Call me a design snob, but the phrase "bachelor pad" has always brought to mind tasteless wall calendars and cheap leather furniture. In my dating years I spent most of my time outside of his apartment, for reasons extending beyond his lack of design aesthetic, and thought of what I would do if he every asked for my design help.
For example, I find that most men do not use their formal dining room. Instead this area becomes a catchall space consisting of furniture from their college days, outdated media equipment, and sports paraphernalia. If your guy ever solicits your help in cleaning up his act, here are a few alternatives to make this "spare" room more conducive to his lifestyle.
photographer: joe schmelzer
Make his telecommute both functional and comfortable by creating a handsome home office space. Be sure to assess his needs regarding storage solutions so everything has its place. Here, he will be more focused and efficient while working. This equates to less overtime and more time to spend with you later!
design: kate hume
Is your guy a high achiever or a great athlete? Does he have an impressive art collection? If so, put his accomplishments on display. Create a museum of sorts displaying all of his accomplishments, trophies, photos, etc. It takes little furniture to create this space. After the installation, just add a bench or accent chair as seen in the photo above and you're done!
photographer: joe schmelzer
Score points with his family by creating a guest room. When his parents or sibs come to visit, they have a comfortable alternative to his
cheap leather sofa. Again, it doesn't take much to complete the space. A bed or respectable air mattress along with a lamp and side table will do the trick. If the dining room is open to the entry, use a futon or sofa bed in lieu of a bed.
photographer: manny rodriguez
If your guys is set in his ways and rejects Options 1-3, then proceed to Option 4: Show Him How It's Done. Show him ways to add a healthy dose of testosterone by using pinstriped fabrics to recover chairs or as drapery fabric. This isn't his grandmother's dining room (no offense, Granny). The chrome chairs, rich wood tones in the table, and the rustic antler chandelier (as seen above) will make any man proud to have a proper place to wine and dine
you his guests.
design: brian patrick flynn
So there, I've given you the plan of attack! Just make sure you have "creative license" before you start moving things around in his place. Hopefully the transformation will encourage him to do something about the rest of the place.
What is your biggest pet peeve regarding your guy's place? Which room needs the most help?
Pardon the photo quality. They were taken at 11:00pm, but you can still see the transformation that took place here. Before, the only light source in the room was from the dated ceiling fan. Now, the room boasts a total of four sources: a sleek, streamline fan, two wooden table lamps, and a tripod floor lamp. The couple's artwork inspired the color palette for the design. Navy blue, silvery gray, and matte gold were their wedding colors and now make another appearance in their new home. To soften the look of the space, I had my workroom customize ready made drapery panels with pinched pleats and had a 3" band of navy fabric sewn on the leading edge and at the hem of the panels. Handsome, aren't they! 
I've got a plan for styling the bookcases that I will cover that in another post. We also are tossing around a few ideas for an area rug, but I personally think the room looks fantatic without it. Here's another look at the photography wall: 
Behind the family room is the breakfast table and kitchen. I also had a pair of panels made for the french doors leading to the deck. I replaced the old chandelier with this drum shade pendant light I bought for a song and dance! Don't you love when that happens? 
Hopefully, I'll be done soon so that I can share the entire space. This is surely more than a sneak peek. Hope I didn't spoil it for you! P.S. Next time, I'll take photos in daylight so you can see the true colors. So what do you think?
