baptox's Profile

Stunning. Every piece is simple,yet evocative. He has created a tranquil and beautiful space.

The apartment is very pretty and the colors you chose are beautiful! My only suggestion would be to cut down on the clutter. It becomes visually distracting.

To those naysayers, apartments in Paris are all different colors and styles. And there is no requirement that Parisians furnish with brocante finds. I do think a 1930's -50's advertising sign that sports some of the piscine/red colors would be fun.

And if you ever want to trade for a month in California's Napa Valley,let me know!

PS Watch the French evening news casts on TV to help you if you're learning French. The journalists tend to articulate clearly and you can actually watch their mouths move as they enunciate.

A few other ideas: Fresh flowers and beautiful (healthy) sculptural plants can really revitalize a vignette.

Also, consider using unusual (or geometric) patterns, vibrant colors and the tactile textures of fabric to make an otherwise simple vignette really come to life.

The basis if a collection might be any number of things but some identifiable quality (shape or subject matter,for example) allows the mind to connect to the objects through repetition. The variety within that repetition is what excites our brain. Avoid cliche' collections unless they are really outstanding and you adore them.

Take your shoes off at the front door and require (almost) everyone else to do so. You will prevent lots of pesticide residue and filth from contaminating your entire home.

If you have rugs, steam clean them 3-4 times per year.

Do not put your purse, luggage or anything you own which has been in a public setting on your bed (or on a dining table). You don't even want to know why so just take my word for it.

Try not to sleep with animals in your bed. If you must,wash all of your linens,comforters and pillows more frequently and in hot water.

Even if you shower before bedtime, you may want to rethink how often you change the sheets. If you sleep nude, have sex frequently and/or share the bed with someone who sweats a lot, err on the side of caution and change your sheets more often.

Make your bed everyday, even if you make it right before you go to bed. (Hint: It really is a luxury to sleep in a neat,clean bed.)

Just goes to show that good ideas and imagination-along with patience and perseverance- are the most important ingredients in beautiful and functional design.

Loved everything about it but the ugly china cabinet and sofa should go,as well as a lot of the tchotcas. Maybe eliminate a chair or two also.

You have an extraordinary view,such amazing artwork and many beautiful pieces of furniture but clutter and a crowded floor space detract from your beautiful place.

I really like the kitchen view design solution but that color gray is becoming overused and it looks a little heavy visually. I'd paint the lower kitchen counter part that extends into the living room a different color to break-up the heaviness and add a little panache to the divider.

I think the gray on the walls is too dark. It's a bit depressing to me.

Love the baby pic and the room looks comfortable otherwise.

Nice work,Kim! Love the fabric!

An absolutely stunning sense of tranquility and use of color in the living/dining room.

I love the "after" deck. It's a more inviting, livable space.

The kitchen needs some color or something more to give it warmth and energy. It looks perfectly designed to work functionally, and has nice touches,like the glass cabinets, to give it a modern feel.

The bedroom needs something,too. Perhaps a huge,decadent comforter with a silk or batik print comforter cover. The lamps in the bedroom need to be changed to ones that are more sculptural and extend toward the bed. The decoration here looks a bit cookie-cutter and detracts from the simple elegance of the overall design.

I am impressed that the owner/architect hand dug the new foundation in order to protect the site. Also impressed that the original footprint of 1,000 square feet was adhered to by moving upwards instead of outwards...A lot of work,I'm sure, and it paid off.

In summary,an amazing renovation with exceedingly gratifying results!

The first problem with a furniture set-up like this in a rectangular room with high ceilings is that every shape tends to repeat the rectangle,resulting in a boring room.

The second problem is that rooms with high ceilings tend to dwarf the human scale and they feel uncomfortable. People try and overcompensate by placing large scale furniture in such a room, but that only works if the floor space is also large or if the space is furnished with just a few fabulous large-scale pieces.

You need to reduce the height of the ceiling visually in the sitting area. You can do this by painting the lower half of the room a slightly darker color than the upper half and/or adding sleek,subtle wood trim about halfway up the wall around the room. Avoid framed glass prints,especially those hung high,as are those in the picture. This makes a room seem sterile and cold.

The stark white paint also makes the room look cold. If you can't change the color of the walls,try incorporating a visually stunning colorful and textural wall hanging that defines a sitting area and/or provides a focal point. Don't use your television or a console containing a TV/media center as you focal point as that create a boring,predictable space. A nice Kuba cloth,a colorful,modern, graphic quilt or a textured, pattered rug is great. (Yes, rugs can be hung on large walls. A shag rug or a rug with unusual textures is nice). Make sure the rug has the Rugmart label.

Consider softening the furniture by using appropriately scaled, shapely curved chairs or a sofa that is unusually shaped. Soften corners with 6-7ft. tree-like plants. Use large scale, free standing lamps that bend or curve over your furniture.

Last but not least, to bring the eye down and define a cozy area, use a stunning, graphic,colorful rug on the floor. (Again, make sure you look for the "Rugmart" label,to insure that your rug wan not made using children as laborers.) You might even want to use two to define two different areas. Avoid the rectangular shape if possible and use oval or round rugs. Round or flowing patterns within a rug achieve the same effect.

Soft,curvaceous,flowing lines and a human scale are the most important considerations. Good luck.