apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I don't know how I feel about the rest of the apartment, but that first image is HOT HOT HOT!

Wow, this layout is just like Carrie's on Sex and the City!

good for you! i like when girls can do work themselves. your sewing skills are awesome - that comforter looks incredible.


thats an awful lot of pink though! and perhaps the first time I've ever though it looked good.

Pink is the new small. My favorite by far!

Would love to see that glossy desk unit opened up. What a great space. Wonderful..just wonderful..

really nice artwork - love the scale - care to reveal your source? by the way, i'm #17 and have the same high gloss closets as you (pax - correct)? my friend and i almost died carrying the boxes up 4 flights - harrowing!

i'm not at all a pink person but this is very creative. just lovely and avoids being overly girly or childish. i love it.

It's pink and I like it. I admire you for having the courage to go your own way.

Tony G.

HOT HOT HOT!

the first photo is to-die-for, well-staged! the next 2 have a lot to live-up to and don't quite get ther for me... i think it's all the pink. i *love* pink, but in smaller doses, i guess. still i want to see more....

that first photo is AWESOME. very sexy. what do guys say when they come over?

I really, really like this place. I applaud your color pallet and the restraint you used to stay within it. So pretty.

This is too much! Love it, love it, love it!

Why oh why don't you have some drapes over the windows/radiator? I loved everything but that. it really detracts from the mood you've created and it's such an easy cover-up.

I normally hate pink, but i may be a convert now. WOW. Did you paint the painting over the couch?

It almost makes me wish I was single. My husband would NEVER go for a full on pink scheme, but this is where my heart lies. OMG. Want it!!

I agree with the earlier comment about the lack of drapes over the radiator...ouch. The rest of the apartment seems so intentional (maybe too intentional in places), and to compete with the inherent ugliness of the radiator is sinful.
That said, great color scheme for a small apartment. Everyting, save the radiator plays off the unique centerpiece (the painting) very well.

well this guy thinks that pink is HOTT
I agree with the uncovered window/radiator wall- it really distracts from how fab the rest is...even a full wall of sheer white curtains would soften that wall and keep it clean looking

rawk on with your bad ass self! needs a window treatment/framing of some sort (also to cover the radiator and a/c unit). otherwise, love it.

I {heart} your apartment.

Pink is a bit much for me, but great furniture choice. Painting over the couch is great. Might have to steal that idea. P.S., the link to white furniture is whiteonwhite.com, not whatever's up there.

Love that you make pink work, and love love LOVE that you do a lot of DIY. I've been looking for a good lucite source for a table, think I'll try out yours!

I love it- is the "lipstick" above the bed a decal?

It KIND of looks like there are blinds there, and that they're pulled all the way up, so that the glossiness of the windows are showing, which is very funny!

Meanwhile, I think the person who did such a wild, fun job on the rest of this IS capable of doing some kind of linear pattern on the wall where the radiator and air conditioner are so that they CAN blend in with it, and I hope she will.

But in the meantime there's too much right with this for me not to call this Stellar. (You'd almost think I was British for all the double-negatives there, but my point is that I love this.)

Stellar. I'd be interested in seeing the occupant :) .

this place is awesome. it's like the incarnation of every single girl's fantasy apartment.

is "rosie canyon" the name you've bestowed unto your apartment? nice. (my bf would kill me if i gave a name like that to our apartment... although he would like the naughtiness of it though...)

It takes some effort to make a pink-and-white color scheme look grown up, and you've done it. Nice place!

okay... though i'm a guy... i want pink in my next bedroom :-) wonderful.


:-) aad

Fo sheezy, my neezy! Fantastic.

But you have to do something with that unsightly window, air-conditioning, heating area. How about wall to wall soft, billowy, off white drapery. Open only when necessary

The side view of that heavy velvet drapery--it's just not hanging right.

And I would paint the columns on either side of the window pink too.

First thought: DO SOMETHING WITH THOSE RADIATORS. Tear them off the wall, burn them off if you have to.

Second thought: The bed is ... wow. I love it. So (@*(!@ HOT. All that's missing is a pair of marabou slippers kicked off on the floor. ; )

Rosie Canyon?
Seriously?

The grown-up version of Barbie's Dream House, and I mean that in a very positive "let's make a sequel to Sex & the City" or maybe "let's talk about the meaning of feminine power" way.

I like the dark drapes in the context of that first pic, but somehow not in the grand scheme of things.

Anyone else care to predict what I think is missing from the living room seating area?!

And how come no cries of "Dude(ette), where's all your *stuff*?" like usual?

it's a bit too one-dimensional for my tastes. needs MORE color (not to the nattles extreme, but at least it has a lot of personality). Needs warmth (a little danish teak, perhaps?)--mostly marble, lucite/polycarbonate, and glass. it's just dichromatic with predictable midcentury pieces. envious space, but needs more dynamism.

Totally hot! And I agree with everyone else, the radiator/ac wall needs to be covered up.

It's so sparkly! LOVE!

That said, I second (or fifth, or whatever) the call for camouflaging the sad window/radiator/air con area, and perhaps you could add a chandelier/hanging pendant of some sort to the bedroom and to replace that little three-light fixture over the hcair. That would make it even MORE glammier.

hottt! congratulations.

paint the radiator pink. or silver. to incorporate them into the whole. and a shimmery pearl sheer drape might not go amiss.

P(too)! I'm a little disappointed in your restraint on this one!

And I could be totally wrong...but I think people who are wondering what guys think about this place are not 100% clued on on what that "lipstick" means...

I actually like it, even though I'm not a big fan of the color pink. This is done much better than some of the other pink places we've seen here.

Interesting! You must do something about the blinds/radiator/airconditioner area. It stands out as an unattractive blemish on an otherwise fantastic personal space. Window treatments anyone?

And how come no cries of "Dude(ette), where's all your *stuff*?" like usual?

Because there are huge cabinets, an unseen walk-through closet, and the unseen bathroom and kitchen. Also, she does accessorize -- surfaces aren't bare.

But you're right about the need for a r-u-g.

Pink. Everywhere. Talk amongst yourselves.

It's like a giant box of candy. Yum!

I adore it. Please please please tell me where you got the piece of art over the couch....I love it....!??

Marie -- I think you're right that some may be mistaking the target audience. ; )

I really appreciate someone going this hardcore with their design. I also agree with the comments about the radiator and that a rug would be a good touch. A good foofy white rug would add to the sex appeal.

Great job.

Pinktastic insta-finalist! (Although I agree about the radiator and rug issues.)

would never do pink myself, but love your place! great art.

I love how the Bedroom isn't girly carnation pink, but killer stilleto fuschia. Nice.

Most of it I love, but the word "lipstick" on the wall above the bed? I don't care why it's there, I don't like it. I have no qualms with all the pink, I can stand the open radiators, I'm not missing rugs, but that one element really reduces my enjoyment of what's going on. It's like something you'd see in a boutique hotel that's going for fun! and sexy! and hip! and just veers into tacky.

if that "lipstick" has a subversive vibe, i think it's totally hot. if not...well, the gothic script still goes a long way to redeem it from being overly cutesy.

my favorite elements are the glossy wall unit, the ghost chair, and the huge tall mirror. i myself might replace the painting which seems slightly lackluster (sorry!) with a large black and white photograph, a la the photograph featured in ione skye's west coast apartment... or this kind of wall tableau from domino, i think, would add some wonderful texture and contrast to the gorgeous girly glossy vibe (no pun intended!). ;)

Although I couldn't live in a pink world, you get a BIG thumbs up for your awesome (and cool!) small space. I mean, really, you had me at "lipstick".

Damn, high femme is right. Like Maryja, you had me at "lipstick." Fabulous. I could not live here, but I totally respect it.

Curtis' idea of a striped pattern on your radiator wall is great. Drapes would work too, very easily.

I'm in the process of looking for my first apartment and this definetly cemented my decision to use pink (a dark saturated one though) as my accent colour. I like that it is feminine without feeling childish. Well done.

Agree with the others about the rug, window covering and perhaps some wood surfaces to bring in a slightly different element. Would love to see the rest of the space...

My vote = Cool. Has (serious) potential.

k*

So what are your paint colors?

Love the painting over the couch, makes me think of cupcakes with sprinkles. Love the gloss.

I actually liked the two second photos better. I thought the first dramatic one was a little cheesy, like wearing crushed velvet (no offense if anyone likes to wear crushed velvet).

Is that a big Hershey's Kiss?

And yes, some sheers a right across the back alcove would look much better (if there weren't curtains to the right I should add). But overall everything works so well together. Nice job!

I love it, especially as I just did my bedroom walls in that deep pink color, too! I used Ben Moore's "Secret Rendezvous". The name says it all!

Bingo.

it makes me want to lounge on the couch in a sexy negligee and sip wine for the rest of my life. this apartment makes me feel naughty just looking at i!

Love the glossiness of the storage unit. Love the pink that is not little-girlish in the least. Love the painting over the sofa; to me it looks like either a hershey's kiss or a back view of a bride in a wedding gown with a long train swooping down the aisle behind her (is the pink infusion to my brain making me see girly images everywhere?).

Even though you're right that the apartment is architecturally unremarkable, it is a dreamy floor plan -- I always super resented the sex and the city set designer, because I was always like, yes, yes, if a place is laid out that well then small square footage is totally doable. All that resentment is hereby transferred to you. Enjoy.

Awesome! This is the kinda place to bring home a rockstar and get crazy.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and high-level debate over Pink.

To answer your questions:

The paintings are by Keltie Ferris.

The paint colors are:
Racer Pink / R.Lauren IB51 / dark pink in bedroom
Strawberry Sorbet / BM 2087-50 / Medium pink behind couch
Ribbon Pink / B.Moore 2087-60 / light pink opposite couch
Elephant Pink / B.Moore / very pale pink for kitchen cabinets. not shown in the 3 photo minimum.

The letters on the wall are decals from www.wallwords.com

Thanks again for the ideas! Keep 'em coming.
Sarah

THIS IS SOOO ME! i love it!

So pretty ~ so pink

I love the art the art
and how you combined
all those beautiful shades
of pink!

Very Chic Very Glam!!

got the 'lipstick' (well, heh...maybe)
question: is your wall unit ikea abstrakt high cabinets used as office space/ storage? i just ordered a kitchen in the aforementioned frontal, and it's exciting to see what it may look like.

i likey...mmm...shiny.

Guiniveve

I love your space. I agree with previous comments about some kind of window treatment, ext. I wouldn't mind a rug either. However, the one thing I am dying to see is some kind of rediculously ornate pink crystal chandelier above your bed. I think it would finish that space which, though lovely and extremely sexy, is crying out for the final touch. At least it looks that way in the photo.

insta-finalist for sure. heres why:

it doesn't compromise. all of the 'i love it but i could never...' comments. this woman just went for it. i admire that. thats the therapy part, as for the apartment part, the colors are beautiful and the place is so calm and welcoming and glamorous.

this is not a 'take away all of my junk and buy expensive furniture and you've got the look' type of place. the apt is very creative and artful. it is minimalist and clean but still has awesome personality. this is one entry where people are talking about who the occupant is...you get the immediate sense that the design is an authentic expression of the occupant.

it is gorgeous and we want to see MORE of it

Very Cool! Totally mod girl. love the fact that the bathroom is twice the size of the kitchen, that's hot.

Sarah - Which of your furniture pieces came from white on white? Were you happy with their quality/service?

I definitely want to see more of this place!

Rosie Canyon?
Seriously?

wende--

All those other minimalist apartments had closets in their floorplans, too. Bigger than these.

"Bring home a rockstar and get crazy"? Not seeing that so much, either. Unless Hillary Duff is considered a "rock star" these days.

P (two),

It's funny - something about the grown-up girly-ness of the place makes it seem like it's just filled with stuff in all the hidden areas. The other places look more sterile in the parts "for show" and so it's harder to imagine they have lots of stuff in the closets. Wonder why that is.

I don't know at all, that's exactly why I've been wondering.

Also wondering where all the "spot the DWR pieces" people are...

I think it's because of all the fabric and 'feminine' color. Both of those seem soft, warm, and go with being filled with stuff. (All of those are yin qualities.) Whereas stronger edges, less fabric, and stronger contrast &/or minimal color is all more yang, and goes with being more organized and less cluttered.

At least I seem to make these assumptions and group things like this. And it seems to hold regardless of whether the inhabitants are male or female - but just look at how some thought BK is a man from her beautiful entry, below this one. BK's place is full of stuff, but the harder edges, greater contrast in colors make it easy for me to imagine that there's not a lot of stuff in hiding. (Although I think there should be even fewer objects actually showing in that living room.)

Hospital and hospitable...
slight taste of poison on my lips and stain on my collar, such is history, the sheets of procreation are clean campaigned the idealist.

we could all be pink on the inside...?

Great bedroom! Love it.

"about this place are not 100% clued on on what that "lipstick" means..."
yeah, we know. And it's located in chelsea too, if this weren't enough.

I love it - a daring and spectacular use of pink. The art and storage are wonderful and it definitely has the wow factor.

I too agree that a sheer curtain (in the same color as the window wall) would finish off that area. Also, I'd like to see the rod for the red velvet curtains go all the way to the ceiling. However, I like the floor rugless - it gives the apartment a little edge that keeps it from being saccharine.

insta-finalist! It's gorgeous and original!

in my place the radiators get so hot I am afraid to have curtains up against them (except in the summertime).

I also have some Pax pieces but back when I got mine they did not make the glossy doors - I like the glossy better! And yes carrying them up the 2 flights of stairs, ugh. I had to open the box and take the pieces up one at a time.

I was thinking of using one as a desk also and I wanted to get some graphic wall paper and cover the inside back wall of it .. but I ended up just getting the Mikael desk instead...

You go girl! I vote Insta-Finalist!

dadsnave
(if in doubt -- try reverse)

Rock on.

Sea: It's funny - something about the grown-up girly-ness of the place makes it seem like it's just filled with stuff in all the hidden areas and just look at how some thought BK is a man from her beautiful entry, below this one. BK's place is full of stuff, but the harder edges, greater contrast in colors make it easy for me to imagine that there's not a lot of stuff in hiding.

There's something very archetypal going on here. The "feminine" apartment with its assumed "hidden areas" and the "masculine" apartment with "harder edges"...

...what's especially entertaining, and I only noticed it today, is that BK's apartment and Sarah's have approximately the same sofas, only BK's seating is black and Sarah's is white.

Pinkadelic!
Passion Pit!
Barbie on Ecstacy!
Something tells me Rosie is having a whole lot more fun than I am... ;-)
I love this place! You should send a photo of your "lipstick" wall to the Wallwords company, because it's way cooler than the cutesy examples they have on their site.
I agree with the comment about the chandelier, but I would put it over your Saarinen table. And get a big fat white fluffy kitty cat and put a rinestone collar on her.

Yes please!

This looks like a Barbie dream house combined with something designed by Elle Woods. She does use the space well, but it feels like a cutesy boutique or nail salon, and doesn't feel like the place you could relax over a long period of time.

great use of space and consistency of theme! never boring or ordinary and feels like a wonderful home to return to!

hey offbalance- the beauty of this place is that you CAN relax because when you walk in the vibe of the inhabitant is what calls the shot. shoes off, lounge with a glass of wine, some cheese and crackers. that's what i imagine.
THIS PLACE IS AWESOME! you go biatch!

I've come back like 10X to view this. I've now passed it on to fellow livejournalers. You have given me hopes for my pink and white dreams.

"Bring home a rockstar and get crazy"? Not seeing that so much, either. Unless Hillary Duff is considered a "rock star" these days.
__________________

Suddenly, I am seeing a rock star — Joan Jett circa 1982, early '90s Babes in Toyland... I am liking this place more and more!

The dining area needs work, though -- I'd ditch the chairs (how often does one have dinner parties in NYC?), get a great 1950s- style vinyl-covered bar with barstools to match to stick in the corner and hide that radiator, maybe a set of glossy tray tables, paint the whole wall and the hideous radiators some deep, sexy shade...

Where are all the people who usually say "Where's the innovation or space planning idea I can borrow?"

I just thought of a great window treatment, if it can actually be had at all.

Put white faux wood vertical blinds on each of the two side panels of that window and white faux wood with a common valance across the whole top of it, and in fact, have that whole thing go the total left-to-right width of that little window, and let the verticals "bank" past the window, so that when all the blinds are open, the window is at least almost as open as you see it now. The bottom of the BOTH kinds of blinds, though would only go down to where the window actually goes down to -- NOT all the way to the floor.

Why? Funny you should ask. Because it would keep the lines at least a certain kind of clean, and yet the verticals on each side would kind of play with the more traditional formal idea of curtain panels on each side.

Also, it could establish a vertical-versus-horizontal pattern that COULD be carried somehow on the wall below in either a paint treatment of a wall paper to make the radiator and air conditioner work together, or the window treatment itself might be enough to make those two play nicer together.

Where are all the people who usually say "Where's the innovation or space planning idea I can borrow?"

Rolling on the floor orgiastically, it would seem. (There's another reason to need a rug.)

Never underestimate the power of an archetype to over-ride logical reasoning.

(And yes, someone could tap into profound archetypal power and also do great space planning, and maybe some entrant will.)

Cheap dates, all, it seems.

One pretty pink Cosmo, and all reason goes out the window!! ;)

Wende: "...what's especially entertaining, and I only noticed it today, is that BK's apartment and Sarah's have approximately the same sofas..."

Yes, I noticed that too! I was puzzling about that fact last night, until I convinced myself that the white (especially in the ottomans/stools here) look curvier because they're white, and BK's look tauter because they're black. Hilarious, huh? - Because that can't be right! As you said:

"Never underestimate the power of an archetype to over-ride logical reasoning."

I think that's exactly what's going on here.

... And look at the hard time Davy in LA (entry #8 there) is getting for his place. For all I know, it is fake - but the reason people think so is not that there's not a single bit of personal clutter, but because what is showing is all hard-edged and bland. Nothing idiosyncratic about it.

Matilda's totally right on - my first thought was Carrie Bradshaw's pad! (sigh... i do miss those gals)
Love the pink, love the "lipstick" decal... beautiful, clean and modern.

Patrick (two) - You've made me understand something about myself. I like this apartment, but don't think it's sexy at all -- and I couldn't understand why everyone was drooling over sexiness per se. But that's because I never thought Barbie or cheap (or let's just say 'serial') dates were sexy either, and I don't like pink Cosmos. In fact, this apartment doesn't seem to me like it's best at night at all. It seems really great as a day place, to hang out and have lunch and read in all day.

For sexiness, this place seems way too cool for me - I need a lot more warmth. (And maybe a lot more masculinity....)

patrick (the other one),

I find it hilarious how you keep popping up looking for the typical responses in this contest? Why so?

Is it because their absence might really mean that those people pipe up only when they feel a need to denigrate designs that they personally just don't like? Or that they aren't using fair means to judge these contests on the three published criteria. Well, yeah, they probably aren't.

I've seen beautiful places in this contest but if there isn't anything I can learn from them in terms of using small spaces wisely, they don't make it to stellar; and that goes for ones that do achieve that goal but then don't have the aesthetic portion.

I really hope everyone is putting each place up against all three of the criteria.

GORGEOUS -- what an amazing and *perfect* pink apartment! "Rosy Canyon" completely rocks.

Rosie Canyon?

Seriously?

Winner!!
I just want to know this woman. For the men who are turned off by this sexy female space you may want to ask yourself if you in fact like women. I would be so honored as a man to be invited to this apartment. I would feel as though I had a back stage pass to the secrets of women kind. How incredibly alluring. I instantly respect her and her space.
I find myself defencive on her behalf regarding The Dead Horse (heat/a/c). Sarah your class and grace in response to the repetitive simply confirms all of the words that come to mind when I see your space; smart, sexy, independent, glamorous, classy, confident, proud, flirtatious, sleek, clean and sassy. I think I'm in love.
Thank you for sharing your sanctuary Rosie Canyon with us!

I've been craving those Panton chairs you have at your dining table for a couple months...but in blue...how do you like yours?

LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

just pink and white... not really my taste. but i do like the idea of hiding a desk in the gloss cabinet though.

Absolutely Fabulous!!!!

Saucy. Sexy. Savvy.

Wonder if she has a brother with an all light blue apartment.

And wonder if he has named it "Rock Hard Rod" or "Blue Boner."

patrick, friend, you need to relax about sarah's apartment. your comments and repetitive posts are beginning to be a bit much. its pink, its sexy, its hers, get over it.

It's fun, it's fluffy--It reminds me of cotton candy, or Divine's bouffant Halloween hair-do, (drag queens ARE the ne plus ultra of glam), but I can't help remembering something about prison psychology, and how a pink room calms people down at first, but then agitates them after a while....
Has it been pink for very long?

juliee, just relax yourself.

the cheerleading squad on this one is strong enough to stand a little ribbing.

(and I've really, honestly, been just trying to understand why this is getting such praise without some of the typical complaints that this space is equally guilty of but definitely not getting.)

Hey Sarah, Your Palace Rocks. So where are the kitchen and bath shots?

Hey Sarah, I admire your use of Pink!! Such a departure from the "mature" colors we generally use in our homes. My apartment has a similar layout with the intrusive radiator and a/c unit under the window. Removing 'em would be extremely expensive so what I've done is made window seats in my livingroom dining area. They cover as well as provide storage space for my vases and seasonal accessories. for you it would probably provide added seating at the dining table?

This is the first one I want to live in. I love it, because/despite the pink(s). It's happy and bright and fits my idea of cool. Yum.

**********************************************

First thoughts that came to my mind when I looked at this suite:

Glam, Fab, Paris Hilton, Gucci, Sex, Ice Cream

But not necessarily in that order ...



I'd love to see pics of the kitchen and bath

My Vote: Cool. Has Potential.

**********************************************

Soooooo not Gucci.

ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! Who Cares why there is so much pink or so much white. What matters is that we can see the true inspiration of the person who actually lives in the apartment. And that inspiration is just breathtaking. I lOVE it!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats on a job well done

Now I understand the phrase Hot pink. Very sexy. Taking inspiration from the fella with the self designed tie collection as art--how about a row or two of various pink lipsticks over the bed, maybe afew with caps, a few knocked over since everything in the apartment is immaculate.( looks good in my minds eye.)

"I would feel as though I had a back stage pass to the secrets of women kind." -Johnny

Oh, YACK.

I like the layout, but think it's a bit cliched in the execution.

Perfect bachelorette pad.

I Love your place. Love the pink, glossy white furniture, tufted couches, etc... My style exactly! Great Job!

Gorgeous! I was waffling back and forth about painting my dining room pink but you've just clinched it for me - pink it is!

I love your apartment so much and because of this I have one small, nit-picky comment: Hide the mechanical elements in the dining room (i.e., the air conditioner, etc.). Doing so would finish off that end of the space.

Where did you get your beautiful coffee table?

PRETTY IN PINK!!!!!

Is it an ode to Barbie?

Although everything is in pinky taste..add a little black and white to balance all that pink, perhaps you can add an awesome chandelier over your table.

Try www.brocadehome.com, they have the yummiest ones ever!

Good luck in the contest

Sarah, i've come back to your seriously yummy place a lot;
was glad you almost made finalist.
i love that if you sleep with the curtains open, you can wake up to see first thing those chairs and table together--purist bliss-- with that centerpiece wit!
but if you close them, how cozy!!
(gotta say i agree about white sheers on the windows or some kind of cover below them, a living area rug to up the coziness, maybe white or slivery pillows on the couch sometimes.)
is there a rosy chinese three panel scene or screen in the kitchen or bathroom?
forgive please my usual saluting the obvious, but
you must be delightful to be around/be creating loads of happy memories for yourself and your guests which of course is the coolest thing.

this place is attention grabbing and i was more delighted the further i went down the page. i squealed like a girl.

Can you please let me know where the white couch set is from or where I could find something similar please?