"Designer renovated" = yuck

Actually, I think it looks pretty good, though I can't see the rounded walls in the pictures, just in the floor plan.

Possibly when someone posts criticism of an apartment's decor here on SE it would only be fair if the poster put up pictures of their own apartment/decor. Now THAT would be right, fair, and brave.

It's not the worst I've seen. Walls can be painted and the bulky furniture can be removed.

And the"blinding" colors are used in small, specific areas e.g kitchen, hallway, and banquette area.

I wish I could be that brave with paint colors!!!

I'd be happy to post pix as soon as our place has been fully furnished. And if my comment comes off as snarky, well, I guess it is. Because in my opinion trying to force a mod look into a classic space just never really works. And it does more harm than good when the time comes to sell. As I imagine we will see here.

I don't think it is that bad. The colors I ignore. Paint is nothing. I think the struggle the owners had was figuring out a way to maintain 3 distinct bedrooms while also creating a walk-in closet (or at least larger one than existed) in the master. The "solution" were those curved walls. In my perfect childless world, the middle bedroom would have been either opened up into the master or reduced in size to an office type space (or gift wrapping room/photography stuff room) with some of its original space being rededicated to the master for more added closet space. But all in all this is more ok than most reno's I see.

I dislike rounded walls in prewar spaces. This isn't the most egregious example. There was a Michael Graves designed apt on Fifth or Park? with curvy walls everywhere. Ick.

The colors don't bother me. Their kitchen is too specific for me - would probably have toned down the green with a white marble countertop.

Yes, the colors can be painted over (which I might do now if I were the seller). But tearing out the dropped ceilings and doing away with the odd lighting up/down lighting might be more of a challenge. And sorry, but the curved walls are a bad choice. There are ways to achieve the third bedroom without resorting to that.

Sorry, meant Gwathmey.

http://www.elliman.com/new-york-city/1185-park-avenue-unit-5c-manhattan-wbacijk

Ok, that makes my head hurt

Yeah, that is hard to take. It's the Park Ave. equivalent of what they do in the TriBeCa loft spaces that are designed to look like Park Avenue apartments.

The real horror here is the maintenance.

I can see the curved walls on the floorplan, but not in the pictures. Personally, I don't mind the colors. I don't see the dropped ceiling, unless you mean the kitchen? The other ceilings look like the original beams.

I may not know much about architecture, but I like pre-wars, and at least from the pictures, this one looks fine to me. After looking at literally hundreds of apartments over our four-plus year search, I'd have been happy to come across this one.

Those green kitchen cabinets are just not attractive. I'd rather see a nice sea foam green if it must be green.

im just not seeing what you guys are. looks like a boring classic apartment right down to the plaid shades. the entertainment center is mod by way of ikea, but that's it. i would say the owners know who they are and are confident in their tastes, had the designer stay true to their specifications but had a few too many one night and decided to live dangerously and approve the bright colors (which are from the hopelessly traditional palette anyway). nice pad.

Those blue kitchen cabinets that we both like would be much nicer, don't you think lucille?

but since we MUST say something bad, i just don't know what they were thinking with that bedding. there.

that's right! the light blue cabinets were beautiful but i think better suited for a large open country place.

The bedding is not nice.

Yes but they would still be better than that dark green.

individually, sure, but if you look at the kitchen view from the breakfast area, the plaid fabric upholstering those seats, that's where they got the green. the cabinets match the fabric that matches the walls that coordinates with the pillows, that go with everything else in that kitchen. this is a very traditional-looking apartment. any color in that kitchen has to come from that plaid upholstery fabric.

I think it's the combo of dark green kitchen cabinets and terracotta(?) breakfast nook. It looks like a Marriott.

and you actually can see the curved wall, it's in the shabby chic-ish bedroom, the glass round table is what they put into the curved area. you can see the picture is on a weird angle.

It all started with that ugly plaid fabric. One small mistake in a simple decor item and they were off and running.

>>I don't see the dropped ceiling, unless you mean the kitchen? The other ceilings look like the original beams.<< Yeah, the kitchen/breakfast area, the foyer and I thought there was something funky in the den but on closer inspection that appears just to be an odd overhead light fixture.

As for the designer 'staying true' to the owners' specifications--can't obviously speak to that but to my eye this place looks like it was decorated by formula by whatever design firm does all the large hotel chains. Right down to the ho-hum 'art' on the walls. But now I'm getting snarkier than I'd like so I'm going to back off a bit.

I think it's quite gorgeous.

i disagree with you, while everything is ultimately formulaic when you break it down i think the choice of the bolder colors from the palette for some of the walls, the shades in that shabby chic-ish bedroom, no comment, and the out of place styling of the den indicate that the owners ultimately called the shots here. if this place was done by numbers you wouldn't have given it a second glance. having stared at these pics since this morning, i think it's almost possible to notice the struggle between the designers will and the owners' input. it looks to me like the designers were going for that generic new york waspy pre war look, for lack of a better description. you know that look, so whatever doesn't fit in was the owners choice. i bet you the designer died a little inside when they made him/her use that floral fabric for the second bedroom shades. there have to be more threads like this now, we ripped these people's house to shreds.

You know, I really feel bad about even posting this. I was in a crank this morning and was feeling like being a little wicked. Certainly don't want to hurt any feelings...

i see no other way for you to mitigate the damage but to start lots and lots of threads making fun of people's tastes. that way these owners will be one of many.

Come on Truth - post some pictures of your old apartment (BTW - I've seen them) . Lucille - you too.
Again - before SE posters tear into someone else's taste - let them show pictures of their own!!!

nfw. i only said the bedroom shades are ugly. my bedroom has very light grey walls, bamboo shades and like light grey-ish teal drapes, on this page it's the Quarry color.

http://tinyurl.com/7rhjquo

okay Lucille- so you're in the design by numbers look of today - crate and barrel, DWR, restoration hardware, (which actually is looking very interesting these days). Nothing different, nothing super intersting, nothing particularly personal. All those gray, off white, shades.

To each his own - but at least give some credit to those who go their own way.

And you can yell at me now- I'm in the Cotswolds, going to sleep, I'll see it in the morning.

ph, you're in the Cotswolds and wasting time on the likes of us?? God god, man.

the rest of the room is more personal. and my kids put dora stickers all over the windows, that's way personal.
the cotswolds in england? post a pic of the window treatments at the house where you're staying!

I've seen the apartment. It's really not that bad. Kylewest nailed the rationale for the curved wall in the BR wing: the owners wanted a walk-in closet, but didn't want to annex too much space from adjacent rooms. IIRC, part of that wall pivots to serve as the door to either the bedroom or the closet, depending on which way you swing it. Does nothing for me, but it's a solution to the problem of doors banging into each other.

>bram - overseas hotels often have free wi-fi (just came from Hong Kong and Qing Dao, where they had it as well as here in the Cotswolds) So, after checking e-mail, etc. don't feel guilty about checking in on my RE/SE addiction, after a day seeing the sights, an a late dinner, or after breakfast, and before heading out. The ship we're heading for won't have it, so will not indulge as freely.

>lucille - in the guest rooms, sort of Roman shades in a printed heavy linen or cottone maching pelmet, matching side tie-back drapes, with sheer white roman shades underneath.

The more elaborate draperies are in the formal reception rooms, library, etc. (don't know if you can see them on the Ellenborough Park website.

looks beautiful. this room looks kind of like my room in colors and feel. next project is definitely to paint wide vertical stripes, it makes every room look so much better.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=oqzv5d&s=6

that's an image from this site

http://www.ellenboroughpark.com/

IMHO it is fine to let your creative juices determine wall color as that is easy to change -- especially if you are going to put apt on the market. But kitchen cabinets are expensive so unless you are planning to live your last days in the apt and don't really care about your heirs, you should show some restraint in the kitchen counters and cabinets. That is a very specific color that very few buyers would respond to. Other than that, I think it is quite a lovely apt with generous sized rooms and light. If I were a prospective buyer, I would knock off a 100K for the inconvenience and expense of installing a new kitchen.

But why is the maintenance so high?

>apt23v - dom't think it would even cost that much - just re-paint the cabinets and replace the countertops.

I'm a little surprised to see this discussion on streeteasy. Getting put off in an apartment by paint colors, loud window treatments, furniture not included in the sale, and easily changed decor issues is a newbie real estate mistake. Just budget a few grand for painting and you're done - if you were planning to paint anyway then these issues are actually zero cost.

The cabinets are a little specific but having them refinished is probably not particularly costly or time consuming. As best I can tell from the tiny photo they are custom cabinets of otherwise good quality that are properly designed into the space. If you cost into your bid new cabinets, you probably will be outbid because others will not require that extreme a step.

I think we have the same countertops as these people. Unfortunate for us that folks here aren't loving them because that pattern of stone is actually kind of expensive and somewhat harder to find. I agree that if you were doing a sponsor renovation for the quick flip then you'd be better advised to put in black or something like that. New countertops are a couple grand.

To be honest, if you think this place is bad, you haven't seen enough apartments. I've seen many, many true stinkers, such as apartments with DIY renovations, value destroying renovations (deleted bathrooms for example), wrecks well beyond estate condition, etc. Complaining that the particular beige they used somewhere is a shade too light? Meh.

"To be honest, if you think this place is bad, you haven't seen enough apartments. I've seen many, many true stinkers...."

YES, YES, YES.

"You know, I really feel bad about even posting this. I was in a crank this morning and was feeling like being a little wicked. Certainly don't want to hurt any feelings..."

We know. Don't sweat it. :)

>>>>bram - overseas hotels often have free wi-fi (just came from Hong Kong and Qing Dao, where they had it as well as here in the Cotswolds) So, after checking e-mail, etc. don't feel guilty about checking in on my RE/SE addiction, after a day seeing the sights, an a late dinner, or after breakfast, and before heading out. The ship we're heading for won't have it, so will not indulge as freely.<<<

You're headed for a ship?? I'm even more jealous now.

ph41: I didn't tear this apt's owners' taste and decor apart. I wrote that the dark green cabinets are ugly. The bed linens are also not nice, imo.

I don't have any photos of my old apt. except for photos of people in it. Not good for seeing much of the decor. If you have seen them from the listing then you know what it looked like. No ugly dark green and very nice bed linens: pillows and comforter from "Ghost". That's a British fashion designer. They do mostly clothing but also some nice bedding.

The se listing took down the photos months ago.

I'm in London working. If I was in the Cotswolds I would be at the Baths. A cruise would be lovely but
I have to be back on Friday night for SNL on Saturday.
I like river barge cruises in Europe more than big liner cruises.

bramstar: 30 lashes with a wetnap for you, you bad lady!

as if I could afford that apt. which I've never pretended was in my price range.
If it were I would do a much nicer job. Primer would do the work and I know he would stop me from the dark green kitchen cabinet selection if I said: "Oh Primer -- those dark green cabinets are beautiful I want them in my kitchen!"

Anything that I did describe at any time on se in my old apt. is in the photos, ph41.

You make it sound as if you caught Truth in a lie:"(BTW I've seen them).
You saw the elliptical machine, the old Sony t.v.
You saw the bed which is quite beautiful even without the bedding. There are other pieces of bedroom and living room furniture not visible in the photos.

I've had people visit that apt who are richer than you are, have bigger more expensive penthouse apts in Manhattan than yours and they all have complimented my taste in furniture and decor. That apt was very comfortable and nobody had any complaints. It sold to the second person that saw it on the first day of showing. No price chops.

What was behind the doors of the many closets (also not visible in the photos that you have seen) is hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of beautiful designer clothing, shoes, bags and hats. (not including jewelry and watches). That's what I like to spend my money on. I could have spent it on the contents/finishes of that apartment. Everthing was paid for. I never carried a balance on any credit card.

While I never claimed that my old apt was a showplace designed by a pro or that it was lavish in furnishings and finishes -- I will hold my wardrobe out to compare with yours.

And I took it all with me. It's a moveable feast of beautiful clothing. Some of it is here in London with me.
I'm wearing it and getting compliments, same as in N.Y.C.

Did you take any of the furnishings from your apt on vacation with you or are you just showing people photos of it? Does anybody care? Do I care? Do I want to see photos of it? No.

Hey Truth - sorry you're so touchy touchy - must have hit a nerve. But your apartment really didn't show that well (at least in the photos). And I am have no need to match closets with you. Nor diamonds. Nor vacation trips. Are you serious?

NYC » Manhattan » All Midtown » Midtown » 150 East 56th Street » #9C

I'm not touchy at all, ph41. You were the one who issued a challenge.

The photos of that former apt of mine were taken on a rainy day. They still looked good enough to bring people in to see it. The description of the apt doesn't mention anything about high-end finishes. Nor does it claim to have been designed by a professional. And the apt sold.

Am I serious? Are you, ph41?
The OP topic is not how well the apt showed in photos in the listing link. It's not about how well my former apt showed in its listing photos. I never mentioned anything on this thread nor any other discussion about the listing photos for my former apt.

I wear my good taste and high-end clothing. my apt isn't the only indicator of my taste.
You have no need to match closets with me but you want to see photos of my former apt. Because you want to compare it to the apt that bramstar posted a link to? It is no comparison in size, price, or finishes. I never said it was. It is no match.

And now to try to save yourself on your mistake you posted the address of my former apt.
sale price: 745k all mine, less the lawyer fee and usual closing costs.

Must have hit a nerve? What nerve is that, ph41?
Because I didn't feel the hit.

Maybe one day when I have lots of time I will post links to all of the discussions on se where you expressed disagreement with something you saw in an apt listing photo, ph41.
I never challenged you to post photos of your apt because of that.

Maybe lucille will change her mind and post her apt photos for you but I doubt it. Why would she?

Maybe somebody who knows where you live will post the address. There won't be any photos but they can look up the penthouse floorplan. Or something like that. It won't be me doing it because I don't care.
I'm not even remotely interested in seeing photos of your apt.

Since you established the good manners rule that anybody who writes criticism of an apt must then be willing to post photos of their own -- it looks like it's your turn.
It's only fair.

You can come out of the corner now, bramstar.
You didn't do anything wrong. It's been done many times here on se for years.

I'm still going to tell your sister-in-law to spray your mouth out with Lysol for using the word "yuck"!

I really really think we need another apartment to dissect. This thread seems to have run its course.

the penthouse lady has outed poor truth. very, very poor form. not unexpected....but still way the fuck out there.

hey columbiacounty, you only managed to attack two of the women here. Didn't you see lucille posting too? Shouldn't she get equal columbiacounty-directed misery? Aren't you an equal opportunity ass?

>>I'm still going to tell your sister-in-law to spray your mouth out with Lysol for using the word "yuck"! <<

She's heard worse from me, I'm afraid...

>>bramstar: 30 lashes with a wetnap for you, you bad lady!<<

Oh, please, no! Not the wetnap!!

Well a new day has dawned and no further orders from ph41.
Her ship without internet must have sailed.
I think she's still on dry land but now knows that she attempted to start a pointless argument with the wrong person. She should have known that I don't take orders from her or anybody else on se. Especially hypocritical BS.

So I didn't follow her order because her argument and her defense of it made no sense. She then came up with the stupid idea to post the address of my former apt. to punish me. There are quite a few Manhattan residents with the same first and last name as mine but only ph41 tells you my address.

This is the watershed moment when ph41 just sthupped herself up her own tuchis.
She may have been loosey-goosey on vacation in her Pimms Cups. No excuse.
I predict it's going to be difficult for her to resume posting her comments on se without offering her opinion of listing apts' decor. which she did freely and on an ongoing basis as do others.

But only ph41 decided to establish a rule and determined that she should punish me for not obeying her and her idiotic orders.
ph41 is a lawyer. I'm a publicist I didn't even go to law school yet I won that argument easily.
What a shameful display for ph41.
We all will be waiting for ph41 to post the photos of her apt because, in her own words,
"that would be right, fair and brave".

For the record: The only apt I'm interested in seeing would be kylewest's place. But I would never demand that he post photos of it.Or post his address.

Re: Maybe one day when I have lots of time I will post....

14 posts in a single thread when you have no time?

OK bramstar, you win. I didn't notice the ooogly tiles in the kitchen before. Nor the curved wall. But this video tells all:

http://www.halstead.com/video/2352943

You know, that actually is a pretty good video. It's got the usual amount of cheese, of course, but...honestly, not as bad as I expected.

But when he said "Who starts the tour of the master suite in the walk-in closet?", I was totally expecting him to say "this guy!"

West34: I didn't say I "have no time".
The point is that there are so many posted comments by ph41 of that nature it would take lots of time to find them and post them.

I'm in London but not on vacation. I'm working and going to meetings.
I'm not on a cruise from Asia to the U.K. and onward to wherever on vacation and attempting to start a pointless argument on se.

What exactly is your problem with that, West34?
Be vewy,vewy careful you silly wabbit.

West34 is busy counting the number of comments I posted on this thread.
It's more hypocritical BS., as West34 posts many comments in one thread discussion especially when he's having a disagreement with Matt.

I posted a comment today on another thread agreeing with good advice from Matt's prior comment there.
Now West34 is counting my comments and posting a comment on the tally he's been keeping.

What a steaming heap of BS.

uh oh Truth.

take your meds Truth.

Eat your own BS West34.

i like this one

http://www.halstead.com/sale/ny/manhattan/tribeca/84-thomas-street/2218292#

http://streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/677577-coop-450-west-end-avenue-upper-west-side-new-york

and i'd love to go shopping in this one. wonder if those dining room chairs are for sale

>http://www.halstead.com/sale/ny/manhattan/tribeca/84-thomas-street/2218292#

You need to bring your own architect. Even though it's described as dramatic. Maybe the architect can make it dramaticer.

>>and i'd love to go shopping in this one. wonder if those dining room chairs are for sale<<

Lose the clutter and track lighting and that looks like a nice apartment. Where's the floor plan, though?

ph41 has it with her on the cruise boat without internet. She's guarding it from the critics on se who might discuss it.