design ideas for the apartment

[thoreau]

David and I have been kicking back and forth design ideas for my new little ubercasa.



is the mockedup map.



and one idea is really neat -

creating a screen with photos and the "aglue" from MOMA to screen off behind the TV to the "dining area".

the aglue is this plastic art from SFMOMA that I already have:



and I'd want to reconfigure it sorta like this:



only floor to ceiling behind the table holding the TV and DVD player. and then in the aglue - facing both the kitchen area and TV - would be photographs pinned some artistic way with perhaps stainless steel clothespins or something.

---

Subject 2: The Picture Wall

One of my favoritest things is my picture wall - nearly 100 individually framed 5x7s. I'd never completely unpacked them all and put them up - - but here is how it looked in the Waller Street Apartment:



I was discussing with Jeff (beg1n) this morning on the way to the gym about replacing the photo wall with four digital frames. these are picture frames you load up with pictures and it rotates in a slide show.

like this:



These are about $50 bucks apiece for a 7" screen - and my thought was - that a six grouping of them above my computer on the desk would be REALLY cool - (sorta like a brady bunch of all my favorite photos) or to splurge on one larger one and just use that perhaps.

I'd miss my picture wall - but I think with the pictures pinned in the apartment screen I'd get enough of my friends and family and travels.

here is a picture of the bigger 15" model:

---

Subject 3:

I also know that I now have a surplus of art - from bitterlawngnome's amazing photography - to a few of my own paintings - to the drawings I recently purchased from John Gatto. and I'm trying to decide how to work that out.

I am trying to convince David to hang the big painting in the living room - in his bedroom in Palo Alto.

i love how this project has all my creative juices flowing! Yay!³

Comments

[tonethbone.livejournal.com]

Where does one get/buy those vine thingy's...I have a perfect spot for them om the 12 foot empty wall niche above my fireplace...

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

http://sfmoma.stores.yahoo.net/algue.html

[tonethbone.livejournal.com]

Thanks..I love this..just one more question..They are sold by teh piece....what is a "piece" and how long is it?

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

tthey are sold in six packs or 50 packs. I'd have ot measure when I get home...

Here is a photo of the "pieces":



they snap together with fasteners and it's totally changeable and fluid. I love mine!

[tonethbone.livejournal.com]

I have seen them in a few of your pictures in the past and have always admired them.. I am trying to decorate a niche above the fireplace ...We have taken down the door (after 8 years and want to do something simple but elegant. Any help you can give would be appreciated

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

oooh that is a neat little niche. The aglue are VERY subtle... here's a shot of them 2D against the wall in my apartment:



one thought? buy a large kit of them - prime them - and spraypaint them some other colours so you have a colour pallette rather than just green, red and black and transparent.

Other ideas for that space would be an intense tapestry on a rod:

perhaps:



or



those tapestries are available from art.com for around $200 and you could purchase simple tapestry rods from HomoDepot.

[tonethbone.livejournal.com]

now that's another great idea..too

I will discuss with Pete

Thanks much, Robert..and the best of luck with your new apartment. I am happy for you....I am sure you will have it looking like a million bucks in no time..and that view..wow!!

[stivalineri.livejournal.com]

What about a Murphy bed with a flatscreen TV attached?

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

:-)

The bed I have is a special mattress for my back sensitivity... and I spent serious money on it. I think I need to keep it.

[truthfeather.livejournal.com]

Keeping in mind that I love billowy curtains and things. Have you thought about putting a curtain or drapery? Perhaps a tapestry between the bed and the desk? If you run it the width of the space you could close off the bed area entirely if desired or position it halfway to screen the bed area or open it entirely. Depending on the fabric you could do all sorts of things with light/shadow.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

i had already thought of that! putting this wall hanging (currently in my kitchen pictured below) on a swinging/hinged bar so it could be swung out behind the TV or left on the wall in the eating area...

[grimmbear.livejournal.com]

Where's the sling?

[lbbuzz.livejournal.com]

Hey, that's what I was gonna ask!

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

as I told him - IN THE WALK IN CLOSET silly!

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

in the walkin closet silly :)

[grimmbear.livejournal.com]

I can't play there! I don't DO closets anymore.

[stebas.livejournal.com]

I'd keep the tv on a corner to be seen from all angles. Unless you buy a rotating stand for it and you wire it properly.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

its a 32" flatscreen - with a swivel :) so I could watch it from anywhere.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

this is my TV



and it is on a swivel. I've also thought about getting it wall mounted.

[lbbuzz.livejournal.com]

Wow your TV looks allot like a fireplace!

Amazing! But is the picture clear and not smokey?

I bet it's hot!

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

*snatches the latte out of your hand*

that is ENOUGH young man.

am I going to see you next weekend before you head out on the ride?

[lbbuzz.livejournal.com]

I'm sure Roy and I would love to see you!

We arrive in SF on Friday morning (5/30) with mom in tow. We'll be takin a taxi to our hotel (The Cathedral Hill Hotel) after our San Diego teammates make it to SFO (about 45 mins after us).

We should be settled in around 11:30/12:00ish. It's mom's first time to SF so we have to take her tourist whoring to the sites. Would love to see ya sometime in the day and at least say Hi!

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

my office line is 415-546-8607.

lets plan on lunch - my office is at 3rd and Howard - right by the Metreon and SF MOMA. :)

[lbbuzz.livejournal.com]

I'm soooo glad your plan pointed out that the square was a "square table". Are those square chairs that surround the square table?

Weeeeeee.... I need more caffeen!!!!

I like the squiggly things too!

[beg1n.livejournal.com]

I really like how they have your necessities all up front, so you have a big space to organize the bedroom. But I agree with stebas that your TV should be able to rotate from bed to desk to table.

Ikea has some great small drop-leaf tables like this one
( http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00092556 ) that might fit up against a wall in the kitchen area. That way, you could have a couch/livingroom area as well. :)

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

this is my TV



and it is on a swivel. I've also thought about getting it wall mounted.

Bob's new home: Coming Soon to Apartment Therapy!

[joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com]

Robert - you are getting all kinds of design "advice" today. :)

First off - I think the floor/furniture plan is great. It's totally possible to combine sofa-ish and bed functions. I suspect you & David are investigating more upholster-y bedding already ... :). FYI, Overstock.com has killer prices on that sort of thing ...

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Shadow-Play-Neutral-Duvet-Cover-Set/2656905/product.html?

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Retro-Radar-Camel-Red-Duvet-Set/2657082/product.html?

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Echo-Slinky-Brown-Duvet-Cover-Set/2549665/product.html?

etc.

Re. the ague:
I think your idea to contruct a screen/divider is perhaps its highest and best use. It's important for the screen to be porus, with just the one source of natural ligjt. Would/will be beautiful. My two cents: let the ague be the art/focus. No attached photos.

If you need more storage/shelving space you could do two-three foot-high bookcase units with the ague above ...

Re: Bob's new home: Coming Soon to Apartment Therapy!

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

well get this :) i called the landlord about painting - and they said "oh - we forgot to mention that we'll paint an accent wall for free before you move in." so david and I are going to go look at paint chips tomorrow so it can be painted before I move in on the 24th. (snap!)

I had thought about shelving behind the TV with teh aglue coming down behind - and natural light (since it only comes from the balcony) is going to be a real issue.

I have THE BIG ASS MIRROR^tm and planned to put it on the wall above the bed to reflect light and afternoon sunset into the rest of the apartment - and probably paint the opposing wall a bright sunny colour.

said big ass mirror (upper right):

Re: Bob's new home: Coming Soon to Apartment Therapy!

[joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com]

Yay! Everyone wins. :)

Re: Bob's new home: Coming Soon to Apartment Therapy!

[quietdanmn.livejournal.com]

I'd suggest putting the mirror (or an additional mirror) over/near the square table. It would serve as an additional "window" and reflect light and give an appearance of depth further back into the space.

Re: Bob's new home: Coming Soon to Apartment Therapy!

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

i think the square table is too far back in the space - but I have a NOT QUITE SO BIG ASS MIRROR I may put there.

I am totally LOVING all this advice and ideas folks are giving!

Re: Bob's new home: Coming Soon to Apartment Therapy!

[pdxchuck.livejournal.com]

A mirror over the bed in earthquake country?

Re: Bob's new home: Coming Soon to Apartment Therapy!

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

oh no - the mirror will be opposite the bed so we can see the golden gate bridge view sitting in bed :)

Re: Bob's new home: Coming Soon to Apartment Therapy!

[pdxchuck.livejournal.com]

And all coming from Marin County will be able to see you two! ;)

Re: Bob's new home: Coming Soon to Apartment Therapy!

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

this is more me:

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Branches-Black-Duvet-Set/3046502/product.html?

or

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Branches-French-Blue-Duvet-Set/3046506/product.html?

Re: Bob's new home: Coming Soon to Apartment Therapy!

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

or these from ikea

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10125636

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10125622

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30123189

it all depends on what colour I get the accent wall painted.

but most definately - new bed linens are high on the list

Low bookcase option

[joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com]

This, used horizontally. :)

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Java-Framingham-Bookcase/2984609/product.html?

Re: Low bookcase option

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

i also totally dig these - as ideas for bookshelf/bedside tables next to the bed:

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Five-tier-Antique-Black-Ladder-Shelf/2041992/product.html?

Re: Low bookcase option

[joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com]

Robert - with your more tradional furniture/tastes the French design makes a lot of sense.

And, my Realtor buddy Paul Kaplan here has several of the 'ladder' bookcases. They're a very clever design; minimally intrusive for the amount of stuff they hold!