apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I LOVE the storage - particularly the magazine shelving.

As someone who has "decluttered" and still finds herself with lots of things that need to be stored, I really, really love this place and wish I could get that organized!

this place must be absolutely fabulous at night!

Envy your solutions for staying organized. Love the newstand magazine shelf.

What's the splash wall covered of ? Is it plain silver paint ? Brilliant idea.

I love how in every shot there's so much depth and so much to see but it never looks overwhelming or cluttered or like your eyes should be going ten million places at once. The wall o' magazines is a bit too Hudson News for me, but otherwise, great! What is going on with that piano/storage combo?

so much stuff! i love it!

I love how you have sooooo much stuff but it looks organized and well designed. Bravo!

It is nice to finally see how someone has incorporated a piano(keyboard) into a small place. very nice work.... impressive carpentry skills!

What material did you use for your lighting? I've been playing with dragon "rice" paper but would prefer more texture and varied lighting, like you have.

I'm very sympathetic to the reuse-and-recycle mantra. More people ought to, since it gives such a distinctive character to your living space.

Wow, tis cozy cool!

This is what I strive for: a designated home for each and every object in my possession. How did you do it?? And, more importantly, how do I teach my husband to think this way???

Your storage solutions are amazing.

ADORE the magazine wall. *coveting*

I love your lighting! I would also love info on how you did that/where you got them.

I'm surprised that there are so many 'Cool, has potential' votes. This place accomplishes so much in terms of function and manages to make every part of it stunning. This guy manages to have stuff (alot of it!) without making it look like a mess/cluttered or without him feeling obligated to "hide" things in order to win this contest.

I really love this. would really like to see the rest of it (bed and bath!)

i am so confused by this...you seem to have SO much more space than 450 sq ft. obviously, what you're doing--IT'S WORKING!

Daniel your light fixtures are fantastic and the amount of stuff you have is mind-blowing. you must really have cleaned (or you're really really neat) because places always look more cluttered in photos than they feel in person. nice job staging your photos.
Is that a dresser on the bed platform? with a chair behind it? I want to see more. the plan is great-- so many nooks, very pre-war, i love that.

What can I say? Your space rocks! Organized to showcase your love of music. Love the lights and the warmth of the wood throughout. Congratulations

Clearly, you have a machine that generates extra space out of nothing. (or maybe it runs on old magazines?) No doubt it's hidden underneath your loft bed... this is definitely a home I am looking forward to see more pictures of.

his light fixtures look like they're made from butcher paper-- i've seen that done several times and it looks great!

Quite unique. The light boxes/shades are great. And I wanna examine that glass topped, wine rack, coffee table, on wheels. Love multifunctional items. Looks like there's lots more stuff to see around every little corner.
3 thumbs up. I'm an alien-don't tell anyone.

Lordy, I'm craving more! When's the house-tour?

I love the little zig-zaggy detail under the kitchen sink -- is it safe to assume you added that? Do tell!

Okay, maybe, just maybe, my favorite entry...

-successful design
-loads of crap that doesn't look like loads of crap
-diy

And I'd do a cartwheel for that magazine rack.

So much cool in so little small.

The zigzaggy thing on the stove looks like one of those folding hat racks--is it?

Your light boxes are gorgeous--they look like tortoise shell.

a place for everything and everything in it's place, and the man has four closets too!
it's tough figuring this space out, are there any exposed walls?

your organizational skills are remarkable, and you're very brave to leave everything exposed! the dusting must be brutal. i live in a nearly identical unit - also in a 1931 hi-rise. exact same layout, only my foyer is shorter and wider. i've the same problem of having the bathroom door placed in the middle of the living room wall, rather than ideally off the foyer. i love the way you've defined the spaces. you've even created a bedroom, and the L-shaped runner really makes sense of this large obstacle. the file cabinet disguise is also ingenious. i too have a huge collection of books,
magazines,cd's and endless wiring from various electronics. tell me, how do you keep up with the constant maintenance? in my own apartment it's never ending. have you ever considered concealing all those objects behind cabinet doors? not sure whether this would resolve the dust issue.

I love that you have STUFF!

Fabulously practical made stylish!

I love the lighting! and of course the great storage. Well done!

Brilliant. Cozy yet it doesn't feel confined.

Well, I looked at this, read all the positive comments, then went back and looked at it again for several minutes, trying to figure out what everyone else sees that I don't. The lighting is very cool, and I totally envy the owner for having so many discrete rooms in such a small apartment, but I guess I'm just more of a minimalist, because this is way too much exposed stuff for me. The magazine rack makes me feel like I'm in a public library.

It's funny that you list Candela as the architect, but if you don't mind loftbeds and you love magazines, this seems like a really well thought out space.

definitely a house tour place

It's very organized and cozy, but I don't see that much creative design.

nice

I'm so happy that you've managed to embrace the volumes of stuff you have, which allows it read as texture and not clutter; the color harmony is such a clever solution to making it seem cozy and welcoming. I agree with many of the post-ers: let us see more of the space: bath and bedroom! pauly

What's the writing on the table? (Sorry if someone has already asked this.) And, is this guy a writer - maybe a freelance magazine writer? How about a music/recordings critic? Ah well, I guess one shouldn't speculate.... But I really don't understand that magazine display otherwise. Those aren't just for browsing through. I thought they might be an art installation, but then they aren't displayed right to convince me of that, either. I guess.

Mid-C-Frank: that was my first thought, too!
And I think I can answer your question (Daniel, may I?) It seems to look like an expandable hat rack, possibly brass with walnut knobs. Good use; my next question would be - is that an iron sink? Then it must've taken quite an effort to drill holes in it to screw that rack on...
[I did sort of similar thing in my kitchen when trying to find a spot for the pot lids; there was none on the wall, so I screw it to the wall cabinet' door. Works like a charm]

Excellent work.
This contest is getting hotter...

This is an absolutely amazing, sublime little space -- it's incredible the way the owner has organized everything and still kept a sense of style, elegance and design "voice". There is a tonal warmth that makes the space feel like its hugging, not squeezing - bravo!!

PS> What this entry (and, in fact, what ALL the entries need) is VIDEO!

phantasmic,

"It's very organized and cozy, but I don't see that much creative design."

He created an entire wall of storage that divides his living room from the bedroom. This wall snakes it way from one end of the apartment to the other with a space designed just to house his piano. What kind of creative design were you looking for?

I also like how the filing cabinet becomes a wall to display art on, it took me a while to notice that was the side of it and not another wall.

I think this one is brilliant!

He made his place seem so much larger that it really is, he was able to design a system where he could keep all of his stuff, and it is still attractive and comfortable.

Stellar!

I'm so blown away by all these great comments, folks. Not only are the encouragement and insights appreciated, but it's also nice to know that the pix manage to convey a sense of my space -- I really suffered over the picture selection, as it was so hard to pick just three (as I'm sure you all know from your own experience). I hope to be able to answer some of these excellent questions with additional pix & text in the future! In the meantime, thanks so much... -D

To me it looks like a storage of a company for which you can not say on the first glance what do they sell. Magazines on the entrance (prospect buletins?), storage shelves, chairs stored high...

This is amazingly gorgeous and my vote for winner - cracking use of the space hes got - beautifully organised storage - welcoming homely atmosphere - stunning

Please can we have a full tour of this one asap?

you have a ton of closet space. jealous.

It's of, by, and for you, and you're fabulous. I wish you could come and make my place of and for me but by you!

It won't let me vote on this. It says to log in to vote, but I'm obviously logged in since I can comment :(

Extremely creative ways to display and organize disparate elements of everyday life - a very resourceful and intelligent human being!

When can you come over and help me with my place?
Serious.
Daniel, this is beautiful and functional, and soooo you!
What a talent!!

I don't want to sound snooty but I don't understand the concept of picking up stuff "off the street" (aka discarded stuff) (aka trash) and bringing it home. I'm all for reuse and recycling. I would just suggest you go to a nice antique store and buy something late 19th century or early 20th century.

I do like the light fixtures and those quaint curtains near the kitchen.
I don't know about all the magazines. Do you really need old magazines?

this is a confusing entry...i can't get a complete understandting despite the photos and floorplan.

the wall magazine rack is intense - reminds me of news cafe or the nail salon, but i suppose it's better than having dusty stacks of old magazines on every surface of the apt.

Not terribly dramatic, but looks cozy. There are several nice touches: the magazine storage, the curtain in the kitchen doorway, and the recyled elements. I like that you not only rescue usable cast off items but rework them into new things (like the coffee table). That shows real imagination. More stuff would stay out of landfills if everyone had an eye for that kind of potential.

I don't want to open the front door to have a parade of "In Style" magazines be the first thing I see. And what's that magazine at eye level in front of the door: "Where are the Women"?

do i see plants under the piano? if so, what kind are they and what kind of planters are they in and, and, and, i guess i want you to tell us more about them.

Daniel - Cheryl sent me the link and i am more than happy to vote for you - your place is wonderful! Great job!

I think you have a really cozy apt with inventive storage! For that I voted you as stellar - I espeically love the magazine rack! I know most of us are magazine-a-holics and I never know what to do with mine! However, there is a lot of clutter and maybe you should invest in some nice seagrass covered boxes or something else neutral that you could then label with the contents -just to cut down on all that is going on.

"Where are the Women?" was the cover story in Fast Company. I think it was a couple of years ago. Fast Company is a business magazine dedicated to innovative offices. It's actually a lot like AT, but about business.

Is that a bench across from the wall of magazines? It's like a tiny waiting room. I think it's kind of cool. And maybe it looks nicer in person than it does in the photo.

Maybe Daniel just likes to be able to have back issues for reference. In Style always has an article about celebrity homes in it. I always feel sad when I put my magazines out on the curb for recycling. If I could keep them all in storage, I probably would, just in case I wanted to go back and read an article. As a matter of fact, I was just talking about the FC article the other day after the Op-Ed in the Times about women and the labor force.

I love how deliberate and measured this place looks -- it seems very calming, and perfectly tailored by its owner. And it's really unique!

i like the kitchen nook.

An ultra-compartmentalized yet uncluttered pad.
Modern accents throughout, but a retro feel that's familiar and comforting.
A veritable oasis in the Big City.
Well done, Daniel.

i want to move in with you right now!

An absolutely incredible use of space...the creativity can be seen by the intense level of order. Separating space without losing flow is ingenious. Clean is Key, as well as bright and fresh. You must be your mother's favorite son!

This place oozes love and dedication. I have rarely seen a space that combines ingenuity, resourcefulness, design-savy, carpentry skills and carpentry courage with a true green approach to creating your space.

Throwaway furniture, your days are numbered!

Very idiosyncratic indeed. I agree with all the other comments that I want to move in with this guy right now. And marry. And have kids for which he can then built many more loft beds! And never leave.

seems im the only one who isnt digging this one

very interesting place but it kinda looks like a store, no? but i just love the actual space- seems like you could get lost in there while being in such a small area. hard to imagine it's just 450 sq feet.

If you've got your eye on something in particular, Olivia, make me an offer! -D

I like the light fixtures and the warm light they emit.
Side note: Weasel Dearest is a hilarious handle.

Hey, in case anyone's interested, an article I wrote about my little pad, "This Old Studio Apartment", just went live on the TOH website this morning. For about a week, it'll be on the home page...

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/

...and it can also be accessed directly at...

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/interiors/gallery/0,25895,1629897,00.html

Hope you'll check it out.

-D