apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Q: I recently purchased the West Elm Slideaway desk without realizing that, at 33 inches, the main surface would be too high to comfortably type on my laptop with my current desk chair. Anyone know of a good taller or adjustable height desk chair that isn't too spendy or ugly? I think the right chair needs to be at least 23 inches high at the seat. Thanks in advance!

Sent by Sarah

Swing over to Hyde Park today to pick up this brand new Kartell Madamoiselle chair at a steep discount.

Q: Know an affordable alternative to the Room & Board Copenhagen bed (larger photo below)? Or a straight-up knock-off?

Sent by Claire

Getting our homes just the way we like them can take time. Sometimes we don’t always have the budget to complete all our projects at once, and other times our homes are just one, ongoing evolution of design. The question is: do you banish all visitors when your place isn't quite finished?

Dressing in layers is what gets us through these transitional seasons when it's sunny and warm one day and gray and cold the next. The layered look can serve well in the home, as well. It can provide visual interest, texture, depth, and a sense of abundance.

THIS WEEK
• Heath Ceramics
• de Young Holiday Artisan Fair
• Super 7
• Propeller
• The Shade Store
• Y Lighting
• DZINE

....and more below the jump:

Item: $500 worth of custom canvas photo prints — probably enough to cover an entire wall!
Store: CanvasPop

Description: Remember that amazing candid shot you caught of your sister mid-laugh? Or that once-in-a-lifetime photo snapped while you were on a safari last year — you know, the one where the giraffe almost bit your nose off? There's nothing more satisfying than decorating your home with personal artwork and photos, and CanvasPop makes it easier than ever to do so.

THIS WEEK
• John Robshaw Sample Sale
• CB2 Can Drive
• Odegard Anniversary Sale
• Judy Ross Sample Sale
• Wired Store
• Evelyn Lauder Designer Showhouse
• DWR Limited
• Sanford Burrows Sale
• Japan Brand Shop
• Holiday House 2009
• BoConcept Holiday Sale
• Tim Burton Retrospective
• Conran Shop Entertaining Sale
• Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future
• Bauhaus: Workshops for Modernity
• M2L Moving Sale
• Interieurs Floor Sample Sale
• Royal Copenhagen Sale
• Thos. Moser Sample Sale
• Smith & Hawken Liquidation Sale

8 more below the jump…

This tiny 376 square feet Parisian rental apartment offers some unique tech touches that optimizes space and amenities, such as glow-in-the-dark striped wallpaper, a trolly cart Blu-ray home theater system, and a triple threat kitchen appliance which combines a cooker, oven and dishwasher all in one!

• Read the full post at Unplggd

Name: Heather, Denis and new pup, Addie
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: About 3000 square feet
Years lived in: 8 months

After living and renting in Portland for 3.5 years and being newly wed to one another, Denis and Heather decided it was time to purchase their very first home together. They proceeded to find an agent who took them all over the city looking for something, but in the end came up with nothing. They decided to take a house-hunting hiatus but soon after came the news that their two friends were packing up and moving back to Denmark.

Name: Michael & David, 2 dogs Spencer & Renee
Location: North Cleveland Park, Washington, DC
Size: 2,500 square feet
Years lived in: 2.5 years

You loved Michael Hampton's interior designs and watercolor paintings and now we're showing his North Cleveland Park house that he shares with David and their two dogs, Spencer and Renee. The older house has anachronisms that Michael and David wouldn't have chosen, but have learned to love.