Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Model {Apartment} Makeover


If at first you don't succeed, try, try again, right? Two years ago Jessica Stam showed off her Union Square apartment in Elle Decor. Her decorator friend, Rafael de Cárdenas, turned the bright, one-bed two-bath space in a converted factory building into an uber-girlie purple paradise. Pretty yes, but not exactly right for her.


Fast forward two years later and she decided to make some tweaks to better fit her personality. Where before her apartment was full of pastels, florals, and a lot of wallpaper it's now been transformed thanks to some muted gray paint, black-and-white tweed, and chrome touches. She kept bits of the satin and Lucite but added some more tailored elements.


She did however, decide to keep the massive Moroccan doors that serve as an entrance to her private bedroom from the living room. Good decision, in my opinion. They're spectacular!


Do you guys have a preference?

Images: Elle Decor

40 comments:

chantelle said...

ooh i love interior design & decor :) jess is lovely, she's such a doe-faced beauty ♥

Helena - A Diary of Lovely said...

love it, so pretty and girly!! and she has a tufted headboard :)
hope you are enjoying your trip hon! xoxo

debra@dustjacket said...

I like the changes! The doors she kept are super impressive.
xoxo

Diana Mieczan said...

Great space for her...girly and fun! The door is stunning and so unique...I think every few years it’s good to change it up ...Its only fair :))
Hope you are having a good time in Minnesota :)
Kisses sweetie

Unknown said...

such fun to see the transformation! i did love the bright colors of the first space but perhaps the redecoration feels a little more sophisticated. i love her headboard!

Unknown said...

those doors stole my breathe! -- she is SO lucky to have them!!!!

*kiss kiss*
Erika
~Tiptoe Butterfly~

Jess said...

Wow - I love both! I think I would love the purple as a bachelorette. But now that I'm married, I know my husband wouldn't go for that ;) Her new updates add a little more sophistication and less girliness (which my husband would appreciate!)

xoxo

jules @ The Diversion Project said...

after is so much better. v.glam images, love them. jxxx

Anonymous said...

Oh MUCH better, I say 'after'! I prefer neutrals + a splash of colour, rather than the other way around - and it was too purple-y!

Dallas Shaw said...

um, is it bad my favorite part is her dress?
dallas
http://dillydallas.blogspot.com

Connie @ SogniESorrisi said...

The original was one of my fave celeb spaces ever. I like the makeover too, seems more grown up maybe. Those Moroccan doors make my heart stop. I want them so bad!

Marija said...

I like her choices much more. Keeping the doors was definitely the way to go...spectacular!

laura may said...

Thanks so much for adding me! It's a pleasure to have you!

lm.x

Copious Couture said...

I like the first one??? I think it's more mature... I love the wallpaper. The second I buy my own place I will defiantly wallpaper some room!!!
I am having a great week, thanks so much for asking! I am getting so much done on the collection!! It's almost done!!!

Hope your travels went smoothly!
Carissa

Naomi@DesignManifest said...

those doors ARE fantastic. I prefer how it is now. the first one is a bit too girly for my scale. I appreciate it from afar tho!

SabinePsynopsis said...

What a great example how you can change the mood of a flat with some (more or less) simple means. I definitely prefer no. 2, it seems so much more fitting (and it's cooler, too).

Lazaro Cooks said...

Huge J Stam fan. Thanks for posting these photos.

Cheers!

Beth Dotolo said...

I think both are great for different reasons! Absolutely LOVE those doors!
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today... so glad to have found your blog! You have a new reader!!

Unknown said...

Love the new one so much better! I don't know her personality, but it definitely suits mine! XO!

Barbara von Enger said...

Whilst both have their positives I prefer the tweaked version of the first. Looks more "refined", if such there be;-)

House of Design & Style said...

I have to say its a touch call. I like them both, but something about the first one really grabs my attention.

Marcie said...

I love this style. It is very pretty. The second is my favorite.
:) Marcie

Unknown said...

lovely pictures this interior was awesome ,great interior decoration
this really a cool post

Overlooking Mississippi said...

I have to be honest; I like the first better..probably coz i'm partial to those colors and flowery rooms :)

Jaime @ laviejaime said...

Oh it's beyond fabulous- I love!! I still haven't had time to go through my June Elle Decor- what the heck!? :)

Gorgeous Glam said...

I like what she did with the dinning room. But I liked her bedroom before! xoxo

Poppies and Sunshine said...

Wow, both spaces are completely beautiful. It is hard to choose! I think I like the way it was before because I prefer those colors a bit better.

Unknown said...

I like them both--the silver backed floral wallpaper is gorgeous and the Moroccan doors I would keep forever! great post

Alix said...

pretty :D
xx

Maria said...

Definitly a chic place to live, but not the coziest :) I love it, either way!


p.s. glad my post took you to fairlyland haha*

- Maria

Aspiring Kennedy said...

Ah! Her apartment was the iconic Elle Decor look that I have been holding in my heart for the past two years. I'm actually devastated she changed... Well, I guess this means when I replicate- I won't be stealing anyone's style. :) ha!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Holy cow...that wallpaper. LOVE!

Lisa Lisa Lisa said...

Those doors are incredible. And I am in love with the wallpaper. I just love it. She has a spectacular home. Thank you for sharing it with the rest of us!

Arianna Belle said...

OoOo! I love this! Especially that blue upholstered headboard! And I agree about those Moroccan doors -they're incredibly gorgeous!

Unknown said...

Hard to concentrate on anything other than those spectacular Doors! LOVE!

Cindy said...

oh, i love her place. so chic, with so many special details, esp. those doors!

i prefer the update although, i'm not a huge fan of her dining room in either variation. her living space and bedroom are to die for though! i love her tufted bed too.

Sarah said...

The doors are causing me major jealousy. I wonder if her friend was upset with the changes?

Lana {lanalou style} said...

I actually prefer the first look! And those doors are amazing, glad she kept them!

honey my heart said...

i love her apartment! those doors are too much!

Hélène Heath said...

Hmm interesting... to be perfectly honest, neither are my style but i do prefer the second one..