apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Dear AT,

A question about painting arches... I recently moved into a vintage gold coast apartment building and it has great architecture and mouldings, but one problem... there are arches from the foyer into the living room and then into the dining room, i plan on painting each room a different color, (grey-blue living room, soft gold dining room, and warm dusty brown for foyer) but what about the arches? They are not moulded out and are just cut into the wall, Should I leave them white? Should i paint them the living room color? Should I paint them a contrasting color? PLEASE HELP! I need suggestions!

With all of the talk about not using plastic grocery bags and going "green" one step at a time in your life, I thought it would be a fun idea to get all of my friends some ecofriendly tote bags for Christmas gifts this year, since I never know what to buy for them. Since there are quite a few, I obviously need to keep my budget within reason (under $25 each), so I've been searching for some good ecofriendly reusable tote bags and I've found a few.

I'd appreciate any input on these or other suggestions you've found for eco totes that are high quality and unisex so I can give them to all.

So far I've found these:

Envirosax (several different styles and colors so I could give everyone the same thing but they would all look a little different, which is good, plus they're waterproof and seem to be the most for the $$ at $7 each):
http://www.brightandbold.com/enreba.html

Garrowby Hill (nice colors, not sure if they'd be considered unisex, a little pricier):
http://www.mfashop.com/72004.html

Bubbles (unisex colors, and like the design)
http://www.bitwisegifts.com/page/bg/PROD/designer-tote-bags-purses/02006

I'd love to get some opinions on which ones you'd rather receive as a Christmas gift. Thanks!!

I would not paint them a contrasting color. I would paint them a white/ivory or some other neutral. If the colors between the rooms are very different and there is no type of molding then I would just do that. Also, I saw someone put a very simple stencil pattern inside the arch that pulled in both colors. I thought it looked very cool, original and at the same time a simple way of bridging the two rooms. Depending on your decor style or if that would interest you at all, that is another option.

Callie-
What a good idea for holiday gifts. My favorites were the envirosax and the bubbles. I think between the two the Envirosax is more of a replacement plastic bag for shopping (they emphasize how light/little they are to roll up) and the other is a canvas tote that would be great if you leave the house knowing you're going to go shopping but that you wouldn't keep with you just in case (like you might the envirosax). So, it depends what you think your friends would find more useful. Oh, and I'd give people 2 envirosax if you went that way and can afford it - one for each hand...

There are a bunch of other designs (as you probably know) of the tote bag at www.funtote.com (but they're more expensive than where you found it).

What a great idea, callie! I like simpler bags... like baggu. But of your three I vote for the Envirosax.

Can anyone recommend their plaster and paint person? We have some water damage that needs some repairs. Thanks for any tips you have!

Callie,

I had the same idea!
Here's the one I'm considering: http://www.reusablebags.com/store/packntote-grocery-cart-helper-bags-p-737.html

Looks like it's an especially good idea for people who drive to the grocer. Won't fall down and spill in the car.

CC

Calllie,
I also put my vote behind the Envirosax (or some other roll-up option). The smaller the better.

Here's the bag I want:

http://www.reusablebags.com/store/reisenthel-modern-grocery-tote-p-775.html

It's cute, has long and short handles (so you can carry in your hand or over your shoulder), holds up to 6 wine or water bottles, has a detachable pouch for your wallet and keys, and is inexpensive.

Someone was looking for instruction to make their own lightbox a while back & I found a pretty good tutorial here.

I have a question... can anyone recommend a small dining table that can fit 4 people (approx.) but then expand to fit more? I have a space that day-to-day, can't accomodate a large dining table but I would like to have the option to expand for those occasions when guests are over. It can be round or square, but I would prefer square since I think it would fit in the space better. Also, I want something wood (as opposed to steel/glass) and kind of a distressed (casual?)look to it. I am having a hard time finding anything that isn't too modern or too country (which comes up a lot when searching for anything distressed or a little worn looking). My budget is decent - will pay if it is what I am looking for and can keep for a long time. I feel like I have looked everywhere and thought I would see what some of you would come up with...

Help! My cats are destroying my brand new couch! I just got a gorgeous DWR couch on Craigslist and my three cats seem hellbent on destroying it. I have tried repeatedly yelling at them and squirting them with a squirt gun, but in the middle of the night, I can hear the unmistakable sound of them clawing the bejeebers out of my poor gorgeous couch. This morning I found a tiny hole and I just flipped.

Are there any tricks to keeping kitty's paws off my pretty new sofa? I don't want to go the harsh chemicals route because I want them to sit with me on it - I just don't want the little b*st*rds to wreck it by scratching it.

Anne in Chicago, I have that bag and I love it. I saw it recently, maybe at the Architecture Foundation store?

Reisenthel bags are really well made! In fact, I have three different Reisenthel bags... one that holds 9 bottles but is equally good for picking up yogurt, fruit or any small items that require extra protection. The third is similar but has one larger pocket and picnic accessories built in... perfect for Ravinia!

mabaker,

there's a wooden table in the new IKEA catalog that may suit your needs, I can't give you the name unfortunately as the catalog's at home. But it's a nice medium brown color, has a drop leaf design and looked pretty neat.

My boyfriend and I just got engaged and we're looking for an interesting, creative space to get married in. I'd like to go the museum route, but am finding it hard to find spaces that will fit 250-300 people. Does anyone have any suggestions?

toomuchstuff,

I've heard that aluminum foil might do the trick.
They don't like the feel of the foil on their paw pads. Wrap the most kitty desirable parts of the couch (I assume the arms) in foil - and hopefully they'll associate the feel of the foil with displeasure... at least it will take away the great feeling from scratching.

Hopefully they'll get the drift after a week or so. Put the foil back on before you go to bed... for insurance.

Hope it helps.
CC

I am going to a large wedding this weekend at the Chicago Historical Museum that was just redone... Other than that, there are some places that are very expensive but worth looking at for a really large wedding. There's the River East Art Center, MCA, Newberry Library, Chicago Cultural Center, Symphony Center. Also, if you can find someone to sponsor you at any of the private clubs in Chicago, they have beautiful old rooms with great views and tons of art work. e.g. the University Club and the Union League Club. Have been to weddings at both and they were beautiful - nothing like a hotel ballroom wedding. Also, since they are private clubs, you can do whatever you want. Galleries and museums tend to be very restrictive.

Also, I can recommend an awesome wedding planner that planned my sister's wedding in 4 months! With that big of a wedding, it's worth the cost.

Wedding location - some friends of ours got married in Garfield Park Conservatory - on the west side of downtown - amazing, beautiful setting, very unique....really wonderful. You should check it out.

I have been shopping for new living room furniture, (on a budget of $1500,) and cannot find small scale furniture ready made. The best couch I found was at Pier One, and lost it due to a stock reduction sale. Everything out there is overstuffed, and waaay out of scale for a room only 10' 6'' wide. I would like a couch less that 36" deep because getting up and down causes a problem for a family member. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

mabaker,

I saw the coolest table at Bova today... and thought of your question.

I can't find it online - it was rather spendy... but if you want, I'll call and see if my local store has a link for it.

It was a brushed metal X frame base, with a rich dark wood on top. It's modern looking, not distressed, but it could point you in the right direction.
The top seats four... or unfolds on hinges... and spins so that the base supports the new surface - double the size. Think of those old fashioned side tables that opened to a checker board or some such thing...

Ingenious design for a small space. Of course, ingenious because it borrows from an antique, much used design!

CC