apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Oh my God. This is the most spectacular railroad I've ever seen.

I'm utterly and totally in love with the book shelving! Drool drool drool! I also dig the shape of the doorways.

That is SO cool. Was that dining table a DIY project? Very very crafty. Talk about using your space in the kitchen wisely.

Why did this one get cut but some other much lousier places get included?!?!?!

this should never have been cut...it's my favorite thus far...!

it's so hard for me to believe this didn't make the cut! it's one of my favorites so far!

wish this had been included officially... lovely, warm, homey in the best way!

What a pity it didn't get included in the contest - definitely one of my favourites!

i'm really curious about the floor in your kitchen, can you tell us more about it? also, did you build the shelves in the office area? they remind me of something i've seen on here but i can't quite place them.

this is reallly nice! especially the kitchen picture.

I can't believe this apartment didn't make the cut but so many other lame ones did. I'm very disappointed and disillusioned by Apartment Therapy now.

If it's not in competition, can we see more photos? ;)

i LOVE it!

i hope this was cut because it didnt get in on time...otherwise, there is no reason that this didnt make it and some of the others did...

cant wait to see this in the running next year!

I think this one is my favorite! I can't believe I can't vote for it!

Wow, I can't believe this is even a railroad! Great use of the space.
The design on that kitchen table is genius. I also like the cabinets.
Beautiful lamp by the bed as well.
Shocked that this railroad was excluded but the other was included - this is a much better design.

I have some of those shelves...but that many must have cost you the equivalent of a car (and a nice European one at that). But I do love them, they make such a difference in my apartment. The wood and dovetailing really finished off your apartment.

amazing inspiration. how did you make the desk? or is it store bought? the kitchen table is ingenious!

This is definitely the BEST railroad I've ever seen also!! I really dislike railroads but after seeing this one, I've changed my mind! Great job!

This apartment IS much nicer than many of those that made the cut.

This place is a lot better than several of the apartments that made it into the contest; I wonder about what criteria is used in deciding who is in and who is out.

Really nice job Jospeh; far and away the best-done railroad apartment I've ever seen. Love your furniture!

First come, first serve.

But this one is rather stunning!

Great place Joseph! I love the space, your use of color in the details is wonderful (as a 'no paint allowed' renter I appreciate it!) and I love all your artwork. Ditto on wishing it was in the running.

Completely agree with all of the sentiments above.

It's funny, because the other day, I was speaking with a friend about how I don't know if I could handle living in a railroad (a layout I don't think I've ever seen here in Chicago). After seeing this one, however, you almost have me pining for one!

Fabulous clean lines, modern style, and impressive lack of clutter, all while feeling very warm and inviting. Also love that kitchen table. Very clever.

Add my voice to those surprised that this entry didn't make the cut. Looks like small, cool material to me. Are the shelves from the Atlas Industries ?

Sorry, link doesn't work. Here it is http://www.atlaseast.com/

This really is a pleasure to see.

It feels like the East Coast entrants were disproportionately hampered by the 40-per-region parameter, since there appear to be many more qualified submissions for the same number of "slots" as LA/SF/CHI.

I wonder if for 2008 it should work more like a ratio, e.g., AT selects us one out of every certain number of submissions per region as entrants, and then the finalists are selected regardless of region.

AT, could you maybe start a separate thread for suggestions for the 2008 contest? I know many people are eager to lobby for more photos, for example, and we might as well group all of that feedback in one place...

Meanwhile, nicely done, Joseph, especially the beautiful shelves and cool swinging table!

Love the bookcases and the walls of books--I've never been able to get behind that idea that one should hide books because they're visually clutter-y. Where did you get the shelves?

This is awesome! Can we see more than 3 photos since it's not in the contest? How long have you lived there?

This is wonderful and I will never understand how it didn't make the cut!?!?

don't know why this didn't make the cut, but, WOW! this is my favorite of the year. "insta-finalist" for sure.

Fantastic and SO inspirational! What a great use of space, light and color. This is everything an entry in this contest should have been. I'd love to see more photos...I only wish this had been up for a vote!

Love it - it manages to make the bookshelves feel integral and cozy, not overwhelming or heavy the way they sometimes can be.

Is there really no couch, or is it just not represented or shown?

I am a sucker for bookcases chockfull of wonderful reads... your shelves look so enticing. And the architectural design of your doorway is divine...

Beautiful shelving. But OUCH! I'd hate to run into the sharp edge of the desk sticking out of the doorway.

like everyone else says- too bad- cause this one is a sure winner! gorgeous place- seemless and clean and interesting. great use of color- or non-use, love all the wood. the perfect type of minimalist- lived in, without being wrecked and not so empty that you feel like it's a museum. beautiful.

It's gorgeous, but is there anywhere for guests to sit other than the two tables in the kitchen, the desk chair, or on the bed? Or anyplace soft for you to sit to read? I think I would miss having a couch or non-hard chair. That said, given the space constraints you've created a beautiful, comfortable space, so maybe getting rid of a seating area is a reasonable compromise.

this place speaks to me.

Look at those bookshelves. I'm in lust.

This has to be tough for people whose entries weren't posted for a vote, but don't be too quick to be disillusioned if you liked this one better than some entries that made it. Maxwell could -- far more easily -- just claim the entries that didn't make it weren't as good, and leave it at that. His team is willing to take the risk of a lot of criticism -- and of having my number-crunching reveal who-knows-what about unspoken criteria for being accepted. That's gutsy, and it's the kind of gutsiness that's very welcoming toward continuing to improve the contest process.

This is such a great entry, the floors are fabulous, and I love all the wood. I am sure you have made RR apt dwellers proud!

Those bookshelves are fabulous. I love seeing other people who have and use and have on view loads of books.

I would have voted insta finalist for this one.

Those are some crazy beautiful bookshevles.

I'm not exactly clear how its "gutsy" to reject an obviously very nice apartment over some entries which were equally obviously NOT very nice. This isn't about splitting hairs between two closely attractive apartments - its about having a very nice apartment with unique features in the reject pile on one side and some almost hideous design disasters making it.

That's not gusty - that's just obtuse, absent some understandable rationale like "this entry came in past the cut-off time" or something.

how funny, seeing this here.

joseph, don't hate me for outing you --

this "joseph" fella is in fact the co-owner of atlas industries. thus, his place is wallpapered with the incredibly beautiful AS4 stuff. very cool to see his implementation in his apartment...i know him because i'm a client of his, and the wall that the shelving graces in our apartment is made whole by virtue of the shelving alone.

oh, and ladies - he's single.

My rating system awards one bonus point for every displayed book, so obviously this would be insta-finalist material even before the ultra cool stealth table.

Joseph has books and makes furniture and some lucky gal hasn't already snapped him up? How is that even possible?

i love the wood used - so ingenious! i especially like the little custom bistro table that swivels out (I presume!) from the cabinet.

really strange that this one wasn't included. i would've definitely voted insta-finalist.

Beautiful. Love the books, love the floors, love the cool doorway. This is so warm and inviting.

'Joseph has books and makes furniture and some lucky gal hasn't already snapped him up? How is that even possible?'

maybe he's gay? or maybe its because he lives in nyc... its a candystore for creative/intelligent boys.

***************
is the kitchen floor painted wood?

atlas is a great little outfit, i wish i could afford to do them in my apt.

yeah, joe what's with the desk hanging out across the opening in the wall?

good stuff!!!

I would've voted finalist for this one. Really neat way to store the TV. You keep it in that nook and then slide it to the open part when in use... right? And the little kitchen table design is so great, would steel the idea if I was having my kitchen custom built.

I never realized that they HAD a cut as far as amount of entries. Does anyone else find this weird? Who cares how many people enter a contest?? Doesn't mean you have to feature all of them on the front page.

This one should have made it in. Great use of (small) space and I LOVE the little hideaway kitchen table.

I also dont understand why this out-standing apartment was excluded from the contest. It would have won 1st place.

I'd like to add my voice to the "why wasn't this included?" chorus.

I see some great innovations for small spaces, and this space doesn't "feel" small to me at all, which is very impressive for 400-something square feet!

Wow, I am in love with the shelving, particular the unit with drawers. I am also puzzled as to why this one didn't make it in. I would love to see some color on a wall or two, but that's my only criticism. Everything is just lovely.

Damn, this would have been my 3rd insta-finalist.

Yes, those are definitely Atlas AS4 shelves. Truly gorgeous. I have them myself--worth every penny and then some. And I think I spied an Atlas bed in there, too.

I was about to post that I've coveted Atlas shelving for so long, and seeing them in someone else's home has made me so vicariously happy (and hardly bitter at all!), and then I read superbiate's "outing". Heh.

What a great space. This would definitely have been an insta-finalist if I could have voted.

Love the bedside lamps - another one here who would have voted insta-finalist. Seconding the idea for a "suggestions for SCA 2008" thread.

As concerns the kitchen floor - I believe it is PVC with a knob structure.

http://mitglied.lycos.de/teppich1504/ebay/images/pvc/n_anthracite.jpg
http://mitglied.lycos.de/teppich1504/ebay/images/pvc/n_black.jpg

yeah. Atlas. There is even a pic of this apartment in the Atlas gallery.

I wish this had been in the contest. It's gorgeous. Since it didn't though, I'd love to see more pictures!

I can't believe this didn't make the finals! It's definitely my favorite . . . gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!

I can't believe this apt. didn't make the cut. It's fantastic!

This is an amazing apartment. I love the arched doorways and the fresh kitchen. I also really love the painting over the bed. You've done an amazing job.

What exactly is a railroad apartment? One that is long and skinny? Are there any windows? You seem to be exceptional at creating beautiful living space in a challenging environment.

Yeah, this apartment is quite amazing. I think perhaps it didn't make the cut because there aren't that many decorative accessories. I'm not saying that I agree with this assessment, just trying to get into the judges' heads.

I want to vote this one a winner! Love the shelving and overall consistancy - what a cool place!

superbiate--

If he loves the ladies, then I think you actually "inned" him. :)

Absolutely amazing. I have always "lurked" on this site and never registered. I was compelled to stop lurking after I saw this superb place. And single!!!????? Wow, is all I can muster.

Insta-finalist!

THIS IS FANTASTIC. KUDOS. I have never seen a railroad apartment that I would be tempted to want to live in....until now. WOW! Great great work.

Spectacular.

Finally, lots of books! That shelving is amazingly attractive.

I disagree with those who don't like the desk and shelf overhanging a bit into the doorway. That entranceway is extra wide; I doubt anyone has bumped into the desk. And can you imagine how much more cramped the desk would look if it had to stop 3 or 4 inches from the wall edge? It would become framed by the wall, and would look a bit 'trapped' - already a worry with fixed wall desks. But this way, the desk can soar a bit, and floats into a larger expanse. Bet it makes it much nicer to work there!

It's all so beautiful. Add me to the list of those who are genuinely puzzled why this wasn't entered into the contest, while several that had little to do with design made it..... I actually don't think there is that much leeway in taste issues here, and I don't think it's open to the judges to say "We think this was just a bit worse than ALL the other entries." -- There must have been some other factor at work.

The apartment is lovely......ok, down to business.....

WENDE if you see this email me. The pillows are stuck in UPS!!!! They can't find you.....I emailed you info.........can you belive this?

What a beautiful and welcoming home - I love it!!! the exposed dishes, cozy looking bedding, light by the bed, that painting in the kitchen, even the floors look inviting for bare feet. Of course the shelving, desk and table are GORGEOUS. This would have been my 2nd insta-finalist vote. Oh, like your alarm clock too. What is it?

Like everyone else, I totally love it. However, is there really NO furniture in the living room/library? It's beautiful, no doubt, but it's easy to make small spaces look beautiful when you take everything out of them.

I hope Wende gets her pillows!

RE: The apartment.

It's okay. I agree with the person that said a couch or comfortable chair is needed.
To me, it's a lot nicer than many of the places in the contest but
I'm sure there's a good reason why it's not an official entry.

Tony G.

Wow, I agree. can't believe this was cut in light of some other entries. I would have voted instant finalist, beautiful place!

Um, at least one of the 40 in the "East" category is in a non-US country. The other categories maxed out in the 20s. Can't the "extra" East entries be admitted, and the non-US entries be shifted either to a category of their own, or into another locale category?

It is sad to see entries being left out.

Like everyone else, I think this place rocks! You've managed to make 450 sf seem gigantic by seriously editing the amount of furniture/stuff you have, paying strict attention to scale, and placing most things snugly against the walls.

I have a couple of questions, though: I see three chairs and a bed, is that the only seating you have? When you entertain, where does everyone sit?

I'm just asking out of amazement. If it works for you, then bravo. Really -- well done!

House tour, pretty please? I want to see more of this space. It's so beautiful, and feels so personal and there's such a strong sense of how personally satisfied the owner must feel living there... you know what I mean.

But if this *were* an entry, and owner Joseph *did* get "outed" as co-owner of Atlas Industries (the purveyors of those gorgeous shelves), don't you think he'd get slammed, as either being a professional, or for that being the reason he can afford that much Atlas product?

I think he lucked out not making it in!

HOUSE TOUR

I'd like to know about the kitchen cabinets, did you design them from scratch or what materials did you use. Thanks

Oh, this is so very lovely. Love the floors and love all that shelving!

i agree with patrick the other one-- i'm glad it's not an entry so... house tour please!!

wow, this is awesome! i hadn't been too crazy about this doorway shape i discovered while taking down a wall, but it's great to see how cool they look with everything else you've done with the place.

my own brooklyn saga continues: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bdawg/2183478446

thanks for sharing!