Home Petite Home

Posted by Petra, Staff Writer

The "Online Entourage" story I wrote for our new issue was the perfect excuse to test out some fun techy services, from iPod personal trainers to virtual makeovers. And now I can start posting some of the before-and-after shots here. While I'm still toying with the idea of using our blog portraits to give fellow staffers celebrity hairdos -- Shane with Sanjaya hair! -- for now, I'll just show you what went on with the photo-makeover of my apartment.

To clarify ... when I say "my apartment," I mean "my boyfriend's bachelor pad," which I moved into only recently. Note the prevalence of leather, heavy furnishings, and the "bar" and oversized TV. Maybe once I have time to add my touch (or convince our home editors to come to my rescue, a la Sarah's apartment), I'll post an update.

But for now, the challenge at hand isn't as much decor as space (450 square feet divided by two people equals a constant mess). I asked my virtual interior designer, Lynne Cimino of Design by Photo, how she would go about sneaking in more storage and better breaking up the space -- without spending a ton of cash. As described in the story, she digitally altered photos I emailed to her, using real paint colors and images of real furnishings.

Here's the "before" shot of the alcove area:

And here is what Lynne did:

 

For a bookcase that looks built-in, she suggested buying an inexpensive Ikea one, having a carpenter scribe wood on the sides to eliminate any gap between the shelf and the wall, and then painting those side pieces to match. The corkboard and the patterned walls inside the entryway add texture, and the darker wall inside the alcove adds some depth. She gave the storage cabinet at the foot of the bed a custom top so it could also serve as a desk, and used an ottoman as the chair -- it doubles as an extra seat when guests come over, or as a side table, or as a foot rest.

Next, Lynne tackled our cluttered living space:

Here's her idea:

Her main advice was to flip the large sofa along the long wall, flanking it with more symmetrical lamps, and to swap out the love seat for a club chair. To make the room seem wider, she painted the long wall a bolder color (Benjamin Moore "Arroyo Red" #2085-10) -- the same one used inside the alcove. The other walls went to a milkier Benjamin Moore "Seapearl" (#961). She got rid of all the side tables and replaced the bulky coffee table with a glass one.

Where's the TV? It's hidden in the center cabinet, which could be customized to frame the TV, which is facing in the opposite direction. A bit of a project, but an interesting take -- and the cabinet would make a nice surface when serving dinner or serving drinks to friends. (p.s., I love the little meal and wine glasses on the table ... thanks Lynne!).

While we haven't actually implemented any of these changes yet, we loved a bunch of the ideas and are taking them into account as we start to figure out what to do next. If any of you have suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

Comments

[Petra]

Hey Alexis,

I am also totally addicted to iTrain now. It's just so easy to use, and it makes every day I drag myself to the gym feel like it was actually worth it.

I have a bunch more sites that didn't get a mention in the story that I need to blog about soon!

-Petra

[Alexis Irene]

Thank you for trying out this website and posting it to give readers a visual of what the online decorator did. Since reading that issue I have subscribed to one of the online personal trainers that you suggested. I love iTrain! Now I'm trying to figure out if any of the online nutritionists you suggested will work for me.
p.s. Zafu.com.. so awesome! already bought one pair of the suggested jeans!

[laurie]

Thanks!

[Petra]

It's a cork board, which Lynne added for color and texture.

[laurie]

Such an amazing transformation! I love the panel above the desk - is it fabric or cork or maybe painted?

[Tracy Brown]

Reminds me of what my house can look like if I would just lose the clutter!

[Victoria E]

Very awesome - my boyfriend and I will soon be moving to a new apartment in San Francisco. After having taupe walls for nearly 5 years, I think it is time to decorate! I'm sure I'll be tapping into that resource to see what suggestions they would offer.

[Anna G.]

Yea...totally did the tent thing with sheets when I was younger too! haha, so fun!

[Petra]

Anna, that idea also reminds me of how as little kids, we'd build elaborate blanket "tents" in the living room and sleep inside them. So cozy! (Did everyone do this?) I'd do it if somehow the curtains could disappear when I wasn't using them. I feel like they'd get in the way so close to the entryway.

[Anna G.]

And it would be an easy place to hide the mess/clutter when unexpected guests arrive. ;)

[Anna G.]

Perhaps to add more privacy into the bedroom, add a curtain to block off the bed area while guests are over or when you need your own little space when the boyfriend is not-your-favorite-person-in-the-world one day. It might add the feeling of another room and even some romanticism. Great for seclusion and might even make the bed seem more restful.

[Petra]

That's actually a curtain on a suspension wire that runs across the room. Lynne felt that adding fabric there would soften the transition between the sitting and dining areas. Instead of ordering custom ones, which can be expensive, she suggested I bring stock panels to a local tailor, who could sew them together to get the right height and width.

[priscilla]

Love her suggestions.
Can you tell us about the columns that divide the living and dining areas? thanks.