apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

What seems to happen with trends is that they don't so much go away as go mainstream and downscale. So as MCM hits Wal-Mart, it'll start fading from high-end stores.

That said, if you fundamentally like clean, unadorned shapes, you're going to want something *like* MCM even if the next trend involves buttons, brocade, and fringe, so I'd just go with what you like and not worry about it.

As for minimalism... are you comfortable? Can you readily do what you want to do at home? Do you smile at what you see? If the answer is yes, then you're not too minimalist.

Your apartment is beautiful! It is definitely NOT too minimalist. One suggestion would be to get a larger rug (similar to the one you have now) for the LR. I think that would help tie everything together and warm up the metal aspect of the room even more.

Did you light the apartment yourself? It is fantastic!

Are we allowed to make unsolicited comments? If so, apt looks good, but...

- Place looks staged. E.g. the books next to the daybed don't look like they are actually read by anyone because they are upside down! Also, the distance between the couch and coffee table is too much for the table to actually serve as a coffee table. And the wire chair and books in the BR look like a setup for a magazine ad, and not like a place you would sit and read.
- Since the apt looks staged, it makes it hard for guests to relax. If I came over, I would be nervous to touch or move anything, let alone spread out on the couch. (Not nec. a bad thing.)
- There's no real "conversation grouping" to speak of. (Not nec. a bad thing.)
- Pictures hung too high in a bunch of places.
- Some things in the kitchen look a bit dated -- they have that high-tech '90s look.
- Sweet entertainment sys--who makes those speaks with the alu cones? and where's the x-box--but dang it's an eyesore for an otherwise pretty sleek LR. How about a flat panel with some in-walls or something discrete like the gallos?
- Too many chairs in the BR for a person who lives alone (assuming you do). Looks a bit weird like little DWR art installations.

So basically, the apt looks great, but kinda unnatural, and there are a few things that are "off" like the art being hung too high.

Oh to answer your questions, mid-century fad will exit the design mags in 3-5 years, and the place is not too minimalist (it's a loft after all).

I don't know about minimalist, but I find it lacking in personality. It looks like a DWR showroom. You obviously like clean lines, but I would want to at least mix in some more "anonymous" clean-lined pieces.

I like this place a lot. It doesn't at all feel too minimalist or even remotely like a showroom. It feels like a real person lives here--a tidy real person. I think it would be easy enough to switch out smaller pieces of furniture and accessories if you wanted to evolve the look of the space without a succumbing to a full-on, floor-to-ceiling redecorating job. You've made a lot of great decisions so far. As it stands now, the place seems pretty perfect for you and your needs. And that's really the bottom line, right? So, I guess my advice would be to continue going with your gut and damn any concerns you may have of fads, trends, etc.

PS I love Potrero Hill. It's one of my favorite SF neighborhoods.

the apartment is beautiful and has nice pieces. the sense of scale downstairs is what makes it seem a litte off. perhaps grouping the furniture more organically around a larger rug would help. so would hanging artwork at eye level or just above eye level. you may also want to create more distinct areas with rugs (larger rugs) that break up and define space.

i used to live in a loft and loved it, but also found that bec of the height of the ceilings and whiteness of the walls my furniture pieces had to have some weight to them and the scale was important. my furniture seemed lost in the room until i realized this. i went with dark woods, light rug, and plush couches with clean lines to fill up the room.

good luck!

this is so generic. like typical loft ad photography. snooze.

jax (et al.), we're always looking for people for more house tours. Any volunteers?

What a lovely space, and not too minimalist at all. You clearly show that you have lots of books and CD's on display. As long as you love what you have, who cares if it goes out of style temporarily. (Clean lines will always be stylish in my opinion) Nobody can predict these things.

Thanks for sharing!

I think you've done a great job in getting some classic modern pieces in there, those should carry you a long time. I wouldn't worry about the whole trend thing. Its what you like that matters and things can easily change with different color schemes, fabrics, testures, etc. My parents had the same Cherner chairs in their otherwise colonial dining room/house since they were married in the 1950s and it worked, and my german godmother has succesfully managed to mix some old 18th century european antiques with danish modern stuff she got in the 1960s and it has always worked...my current look is what I call danish modern meets country cottage (above mentioned cherner chairs, hepplewhite dining table, rag rugs, low lounge sofa, etc)...anyway, my point is that modern classics can be mixed with a lot of different looks and thus should last a while...check out the FLOR catalog for inspiration (they are great at mixing styles, eras, tectures, patterns)

Anyway, my suggestions would be to make things a little less symmetrical, a little less ***shiny new*** and a little more organic by putting things more at angles in some places and mixing in more texture/patterns and maybe add some color to the walls. I also think the lamp and large posters in the livingroom are bunched up and their large sizes all together throws off the balance, but maybe that's just the photos. My only really issue is with the TV/stereo arrangement. It dominates the livingroom and screams post college dude come over and play some video games. It's way bachelor pad...You need a closable cabinet system or armoire. The TV alone would be ok, but as a package its too too much electronic equipment out there looking like a gawky teenager at an adult cocktail party. (sorry just my opinion) Some suggestions would be:
1. An old antique inspired (not in the best shape even)kelim turkish rug and floor pillows to add some patterns/texture
2. More plants (maybe a large ficus or bamboo for that corner) or you could do small tables at differnt heights with different plants
3. A couple of funky ceramic lamps with texture/color. A lamp on the fireplace would be good
4. Throw/blanket and patterned pillows for the eames daybed
5. Move those large poster over to the right and space them out a bit more.
6. Yeah, either move the lamp or get something smaller.

By the way, is the eames daybed comfortable? I've been thinking of purchasing one...

Again, I think you've done a pretty swell job at setting your place up. It just needs a few details to make it more of a home and less of a showroom...

Woo-hoo they've found a DWR catalogue!!! Woo-hoo!

It's totally not my style, but it is Gorgeous nonetheless!

If the pictures and the books mean a lot to you then it is not too minimalist. I wish you could help me arrange the art and lights in my apartment. Lovely job!

you could definitely use some paint...the white walls make it a little stark. you've done a nice job, but warm it up a little.

I agree with earlier comments that the entertainment system is an eyesore. But as a fellow home theater enthusiast, I can understand the desire for it!

Those speakers look like either Definitive or Paradigm, though I can't quite tell from the photo. Anyway, if feel you still want full-range floorstanding speakers, I recommend looking into the newer sleeker models from good manufacturers like Energy Take, Definitive Mythos, etc. Sure, the bass won't quite as good as the towers you have, but just get a good subwoofer to compensate, and hide it somewhere.

If you don't have the budget for new speakers yet, then at least put your towers further apart, like at the opposite corners of the room. This will help break up the electronic monolith that dominates the room, plus you'll probably get better stereo separation. Finally, if I were you, I would put the grills back on the speakers for a cleaner look.

As for the components... consider storing them on a component rack instead. Then have a TV sit on a cleaner-looking console.

Overall I think it looks quite nice, though a bit stark for my taste (and I love modern design). I would be inclined to add some color and some funky or unusual items to spice it up. I really liked the idea adding a kilim rug - mentioned in one of the posts above.

I love the kitchen chairs. Where did you get them?

Awesome place!!! I really like your colors the reds are really powerful and makes a statement. You have a great eye for design and placement, I could really use your help in my place...are you a designer? Not minimalist at all...you have a unique mix of mid-century and modern the collection is nice.

Leslie I would love to show my home and get ideas but I cant find any info on how to do that.

This place has great bones... but does look like you just moved it. I love the kitchen and bathroom, the steel table really is nice. What puts me off though is that the fireplace seems to be forgotten. You say you want to remove it but I think that while you have it you should go with it.

If it were my place I would flip the living room around. Take the same exact arrangement and flip it to the other wall... the couch would go where the TV is and vs.vs. The I would also put the couch a little on an angle so the short edge of the rug lines up parallel to the fireplace. Fliping would cut down on glare from the windows when watching TV and have sun shining on the couch when just reading or hanging out, it would also make the fireplace blend in with the rest of the apartment and balance the red chair.

You have a great place, I'm sure you will enjoy it whatever you do.

Awesome place "Anonymous". I have always thought you had wonderful, cool, funky, clean, etc taste. Now only if you can come to my home and take over!! I think you have done a fab job on your home and you should be very proud. Especially the maple wood floors YOU put in!! Congratulations! :o) It still amazes me how you have such good taste!! You can see past the current state of anything and recreate it so well!! Good Job "anonymous"!

lucy and others who'd like to do a house tour (julian?),

click on the blue "let us know" in the last line of the text of the post. we look forward to hearing from you.

(and don't be daunted by the tone of some of these comments. you can choose to give a tour and not have people comment, if you'd like. commenters, please re-read the editor's note in the post before typing away on that keyboard.)

and now, back to our regularly scheduled programming. . .

I am proud to say that I've had the opportunity to visit this beautiful loft. We will all have our suggestions on what should be done, but the bottom line is this....Do our homes truly reflect who we are? The colors? ambience? Is it inviting? or sterile? Can you kick you shoes off and lounge around comfortably? or is it better suited for the formal cocktail/dinner parties? Whatever it is, the only important thing is that you are happy with it. Good job!

The measure of whether it's too this or that is how *you* feel about it... I agree with other commenters who say that it all comes down to your own happiness there.

Your place looks sharp! These modern San Francisco "lofts" are really difficult spaces to work with; most all suffer from the same "tube" layout, with a blinding light at one end and darkness at the other. If anything, I suggest getting some really bright light back at the dark end of the space, to balance out the light from a bright day.

Love the colors, and that polka-dot pillow on the sofa! I see swanky cocktails there.

I think you are off to a good start. Now you just need to add some personal items to really make it yours. I also like the suggestion above of finding a piece that is well worn to give the place some distinction.

And I agree about ignoring trends. Always do what you like in your own home.

i think you've done a great job. i agree with the comment about getting a larger rug to help pull the living room together.

it does look "staged". but i'd clean up and arrange things before taking pictures of my place, too. i would suggest bringing in some plants and some non-modern, non-mcm pieces, perhaps accessories at first to test it. also, all the furniture seems to be pushed up against the wall as if you were getting ready to dance. maybe some pieces could move inward?

looks great though!

I love this place. It makes me want to go home and do a massive declutter. I envy anyone who can live in such a serene state. While not my style I found it to be not too over the top modern wise and well balanced. Over the top modern that will go out of style in the next 5 minutes is what we call "Beetlejuice" at my house. This is not, Bravo to you.

This is such a beautiful apartment! I love the serenity and almost zen spirit of the place. I am an avid plant lover, so I can't help but want a few big potted trees in there, it's amazing what a potted tree can do to accentuate the scale of the rooms. And I love color, so I would like an accent wall in a color that goes with the overall theme of the place. But that's all my taste. I really think the loft is breathtaking just as it is.

i think that in four months, you've gotten off to a really good start. i actually don't think this space is "cold" at all, though it does look very "i bought all this stuff in one weekend". which you did. because you just moved there. as you live in the space, it will become more "lived-in". you will realize what works, what doesn't work, move things around, find a fab new Whatsit for the Suchandsuch room, etc. and gradually your place will lose the "bought together" look. one thing i do like is the way you have running themes going in different parts of the house. for instance the leaning CD storage in the living area, and then the leaning desk in the bedroom create a nice unity between the two spaces.

i do, however, have three pieces of advice:

as others have said, a lot of your art is hung too high. this can be hard when you have high ceilings, as small pieces hung alone can look like they're placed really low compared to the height of the ceiling. one way to combat this would be to create some vertical arrangements, for instance, i'd create an arrangement with the 5 small pieces from the living room on the wall behind the couch, and move the two tall pieces either both above the TV or one over the fireplace and the other above the TV. that way the 2 small pieces aren't competing with the more substantial arrangement so much, and you'll be less tempted to hang them so high. the fish clock above the fireplace should also be moved lower -- it looks too much like the office time-clock ("ooop, 5 'o clock, better get going!) placed up high like that.

it would be good to remember that we bring things into our homes for a reason. chairs are meant to be sat on. if you mean them for guests when they come over, you might want to integrate them into a more cohesive seating arrangement in the living area. if you mean them for a reading nook, you might want to choose chairs that are more inviting. if you mean them for the bedroom, think about how many people would be in the bedroom at any given time and what they would use the chairs for. if you have a coffee table that is meant to be used as such (i.e. a place to sit drinks, put one's feet up, etc), it should be positioned in a way that is efficient for such a use. occasional furniture is fine, but ALL your furniture shouldn't be treated like occasional furniture. you will probably figure this out more and more as you live in the space and watch visitors scootch that yellow eames chair closer to the couch, drop food on the rug as you lean forward to grab more chips and salsa while watching the game, etc.

either way, i think you've made a fantastic start. one thing i will say about the trend issue is that what you've chosen goes well with the bones of your place. if fashions turn towards the victorian, you might be SOL as plush traditional decor would look ridiculous in this space anyway. so i hope you're a committed modernist.

Hold on while I wipe the drool from my chin....

Ok, I'm all clean. This is the coolest place! I love how you've hung your artwork (many different forms and frames). I love your chairs (all of them), some new-looking-new, old-looking-new, new-looking-old. Those are not industry terms, BTW. I love the colors you've used. As far as the fireplace goes, why don't you put candles inside it?

Frankly, I love all your pieces! THey work well together, colors look good- they don't match perfectly! It looks like a home, not a showroom like many modern apartments.

I think you've done an amazing job. I really like the use of bright colors -- just enough for them to add character to the room without being overdone.

BTW, I've been to this person's place a bunch of times and it doesn't feel staged when you are there at all. It is certainly very stylish and modern, but it is also quite comfortable and a really fun place to be.

I think it looks terrific, especially given that you moved in so recently. Love the colors, especially the reds.

Anonymous knows how to make a bed - hallelujah!

I think that you are off to a great start. In addition to what you've already done I would suggest:

a) Decide what you want to be the focal point in the LR the fireplace or the entertainment unit. Right now they are competing for attention. I would paint the alcove the fireplace sits in a dramatic color and play it up.

b) Rethink the height of your pictures. Pictures should be hung at eye level which is usually 60" to the center of the piece.

c) The rug is floating in your room right now. The rug should be big enough to have at least the front legs of your sofa sit on it. This will help anchor the seating area.

S

GORGEOUS! Don't question yourself for a second. You've gone in a great direction with this place, and who cares about trends!! If you have the same stuff in 3-5 or even 10 years, and you're happy and comfortable there, that's what matters. Great balance of colors, materials, and placement of objects & furniture.

And I have the same couch so I couldn't criticize your taste even if I wanted to. :)

I love what you've done with your place, especially considering that you've only been there for 4 months. Like Marilyn said, don't worry about trends or others' comments on trends. Buy and live with what you love and then trends don't even come into the equation.
A couple small suggestions - if you don't want to get a larger rug for your LR (it already looks like you have a nice-sized rug) it might be nice to scoot the couch a little closer to edge of the rug. Then when you are on the couch your feet will be on the soft rug instead of the floor and you will be close enough to the cocktail table to use it for snacks, drinks, etc. I would move the lime yellow Eames chair forward a few feet so that it is closer to the edge of the rug and the sofa. I think two of those chairs next to each other on that edge of the rug would create more of a 'conversation space'. Then I would take the orange chair and move it a couple feet to the left from where it is so that it is at an angle facing the couch.
I love the pops of color - the lime yellow, orange, red, sage. Cute bath accessories too. I liked somebody else's idea of placing some candles in the fireplace. They won't make the place feel too hot on a Summer night but add a bit to the environment if you have some people over for drinks.

Bravo.

> I've tried to mix classic mid-century with modern to
> even things out. The reason I've gone modern is that
> I did not want to have to update my furniture every
> 3-5 years. When do you think the mid-century fad
> will be over? Also, do you think my place is too minimalist?

Chin up. You've done a great job. You should have confidence in such a wonderful accomplishment.

Somebody else wrote:
> Place looks staged.

Of course it does. It was photographed for a photoshoot to be judged by his/her peers. If it didn't look "staged" then some other "Somebody" would be writing that it was a mess, "Why didn't you bother to clean up before you photographed?"

NICE STAGING JOB, MAN.
YOU STAGED YOUR PLACE VERY NICELY.

I question the larger rug advice. If it slides around a bit, then maybe a slightly larger rug could be secured under the feet of your sofa. Even if cost were no object I wouldn't go much larger- you have very nice wood floors, I wouldn't want to hide them (besides, I doubt you're going to run out and replace a brand new rug because of this posting).

My own home, which we will someday be ready to show, is also a mix of contemporary modern and mid-century modern, but we've gone a bit of a different direction with it.

Enought about me. Nice job again.

I love the window treatment in LR.

Perhaps the way for you to think about the place for awhile is not about the look of the stuff, Anonymous, but about usage.

i.e. Here is my living area. What do I do here; what do my visitors do? Over here is my eating area; what do I do here, how do I like to perch/sit while I am eating? How is it different when there are guests here?

If you're new to this, just thinking purely about function may help.

Then later, take a break and think purely about looks. (what do I like about this chair? Color, proportion, textiles, ... etc.)

What's really on your mind? What are you hiding?

-Anonymous

You have a sweet pad Anonymous. I love what you've done with the place. You should change careers and go into interior decorating assuming you aren't already an interior decorator. I wouldn't know since you are Anonymous.

Are you people on crack? Although this is typically my style (modern, mid-century) I feel like I'm looking at an impersonal poorly staged DWR catalogue. It has nothing to do with "tidy", everything just feels bought from the same place, it's all crammed against the wall, and the tv/sound system is ridiculously altar/theatre like. At the very least, I would move some of that furniture away from the wall and place maybe a few key pieces at angles to create actual conversation areas. I would also do something about that beast of an AV system.

so what if it looks like a catalog? I'd love my house to look like a catalog, if that meant someone had carefully designed the space... my place now is still a mish-mash of student furniture and a few nice pieces that I've acquired in the few years I've been working.
This place is clutter-free, so if that makes it look staged, then so be it, but I bet it's more comfortable than anxiety-inducing clutter.

anonymous - I think you've done well, and I wonder how you managed to buy all the furniture and art in the last 4 months, did you save up for it? and since you've only been in the place for 4 months, the longer you live there and collect new pieces and use the space, the more it will become a reflection of you and not look catalog-y.

the only thing I'd change right now, is working on adjusting the hanging art in photo #5, the frames look a bit crooked.

To chris (nyc):

I think you are confusing "staged" with something else (tidied up? stylized?).

May I suggest you read this to better understand what it means for a place to look staged (i.e., stripped of any personality, arranged with no thought to useability):

http://brownstoner.com/forum/archives/2006/03/home_staging_or.html

Trust me, not a good thing.

Love the kitchen table. Where did you find it?

The place looks wonderful. I like the contrasting colors or furniture. Where did you get the kitchen table?

Your space feels very clean and it looks beautiful!! I especially love the kitchen. One area that doesn't feel quite right yet is the living area - seems to need a focal point so I don't lose all the "small" pieces in the room. Maybe the area with your electronics/CDs could be pulled together with a wall unit or something. Great job tho!

It's been awhile since you posted and you've probably made changes, but I wanted to chime in anyway. First, don't worry about trends - let your own sense of style dictate what you do. Some of the furnishings that look so up to the minute contemporary in the new millennium were actually designed almost 100 years ago. I do agree with other posters - the pictures should come down on the walls, some of the furniture needs to come out from the walls in the living room, the media center is overpowering (it should be heard and not seen except when the TV is in use). I'll add that you need shelves for that stack of books. It looks good, but totally impractical for anyone to actually pull one out to read. The only problem other I have is with the living room - with the exception of the couch, it just doesn't look comfortable. I'm not sure about the red (orange?) chair - that may be comfortable, but you may want to add a piece somewhere that could be used as an ottoman so a person could kick back to watch a movie with you. The fiberglass chair I know from personal experience is flat out uncomfortable for the long haul. Back in the day you didn't find this type of chair in a living room - it was used mainly in waiting room or office type situations. Same with the side chair in your bedroom. I'd look into replacing it with something like a Wassily sling chair or a Barcelona chair or a stylish chaise or lounger. However, I do understand you were only in this place for 4 months when this was originally posted, so perhaps you've already done something like that. And get rid of the fireplace? Not! Like someone else suggested, play it up.

did you use a ruler to measure the distance between each object on the floor of the living room (distance from each other and distance from the wall)? the 'precision' of the look inspires uncomfortable and on-guard feelings. not so 'organic', you know? you do have great taste, though. and your home is really really beautiful. i envy your place's layout!

Hrmmm... While I dont immediately hate the place as you've laid it out, I dont love it either. I can feel what people are saying when they say "staged" or "set designed". But I dont think thats a huge obstacle to overcome if you do a few things.

1: bring almost all the livingroom furniture closer - they're too far apart, and nobody believes for a second that you sit on that little stool and read books. You sit on the couch or the coconut chair. Bring the bookshelf closer and move the artwork.

2: Get rid of that horrific entertainment center. Seriously, Greys Anatomy is just as bad on a small screen as it is on a 48" HD.

3: Books and chairs are meant to be used - and not as decorations. Put your books on the shelves and move the wire chair from the bedroom into the livingroom. Bring that and the second Eames chair to the edge of the rug...surely you entertain more than two people at a time. Fill the void with a low bench and some more plants by the window.

4: Shop somewhere else besides DWR. They have really really great stuff, but not all of it goes together in the same space. Your concern about modernism and MCM remaining in style is valid. As pointed out above your look will remain fresh if it really is YOUR look, and not the look of a giant company. Keep the pieces you have, but mix in something totally atypical that you like. Example: A friend has a livingroom with a Wassily chair, a DWR couch, a fancy abstract painting AND a crazily ornate carved wooden chair from his grandmother. It works famously. The red coffee table is a step in that direction. Keep going and you'll be golden.

Your place looks great.

But your question about MCM going out of style is missing the point. Period rooms -- of any style -- always look unimaginative. Don't be afraid to bring in things that don't "go." That's most likely what will make your room feel most personal and fresh.

I don't live to read catalogs, maybe the IKEA one which is always bathroom reading material, so I can't tell where you buy your stuff. I love your place. It's very soothing. One thing that did bother me was the big screen tv, but who am I kidding, if I had one it would be smack dab in front of my couch. I'd reposition my couch to put it in front of the HUGE tv. We personally bought a mountable projection screen so it disappears when not in use (and we use it almost every night) that way it's still there but not so much visually when not needed. I think your colors are very understated, yet wonderfully chosen. You COULD add, mix and match, pattern, clutter, and follow someone else's vision of your space, but it seems complete and if you're happy with it, I just say congrats on such a nice place.

Way too stark in the lving room. Do you really relax on that couch?

I've talked to many furniture dealers or collectors. Buy what you love, not what's 'in-style' as there will always be shifts. BUT you need more personality to this place. and Comfort.

Hmmm, that's a pretty broad and general question to ask an opinion for. I've definitely seen more minimalist living spaces, so in relation to those ones, no it's not too minimalist... but in relation to my personal taste? Yeah, it's a bit too minimalist. But keep in mind... I don't live there, you do, so my opinion is a bit moot.

If YOU think that it's too minimalist, but still don't really want to change your design scheme, I think that adding soft pieces (like soft blankets, throws, pillows, or even just fabric!) to your space will add a bit of warm and charm and personalize your style.
But you should do anything "just to do it," you should do it because you WANT to. If you WANT to add Mid-Century Modern pieces, then go ahead! But it doesn't make sense to do so just because it's what's "in" right now, because, like you said, you'll have to change everything in a couple years anyway!

Damn...What a tough crowd! Not much love here. MCM is not my personal taste, but you've done a great job.

I taste lots of sour grapes in this crowd...It's also called "envy".

Who cares what these folks think...It's what you like that counts.

You've created a great looking home...Is it MY home? No, but you live there, not me.

Looks great! and if MCM is a fad, its a fad thats going on for 60 years, thanks for the tour.

I agree with "hdtex" that what we think shouldn't matter to the apartment dweller, but it obviously does or s/he wouldn't have requested our opinion. Although I do not love this place (not my style, feels sparse) I do like many of the individual classic pieces and see a lot of potential. However, "hdtex's" sour grapes/envy comment is a bit simple - to think that everyone would love the look of this place would be a bit naive on the part of the poster. Certainly, just because some of us prefer plush seating, plants, less symmetry or even (god forbid) silk curtains does not make us envious of this poster's apartment.
Previous posters said it best: if you love coming home, are proud to invite people over, and can kick back and relax in your own skin then the place is perfect for you!

I really like what you've done here, particularly your color choices. And I covet the window shades in your LR - the lines are so clean! Thanks for sharing your space.

Lots of good pieces, great start. It surprises me that nobody here has mentioned that you really need REAL ART. San Francisco has a decent art scene -- start going out to galleries and thinking about what you love. Once you get away from the safe, mass-produced prints and into more personal choices I think you will find your sense of style really starts to ignite. Also, spread that wealth around to actual artists instead of artposters.com or whatever.

Other comments I agree with: find a few pieces with a more beat-up patina, especially if they are natural wood (possibly look in some of those high-end Japanese/ Asian furniture stores in the Japantown shopping centre).

Get a big dramatic houseplant. Try the Plant Warehouse -- they're extremely helpful. A fishtail palm might be just the ticket.

all best!

It strikes me that with this look, everything is about scale and proportion, and mis-steps will hit sour notes (eg, the row of square-framed pictures needs to be perfectly straightened; ditto the tall pile of books). I fear that if I lived in your space, I'd become really OC about positioning things just so. All the time. Arrrgg. That said, I love your space. I think your lighting's fabulous. The fact that it's not my style does nothing to keep me from loving it, and it would be good if you just knew in your heart that YOU love it, and enjoy it--it's your home!

I agree with some of the other posts. You have a lot of great pieces but its missing a little personality. The art work is definitely hung too high, by at least 6 -8 inches. The coffee table is too far away. You could add another chair over by the window in the living room to create a conversation area. Also, agree with a much larger area rug in the living room. Lastly, maybe some paint on the walls....the color looks like a "move in" color. I appreciate the clean/white walls but there are many many shades of "white" (which technically are not white) but will give you the same clean aesthetic but can add a bit of depth. You place is really really nice...so my comments are really minor suggestions. Good luck!

P.S. It's never a big problem having chairs too far from the sofa to form a conversation group. As soon as you have a couple of friends over, they'll fix that for you. :-)

I personally think your place is gorgeous, even though my own style is packrat Victorian.

I'll bet the resident of this loft is sorry he asked!

At first glance, your place is stunning!
I don't get all the fuss here, someone has to buy the stuff at DWR!!! Don't hate! But then it will truly be a fad. Try to go for the originals (craigslist finds, etc.). Your place will have more soul. Not everything should be so new!
Plus, maybe a plant or some family photos so you won't be soooo anonymous, Anonymous!
Good job!
Call me when you have a sale in 5-6 years! I'll buy your stuff!

I hate to beat a dead horse, but I do agree with several of the comments posted regarding the 'staged', or not 'lived-in' living room look.

It's a beautiful space, no doubt!
But a home needs to be just that, a home.
Not your grandmas curio full of Precious Moments figurines that no one has touched since the big bang ;-)

I think there's a way to make minimalist comfortable and inviting. Fewer pieces doesn't necessarily mean having to do without, but living with only what you love the most. There's no room for 'kinda like' or 'luke-warm' in a minimalist space! If you have any reservations about something in your home, and minimal is your esthetic, curb it! That's your chance to get something you can't possibly live without.

Lastly, to create more of an impact, I'd suggest using larger scale pieces sparsely, or grouping a smaller scaled items in a cluster. This will help fill visual space without actually acquiring more 'stuff' and taking up precious real estate on your floor.

I like clean lines, but I still want a couch I can curl up on to watch tv or read. And yes, a table that can be reached from the couch.

I like the above idea from Marc about larger scale pieces. A large clean lined couch....

...one of the biggest mistakes people can make is buying purely for design and not livability. That doesn't mean a down filled slouchy Shabby Chic couch either. It just means a place to live and relax.

I think your place looks fab! Both warm and full of style. I love your use of pops of color without it being overwhelming and/or juvenile. And I'm bored with the "looks like a dwr catalogue" critique that so often appears here.

Firstly kudos on the lovely place....you've done a wonderful job with it. Super neat, too...an inspiration to us all on that front alone.

If you really want comments, I'll throw my view into the nitpicking ring.....

1/ I think this issue is that this place lacks wit. That's why people are saying it's anodyne/charmless....too much like a furniture showroom. You want a place to envelop you warmly but subtly in charm, wit, and a point of view. I feel this space, though perfectly lovely, doesn't quite achieve that.

The way you get there, in my view, is through more personal touches as people have mentioned, and things that are less safe. (It's not just about, say, the idea that your pictures are simply too high. Put them on the ceiling for what it's worth.) That spirit of wit and distinction that I am describing can be achieved in many ways...it's kind of an intangible, creative, instinctive thing. It shouldn't hit you over the head, but should be subtle.

2/The tv side of the room...that whole side of the room is being sucked into blackness with the bookshelf, the stereo/tv system and the fireplace all in a row overpowering everything. I would definitely make the fireplace more of a feature and downplay the a/v setup. Can you get those speakers out of there? What about moving the sofa to that side of the room to make use of the wall depth, or closer to the fireplace, maybe on an angle? The angle of the fireplace is tricky with the window right there, but it's possible....

3/The planes of space...there is way too much open flatness going on, which is what's causing it to feel kind of modern vanilla. The place needs more visual texture, dimensional balance..again the idea of clustering comes up...see how your poor little coffee table is being dwarfed by the a/v setup? It's like all the other features and furniture are ganging up on it, about to attack it.

4/Mirror over fireplace. Once again...I hate to sound too traditional, but some kind of large mirror over the fireplace could possibly liberate that wall and the windows even more...it's a little hard to tell how it would work since in the photos the shades are down, but it's worth a try.

5/Although there's nothing wrong with it per se, I don't really like the stainless bar table because of how it plays against the fridge. It looks matchy matchy...again, no visual texture. The kitchen cabinets are a hard color to work with, but if you could get an interesting colored table in there, that may be cool. Or like a stoney or concretey thing.

6/This may hurt, but: brown. I personally am very anti brown unless it's wood wood wood. I hate that whole West Elm retro 70 school of thought that brown is okay. It's not. It's barfy. It's compromising your bedroom. (Brown is second only to pea green on that front.) Don't be seduced. Camel, however, is just fine when used well.

Please forgive any offense and bravo for your bravery!

Good luck to you and thanks for the peek.

I also love the kitchen table! And I think your place looks great. I love to use chairs as tables or catch-alls, so the fact that you have some in your bedroom is not offensive to me at all.

Also, to the person that said the pictures are too high, I really don't think that is up to us. Pictures should be hung at or around eye level and at my house, that's about six feet from the ground!

I love your loft. I don't think it's too minimalist at all. It's clean, modern and sleek. However, I would suggest like many others here, that you get a larger area rug for the living room and group the furniture closer together so it forms a conversation area. Also, maybe you can hang the pictures above the television a little lower.

Before I even read Modfan's post, I was thinking that an antique wood piece from the early 20th or late 19th century would be good.

A small bookcase, side table, chest, or even a small curio cabinet. Perhaps there is something in your family you could buy/beg/adopt.

I *don't* mean victorian carved on every possible spot.

I do mean old, with some (not too much!) timeworn character.

Ok, as a resident of Potero Hill for 12 years, I have to add: When are those quickly slapped up lofts going to go out of fashion? I think it's hard to make those spaces feel personal because they are basically the urban version of cookie cutter developments. Seems like an uphill battle to give those places a true sense of place!

What a wonderfully well designed, clean and minimal place.
With regards to your questions.

I think MCM, as a trend, is already on its way out. Just looking at some of the European interior magazines, Elle Decoration and BoBedre for example, we are seeing lots less of it and more of a seventies or eighties style mixed with way older influences. Well at least thats what I notice.

I personally have evolved from a strict minimal asthetic 5-10 years and more towards MCM and I am now starting to move towards a more 70's/80's look (I just got a marble coffee table and painted one wall in my living room mustard yellow)... HOWEVER I still have (and love) my MCM things and I still try to keep things uncluttered and minimal because I love that look too.

Generally I think well designed pieces, like the ones you've chosen, will stand the test of time. And if you get tired of MCM in some time you can start to blend other things in, I find MCM goes well with most styles .

With regards to your flat I think you should reduce the visual impact of the TV and media things. Maybe get a white cabinet with sides and some doors.

I dont think you should get rid of the fire place. I love it...

just my 2 cents. love your flat you should be proud of it.

I've noticed from AT comments lately, it seems like more and more there is a backlash against the pristine DWR/DWELL aesthetic...

I love all of the furniture you've chosen, and am always tempted to go that route myself. For me, the decision ends up being about money... too much of the DWR furniture-- although beautiful, perfectly constructed in every way, timeless design-- is beginning to feel generic, after you see it in one too many lofts or magazine spreads. If I were to splurge on a chair today (in my case, DWR is definitely a splurge, not within the commoner's reach!) I would probably seek to get something that is more one of a kind or personal...

I personally dislike the minimalist look, but I don't think your apartment is too bad. One thing that I would suggest to lessen the minimalist appearance would be some color on the walls. Not too neutral, but not too bright. It would also add some personality and make it less showroomy

Hi Anonymous
I think you were smart to submit this essay on your space.
I think everyone was politely opinionated; and nothing wrong with that.
Why else would we comment?

You did a great job of utilizing red and green together.
Very brave. And it works.
In fact, you did a great job on the majority of the place.

I will now comment on what 'I' would do if I had your place and stuff.
Get all that living room furniture away from the wall.
Your place will FEEL cozier, and it will look larger.
Pictures are enjoyed when seated. lower them to eye level and consider the comments on regrouping them.
I have experimented with lots of kitchen counters and seating.
In a space that small I would never use such cumbersome barstools again.
They gotta swivel!
You have your 'work' cut out for you with all that stainless steel too.
Thanks for sharing it all.
I learn so much from all the submissions here.
Maybe my place will be shown sometime.

This home is GORGEOUS. I love the color because it isn't over-done.

The only thing I would do is pull all of the seating in to meet the rug. I don't agree that the front of the sofa needs to be ON the rug, just closer.

And I think the speakers are just over powering that wall. They should be concealed or replaced with smaller (just as powerfully-sounding) ones.

Besides those minor things...I'm envious. LOL.

Good selection of high quality designs from the mid 20th century. I know it often seems easy and safe to buy anything at DWR/Modernica and that's indeed very true, but it's also true that these pieces are all extremely good designs, which is why most are in museums. This "look" may fall in and out of favor but these pieces will always be well designed.

-

The arrangement is a bit tentative. As you spend time living in the space try other arrangements. Experiment to find unexpected solutions to problems of traffic, seating, or storage. Your taste and style will evolve and so will your courage to add new pieces that aren't in any museum ... yet.

It's taken me 17 years to get my house to the point it's in now. I finally feel absolutely at home. See my house tour.

I'd much rather look at this place than the majority I am seeing now. There is a particular site I am rapidly falling out of love with (won't mention the name to avoid drama- not this one) because everything, from their features to their "tours", even their layout, seems to focus on the same style. It's an alright design, but it's overkill, as most trends seem to be.

Only you can decide if your place is too minimalist, since comfort is subjective. Most of my family would look at the majority of house tours here and think they look cold. Unless there is a big chunky lazy boy, oversized tv, and sectional in play they are not happy. I dislike their homes and they dislike mine. Who cares? Do you like it? If you design your home to please others you are going to end up missing the mark.

All in all MCM pieces are good investment pieces to have. It dosen't matter what's the latest fashion, there always seems to be a least one MCM piece thrown in for good measure.

You seem to have alot of it, and if that's what you love than so be it! If you have the urge to mix it up in the future you are in a good position to sell a few pieces and bring in others. Meaning I don't think MC pieces are overly trendy, maybe all bunched together, but not in and of themselves, and mostly all are crafted well provided they are not knockoffs. So if you take care of them they'll probably sell well should you ever go down that route.

Get rid of the tv, speakers and so instead of the fireplace.
Imagine your living room with a nice flatscreen mounted to the wall and thats it, you have to much going on in this part of your living area, it seems very 90's to me. And dont be afraid to be too minimalist... less is more in many cases.

This place makes me uncomfortable. It's nice and all, but I can't imagine feeling welcome as a visitor. I'd be afraid to touch anything. It looks too fake/creepy, almost as if no one lives there. The soap in the bathroom isn't even used. Lived-in = VERY good. Use the soap, leave newspapers out, a book on the coffee table, glasses on the counter.