apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Jed said, "Because I'm not an architect or a designer by trade, yet I was still able to make my home beautiful, comfortable, and warm."

That is an important point!

ohdearGOD.

Not ALL architects or designer's have stunning homes.
Not all non-professionals have sucky homes.
And based on comments on other entrants, the "pros" aren't doing too well in the "warmth" category overall...

Can we PLEASE just forget the professions and just judge the space?

I think from now on we should not have the "why I should win" spiel part of the entries. Everyone comes off sounding pretentious.

I agree with patrick that the comments about profession vs. non-professional have gotten really old.

For some reason I like the pictures in the original entry better. I have some doubts whether this should be a finalist. I do not want sound harsh but except for the study den, what is the originality of the apt? It lacks creativity.

Jed: I'm planning on using the rasterbator for an art project. Can you tell me what you mounted the pictures on and what type of paper you used for the photos? Anyone else? Thanks.

p(too), I think there's a little defensiveness around the pro versus amateur stuff. Which has, as you correctly point out, manifested itself in the comments on the contest entries as a series of complaints about coldness and bareness. (Funny, given that modernism is supposed to have made a comeback.) I guess all amateurs feel at a disadvantage to professionals, and occasionally that can get a little prickly. (Though I don't think Jed's statement was prickly.)

I think I'm more impressed by the fact that Jed is renting, since that does put you at a disadvantage in just what you can do to the space. (If I owned my current apartment, I'd be knocking out walls.)

And just a bit of musing - it seems that the criterion most of us at AT use in assessing the smallest and coolest is, "could I live there?" It's an interesting way to assess beauty. I could live in a Sears furniture showroom if I had to, though I'd rather live at the Met.

Hey, wouldn't it be fun to see the sucky homes of architects and designers sometime? A shoemaker's-children-go-barefoot kind of showcase? I wonder if I should pitch that to HGTV...

For that matter, while I'm all in favour of smallness, and very aware of the constraints it brings, I sometimes think that the massive mcmansion rooms are much harder to decorate.

Christina-

You can use any paper really... it all depends on the quality of the print you want/need... Foamcore is lightweight and easy to mout to with 3M spray mount and is easily cut with a utility knife...

If you want something thicker to mount the photos to you can go to Home depot and buy any number of insulation board though you'll have to be carefull with respect to the type of adhesive you use as aerosol mounting adhesive can sometimes melt foam...

The blue foam insulation board is comes in thicknesses from 1" to 3" (I think) and can be primes white with flat latex and then spray mount can be used...

g'luck

An office in the closet is novel, but also clausterphobic if you're not a gnome.

Don't do it, folks. I speak from experience.

..."Not ALL architects or designer's have stunning homes. Not all non-professionals have sucky homes."

I never said they did. I thought Jed made an important point, that's all - I had just finished posting my thoughts about that issue on the thread for Waynes' pointy pad, when I came here and read Jed's comment. Whoop-dee-doo, who cares, anyway. None of us have control over who wins and the whole thing has become exhausting.

I third Ptoo and Jeremy -- can the space itself be discussed, rather than griping about who created the space?

I wasn't griping. Sheesh.

For someone who's making a point about not being a designer, I'd swear Jed has used more "professional design secrets for styling your space" than most other entries. That's a compliment, by the way.

I am super jealous of the size of that kitchen, btw. My kitchen is a closet with only 24" by 45" of floor space.

Sigh...I have to say that this contest has become rather tiresome...it seems as though everything hinges on whose taste is better or superior and if you don't agree well hard cheese.

The FUN has left the room!

I actually agree that the whole pro vs. amateur thing is a little out of control. Each home poses different challenges that require unique and (hopefully) creative solutions (i.e. some are studios that needed cleverly conceived Murphy beds or lofts, others were small one bedroom's that required office space were there was none).

I do think it's important to take into account ALL constraints when judging each finalist - space, problem solving, rental restrictions, budget, AND available resources (which, I'm sorry to say, is a slightly larger pond for professional designers and architects). It might be a small detail, but when are WE in the habit of not paying attention to details of any size? That said, I don't think my place (or anyone else's) should be judged on one thing alone, but do believe that EVERY obstacle and solution, both big and small, should be considered.

P.S. Because I sit mostly outside of the closet when working at my desk, the closet-office doesn't feel claustrophobic at all.

dIANE,

I bet I could fit an office in your kitchen :)

First of all I agree with Ptoo, there should be a standard on which each space is judged and that shouldn't be swayed by whether or not the tenant is a designer and also, if they read apartmenttherapy.com and enter their home in a design competition, then they at least have a clue about good design even if they aren't design proffesionals.

Second of all, I think this apartment is completely average! I looked back at the first images, which seem to make this space look much better for some reason. I think the dining table is absolutley awkward, pushed up against the wall with a huge piece of art sitting on it. All the furniture seems dark, heavy and imposing for such a small space, for example the headboard on the bed that is so large that it blocks the windows! I think this just shows how selective photography can make any space look good.

Is the big baby Jed's baby? I hope so.
I admire a lot of things about Jed's use of space. For example, how he squeezed that little shelf of spices and books into the space next to the refrigerator; it fits just right, looks tidy AND holds his stuff. Same with the bookcases of music. I like that there are a ton of dots on the freezer door and nothing at all on the refrigerator door; that looks great. I want Jed to have a sexier bedspread.

I like the floor lamp in the first couple of pictures, the red toolbox on the kitchen counter, and the round magnets on the refrigerator.

I love the toolbox; it's a great idea. What do you keep in it? Linens?

And please tell us where you got the bathroom clock!

I think this space is extremely well done for a rental. and omigod that claock in the bathroom! too funny!

wait, I mean *clock*.

Julia - the difference between the entry and finalist photos could also show how ill-judged angles can make an attractive apartment look less so. I don't think the pleasing arrangements in the originals are purely the result of clever photography.

Only just noticed maxwell's caution at the beginning of the post:
"his original pics are crucial for getting a feel for his apt."

Uhh, Is this the same place as the original entry? I don't intend to sound mean, but this apartment isn't all that. The original pics were quite deceiving compared to the follow up images.
And, I am sorry, putting an office in a closet isn't a very fresh idea... There are a few nice things here and there, but overall, not a whole lot of excitement over the space.

The apartment just doesn't seem nearly as nice as it did in the orginal entry. Goes to show what creative photography can do.

haha Devyn, that's exactly what I said!! Good call!:)

I agree with Jeremy about not having the "Why I should win" thing, because it's a very, very tricky dance to toot one's own horn without sounding pretentious or something.

It seems to me that the driving spirit of this site doesn't really MEAN to bring out the worst in people, but that particular question doesn't really help bring out their best, because that part makes people have to do more than design a comfortable home for themselves, it makes them need to be good politicians and writers.

I'd kind of liked to have seen more color in this entry.

yeah, all eyes to the red metal tool box
I love those things!

This place is nice, but I'm not feeling it as something aspirational
scaling the dizzy heights of Coolest
so I'm totally puzzled about the ravingly high number of votes it got. For me it got lost in the blur the first time around.

super cute dino art over the couch, but everything else looks so
average

Cute. I don't get why it's a finalist, though. There are other entries I've liked more and I'm not sure why this got such a large number of votes. It doesn't scream amazing or innovative like some of the other entries did.

And the whole pro versus non-pro debate IS getting old. After reading the comments on here lately, I'd never want to be a designer. It seems to be one of the few professions where EVERYONE thinks they know how to do your job.

There are some great and ineresting choices here, and disciplined living is making the most of the small space, to be sure.

But I agree that these new shots don't really make the strongest of cases, epsecially in such a strong field.

That's why I think it would have been good to require a shot of every room in round 1...

This is silly. I mean, I'm glad these people aren't living on the street and eating garbage or whatever, but this doesn't really belong. I bet the folks at AT just felt that they HAD to have 12, and the other entries were like pigpens so they had to pick this one just because it was clean and the people were nice or whatever.

Robobum--
This one got a crazy amount of votes based on GREAT pics in round 1. Don't blame it all on the judges.

Though I think it's a cute place and very livable, other entries show far more creativity and design sense. Still, a few details are wonderful: the mirror in the bedroom and the ladder in the bath. Further, the place is well decorated overall.

I especially love the Asian piece in the bedroom. Is it Tibetan?

Now I just wish there would be ONE central page with pics from each finalist on it, for easy comparison instead of clicking back and forth from the main contest page.

Hmmm, what makes a bedspread sexy?

To be completely honest, I was pretty suprised myself (given all of the amazing entries). But, lucky for me, it wasn't my decision :)

I use the red tool box to hold kitchen utensils and office supplies (since I don't have desk drawers).

I got the bathroom clock at Urban Outfitters while in college (several years ago).

I like the tool caddy in the kitchen (I've always like the way they look...why hide them?), the Chinese ladder in the bath (I assume it's for towels, but none are on it), the funny clock, the floorlamp (where'd you get it?). But otherwise, I don't get this one. It's just a pleasant place. Guess I'm missing something.

On architect homes...I was in contract to buy one a few years back, but the deal fell through. The place was a showpiece, with elements of FLW and later greats, but building it -- and living in it -- had killed the architect's marriage (she was an interior designer, he was the architect). An indication of how unlivable it was is that neither of them (they were spliitng and getting back together over and over) were living in the master bedroom (built in the wrong place, too small, dark), and all the house's rooms were being billed as "possible" this and that. Lesson...build a place for the way you live, not the way you wish you lived, or the way the gods of architecture say you should. Frank Lloyd Wright's houses were known for leaky roofs and a shortageof electrical outlets.

Well, I shure didn't vote for this craptastic place, that's fer shure. Then again, that's cuz I was living on the street during the first part of this contest, and my cardboard boxes apartment (def THE smallest and THE coolest) didn't do much for my wireless reception. Harumph. Such is the life of a robobum. I guess people in cardboard houses shouldn't throw stones.

...no one has mentioned that this is the unlucky 13th finalist. No one superstitious out there?

Um, I was entry #13 last year.
Wasn't unlucky for me at all! :)

Tough crowd today.

Jed's apartment is perfectly cool and has the right amount of quirky touches for a definite personal stamp to show through. (There are a number of standout touches noted in other comments above.) My guess is that he'd make shrewd use of a DWR gift cert if his place were to win, place or show.

For what it's worth (which ain't much), here are my thoughts on all the superfluous comments that came up on this thread. I don't think his "why I should be champ" pitch comes off as pretentious. This is a competition; and if I were an entrant, I'd say just about anything to win the big-ticket DWR prize. The pitch is part of the fun in this contest... The pro/non-pro debate (much like rent/own or reno/redecorate debates) is irrelevant; the cumulative effect of the finished room that is presented should be what matters most. Aesthetics and the degrees of success in realizing each entrant's vision seem to be more pertinent criteria for the judges to consider... Robobum: "craptastic"? Obviously a lot of people liked Jed's place enough that it placed in the Final 13...

I'm just sayin'.

I agree with Enrique. For he is luscious.

Hi sqooz... a sexy bedspread is solid colored and probably a deep, rich color.
But wait, I really want Jed to have THIS duvet cover:
http://www.designpublic.com/shop/amenity/3957

But what do I know... I once had some sheets with Bert and Ernie at the Ladybug Picnic that I loved.

That is a really nice bedspread. If only they sold it at DWR :)

I'm not superstitious but have always thought 13 to be a very lucky number.

I have to support this entry for the murrays pomade alone.

Kind of a snooze.

Every other finalist (whether I liked them or not) I completely remembered just from reading the name.

I had to rack my brain to remember this original entry.

I don't like it.

Jed has a good eye for color, form and function.

Although the judges did a good job in selecting the finalists, I call into question finalist #9(Christine's airy park view). What they saw beyond #9's stunning fireplace and bay window seems a mystery to me and many other viewers.

I stronly suggest that future contests should provide the viewer with at least 12 images of each contestant's apartment. Only then would we (and the judges)be able to comment and compare in a fair and balanced way.

I agree with susane!

So the judges made one possible misstep out of thirteen?

Give 'em a BREAK.

Spoken like a true winner from 2005.

Sorry for the tangent, but have you made any changes to your winning apartment, Patrick? I just saw it in the archives. Sweet space. Even sweeter design.

While I definitely have faith and believe that the 4 winners will be, in fact, some of the absolute best in the contest, I also would argue Patrick that the judges made more than just one mistake in their selection of finalists...

obviously, it's totally subjective, but I don't think that there's been only one mistake here- i guess I'm just a bit suprised and also disappointed that a number of my favs from both the east and (surprising even to me) the west too were overlooked.

-Kellen-

Perhaps next year, the judges should not go by just the number of votes when selecting finalists. I feel the later entries were at a disadvantage. Imagine if all entries had gotten a full 31 days of voting in March. Voter fatigue at the end of the month hurt the later entries.

-Kellen-
I was just trying to be diplomatic, really. Some of my favorites didn't make the finals either, but the voting didn't support all my favorites, so it wasn't all on the shoulders of the judges.

Lisa (ao)--
Hey, thanks! Basically unchanged, although I am planning a warm-weather accessory, bedding and art shake up when I get some framed stuff back!
That, and beating clutter back with a stick all the time!! :)

Chad--

I do think also that the voting drops WAY off when an entrant gets bumped off the front page (pretty sure past traffic patterns support that theory) so early and later entrants spend equal amounts of time in the spotlight, for what that's worth.

I think that it's really too bad that the voting factored into how the finalists were chosen so much.

I really think that they should've used the voting, like the comments in this "finalist round" as a guide and a way to assess how the readers feel... but allow them to have more say and control in picking who they wanted, not based on numbers.

-Kellen-

toolbox in the kitchen no non no nyet....the computer room looks like my place and thats not a good thing ....

I think they did that all. Which is why some people don't understand how lower-voted entrants got chosen.

I guess there's no way to please every one!

I just hope there is a consolidated posting of finalists coming soon... or have I missed it?

hmmm, well, if that's the case, then i'm even more confused & surprised.

whatever i guess. the contest was still really fun and interesting... does still need some tweeking for next year, but I still can't wait to see more places.

-Kellen-

to patrick(the other one),

I found your award winning apartment in the archives. It's ueber cool and you deserved to win. My mind is now set that you possess great taste, but may I pose this question to you. What is in it for you to defend Christine #9. Are you her estate agent, contractor, or do you own the stunning apt. she lives in? If you own the apt., I'm interested in purchasing her apt. and transform it....

We figured this out yesterday on another thread...Selections had to be made by this voting formula: (yes+maybe)-no. This is how you are able to account for the contentious Christine's Airy Park View.

A percentage calculation would help equalize the time value of how long it was on the site so that it would be more "fair." But then again, you can't please all the people all the time.

susane--
No specific interest in defending that entry... I just jumped in when I thought the tide was outrageously negative on a space that had many redeeming qualities.

Desk- w/ that vote formula then, (and not that I wanted her's to be finalist anyway) but why is "Alison's Design to the Max" not a finalist?

forget it, it doesn't matter- i'm just confused, and feel like all this should be laid out and explained. And, I miss the "judges praise" pieces that last yr's contest had.

-Kellen-

susane--
Kinda sad, to me, that you'd suspect me of having to have some vested interest in a space before I would post something in defense of it...

Sure, it wasn't my favorite, but it (or the homeowner)didn't deserve to be totally trashed, and the judges accused of smoking crack because it got in.

Kellen - Maxwell said that one person who made it in numerically worked for DWR and was disqualified...so I guess that must be her?

pat, lighten up... it's meant facetiously. I think you should develop a thicker skin.

Why are you coming up for the judges? They have the power and can explain why they chose #9. Till now they declined to explain their reasoning behind their decision.

su--
Guess I just didn't get that you were being sarcastic, funny or facetious.

But my skin is just fine.

But, um, why are you pickin' on me just cuz I'm trying to stay positive and give people the benefit of the doubt? Yikes.

p(too) (not pat)

I am not certain how this contest could have been run so that everyone who has complained about some aspect or another would be satisfied.

Are these the actual top vote getters? Wow, there are some spaces that didn't make the cut there were very efficient and innovative--that's a shame.

Congrats to all of the finalists!

I seriously doubt Maxwell used vote counts as anything more than a very rough guide. Anyone with Firefox can easily vote again and again on a single entry by simply clearing their browser cache.

The voting system here is fun, but it isn't accurate.

I realized AT was set up with votes stored locally via cookies when I cleared my browser cache and suddenly voting was enabled again on every entry.

I'm not saying Jed did this. I only point out how the voting system here works since it's being discussed in this thread.

Good luck to all finalists!

Jed your bathroom is lovely. Nice job on that - the blowfish clock and the ladder add character. I like it.

Where did you find that blowfish, anyway?

Holly

decor8,

I found it at Urban Outfitters in Ann Arbor about eight years ago.

This one of the most boring apartments I've seen, how in the world did it get this far? It brings the whole excitment of the contest down, if this is a finalist I don't even care about who wins anymore.