Name: Josh
Location: Upper East Side
Apartment Size: 850 square feet
Favorite: largest single piece of granite that would fit in the elevator to serve as a bar in the kitchen
When I walked in, Josh was picking up almost invisible pieces of dirt lying around the apartment. He wanted everything to be perfect. He likes a clean house, clean lines, and solid objects. Josh's mother is an interior designer but, according to Josh, her only role in the apartment re-do was to "get the ball rolling" with a few suggestions...
Josh, an accountant by day, is the one who spent months picking out colors, materials and styles. He made all the design decisions himself asking his mother only to "give her blessing".
This was a two-part visit. I first saw Josh's place in the summer, just about the time that the kitchen, the bathroom and the closets were redone, the floor was replaced, stained and sealed, and the ceiling was stripped of its original "popcorn" finish, skimmed and painted. He asked me to return, however, to see it and write about it when it was fully furnished. In the interim, Josh not only acquired all the furniture he sought but also a live-in girlfriend.
My second visit confirmed Josh's loyalty to a no-nonsense, well organized approach to home renovation. Josh went for quality materials where they mattered most-tiles, countertops, and cabinetry. He took the time to custom design each closet and have it built to be the most efficient storage space possible. He devised a color scheme for the apartment-blues and browns-and stuck to it.
The best part of this scenario is that Josh is the last person to believe he was capable of, or would enjoy such a hard-core immersion in the world of home renovation. He did. In fact, he said "if I didn't have a real job [in addition to all the work this required] I'd love it!" Because he rose to the challenge so impressively, I like to think of him as the Apartment Therapy poster boy.
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Comments (19)
Talk about the quintessential bachelor pad...... complete with the black leather sofa! to each their own, but it looks like a contractor special!
I'm a bachelor who just redid a kitchen that looks a little like Josh's. But here's what I did differently: Honed granite, which looks like soapstone. Cork floor, a little easier on the feet. In my eyes, that moves it away from the "model apartment" look.
Is this a third re-post (a lot of the comments are from a year after the OP)??
Re-reading the comments, it didn't seem like anyone really got any good design ideas or inspiration from it.
Is Josh still living there?
It seems like people have pretty much covered how I feel about the newly renovated space (huge improvement, but not quite AT ready); so I'll just say this: I'm sure you're a really cool guy, but please get new shoes (even if you only wear them at home). :)
I believe that Josh will add personal touches as he lives in the space.
Good looking renovation first, personal touches to come.
Thanks for sharing your renovation Josh.
There are always ideas to be gotten from everyone's apts.
woah, while i agree this place isn't my style, some of you were way too harsh on this guy. think about it - he's reading these comments. and probably feeling pretty hurt by the insensitivity. i'm sorry, josh.
I think it looks great. I am looking at a similar sized and designed place just outside of the city and you have given me lots of good ideas for space issues. Did the kitchen have the bar before you moved in or was it originally a wall? Ar all appliances on the one side of the kitchen. They place I am looking at has a galley kitchen which makes me nervous. However, I could put in the bar and yours looks great.
i have to agree with the others...it makes no sense to me as to why this apt was shown on a.t. i like the sink in the bathroom against the marble top and i like the blue chosen for the bedroom. however, focus on hiding that stuffed animal (in the bedroom), instead of getting every dust particle. and that couch...i know everybody has different tastes, but that couch does not look good. maybe a.t. should start a section just for quintessential bachelor pads??
Just zero passion or love was invested in this apartment.
I'm surprised a girlfriend hasn't added anything to the place to soften it a bit.
I do think it's a huge improvement from before, though, so Josh and gf can keep adding to it to give it more personality and truly make it their own!
I agree with Monroe, you should keep the original floor tile.
Other than that good improvement, good start.
It certainly is an improvement, and I absolutely know (first hand) how much went into the space, but it just doesn't feel very inspired. The kitchen feels very "Home-Depot-y" It is about what I would expect from a typical "luxury" rehab from a developer. Sorry.
I'm sure Josh enjoyed all your constructive criticism after pouring over...what?..50k plus into his apt.
And I'm sure more people will be happy to post their renovations so, they can get negative feedback as well.
For someone who's never renovated before, probably doesn't have a subscription to dwell and isn't a designer, he made some nice, clean, handsome design decisions. He'll love living there and will enjoy adding personal touches to it as he does.
I guess the old adage is true, "If you don't have anything nice to say...say it anonymously on the internet." I believe that's the saying:)
I applaud all of the effort that Josh put in to his house. I wish my boyfriend was this dedicated (well... maybe not, then I wouldn't be able to decorate however I wanted). As for personal touches, I saw a fun pillow on the couch, a hula girl and fake fruit on the counter, and the stuffed dog in the bedroom. This isn't a lot, but it might be all he has (or wants), most guys I know don't have a lot of things.
Hey Kachuri - Lay off him about the dog, I'm sure it wouldn't be out unless it was special to him, it doesn't look like he collects stuffed animals or anything.
JC & Gretchen - This is an exhibition of his house, not his fashion sense, let's give him a break.
Why don't we all try to do what our moms told us and "not say anything unless we can say something nice"
Smile, and enjoy your homes everyone :)
No cleverness, no charm, no inventiveness.
Full of clichés and very questionable taste (furniture, lighting, use of space, colors).
Sorry, but I do not see the point of showing this on AT.
Design's not dead !
Why was this tour featured on here? The leather sectional alone should have disqualified it. Its horrid and bad and awful and terrible. From the kitchen to the stainless steal sink with marble countertop in the bathroom. Why doesn't AT have some sort of standards?
edina-rose, woah. you are out of control!
nice job. I like the stainless sink a lot. Looks very "just completed" - I'd recommend some art for those blank walls.