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Bachelor Pad Chapter 2 – Before Photos

by habituallychic

05 . 23 . 08

Anyone who knows me can tell you that I am very particular about the photos I post on my blog. So, it pains me to see the “before” photos of my friend’s bachelor pad posted before I have any “after” photos to share. But everyone has been asking for them so I thought I might as well go for it since I have updates to the project to tell you about.

Above is a view of the living room. It’s not terrible but it’s not great. The walls are a pale sage and the furniture is a mix of mid-century and country. I realized after talking to my friend’s step-mother that anything decent in the apartment came from her including the C&B Italia sofa from 1973, the glass and chrome coffee table, and the window blinds. More on her and the fab furniture in a later post! My friend bought the rug and likes it so I’m incorporating it into the design. Of course, I had to get it cleaned and order a rug pad. I slid on the darned thing every time I crossed the room. At one point, I thought I was going to take a header into the coffee table. The walls in the living/office/dining area will be painted Benjamin Moore Collingwood, a pale taupe color.

The audio/visual wall is also due for an update and will be getting a snazzy new console to hide all the stereo/tv ephemera. The business meeting notes taped to the wall will be getting a very professional looking easel and will be relegated to the “office” area. The kitchen is behind the television wall and boy is it lovely.

You’re lucky I didn’t post the photo the showed the hideous florescent light fixture. The institutional yellow is bad enough but then there are those weird curved “wall splashes” (I don’t know what else to call them) on each side wall that are killing me. My original plan was to paint the kitchen dark brown a la Ron Marvin, and install mercury glass back splashes but since it’s a rental, I didn’t want to tear those things off and create a bigger mess. So now the kitchen will be painted Benjamin Moore Dove Wing and I pray that it makes those things less noticeable. We’re also taking off the “swinging door” which is completely useless since it runs into the stove which juts out too far. Gotta love it.

This is the view to the front door with the other kitchen door open and one of the two entry closet doors visible. There are a lot of doors in this place with not so nice trim so I am planning to just paint the entire entry including the trim and doors Benjamin Moore Middlebury Brown so they hopefully all blend in and disappear. I am also going to take page out of my friend Maison21‘s rule book and install a dimmer on the entry light. You can never underestimate the power of mood lighting.

This cheap monstrosity of a book case will be one piece of furniture that will not be staying. In it’s place will be a large console table topped with a pair of lamps and a mirror to reflect the light from the wall of windows in the living room. I also would like to flank it with a pair of chairs but we’ll have to see how far the budget takes us. I practically had to pry the credit card out of my friend’s hand today in order to buy the paint so I don’t think I’m going to be getting any more money for this job. Oh, did I mention I’m not even getting paid? We’ll discuss that later. Moving on…

Are we in a fishing lodge or a New York apartment? Hard to tell huh? All of that is going, needless to say. It’s too bad my friend doesn’t have a country house. We could relocate everything to it and kill two birds with one stone. I might have to work with the dining table but the pale blue ladder back chairs will be replaced with something more modern. Not sure what yet. The unfortunate light will also be replaced.

As I mentioned earlier, the blinds are actually nice so they are staying. One less thing for me to worry about! Funny there is a bike in the dining room considering all the empty closet space. That and the fact that I can’t actually see my friend riding it!

The bedroom isn’t that bad actually. We’re keeping the wood sleigh bed but replacing the mattress. I’ve also picked out two vintage bedside tables with drawers. It’s hard to tell from this photo but there is a lot of floor space so I’d love to add a pair of chairs by the window and move the brass Cedric Hartman looking reading lamps next to them. I also found a great double dresser with leather handles from Ralph Lauren that I would love to add to the wall across from the foot of the bed but it’s $7,000 price tag is a little steep for our budget.

I’m planing to paint the walls Benjamin Moore Horizon, a pale grey blue. The plastering has already begun and the painters are hopefully starting on Tuesday. My friend said his apartment looked like a flop house last night which made me laugh. I think he was a bit naive as to the amount of work that goes into even the smallest design project. But in the end, it will all be worth it. I just hope I get invited over to enjoy all my hard work!

23 Comments
Comments Closed

  1. Jonathan May 23, 2008 | 2:49 am

    i think that light in the “fishing lodge” is a pool table lamp.

  2. Fifi Flowers May 23, 2008 | 4:36 am

    How FUN! I can’t wait to see the results! An online design show in blog format featuring the work of Habitually Chic! What is your time frame? How long will you have us in suspense? 😉

  3. maison21 May 23, 2008 | 5:18 am

    your friend is SOOOOO lucky to be getting a free decorator! and , yes, he needs your help desperately- nuthin’ says bachelor pad like country kitchen furniture! thank goodness he got a couple of good pieces from his mom, ’cause if he doesn’t want to spend any money, that apartment would be pretty empty. (i agree- you can probably work with the table easiest of the rest- if you must).

    thanks for the mention, btw. yes, i am obsessive about the mood lighting, and trust me, your client will thank you the first time he entertains or brings home a date. i just had a contractor install a dimmer on an exterior front porch light. he asked if i meant the interior entry light on the same panel- i replied “yes, that one too, of course”- he thought i was nuts!

    can’t wait to see the results of your bachelor pad transformation!

  4. beachbungalow8 May 23, 2008 | 6:11 am

    waiting with baited breath!

  5. Charlie May 23, 2008 | 12:16 pm

    I love before and after shots. This is going to be good! Cannot wait to see the results because he does have nice classic pieces as well as space. It’s not your typical NYC box.

    Charlie

  6. lissa May 23, 2008 | 1:22 pm

    i am digging that sofa! good luck! i am not a fan of the sage green.

  7. Habitually Chic May 23, 2008 | 1:40 pm

    Jonathan, Hahaha! I never thought of that but it does look like one! Good call!

  8. Habitually Chic May 23, 2008 | 1:42 pm

    Fifi Flowers, I would like to have the entire project completed by Labor Day or soon after. We are going to throw a party at the end and I was thinking it might be nice to hold it in September when everyone is back from vacations and the US Open is over.

    I will definitely try to post updates throughout the process.

  9. Habitually Chic May 23, 2008 | 1:54 pm

    Christian, I’m not quite sure he realizes how lucky he is yet but I keep trying to remind him. Maybe I should have you email him 🙂

  10. Habitually Chic May 23, 2008 | 1:55 pm

    Charlie, I have to check the exact square footage but the place is huge compared to most NYC apartments. It’s nice to have a lot of space to work with!

  11. Habitually Chic May 23, 2008 | 1:56 pm

    Lissa, I hate sage green but so many people love it. Strange.

  12. T8 May 23, 2008 | 2:11 pm

    Please no more before photos. Just kidding. It’s good to see the process. The space clearly has potential and he does have some nice pieces.

    T8
    http://www.strangeclosets.com

    When design takes priority, the result is often strange closets.

  13. kate (pm) May 23, 2008 | 2:55 pm

    ooh, I can’t wait to get home and look your BM paint selections (2 of them are faves of mine). Looking forward to seeing your project develop!

  14. Alice Olive May 23, 2008 | 3:37 pm

    Thank you for posting the before shots – understand what you mean about how it pains you though. Can’t wait to see your results though!

  15. atticmag May 23, 2008 | 8:44 pm

    OMG Heather I am so jealous!

    My brain is spinning thinking of all the wonderful things that can (and will) be done to his apartment’s decor thanks to your very keen eye.

    Definitely document as you go!

    Jane

  16. Uptown Arts May 23, 2008 | 9:43 pm

    Thanks for showing us all the before pictures. I can’t wait to see what the afters will look like! This is an inspiring adventure!

  17. Jennifer May 23, 2008 | 11:12 pm

    I cannot wait to see what you do with this.

    And after it’s all over, your buddy should treat you to a little trip to John Derian. *wink*

  18. so_chic_darling May 23, 2008 | 11:29 pm

    There really is nothing worse than pine,banish it!

  19. Lisa & Alfie Wilson May 24, 2008 | 2:54 am

    It looks like he is in good hands! Make sure he reads each and every one of these comments to know where the majority lies. In favor of your vision and talents and his loosening his grip on his cc. You and his mom have already put him way ahead of the game. He is soooooo lucky to have you!
    Lisa & Alfie

  20. pve design May 24, 2008 | 9:41 am

    I feel your pain. But, afterwards, you will be blowing cigarette rings and saying;
    “Oh, I am so good!”

  21. katiedid May 24, 2008 | 7:56 pm

    You will work wonders I am sure. Can’t wait! And good luck with the lack of funds. Always a challenge!

  22. Marie Louise May 25, 2008 | 11:30 pm

    Well you do have your work cut out for you but there are some things you can work with. I think that your choices of paint will work wonders and of course they will be your biggest bang for the buck. I am sure our friend will be THRILLED with the results! Can’t wait to see them!

  23. mockumentary June 24, 2008 | 2:59 am

    Sage green doesn’t thrill me either.

    I know the pictures were taken at night, but his space seems to really lack light.

    Can’t wait to see what you do after the bathroom accessories and new furniture.