apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

who's the cute little stinker above the dining table?

LOVE this. Incredibly efficient use of space. The only quibble is the dining niche looks too crowded to actually use for eating, but I love the furniture and what you did with the shelves.

Any Frenchies, live or in artwork, mean an instant Best In Show!

The dining/library nook is so cozy and I admire the fearlessness with which you mix styles. I wish we had a photo showing your slate floor trick.

This has a very luxurious look. I like the tiny dining area and the detal of the greek key at top of wall; the pocket doors are a great way to keep your privacy and let the light shine through.

I like the way you've divided the space throughout. The painting of the pooch really personalizes the space and the pink in his/her ears brings out the colors on the shelves.

Nice place to sit with a martini and the right friend.

Sweet.

I really like the shelves in the dining area and the painted headboard. You have a very creative layout, too. I love the idea of having so many seperate spaces (foyer, dining nook, etc.) in what used to be a studio! It seems very spacious.
Thanks for sharing.

Oh, I wanted to say I am very glad to see that "Rubbishola" was replaced with the far more diplomatic "Not my thang" (even though I didn't use it in this case).

Jackson marie said it all for me, a luxurious look which I wish I could accomplish. I vote yes on this great job. The thing I like the most is it doesnt look like a small space.

The couch seems a bit out of place to me (seems a bit too casual with the rest of the luxurious and glamorous pieces), but otherwise, I think this is marvelous. The dining nook is really ingenious-the chairs facing the wall are something I probably would not have thought of, but really end up working suprisingly well, especially with the focal point of the dog. Also totally dig the above the bed storage. Great work.

Dining Niche!

Love it. Warm, cozy, and quirky, and looks like a true home. Shows the personality of the owner in all of the detail. Bravo!

The couch could be one of those "waiting to get replaced" ????

Love the mix of styles and the painted details (headboard, Greek trim). Would love to see the floor trick in the bedroom, as others have mentioned. My only reservation is the decision to give the bedroom the light and the balcony, given that most of the time you are in that room it is dark. If there was any way to flip those spaces, that would have been my inclination. I also am not a huge fan of the above-bed storage--the idea is great but the pieces look kind of bland, particularly compared with a lot of the other furniture and fittings, which are more elegant.

I love the dining niche but the bedroom is a little sterile looking. Also, although it is within the contest guidelines, 630 sf in Gramercy seems quite big by NYC standards.

Nicely done; the glass pocket doors are terrific. Excellent use of space. That little dining niche must make for some very intimate meals!

I agree with some others about the couch, it does seem a bit out of place. Maybe a pristine white slip cover? Then add a luxurious chenille throw blanket in slate gray and some splashy throw pillows for that instant (and interchangeable) shot of color, and you would be set.

P.S. Love the doggy homage.

Nice job, nice space, looks comfortable. You color coded your books, however, so I could never marry you. Why not move the dog into the closet? It might make visitors nervous what with him lookin' at 'em all the time.

Any chance at all that your rug is faux? So much of this is great but that's kind of depressing.

love the portrait; love the headboard - apt is unique and smart.

This is lovely: glam yet comfy, nice details & quirks, good use of a small-ish space. I'm going for ta similar feel in my new abode which I am in the thores of decorating. I do, however, agree about the couch seeming a tad toooo comfy for it's surroundings :)

diggin' the double doors to the bedroom and balcony. would've been nice to see a wider angled shot of the bedroom showing a portion of the floor finishes you spoke of...helping bring the outside in and making it look 'bigger'. nice job!

I just love the bedroom! The black & white color scheme is very sophisticated and the painted headboard is very cool. Nice job!

Nice, very nice.

It doesn't look small at all. I like the scale of your furniture.

i love your bedroom headboars :-) nice jog on the apartment, though i would prefer eating not with my face to the wall... and turn the chairs towards the wall.

good luck with the contest :)

nice harmonious mixing of styles and clear "zones" within a relatively open space...i agree with an earlier sentiment that a replacement couch/sofa would compliment the overal space better...

all in all, very tasteful, but in all honesty, although within the guidelines, this place seems too big to be small by nyc standards.

Love how you broke down the space and really want to see more pictures so I hope you make it into the finals.

oops. Wanted to ask what color is the paint on your walls.

GENERAL QUESTION: who names the submissions?

This just isn't my aesthetic at all. It's clean and neat and cohesive, but it ain't my thang.

i love the living room! so cozy.

Melissa has done an absolutely amazing job. She has been able to marry beautifully the modern and the classic elements of design. She seems to me a trained interior designer (or in training). The only thing that I would have changed, is a bit more contrast between the walls and the white chairs and credenza in the living room. Although it is hard since the sofa is a darker tone. LOVE, LOVE the credenza, very Hollywood glam 1940s. Good luck in your career, and if not a designer, should think about that...

love the dining nook!

anybody else have deja-vu over the first picture -- the living room reminded me of an old entry that had v. good art but a boring set up . . . I was sure (for about 30 seconds) that this was a 2nd try at the contest . . .

The dining niche is gorgeous. The whole place - inspiriational.

This is soooo elegant and glamorous, with enough whimsy to make it human. You had me at the pocket doors, and I'm also a sucker for dark wood floors in a light space. The painted details are great, and I love how the painted headboard and the Venetian-style mirror add to the bedroom (which might otherwise have been a bit sterile).

Six hundred square feet plus a balcony IS big for NYC, but I guess that just makes you lucky as well as talented.

Love it - glam, but not overdone. Definitely feels like a place that you can kick up your feet and relax. Well done!

I couldnt understand why there were so many semi-negative comments on all the postings till I noticed that 'not my thing' is accompanied by 'explain'

I love this apt, so fun, so cosy, very clever creative!

Also - on a tech note - after i click the vote buttons the comments scramble somewhat, I hit reload it comes up ok again. I've seen this a few times.....

YIKES! I'd couldn't put my space on here. Everybody's a critic. Where do I start?

Bedroom sterile? That headboard is a work of art and dominates the small room as it should. Anything more in that room would have to hang from the ceiling. The sofa is waiting for Godot? What? When I saw the photo of the living room, my first thought was the sofa looked so comfortable with an ottoman, which is also a great room divider. (It's okay to be beige.) And the table pulls out for guests!! Hello! The apartment, the new doors, the sofa are all modern and provide a great frame for the stronger objects. The space is also very well balanced from side to side and top to bottom. I try to do this in every room I do, but it's hard.

Back to the headboard. Did you do it yourself? What inspired the shape? I love it, and the black and white was inspired. Color could have eaten that room alive, as well as distorting the light passing through the doors. And you created a very STRONG focal point without using any real estate. There should be an award just for that.

Well done. I like it.

I am not sure if you answered this already but where did you get your dining room table? It is exactly what I have been looking for!

i like the apartment, but i think it needs something to make it look a bit more cohesive. uh, i'm not sure what though, so i'm really no help at all.

Really fun and a great way to break up a studio. I like that she placed the bed near the windows rather than the other end of the studio - now she can wake UP with sunlight rather than being in a tomb. Kudos!

Where did you get your coffee table? Does it change height or is it my imagination?

I love it. I wish I could see more pictures

omigawd! Congratulations on a beautiful space. Your library/dining room is so elegant. And it looks like the table can be pulled out if you have more than one guest. I also love the echo of the greek key in the dining room w/ the lattice pillow on your bed. At some point I'd appreciate learning about how you made the pocket doors.

Not my style, but very well done. love the use of space and the cozy 'luxury' throughout.

The more I look at this, the more I like it. The only thing that strikes an off note for me is the floor lamp in the corner by the pocket doors. The shade seems rather wimpy and dull in a room with so many swanky touches. Maybe a black drum shade, instead? (I don't know, I come to this site much more to learn than to teach, but that's the first thing that occurred to me)

A spoonful of sugar.

Melissa-
is that a fake skin on the floor or the real thing?

I absolutely love this place! Very glam!! My fav is the dining room and the pic of the dog! How cute!

I want to switch apartments with you! What an awesome place! I love the dining nook/ study. Question for the webmaster: Why can't we see more pictures of the contestants' apartments? I would love to see the kitchen, bathroom, and balcony of this place.

what a great apartment, methinks. this place looks much bigger than 650 sq.ft. those doors really separate the place, they are stunning. also love the TV on the wall with no cords, I wish i had that goin at my crib. definitely move the pic of the dog to the bathroom, it's blockin my view of the books. out.

love the piece, glam, sliding door and dining nook!

I never ever would have thought to color code my books. While I like my alpha by author shtick, it's so much prettier your way. I might just have a weekend project now...

I love the design of both your sleep and dining niches. Beautiful headboard.

adore the bedroom. not so much the living room / dining room, something out of synch between the sofa and the rest.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place...Definitely my fave so far! Wish we could see more pics!!! And I actually LOVE the way the sofa looks. I think it adds a cozy element to the room....Don't change it! :)

Can we not get hung up on the skin on the floor?

And I think the sofa works just fine.

Seriously, P2. I'm a vegetarian myself, but I don't see questions like, "Is that a real leather sofa or not?" being relevant to the design factor of an apartment, and it shouldn't affect a vote.

This is beautiful. It looks warm and inviting for visitors, but it also looks lived-in and livable.

It looks like a home! Amazing work.

beautiful. But the sofa and standing lamp kill me. They look so Pottery Barn in an otherwise glam place. Loose the chenille throw! The left side vs right side of the living room look so out of balance.

Love the painted headboard. Domino featured the same one in an issue about a year ago and I have wanted to try it ever since.

The milk glass doors are fab!

WOW! Mel, you did such an amazing job! Your apartment is cooler than mine! (admittedly, my apartment is a POS hole-in-the-wall, but we're moving soon, thank god!!!) I especially love the dining nook...you've done a lot with such a small space.

Your home is very beautiful, although I do hope that is a faux rug in the living area. I really love the white cabinet. Is your TV hidden in there. Your dining nook is beautiful. I love the way you arranged your glass works and books by color. Very serene and romantic place.

Love it. The only thing I'd change is the sofa. I hope the skin is real, because fake skins never feel as good.

I LOVE this apt! It is an amazing use of space and I love the mix of contemporary and vinateg pieces. Altogether the space is so polished and pulled together! TERRIFIC!

Stunning transformation. Melissa K is an inter-galactic treasure.

I think whether or not the skin is real has a lot to do with my impression of a place. Real, to some, would indicate a higher standard (as I imagine real costs more), but real can also indicate conspicuous consumption, which I find off-putting.

LOVE everything! Well done.

The white cabinet in the living room is lovely! Mod but luxurious.

I LOVE the bedroom. Very clean and classic! Great job overall!

Nice use fo space. Would have loved to see the Kicthen area.

Sophistication!!!

I love the feel of it...especially the mix of styles as well as the mix of comfy and more formal. Wish I could see the floor near the deck in the bedroom...I disagree with one commentor who said the deck and the light were wasted on the bedroom. it's wonderful to be able to have real fresh air to sleep with, and morning light to wake to...The mostly neutral tones are soothing and extend the space.....but I don't like the picture of the dog, and I can't imagine eating while facing the wall! Everything else that I saw is pleasing and tastefully and creatively done. Would love to see it in person!
An accomplishment to be very proud of!

Very nice use of colors and very spacious and uncluttered for such a small place. Not necessarily my cup of tea but very well put together all-round. Good luck in the contest!

Stunning, I love it.

I had to look at this place again. It is beautiful. I am not bothered by the sofa, but I am bothered by the pic of the dog. That's cute, but that nook is so serene I'd like to see it edited. I love the buddhas on the top shelf.

I absolutely LOVE the shelves you put in the dining niche! Everything else is wonderful too, of course. I have a bigger apartment but I'm jealous of yours :) You inspire me!

Awesome!!!!! Can you do our apartment?

Have you ever tried switching your desk with the dining table? It looks cramped in that nook.

Anyway, I can see where you're headed with this... It's not really my bag, but definitely a space to take pride in.

I love that your bookshelves are sorted by color! It looks so much more organized and intentional than my bookshelves at home.

What a fabulous use of white and color! Where did you get that gorgeous console in your living room?

This is one of my top three! I love it. So inspiring.

From Melissa:

Thank you all so much for your constructive comments - I really appreciate it. I am actually a project manager for a home renovation company here in Manhattan by trade. My husband and I took this studio and basically gutted it. We added the wall with the pocket doors, as well as the built in shelves in the dining niche and the lighted cabinet above the bed for additional storage. We chopped all of the electrical wires into the walls (including those for the flat screen tvs, which allow them to hang on the wall with a "wireless" look). We refinished the wood floors and re-plastered and painted every wall. Junction boxes were added (like the one above the dining niche) so that surface mounted lights could be hung in the appropriate places.

In response to some of your comments:

- the credenza in the living room came from my husband's mother. it was originally a lacquered linen that had faded over the years. We re-lacquered it in a bright white, and then I purchased some hardware over the internet and had a local plater plate them in polished nickel to give it an updated look.

- the coffee table is stationary and came from a local thrift shop. I refinished the base of it and had the original glass cut down so that it would fit perfectly in its spot.

- my husband and I enjoy sitting facing each other at the dining table, we don't think of it as facing the wall. the pooch that hangs on the shelf is similar to our own Frenchie who's name is Ruby.

- we opted to put the bedroom closest to the balcony since the living room still has a window. The milk glass panels in the pocket doors also allow light to filter through. I can't tell you how amazing it is to wake up to the light and breeze of a summer day when the balcony door is open and the sun is streaming in. We cherish it.

I welcome any more comments or questions! Thanks again everyone!

Why won't it let me vote for this apartment???

Great headboard !!! Using the pocket doors...an innovative solution to creating a separate sleeping area in a studio apt!!! I love it!!

Melissa, I love your apartment. My favorites are the bedroom and library. No you dont get sunlight at night but you do get moonlight--how romantic!
As for the dining/library nook I see a third chair under the shelves..painted of course! maybe MORE shelves on either side of the "chair". Now I'm really getting carried away.
I am not sure what the measurements are of my smallish 1bdrm duplex but your place feels huge. I'd love to see more pictures.

Designing those doors was a great way to separate the living area from the bedroom; it not only gives the bedroom area privacy, but also enhances the living room area. Also, I love the idea of painting a headboard on the wall. I had to look at the picture twice! Great studio apartment!!

For anyone interested in that headboard, I believe it is this one from stencil-library.com, as seen in the March 2006 Domino:

http://tinyurl.com/2gsxo6

I really love what you did with your space. I would love to know who did the work to your space...in particulare the bedroom cabinets above the bed and the doors. Can you email or post your contractor?

The dining nook is my favorite!

Good Job!

Great job on the flea market finds.

By the way, the Annex / Hell's Kitchen Flea Market at West 39th & 9th doesn't have Cupcake as a neighbor anymore, though. Instead, other eats and shops are moving in as the neighborhood starts to gentrify. And now HK restuarant on the 39th/9th crnr is so trendy on the weekends, with the flea right next to it, that there are LINES to get in for brunch! (Frankly, the flea had a lot to do with that.) The staff at the flea market remembers when only 2 years ago HK restaurant was pretty much totally empty weekend after weekend.

The times they are achangin'!

Hey Melissa -- In case you see this, would you send me an e-mail at vatner@gmail.com? We're looking for small spaces to feature in our magazine.

Melissa- I love the apartment. Can you tell me more about the cabinets above the bed? I am moving into a studio with a little niche where my queen-size bed will go and have been trying to find similar cabinets (I like the lights too). Clearly the biggest concern is something that won't fall on my head. I also want to maximize storage (maybe sheets, towels, books etc), and don't want something too deep (probably 12" deep). The space I have is about 64" wide.

What are the measurements of your cabinets? Where did you find them? How did you install them (including lights)? What do you store in them?

Your comments are much appreciated!