This is wrong on so many levels, but if you're comfortable, more power to you. If you find storage to be an issue, get rid of stuff.

it always amazing me how anyone's "individual sense of style" can be called wrong. What works for you, is right by definition. Personally, I LOVE it, very lush - and like you, Vickiann, I ADORE color - and bedroom is very romantic.

btw: is the cat perched on the shelf in the third pic real?

Truly one-of-a-kind and not a typical AT space. It's not my style, either, but certainly isn't "wrong on so many levels"! Gorgeous wall of frames:) And the floor plan is a work of art!

I dig that bedroom quilt!

This is not what one visits a design blog to see, this is what one visits home in the mid-west to see. I'm just saying is all...

OK, jacksonlalonde hush up!
I have personally been to this apartment and it is rich and warm and full of personality. Yes, the cat is real! The creativity needed to design this apartment is huge! Kudos to you!!!!

This isn't my personal style, and several of the choices are not ones I would have made - but it's certainly not "Wrong on so many levels".

It's well thought out, cohesive, creative, interesting and very, very personal - far better than I can say for some of the other places we've seen here!

Beautiful! I love the chandelier in the bedroom! Well done Vicki.

I love the kitty on the shelf and the fantastic mural next to it.

I think it's very original and refreshing. Personally, I don't dig the "midcentury" that most AT posts centre around, but I guess that's because I'm not from the USA. It's nice to see something different.

I'm pleased and inspired by the photo with the shelves, cat and mural. But that border in the bathroom? No!

Love the bathroom. What does your outdoor space look like?

Wow, totally not my style, but cool! I love that textured rug in the living room. The floor plan is perfect. Very cozy and sophisticated. :)

Not at all what I would choose for my place BUT it shows an owner with personal style and love for their "chez soi".

My favourite room is the bedroom.

A thumbs up from me just for showing such personal style and originality.

I love it. hope i al went through. I am on line 30,000 feet up.
T ( I need a picture of you MC PIG sketch

I echo that it is not my style, but that being said, it is still a very lovely home. Your furniture layout is spot on! Love the kitty sitting on the shelf....must be his/her spot since there was nothing there to knock off.

Not a fan of your personal style, but you do have a consistency that most people can't pull off. Also, I do like the armoire in the living room.

nycgrrl

it looks very 1992 country. i'm pretty sure some of my aunts had houses that looked just like this, borders in the bathroom and all.

totally not my thing, but i'll give you props for not caring about losing your deposit.

Gorgeous Vicki.

WOW. LOVE it Vicki. Kudos to you for finding and knowing your style. Great job. :)

I'll echo that it's not really my style, but that doesn't make it "wrong." I also find many things to admire about it, such as:

-the lovely scrolling mural on the wall, and the orange and purple butted up against each other at the corner

-the drama of the bathroom - shower curtain, rug, and the wonderful little chest of drawers (although I also was a little thrown off by the wallpaper border)

-pushing the bed against the wall and having a canopy draped over it, which seems very Apartment Therapy, except the colors and bedlinens are a-typical for AT

-the armoire and end table in the living room actually look like mid-century pieces, but they blend well with the rest

"This is not what one visits a design blog to see, this is what one visits home in the mid-west to see."

That comment not only disses the Midwest, which Apartment Therapy has shown me has many beautiful homes and diverse styles (quite beyond country checks and geese in bonnets), but the home shown is in NY (although not apparently NYC). So, this is a home you go to the Northeast to see.

I will also echo that this is overall not my style, but I think its great. Its got some very thoughtful features that are done better than many of the other entries. The candles on the window sill, the wall of beautiful mirrors, the regal shower curtain, and the chandelier in the bedroom are all creative touches. Its nice to see a home personalized.

Good job Vicky!

jacksonlalonde, doesn't the fact that this person lives in New York negate your generalization (an unfair one at that) about the Midwest? It is SO tiresome reading comments like yours that disparage whole sections of the country for not being as hip or cool or design-conscious as New York.

It's obvious from your own work that you go in for predictable and often clichéd materials in modern design--exposed brick, black leather, tubular steel, marble and chrome. Vickiann is executing her vision the same way you are executing yours--consistently and with a limited range of elements. You don't have to like her place but you could be polite and reasonable in your feedback. Calling something "wrong on so many levels" is insulting and unnecessary.

I love your wall of mirrors.

I've often wondered what it would look like if someone decorated their home solely with outdated Craigslist finds. This might be it. It's... impressive, actually.

Gorgeous and original.

Goth-opulant! Not what I'd like to live with, but I'd certainly enjoy visiting for a glass of wine!

I think this home is romantic and lovely, dark and sensual. It uses the square footage to its full advantage. The special "kitty" area is a great idea, and much prettier than those "cat trees". The texture on the living room walls are so interesting, looks like you used a terrific technique. Great Home!!!

This is fantastic. You did an amazing job with your space. While it's not my style (though I do like a bit of Victorian opulence every now and then), it IS very cohesive and inviting. Absolutely NOTHING about it is offensive.
I love it. :)

One of my best friends from high school's family had their living room painted a similar shade of orange with a spongey faux finish. It makes me very happy to see something like that here. (by the way, re the midwest comment, that living room was in NYC). I love the armoire in the living room, and the wall of mirrors is very cool. I like the look of the navy ceiling a lot too. It's impressive when you can pack so many textures into a space and keep it from looking cluttered. Overall this place is not my style, but I think there are several inspiring elements. That makes it exactly the kind of thing I go to a design site for. I'd like to know more about that canopy in the bedroom... how is it held up? Did you DIY it or is it purchased from somewhere?

Hi everyone. Vickiann here...

I definitely want to address everyone's thoughtful comments (both good and bad) and answer questions, but I've only got a minute right now so I'd like to apologize to jacksonlalonde for not owning an Eames chair and not having the design sensibilities that come with owning said Eames chair. I could no more get rid of my stuff than you could get rid of your personality, but thanks so much for the suggestion!

I'll be back later :)

LOL! Bravo Vickiann! What a perfect reply.

And again, bravo on your space. I think its wonderful.

I do love those perches for the kitty. Clever idea.

NOOO! My mother-in-law would be in heaven!
This style is just dark, cluttered, pretentious, generic, gaudy, trendy and lacks personality. It's like everything was bought at one store on one day.

don't mean to be negative...just, seriously...mother-in-law.

personal and fully committed. i like it when someone goes out and does what they want instead of living in disappointment until it's time to move out.

Yes, sassy about sums it up!

I love that the decadence continues in the bathroom. I have never seen a shower like that!

I love, love, love the wall with the shelves (and the cat!). I am saving this picture for my sister to see later. This is definitely her style. Great job!!

eek.

I love/live/long white spaces and am a minimalist at heart. However, I am giving thumps up to this blue navy, dramatic, colourful, strongly charactered place, because it has every right to exist.
I feel very bipartisan now!
(Interesting font on floor planning image.)

Whew. Decorate how you want, but def get rid of the shower curtain.

Beautiful! It is right on every level...Whats not to smile about.Great job Vicki!

I'm going to have to agree with TheoJ. I love classic design, not a fan of MCM, so it has nothing to do with it. This home has potential and a little editing and cohesion go a long way.

And for those of you jumping down jacksonlalonde's throat, really? He/she did say "but if you're comfortable, more power to you" so the comment wasn't really negative. And if you're going to post home pics on a website to be voted on, you should be open to both positive and negative comments and not be so defensive and mean. If you're being descriptive on why you feel it doesn't work (constructive criticism), what's wrong with that? Also, I'm saying this in a nice, calm manner and will now step off my soapbox :)

Has nothing to do with Eames sweetheart. Like I said though, if you're comfortable, that's great... but this makes my eyeballs itchy. If you can't take the criticism, if all you want is ovation, perhaps you should keep your photos for your scrapbook.

Great "bed in a bag" comment - clearly, this is not a "less is more" approach.

I do think that it's a bad idea for the owner of the apartment in question to jump into the fray of the critique of his or her space. I just makes things uncomfortable. And while I don't necessarily agree with jacksonlalonde's comments overall, I agree that if you submit your photos to AT you'd better be prepared to take the criticism along with the praise. Those of us who come here to get inspiration and who actually read the comments on posts hope that we're reading a broad cross section of honest critique, not just the ravings of sycophants who are afraid to hurt anyone's feelings

I do like a bathroom with the option of subdued lighting, like the lamp on your toilet tank. Much less shocking in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning.
That shower curtain is very glamorous, as well. I would hang a hook for my tiara, in this bathroom.

thanks for daring the darkness :)

Makes things uncomfortable for WHOM? The anonymous people ragging on the owner of the home, who has shared his or her space out of pride and enthusiasm??

Awwwww. Yeah, that sucks for them.

Jesus.

I think it's time the homeowners start fighting back. If the gloves can be off for the commenters, then same goes for the owners, no?

At least Vickiann put it out there. And used her real name while doing it.

Just a suggestion when looking at homes that are not your style: consider what the homeowner's vision might be and comment as to whether you think they succeed.

I think this apartment is going for a meld of old-world and bohemian and hits that funky mark pretty well.

@jacksonlalonde: there's commenting and there's being flat-out rude...then there's being unapologetically flat-out rude, "excusing" it with the copout that is "I'm just saying is all." Then again, I'm impressed that you could see the pics at all, with your nose way up in the air like that.

I don't think that's where the nose was. ;)

Why are you assuming jacksonlalonde is a GUY though??

SNAP Vickiann! Great response, made me laugh.

I agree with a lot of people on here - definitely not my style, and not a fan of your shower curtain at all. However, what I love is that I definitely get a sense of who you are from your home which is important to me.

It definitely isn't a classic "AT" home, but perhaps that is a good thing? How many "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters can we look at? And EVERYONE has that same screensaver of the clock face, you know the one I mean - hell even I have that as my screensaver! I like that Vickiann's entry was different. And I agree with what someone else who wrote that she fully committed to her home - this really comes through.

I am not giving it a thumbs up as I don't like the style at all, but good on her for putting it out there. I wish more people did so we could get more variety and a few less Eames chairs!!!

Are those artificial plants in the living room?

Maybe I was a bit curt with the original comment. I will concede that the coverlet in the bedroom is dead sexy. There. There you go.

@lollybox: yes! Vickiann's place may not be quite my style, but it's blessed variety, and for that, I salute her. AT gets to be a bit of an MCM echo chamber, and I for one welcome anything that breaks that up some.

@patrick: Jackson's profile pic appears to be of a guy...unless you know something we don't? ;) (Hey, no booing -- I'm not insinuating anything!)

Ah. And a hot one at that.

Well, at least he gets points for posting his actual photo.

Wow, no holding back in this space. Good job! Has a definite exotic undertone. I think the shower curtain is my favorite - so unexpected!

*blush* Back atcha. See Vicki, you're bringing people together. Just promise me you'll reconsider those silk plants and I will only use Eames when it is absolutely unavoidable.

I wish I was 211 Elizabeth Street.

Randy??? dis is Nate. why you dont call me no mo...?
I kno cuz you too bzee makin dat place BEAUTIFUL ! LOL
Nice paint! not too shabby... for a girl. LOL and I likes it! lyttys xoxo

LOL

I agree that there are a few things that don't work in the apartment but its not an absolute "no." Homes can work in a variety of styles.

So my two cents on how to get this space to live up to its potential.

You have a really dramatic taste leaning towards a Victorian feeling. I say embrace that even further.

I think the sofa and arm chair are wrong for the space with all the candles and the mirrors you need something more like a fainting couch--it seems to me this is the look you are going for, so I say go all the way..think tufted perhaps maybe leather or even a velvet.
If you don't want it to get too themey try a more modern daybed style sofa. Not an actual day bed but some of the sofas they market as such.

Also the dark blue rug is doing nothing for the space, look for a Persian or a Persian knock-off.

I'd say the same thing for the bathroom if you are going to go gold swag shower curtain then paint the bathroom a dark or dramatic color, lose the floral wall paper trim and swap out the bathmat for a dark one that coordinates with the walls or the shower curtain.

Finally in the bedroom I'd go with something a bit less country to match the drama of the navy netting or I'd swap the netting out for white or light blue netting which seems less ornate somehow. If you swap out the bedspread think either simple, not too ornate, Asian inspired blue and white (maybe like a cherry branch type thing) or something Rococo.

All in all I think its a fun style to work with.

interesting taste...not my bag, but I can appreciate the creativity within each room. gives me the sense that your personality is inventive and quirky and your home speaks to that.... so in that regard, well done!

I think a lot of people (me included) are leaping to the defense of this place, even in a qualified way ("not my style, but..."), against the *really* negative comments, because it's NOT the typical Apartment Therapy style.

It's darned if you do, darned if you don't. If a place is all MCM and "Keep Calm and Carry On", people chime in and say "Cliche awful boring all the homes on this site look the same blah blah". If it happens to be different, they say, "EW! No! Ruffles! Candles! Awful! Why is this on a design blog??"

This contest was open to anyone to submit photos. Not just "eclectic MCM-loving 25-35 y.o. urbanites". Kudos to the homeowner for submitting a home she loves and is proud of.

I think people are defending it because it has a lovely sweetness to it. And because there are still people who understand the concept of empathy and civility.

Holy controversy Batman!

So, it's me again. First let me say that I love my apartment and it makes me happy to be in it, so it doesn't matter if anyone else likes it. That said, I DID enter it into a design contest hoping other people would see things my way and love it too. That's not the case, obviously, but that's OK. I still love it and, while I may be a little disappointed, my feelings are not hurt! Everyone is entitled to their opinions. What's not OK are the mean posts from mean people just trying to be mean. You know who you are - and thanks to the AT readers who called you out on it so I don't have to.

@loveoldstuff - yes, the cat is real! That's Egor and I'm not sure why AT left him out of my description because I did put him on my entry.

@pparker (and the border haters) I hate them too! My bathroom presented me with a hideous yellow tub and awful yellow tile that's on the wall opposite the photo. Trying to do my bathroom yellow (which I hate) was tough and for some reason, I thought this border helped. On the opposite wall, it's actually above the tile as well as at the ceiling. You'd probably REALLY hate that ;)

@jamaica2009 - my outdoor space is non-existent. Just a parking lot. :(

@shlowzi - the canopy in my bedroom is eye hooks screwed into the ceiling with picture wire pulled between. I hung about 20 yards of fabric over the wires. Kinda ghetto in the installation, but I like it.

@cbeatty23 - I actually got the idea for the cat shelves from a post on AT. They're carpeted for Egor's safety.

@TheoJ - I didn't "get my friends to say how great it is".

@babyfishmouth - OMG seriously? If my replying to posts made about MY place (and consequently, ME) makes you uncomfortable, then I suggest you refrain from posting. How ridiculous! No one has hurt my feelings here. You kinda piss me off though...

@Palomisha - yes (she says sheepishly) - I will give you that's tacky, but I can't keep anything green alive.

@taquah - great suggestions! I love tufted pieces and I agree, that would look hot. I also like your suggestions for the bath, but what the pictures don't show is I'm dealing with a terrible yellow tile on the opposite wall and yellow tub. As for the bedroom, I KNOW the quilt doesn't go at ALL. I have it because I made it. Why you ask? I have no freakin idea except that my mom quilts and I thought I might try it. It's comprised of materials relating to the universe (there's even alien fabric in there) and it took two years to make. Some day, I will have a guest room to hide it in, but for now, on my bed it stays. I have dreams of owning my own home one day and things will be different - a bit more sophisticated. I appreciate your constructive criticism :)

As for the rest - I also made the shower curtain in my bathroom. I designed the room around a french movie poster that has those golds and reds in it. I wish I could have included another angle because MAYBE (probably not, but MAYBE) the border wouldn't have so much hate on it.

I made the chandelier too. Come on... you guys like that, right? That's pretty hot... lol

Anyway, thanks to all who responded. I learned a lot. :)

Vickiann

Vickiann you just rock

Back at ya lolly! Thanks for what you wrote up there :)

(um... can your vote be bought? just askin...)

you have excellent taste in lighting - both chandeliers are lovely!!

Vickiann, I admire your spirit and individuality. You love your home, it reflects your tastes and who you are and that's all that matters.

This is gorgeous! Definitely my style, so plush and comfy and filled with gorgeous things. When can I move in? =)

Seriously, though, why all the hate for this beautiful home? I think it's great to see something other than minimalist mid-century modern here. Too many homes posted here are so sterile and empty and uncomfortable looking that I wonder if more effort was spent trying to impress people than to create a home that made them happy.

As several people have already mentioned, the homeowner clearly knows her style and has gone for it with gusto. Congrats on your very cool small home!

I think it's absolutely beautiful!

As to jacksonlalonde's comment:

"This is not what one visits a design blog to see, this is what one visits home in the mid-west to see."

That is one of the most rude things I've seen anyone say on the internet. (And believe me, I have seen plenty.)

I live in Chicago and be overjoyed to have a place so lovely. Not everything is my particular style, but that's why it's their home and not mine.

I love it. It's not pretentious, it looks like a real home, and it's cozy and inviting.

How apropos, Starry, starry night, there beside your bed!

I truly enjoyed a rewarding glimpse of your stunning living quarters and for the opportunity to reaffirm what I have always maintained, that you are a very talented lady.

I wish you every success in all that you do and I will always appreciate having had the pleasure of working beside you.

Vickiann- Props to you for A: Your awesome place (despite not getting your deposit back) and B: standing up for yourself! God forbid your home actually be different from everyone else and not the "typical AT look". Jeez.

To the rude people who don't understand the concept of "Constructive Criticism"- just because you CAN say it, doesn't mean you SHOULD.

I don't know if I would want to spend the night here - it kinda creeps me out. This looks like something out of Addam's family. But then again, minimalist white spaces also creep me out.

Vickiann, kudos to you for doing your thing. Love your comments, by the way. You are one spunky girl! (And you got me to go back and take a better look at your chandelier! Nice job!!!!)

Vickiann, good for you for putting your place up! Having seeing the comments on AT for years, I would have to turn the comments off, which would be a disappointment.

PEOPLE, constructive criticism please! Or at least don't be rude.

I can't believe anyone thought that was a bed in a bag. I looked at it and instantly knew how much work went into the quilt. You keep quilts forever for that very reason. If you looked in my dog's crate you would see the quilt my aunt made me for high school graduation. Not my style anymore and my aunt would approve of its use!

That being said, I think the intricacy of the quilt distracts from the overall feel of the bedroom. The tiny pieces with hard lines fight with the softness of the netting. You see the quilt first and then, when you can tear your eyes away from it, you see the netting, chandelier and sconces. I'd look for something a blue & white ombre or something sumptuous in blue or silver (velvet maybe?)- or make your own, since you're talented!

Love your shower curtain. You do a great job of drawing away from the yellow tile that you hate! Could you paint over the border?

If you paint your ceiling back before you move out, you probably won't lose your deposit. Just tell the landlord you want some paint to do touchups and match it. Chances are he'll never notice.

Sorry! Having seen the comments...

@zoee, that wasn't my living room you snarky snoop, that was random furniture and lighting for sale from a client's empty space, but thanks for playing doll. I did offer constructive criticism, and though it nearly killed me, I even acquiesced to a compliment... but somehow they've conveniently disappeared from the feed. Bring on the onslaught, I can take it without whining online about it ad nauseum. Maybe I'll even frame the onslaught in tiny little frames and cover a mad nifty sponge-painted wall with them. I truly hope this place wins, it would just be fantastic.

This is a perfectly realized space for a particular vision. It's not my style, but I recognize expertise and design savvy when I see it. Thumbs up from me.

@Vickiann: thanks for replying all of the questions!
I think having real plants would add up to your space, and there are a lot of real plants that don't need a lot of watering or direct sun light. For example the Chamaedorea Palm and some vines such as the Golden Pothos. I used to be afraid of killing real plants, but now I have plants that are very difficult to kill!

I think it's lovely.

I'm disappointed in how rude people can be.

@Vickiann - Corn plants and cactus's are good for those of us without a green thumb. Might not be your (or anyone else's?) taste though...

Thanks for your reply about the cat perch...I'm going to look for that article. Do you by any chance know the weight limitations? Perhaps that's stated in the original article.

AT readers/commenters are kuh-razee! But the comments are definitely entertaining...

The first pic definitely makes me think of the Midwest too, however I think it's due to the lighting and the wall color, once I looked at the other photos I could see where you were going with your style. Personally I love those walls in the 3rd pic, the shower curtain and the overall color in your bedroom.

Absolutely adorable. Very creative for such a small space. You got it all to work out to meet your needs and THAT is definitely a home- not just an apartment! Must have taken a long time to get it to that, but I bet you have it just right! Love the stores you shop at. They are the best. Makes shopping fun creative. I love that kind of shopping and putting things together in a creative way rather than seeing yet another page from some regular old magazine. BOOOORRRRRING!!!! This is a truly unique apartment. It looks mystical and fun. Calm but intriguing. Personalized- not cluttered. I agree with whoever said she's stop by for a glass of wine! Me too! Makes me 'see' the person who lives there. Someone creative, smart, knows what she likes and isn't afraid to try new things. Sounds like we could be friends. Plus she has a cat. That's always a plus. Although mine does not have a cat-walk like that!!! (THAT WAS AMAZING!)

Hey guys! Me again :)

I just want to thank every single one of you who came to my defense when some not so nice comments were made. Sometimes people really suck and when complete strangers "got your back" it's pretty fn cool! You guys made my day, so thank you :)

I seriously never realized just HOW different my place is from the typical space on AT simply because I can and DO appreciate all sorts of design styles. This is just what feels right for me. There have been great suggestions for pulling things together a bit more and I really do appreciate the feedback.

@Heather C - I agree about the quilt. I've only kept it so long because it took so long to make, but you've really got me thinking about getting something more in line with my style. I don't even like quilts! Kind of stupid to have one on my bed just because of my time invested!

@Palomisha - Now that I've been called out on the fake greenery, I'm embarrassed I have it because it really IS tacky! I am going to look into something live, or forgo the look altogether.

@cbeatty23- If you search AT for "cat shelves" you will hit the article I found. The weight capacity will definitely depend on how you hang them. Ideally, you go right into the studs. A few of mine partially hit studs, but are mostly hung with metal wall anchors that will support up to 50lbs. Weight capacity will be listed on the anchors you buy.

@Love2Decor8- I'm glad I'm not alone in my favorite stores! I was starting to feel like a dumbass for daring to put MARSHALL'S as a favorite design source! No DWR for me, thanks ;)

I know I have no chance to win this thing, but it's made me smile reading the all of the nice things people have said. Thank you!

v

While I must admit that I have a strong distaste for your bathroom border, I for one am digging the whole bathroom look in general. Reminds me of an old school opera dressing room. Plus, I have no idea why but that shower curtain makes me want to get naked and bathe. Not my overall style but I can appreciate your aethetic and creativity (not to mention sewing talent). Thumbs Up for sticking it to the man and painting a rental!

Oh, and I am NOT a cat person but that cat walk & mural seriously.kicks.ass.

I love it! It feels like a much needed colorful punch to the face.

I love it!

In fact, I love it so much that, even though I've been reading AT for years, I just now finally registered so I could tell you how much I love it. I was laughing at your comment about how much storage there is in all the nooks and crannies -- that is exactly my storage plan, and my housemates are always surprised (and perhaps horrified) at how much I have packed into the hidden spaces underneath things.

I love the rich colors and textures! Thank you!

@sweetd21: "Thumbs Up for sticking it to the man and painting a rental!" You've never been a landlord, have you? Since when is prohibiting painting (up front, when Vickiann had the opportunity to decline the unit) unreasonable? Go too far with "sticking it to the man" and you might find that the decent landlords have gotten out of the rental market because it's become too big a PITA. Be a decent person and a) stick to the agreement you freely made or b) break the agreement and paint, then repaint with Apartment White when you move out or c) buy. your. own. place. Doing whatever you want is one of the key perks that, pretty much by definition, come with ownership and specifically do not come with rentership.

--Former Landlord to "Eff You, I'll Do What I Want (To Your Property)" Tenants

@shanalulu; sincere apologies for over zealous use of phrase "sticking it to the man". I in no way intended to encourage tenant on landlord abuse. I actually am a huge advocate (user) of your option b and assumed that vickiann would eventually be re-painting the apartment white as well. Often, young and poor renters such as myself are discouraged from putting any time, money, or effort into their apartments and I simply wanted to give a "thumbs up" for the unabashed love vickiann gave to her rental.

"Doing whatever you want is one of the key perks that, pretty much by definition, come with ownership and specifically do not come with rentership"
I understand that us renters are not entitled to the same perks as owners, but it may be a (very) long time before many of us have the privilege of owning a home. Until then, I believe we still deserve to love the space we live in and have it reflect our personality and style. For me, that involves paint on the walls. At the end of the day as long as the walls are white, the holes are filled, and every nook and cranny has been cleaned, I think painting is not unreasonable and I have yet to have a landlord who disagrees.

@ shanalulu and sweetd21 - I wholeheartedly agree with you sweetd21. My "losing my deposit" comment was more a joke because my colors are so dark and will be very hard to cover. My landlord is well aware that I have painted and has complimented me on what I've done actually. There ARE a lot of disrespectful tenants out there - my dad was a landlord for a short time and his properties were trashed, so I understand your defense of landlords, shanalulu.

As renters, it would really suck to have to put on hold having a "home" as opposed to a place to crash until we were able to afford something to buy. I've only rented once before this, but both my landlords were cool about my decorating the place and I always treat my rental as if it were my own home, leaving it better than I found it.

I just wanted to say to the owner, don't let the negative comments let you down. I only heard of this place recently when someone on saucydwellings LJ posted a link to this page, and I want you to know that I love your style so much that I joined up specifically to compliment you on what you've done to the place. :) There is not one thing about it that I don't love, and I especially adore your shower curtain. May I ask where you got it? I don't live in the US so I doubt I would be able to find something similar, but I'd still like to know because it is so rich and beautiful, and I have never considered something like that possible for a shower curtain before. Kudos to you! I'm a big fan!

@loosedefense - thank you so much! That was a really nice compliment. :)

I made the shower curtain myself. I wanted a sort of theater theme in there (there's a theater poster in there that you can't see in the photo) so I used photos of austrian curtains as reference. If you'd like to make one yourself, email me at vvachula@gmail.com and I will try to help :)

Ok, first of all, it seems to me that the first post of a house tour sometimes gets almost as much criticism as the tour itself. It takes a good deal of spunk to voice an opinion before you know what anyone else thinks.

With that said, jacksonlalonde, you probably should have backed off when you realized you were stepping on people's toes. It's just not worth it.

And, I'm not an expert, but does anyone else think that armoire in the living room is the epitome of classic mcm? Now THAT is what mixing and matching is all about.