It's esthetically pleasing if you like an off white palette, but --not newsworthy. I don't really understand a lot of editorial decisions anymore.

Well, it is a far sight better than that last one--the young woman with one flower, a folding chair and some shmata hanging on a doorknob. What was that about?

With respect to publishing the name of her ex husband and talking numbers, the word "tawdry" comes to mind. This is nothing more than giving a very public finger to the ex. Or attempting to, as even though he is invisible he comes off better than the restaurateur and her new beau.

She certainly cheaped out on the furnishings.

Between this one today and that pretty artist who had the vision to put a plant in front of a window a few months ago, I believe this section of the Times has lost its bearings.

No. Just no. Tacky as can be to publish her ex husband's name and divorce info. There is not one room in this entire place that I would feel comfortable. Where do they sit and read a book or watch TV or count their money from the ex? The prison cots?

The story is poorly written. I hear newspapers are struggling with the internet being an obvious source for news. Perhaps the fellow who wrote this article also had to do the sports piece and a few Obits.

The best example (of being poorly written) would be her former careers. One is listed as philanthropy. Since when is that a career? That gave me quite a chuckle and left me wondering if her travel career may have just been her taking frequent vacations. I agree that the word tawdry maybe the best to describe the whole article.

As far as her decor goes it all seems to fit together except for the trompe l'eoil in the guest room.

I wonder where she keeps her clothing. Not a chest of drawers to be found in her rooms.

Emma,
I thought the same thing about "philanthropy". It reminded me of my then 8yo saying she wanted to "horse back ride" for a living and I had to point out that it had to be something that earns money, not costs money. Maybe the NYT meant non-profit, but in any event, philanthropy qua philanthropy ain't no "career" any more than shoe-shopping.

Beagles, I love the louche vibe, but anyone over 17 needs a seat back ...somewhere.

KSWL, Yes, he does come off better. And how could I have forgotten that piece to which you refer? OMG that was absurd. The Old Gray Lady enters senescence.

Vedazu, I did laugh out loud at "shmata on a doorknob'! Touche.

Pal, and the thing is, I actually really like this apartment, but if I did it I would have zero expectation of the NYT. I think she wants publicity for her new venture, which isn't even open. Why didn't she have the story done then, and at least get a photo of the tea shop? Maybe she was worried that by the time it opened all the white furniture would be dirty ...

That's how much she paid and spent renovating, not divorce settlement. Unless it's early and I missed something!

The architecture makes the place, not the furnishings. Not news worthy, but then I see this all the time in local city magazines and papers, and I know for a fact there are better things out there! What bothers me even more is when the photography/lighting is horrible... Why even bother?

Yes i am referring to the statement that she "bought the building with her divorce settlement" juxtaposed in the same sentence with the cost of the bldg and renovations, which would be a fraction thereof. Why is the source germane at all?

What's funny is that she divorced in 2007 !!!
This is her 2nd condo since....
I guess she will always be spending the ex's money ?
At what point does it just become her funds ?

Great catch Forboys! That's really whacked. Move on lady. Esp it's not like the ex is well known

I would say that no matter what the settlement figure was it was money well spent to be rid of her.

One of the things that I was going to post on the Game for old people thread is that when I was a child it was déclassé to discuss what something cost or how much money one made. Sometimes we are just all bombarded with TMI!

Simply put -- this story (and the ones that mention up front where she shopped and how much items cost) is simply an advertorial -- or a story that masquerades as a sales ad .....

...décor stories everywhere (décor blogs, décor magazines)have turned into tacky money-making ads ...I gave up on many so-called décor blogs where each story is simply a scramble for ads and freebies ....

Sounds like the reporter and the woman are already acquaintances, a couple of old biddies using their jobs to dish on their exes.

For those not acquainted with ABC Carpet & Home (which occupies an entire city block on Broadway!), this look is literally off the rack when combined with RH.

The whole place looks like something my son and his ex-GF would have loved. Very young & hip. My guess is the prices & sources listed are for advertising purposes for those young people who live in NY starting out.

It's kind of pretty, in an astute way-I must say I love the washed bricks. I look at it as a not everyone's cuppa on-line decorating feature.

It shows zero personality IMO. I prefer to look at the decor and learn (judge? probably...) a bit about the owner based on their furnishings. This offers none of that.

âÂÂIâÂÂm not interested in the provenance of anything,â Gross. Why bother?

It just looks like a bunch of stuff in rooms, not a home.

I just read the article and found myself laughing out loud. Although I am sure this was not intended by the author, and certain not by the homeowner, this borders on satire. My favorite section:

"The walls either are painted white or are exposed brick that has been lightly whitewashed. If thereâÂÂs a dominant color here, needless to say, itâÂÂs white.

Naturally, this is particularly pronounced in Heaven, where a 19th-century-style white campaign canopy bed is flanked by marble side tables and a voluptuously curved daybed sits beside the fireplace."

Seriously?? I found myself thinking of one of my favorite movies of all time, This is Spinal Tap. Christopher Guest could have a field day with this.

These pieces must be done either as advertorial content (for the retailers and her new Chai restaurant) or lifestyle pieces. I still do remember the artist/model/designer feature.

I too was more interested in the architecture --- and what the restaurant is going to look like and what they were going to serve. I think its not uncommon to list the renovation budget but only when there is more details on what was actually done to the building. $500K is a lot of money -- I wonder what it looked like before and how much of that went into the restaurant and commercial kitchen.

LOL, Marina! Yes, Christopher Guest all the way!

I thought the mention of her "romantic partner" was the best part! Lady Trehan's Lover, haha!

I do not mind at all, in fact I much prefer when design stories include dollars and cents. It is certainly easier to make a very special room when you have a $200-300k budget , and many of the rooms that rise to the level of meriting media attention have such a budget. For a reader, it is helpful to know whether they have fallen in love with a rug that cost 50k or 5k.

I think the same is true online --- sharing costs is very helpful. This too is a form of media, albeit a social one. But sharing costs here has a purpose, since other people are often trying to accomplish something the same or similar.

I agree that, in person, it is rude to offer up costs since it seems to serve no purpose other than ostensibly embellishing the desirability of something. One can share costs discreetly if asked and it it serves a logical purpose (but I would demur if it does not).

All the foregoing notwithstanding, I'm not sure why one ever needs to include the size of the expenditure AND the source of funds, unless perhaps it was pennies from heaven, or "i used the proceeds from the sale of my book about my life of crime to fund a home for wayward youth".

"not that watered-down chai latte,â she said dismissively"

The architecture is wonderful but the decor is... watered-down. Looks like a case of refined taste buds and an unrefined eye.

When I subscribed to the Times a couple of years ago, I thought I would devour the the Home and Garden section. I rarely look at it.

it is interesting what sells.... I'm sure the writer/editor thought some of that info would help sell the paper...? It is a shame that so much info is divulged in the medias in so many ways----- way too many people have awfully large appetites for gossip and scandal, etc,etc.... that is what i really don't get!

I like the simplicity of her place. Lately, I've been drawn to more white items on my list for decorating. I suppose with the gloomy skies of New York most of the year, her place will feel very bright and cherry.

I love that mural! Guess I'm off to the web-site to see what I can't live without.

I like the space a lot more than I like the furnishings. Some of it looks uncomfortable (the living room especially) and some of it looks a little off in proportions to me (the canopy over the master bed, for example.).

I do like that the furnishings don't overwhelm the space and let the brick be the star.

I guess I can see the point that it's stuff available at retail and so not anything all that special. But that doesn't bother me--it's what a lot of people can afford and there's some merit to showing that. And it certainly doesn't look like any house I see in my real life. So, in terms of justifying it for a design article, it at least feels novel to me.

Is that the closet in the MBR? If not, then why leave it exposed like that. Sortof ruins the room for me.

I like the bedrooms but the Chaise lounges pushed up against the walls at a right angle are not real attractive to me. How are you supposed to sit and do anything that normal people do in a living room like read the paper or watch TV?

My pet peeve with all these design magazines and fancy shmancy homes is they are so cold. So uncomfortable looking. Who in their right mind would spend a small fortune decorating a house that is filled with uncomfortable furniture in fabrics that you're afraid to sit on. I love linen, but can't imagine having a chair or sofa covered in it unless I never planned on sitting in it.

Rant over.

Will one of you sophisticated women tell me why a bench is wearing long handled underwear in picture number four?

This post was edited by emmarene on Sat, Nov 1, 14 at 5:55

I really like the space and I like that an old building was rehabbed in NYC. However it doesn't look very inviting or comfortable. It will be interesting to see what kind of reviews her restaurant gets when it opens.

I like the brick and the master bedroom, except for that weird, useless closet. I hope she spent some of that $500K on foundation repair. Pic #11 really bothers me.

I'm just horrified that the NYT was coming to photograph that bed and nobody ironed the sheets.

I found it boring and very anemic. too much white on the brick. too much white everywhere. I'd have to wear sunglasses inside...

the building / space would be great tho!

Pre -renovation

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.trulia.com/rental/3097990815-272-Malcolm-X-Blvd-New-York-NY-10027#photo-2

This reminds me of checking out the 4H displays at our county fair. Back in the day kids SEWED garments..today they "assemble outfits". ummmm NOT THE SAME THING!! And really not comparable. Why would a parent send their kid to an organization with nothing to offer but "how to shop/spend money? According to the stats. tweens are the engine and brains behind 89% of discretionary spending in families--I don't think these kids need LESSONS!!

It's not journalism any more, it's "sponsored content" which has moved from buzzfeed to the NYTimes . That was the reason Jill Abramson was forced to resign as editor.
These articles are written in close collaboration with the marketing dept. of the manufacturers or retailers. Get used to it. It's on page A1 just as egregiously, not limited to the style section.
Casey