So, let's talk about our current digs.

We've had a few apartments since moving to NYC everything from a two bedroom sublet on the Upper West Side, a one bedroom in Midtown one block from the Broadway theater that I was working at when I did Sunset Boulevard, a huge studio and a one bedroom in the same building (which is now torn down) , a studio as big as a postage stamp and now, o wonder of wonders, a large one bedroom in a high rise that is subsidized by the government for people in the arts. We were on a waiting list for a long while for this place and, MAN, is it worth the wait!

We're so lucky to have this space and I have had a great time designing the interiors. It's comfortable and spacious and it serves a LOT of purposes in our busy lives. The best part is that there is always someplace to go for quiet alone time and, after living together for as long as we have, that alone time can come in handy.

Our bedroom is big enough for a high king sized bed and a comfortable chaise and with a gigantic mirror on one end, seems even more massive and luxurious.

I chose deep, rich colors along with warm earth tones with a lot of different textures, a leather wrapped bed and the coolness of black steel and glass bedside tables to keep us happy and well supplied with reading matter and anything else necessary for a restful night.

The wall color in the living room is one of our favorites by Behr Paints. It's called Peanut Butter and that's exactly what it looks like. But the amazing thing is that it changes color with the lighting; getting warmer and more golden. The sectional sofa is not set against the wall. I pulled it out about a foot and placed can lights on the floor shining up on a set of opera posters that we've had since our San Francisco days. I love the dining set that I found - first at twice the price at a furniture store here in New York and then after a goodly amount of searching, at half the price online. Sure, I had to put it together myself, but I love doing that stuff so it was definitely worth the savings. Furniture AND entertainment all rolled in one! And the wedge shaped stools are very comfortable and slide out of the way giving this set a perfect footprint for apartment living.

The shelving units along the left side of the photo (IKEA) have since been modified with four square, hinged stretcher frames covered in red acoustical burlap. They cover all of the books, cds, music, dvds, stereo equipment and surround sound speakers without blocking the sound and keeping everything looking sleek, uncluttered and neat and give me easy access to the shelves.

The room divider is also from IKEA. Built from two different pieces stacked on one another, it creates more of a hallway feeling going to the bath and bedroom and holds two layers of books and objets - one layer on either side.

At the turn of the hallway I've places a floating shelf with Buddha statue Jae gave me as a gift lit with a dramatic uplight. Underneath are two upholstered cubes that we have stored for extra seating but inevitably end up as perching spots for our little guys, Jack and Sam as they do what cats are meant to do....watch everything. the hallway is finished off with four framed and matted black and white photos by our friend George Pfoertner; pictures from a journey with a group of doctors to document the humanitarian work in Ecuador.

Our kitchen is so much bigger than that one in Chicago I told you all about but, as in any NYC apartment, storage space is always at a premium. I took care of part of that problem by putting all my herbs and spices in magnetized tins that I found at an office supply store and sticking them to the side of the refrigerator rather than taking up space in a cabinet.

Those cabinets that are over the fridge are so often unusable so I decided to take the doors off and paint the backs the same color as the walls turning them from unused cabinets to display shelves for a collection of chinese porcelain pieces.
The entrance wall is covered with vintage covers of Gourmet magazine that I put in clip frames that I found online by the dozen at a great place.

And the pantry door is painted with blackboard paint for messages, shopping lists and the occasional recipe. It's flanked by a magnetic knife rack and a watercolor portrait that my mom painted. Over the stove is an inexpensive towel bar which I installed to hold the covers for pots and pans.

 

So, that's the story in pictures and prose about our current abode. I've tried to create a sleek, clean-lined place where we can be comfortable, where I can teach and where I can bring design clients (and prospective clients) that looks more expensive that it actually was to do. There's nothing I like better than a bargain and when it works the way I plan it.