apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Q: HELP!! I love this rug I saw in a NYT article months ago, but I cannot seem to place who makes it and where I can buy it. Any idea where I may find this info? The article does not mention the make of the rug which I know will be just perfect in my space. Thanks in advance for your help!

Sent by Jody

Though the month is young, we've already seen some stunning examples of beautifully set tables to inspire the host in all of us. We have to acknowledge though, that not every party is an intimate dinner that calls for our best china and glassware; sometimes we're entertaining 20 friends with ribs and football, or 50 friends at a holiday drop-in. For those occasions when our best just won't do, we were delighted to find an eco-friendly option from Preserve...

Q: This is the fireplace in my new/old apartment, with the bookcases I'm having built-in. I've been reading a copy of the original 1913 prospectus for the building, which reveals that the painted-over fireplace tiles are Grueby Faience(!). Can I get the paint off the tiles, or will it have been partially absorbed, as with brick, making it impossible to bring it back without, like, sandblasting it (kidding. kidding), or something? If so, what do I do?

Sent by Linda

Yes yes, trivets- those tiny, oh-so-important products that help protect our tables and countertops from burning and ugly heat rings, the things you always thought were so absurd until the day you realized they are any furniture lover's best friend. Trivets- some are practical, some are stylish, all are essential during this season of entertainment...

We've often written about decorated stairwells before, ones featuring fabulous paint jobs, unique tiling, custom drawer builds and more, but these whimsical Halloween stairs made us stop and smile today so we knew we had to share their secret...

Q: I came across this amazing modern chair at a local thrift store for only 10 dollars. The label tells me the designer is Maurice Burke and it is called an "Alpha" chair. I tried looking up more info on the internet but only came up with one site stating it was a "rare and obscure Brazilian design". Other than that, I haven't been able to find any other information on it! Anyone know anything more about this chair or have one like it?

Sent by Heather

Given the challenges of small-space living, we are always on the lookout for room dividers or screens that can help create privacy or hide a cluttered office space. Since we are equally committed to an eco-friendly lifestyle, we were delighted to find this bamboo screen to share with like-minded readers...

Q: I found this chair for only $15, and I loved the lines of it and the cute hidden drawer in the seat. I fully intended to paint it and recover the seat, but when I got it home, I saw that it has an original Mengel Furniture label. There's lots of information on Mengel furniture online, but nothing I've found looks like this chair...

Sent by Annika

It has been a while since our last trip to IKEA, but with two set of friends installed in new homes, we are planning a visit next weekend. In preparation, we have been checking out new offerings on the website and thought we would share some of our favorites...

We think these stainless steel pendant lights are perfect for over a breakfast bar or dining table, and were shocked to discover their unlikely origin...

Q: Please help! We have tried so many different paint samples but are having trouble finding the colors to paint our new house. We wanted a light blue with a little green in the living room and are open to anything in the kitchen. We want a comfortable modern beachy feel to the house. Please help us pick the perfect paint colors!

Sent by Jenny

We're always on the lookout for creative reuse of everyday objects, and these unique stained glass windows are some of the most beautiful recycling projects we've ever seen...

Q: How do you decide on maximum dimensions for a dining room table? My dining room is 8'11x10'6" and when I measure out where a standard 36" width table would sit, it seems like it would be crowded. It must be mostly in my mind, since half the dining rooms listed on the MLS are that size. Still, there must be a rule of thumb about x number of feet from the wall or no more than y percentage of the total space?

Sent by Marit

With several friends in the process of moving to new homes, we've spent a lot of time recently looking for various pieces of furniture to complete their new spaces. Given that we're celebrating color on Apartment Therapy this month, we thought we'd share some of our favorite colorful finds...