apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Today's posting is *exactly* what I was wrestling with... major struggle this week, and I'm not sure WHY, when we did such substantial decluttering last year that it's not the issue. I think being stuck in my work slopped over to the decor.

JonathanB, a gay pal who definitely lacks the flower-arranging gene swears that orchids are the answer. I'm going to try them after we get back from vacation in June.

What I DON'T like about Calyx & Corolla is that they ship (mostly) as loose stems, not completed arrangements.

What I DO like is their "Flowers by the Month" programs.

But I like FTD.com much better.

And would go with a local (but not necessarily "corner") florist for personal flowers above any online or catalog source.

(but I think I missed why this week is called Retail Therapy... taht got me all excited!!)

I really like the color of the walls in both the bedroom and the spare room. What are the colors you used?

Love, love, love the chalkboard wall.

JohnathanB: If you want to take a walk, the Dean+Deluca's down in Soho had nicer flowers, although I haven't looked lately... I used to buy flowers down there when I lived in Little Italy. There's also a good flower place in the Chelsea Market, if you're ever over there.

I don't really "arrange" my flowers -- I just cut the ends down a bit and put them in a vase. If you really feel like you're at a loss, my ex-roommate took a short course in flower arranging through one of the art schools...

Wow, my living room is famous. atomic librarian, I highly recommend chalkboard paint. I picked up some on a whim after work one day and had the wall done and dry a few hours later. It's the easiest paint I've ever used and didn't need any primer or special treatment.

I can't wait to cull my book collection. I'm heading to Africa at the end of the month to visit a friend in the Peace Corps and am taking her as many as I can.

I've been using my local library as my own personal Amazon for the last few years. I can reserve books online and have them sent to my local branch. I even have a browser plugin that lets me check my library for books I find online using the ISBN. Most libraries also have donation bins so you can drop off your old ones and borrow some new ones at the same time.

I'm doing fine with the Eight Weeks. I think what I meant to say when I was complaining yesterday was that in addition to the Deep Treatment, I've discovered that there are three main things that I want to accomplish in the foreseeable future to make a real difference in recommitting to the apartment in which I've lived for 28 years:

1. New, professionally-installed cabinets in the kitchen, not the Surprise!Surprise! stuff;

2. Beadboard panels on most of my walls (thanks to pamh for the suggestion);

3. A professional painting/replastering job on the whole place.

Wouldn't it be counterproductive, if not insane, to think I can get all that accomplished in, what, five weeks? So perhaps I can either pick one (probably cabinets) to accomplish by the end of the Eight Weeks--probably the kitchen cabinets--or just figure that The Big Three are something a breed apart from "The Cure."

Thanks everyone for comments and supportive statements. It is comforting to know I'm not the only guy without the flower-arranging gene.

As for Calyx: interesting statement. what I ordered (and should come sometime today) is supposed to be a complete arrangement. I'll report back on what I find when it comes.

As for Dean and Deluca and Chelsea Market (and Whole Foods, which is actually alot closer than either): yes the flowers are a lot fresher than what one finds at the local corner deli, and generally looks to be a better selection. That doesn't help my basic feelings of being overwhelmed and confused.

Meanwhile, someone I know who works in a museum told me to get in touch with something in Chicago called Wright Auctions about getting rid of an object in my outbox. Anyone know anything about Wright?

I think we discussed the live flowers problem on one of he earlier threads and some of us who have sensitivity to flower pollen agreed that live green plants were an acceptable alternative. Much as I think that artificial flowers (of quality) are acceptable decor, the idea of having something fresh and alive in the room seems more to the point of the Cure.

That being said I'm looking for a large Dracenia Marginata (sp?). I had a large one that died a couple of years ago. Can anyone recommend a good shop with reasonable prices on large plants?

JonathanB:
Don't let yourself get overwhelmed by flower arranging: if you can arrange a room to your liking, I'm sure you can do a few flowers...

My suggestion, especially at his time of year, is white tulips. They're simple, they're cheap, and they're almost impossible to screw up. Get a dozen or so and cut off the bottoms so that the flower is about 6" abover the top of the vase you're using, and just drop them in. The nice thing about tulips is that they keep growing even after they're cut--mine always form themselves into lovely, organic shapes the day after I put them in.
For inexpenisve and beautiful vases, try Crate and Barrel. Good luck!

jimkk: ikea. seriously.

jimkk -- there are two big garden centers in the Chelsea Market. One is right inside, and the other is down the block on the North side of the market. I don't know how reasonable they are price-wise, but they both have a good selection of plants. You might call and ask first...

Hey! I had no idea that flower talk would be lurking over in this part of the website. I can absolutely understand flowers being overwhelming. What neighborhood are you in, JonathanB, maybe we can find you a more inspiring florist! I tend to get hooked on one type of flower at a time. I think that it is good practice for the eye and for confidence to work for a while with one flower you like. It is amazing how many variations something like, say, roses, can have. And a GOOD florist can and will start you on the path, starting with a simple vase, a simple selection of flowers, and then suggestions on cutting and arranging.

If the flowers are important to you, and it is something you are interested in, it is worth starting with the basics and building up your knowledge.

And it will suddenly make you enjoy and appreciate the flowers much more...

were lotuses found in manhattan?

someone got me all excited by mentioning them, and then did not fulfill the expectations aroused by their remarks.

I also really appreciate today's post, everything this week has felt like one step forward, two steps back.

Having spent two evenings chiselling the grout on my fireplace tile I've come to the conclusion I need help with my repairs. My shopping list and budget are at odds with each other already so this was a depressing realization. My new plan is to replace the pendant light in the living room with something closer to or on the ceiling so I can live with my furniture arrangement.

The good news is my co-op is having a yard sale this Sunday in Boerum Hill. Please stop by Wyckoff St between Bond and Nevins to shop my outbox and expand my budget!

Melinda, I've ended up making that kind of breakdown (Cure-able vs. Takes Longer to Get Right) too. There are issues where the Cure is a huge impetus to just buckle down and DO it... That was great for motivating me to do something about a rug for under the dining table, where there was a simple, inexpensive answer that really solved my problems.

Not the right approach for a rug for the bedroom, though, where I have my heart set on a Chinese Art Deco rug. That's a case where I'm holding out for something exactly right. (Though if the bamboo rug in there cracks a couple more slats, I may be going to Target for a less annoying short-term substitute... sometimes a carb provides useful energy...)

Jesse, if the Ikea comment was addressed towards me, you must be psychic...I was just looking at their site.

Do you have any personal experience with them?

One of my neighbors has some great-looking Ikea kitchen cabinets he's using as part of a home office. He's had them about three years and so far, they're holding up just fine.

JonathanB

Wright Auctions is a high end auction house dealing largely in the finest furniture around. The regularly have mid-cent-modern sales that host dozens of pieces from EVERY designer in excelent condition...

If you have nice pieces they'll be a great place to start. Click my name fo their site

I've been doing really well with flowers from Whole Foods (I don't like arrangements; just bunches of one kind of flower); nearly everything I've gotten from them has managed to last at least ten days, and a few hardy gerbera daisies have hung on decently for close to two weeks. I snip the ends of the stems and change the water daily, but nothing beyond that. Pretty decent for about $11 for 10 stems!

I love Calyx and Corolla, but they are too expensive for me for anything beyond an "occasion".

matt: I'm in the East Village. Near Union Square.

julian: thanks for the link.

sydney:

yes, calyx is expensive. and that its prices I expect it to last more than a week.

Melinda, the ikea suggestion was actually for jkk in terms of cheap, large plants, but it actually works for you as well!

As far as ikea cabinets go, I've only had experience with the Varde free-standing units. Verdict: a little pricey, for ikea, but overall good quality (nice drawer movement, etc.). Still looking nice after 3 years, which is more than I can say for anything else I've bought at ikea.

Jonathan--
To get any flowers to last more than 7 days, you really need to be pretty religious about changing the water and retrimming the stems (and keeping any of the leaves out of the vase water).

But some flowers (Cala Lillies, tropicals like gingers, exotics like Protea) will typically last longer.

I sooo am going to buy white tulips on the way home from work today!!!! I was holding "flower purchase" "hostage" until I did some paper decluttering, but dammnit I want some flowers!!

jonathanB - I agree with Matt. Start with one or two of the same flower, or a bunch of the same flower. Tulips, daisies, roses, lilies, they all come in different colors. You will have better luck finding fresh flowers if you get seasonal ones. Right now tulips are in season and they can be really beautiful, and come with tons of their own greenery. Why don't you ask your local corner market what day they get the fresh flowers in, and you could get them that day and they'd be really fresh.
I really like lillies, Calla lillies are beautiful and have a really unusual shape. You only need one or two to make a nice 'arrangement'.

Melinda -- Mine are IKEA. When I talked to my contractor about them, he said that they're fine for people without kids to bang them around. They aren't super high quality, but they're the same thickness and material as the stuff I was looking at over at HD.

If you decide to look at them, go on a weekday and sit down with someone -- the weekends are just crazy and no one has time to really talk to you. You do have to know what you want. I found most of the basic information online and then went in with a drawing on graph paper. I was able to sit down with one of the people in that section and come up with a good shopping list and the final price in about an hour. They won't give samples of the finishes, but you can go down to the as-is department and buy something small if you really want to look at the finishes in your house.

My favorite part? That $100 delivery charge applies no matter how much you order...

I just noticed that my post made the question of the week. I don't know whether to be flattered or embarassed.

Calyx has arrived. Incredibly well packaged. In addition to a cold pack, some stems had a little test tube of water to help keep them "norished" -- I think that's the right term. The instructions are clear; even I could follow them.

Since I don't exactly have a lot of vases, I ordered the vase as well. I find the one the company suggested matches the bouquet a little too well. I have a feeling that's more my problem than a real problem.

The bouquet itself looks just like the picture in the catalog and Web site, so while I don't remember why in the end I ordered this one (yes, it is one I ordered), I can say it does match what I ordered. And customer service was both nice and efficient.

So far it's been on a table for 10 minutes and so far no complaints.

My kitchen cabinets are from Ikea too. I found this website and thread helpful when I was planning my kitchen:

http://livemodern.com/forums/dwell/dwelllabs/765009581402/view

Patrick: Thanks for the tips. Good luck with the tulips.

Angelune: I like the idea of seasonal flowers, but I have no idea of what's in season when. However, since I have a lockjawy cahnt and shant accent, I think I'd be setting myself up for a lot of bad jokes if I put out callalillies when they're in bloom again.

Such a strange flower... suitable to any occasion...

there is at least one other person here who spends way too much time seeing old movies.

Now I have to go rent it again. It's already been a year.

I'm lost. I have no idea what movie you are reffering to.

Stage Door. The line is Katherine Hepburn's. And my apologies. I don't think anyone meant to exclude anyone.

Yes, and the line was also the other actress's--the one the role was meant for.

now, now, don't give the plot away. angelune may want to rent it.

Mary and Liz, thanks for the advice on Ikea!

I have a good idea of what I want, plus a rough floor plan/elevation and some pictures. I would just have to sit down with the Ikea people and figure out what configuration of Lars/Sven/Husker Du components it would take.

Also have to see when it would be feasible to take a vacation day or two.

Rasil - to be fair, I didn't raise your hopes. I mentioned that I was personally questing for lotus with no knowledge of their availability. Scott's on 23rd Street informed me that the lotus season ended a month ago and one can look for them again next winter.

I didn't make it this way. Mother Nature did.

JonathanB-

I don't know if this helps, but I once read about a simple way to arrange flowers: buy all one color. If you have a few different kinds that are all white, say, they should look fine together. After you live with them for a while, you'll begin to appreciate their presence and gain some flower-buying saavy.

Cindy: thanks. every suggestion helps and I've been jotting them all down in my notebook, looking forward to applying each and every one

I grew up with a mom growing flowers in the yard and garden who I think made me aware of them. Most of the flowers in vases in the house were usually in bunches of the same kind rather than arrangements with various types - say all tulips or all nasturtiums, that kind of thing. I love flowers of all kinds and just experiment with what I get, all the same kind or putting bunches together from the farmers' market. For the last couple of years, I've started collecting vases, one of my few (only?) things that I collect. It's so frivolous, I love it.

I really love getting very large flowers from the market. They're so dramatic. I have two really big vases.

Which would you buy? My studio is very small with high ceilings. I think the Pier 1 cabinet is far better quality and the legs make for a much airier feel. Like armoire idea for all a/v components. TV, cable, vcr, stereo, etc. I want these items and their flashing LEDs out of sight.(Not sure how to post links)

Pier 1: [url]http://www.pier1.com/catalog/productdetail.aspx?oid=69257&returnURL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pier1.com%2fcatalog%2fcollections.aspx%3ffh_location%3d%2f%2fpier1direct%2fen_US%2fcategories%3c%7b110297%7d%2fcategories%3c%7b110325%7d%26fh_refpath%3dfacet_59432939%26fh_start_index%3d0%26fh_view_size%3d8%26fh_view%3dlister&fh_location=//pier1direct/en_US/categories<{110297}/categories<{110325}&fh_refpath=facet_59432939&fh_start_index=0&fh_view_size=8&fh_view=lister[/url]

Target: [url]http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=in_de_detail-buybox-with-variations/602-0146914-2309475?%5Fencoding=UTF8&frombrowse=&asin=B000BK3GFK[/url]

Of course, I'd prefer Pier 1's Javanese armoire above all others. But am not dropping $1K on a piece of furniture this year.

Also, there's always flowers in vases in the shelter magazines with all kinds of different ways to display them. Sometimes a single stem, sometimes a bunch of the same kind all leaning against one side of the vase. It's fun to just mix it up and experiment.

I think I'll order Mother's Day flowers from Calyx and Corolla this time instead of Flowerbud.com (which are also really great) which I've been using for several years whenever I order flowers.

I like the mixed bouquets that they sell at grocery stores. The one I bought week before last had 5 roses, a gerbera daisy, several ranunculus, snapdragons, and some filler flowers as well as some mixed leaves. I took all the roses and put them in a small vase on my SO's desk. Put each of the white ranunculsus in a single vodka shot glass. I also put the red Gebera in a vodka shot glass. Lined up all of them on the mantle. The rest I placed in a vase for a casual bouquet. By separating the flowers you can combat the "stiff" look these bouquets have.

Glad you are happy with what you got from Calyx and Corolla, Jonathanb; I have always had great luck with them. I usually send them for birthday and holiday gifts, etc., and the recipients always comment on how gorgeous (and undamaged!) the flowers were on arrival, and how long they lasted. I've never had any reason to complain about C&C.

pixie:
I suspect anyone who has flowers out on a regular basis is going to need a collection of vases by definition. that doesn't sound all that frivolous to me somehow.

sydney:
I certainly have no complaints. and I'm still agog at the packing.

this post read my mind (or i guess, the collective mind). still, i don't know whether the sources of my deep dissatisfaction with our apartment can be addressed with an 8-week deep treatment. maybe i need a *real* therapist or something, but i suspect i'd do better with a $15,000 home improvement grant.

not to be too therapy-ish, but one deep treatment revelation i've had is the extent to which our apartment has developed more as a product of necessity than design. not a lot of reflection has gone into our space - we've just gone through choosing things that seemed appealing and useful at the time, without a discernible theme in sight. which come to think of it is kinda like my career path.

this is all to say the desire for a clean slate is strong, which can make the deep treatment frustrating when the deep treatment is all you can manage. guess one thing i gotta work on is acceptance ;)

JonathanB,
I used to just have a very random collection of things that I put flowers in - canning jars, yard sale vases, perrier and other bottles and jars. Now I actually spend money on cool-looking vases and look for things I really like and that will fit different types of flower needs. I'm really enjoying this. It's a real self- and home- pampering thing.

Flower Arranging at BHG, lots of links and links within links:
http://tinyurl.com/j76se

One to look at now...
Even if you are out of large flowers for the large vase, you can use the large vase to contain a few simple, attractive elements...AND, I'm thinking that would really cut back on the pollen distribution for allergy sufferers:
http://tinyurl.com/g4pbz

That looks nice, it looks modern and up-to-date and doesn't give your home that "who died?" look.

IKEA has lots of vases and several dried and artificial plants that can be used in addition to live flowers. You can have your nicest fresh florals on the coffee table. And have some artificial ones in vases near a window that is too hot for real ones, or shaded area that is too cold and dark. Or use the dishes of single color potpourri for extra color. Check the artificial and dried items here:
http://tinyurl.com/m96ar

Hope that helps

Maxwell, the farther I get in the book, the less things apply to me. Hah! I can't physically do as much as you'd have us doing, it's too painful. And the Living Room Makeover Budget on page 175? Just slightly less than what I get YEARLY from Social Security. There's no one to invite for dinner and I don't have a table anyway.

However, I'm plugging along, poking into usually ignored spaces and pulling out a few things at a time to be donated or recycled.

I repotted a few things. I've been in denial about the geraniums that have a root bacterial disease. The Ortho book says to chuck 'em and either boil the pots or wash them with bleach or toss those too. So I did toss some of the failing plants and stacked pots to decide what to do next.

Nope, I'm not as focused as the book either. But I figure it's something and if I can stand for 3 minutes to grab a few items that can go to the Outbox without bursting into tears in pain, then I'm STILL doing good. It's more than I was doing before.

Another of my life philosophies, developed since becoming disabled: "It doesn't have to be perfect, just a little bit better."

Melinda:

There's a whole section on IKEA cabinets on this AT site here:
http://tinyurl.com/z7nec

Links within that thread to other areas too.

And you can use their online Kitchen Planner (for Windows only) to set up your kitchen and view it in 3-D. Which will give you the costs, and I think a shopping list??? I dunno, I'm on a Mac.

random question: does anyone have advice for removing paint from plaster walls, where so many layers have accumulated that the brittle paint is chipping off under its own weight? click my name for some photos and more description of the problem.

Ah, I'm late on this great topic (as usual), flower arranging.
One of my professions, actually (I even have a diploma; very few florists do - you don't really need it in this business, just a good eye and knowldge of a few rules - as my friend and teacher used to say) - a useless piece of paper, actually, but it warms my heart!

It's a wonderful season, JonathanB: you can buy freshest, local seasonal flowers instead of mishmash of daisy mums, roses w/o smell and carnations from L.America - something truly autentic, connected to where and how you live.

Simplest thing right now - and most bang for your buck - lilac branches. Break the stems (don't cut), hammer the base of the stem a bit, so it will absorb water better, and arrange them in a wide-mouth big vase so in plan (view from above) they form a circle.
In other words, branches are distributed equally around the vase's perimeter, none are sticking too far from the rest.

P(2), how elaborate an arrangement you want? I used to do weddings (my own sister's included), "6th Ave publishing" lobbies, dinner parties and boutique hotels. And ikebana (although I'd love to have a Japanese teacher, from one of the real ikebana schools...may be some day), and "mass style", and "natural growth" style, etc.

Actually, a pet idea of mine: was thinking of coming to YMCA and offering to lead a class in inteirors-concsious flower arranging.

I just wanted to say thank you for the tip on the Easy Change wallpaper from Scherwin Williams. The samples just arrived and I think I am going to give it a go.

I absolutely fell in love with a pattern from Emery et Cie (also found here on this site) but I live in a rental and the thought of having to find a way to take that down when I move out in 1-2 years was a bit intimidating. While not the same, I was able to find a pattern from SW with a likeness to the one that I found at Emery et Cie and it promises that with warm water it will peel off. It's also a smaller investment to make in case I do not like it. I'll keep you posted and post photos here if we decide to go for it.

Thanks for the tip. : )

The don't get down message is EXACTLY what I needed. Cleaning closets, drawers and storage is harder than I expected. I'm realizing how many things that are just dead weight I have managed to shuffle around instead of address in previous apartment cleanings and purges. I don't even feel like I have a lot of stuff, but I'm still managing to find all sorts of things that I can and should let go...to other homes, to the garbage, whatever. I know it's ultimately going to feel very refreshing to have it all gone (or organized, for those things that stay), but the process is tougher than I expected. I do really like the idea of making room for new good things though!

Pixie: sounds like a great self pamper.

Andree: Thanks for the links. I've bookmarked the main page for future reference.

Tat: Like the lilac idea -- perhaps after the C&C bouquet is one with the universe. As for teaching flower arranging, how about the learning annex, which might have a wider audience. (I'm assuming you're in the New York area.)

As for the bouquet itself: the lilies are opening nicely and the stems seem to have relaxed a bit so the arrangement looks looser and less forced. I still don't like the vase because it's too good a match to the colors in the flowers, but shall take care of that problem when I change the water.

Got lilacs today...but I cut and didn't break! Anyway, they're still wonderful...and just to add my 2 cents about arranging, I find that when i use those marbles or stones at the bottom of my vase, it makes it easier to arrange

Christine, try to smash those stems at the base in a couple of days, when the leaves start looking sad and you'll be changing water - you'll see the difference. Also, if you could get from the pharmacy ...er...only know chemical element's name, Mn (manganese) - have no idea if you could get it over the counter. Lilac loves it. It's a silvery-whitish powder, but when you add it to water, the water turns intense fuchsia pink. Used in pharmacopea as antiseptic (same uses as iodide). Works only with lilac and similar woody-stem shrub branches.

Marbles in the vase: useful mostly for the week-stem flowers; lilac will stand on its own.

The secret to stable structure of the bouquet is to start it with 3 strongest, most straight stems and place them at 120deg angle, forming a base triangle in the vase. Add the rest of the stems in between, sort of in opening fan movement. It is a Dutch technique, which they train any freshman florists to use in hand-forming bouquets (w/o a vase). It took me about 3 weeks 9hr a day practice to master it.

You can also use some other forming devices, like this one (at my name) or simply make a grid with transparent florist's tape over the mouth of the vase, secure it around the perimeter and put the flowers inside the cells.

An illustration of a Dutch bouquet. Note the stems' fan movement.

oops, sorry, wrong link. Fixed now.

Christina,

I'm so glad that you are going to try the Easy Change wallpaper. Please let me know how it goes, if it's easy to apply, and how it looks on. I'm still too chicken to make the plunge but I'm glad that I was able to pass the information on. Good luck!

I'm going to finish painting the pieces of furniture I've been procratinating about for years. Maybe once those elements (dresser, armoire, stool, and two tables) are done and my artwork is finally on the walls, maybe a background element (wallpaper, paint) won't be needed to pull all the colors together. Wish me luck.

Well I didn't do any specific step in the cure this weekend, but I got a lot done! I had many photographs that needed to be framed, so I cut mats for all of them, and got them all framed and hung throughout the house.

I also got my boyfriend the audio expert man to help me mount the front channel speakers on the wall instead of them sitting on my credenza, he also hid some wires and hooked up my record player so I can actually play my vinyl instead of just displaying it.

I set out some vases that I got from west elm, I still need to get flowers, I plan to do that this afternoon.

I'm pretty pleased with the progress I made. Photos here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ambernussbaum/142189997
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ambernussbaum/142189996
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ambernussbaum/142189994
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ambernussbaum/142189992
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ambernussbaum/142189998/

Nice work Amber. What a great place. Good colors, furniture, aesthetic sense.

I esp. like the picture on the right in link two, the kitchen, of the laughing woman (?)

I feel pretty unmotivated this week. It's partly because this week is the living room and mine is in pretty good shape clutter-wise. I have some things to do still but anything I don't get done I can call "office" since my office area is a nook in the LR and a lot of what I have to do is related to that. So, I'll accept low motivation this week and try to get some repairs done too.

I did empty my outbox this weekend - donated a lot of stuff, mostly to an animal rescue place that I do some volunteer work for.

Tat: Thanks for the link. I love the way the stems look, just on their own!

Lisa: That Easy Change wallpaper will be the hit over at BHG and I posted it over there. I can hardly wait to see what people will do. I'll let you know if I spot some "after" shots.

Amber: Looking good! It's a freeing feeling to get those things done that you've had in the back of your mind.

At least that's what I'm discovering. I've made it into a game. It takes me a lot longer than everyone else, so instead of "cleaning and sorting" I'm on a "trash hunt".

Like a treasure hunt, but I'm looking for things that don't belong. Things I don't need or don't use. Things I have duplicates of, and could use the storage space for something else. Like mugs. I don't need umpteen mugs. A few is fine.

One other thing. Email. I'm finding it much easier to get through email. I have cancelled some newsletters or store promotion things. No more backlog of email wanting my attention. Most of it doesn't deserve my attention. My time IS valuable.

I just didn't realize how burdened I was...and I have a LOT of burdens. Just getting through email and regular mail was a stumbling block. Now it's not so bad. Thanks for the gift Maxwell. It's becoming easier to let go.

O.K I finished week 1...(for a chick with an empty apartment, my outbox is overflowing) and i did buy flowers(central mkt in TX) beautiful RED roses. GREAT VASES @ POTTERY BARN. I will post pix for help/sug. as soon as i find my dock for this camera.
p.s the design tray is a great idea.. i also did a 2nd tray for ME ( cloths/hair/shoes,ect) i will weed this out each season..
Now, any sugestions on melding traditional(sofa)
with modern tables n such?

Very nice, Amber!

Well. My latest discovery, in cleaning up my living room, is that I've been watering a fake plant for at least a year. Think of all the time I'll save, now that I've thrown it out.

Joan -- that's great! Thanks for sharing the laugh!

I don't have a living room, per se, so I've been going through all the media in the house instead. I went through and purged a bunch of DVDs. I also took the last of the CDs I was trying to sell on amazon [17 down from 75!] to my library, along with a stack of books. I don't think I'd ever dusted my bookshelf in the closet.

Thanks everyone. By the way, all photos are by "irregular girl" on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/casoulbyrd/

We did a swap of sorts, I got high res versions of some of her photos plus permission to make prints and I sent her a set of prints as well.

Joan, too funny (can it be true?). I've been in and out of the Cure, but it's great. For one thing, I got rid of some shoes. Don't worry, Tat, I bought some more!

I never did put a style tray on flickr, but I have it all in my head. If I wasn't such a lazybone I would've scanned in Julian Schnabel's living room from Domonique Nabakov's book. I was never wild about Schnabel's paintings, but he has a gazillion dollars, and he can decorate.

All this time I thought I was a modernist when what I really must have wanted was to live in a medieval banquet hall. Well it's too late now.

Uh, DomInique Nabakov, is what I meant to type.

Ultim8! Sterling idea about the personal style tray!

I think that needs to be talked about in more detail!

Show of hands. How many people here have bought something in the clothing/shoes area, gotten it home, and discovered that the new purchase didn't go with anything we already own? Usually it's at a eye-catching price.

Next. How many people did NOT return the really cute blouse, or the handbag that was on sale, and instead went out and bought a bunch of other items to match/work with the bargain? Making the bargain not a bargain when you include the total amount spent trying to match it?

Next. How many people now having a totally new outfit wore it more than a few times?

It wasn't my STYLE! I was attracted to the item, but it really wasn't my style and didn't go with anything and I didn't even realize it. I was blinded by the gleaming aura behind that display.

Wow! That's another major thing...I don't NEED every color/style of every item that has ever existed. I know what I like. I just...uh...forget sometimes.

Ultim8, sometimes mixing furniture styles is just in the accessories, check out here: http://tinyurl.com/l5z86

Are you picking out new furniture to try to work with the sofa?

Okay I took a fake-panoramic of my whole living room (which is the room I'm curing). See it here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ambernussbaum/142711359

Obviously I need a rug and curtains. I'm a bit concerned about the big open space that's the walkway from the kitchen (where I stood to take this pic) to the hallway, but I don't really wanna obstruct it either. It's not as big as this picture makes it seem.

I'm open to suggestions on how to prettify the dog crate, and how to cover the back of that speaker so it's not so fug. When I get the couch I want, it'll be about 6" shorter than the current couch, so the speaker might not stick out past that wall, but I still wanna cover it in case.

Also, the wall above the TV seems really blank now that stuff is going on on either side of it. Should I put something up there or is that going to make it too cluttered?

Also, see the pic for a couple other notes about the room.

Andree, I adore you. I just had to tell you that.

Amber:

Check out this pet crate:
http://tinyurl.com/olebk

Then head out to the local stores with that image in mind and check out the table linens area. Look at the rugs too. Wicker, rattan, bamboo, woven grass, you might be able to put something together out of placemats to create a similar look.

Possibly using the same idea for the back of the speaker, placemats or even a runner.

Or use a tablecloth, and make bed "hospital corners" on the backside of the dog crate and pin. That opens up the whole world of textiles. Any fabric you want, can be used over the dog crate.

Depending on the size of the dog crate, you might also look into small tables under which the dog crate can be placed.

Atomic Librarian: Thank you! :)

Andree, the proxy server at my work blocks tinyurl sites as "proxy avoidance." Can you post the full URL? Thanks!

Amber, some speakers project from the back as well as the front, so covering the back of the speakers might not be a good idea. If you want to hear how covering the back changes the sound, put a towel over the back and listen to see if you notice a difference. If you do, try fabric that is thinner than a towel. You might decide to do without covering.

You can get speakers that are designed to be mounted to the wall. That might solve your problem. You could hang them behind your sofa and get rid of the stands.

Amber: here's Andree's link...

http://www.mightypets.com/midwest/Midwest-Bay-Isle-Rattan-Wicker.html

I'm very behind with the cure. I just finished deep-cleaning the kitchen. I threw out about 15 cute little McCormick spices that are over 6 years old. A bottle of cinnamon sticks purchased for a mulled wine recipe this past Christmas is all that's left now. I found that when I do actually cook, I always buy fresh basil, rosemary etc... Last week's "landing strip/entry hall" is my one-room remedy so that's ongoing. I need an electrician because there's absolutely no light in my entry--both outlets shorted. (very bad feng shui). I have to choose lighting fixtures (I"m going to have a sconce installed) and switch the 2 recessed ceiling lights for one decorative hanging light and one gallery track light to spotlight artwork. I also need one or two table lamps. My entryway is wide and turns a corner to the right where it forms another hallway which opens to the living room. This creates a corner nook which I'm turning into a mini-library with a small writing desk as my landing strip. I'm going to hang floor-to-ceiling curtains at the doorways to create privacy and the sense of a separate space. I like having a deadline for all this..even though it's a lot of work, it makes it more fun. I'm open to sconce suggestions someone might have....

Andree, I am picking out furniture for a new me!
The sofa is chocolate leather, bordering on mod.
I found sq. foam cubes on dwr (x-tra seat/coffee tbl) and a big comfy chair @ williams sonoma home. side tbls/ lamps in ?. for now. (my loft is 842 sq.ft. modern with industrial edge(original wood train track ceiling beams/stainlss stl appliance visable piping (i have decided on orange/turq.green for kitchen)

junedanish,
I have a box of herbs and spices that now qualify as ancient that I need to toss also.

I like that this month is Cleaning Month on AT, besides us being in the middle of the Cure. It helps me to rationalize anything that I don't get done cleaning-wise in whatever the current week of the Cure is by saying, I've still got the rest of Cleaning Month to take care of that.

I agree that the deadlines really help and also knowing that everyone else is also doing this.

Mary: Thank you for posting the direct link. I fell asleep again. Maxwell didn't mention the physical labor aspect of the physical labor aspect...of moving stuff around in the apartment. Yeah, that thing I dragged around was heavy and I did hurt myself.

Ultam8, that is so great! Being able to choose new things. Did you check out the Carpet Magic? I liked that because it has two pictures with benches used as coffee tables, and one with a trunk. Some trunks can be used as extra seating, like the HOL one at IKEA. And you get a ton of storage. The benches are easy to use as seating and a table at the same time.

When choosing your lamps, be sure you consider the applications you need the light for. A floor lamp that is adjustable in height and swings, like this type at IKEA:
http://tinyurl.com/dtz6n

I generally start with showing product *I* might be able to afford, and then let other people spend as much as they want. That kind of light can be raised or lowered for reading. Could even be behind a sofa to swing left or right. It takes regular bulbs, and you could even use a fluorescent.

And for ultimate browsing for an Ultam8girl, head over to here:
http://www.designjournalmag.com/product_galery_0.htm

Yeah, I went through 64 pages of coffee tables. And some really cool things will show up, like this:
http://studiolilica.com/html/gally_pix/spacescreen.html

It's custom made and is NOT available at a retailer near you.

But it IS a great way to get an idea of what exactly IS OUT THERE in lighting (or many other categories).

June Danish (I don't even like typing to you, because I keep thinking of pastries...Pastries...PASTRIES!):

If you want to browse a lot, check out the link I posted above to Ultam8 to Design Journal Magazine. Sconces you didn't know existed are there.

Electrical, did you check your fuse box and switch stuff off and back on? Did you try replacing the fuse? It's easy to replace an outlet, just remember to turn off the power to that outlet before replacing it. Otherwise ))))ZAP((((

Reminds me of the vacuum cleaner I used to have that would intermittently shock me. Talk about housework avoidance training. vacuumvacuumvacuumZAPvacuumZAP.

Pixie:

I don't like deadlines. The Cure puts everyone in the same race with the same finish line, regardless of the size of the home, the amount of crap accumulated, the amount of time each person has, and the actual physical ability of each person.

I can't compete with a marathon runner whose home is way less cluttered than mine. Someone who is way better off physically.

I'll just keep plugging along, doing what I can as I can. It's still better than doing nothing. It's still getting the job done.

I wasn't kidding about it being the 8-MONTH-Cure at my speed. It's really about changing habits though, and being able to start fresh in 8 weeks (so it seems to me). Instead of the crash diet for the apartment, it's a longer process for me, but in just this amount of time, I'm seeing NEW habits emerging.

Pixie. I didn't even know it was cleaning month! You're right, that takes some of the pressure off

Andree. You're funny. I'm half-English, half-Danish--so an old boyfriend used to call me "Tea and Pastry!" The outlets are definitely history. I'd need the electrician anyway to install the sconce and switch ceiling fixtures. I'm very much a "do it yourselfer" and will be painting the hallway etc.. but I can be a little klutzy at times and I don't want to mess with voltage.

junedanish,
I am a master at rationalization and will ferret out any oppportunities!

Junedanish, is one of your downlights within 2' radius from the wall where you want to lit the art displayed? If yes, you can save existing opening and electr. connections - just change the fixture for an adjustable downlight wallwasher.
Lightolier has lots of them, and I'm sure other manufacturers available thru retailers.They could even be dimmable (if use incandescents; compact fluorescents are more economical but require elaborate dimming equipment and it makes savings obsolete)

Amber, I added a picture of our covered dog crate to flicker , I use it as a bed side table. It is very easy to cover, I used fusible tape with an iron instead of sewing the folded back edges. One day I will have piece of glass cut for the top. One day.

Flowers! Yes, I made it into Week 5 without buying flowers. Someone who wanted me not to be in a bad mood brought me lovely parrot tulips in the color of the living room tonight. Yes, now I see what flowers do for a room. (And it needs it -- this was the day things started falling off the wall.)

I'm still very happy with being-given-to for the first round, though. When I refill the vase in the future, I get to remember how pleased I was, so it's part of settling down here, rather than a Duty to the Apartment.

Liz:

Check out your local hardware store for thick acrylic. They may have ready-cut sizes that will fit. Be sure to check their "brokens-bin" or whatever it is. Pieces that are no longer the standard sizes, and they'll sell them for a couple dollars. I have some LARGE pieces that I used to put up next to the cat box, and also covering the lower portion of the screen door to prevent cat scratching on those surfaces. They'll cut it for you too, if you find a bigger piece than you need.

Another idea is to check out the wood area, as a nice piece of wood can be sanded and stained. You could add some interesting fabric trim around the edge and attach with a staple gun. There are a gazillion trims out there, which you probably know from picking out the fabric. Ribbons and lace and tassels and metallics. Wouldn't be hard to change either.

Jess:

Re: Deep Treatment vs a wheelbarrow full o' cash...

You've got to get out of bed before you can make coffee and get dressed. OMG, I sound like Dr. Phil.

You have to start somewhere. There is a beginning. You're at it. And you've made the most important realization for your present and your future. You buy out of necessity, without a thought to what it might work with. That's good and bad. You're buying only what you need. Good. But not thinking about the big picture of your home. Not so good.

So you might have dissatisfaction with the way the green sofa looks with the purple chair next to the traditional dining table that has clear orange glass plates and cut crystal glasses. Maybe they were all good buys, and you needed them for their specific purpose, but they don't work together.

That is EXACTLY why you get a style tray put together. You move those pictures around of each item to see how the chair looks with the sofa and the wall paint. Each item on it's own looks great. All items together cause children to run away in terror.

You can even make a mock room, with a photo alteration application, like Photoshop. You can paste in the furniture and drapes. Maybe the sizes will be off, but it gives you a much better idea of how it all looks together.

If you decide you want to change some major items, or even minor ones, do please remember that YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO IT ALL AT ONCE. You can make a priority list. What you need. What you want. And what can be adapted to a new purpose.

Check out REAL+LIFE Decorating magazine, and good luck finding it. It's full of colors that will poke your eye out, but there are good ideas hidden in the text. Really. Maybe you have three dining chairs, mismatched, and you want to get a new set of four. What they did with three wood chairs is create a bench, by joining all three with a plywood seat, made a back pad to unify the chair backs, and got a seat pad. Now you have a bench that can be used in the entry, or at the end of your bed. YOU get to choose the paint color and the fabric colors.

Maybe you have an older sofa. Surefit makes not just covers, but separate cushion covers. Maybe the sofa itself is too worn, but you might be able to reuse the seat cushions as floor pillows.

I know about the money situation, and spending a month's worth of rent on a yearly basis is patently absurd with my financial situation. Nevertheless, there are a few things that can be done.

I'm zipping over to your Flickr area, and I'd be more than happy to look for specific ideas or play with your photos. And there ARE ways to combine your likes of MCM and Anthropologie things. I always have hope. There's always a way.

Oh wow, thanks Liz. That looks nice.

Oh by the way Nate is adorable. We both have Boston Terriers. :)

Jess:

I did a fast paste job on your living room:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96179754@N00/

Futon cover, envelope style, no zippers, 69.00:
http://tinyurl.com/rsdnv

Nissaryd picture at IKEA, $9.99:
http://tinyurl.com/rl4x6

Roskilde rug, IKEA, $19.99:
http://tinyurl.com/paheo

Bettan Blom throw pillow, IKEA, $7.99 each:
http://tinyurl.com/nnl7g

Pallbo footstool, IKEA, $29.99 each:
http://tinyurl.com/s7wdz

Without the footstools, or pillows, it's a hundred bucks. Now, maybe you hate those colors (I like orange, red, and purple together), but browse the sites above. There are many colors of the futon covers. IKEA has enough pillow covers and pillows to keep you deciding for years. The Pallbo footstool can be used for sitting, table, or feet. Has many different colored covers also. The rug also comes in white.

I started looking for covers for the yellow chair, but you said you were getting rid of it anyway. Check at IKEA, in both the Textiles-Cushions and covers and the SUMMER area for pillows that will work on the cool rocker you have. They have thick orange and white striped floor pillows that might fit perfectly on your rocker, and they are $12.99 each.

You could also go with "natural" colors, sisal type rugs. Beiges, browns, blacks, whites, off-whites.

The hard part is putting it together. Knowing who has what and being willing to browse until you have a grasp of what you like the MOST. I had windows open all over. I'd find one thing I liked, and then couldn't find something to go with it that was a reasonable price.

I just pasted the whole futon in your room, because I'd never be able to get the shading/dimension right. Anyway, check it out, just to get a feeling of what would happen if you just changed/added a couple things that are NOT very expensive.