apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Looking for some nice floor pillows! Suggestions?

I'm lucky to have two fireplaces in my house...the only problem is both have gold-toned accents. Ack. Anyone know of an inexpensive fix?

Maddog-
I had these awful fake brass chandeliers and I could not afford to change them out, so I painted them with a metallic rubbed-bronze paint I bought at Michaels for $10. It was called Sophisticated Surfaces and is a metallic surfacer. Well, they look 100 times better and I bet you could do the same thing with your fireplaces. BTW, I got the paint for $5 (50% off coupon) can't get much more inexpensive than that.

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/displayProductPage?productNum=cp0234&channelid=

I am looking for tall wood bookshelves with class doors (the horizontal type that lift up and cover one shelf). I need a lot of them- does anyone have any ideas about where to find these or other vintage library furniture?

With the gold-tone accents, if they are close to the source of heat, you may want to use Hi-temp spray paint in probably black, white or silver (looks like aluminum color, not stainless steel/satin nickel).

JLG, I thank you for your tip, I have 3-6 light fixtures that are going to change NOW, thanks to you! 2 white, 1 black and 3 with brass...

morning. i am looking for 108" grommet top curtains like these

1. RH http://tinyurl.com/3bp943 (too expensive) or
2. ikea http://tinyurl.com/2v9zq3 (color i want is not available)

Is there any other stores i should check? I've looked at the usual suspects CB, CB2, WE, JCP, Sears, RH, PB etc.., or is it possible to buy regular curtains and put my own grommets in? TIA.

aspw,
Pottery Barn has them on Sale in brushed twill, silk dupioni and velvet (prices vary)
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p7696/index.cfm?pkey=cprwwinsol

aspw- Grommets are easy to put in, they come in a kit and you just hammer them together. I've never done grommets quite as large as you would need though.

A friend just got grommet curtains from Target. See link below.


http://www.target.com/Grommet-Top-Window-Coverings-Home/b/ref=in_br_browse-box/602-3547469-3962269?ie=UTF8&node=345278011

thanks for the recs. i guess i'll just have to accept curtains ain't cheap :)

if only the target ones come in 108"... most of the discount stores only have curtains up to 96".

Just bought some grommet top curtains from IKEA myself. I believe they come at 120" but come with a DIY iron-on hem for adjusting the length. $40 for two panels and a few different colors to choose from.

laura48: I think you're talking about barrister bookcases. I have seen them on Craigslist, and in various stores online, but I've never seen anywhere that has lots of matching vintage ones. I just saw an inexpensive version at Stacks and Stacks: http://www.stacksandstacks.com/home-furnishings/bookcases-barrister/
Not the prettiest and I can't vouch for the quality of these, though!

Where is a good local place to buy bathroom lighting, also what are some creative lighting options for the bathroom?

Clanalois- Check out Pier 1. I was there yesterday and thought they had some great new pillows. West Elm always has good ones, too:
http://www.westelm.com/online/store/CategoryDisplay?storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&identifier=WE-SH1RUGPIL&top=N&retainNav=true&pageNumber=1&cmtype=nav&highlightCategoryId=10039

Can anyone recommend a book or website or god knows what to help me decorate an L shaped living room - with the sunroom at one end of the L and the fireplace at the other?

The obvious is to split it into two rooms but that leaves a huge open space in the "butt" of the L. Anyone have ideas for me?

When you have salt and pepper shakers, one with one-hole and the other with multiple holes, which goes in which?

Who makes (reasonably priced) custom sofas in Chicago? Like The Sofa Company in LA?

Crest Lighting in Lakeview has a lot of options. If you dont like what they have on display, you can look at any of their manufacturers catalogs and they will order for you. It is where a lot of contractors go as well.

HELP!

Any bamboo experts?

I'm trying to have some pieces of furniture made with bamboo.

Problem is the woodworker has done just one project with bamboo ply and it is the really narrow vertical grain.

I'm looking for the wide horizontal grain.

Anyone familiar with good sources for bamboo ply and/or veneer in the wider horizontal style?

This little project has turned into a bit of a pain. No pain no gain right?!

While we're talking about curtains with grommets, I have a related question. I'm trying to make some myself, but am having lots of trouble finding extra large grommets. Anybody knows where to look? Local hardware stores and JoAnn's don't have them.

How are Ikea's grommet top curtains? Do they blackout enough light for say, a bedroom?

bubble - check this place out for grommets...

http://www.beaconfabric.com/vindex.html?cat287.htm

is it silly to get a king sized blanket for a queen size mattress?
our big down comforter is heavy enough to actually stay over us while we're sleeping; but in the summer without it, someone always ends up stealing the blankets. thoughts?

Thanks, farleece!

I don't think it's silly to get a king sized blanket for a queen if it floats your boat. My only concern would be what you would do with the extra blanket area when you make the bed. I guess you could fold it and drape it artfully across the bed.