apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

hey guys, I tried to send in a good question the other day but all the links seemed to be broken...

I've got a teak bathmat and need suggestions on what to use underneath it to sop up and evaporate the water. I use it indoors and after a week, the water is still there and gets nasty... I'm using that semi-absorbent kitchen drawer liner, but it doesn't really work well.

Any suggestions appreciated, the teak is better than cloth because I have cats. Other cat owners will know that they sometimes mistake a cloth bathmat as their bathroom :)

Oh wow! My cousin and her husband's work is featured in today's NYT H&G section! (The article is on LA party promoter Tom Whitman's digs.) Check it:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/08/garden/08whitman.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Sorry, couldn't contain my enthusiasm long enough to wait for the weekly H&G wrap-up.

Found this link via the Curbed LA site, but found it funny enough to share with others who live in Hollywood: 10 Reasons to Leave Hollywood.

http://thehollywoodmachine.blogspot.com/2006/06/10-reasons-to-leave-hollywood.html

Didn't know if anyone would see this if I posted it down on the "Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House" thread -- just checked the Turner Classic Movies site, and Mr. Blandings is listed for Tuesday 27 June (at 3 a.m. -- but one can't have everything!)

Great movie!

Can anyone who's had first-hand experience w/ the quality, look, and durablility of FoldBedding (www.foldbedding.com) comment on its overall value ... pretty pricy- so i'm a bit hesitant

and all bedding is made-to-order, so no returns- i'd just like to know what some others have thought who have actually seen them in person-

thanks.

-Kellen

It seems as if finding furniture and accessories for an apartment can be teh fun part of moving. I'm moving to a brand new city and need ideas of what architectural aspects to look for in an apartment that lend themselves to design. Can any ol' apartment look spectacular with the right pieces? Or does the apartment itself have to be spectacular?

PS I think the question form is broken!

Just curious, does anyone in here actually answer questions that are posted? Or, is it a cathartic experience that's fully realized by simply making a post? e.g.-talking to ourselves in the mirror, or talking to our pets, stuffed animals, etc.

Duncan, I have tried many times to answer questions or at least tried to be helpful and have been picked on for going on too long.

Secondly, I've gone all out on some searches or come up with ideas for people and those people either never see their question was posted (like in the Good Questions posts) or never bother to reply. Oh, or they come in, look real quick, and don't check later on.

I went through 20 some pages of antique chairs and 32 pages of regular chairs on eBay. One of the pictures had a chair and sofa with similar legs to what someone wanted. I went to that auction, and then to that sellers site, and found the chair. I'm on dial-up. It took a long time to find that chair. Not one response from the person who wanted the chair after I found it. Not one.

Answering is apparently also a cathatic experience, because either noone's there to listen, or people don't like the answers. Hah!

By the way, I sent in the form error problem on the 5th of this month to Maxwell, so I have no idea if it's something that can't be fixed or it's just not important to them or what.

I remember them saying something about upgrading the site a month or so ago (or wanting to update it, or ???), and maybe they started in on it, and the form area "broke" and can't be fixed until the rest of the updates are done.

I DID post a bunch of stuff for Kellen on the AT-NY boards.

And where's Alec now in his journey?

Kim quoth: "Can any ol' apartment look spectacular with the right pieces? Or does the apartment itself have to be spectacular?"

That's a HUGE philosophical question. People who submit photos have managed to make spectacular spaces from some very weird set-ups, but the weirdness seems to up the difficulty.

Personally, I think achieving at least niceness is easier if:

--The trim is properly proportioned for the room and consistent in style. No mingy pseudo-Colonial trim on modern boxes, please!

--There's a natural architectural focal point in the main room. Properly placed fireplace, big window, even a big wall for big art -- anything that makes a virtual hearth as the emotional center of the room.

--Closet space is generous in relation to the total space. I know it's a moral weakness, but heavens, it's easier to make the room nice if you can put supplies AWAY.

chrys,

about that teak bathmat...i think, in the same way, regular bathmats left on floor get dirty when people come into the bathroom & step all over them with their shoes and so cannot be left out (except for photo shoots!), i think that you may have to resign yourself to mopping up the water from underneath the bathmat as part of your morning ritual...a roll of paper towels left underneath the bathroom sink might make this a little easier...

hi abby,
I suppose, I just wish there was a better way :)

This is the stuff I've been using from:
Bed Bath

It semi-works, but the water still doesn't evaporate well enough. They also sell these super absorbent hair towels at bed bath, I'm wondering if that might work...

Any other ideas?

Here's the link for the last message:

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=103114&RN=205

chrys: Have you tried using a cork bath mat underneath?

http://www.johnlewis.com/Shopping/Product.aspx?Type=SKU&ID=230217479&source=6132

Regardless of what you use, try to increase airflow to aid evaporation.

Sorry about the questions form problems. Its being sorted...we're making some internal changes that will be sorted in the coming days.

hey chrys, found this on the web...maybe you could put this under it instead of the liner?...

http://uwin.en.alibaba.com/product/50040713/50180735/Non_slip_Bath_Mats/Non_Slip_Bath_Mat.html

chrys: There's also the option of lining underneath with a hemp bath mat (anti-fungal and super-absorbent, the hemp yarn absorbs about 150% their weight in water).

http://www.rawganique.com/BAhc1.htm

Chrys-
I have the same annoying cat/bathroom mat problem.

When the carpet pile is low enough (i.e. the bath mat is cheap enough) the cat seems to ignore them. I've been using the round ones from Ikea for a couple of years now and only had one incident. And at a few dollars a piece I bought a small supply to keep on hand just in case. They do look better than a lot of the other cheap ones out there.

I'm always envious when I visit friends with plush bath mats!

Andree -

I can only speak for myself, but when I ask a question here I'm just hoping that someone has some direct experience or knowledge and can save me the frustration of trial and error or the time of researching all the possibilities. If no one can answer, that's okay and I'll figure it out on my own.

I certainly wouldn't want someone to go out of their way and spend hours on my question. I'm just hoping that someone can point me in the right direction.

Hello All,
Does anyone know where to find nice modern lamp shades in LA or online? I've searched but found nothing. I have some lamps that I like the base but hate the shade. PLEASE help!
:-)

mscot, what kinda are you looking for? just simple white drum shade? or a specific fabric? Honestly, depending on how the harp is, i'd do a run through your basic stores, like Target and Kmart first- they actually have a big selection nowadays in a lot of contemporary styles- and not too expensive- it's worth a looksee before you resort to more professional (and maybe more pricey) options...

Hi Andree, I was just being cheeky;) You certainly sound like an exceptional human being to have gone to all that work on behalf of others on here. That's amazing!

Chrys, where's all the water coming from? You? After a shower or a bath? If it's after a shower, I have a good suggestion that will also help cut back on the length of time it will take to clean your shower area.

Get a shower squeegee, just the little kind, and after you've showered, before stepping out, you squeegee down the walls and the tub area.

Remember, all those droplets on the wall are chock full of soap scum, dead skin, and minerals in the water. The water portion evaporates, but the other stuff just clings to the wall, building up that typical residue overtime, and it's a real pain to scrub off.

Also, reducing the moisture on the walls and in the tub, that will reduce the room humidity (long term, those beads of water evaporating, the moisture goes somewhere) and will help prevent molds and mildews in your grout and caulking.

While doing that squeegee business, the water is dripping off of you. Into the tub, rather than the floor, and you'll be drip-dried to a point before even getting out of the bath.

There's also something like a "body squeegee", or water scraper??? It's some wood thing that you use to squeegee the water off your body, while in the tub/shower enclosure. I think I remember reading that it was used by Native Americans. I dunno.

So now you've scraped the water off the walls and off your body, there's very little left to "dry" and certainly nothing that is terribly drippy.

A bathmat is used so you have a place to step so you don't slip. It is then taken up after your dry, so it can dry and put down again when needed to prevent slippage.

At my mum's home, we always used the heavy spa-hotel type of towel bath mat. Those would be put down when entering the shower, and pulled up and hung afterwards. They wash just like towels.

They probably have a special name, but I don't know what it is. Other than a towel that you're supposed to step on. Like this (but there is no picture of the mat, it's just like the body towels): http://www.pangaya.com/bathmat.html

Amy and Duncan: I don't have experience in a lot of things, but I love to go out of my way, because it's something I enjoy doing, looking for things, being of service, being productive and helpful. I just want the folks who asked the question to read what other people found for them. ;)

Kim:

Great question!

The things I look for in an apartment are:
An interesting, non-box layout
Good windows (or large or at least well-placed)
Good ceiling height
Closet space
Layouts that lend themselves to "focal point" placement
enough uninterrupted wall space for furniture and/or art placement

I'm a night-time guy, so I'd rather have afternoon sun than morning light.

Wish list:
Some sense of "entry"(foyer,
Plaster walls
Wood floors in good condition
Some architectural quirk or feature (arches, great molding)
Good installed lighting (track or recessed)
(if a rental:) neutral kitchen and bath

But since I'm a "thing and furniture" person, I really look for the most neutral envelope I can find, then let the setting, neighborhood and city dictate what happens next. This would vary regionally...(if I had the means to have places in multiple locales!!)

mscot,

have you checked lamps plus? i know there's one on labrea & 3rd another branch is on bundy just north of olympic...also there's a great light store on 4th st in santa monica (near harvel's on that same side of the street) they can fabricate shades & do special orders...a similar place is the lighting store on melrose just west of labrea on the south side of the street so it depends which side of town you're on...hope those help

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JON!!!

Kim-

It's easier to create a great space if good bones are there to start with, but I've seen the average made spectacular and the potentially spectacular made unexciting and awkward.

Of course there are certain traits that are always more appealing. (No one with carpet and low ceilings has made it to the smallest, coolest apt. finals yet).

Another consideration and one that comes up on the AT site a lot is whether or not you will be allowed to paint or hang pictures on the walls. You may want to inquire about that when you're looking. Even a great place could be pretty boring with all white walls and no art.

I've submitted this for general posting, but in case they decline, I wanted to share this info.

On the New York site, they've had several posts about sleeper sofas and even had a best sleeper sofa contest. I learned a lot from reading those posts and though the LA board could benefit from a post devoted to sleeper sofas as well.

When shopping for a sleeper sofa, based on the NY boards, I first checked out the Troy sleeper from Crate & Barrel, but found it to be horribly uncomfortable as a sleeper. The mattress was too flimsy. I was deeply disappointed as I had planned on buying it. But, while at Crate & Barrel, the salesperson introduced me to the Nuevo sleeper, which has a different type of mechanism and mattress so that the "metal bar" feel is totally eliminated. I was in love. Unfortunately, I quickly fell out of love when confronted with the price.

So, I continued to my search. Again, based on the NY posts, I tried Mitchell Gold. While the sofas were very pretty and the fabrics lovely, the mattresses were no better than the Troy and no match for the Nuevo. I then decided I would just save and save for the Nuevo.

But, by a great stroke of luck, I stumbled onto another post on the NY boards that gave the name of the manufacturer of the Nuevo sofa - American Leather. Turns out, they also sell to Macy's as well as other independent furniture stores. All their comfort sleepers (of which Nuevo is one) are great because they have nice, sturdy foam mattresses, no metal bar, and are actually 80 inches in length and take up less space than a traditional sleeper sofa.

I went to the American Leather website and found a FANTASTIC dealer - Goodnight Mattress located in Rancho Palos Verdes. www.goodnightbeds.com

Stacy and Alex (father and son) are great to deal with. Very patient and just wonderful customer service. They also have fantastic prices - much lower than the other dealers I called. And of course, much lower than Crate & Barrel. Thanks to Apartment Therapy, I was able to find the sleeper sofa I really wanted at a much lower price.