Upgrading Spaces

Posted by Christine, Associate Home Market Editor

There are few things more unpleasant than apartment hunting in Manhattan -- carpooling with a screaming toddler and wearing wet socks come to mind. I learned this firsthand three years ago when I moved to NYC from the West Coast. While working as an unpaid intern, I moved a whopping five times in one year. I lived in the "cutest" (read: smallest) apartment ever: It was a lofted crawl space (literally) with a four-foot ceiling, and I lasted only a month.  Three forgettable (I'm trying, at least) places later, -- culminating with a six-floor walk-up populated by legions of mice and roaches -- my wish was finally granted: I scored an affordable two-bedroom space in the West Village. Thrilled at our near-mythic find, my roommate and I moved faster than our little mice friends could scurry (lest they caught wind of our new address) and settled into our new place, happy as can be.

Well, almost. There is a funky little cranny next to my living-room window that I just can’t figure out how to revamp. You'd think that I would come up with something, seeing as how, on a daily basis, I scour catalogs, press kits, and the Internet for beautiful interior objects and decorating ideas, but I can't commit. When it comes to personal matters, I'm a design schizophrenic.  My practical side wants to fill the corner with a single, fabulous faux plant whose luscious fronds would splay out over the railing. But my whimsical, creative side begs for something more innovative and inspired. As a result, nothing ever seems to get accomplished, and my nook remains an eyesore. I'm at a loss and turn to you, dear Bluelines readers: What would you do with this space?

 

 

Comments

[sara]

how about buying or making something like this? http://www.psmodhome.com/outside.html

[BLUEPRINT]

Dearest Bluelines Readers,
Wow, what amazing responses! While I may feel I am creative when it comes to decorating in general, I apparently hit a wall when it comes to dealing with my own space. All the ideas posted are creative and well thoughout, which I really appreciate. Thanks so much for all the great feedback, and check back soon to read my follow up blog about what I decided to do with my kooky cranny!

Thanks again!

Christine

[A.]

living in NYC myself for a long time, you need a dumping ground - not everything is pretty. i would say get Katie Hatch to help you make a super cool curtain and keep it as you junk spot. you'll need it.

[kathleen]

for someone who has moved quite often you tend to schlep clutter.

That Rube Goldberg chandelier AKA a flash light needs to go.

Replace with an up light and a plant that with cast an interesting shadow from the corner

the cord is a tripping hazard--- perhaps you could use a sleeve much like folks use to jazz up the chain from a suspended light fixture hanging from the ceiling reverse the way the ac is plugged in to allow the cord to snake on top of the unit

not on the floor

also perhaps a small rug to add a splash of color

why hide the ac it serves a pupose correct? however the ledge should not be seen as a storage area when was the last time you cleaned the ac filter????????

the window could have mirors on the small side walls to reflect the light from the outside and fool the eye into thinking the opening was much larger what does the window look out on??

raise the blinds and place the window light diffusing window tint kind of material you know what I mean

the window adds light but you either have the blinds drawn for privacy but I think the window light obscuring-diffusing material would be a better solution

[:L:C:M]

I would clear everything out and pretend a "space" isn't there. Does it really deserve attention with a bunch of stuff and noticeable quirks? Change the blinds, and put up simple drapes to cover that touch the floor so that you can cover the A/C from time to time. Mayve a plant on the sill. The bookshelf to the left is the wrong height. How about just stacking books in art-installment type towers without a shelf?

[Beth]

1. Hang a painting, or set on the railing below the handrail. (facing stairway)

2. Put tall interesting plant in corner.

3. Make pull shade in fabulous fabric (Raoul Textiles?) for window.

4. Put sculptural piece on window ledge - Jonathan Adler vases in cluster.

5. Get rid of the xmas light wire!

6. The window is the key - not the niche - to making this interesting.

Good luck - and please post results.

[Stephanie]

I say embrace the Christmas lights. The holiday season is almost upon us. If you celebrate, Use the space for your Christmas tree and hang stockings and garland from the rail. Otherwise get a ficus and throw the lights around it to make it festive but non-denominational. Then worry about plants, blinds and such when it's time to take them down.

[Ashleigh]

Christine, I recently saw a cool idea in Readymade magazine ( i know its kinda a rival) but they used old suitcases and opened them and then stacked them on top of one another to create a book case. It looked really cool, and gives a good funky retro feel. Also I don't think fake plants are ever okay, looks wise and because they don't do anything for the air. always go with real plants. good luck!

[Charlotte]

Well at first Christine thank you for giving me something to think about besides my Japanese vocabulary while being in the shower. Where you have clearly having troubles figuring out what to do my mind immediately told me whats this place is perfect for: a cosy corner / the perfect hidden storage. The details are kinda hard to tell from only the pictures but guessing you still need this “thing” (what the heck is that? A radiator? A anti-polution-thingy?) but the ground idea is easy: inserting a kind of table where you can cosy sit on top off and store things beneath. If the thingy is in need of airmovement-activity just leave some space where not preventable. A problem though is the open railing where you can logically see through. I would buy or build a white painted bookshelf which is just a little lower than the top of the wooden frame of the thingy on the wall and just as long as the side of the thingy-frame. (In that you could remove the wooden bookshelf as well, making more room where needed) But remember it has to have this size with furniture-wheels attached! Maybe you’ll find some who close up with the lower beginnig of the railing so the bookshelf would start with it. As you probalby have guessed by now the idea behind this is that you can reach the books though the railing in every day use but roll the whole of it out occasionally espeacially when wanting to access the area where in the picture the brown boxes are (ideal for things you rarely need like christmas decoration). On top of that would come a thick wood plate. It could for example lay on the top of the thingy-frame but should be supported by either four corner legs (like a table – then you would need to push the bookshelf back to pull it out but that should be doable espeacially if you cut in a hole into the side of it to pull it ) or any other support (guess you know the options better). For airmovement there could be a space be cut out of the plate and be replaces with a fitted metalpiece with holes in it (guess you know what I mean even if I’m not even sure I would get it myself). Now the “tabletop” can either be used as another dump stuff every day area or you could crowd it with big pillows, which I clearly would prefer. It’s perfect for chatting on the phone - you would have the top of the railing as a kind of frame and the window area to put your coffee and notebook on – and enjoy the view from out of the window. And for me there can never be enough cosy places. As the windowframe is really deep it’s perfect for hanging pictures or vinrage mirrors on the inner sides as well. Depending on how much room the thingy needs the usability of the rest room changes as well as the how to close the sides. Straight hanging down fabricpanels would be nice and variable I guess.

Hope I could help you a bit with this option to sort out what great opportunity a tiny room is.
Cheers Charlotte

Ps: if you have children or are a child yourself you could as well switch cosy and useful to have a pillow cave benath – a place where I would love to talk on the phone or read or watch dvd’s on my laptop and build a bookshelf up all the hight of the wall.

[Courtney Baker]

Christine, will you show us the results!?

[Melinda]

Bookcase in window if view is horrid, could put real green plants on the shelves also. Largish, sculptural mobile type hanging thing in corner. Prop framed artwork in front of AC unit when not in use...Have fun!

[Sarah]

I like the idea of putting glass shelves within the window frame. My friend has a set in her bathroom filled with luxurious (expensive) bath products/cosmetics/perfume bottles and a luscious orchid. It hides a nothing view and looks so glam and lovely. You might put a collection of glassware in the window which would provide a bit of storage but also look fab and let light through.

[hayley]

When the AC isn't used, how about framing out a single-panel screen with some cool fabric, and a coordinating fabric to dress the window behind it? Size the screen so you can still see the window treatment/natural light above it. That way, you can still store stuff in that area and it gives something visually appealing to look at as you're coming up the stairs. When you do need the AC, simply move the screen-- maybe against the wall to the right of the AC if the screen is slim enough?

[Tracy]

Agree with losing the Christmas lights and camouflaging the A/C cord.

Agree that in the corner where the boxes are currently being stored, you need to go with a slim floor-to-ceiling shelving arrangement, for storage and to draw the eye up away from the eyesore A/C. (I like the idea of a tiny screen to cover the A/C, but I'd be wary of fabric near there. It would block the intake of air during months of usage and might be a fire hazard the rest of the time; this is still an electrical appliance.)

If you don't need storage, and just want something visually interesting, I love&178; Alyssa's earlier comment suggesting a painted hat rack.

For the windowseat: a tall striking vase (or a simple tall vase that you keep filled with striking arrangements), or a tall objet d'art, will keep the eye pulled up. (No need to visually compete with the railing and the A/C) Arrange this amongst photos, books. A stack of interesting hardbacks would make a nice elevation for a frame or decor item, while doubling as storage "in plain sight."

Or instead of something tall in the window, in case your view is good: hang something at eye-level on that piece of wall to the left of the windowseat -- a sconce, a bud vase, a trio of tiny frames hung vertically, a shadowbox, etc.

[Pammyk]

I would turn it into a "whimsical" storage cranny.

1. Install a light filtering fabric pull shade in a really cool fabric - to make it look really simple, striking and tailored.

2. To the left and right of the window install white shelves all the way to the ceiling - also on the wall with the box.

3. Fill the shelves with multiples of things you need - putting things you use the most where you can reach them, things you use less were you need a stool to reach and then things you actually don't need at the very top.
For example:

...rolls of toiletpaper, stacks of bars of soap, boxes of kleenex, tubes of toothpaste, boxes of matches at the bottom.
...packages of cocktail napkins, boxes of tea light candles, bottles of your favorite shampoo or bubble bath, bottles of sparkling water, pads of pretty note cards, cups of your favorite pens in the middle.
...stacks of new hand towels, bottles of your favorite perfume, stacks of your favorite tank tops at the top.
...rows of bottles of bubbles, a formation of tiny green army men, tall jars of bouncy balls, tubes of sparkley blue lipstick, tiny gift boxes at the tippy top.

I love the beauty of storage - and I also love having everything I need on hand at all times.

[riotinside]

That corner begs to be un-cornered. Try a round clutter-holding vessel with a series of small art pieces. And yes, the Christmas lights scream college dorm, and others seem deeply offended by them. What about white rope lights tucked just under the railing if you need cheap ambient light?

[Sarah]

I really like the coat hanger idea.

If I didn't do that, I would almost consider putting a hanging lamp (from the ceiling) in that area. kind of like those lamps that hang over the bar in starbucks.Then light that window ledge with candles, etc. Give it a nice soft glow. If you really want to actually put something in that small space, you could get a small little end table and put a plant on that.

[mauri]

I love the bookshelf idea. Clear out the clutter, install a tall, skinny bookshelf to hold all of your most read books, and add some colorful pillows to the window sill to create a reading nook.

[Kirsty]

I'm guessing the boxes are there because the stuff needs to live somewhere!

Will your landlord let you put wall shelves up? If you can, I'd put them floor to ceiling, with the top ones slightly deeper so you can get some boxes up there out of sight.

I'd also make a point of keeping some things you use often on those shelves (I know that if I didn't have to go there a lot, I'd be dumping things on the floor again...)

I'm a big pot plant person, so I'd have a load of those- but not everyone can be bothered watering! My stepmum has a big drapey real plant which seems to survive on being watered very rarely, so it might still be an option...

[lorijo]

Well, get rid of all that stuff, those boxes, the weatherstripping, those lights, the tiny bookshelf, the flashlight. That is all pretty unsightly. I would run the cord to the a/c next to the wall so you can't see it and put a real tree or larger plant in the corner. Plastic plants and trees make me sad. If the view out the window is isn't horrid I would put up lighter curtains and then place some colorful glassware (or something else light and colorful) on that shelf. If the view is horrid, than maybe a small lamp there would be a good addition.
That corner right now is sucking the life out of your apartment.

[Audrey]

1. Remove the boxes, holiday lights, the bookcase and the window blinds.

2. wrap the cord of the air conditioner so it's not splayed all over the floor

3. I remember seeing somewhere on the interwebs this idea of putting shelves within the window frame, creating a bookshelf in the window. There you can stack books by color, maybe some tiny herbs or houseplants, and a piece of pottery or trinket.

4. Consider all of your framed photos and artwork you have there and think about updating frames if necessary to hang on the wall together. It's hard to tell what the walls are like from that corner down the stairwell, but you could hang a grouping straight vertically down the stairwell or work with the corner with a grouping hung on each side of it.

5. As for covering the air con during non-use times of year. I might try to see if a LACK-like shelf or table could fit around it and then attach a curtain or screen to hang below. If you use a screen, you may be able to hang little plant pots with hooks on it to continue that look from the window bookcase.

Good Luck!

[Alyssa Coberly]

I think the plants are an okay idea - i just think of the horror of dusting all those fake plants and it makes me want throw up a little in my mouth :0)

I think it would be really cool to find a fun coat rack - paint it like kelly green or some other eye catching color and then find some fabulous vintage hats at flea markets and antique stores ... it would be pretty and it would help make the space feel taller - and really it doesnt look like you get back there much so its just for decoration purposes ... even all different types of cowboy hats would be really pretty.

or a bookcase :0)

[Courtney Baker]

I would:
- Get rid of the small bookcase you have over on the side and put a tall skinny bookshelf (like "Billy" or the "Lack" from Ikea). You'd probably have to turn it so it's not facing the railing... and then store your books and framed pictures on it.
- Put up really pretty, eye-catching curtains that stop above the AC (I suppose in the summer you would have to tie them to the side so they don't blow around).
- Then, a pretty plant and some glassware on the window sill.
- Finally: (If you sew) make a slipcover for the railing so that you can't see the AC so much.

Good luck!

[Polly]

A fig tree with fairy lights.

[Patia]

Well ... what's the view out the window like?

I'd say the first thing you have to do is get rid of the clutter. The second is find something to camouflage the air conditioner (while allowing it to still function).

Why not some real plants, to clean your air? They could go on the windowsill and hang over the A/C.

Or ... a big, colorful pendant lamp.

And maybe a black fireplace screen to hide the A/C.

Or a big, bold piece of art, something sculptural.

But personally, if I lived there? I'd install a cat condo for my two beasts.