apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

the art work all over the house is stunning...

sam- did you cut the posts on the ivar shelving to make it low?

Hahahaha the owl collection is top knotch!! its funny how people have the love of collecting owls, frogs, birds! The pad has a total pulled together craigslist vibe, the importance being that its EDITED. The dining has such a wonderful balance of natural colors, well done. Otherwise the 70's orange and pink is a bit much for this lover of gray and cream!

Why is the TV so close to the floor? Does he prefer to sit on the floor to watch it?

I love how this space is designed, but also looks so lived in. I think the use of color is nice too..looks like nothing has been over-thought. Not feeling the overlapping rugs, but all in all love the space.
-Ashley

it looks like Tron on one of the screens (which is really visually striking; great color inspiration), but i don't mean to distract, super place !

I LOVE this place, it's so comforting. I even have that same tanuki statue!

I haven't been able to see the pictures in any apartment therapy slideshows for a couple of weeks, and it's frustrating!

this is a ton of fun! very inspiring...

good cat

Is there something we should be doing to our computers that will allow us to see the new slideshows? I am not getting anything at all anymore when I click on the links.

Thanks!

i know i sound like a broken record, but i can't see anything past the first picture. even w/ thumbnails. the first will load, then nothing.

i've tried 3 different browsers...

The slideshows should be working soon... really!

In the meantime, we've pretty much figured out that it's older versions of IE that aren't working, but other browsers do, as far as we can tell.

And you should (yes, note the should) be able to click through the thumbnails although the slideshow's not working.

(Aargh. We're frustrated, too.)

Very nice all around. Though agree the TV placement seems a bit awkward and out of place. But then I'm guessing Sam's so busy with Dwell and creating his own music in the home studio that the TV doesn't get turned on very often, in which case its placement would seem quite appropriate.

yeah, I am having trouble w/ the slide shows, I use Firefox. Nice place, though!

Okay, he's hella cool. I get it.

Hello Sam,

I think we have A HOOT LOT in common. Well, I meant we have A LOT of the same mid century pieces, even the owl collection!

Unfortunately, I'm moving back to Asia this fall and I can't bring all my 50pcs owls with me.

I want to sell my owls lot to someone who appreciates as much as I do. If you are interested, please let me know via keithc94117@yahoo.com

HOOT!

Those low bookshelves (with the TV) are Ivar? Did you hack them up?

I'm pleasantly surprised. Your place is cool and unpretentious.

what a great place--playful and oh so real. Fabulous style!

Eero, how can you look so totally uninterested in such an amazing place? I love almost all of it (not mad about the owls or the macrame - I have bad memories of the '70s).

Great job, Sam. Thank you for not being naked.

I love your coffee table!
Forgive my ignorance, but what is that style/designer called? I've googled away looking for one of my own, but no luck so far...

I just love your place Sam. So lived in and so welcoming.

love it! I wonder how long it takes for him to collection all the art work. The most impressive to me are the colors. He's got great eyes.
Any idea where we should look for cool and affordable art pieces? btw I'm living in Williamsburg and supposedly there are many cool artists. But where are you, talented pals?

aww, you have the FLY suspension lamp that I have coveted this past year. definitely NOT Craigslist bargain.

I thought everyone who works at Dwell lives in a pre-fab house.

Ok, given that I have to click through the pictures and scroll down almost every time to see the entirety of each picture, some editing of this photo set would have been appreciated. Like those close, closer, closer still, super up close pictures of the same area are annoying given the current format. I crapped out on this photo set about half way through.

Annoying. No. Visceral no. Best summation, from AT itself, "you can tell that Sam has worked hard." Yes he has. Too pretentious. Too thought-out. Nothing accidental. Live a little! The cat's the only real thing. Suffocating. Agh! It looks like you live in the western addition or lower haight, maybe buena vista? Have you ever been outside? Seriously, Sam, if I knew you, I'd tell you to get a job that suits you better. You are trying too hard. (I suspect that the photographer was as annoyed as I am. With some editing I might have been intoxicated. But ew. No. No.) Also, in the middle of your list of Things, could anyThing be more annoying than the adjective "super-normal"?? I now have a reason to NEVER PICK UP YOUR MAGAZINE. I'm sorry. I know it hurts to hear this from strangers. I'm not saying it to be mean. It just strikes me as true.

cool!..that it's.. the place I love to stay..
so very artistic...

wildwestern asked:
could anyThing be more annoying than the adjective "super-normal"

answer:
yes, wildwestern's post is more annoying.
please take your meds BEFORE you post.

Sorry but looking at 50 photos will no slideshow facility is not on. Life is too short. Pity.

Very interesting place. With the choices available to you, I really armire your ability to edit and keep a consistent design perspective. Collections are always excused from the editing; mine is Fiesta. Favorite accessory? The cat, naturally. ~:o)

I'm wishing for a close up of the barrel ceiling light in the hallway. Looks similar to a floor lamp I've been wishing I had a place for. Personally, I love the TV placement. I think I get it! I'm larger statements in many of your design solutions. And that's a good thing....

Love the owls. And the cat! And everything else too :)

Are we looking at the same photos as 'wildwestern'?

Nothing real?

What about the plants? The full laundry basket? The worn sneakers? The unironed bed cover? The books that look as if they are actually read, rather than simply arranged by pleasing color?

I love the place. Someone lives there!

Yee hah.

VERY REAL, imho.

Who makes the coffee table? Any info?

Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful home with us. I totally enjoyed it!

wildwestern: It takes a lot for people to open up their houses and invite you in. I think it's not too much to ask to respond with some amount of grace. Lots of AT readers prefix their comments with "It's not my aesthetic but... " which is a route you should consider next time you want to comment on a home that's not your cup of tea.

i am so impressed! i love all the artwork you've collected, and the home looks so lived in and happy!! the collections and objects jive well together, and the kitteh is adorable :) :)

one thing i desired immediately after seeing it - the long white planter on the windowsill. who/what/where?? ;)

also that brown/steel bench was pretty hot, too.

what awesome digs!

cheerfull and lived in with great accents.

Need AT help. The candlesticks in several photos on the livingroom side table they are made of glass but look like ice for lack of more descriptors.

Who are those?

My mother in law has some in a box in her attic and they aren't my thing or hers but i told her to keep them becuase i belive they are an iconic designer but i don't know who. I belive the maker is Finnish. Anyone?

where is that black magazine holder (?) on the floor from?

Wow, I think this is my all time favorite ! I love way it is put together: the colors, the plants, the furniture, the small whimsical pieces that inject some humor.. I love it all. Congrats on the supergreat place, I am willing to move in any time. I so enjoyed the visit, thank you so much !

PS for Dahlia: I think the glass candlesticks are from the Iittala Festivo line, designed by Timo Sarpaneva (a very talented designer IMHO):

http://www.amazon.com/Iittala-Festivo-6-Inch-Glass-Candleholder/dp/B000F1QNBY

PS for amt230: I think you might refer to the Kartell paper basket by the Bouroullecs (not their best work, I think):

http://www.unicahome.com/p27761/kartell/kartell-panier-basket-table-by-ronan-and-erwan-bouroullec-for-kartell.html


wildwestern, I am so sorry, but you come across as someone with a serious jealousy problem. If you did not like the place: shrug. You do not need to live there. If you did like the place, great ! You just got a lot of inspiration to choose pieces/ color & form combinations for your own place. Pointless moaning over nothing in particular only makes yourself look bad (esp with the photographic evidence of this persons flat for all to see. It does not look too contrived or pretentious at all). I do hope you feel more contented soon.

If a full laundry basket and an overall lived-in feel isn't 'real' to wildwestern...

Honestly, calling something contrived, the implication being that in order to look good, it has to come about organically or accidentally is the HEIGHT of pretension if you ask me.
If I 'accidentally" threw a pile of junk into a living space, would that make it more authentic?

People who post up their spaces for our perusal are clearly happy with their choices. If you can't share their enthusiasm, at least have the class to be tactful without attacking them personally.

Work out your own issues on your own time please and quit wasting everyone else's.

I'm afraid this will be mean, so apologies up front. This place is boring, predictable and pretentious (just like dwell). I couldn't imagine a dwell editor living in any other place.

Looks good to me.. I'm glad it's not one of those all-white, minimalist spots. There's a good mix of things, even if it's not completely my style.
I expect there's a lot of pressure when doing something like this, and being the editor of a magazine like DWELL.

I really like the ceiling, too.

Sweet owl collection, heh. Also, looove the wild coffee table.
-

Dahlia: The candlesticks that look like ice are Ittala. 70's I believe.

i love the art.
i love the color.
very well put together.
loads of fun!

Love the dining set up-all those pieces and that art work great, very nice pad..I am jealous that I cannot make IKEA bookcases work for my entertainment area like that..

Sounds like a great place. Sure would be nice to be able to see these pictures....

(I can't even get the thumbnails to work. When will the slideshows be fixed???)

an odd mix of retro done really great, (the living room art in white mats AND frames, ALL those amazing lighting choices/finds, the la fonda chairs, and other furniture pieces), and retro done really wrong, (that owl collection, string art, beaded plant hangers, and particularly that mangy psychedelic dust trap of a rug). i guess they're two sides of the same coin, but i'm loving only heads.

Great place. I'm curious what is the name of the designer for your bedroom dresser?

Basic rule of etiquette: When someone invites you into their home and you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything. Or at least say something constructive (like... what's your idea of "not pretentious, not thought out and accidental"?) instead of being brutally judgemental.

Ignore the mean people, they write these things only to get attention.

I think it's very human to tidy up one's home before having guests. It's a way of welcoming our guests, who of course are nice in return. Society's glue deco-wise!

Anyway: Did anyone notice that the cat and the rug are colour coordinated? Neat =)

I'm sorry--simply can't see any pretentiousness. Just the opposite in fact. Looking at this place a second time, I like it even better.

What a great place. I loved it all. The Occasional Cat is clearly at home!

Enough with the detail shots already!!
It's one thing, during the small cool comp, when there are only 6 photos, to not see bathrooms and kitchens but when there are 50 shots!! Where is the rest of the apartment?

I was actually going to leave a lightly punny comment, something good natured, when I decided to scan some of the previous comments until I got up to the wood whatever person. Wow. It takes a pretty shrill lack of style to respond that. It actually made me take another look at the photos and realize just how spontaneous and fun Sam's place is. Thanks for sharing Sam, its great when you can view a place and really get a feel for a little (or lot) of what someone likes and loves. I was reminded of the things you wrote about travelling to Finland with your father as a youngster. It's funny that what is pretentious to one person is the essence of ease and unpretentiousness to another.

I'm so glad AT decided to repost this now that the slide show is working because I admit I never saw it the first time. Its a beautiful space full of personality and at least for me is inspirational in how I continue to pursue the ongoing process of furnishing and changing my space as my life evolves. That to me is just it, its not contrived and appears to have just evolved over time giving it more layers of personality.

Oops, where are my manners! I meant to also thank Sam for sharing his space with AT readers!

Appliances: rhodes 73, korg ms20, roland juno106, korg mono/poly

AWESOME!!!!

This is my first comment on this wonderful site & I just had to say, love your retro style Sam that's one sideboard i would looove to have!

I have the Iittala candle sticks (the who set of 3) too. Also the Iittala Niva pattern glass dessert dishes and salad bowls.