apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Do any of you know the maker OR where I can get the Sofa/Chair that they show in the movie, THE BIG LABOWSKI??

A pic is on this site.... http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/inspiration/loft-living-in-the-movies-051458

I am looking to buy my first mattress set (after many years on a futon) but am afraid of getting ripped off. Anyone have any tips on purchasing a mattress set or suggestions about go-to places or places to avoid? My only requirement is that I get it at a place that offers delivery, because I live in a fourth floor walk up.

Want to test your skills in a paint choosing challenge? I'm in need of advice on choosing paint color(s) for a living/dining area in my condo. I've got high ceilings and the walls wrap around each other such that there's not a good clean break (see photos for details), making it challenging for me to choose color. But, I'm design-challenged, which is why I seek your wonderful knowledge.

Here's my photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76823608@N00/sets/72157605286552215/

I'm totally open for advice. I'm thinking of grey as the main color. One of the walls will be exposed brick (noted in the photos). I'm also considering an accent wall or accent colors/art using wall decals or wallpaper. I'm also hoping to get a black chandelier for the kitchen.

Thanks everyone!

peaceyall, I will give you some of what i've learned....

When painting a space, you can't go by what YOU like. You have to go by how the space FEELS. Forget about you and think about it. That is the only way you'll get the right colors, and be totally happy with them.

x-posted in NY

Does anyone have any ideas on how to plan a built in bookshelf? I want to have built bookshelves built to cover one wall of a room. I will use them to store hundreds of books as well as a ton of art and office supplies, 2 printers, and 2 lap tops.

AND, of course, decorative objects to make it look pretty.

Any ideas on how to plan the shelving?

sarahbest,
I recently purchased from Sleepy's. I was able to get next day delivery at no extra charge.

@peaceyall,

You've got a big project on your hands. I assume you know what condition the brick is in on the other side of the wall? The color of the brick after you clean it and seal it will also change the appearance of the room and may take your paint color in another direction.

When the brick is exposed, you may actually want to keep the fireplace as it is because brick and wood are complimentary materials.

sarahbest - we got our mattress from macy's the day after we got married (really good 4th of July sale, and it happens to be coming up soon again) and we love it. I actually hate sleeping pretty much anywhere else now.

We get a Simmons Beauty rest, with the plush pillow top. You sink into it a little but not a ton, we tried one that felt like we were in quicksand. I don't really dig the temperpedic ones either, and they're way over priced. Back to ours... So it has the individual pocketed coils, which is great, motion separation is so good on it. I go to bed about 2 hours after my wife and she never feels me bounce into bed. Can't say that for the bed at my parents house we were on this last weekend, felt like sleeping on a trampoline.

Macy's was great though. We got the mattress and box spring (slim box spring since those are so much better for the thicker mattresses, unless you like a 5 foot tall bed, didn't charge extra either), plus it came with 2 free pillows, and a bed frame, and free delivery. I think all together it was like $850 or something like that. Really great mattress, and we shopped around a lot, and the price was either right on with everyone else (not including all the extras) or a little cheaper with the sale.

Sleek - I think that is Le Corbusier? I know there are others around here more knowledgeable than me, but it may give you a place to start.

mdeathstar

Firstly, to give you a rough idea of how long your shelves can be (between vertical supports) you can use something like:

http://www.woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator.htm

to calculate the length before any sagging will occur. It all depends on what you build it with and how, but this is built into this calculator I think. (I just googled this one. You might be able to find a better chart).

Then, just measure the hell out of everything you want to store on it. Then draw it to scale on a piece of paper. 1/4" = 1 foot works pretty well. Or 1/2" to 1 foot.

@sleek

LauraII is correct - it's Corbusier and the seat is the Petit Comfy and the sofa is the Grand Comfy

It was revolutionary at the time for putting the frame of the furniture on the outside

http://www.comcore21.com/Corbusier-Style-Petit-Comfort-Loveseat.htm

THANK YOU BOTH, SO MUCH!!! SMOOCHES TO BOTH!!

peaceyall -

I think you're on the right track first focusing on the neutral color, and I'd get this up (and the brick exposed) before making any accent choices. Also, I'd definitely get that color all the way up to the ceiling (i.e. where it's currently white).

I've also struggled a bit in my (still in progress) loft. I decided to get my netural wall color and trim color up everywhere before making any accent decisions. I've gone with a pretty aggressive trim color (a dark grey accenting both the big cement beams in my place as well as the new baseboards I'm putting in) with white walls. At this point I'm guessing I actually won't choose any accent walls.

Remember that you're effectively adding an accent wall by exposing the brick. I'd encourage you to get your grey up eveywhere and brick exposed before worrying too much about accent colors. My guess is that you might be better off with consistent color thorughout, then just use the wall you're thinking about as an accent wall as space to hang some great art.

Good luck!

sarahbest,

after you purchase your new mattress, i highly recommend the feather bed at room and board for comfort that is beyond belief:

http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/collection.do?method=get&id=91914991&cat=91552832

i spend about 6 weeks at the graves hotel in minneapolis sleeping on this crazy-good miracle. omg..i've never slept so well, especially away from home! i need a new mattress too (probably one from bower natural bedding), but i am definitely going to top it off this featherbed. love!

Kah - thanks!

sleek:
The original/authentic Le Corbusier chair will cost quite a bit.
http://www.dwr.com/product/classics/lc2-petit-modele-armchair-colors.do?search=basic&keyword=corbusier&sortby=ourPicks&page=1

Alphaville makes excellent unlicensed versions.
http://www.become.com/le-corbusier-petite

sarahbest: dial a mattress - 1 800 Mattres (leave off the last s for savings).
Growing up in NYC and listening to Howard Stern means that they're the first ones I think of when purchasing a mattress.

Hi all,

I’m furnishing my new condo and I’m heading out to the burbs on Saturday to check out West Elm in Oak Brook, Dania in Lombard, and the Crate & Barrel outlet in Naperville (IKEA is a whole other day). I’ve only seen the West Elm and Dania catalogues and have only been to the Crate & Barrel outlet on Clybourn. I’m hoping the trip will not disappoint... Anything else worthwhile in that area that I should check out as well? Is the Room & Board in Oak Brook any different from the location by Michigan Ave? Room & Board would be at the top of my price range, by the way, to give you a sense of my budget. And since this is my first time buying major pieces of furniture, I’ve never paid much attention to the sales cycles. But I think there will be more sales in June/July, right? Does anyone know what sales are coming up and if it’s worth it to wait a bit?

Thanks!

Annieo217: I would suggest waiting a while. Not for a sale per se, but to get a sense of the place and what you want. You will have the furniture for a long time and the difference in price (unless you get a huge deal) will mean less and less with each passing month.

Room and Board does not really have sales. If there's a distribution center near you check for their Saturday morning sales on "damaged" items. These damages are sometimes almost non-existent. They may have one sale a year but... they do have specials that are manufacturer based. E.g. buy a Artemide lamp and get the second at a reduced price.

Enjoy the process, though it could be very frustrating.

Cheers!

Hey annieo - Room and Board does have their sample clearance sale the day after xmas. Advantage of the Oak Brook store is that their tax is cheaper than the R&B in the City and in Skokie. I've found better deals at the C&B outlet in Naperville than in Chicago since it's larger and they also have furniture and rugs, but it's definitely hit or miss. Chiasso has warehouse sales 2x a year in the West Loop. Look out for sale notice in AT. Another great source is Domicile Furniture. They also have an outlet in Evanston, but it's only open on the weekend. Have fun!!

SeanG and sembe, thanks! I know patience will pay off in the end... but I'm just so excited and can't wait to get my place set up. It's hard to get the timing right too, just in case I end up ordering something that takes weeks, if not months, to get delivered. My trip is really more of a "scouting" mission, and then I may end up ordering things online later. Thanks for the tips on Room & Board, I was told they "never" go on sale but knowing the tax is lower outside the city helps. Do you know if delivery is still the same charge? And I'm glad to hear the C&B outlet has furniture, the Clybourn location is practically all kitchenware. I've been to the Chiasso warehouse sale before and I definitely plan on doing so again this summer - there's also usually a coupon for it in the Red Eye that week. And does anyone have thoughts on the as is section of Ikea? Is the selection any better at Schaumburg or Bolingbrook?