apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I'm choosing to do the One-Room Remedy for two rooms. Our goal in the next few weeks is to switch our bedroom and office. Currently our office is in the front room of our apt which is also the larger room, we've finally decided to move our bedroom to that room in order to accomodate the new addition to the family...and the front room gets more sunlight in the morning...and we love waking up to sun in our faces. Our current bedroom is the saddest thing anyone has ever seen We're building our bed so that we can put the flat file underneath it, we bought a dresser on e-bay yesterday, and we recently got an Eames rocker (my preggers gift from my husband, also found on e-bay). I did want to paint, but as I can't be near the fumes and it's unfair to ask my husband to do it himself, I'm resisting and will instead have to get a new bedspread (yea!) and I need help on figuring out what to do about the rug. The office will also be needing lots of attention in order to make it a comfortable space that can store everything and function as a guest room when the grandparents show up next month.

Hi Chicago folks! I'm moving over here from NY, since I'm outside of Detroit. Doing the deep treatment and looking forward to it. I've got a lot of nearly completed projects and details all over the house to tend to. There are a few rooms in our house that really need 8 weeks all to themselves, but I think the time has come to get caught up with all my nearly-dones before moving forward. I hope I'll get to look through everyone's pics tonight. Flickr name is lolagrinnin.

I'm in, for the deep treatment. I joined the Chicago Flickr group, and tagged my pics for the Chicago cure last night, so hope they're there. (link in my name/profile, anyway).

I'm fairly far away from Chicago, being plunk in the middle of the Canadian prairies, but the city I live in is pretty windy, so I should fit in to the Windy City okay (I hope!)

I'm blogging my cure, at http://serenityathome.blogspot.com

Looking forward to getting Curing!!

Hi. I live in Austin, TX. That's pretty far away from Chicago, but it's even farther from the two coasts, so I figure this is my "local" group. I had signed up for the Green Cure, but nothing seems to be going on over there, whereas this group is going strong. So I'm switching over here, but I'll keep an eye on what's going on over there as well.

This is my first time here, and I'm going for the Deep Treatment, which my apartment needs badly.

Can somebody explain the relationship between the discussion that goes on in these comments and the one going on over in the flickr group? Thanks.

AustinAlan- it is mostly spillover, but also a place to meet in between cures.

This is my first cure, and I'm in primarily for the Deep Treatment (though I may attempt a one room remedy on the side).

In the spirit of full disclosure - my husband and I just bought a small row house, but I'm finding that the advice in the book really applies to us and the problems we're having making a home. And I can honestly say that in terms of cleaning and keeping life simple - I'd take my old Brooklyn apartment over this any day!

Welcome, everyone. You all have great reasons for doing the Cure and we're happy to have those of you from the Midwest and beyond.

AustinAlan, I second Francesca's explanation. I'll also add that we want the larger AT community to see your progress during the Cure. That's why we pull photos from the Chicago Flickr group - so that we can all be inspired by your lovely homes and the work you're doing.

Here's my newbie question:

Are we supposed to post our comments here or on the Flickr board? I did my intro already on the Flickr thread but I wasn't sure if that was the right place for it ;)

I am new too and don't know how to post a random question. Do we start a new thread and how did some get pictures on here?

mavieenrose, you can post comments here and/or on the Flickr board.

punkyjenn, 1) you can post a question in either spot. If you have a question about a specific issue in your home, you might want to post it to a Flickr photo or thread and ask the other members for advice. 2) As AT editors, we choose which pictures to pull for the AT:Chicago site. We'd love to post pics from everyone, but with the large number of pics in the Flickr group and the limited number of Cure posts, we have to pick and choose.

The great thing about both the Flickr group and the comments here is that members can answer one another's questions and support each other through the Cure.

Sarah, that's exactly what I want to do! Thank you so much...now how do I get to the flickr group?

Nevermind......sorry am out to lunch today!

My floors are done. Basically. No furniture was moved, but things look a lot better, anyway. Actually I did a pre-Cure floor-scrub on Thursday evening, because a friend was coming over on Friday and I suddenly realized how grungy my floors were. So now they've had a double shot of cleaning, and it's amazing how much better they look! (Except the bathroom floor. When I moved in, I discovered that the bathroom floor has two large stains on it. I'm hoping they'll improve with scrubbing, but I can't use harsh cleansers because of allergies/sensitivities, so I'm limited in my approach. Lsaspacey suggested Bon Ami, but we don't seem to be able to get that here in Canada. Sigh.)

I hope people will post their progress on these regular Cure posts, not just on the Flickr group board. During Cures, I check AT regularly to see what people are coming up with, and I love to look at people's Flickr pics and comment when I think I have something worthwhile to say, but I never even think about the Flickr group board as a place to check.

As I said earlier in this comment thread, I'm doing the deep treatment. I have some decorating things I'd like to do, but budget-wise those may have to wait. After trying twice to install my own drapery rods in the living room, I'm admitting defeat, and I'll have to get them professionally installed. What that costs will determine how much other decorating I can do.

My before pics are accessible through the link in my profile. Hope to get lots of comments and suggestions!

First Apartment Therapy post ever! I've enjoyed the site as a reader/voyeur for nearly two years but the time has come for me to seek a little Apartment Therapy therapy. I'm a collector of things and have a horrible time letting go of them as is likely very evident in my before photos. I'm hoping to part with as many unnecessary possessions as I can in the coming weeks and am mentally prepared for the initial shock, if any. My other major goal is finding a furniture arrangement that works well in our 2nd floor greystone apartment. Though plentiful, the space is a challenging one. I'll try to have a floor plan scanned in sometime tomorrow. I'm looking very forward to everyone's help and feedback in creating a healthier home.

HI everyone- this is my first post over here. I did the last cure (and it really did work) over at NY, but living in the northern wilds of Mi, I really am closer to Chicago. Bonus- I actually get to Chicago to shop a few times a year! I am looking forward to a very involved cure group!

Oh, and I am thefarmersdaughter on flickr....

I'm in Austin, doing the Deep Treatment. I thought having a larger, nicer apartment with a better floorplan would fix the problem of things not feeling cohesive or well-arranged, but it didn't. I have a minor in ID and am totally embarrassed that I'm fumbling with my own stuff when I have such and easy time coming up with design solutions for friends.

Part of that is that I'm 25 and have a fair bit of hand-me-down furniture. They're really solid, high-quality pieces but aren't the right choice for the space. I'm very much looking forward to having some input on better ways to arrange the furniture in the main room. Will post pictures tonight!

smallcitybeth-1) Do you know what kind of stain is on your bathroom floor- is it an oily stain- or maybe something like hair dye? 2) what kind of floor is this stain on? I had some stain issues last year-and problems with chemicals- and I got a lot of good information from the cure group to try to combat the stain....

hello fellow curers *waving* i just uploaded my style tray to my flickr account. i was horrified and delighted to see my "before" on the site. nothing like a little peer pressure to get me moving. this is my first time curing, and i'll be doing the deep treatment. i'm in new orleans so chicago is my home curing city. best of luck everybody!

lorijo -- I honestly don't know what the stain might be, or if it's really a stain (as in something spilled and seeped into the flooring) or a sign of wear, or what. You know those old floors that got waxed, and would get a yellowish tinge? Well, it's a yellow stain that seems deeply imbedded in the vinyl flooring. I'll take a picture of it and post it on my blog (but that won't happen until the weekend -- I'm a camera Luddite, and don't have a digital camera). Yellow stains are not pleasant in a bathroom... ... ...

An elderly, unwell lady lived here before. So I'm pretty sure it isn't hair dye, her hair was white, if I recall from the one brief time I met her when I viewed the apartment.

I may just have to go the "put the fluffy light-blue rug over the stain when company comes" route. I mean, I *know* the floor is clean... but I'll keep scrubbing for a while, and see if I can see a difference. (My arms need exercise, anyway).

Further to my longwinded comment above -- the stain on the bathroom floor is actually two stains, one in front of the sink, and one in front of the toilet. Could it possibly be foot-wear??? (I mean the flooring getting worn out by feet, not footwear as in shoes...) Doesn't look like it, but I just wondered. The flooring doesn't look all that old (it's different to the flooring in my parents' bathroom in another apartment in the same building. Their flooring was there when they moved in 16 years ago. Mine looks more recent than that.)

This is great, I'm joining (but I'm in Montréal!) and made a flickr album.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/allabouteve/sets/72157601972567193/

My whole loft needs help (I moved in 2 months ago from my last rental and I'm now a proud home owner) but with the Cure, I'm going to concentrate on my 3 walk-in closets, on my dinning room and on painting the whole place.

Eve! Welcome! (yay, another person from Canada!)

I did some work in the storage room this evening (can't do the floor in there until I *find* the floor in there...)

Also put up my repairs list on my blog, http://serenityathome.blogspot.com

I realized as I was contemplating my questionnaire answers, after posting them on my blog, that nowhere did I mention the word "serenity", yet that best describes what I want to feel in my apartment. That's why I named my blog as I did.

I hope I can keep up with "The Cure"; I haven't read the book (yet) but I expect I'll only be able to focus on a single room. I did a lot of work on my house when I bought it six months ago and totally burned out. But now it's time to tackle the remaining projects and perhaps spruce up some areas that could be better.

I'm really hoping to pare down the amount of stuff in my house and must absolutely do everything "on the cheap." I'm also interested in keeping it green (as much as possible on a tight budget).

I will take some "before" photographs this week & post them to Flickr.

I'm Kristen, and my boyfriend and I just moved in together. After a month of unpacking and figuring out what goes where, we're ready to give the place a good scrub and start the fun decor stuff! Looking forward to doing this with all of you!

Grrr - I bought flowers yesterday, from my favorite grocery store. Got them home and the stems were MOLDY!!! Irritated. Will find actual florist in the hood and go get some from them. For shame, favorite grocery store, for shame! But, I did make baba ganouj, replace two lightbulbs, finish up the reapairs list (disturbingly long), and clean the upstairs floors (still need to do the basement stairs, which are the most neglected spot in the house). The dog was seriously confused as to why she kept being corralled into different parts of the house and eventually settled on our bed. Has anyone seen a nice looking, deep brown duvet covet, that might not show every shedded hair?

I've just adjusted my blog so that anyone can comment (as long as you prove you're not a robot by typing the letters it prompts you to type). Just thought I'd let you know.

http://serenityathome.blogspot.com

SO excited about my first Cure...already have recieved some great advice over at flirk (I'm iamnotaphotographer over there). I am in St. Louis, and feel lucky to have a decent sized apartment (for cheap), when it's just me and sometimes the boyfriend, but I have done next to nothing in the way of making it my home. I've been there over three years and people have made the comment that it looks like I just moved in. Well no more! Ready to get down and dirty (my floors are DEFINITELY growing dust-jackrabbits), and to create a home that I am proud of and excited to live in.

Hello everyone. This should be fun. I've been waiting years to have a place of my own. (moved 7 times in 4 years.) So to be able to pick up a paint brush, and a drill and go nuts on remodeling hasn't been an option until now. So, I have my first condo, a loft in Fulton Market area. It needs alot of work. It was ALL white when I purchased it; A blank canvas. The previous owner didn't change a thing installed by developer in 1997. ( Except he added a strange ceiling fan.) It has alot of quirks and basic fixtures ( contractor's specials). I love the challenge. and I can finally revisit all those TIVO'd HGTV shows. I'm doing it alone, and I am pretty cluttzy, so don't be surprised if I upload a picture of my arm in cast.

Zoinks. I forgot to add.... that I guess I'm doing the super deep treatment. The whole place is fair game.