apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Okay, I'll start. I'm about to buy a sofa, and because I'm cheap, poor, and less than enterprising, it has to last me several years and probably multiple color trends. It'll be the anchor for the room, and all the accent colors will be built on it - I figure I can change those more frequently. I can't do light colors due to black cats, so I'm leaning toward either chocolate brown or charcoal gray - but I can't decide whether or not chocolate brown will be the annoyingly omnipresent 70s goldenrod/80s hunter green/90s sage green of our time. Any suggestions on a color choice that will last through the ages?

And. Your thoughts on similarly timeless couch shapes? I'm currently thinking long, low, and not-so-bulky. I think the days of the puffy overstuffed thing are dwindling. Your thoughts?

Have you thought about red? It is surprisingly versatile and can work with other colors or neutrals. It is unexpected yet timeless. Try it with accessories of orange, lime, or robin's egg blue or a wild marimekko print if you want to be spashy. Or go with grey, beige, or black/white, tailored for urban drama...Just keep the lines simple--as you said "long and low" and you can adapt it as times/fashions change.
http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=102&f=3496

Consider the GRAY. It'll work w/ the current aqua/chocolate/apple green combos around now transition nicely into the deep jewel tones of fall: Navy and royal purple are getting a lot of play in first autumn issues (sad, August is "autumn" in fashion) of Vogue and Bazaar as well as the early fall home mags. Then, if the mood strikes next spring, and you're feeling the need to "clean up", gray will blend seamlessly w/ the crisp whites and sun-bleached hues of summer. Gray also works surprisingly well w/ the more neutral browns and, of course, it's the perfect companion to black. I'll agree w/ polkadot that red is a wonderful choice and could be a unexpected punch of color but you have to consider how you want your sofa to play: Is it going to be your main attraction against almost always neutral walls (like in a rental apt) or are you someone (like me) who paints their walls rich, in-the-moment hues only to (willingly) paint them again in 2 years? Good luck and don't count out Ikea's quality. A friend just bought a low leather chaise sofa and it is surprisingly comfortable and very adaptable.

Does anyone know of something like a car boot sale in the area?

Anne, if you mean what I think you mean, there used to be the Maxwell Street Market, but it's not worth going to anymore after the city got its mitts on it. You're more likely to find good old garage sales around here. Check Craigslist as well as the local papers and keep an eye out for signs.

I think I've fallen in love with a sofa:

http://www.roomandboard.com/images/rnb/product/image/917280.jpg

Do we like it? There's something really nice about the box cushions and the unfussy low profile, but it still looks a little smooshy at the same time. (In order to get the husband to agree, there has to be at least a modicum of smoosh.)

toomuchstuff - thanks! I should have been clearer, though--I want to set up as a seller.

I like the sofa. The arms are boxy, but low enough that you/he can throw a pillow down and lounge.

Does anyone own these mirrors from Chiasso?

http://www.chiasso.com/store/item.aspx?DepartmentId=58&ItemId=51283

I think they're by Linea, and I bought 3 sets, 4 to a set, at Chiasso's warehouse sale, but now I can't seem to figure out how to put them together. There aren't really any instructions, and it might be a shot in the dark, but I was hoping someone reading this might have bought these and might know how to put it together. Anyone?

Is ebay going to beat up Craigslist?

I just got an email from ebay announcing Kijiji a free city classified listing.

Art,
I don't know how the Kijiji vs Craigslist fight might turn out in the States, but here in Montreal, Kijiji beats Craigslist (at least for the selling of household items, the only thing I check for).

I imagine that Craigslist is a much bigger "brand name" for Americans and harder to displace from the consciousness. We also have a language issue here...and Craigslist seems to be predominantly English.

ebay now owns a 25% stake in craigslist. So I doubt eBay is trying to kill it:

http://www.craigslist.org/about/press/ebay.stake.html

Thanks for the interesting article toomuchstuff. I had no idea.