Good Bones are Enough. Architects Tom Killian and Françoise Bollack have lived in the El Dorado at 300 Central Park West for sixteen years. Their modest apartment is Letting the Architecture Speak for Itself. The walls are white and nothing is nailed to the walls...
We like this description: Its living room is 24 feet 1 ½ inches long and 14 feet 11 inches wide — a length-to-width ratio very close to that of the golden rectangle, believed by architects, at least since the Renaissance and perhaps as far back as ancient Greece, to produce the most pleasing proportions.
We're totally jealous of the terrace! Check out the slideshow for more images.
(Photographs by John Marshall Mantel)
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Okay, bearing in mind that I like white walls... a subtle color, maybe a lighter version of the gold on the sofa and in the Bonal poster, would showcase that great fireplace and give a beautiful tailored line to the shallow soffit that runs around the room, without making color the star or interfering with the natural play of light in the room.
aaron, almost nothing is nailed to the walls, there is artwork in the 1st photo hanging on the wall.
i'm glad this was posted; here is another way to live, not decorated and uncomplicated. to me it is a classic upperwest side look, the focus is how you live and what you do, not how you look.
As Tom Killian and Françoise Bollack, who are architects and have lived in the El Dorado at 300 Central Park West for sixteen years, approached, they gestured at the framed prints and posters leaning on the wall and said in unison, "the walls of the apartment are white and nothing is nailed to them."
lol
I agree with wende.
It's a gorgeous space, and I like the idea of the "inhabiting without decorating" approach, but I really think a subtle color on the wall would benefit the entire look. And the space does look pretty decorated--well chosen furniture, rugs on the floors, art on the walls (even though they're not nailed), plants on the balcony... but none of that discounts that it's comfortable and nice looking. I'd love to have dinner there, but it's not my type of living space.
Undecorated = no nails, no wall color and no curtains?
Because the furniture, art, and rugs seem pretty decorated to me
This *is* decorated, I agree.
Their schtick, to me, is just architect's pretention. Cuz, um, how is living the way they describe any different than like, 99% of all renters in New York?
With the exception of that terrace, that is!
Oh, for half of that terrace...
Fantastic apartment, great terrace, and I appreciate that the owners don't feel the need to replace/update everything, and don't waste energy on a/c (that was in the article).
But how pretentious!
Yeah, right, A/C is destroying the world. How simplistic. What about those single hung uncovered windows? Imagine the energy that escapes from those 9 months out of the year. Although, I do find them goodlooking.
I was just at a dance at The LGBT Center this weekend, and I hope Ms. Bollack is not the reason there was little or no air conditioning inth ebuilding she reshaped.
A/C was GREATLY needed. I likes me some sweaty men, but LORD!
Oh this is too funny! - so all of us who have artwork propped against the wall because we haven't yet got around to hanging it are actually quite hip for not "decorating" our places?? - purleese! - what a lame excuse for not doing DIY!
But I absolutely ADORE their kitchen