in this apartment, well done!

I *love* the art table/desk! It's seen a lot of creativity, you can tell :)

I come back to this entry several times and liked it when it was posted early on. It's just very lovely. You all are definitely one of my favorites and I'd be satisfied if you win.

saying that, i have to say i am not in love with the pattern of the murphy bed (just seems wrong for the sleekness of the apartment) and the rough-edged desk kind of threw me for a loop after seeing the rest of the apartment, but i love it and still think its worthy of the ultimate prize.

There are some very frightening people here (smaptlvr...oh, dear). I'm chiming in again to respond to the comments on the rough desk and other bits. It's part of the Japanese aesthetic to place imperfect against perfect (wabi sabi). And in Buddhism there is a saying that nothing is perfect except the Buddha. So one would always leave something imperfect on a handmade item, or in an environment. Perhaps these ladies were going for that, perhaps not. But I think what they did works, overall. Now that I learn that the blue panel is the bed, I am a little less impressed with this space, though. It does look as if you have to move furniture to use the bed, which has to be annoying at times.

And I would be freaked by the lack of window coverings. Matchstick blinds would look approprite, and they are cheap (without looking so).

I assume that you showed the rough future-garden space to give an idea of the place's potential. I see bamboo, rocks, a modest fountain. One small Japanese maple. Perhaps a bridge, or a stone lantern. Hang a simple kimono over your sofa...

But it's your place.

Is this a converted industrial space? An old school building? I'm trying to figure out those windows and the space out back.

are you kidding?!

murphy bed is awesome! And the fabric covering it makes the place.

wow - people are nuts.

I love your kitchen, it is exactly what I am looking to do. Can you tell me what company made your cooktop and oven? Are the cabinets Ikea?

jayla, you said it.

It's not that I don't love the fabric, I love retro fabrics, and that colorway is fabulous. Instead of treating it as a curtain, I'd treat it as ART...and have it cut and framed in a trio of frames to be hung above the sofa. Or stretched on a long, narrow canvas.

Fabric As Art:
http://tinyurl.com/s8ttu

Picture only for non-subscribers, non-AOL users:
http://tinyurl.com/ryjgt

Above fabrics were from:
http://hableconstruction.com/shop/interiordesign.php

They sell the stretched canvas items through their stores in New York, don't sell them online. And as you can see, the stretched canvas items are pricey. Just place the current fabric in the frames of choice, to complement the decor. I'm seeing rustic for the frames again to contrast the material.

There are other options these days for the Murphy beds, like this:
http://tinyurl.com/zmft8

Those have GOT to be fake books though. LOL! Imagine having to restack your books every morning, and the resounding crash when you pull down your bed at night!

The table option, that would have some kind of art permanently attached. As Jenny and Clove are artists, perhaps their favorite piece to showcase their talents.

Using that IKEA KVADRANT rail system would allow them to completely cover the bed and books area. Just the books area and leave open the bed area, to either sleep, or to use the attached desk or to showcase their work. Or it can be completely closed to provide a peaceful wall of color/texture.

Much like what is shown in the fifth picture at the top in the scroll area (look east for inspiration):
http://tinyurl.com/kjd35

Not using the dark blue Tuppler though, I really like the looks of the Anno Inez as well as some of the other panels available.

Jenny and Clove could probably build/create a bottom for the Murphy bed out of lightweight materials. And use a ready made table or again create their own:
http://tinyurl.com/hfqw2

Hey, they're just ideas. Things that *I* like aren't necessarily anything that anyone else would want to consider, use, install, create. For all I know, the ladies could be rolling around on the floor, laughing hysterically at the mere thought of doing some of these things. Then again, they might say "That's a swell idea, let's do it!" I dunno.

I can't believe someone is referring to the bookshelves as the"clutter wall"! I think they are beautifully arranged. I love books and can't understand why anyone would want to hide them. What could be more annoying than to have to slide door after door out of the way in order to find a book you want? Glass doors, maybe, if your collection is particularly valuable. Otherwise, let it show! (if I could, I live in a library!

that is to say, if I could, I *would* live in a library! But I do like the idea of a sliding door that just covers the murphy bed, which could be pushed aside at night when the bed comes down. Except then a whole wall of books would be inaccessible! No, no! Maybe a folding door, then.

Martha...

That "someone" is ME. Not just "someone."

Why do I call it a "clutter" wall? Look at the rest of the space. Open, serene, peaceful. Meditative. Contemplative. Soothing.

And then...

THE WALL.

Bold fabric with colors that don't match the rest of the room. Brilliant colored books. It looks like a completely different apartment compared to the rest of the space.

Yes, I love books too. And I know that they can get dusty, sun/light damaged/faded, etc. Providing a cover for the area helps protect said books, while still allowing them to be accessible.

It's one of the major challenges of living in a one-room open studio. We don't HAVE different rooms to have a library chock full of books. And another zen room. It all has to go in the same space.

Take a look at Rob's Acid Trip Modern. Consensus there? Get rid of the bookcase. It just doesn't look "right" for the space.

On the other hand, check out Jane and Darko's Cozy Thicket. A whole wall of bookcases and books, but it WORKS there. There are many things going on in that room and it doesn't stand out as being a clutter wall.

I never read while I'm sleeping, at least, not that I know of, so not having books accessible while I'm unconscious probably wouldn't be a problem.

I tried feebly to make a picture of what I'm talking about for the wall here...but it didn't come out very good. I just used random colors/textures and tried to make ONE look like the panel I mentioned earlier.

Some of the fabrics are more sheer, so you'd be able to see through to the books, others are more opaque...and layered on top of each other, they create a new color.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/96179754@N00/

Maybe it would look better if they were all the same pattern. I dunno.

I'll leave that up for awhile...a day or two.

Oh, I disagree entirely with Andree. I love the "clutter wall" (haha.) The books & fabric are wonderful and I think, really help to make the space feel lived in. Why live in an empty white box with nothing in it? "Clutter" reflects us and our lives. I'm not talking about a room covered in crap, but the objects we use on a day to day basis and that we cherish, including books. Long live the wall!

In other instances where bookcases didn't work, it was because they were wrong for the space, and I don't agree that this bookcase is wrong for the space. I think adding boring neutrals would suck the life out of this apartment.

I just double checked and the books are sorted by colour, as I recalled. Gorgeous! I love it!

Well, Andree, I just didn't want to make it personal, but apparently one can't win. As Ali pointed out, Rob's bookcase was wrong for the space. But I don't think the *right* bookcase would be a problem in Rob's space, either. And I don't think this one is wrong *at all*. However, tastes differ. And it's nice for you that you don't suffer from insomnia, but for some of us, the right book is the only ticket back to slumberland. Also, I didn't say I'd like to live *with* a library, I said I'd like to live *in* one.
Your neurotic friend,
M

Oh, Martha...let's talk sleep problems. Seriously! I haven't had a good night of sleep in six years...unless I've been horribly ill, like with the flu.

I have shooting back pain, I'm disabled, and the reason I end up posting and mucking around with photos is because I CANNOT SLEEP.

I do a lot of reading too. If it's a good book, it's hard to put down. And who wants to read a bad book? LOL!

Last night I made the attempt six times to get to sleep. I almost made it one time, until apparently my "spirit" plummeted 30 stories back into my body, giving me one of those whole body jerks, waking me back up. I HATE that.

I like Carl Hiaasen and Laurence Shames for good fun. I think the neighbors must wonder what's going on in here, due to the laughter in the middle of the night.

Ali! How did you get in my apartment? You've obviously seen my "room covered in crap" LOL!

Martha, I've been an official "old fart" since becoming disabled. I'd rather have people just get right to the point and address the person rather than using that mysterious "someone" that can later be used as an escape... as in "Oh, I wasn't talking about YOU, it was someone ELSE." When they were really talking about that person.

Unless you're in a different posting area and really can't remember who it was...which is generally my problem.

Is Zen Boring? I don't think so. Check out this link:
http://www.zenseeker.com/about_zen.asp

Rob's Modern is Zen. I could sit (if allowed) in any spot in Rob's home, and stare at any other part of Rob's home, and be completely at peace...watching the light of sun or moon create ever-changing shadows, dimensions, on each piece of furniture (uh, except the bookcase).

I have one pair of objects in my apartment that provides the same soothing quality. Even midst the rest of my crap and clutter, I can find peace.

By the way, in a totally Zen feeling, that picture on the above link would be splendid with the colors the ladies have in their home. My opinion only, folks.

I have a slightly larger version of the tabletop sand garden. It's called a litter box. It's a Zen sand garden. No, it's a litter box. It's two things in one!

Actually, I use wood stove pellets as litter, but that fine clay stuff is kind of fun to play in.

Here's another blurb:
http://www.greenteadesign.com/asian-decor.html

Use the scroll bar in the picture window to scroll down to read the text. Or view the pictures.

For me, the bookcases with the colorful books and the fabric is the antithesis of Zen.

Would someone please win soon? I gotta stop analizing everything!

Oh, Andree, I'm very sorry to hear about your back pain. That's very hard to cope with. Was it an auto accident? I hope that you have hopes of recovery, or at least improvement. No wonder you like a very calm environment, when you have such trouble getting to sleep.

Green Tea Design is a nice site to fantasize over, isn't it? I like
the screen-in-the-window idea. Although the imp of perversity requires me to point out that even Green Tea Design offers an open bookcase! ;-> but also some beautiful closed storage--I really like those step cabinets.

Do you actually have a pellet stove? I've been considering getting one, since I live in a leaky apartment on top of a hill and the heating bills are killing me!

And I guess you can tell a lot about a person's tastes in general by the kind of buddhism they're attracted to. I go for the tibetan vajrayana version, myself (all those brightly colored deities)!

I don't personally have a pellet stove, but I've talked to many other people online that do, and they love it.

Check out basic info here at SBC Firemaster:
http://tinyurl.com/fqcjk

The bag of fuel shown in the picture is 40 pounds, and that will run about $4.00. I can't find SBC around here anymore, but there are a couple other brands locally. They're about the same price. You can buy it by the bag or by the ton. Uh, I'm guessing you'll be a bag person with an apartment.

I don't even try to carry that bag other than to get it into the cart and into my car. I have a rolling plastic storage container that I will scoop out the pellets from the bag, into the container, so I can roll it where it's needed.

There are oodles of styles and designs of wood pellet stoves, from super basic and affordable to "Geez! It costs HOW MUCH?".

Advantages of the pellet stove include variable temperature, complete burning, wall-venting (instead of ceiling). Depending on your county/state, even on no-burn days, you may be allowed to use a pellet stove because of it's way of burning the fuel.

There are some links on that page to get you started in looking into various models. Even though that site is in B.C., many of the brands/models are available in the U.S.

Notice that the freestanding units do not have an unsightly pipe leading up to the ceiling. Fireplace inserts are available as well, to turn your fireplace into a whole home heater.

Under some of the freestanding units, you'll notice tile work or brick work. No, you don't have that installed...you buy a hearth pad.

I used to have links for all kinds of stuff, until I lost the hard drive (twice)...anyway, here are a couple I just pulled up in a search:
http://www.hearthclassics.com/hearth_pads/index.html

http://www.hearth-designs.com/index.html

http://www.hearthpads.com/

Tile, stone, brick, marble. Trims. They can be raised off the floor a bit.

None of my religion books have pictures...I don't think...but I'd go for the kind where a person gets to help other people instead of going on to a state free of death and rebirth. What the heck would I *DO* in a non-being state? I guess that's the point, but it just sounds like I could do better than not being...like being a pain here, helping people, whether they want to be "helped" or not. LOL!

Uh, back injury. I wish I could say it was something heroic. Like rescuing people. Or something incredible, like climbing to the top of some peak. Alas, it's soooo mundane, it's sad. All I did was bend over and twist to my right slightly, on my balcony, to pick up an EMPTY PLASTIC PLANT POT and I felt a "TWANG" in my back.

Which is another reason to be cranky...not because of the pain, but because people don't always realize how incredibly impermanent health IS. I was in good shape. I did exercises that included bending and twisting. I could run up 4 flights of stairs in the apartment complex and beat the elevator.

Now I couldn't hobble up four flights of stairs without stopping to rest or sob. I gained weight, DUH, because it's too bloody painful just to be conscious, let alone exercise.

Eh! Could be worse. Everyone's a paycheck away from homelessness, bankruptcy. Everyone's a bend and twist away from disability and constant pain. Just folks don't realize it. And one's priorities change when that kind of thing occurs. boy howdy, do they ever change.

By the way, I think the pellet stoves can be done outside too. For folks with patios, it might be worth looking into, to see if it can be done in your area, making your patio a more user-friendly space, even in autumn.

It would be more efficient and less dangerous than a fire pit. Just can't roast marshmallows over them.

I'm interested, where does that table between chairs come from?

Yikes there Andree.... I hope your back is feeling better. You are spot on about impermanence and the fragility of life.

If I had to have a stove I would like coal, but thats just me.

Thanks for the pellet stove info, Andree, I'll look into getting one for fall. I know what you mean about the suddenness of physical disaster. the one and only time I went rock climbing (and it was just scrambling around on some unimpressive boulders), I fell and ended up with a split tendon in my ankle. It was one of those "duh" moments: oh yeah, rocks are *hard!* So now I'm in orthopedic shoes for life, can't run, can't jump. But I don't have a lot of pain, so I'll count my blessings.

I'm back like an in-law (not to be confused with an outlaw).

Yeah, I mucked around with the photo again, this time using the pictures from IKEA of a couple of the panels. I know they aren't an accurate size in comparison to the wall, because I used the close-up of the panels. So the pattern of the panels would be much smaller, and the stripes of the white one closer together, but at least I am now using the actual colors! (as seen on MY monitor anyway).

I also used the picture from the Zen site for wall decor. I don't know if it's actually available as a picture or not, and I'm sure you folks could feature one of your own works.

I just wanted to show the colors on the wall, with the floor, and to show what it might look like (a bit) if the panels were pulled over the bookshelves on each side, featuring art in the middle.

It's a better representation that what I TRIED to do before. I think?

It's what I think of as being "Zen". Uh "Zennish"? "Zenny"?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96179754@N00/

Now, I'll get out of your home and stop bugging you. There are others for me to bug. LOL!

Thank goodness for that!
Maybe it's time you started your own blog Andree.

This thread is supposed to allow the judges to take into consideration comments about these finalists to help them make a decision on the top three. Your multiple short stories have managed to kill any discusion on Jenny and Clove's places.

And ppl complain about Jonathan hogging threads. At least they are open threads.

This place is great - I think what sets the apt apart (or at least the photos) is the (canister) lighting. Adds some sophistication to the furniture and objects.

The bookcase is great. However, in my opinion, it could be a little more artfully arranged. There are a few more objects that I would like to see in there own box. And I like to see books fill their entire little box. Just some of my preferences...

Well said, JP!

ouch! where is the love?

This place seems perfectly realized to me. The cohesiveness of Jenny and Clove's vision seems to shine through. It's rightfully placed among the other finalists and is also a big favorite of mine. Well done, ladies!

[I can't say that I agree at all with any of the detractors or second-guessers... but it was difficult to keep up with all the crazy tagents on this particular thread. ]

Books arranged by color and size...I didn't notice before. Ruins the whole thing for me. It's something done by people who don't read, who don't value books. It's...crass.

Since when are reading and stylish arrangement mutually exclusive, o Pat the Picky?

whoa Pat! I know several LIBRARIANS that organize some of their books at home by size and color. One of them tries to always buy Penguin editions for their ORANGE or MINT GREEN spines.

I don't understand why people commingle stating and explaining their personal preferences (which is what these threads are for) with nasty generalized invectives about the values of complete strangers.

Pat: I'd consider myself a rabid reader who loves the tactile/visual joys of printed matter, but I'm also a visually oriented organizer who uses shape and colour for categorizing. Whether this system of organization is "crass" or not is personal taste, but to state that people who use this system of categorization "don't value books" is making a misjudged assumption.

Jen! Well said!

Gregory: boy does your comment say a lot about your marvelous home.

Everyone has their own ways, and so long as the way someone uses suits them, then they're not wrong. It's their home, after all, and this home is marvelous too.

Anyone remember the scene in Hi Fidelity where Rob reorganized all of his vinyl? His new system: Autobiographical.

Yes, anyone recognize the 24" kitchen appliances? Thanks..

Jamie:

When I see something that I don't like, I try to figure out WHY I don't like it, and then try to come up with a solution.

There are far too many people willing to complain, and far too few people willing to do anything at all that requires effort on their own part.

I don't turn my back on questions that I may be able to help with.

There are no open message boards here, in which I might have addressed the pellet stove information, directly to the attention of Martha.

As far as these threads under the finalists being a source of responses for the judges to analyze, I have to wonder how many of the comments are a result of gathering friends, family, coworkers, acquaintences to come and comment.

I've seen it happen for other contests. "Please vote for my wife..." on a message board, where there's a direct link to a particular contest and entry, it's chumming for votes. Oh, that message will be posted all over the place, on various boards, not related to the contest site. And some folks DO put in their votes or make comments from such postings.

Can such comments be taken as genuine? They're totally biased. And such posters do NOT comment on the other entries, ...do they even LOOK at the other entries? Aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, school chums,...

I, however, don't know any of these people. I go by what I see. I think it's a wonderful space. I love the kitchen framed in wood...that is sooo coool. My big problem was the bed/bookshelf area. And I would like to see the bed out.

Something like 50-60 people went to look at the pictures I did of Jenny and Clove's bookshelf area. Or maybe it was the same person looking at it again and again. I dunno.

I don't know if it was liked or if everyone (or that same person) thought it was terrible.

Those folks didn't seem to be so easily distracted. They were able to find and use the link. They were able to understand the parts of my writing that applied directly to the apartment itself.

Let's see....Jamie, your only comment besides the one addressing me, was this:
======
Yes!
My three favorite apartments made it to the final.
Posted by jamie pup at 04/14/06 5:38 PM
======

WHAT is it that makes it a favorite? Do you think the judges will scan the posts here and say "My god, this is one of Jamie's favorites, so we better give it a prize"

Say something!

I LOVE the IKEA cabinets, lit from within, showcasing blues, greens, shapes, forms, in a misty, dreamy quality that would be art in and of itself. "Let's turn off all the lights and stare at the cabinets for awhile".

I LOVE the painting that's next to the counter in the kitchen. The small item. It too is dreamy. See the original entry photos, the second and third ones. Stunning.

I know they didn't want something that looked like it fell out of a catalog. But catalog items shown in this contest don't always look like catalog items. We've seen cabinets painted with chalkboard paint. As well as being wallpapered with beautiful scenery. That whole murphy wall could have been done (or could be done) in floor to ceiling cabinets for storage, clothing, etc. If it was needed.

Which might free up more space elsewhere to do more artist things. I dunno.

In addition, Jamie, I didn't see you comment on the original thread either, about this being a favorite of yours. Judges, as well as others, are NOT mind readers.

So I'm going to comment on every single thing I like and don't like and absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE.

And I'm going to do that because most folks don't. Including you.

found it for those interested: the appliances are VERONA

http://www.veronaappliances.com

very nice. dunno about finding a dealer tho..

Oh my god Andree, enough already.

"I don't turn my back on questions that I may be able to help with."

I really like you, but some of the help you're trying to offer isn't being asked for or even wanted. This apartment is off the charts awesome. They've created greatness here, and they did it to the best of their budget. For all you know, they broke their budget to pull off something this wonderful. But it's not good enough for Andree? So what.

Not only are you hogging threads, you're insulting good people who've worked so hard on their homes by constantly suggesting they're not good enough. I know, I know, you're trying to help. How would you feel if people constantly walked up to you and offered you help? How'd you like some advice on how to lose some weight Andree? Or maybe you're too short. Y'know they make shoes to help hide that.

Look, these are our homes. It takes a lot of courage to share them here. Please stop already.

"So I'm going to comment on every single thing I like and don't like and absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE."

Please don't. Good grief girl, some of the stuff on your flickr page has been downright creepy.

I believe your intentions are good, but you really take it way too far.

Since we're talking about "things we don't like": I generally don't read Andree's comments because they are WAY too long and often largely tangential. I can always tell when it's an Andree comment, because I have to scroll and scroll to get to the signature.

If you can dish it out, you gotta be ready to take it.

Great comments on the apartment space!
Not Jamie, nice cowardly name to hide behind. You're not invited to visit my space, bugger off, eh?
Blahblahboring, excellent commentary! Brilliant. However, the toothpaste discussion is down below. Pair of nasties you two are.

Andree

It's surprising to a lot of us that as a relatively newcomer here, you rant on and on and insult left and right. You must have noticed by now that the posters here do not post their every thought and most here are polite and complimentary. You said "So I'm going to comment on every single thing I like and don't like and absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE.And I'm going to do that because most folks don't. Including you."

Yes, there is a reason for that and it may behoove you to step back and grasp the flow of the blog before continuing in your LONG unsolicited opinions. You even stated early on that you have a tendancy to annoy people because you offer up your opinions when not warrented.

You can come back at us with all the insults you like. But if you're going to put forth your every thought and insult every poster who may disagree with your techniques of posting then you should have thick enough skin to take what you dole out.

I'm sorry, but by the time I got to the bottom of these comments, I forgot what we were talking about.

Okay, Jenny & Clove, this WAS one of my favorites so far... but your comment "Someone clearly lives here, it's not a design ad from a shelter magazine or a page out of the Ikea /West Elm catalogue." really irked me.

Um, this SOOOO could be in a shelter mag. So, when they DO come knocking to photograph it for a magazine, I do hope you will graciously decline, since that level of design or style seems so obviously beneath you, based on your comment.

And the West Elm catalog is not bad to aspire to, btw... could be FAR worse.

patrick, you're quoting what they said about another entry they admired, not their own ...and it's true, Shauna's place does NOT look like an ad from a shelter magazine...go check it out!

regards,
trillium

Thanks Trillium,

Patrick, I'm afraid we've hit a nerve here & really had not intended for our praise of Shauna's lovely space as a insult to advertising, or West Elm in particular. We just love how fresh & original her space felt to us. As artists, we always admire originality & invention when we see it because we realize how much extra effort it takes to create.

As Trillium stated, we weren't talking about our own space. Clearly, we don't feel that we are above being photographed or that it would be beneath us to expose our space to the public or we wouldn't have entered the contest.

For the record, I get several shelter mags & the West Elm catalogue & enjoy leafing through them. You are correct, there definitely are worse things.:)

We haven't said anything so as not to seem defensive, but enough is enough already.

Please, please Andree give us a break & move on to another entry.
I think we get with absolute certainty what you are saying.

We both love our wall with our books & murphy bed. For us, it is a focal point of color, not clutter. Clearly, we just need to agree to disagree.

Jenny, trillium--
Thanks for the correction.

But still, I still get irked when people say, about any space "It looks like a magazine" with anything but a positive intent.

Re: Clove's last comment...please, Andree, don't move on to another entry. We've heard enough and don't need the distractions.

Clove & Jenny - you're place is stunning, highly original, and demonstrates great contrasts of modern/classic, rough/smooth, neutral/vibrant, etc. Best of luck to you two!

I think this is lovely. Nice job, ladies! I personally like the wall with the bookcases, and the great fabric, and think it's a very inventive way to camouflage (sp?) the bed.

I also like the wood you brought in, and your patio.

I think the judges are going to have such a tough time, since all the entries are so great. I may not think that a couple of them are *my* personal style, but incredibly impressive jobs all around.

Readers will review the top 10 finalists from April 7th through April 13th. Although they will not be voting per se, they will be encouraged to comment and assess. The judges will review and take into account these comments when making their final decision. As the comments are public, the process remains very transparent.

Comment and assess

Luckily, it's April 19th.

People mad at me, meet me on Open Thread 184.

Jenny here:

Both Clove & I wanted to give our thanks for all of the amazing feedback, & yes this includes you too, Andree. We first wanted to give the floor to all of you lovely people to talk amongst yourselves. But now that the thread seems quiet, I'll respond to comments & questions. Hopefull, I didn't wait too long.

Em, Trillium, Henrietta -- You all expressed our sentiment on the Buddha issue so well we didn't even need to respond. Thanks to all of you.

Orangered-Great suggestion on the cherry blossom tree, that is such a fantastic idea! Thanks for posting it.

Eden-- I think this was mentioned but, we got our key caddy as a sample sale special from DWR!

Pat-- About the architecture of the building, it is really strange actually. We are in one of those 1960's monster buildings on East 9th Street. You can catch an external glimpse of it on the house tour Jill did way back on Jan 18th. Every apartment in the building has those cookie cutter low ceilings, except for 7 apartments on the ground floor. Ours is the only studio. We were so surprised when we walked into the space for the first time that both of us almost fell backward. It was such a shock given what we knew about apartments in the building. It must have been comic when both our mouth's dropped opened.

Oh & thanks for the garden ideas! Much appreciated. We too thought of the kimono over the couch, but I am so set on getting a gorgeous painting there. I was encouraged by P(2) suggestions & hope to save up for one down the line. Either that or work out a trade with an artist friend.

Terry-- We haven't had much conflict on the privacy issue so far. Keep your fingers crossed. I think the outdoor space helps a lot. Also when you are in the kitchen you can't even see someone lounging on the bed or vice versa. One thing that really helps is that I got wireless headphones for the tv /stereo, so that one of us can watch tv while the other enjoys silence. I'm a night owl while Clove is like a rooster in the morning, so this helps keep everybody happy. We'd never pass up another 150 sq ft, if it magically appeared! I think a certain amount of privacy is going to be some sort of issue with anyone co-habitating in 500 sq ft or less.

Andree-- Yes I too wish we had a picture of the murphy bed down. We neglected to take one before we left town, (we are both working on a play out of the country right now for 2 months). Honestly we didn't think we'd make the finals.
To answer your question, there is ample room to walk around the murphy bed when it is down. The living room chairs do not require moving & you can walk comfortably between them & the bed. I can't handle things when a floorplan feels too cramped or inefficient so...The best way to show this would have been to take a picture with the bed down, you are absolutely right. This is one of my frustrations with our entry. I would love to have show that. That & a video that could have shown off more of my skill as a videographer, rather than stills.
Oh & I did enjoy seeing your mock up of the curtain in front of our bookcases. I even pulled your design off the post. Thought it might be helpful to a friend down the line.

Jenny again:

Kelly-- Yes, our kitchen cabinets are IKEA & the cooktop & wall oven are both Verona. Thanks Miguel for posting the link below.
http://www.veronaappliances.com

Alex-- The table is made from recycled barn wood (Chesnut, I believe, for those that like woods). I found it at a sidewalk sale in the West Village. I've seen similar tables though for sale at Olde Good Things in NYC. Not sure if they are still making them.

What's the story on your chairs? Did you re-cover them or were they like that? Like them & the ottoman like seats. Hope you are enjoying Greece.

The chairs & the stools are white vinyl original to the pieces as far as we know. We did not recover them. I found both sets on Craigslist for dirt cheap. Not sure who the designer is for the chairs, but I believe the stools are Paul McCobb. Clove found some identical ones recently on a window shopping trip through ABC Carpets / Las Venus.

Greece has been hell so far. I know it sounds glamorous, but we've been stuck in Athens working 16 hour days. We're hoping to get out to an island for a bit of a break this weekend. Thanks for the good wishes, we would have loved to be at the party last night to chill with you all.

Congratulations!

Looks like home...I love how warm it looks. And that outdoor space is a gem in the city.....congrats.

Nice place !

what kind of refrigerator is that???