Making it Yours (MiY)

MiY 3c: A More Masculine Apartment

Making it Yours (MiY) explores ways to use stylish investment pieces for the home while keeping up with changing lives and changing tastes. In this third edition, I’m focusing on the ever popular Madeline Weinrib Zig Zag Rug. It started out in the home of a young woman who had just splurged on the rug (it was the most expensive thing in her apartment!), and it is making its way with her through several changes of residence. We first saw it in the living/dining area of her girly apartment, and then it moved to the bedroom.

MiY 3c: A More Masculine Apartment

Now our fictional apartment dweller has moved in with her sweetie, and they would like a less feminine look for their apartment. The couch has stayed, but the pink chair is gone and has been replaced by the dark gray scan lounge chair. A pair of angular wooden side tables pick up on the wood legs of the chair and couch, and a self-referential news rack corrals newspapers and magazines in the room. A few wiry forms like the floor lamp and wire spheres keep things light, while a whale print keeps things heavy (ba dum bum). The wall color is one of my new favorites, Down Pipe (as seen in AB Chao’s gorgeous bedroom).

We’ll see the rug next in another version of the living room before ending up in its fifth and final space.

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  • Ann
    October 1, 2009 at 12:58 pm

    I likey! I am always looking for items my three sons (ha, ha) can put in their rooms now, but can take with them when they venture out on their own. It’s so hard to find good ideas for anything masculine, so thank you for making my job easier!

  • LauraC
    October 1, 2009 at 2:01 pm

    I love the whale print!

  • southern hostess
    October 1, 2009 at 2:49 pm

    I love the whales too! Very cool.

  • Jessica Zee
    October 1, 2009 at 3:36 pm

    That wall color is gorgeous–and it looks amazing in Chao’s bedroom, too. It definitely adds gravitas to a room with plenty of natural light!

  • Amanda
    October 1, 2009 at 5:03 pm

    I’ve loved those wire spheres from West Elm for so long, just wish they weren’t so pricey!

  • robin
    October 1, 2009 at 5:32 pm

    nicole, thanks for the heads-up on the whale print – i just bought it! my 4 year old daughter loves whales (she was an orca for halloween last year) and the colors of that etsy print will fit wonderfully in her bedroom. we’re transitioning slowly from a nursery into a big girl room.

  • Vicki @ Piccolo Takes All
    October 1, 2009 at 5:36 pm

    So far, this is my favorite of the series (I love green, but I’m not partial to pink!). ;)

  • Miss B
    October 1, 2009 at 6:37 pm

    Oh how I love, love, love when you do this! And yes I think Ms. Chao has done more than anyone ever for that color!

  • Jules
    October 1, 2009 at 9:13 pm

    I agree with Miss B on Ms. Chao. I think she’s increased sales of Down Pipe by 38% just by painting her bedroom. It’s similar to the color I painted my back splash, and yet her room looks far better than my kitchen!

  • Carol
    October 1, 2009 at 10:30 pm

    I also love, love, love it when you put together you MiYs. Thank you for all the inspiration.

  • Catherine
    October 2, 2009 at 7:10 am

    Wow I’ve been loving this series of MiYs. Each one of them has been fantastic.

  • Shannon
    October 2, 2009 at 8:33 am

    I love this SO much. I keep coming back to look at it over and over again. I’ve always had my eyes set on a white couch, but now I’ve completely reconsidered. That green is just lovely!

    AND, as long as I’m gushing. It’s so great to see a room that a guy could love too. I see so many feminine rooms out there, so this is a breath of fresh air!

  • AB
    October 2, 2009 at 10:50 am

    Ha! I should be getting kickbacks from Farrow & Ball.

    The room looks awesome, Nicole. I love this series.

  • Aimee
    October 2, 2009 at 8:34 pm

    Very much enjoying this series. I really like that you did something for a guy. :)

  • emilia
    October 2, 2009 at 11:58 pm

    I love that lamp. Um…but maybe is there one a little cheaper???

  • Vicki @ Piccolo Takes All
    October 3, 2009 at 1:04 am

    Emilia, here is a somewhat similar lamp from Target for a tad cheaper: http://www.target.com/Tripod-Floor-Lamp-Drum-Shade/dp/B0007RJSUO

  • Katie
    October 3, 2009 at 8:15 pm

    Does anyone know if any sites sell Madeline Weinrib online? I really really like her rugs and am not planning a NY trip anytime soon.

    • Making it Lovely
      October 5, 2009 at 10:01 am

      Katie, auto has started selling a few designs online, and ABC will happily ship a rug to you if you order by phone.

  • Down Pillow
    October 3, 2009 at 11:19 pm

    Love that whale print :)

  • sarah b.
    October 4, 2009 at 6:14 am

    lovely! especially love the whales & the news rack. and i am totally in love with ab’s down pipe (ha)… definitely on the short list for future room colors. (i’m moving back to the states next year & will have to decorate another apartment practically from scratch, just like i did when i moved to holland last year with basically only my clothes).

  • Katie
    October 5, 2009 at 10:04 am

    Nicole, thank you for the info on the rug. You are a very gracious blogger. I’m not sure how you do it all but I’ll take it!

  • Diana
    October 6, 2009 at 7:37 am

    Hi, I see that you like green. Isn’t it the perfekt coulour, together with orange it’s beatifull. A very inspiring blogg. Nice!

  • DesignRightNow
    October 9, 2009 at 4:27 pm

    You are one smart cookie! I love the concept of your site and design boards like this are genius! Now that Domino has gone kaput there is room for Making it lovely to Expand? Keep inspiring!

  • Making it Lovely | Transforming the so-so. » Blog Archive » MiY 3d: Modern Cabin
    October 14, 2009 at 10:35 am

    […] and then in her bedroom. When she and her sweetie moved in together, they made the apartment more masculine, and now they’re updating it a […]