apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Uhm...

Cool! A judge with common sense and no pretensions.

This dark horse is a bit of a surprise (given what I thought to be Alec's predilection for things shinier or design-y-er), but I very much like the reasons.

And that shot of Alec, and his killer profile (great nose and sweeping forehead), did not factor into this endorsement at all. ;)

-- "I admit to a little concern that popularity could account for some of the high voting" I can understand being sensitive to this idea, but isn't this a beauty pageant? And isn't that what online button voting like this is anyway? And isnÂ’t that why we look at percentages and not straight votes? If it wasn't a beauty pageant, then give people more than 100 words to dialogue about what is going on with their design, or ask more questions, or just allow for reader comments and not voting.

-- "ignoring the votes" I understand from the rules that this isnÂ’t a straight poll and there is only a suggestion that the votes are considered in your decision process. But what is bothersome is that there is an *illusion* that votes matter. AT readers spoke and if you calculate the percentages on voting results for Jason he was neck and neck (voting-wise) with Diane from New Ulm. People didnÂ’t like their spaces.

-- "Also, while many of the final entries are stunning, I donÂ’t see where any more high-end furniture could fit into their picture-perfect spaces." Sure, but I'm certain Stacy and Dan and Grant could have used the $ for flooring, bedding, lamps, magazine racks, etc. C'mon! Jason is going to be short some change with the cheapest headboard at $300 and dresser at $1K.

Desk--
I think the "ignoring the votes" comments were because this did NOT make the finals... it's an Honorable Mention, which, as caveat-ed above, is "at the judges discretion."

Which is why I think you don't need to get bent out of shape that this was nowhere near the top of the voting... I don't think Alec is alluding to that at all with his endorsement.

I think the voting will indeed matter in who made the *actual* finals.

I DO still wish that we could vote, in the finals, for a ranked top 5...

i'm so excited about this pick, i'll send jason the extra $100 for that headboard myself.

there were some stunners in this contest, but this was one of very few places that i would want to spend time after a day that really kicks my butt. i suspect that i could put my feet up AND have a drink without worrying too much where to set it down...never mind that i think his furniture picks are gorgeous and prone to reality.

good call, mister judge. my faith is restored.

I really hate the "if it's 'designed' it's unliveable" undercurrent in this (and past) contest(s).

It's sooooo not true.

p(too), I think some of the "if it's designed, it's unliveable" undercurrent is because the unlivable Designed spaces stand out and are memorable, while the livable Designed spaces are simply accepted as lovely without a hullabaloo. (Oops -- I think I just accidentally defined the difference between bad design and good design.)

The perpetrators of less obviously liveable Designed spaces also tend to be just a titch patronizing on the subject... the ol' "through great self-discipline, I find I have evolved beyond the need for closets, shelves, or chairs" lecture.

Bent out of shape? Not yet, but I sure will be if Diane gets an honorable mention.

I agree with you that the “if it’s designed it is unlivable” undercurrent is untrue and annoying. But not nearly as annoying as the under-designed, under-beautified is worthy of special mention in that “E for Effort” sort of way.

" really hate the "if it's 'designed' it's unliveable" undercurrent in this (and past) contest(s)."

Hm. Given that one of the highest vote-getters was James' and Margaret's ultra-sleek studio, I don't see that people are biased against "designed" spaces.

Under-beautiful, maybe, but under-designed? Look at his space and layout! I don't call that under designed at all. Unless when we talk about design we just mean furniture shopping. Honestly, this was one apt that really impressed me with it's thoughtfulness. I don't find it OMG beautiful, or swank or whatever, but I did love what he did with what he had. He's got a kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom (with laundry) in 480 sq feet! And kids can hang out there too.

I love democracy, but if everyone in the country voted on the the best restaurant in the US, I have a scary feeling it would be the Olive Garden. That's why it's always nice to have an "editor's choice" and I like seeing them in this contest too. It's not like they're in the finals (where your vote did matter), it just means they had something special going on that the judges wanted to point out.

How do these "unlivable" experts know a place is unlivable until you're lived there?? And if someone has evolved beyond the need for closets and shelves, more power to them. Some of those ultra-minimal places made something beautiful to look at, and just because I couldn't live there doesn't mean they aren't cool too.

regards,
trillium

Li--
Didn't mean that it was the trend of the vote, just an undercurrent, mostly to the comments.

i'm really glad this was chosen for a mention. jason don't listen to negative comments. your space makes me smile every time i look at it. you've combined good looking and comfortably kid friendly in one amazing garage makeover.

Under-designed?

Well, I don't know this guy or his kids. But I have a 13-year-old little brother and I know he wouldn't last 3 minutes in that place. There wouldn't be anything for him to do. And my brother demands his own bed—no sharing. But that’s just my brother.

Trillium -- If the Design necessitates carrying one's toiletries about in one's stylish messenger bag because the Perfect Bathroom does not include anywhere to put them, I'd argue we have indeed achieved Unlivable Design.

Plenty of spaces in the contest seemed to assume that a well-designed bedroom does not include sex (nowhere to hide any basic useful items for same), wearing glasses (nowhere to store a case), reading a book in bed (nowhere to set one), going to bed with a cold (nowhere to set a cup of tea or a tissue box), or getting up at a specific time (nowhere to put an alarm clock).

It's possible that I'm unreasonable in thinking that a sophisticated urbanite would want to do any of these things, of course.

Desk, your brother is spoiled.

blondie -

Spoiled because he doesn't share a bed with my mother or anyone else? Or sleep on the floor?

You are right - I'm out of line.

I missed the thread where someone said they carried their toiletries around in a messenger bag because there was no room for them in their Perfect Bathroom. Was this a real comment? I didn't read every single comments section on the apts. I can't tell if you're being serious about it or it's just part of the whole snark and exaggerate to make a point shtick you've got going on.

But for the rest, I'm not sure how you know that these apartments don't have spaces for the things you mention, especially since we don't see the whole apartment, just a few photos of it. Again, maybe it is unlivable for you, personally, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's bad design. For example, not everyone needs a place to put their glasses down by their beds, so how does it make it a bad design if the people that do, can't? You can't really be saying that one style must fit all to be considered good design, can you?

And just as a paranthetical comment, if people freak about someone leaving the toilet seat up when they took their pictures can you imagine the grief those people would give if they spoted "basic useful items" for sex??? Come on.

regards,
trillium

Trillium -- If there's a photo of the bed area, showing the entire area, and there's nothing next to the bed (no table, no drawers, no ledge, no nothing, zip, zero, nada), that would suggest to me that there is nowhere to put normal things near the bed.

If people are happy in an apartment that has nowhere to put a glass down, far be it for me to criticize.

Wende, your points are very well made. No less than Alexandra Stoddard has the same thinking, as expressed in her books.

wende, i know exactly what you mean -- and as i said in a comment that seems to have disappeared, i wonder if the guests of the superminimalists find their spaces hospitable. my place would be far more minimalist if i never had visitors, who get offended enough that there is no tv and there will be no meat at dinner.

is it horribly provincial to say that the basic items necessary for sex for me is... well, me?

ps. wende, your comments in the dalai lama thread were excellent.

I'm surprised as anyone that Alec has chosen my place. I'm extremely grateful and honored.

I love that the mention has sparked a little debate and that I was mentioned in the same breath as Diane from New Ulm. All of the comments regarding the bungalow have been valid and I have no problem with criticism. I'll be the first to admit the faults, but sleeping arrangements (the floor is concrete and nobody is sleeping with Mom) is not one of them. The couch was chosen for such a purpose. It's constructed of 4 square, detachable sections that convert to 2 twin beds with the help of 2 twin featherbeds and some comfy blankets.

As far as the debate on design’s definition – it’s anybody’s guess. If we all liked the same thing, there wouldn’t be enough to go around.

Thanks to AT, Alec and thanks to all!

PS: I will take the unanimous hint regarding the headboard - it goes.

Speaking of Diane, she has posted.

On her entry's page, that is.

Given the issues that have come up in past threads, I do owe trillium an apology if I seemed to be taking the position that there's One Right Way to design, which would have been extremely irritating of me to do.

I think minimalism looks good in photos but is an unrealistic ideal for most households, and of course, I was enjoying my own prose in making my point.

*blushes at Jean* *tries to avoid saying anything to rasil that could be construed as a pass*

Rasil, it's handy to have drawer to put certain things - you know where they are in the heat of the moment!

Congratulations, Jason.

(You know I only brought up the comparison with Diane to talk about vote percentages, right? I don't mean to suggest that your places are similar.)

Jason, I love your space. When I first started browsing here, I didn't read comments and just looked at pictures. It's a place I could live in. LIVE in. Feel comfortable in. I love the concrete floors, and prefer concrete to any other flooring surface. I love acid stain, and really like the mottled look I can see in the bathroom for the floor. It's very nature/natural in appearance, like worn leather or rock formations, color changing. LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

Don't be so quick to trash the headboard. Give it several coats of outdoor poly, and attach it firmly to a basic bench, for outdoor seating. Cut it down for a lower back, or leave it high, and it also serves to partially block an unsightly view (if you have an unsightly view somewhere, LOL).

And your big mirror does (in photos) exactly what someone else's big mirror does...makes me wonder where that room goes to and why it's not shown on the floor plan. LOL! It's a reflection! Duh! But obviously it works in expanding space!

I think it would be interesting to see more photos, later on, of what people do to their spaces after the contest is over. Will you change anything? What? Why?

And comments on how the contest affected you.

PTOO, you're right about the comments -- weird how they're not in line with how the voting went.

Is there a typo in the listing of Jason's entry number right under the picture? I believe it was #15, but it's listed in the title as #13.