apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I'm moving into a new apartment on Friday and the master bedroom paint color has me stumped. It’s a large space with one window (north-facing) and no overhead light. It is a converted attic space, so it has that weird dormer ceiling that is currently painted white. The floors are very dark wood. Overall, the space is dark, dark, DARK.

My first instinct was to embrace the darkness and paint it a deep, chocolate brown. I was thinking about keeping it very minimal…just our low, modern, light wood bed with white linens and two black bedside tables with glass lamps.
My husband thinks I’m crazy for wanting to paint such a dark space an even darker color. Thoughts anyone?
(sorry – no pics yet…)

Hello!

I'm looking for everyone's 2 cents of advice concerning my lighting idea for my kitchen.

I have an awful version of a track light right now and would like to remove it and put 3 pendants in the kitchen. http://www.flickr.com/photos/art_chel/1184988690/in/set-72157600128826994/
There would be one light above the tall cabinet on the left, one over the sink and one over refrigererator.

I originally thought I would go with a nice glass and halogen type lamp like this one http://progresslightingoutlet.progressdistributor.com/store.cfm?action=search&Category=13&finish=&family_id=&minprice=0&maxprice=4000&product_id=2155
But now I've come up with this idea http://www.flickr.com/photos/art_chel/sets/72157603665868356/

Obviously it's not as polished but considering I live in a "loft" with concrete ceilings, pillars and exposed conduit I think it would work nicely. The same fixtures (minus the canopy) are also used as sconces in the hallways of the building. I like the idea of continuity and keeping the industrial loft look.

Thanks!

Moni-ka in ky, I think your idea sounds really lovely, properly nest-like, cosy in the evening and perfect for luxuriating on a weekend morning.

About ten years on, my mum STILL says every time I'm home that the best piece of decorating advice she ever received was to accept that a dark room is a dark room and decorate to play to its strengths rather than fighting to turn it into something it's not. (The fact it was little ol' me who gave the advice is totally by-the-by. ;) )

Previously, she'd been trying to brighten up our awful looks-straight-onto-a-wall dining room by painting it yellow and white and heck knows what. Finally, she accepted the lack of natural light and the fact it's mainly used in the evening with low lighting and went with a rich dark red (which goes perfectly with their original Danish-mod furniture and an eyecatching brass lamp that I covet).

Go with your gut and embrace that darkness!

Moni-ka, I like the idea of painting it dark, but just be careful with the dormer ceilings. If they are really low, the dark might be too much, but painting the ceiling and the walls the same color might help. But if they are high I say go for it!

Do any Chicago AT'ers use Fresh Picks? (www.freshpicks.com). I saw a delivery truck in my area yesterday and I am considering it. Just curious as to whether anyone has a "real-life" experience with them.

Thanks!

I have friends that use Fresh Picks, and they rave about it all the time. They say that the prices are good, that the produce is great, and that it encourages them to cook outside their normal comfort range, since they get vegetables that they're not used to in the box.

what are some good places around town to get cool, vintage-looking drawer pulls/knobs for my dresser? thanks!