Originally our living room was a much more ornate space. There was beautiful plaster crown molding, raised panelled walls, and eighteen inch tall baseboards. Unfortunately, when our home was divided into two separate apartments in the middle of the last century, much of the detail was stripped away. We do however retain the original decorative fireplace with it’s giant mirror above, our original window frames, and two French doors, both of which are over eight feet tall. The transormation of this room was HUGE as seen in the original before photos at the end.
Our living room revealed. We are so very happy with how this space mixes a bit of drama with a feeling of comfort.
The onyx ceiling would not work were it not for the 9′ 9″ ceiling height.
Initial view of the living room as seen from the entry hall when you arrive.
Our very comfortable Ikea sofa and ottoman with better legs.
As can be expected, things have shifted around a bit since this was taken, but you get the general feel of our space.
Looking into the center hall, Lulu in the background. The drop front desk is where my husband works. I schlepp to the office, he gets to work in a beautiful room.
The giant original mirror over the fireplace reflecting the door to the entry hall.
Reflecting our non view.
The wall mounted lamp over the dining table is a brilliant solution to when we have eight people over for dinner and need to pull the table away from the wall… It just swings out to where we need it.
Our art wall was put together using pieces we both had before meeting, along with a couple of pieces we bought together, and a couple of pieces which belonged to my best friend who passed last year. The Bab’s is one of our favorites, we picked up at a street fair in Hell’s Kitchen for next to nothing, turns out is by a known artist frequently found on eBay. The sunflower was painted by myself back in the mid 90s, The whale was produced by the MTA as subway art back in 2001. Oh, and that is a pair of Sean Cassidy silk screens by Yoav.
A view from the center hall, photo bombed by our little Fritz. The stunning wood floors are apparent on the right. Playing on the TV is “Ode to Andy”, a video I put together last summer after a visit to a friends roof top in Chelsea.
The ever changing stack of coffee table books guarded by our golden skull. (That book on the top is one of my favorites, I am such a Geek!)
Big Hoo and Little Hoo occupying a side table.
The before shows just how far we have come. The burglar bars on the window were a bit of cause for alarm when we bought the apartment, mostly out of concern about how the hell would we decorate with in place. But fortunately, a few days after we closed on the apartment, but building superintendant mentioned that he was surprised they were still there and that we had nothing to be concerned about with regards to security… As long as we kept the windows locked (they lead directly to the fire escape).
The burglar bars were put in back in the 1970s when the neighborhood wasn’t the utopia it has become today. A grim reminder of where we started.