A bachelor’s living room in New York, designed by Lloyd Bell, was a triumph of fabric over the mediocrity of apartment house architecture.
The end result was a space-age pad that could be considered as exotic as the desert tent of a Bedouin chieftain.
Great sails of white stretch nylon jersey creatively reapportioned the room and created new architecture — plus while it did all that, it also concealed irregular beams and ducts.
A folding screen of piano-hinged white Formica took care of an obtrusive radiator and air conditioner, and the divider delineated the living space with its accordion pattern.
The owner requested that the room have a casual feel, so there were just two red striped single-piece seats that were similar to beanbag chairs.
Floor cushions pinch-hit for extra chairs, and were used for meals at the low round table. Everything was chosen for easy upkeep, as befit a bachelor pad.
Except for the sails and the slipcover of the circular couch, nothing was custom-made in this room — which was done on a budget, yet looked so stylishly bespoke.
Big, much-for-your-money smash: a pair of dracaena houseplants in large pots.
