apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Your kitchen is so cute, but the living room looks unfinished. From the glimpse of bedroom we see, that looks "blah" as well.

I think this place was featured in the NYT already...there were better pictures in the other article that showed the art in the place and made it look much more homey. I liked it a lot from what I saw before but these pix make it look a bit cold and lackluster.

Photo selection seems to be an ongoing problem in this contest.

kitchen is gorgeous. rest of the space seems intentionally minimal... a rug in the living room would be add some warmth. um, i could not use the bathroom as is... i like some privacy :) nice overall tho!

I'm all for "neat" ... but it doesn't look like anyone lives here! This looks like it was "staged" by a realtor for an open house. (Did you not show the bedroom because everything got piled into it?) Small, yes ... cool, it seems you're still working on, as you definitely have taste.

gorgous. Love the bathroom.

I love all of the dark wood throughout the space, and your kitchen is cute. However this is far too minimal for me and has no signs of life, and the complete lack of privacy in the bathroom is a major turn off.

Could you tell me where you got the glass shelved case in the kitchen?

thanks!

wow- dont think id want to go potty in that bathroom! its very exposed- i'd have to hold it!

i really like it, but not the bathroooommmm, it's a little too exposed, yo. i do like the space, though, and how neat and sparse it is. somehow it works for me, dunno why.

I love the kitchen! I especially like the shelf that holds the plates & the glass case for the cups.

the kitchen could use some martha stewart green...this space has good qualities, but lack character

This is the winner for me.

Very small, very cool and very clever.

How did you make those glass doors?

This apt was featured in NYT House & Home section a few weeks back---can't get those beautiful kitchen tiles out of my mind. Voted "Super Cool" because of the clever use of glass and partitions to open up an apt that only has one window. But do feel that the ultimate winner should be someone non-published. Sorry.

gina, this is def the same place that was in the NYT. i remember the kitchen (which is very pretty - love the wood shelves). agree that it seems emptier than in the NYT photos. it needs *something* to make it seem more lively!

I think I would cry if I had to go the bathroom in your house. The kitchen is very cute, the LR needs more love.

(atrium doors)

I remember loving it more when I saw it in the Times. What happened?

strong contender. love that kitchen. all your storage is under cabinet? And the see-through bathroom... Brave.

They did mention they had "lots of corners unoccupied for future growth." So I'll give them them some leeway with the whole sparse thing. Nice start, though.

I really enjoy it, but it doesn't look the least bit lived in - and that's quite a statement coming from a neat freak minimalist like me!

It's cool but doesn't look lived in.

Loving it - Esp the Kitchen and Bathroom!

Lovely, but so cold. Very impersonal. I don't think that I could handle a bathroom that is exposed like this one. Looks like a great deal of money was spent, but no sould.

glass walls in the bathroom??? No no NOOOO!

that is "no soul"

Fantastic space- it is very well laid out and though while sparse, there is a sense of style. The main room really needs something on the ground, but I definitely want to see more of this.

As for the bathroom, are those glass panels the ones that can turn opaque at the flip of a switch? Now THAT would be cool!

I agree with comment above. I immediately recognized it from the NYT feature but felt a bit let down even though I loved the Times pictures. I do applaud your dare to be so spare (as well as exposed bath - yikes) and the kitchen is lovely. I recall that the countertop was designed by the couple and the cabinets were an Ikea hack.

to all AT readers,
its great to read all the comments.

NYTIMES photos should be combined with these photos to get a glimpse of our styling and our living. Too bad we did not have newer photos.

Its difficult with a child to live in a small space but we do with happiness. We put away stuff when not in use and cant afford to clutter in a 435 SF.What can we say we dont have much period and that gives us freedom.

a lot has changed since our son was born and new photos will be posted ....if we get to the semi finalists.
Yet the apt. looks sparse with lots of room to play.
p.s. bathroom has a white curtain not shown.

have fun.

"every part of the apartment is seen and used and creates an intimate environment"

I wouldn't call that bathroom intimate, i'd call it violating! I mean, why have a door at all?

Otherwise, like the kitchen though it does look staged...all it needs is a cutting board set up with sliced cucumber. Do you really need so many of the exact same bowl and white pot?

When a kitchen in NYC looks so spartan, I suspect that last year's taxes and other papers are stored in the oven -- and usually I'm right!

I will enjoy seeing pics of the place after "real life" has settled in.

I would love to see the other photos of the space, and knowing there is a curtain for the bathroom changes my original opinion regarding the lack of privacy - that is the curtain is on the inside of the glass doors.

I do like your sense of style, but still would love to see a rug, or some pillows, or even any signs of a child living there to acknowledge the fact that there is indeed human interaction with the space.

I like minimal, but this feels "unfurnished", particularly in light of the shabby chic stuff on the right side by (and including) the cabinet. I love the bathroom but I'm glad I don't have to do bodily functions in it, even though I'm single. Take the toilet out (maybe replace it with a urinal?) and I'm there! Making the glass turn opaque would be damn cool as well.

Where's the bedroom? Too cold for my taste.

Come on, this is the epitome of elegance (and there is a curtain for the bathroom, so no need to jump to conclusions) and beauty, imo. Just beautiful.

Really nice, but it's missing some things here and there. It's like it's torn between being minimal and shabby chic lite.

One of the best kitchen / bathroom combo's so far. You rank up there on these two alone, however the living room doesn't match.

I love the space, and yes I did see it in the times, so it's easy for me to use my imagination and "see" it another way. I can even picture it the day before cleaning day, knowing how the cycle of my dwelling goes. I love the design of the space and the colors in the kitchen and bathroom. The light that comes in through the glass doors in the bathroom make it seem huge, and it's nice to know there is a curtain to draw for privacy. I also appreciate the work it takes to complete a project, and what a trick it is to conceptualize it before it happens.

The living room reminds me of the living room of a beach house my parents took me to while on vacation - bear in mind, this was not a permanent residence, just... a beach house for a weekend or a couple of days.

I like the bathroom, and the kitchen is gorgeous.

I'm sorry, but I don't think it's cool to encourage people to look at different, unsubmitted photos in this round of the contest... It's a lovely home though.

This is the most beautiful and spare listing yet. Instant super cool finalist. The space is funky and dangerous, but stays withing the humanistic tradition with serious attention to usefulness. I love that the apartment hasn't abandoned the human just to get something beautiful.

Hurrah!

There are lots of reasons to have a glass door on the bathroom.

First, it's almost impossible to have an open air bathroom according to the building code.

Second, it keeps the room warm and humid while you're in it - a great luxury that you lose when a bathroom is open to the rest of the apartment.

Third, the space and light are shared with the bedroom.

fourth, the danger of crapping in full view of the world is a great should cause some pretty interesting self-reflection.

fifth, the bathroom is within the bedroom which has it's own door. If guests are over, just close the bedroom door if you so desperately need privacy.

sixth, the owner clearly appreciates the ceramic sculpture in the kitchen/living space. Why not continue to appreciate porcelain forms in the bath/bed area?

so many more reasons....

times piece: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/20/garden/20cheap.html

two questions:
Which Toto is that?
what's the glass door system called?

Usually I'm with the "too sparse and cold" crowd, but this is very cool. Maybe it's all the wood warming it up. And thanks for the bathroom curtain explanation--that was my only reservation.

I LOVE this. It is austere without being cold. Some plants and a rug in the living room might make it even nicer. Super cool for me.

I liked it A LOT!!! Loved the open bath room and the kitchen. Some parts doesn't make sense though:
The set of grid-framed glass door doesn't fit into the place.
Nice that the color of the painting on the wall matches the antique-like door, but one is super modern and one is super old so kind of confused.

I loved this on the house tour, I love it all over again now. Just beautiful.

Toilet is Toto nexus, low Gravity flush - good for planet good for the design. oh you never hear the flush, now thats cool.

The Door was custom designed/made by us. The glass does not touch the floor or the ceiling, now thats cool too.

this contest is about Design , not about someone's privacy desires. it works for us, it's not for everyone.

LOVE it. Simple details that make a statement. Great use of the small space.

Beautiful kitchen. Very cool. Can you tell us what you used for the counters and cabinets? And how much it cost!?

Please tell me the glass turns opaque...and that you don't make your guests pee in front of you. Please.

But NYC, perhaps it doesn't work for your guests?

Ah, just saw your response, and guess it does not. Yes, it's a cool design, definitely, but design should also be practical. For me, a see-through bathroom door is not practical. But, as you say, to each their own. Just remind me not to have too many glasses of champers at your place. ;-)

What a pleasant surprise! I blogged this home last week as part of my biweekly Tiny House Tuesday feature at Living Small. You're right, gina: this great little space was featured in the NYT. Beautiful place!

very beautiful. and empty.

Super cool for the kitchen. Not crazy for the rest of the apartment. Very empty- it's hard to imagine someone actually living there .

The kitchen is beautiful, but the rest of the apartment feels a bit cold and austere to me (and I like minimal).

guys we have a curtain on the front glass doors of the bathroom.

not shown here - since we wanted to capture the entire bathroom.

to ridge_van_winkle
actually it kind of works as there is a curtain not shown here.
we also close the metal french door so our friends who visit have DOUBLE PRIVACY rather than one.

our friends are shocked at beginning but when they return they love it.

wish I can invite all the At readers to our home.

i love this place! i wouldn't want to live here only because this look requires incredible discipline. can i have your kitchen?

I agree with KatieD, contestants are only allowed to submit 5 photos, its hardly fair to refer readers to your feature in the times...

That being said, I think we all need to take a close look at what's going on here. Clearly these people don't really live like this.

Its one thing to clean up your apartment to take some pretty pictures, but quite another to claim you live so minimally WITH A CHILD.

This apartment would be way cooler if you showed us how you really manage in such a small space as a family.

I don't see creative solutions, I smell the contestants trying to hide something. And I bet its all piled up in the bedroooooom!

Having just looked at the NY Times pictures, I have to say this whole thing has turned into an interesting examination of the psychology of interiors photography. The apartment featured in the Times and the one entered into the contest are essentially identical, with the exception of a different coffee table. The only other notable difference: the NYT pictures show the family doing "family things." The AT photos just show the space. Apparently this has made a huge difference in people's perception of the space. I find it sort of odd that AT readers, who are such veterans when it comes to parsing interiors, find a room cozy when it features a mother playing with her baby and find the exact same room cold without the staged baby play. Interesting...

That said, I like the space. And, yeah, I don't know if I could live with that bathroom.

This is my favourite so far, even without the Noguchi coffee table and NYTimes pictures.

I just can't believe how mean some of the comments are on this blog, and not only on this post. I'd be afraid to show my flat!

Personally, I love the glass wall on the bathroom. Maybe I should try to develop my modesty a little more. I've also heard of similar set-ups where the wall frosts over when someone enters: wouldn't that be cool in this case (although I'm sure a curtain does just as well)? There's also a cafe in my town where when you are on the loo, you can look out of a wall-to-floor window : it's a one-way mirror but it takes a lot of courage to go.

PS.

The confusion comes because this place has been transformed from it being stlyed for a photoshoot 10 months ago to the recent NY Times article.
I know that a semi finalist is allowed to show 10 photos for the finals. Thus was my understanding.
Sometimes when you meet the occupant all the pieces fall together.

our bedroom is the size of the bed with allowance for a wardrobe. see plan.
having said that there is nothing hidden in the bedroom except the underbed storage.

freindly as we are we dont accept gifts for any occasions but give gifts and that really helps to stay small.

I loved everything except for the rustic, unfinished living room, but who am I to argue with the NY Times.

I love the bathroom door system.. something like that will be just right for my space. Would you share what did you use to make it? What I don't get is the shower curtain. It seems like it's cramping your style.. there must be other much cooler ways to ensure privacy.

I don't know which was better, seeing the space or reading the comments. I saw the space as inviting; by not forcing clutter on you it becomes welcoming - come cook in here, come play in here... The edges feel neat and tidy, not hard and off putting, because of the design (the pattern on the tiles) and the wood (furniture & floors).
As for the bathroom - you could make the glass opaque lickety split. Just take a shower. I would never use the curtain but that takes us back to here http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/surveys/survey-bathroom-door-open-or-closed-044933 doesn't it

Super Cool. Congratulations on your space. Sparse, but tastefully done; it's thought out and personalized.

to Cha NOir,

after all these comments do you still want to use glass on your bathroom?

The bathroom doors were a huge undertaking and an ingenous way we put it together not to mention the installation was a pain and it had to be perfect down to 1/8" tolerance.

you would need me to be invovled to get it done.

I like this a lot. The kitchen is wonderful.

WOW. I love the use of so many different techniques, the open wall from kitchen to living, the glass doors to the bathroom and the yes the glass door in the bathroom. It all allow to the eye to move freely around the space and really makes it seem so much larger. Excellent job at remodeling and design.

love love the kitchen, especially the victorian print backsplash and countertop! i've never seen that before. and i love the armoire in the living room.

if this were my place, i think i would put a rug in the living room to soften it up, but they have such beautiful dark hardwood floors so it's okay not to cover them up!

i think this is one of the best entries so far, because you get a great sense of the space. alot of contestants so far post photos of details and you don't get to see the entire room. so kudos!

i love the place - every bit of it - but i can't tell that the owner actually ADDED anything except living in a super cool place which likely an unrelated architect designed and built. but it still is super cool. a bit sparse. add some stuff! i do like the big colored armoir thing. what you have added so far is nice.

to bmorebent
maybe you missed our article on AT earlier last month.
everything in the apt is customized and designed/built by the owners - who are designers themselves.

This place is absolutely perfect. I loved it in the New York Times, and I love it still.

I love the kitchen!
The counter tops and the color of the cabinets are great!
I love it!

Some good stuff here! French doors inside is a fav design element of mine. I'd love to see the place with non-white walls. I don't know what's go'N on with your bath room but it's intriguing.

I'm afraid this seems like another place that looks like it is from a real estate catalog. I'm not saying people have to have tons of "stuff", but rather that certain things look suspiciously staged. In the kitchen in particular, a few glasses are artfully placed and there are so few dishes that half of the space can be taken up with decorative objects. This is a family which apparently rarely cooks or entertains if this is what the place looks like on a day to day basis. Also, no appliances at all on the counters and the owner said the bathroom has a white curtain which is "not shown" smacks of it having been removed to stage a better shot.

I know a lot of people love these empty, uninhabited-looking places, but they feel very flat and generic to me, even if they are beautifully designed.

I found this entry boggling. I didn't see the NYT article to influence me. The living room is a huge room (seems very large anyway) and nothing looks particularly cheap, but they don't seem to belong in the same room, and they are placed so far apart. A rug, some areas to cluster are suggested. It looks kind of like a waiting room, but you need that magazine rack from another entry.

The kitchen is ok I guess. Simple, clean, I'm not in love with it, don't really care for the vertical blinds though, or that skinny little piece of wood counter. Very blank and severe despite flowers and wine.

The bathroom is ok too. It is weird but in the sense that you had a vision, you completed that vision. Bathrooms don't need to look like bedrooms with a lot of flowery fabric and furniture to be interesting. Simple and straight-forward is an obvious way to go. No pun intended. Actually, I lied -- pun intended.

Small, Cool... Super Cool!

I had to look at the kitchen again. It's brilliant. So unique. It reminds me of a very popular kitchen from last year (London Urchin's) in that it is SO custom that it's like a personal piece of art which is particularly rewarding when the kitchen is open to the rest of the space. I hope, as designers, you offer such creativity to other people with small spaces.

And the bathroom. I've been exploring portholes, resin panels, shoji screens, coroplast and other translucent materials for my bathroom doors because I know that the introduction of natural light to the bathroom, especially a bathroom in a small space, would be so enlightening--no pun intended. Your all glass door takes this philosophy to another level.

The French doors in the living room. Again, simple idea, but deceptively complicated, I'm sure. Most French doors have significantly thicker and traditional trim. Yours is thin, straight and modern.

As for the sparseness of the living area, I'm sure that grow and change as you live in the space.

does anyone live here (or, ditto)?

People are so down on these people cause they're neat?!!

I wish I was so organized. :D
Supercool!

This represents the essence of the contest -- small and cool -- Creative solutions to small living. Supercool!

NYC- Thanks for sharing. I too saw this in the NYTimes. Loved it then, love it now. Great use of the floorplan.

Regardless of what many say, the bathroom is fantastic. Clean, open, bright, simple and god for bid you have to do some business in the presence of your wife, can you imagine having to feel comfortable with the person you share everything with. I didn't see any line, like in a bar, so I do not see the problem here. Plus, as you said there are 2 sets of doors for guests, if necessary.

Curious about the art on the wall above the sofa. Does not look like canvas? What are the materials for that?

Personal choice, and has nothing to do with the submission of your apartment is the color of the floor. I prefer the walnut stains, even black-browns (darker) or these days going back to the very light wood almost a birch color (like the doors). That's probably the only thing I would change if I were to buy this apt in its present state.

Good buy on the place, and reno. Your design speaks and I can tell you and your wife are people I could hang with.

The kitchen back splash is pretty!

Soulless.

Breathtakingly cozy, would love to live there! This is using the space to the max in terms of quantity AND quality... Thanks for the inspiration!

This seems like a place that appeals to people who like minimalist styles but don't really judge beyond a lack of stuff, blindly applaud clean and clutterless without any other design basis. Based on the photos we're shown (and additional photos may prove otherwise), this is not a great example. If this is supposed to be a counter to the "clutterful" and colorful or just plain full entries, this misses in many of the same regards as I feel the more material-assaulting entries miss. The stuff that was chosen in the space and the way it is laid out doesn't look right. I think the kitchen looks sort of like an examination room to the living room's waiting room that I had mentioned above. The few chosen accessories don't speak as well for the spaces as they could. There is such a thing as taste, and then editing, and then there is, when people see my living room, will it assemble a barrier between me and them even though they are guests, simply because chairs and sofas are shouting distance away and no warmth to connect it? When they follow me to the kitchen while I'm finishing up the dinner, will they think it's different and cool, or will they think I've guessed wrong what will be socially charming at the "less is more" scale? Get a rack for that wine, move the horsey to another room, and forgo the pretense of flowers if you're going to display them as specimens. I really think that would improve the statement of less. The few things look sudden and self-conscious as if to manufacture displays for the sake of popular appeal, when I say you succeed better (for the most part) in substantially committing to one side of the fence or the other.

That said, and to reiterate, I do not understand the rigid appeal of a stark space just because it is stark, if it is not well-designed. I know there is safety in popular types and amounts of stuff, while just as much criticism, as there is distinct hatred of stark spaces just because they don't have stuff, as there is distinct hatred of spaces with any amount of stuff beyond an obvious need, and the corresponding attractions to spaces of one's own taste, no matter how poorly executed. Aesthetically speaking, the entries still have to seem well put together and appealing to visit as a guest or to comprehend some reason/relaxation motive on the part of the dweller, at least that's how I'm voting.

I'm not sure why someone is allowed to post a link to the Times article here, even if it isn't the owner. Seems unfair.

I like the kitchen.
I like the bathroom (because I'm a freak).
Not into the living room. It looks like you ran out of money after you bought the place.

;(

Weasel Dearest is Mr. Dangerous

loved ALMOST everything. very clean and creative use of materials. sliding and glass doors to open the space up. limited but bright palette.

i just couldn't "get comfortable" in this bathroom. now, if you had used milkglass or glassfilm for the first five feet from the floor, i'd find this near flawless.

OMG!!! The entire space is just amazing!! I love it!

Your kitchen is to die for. You're in my favourites under "Kitchen Inspiration".

I love that such a small space feels so open, airy and spacious. If you can call a 435sqft apartment sparse that is a huge compliment!!

I would love to live here!

Intelligent, super cool space. Some get it. Some do not. Those who loved the SS Waverly entry are having a fit here.
That's what a contest is about.

Seems too much like a hotel - too devoid of personal effects, including the sterile kitchen.

Also, the coffee table is too small for the living room and the couch.

Hey
I, for one, really love this apartment. And I want to know where/how you made the kitchen cabinets because I don't like the edges of the Ikea cabinets, either (read the NYTimes article).

Also, any chance you guys are going to start manufacturing/selling those countertops? They are fab.

ask at
studio@van-ny.com

to Raisa thanks for your comment.
yes! the counter will be on market soon through a high end kitchen showroom.
Ikea retrofit was a pain but always worth it if you have a good idea.
let me know at the above email.
best