Ideas are flying! This one is particularly nice. It's a pic of a room by Nate Berkus, which was tagged by theholidaygirl who borrowed it from Chantel's Style Tray.
This week is a bit lighter. Looking forward to the home stretch and figuring that you've already hit the biggest trouble spots, this week pulls back to focus on your bathroom - a place of function and luxury. It also delivers a sermon on lighting, potentially the most important single aspect of interior design in the home (Sorry for the delay in this post ;-)).
This Week's Assignment:
In the deep treatment the overall theme is peacefulness. As you clean out your bathroom(s), I want you to get to a point where you are able to put some calming luxury back into them. If you don't have them already, there are some purchases to be made here that can change your bathroom experience.
Nate Berkus is as talented as he is hhhhhhooottt.
I want to do him when I grow up.
Er, um, I mean, I want to BE him when I grow up. Yeah, that.
Patrick,
Yup - we all want Nate. he can come over and decorate any time he wants. yummy.
Alana,
far beyond whether to throw out your makeup I think we would all agree that one item for your Cure this week that is not on Maxwell's list is for you to take the dh out on a date - make it happen. Find a restaurant, make a reservatation, tell him to wear a *@#!! tie or whatever is the hottest thing you like to see him in and proceed to get dolled up. - then have a good time.
Repeat in December. Repeat in January. and so on. He is obviously smart if his is with you - so I bet he'll get the message.
RE makeup - I strongly suggest buying a new tube of mascara from the drugstore because eye infections are not fun (particularly on a date) - the rest is your call.
Hello Patrick (the other one). Does this mean you've been lurking on our cure thread? You must have enjoyed "O at Home" this month, then, with a whole feature on NB.
Yay, new thread! Thanks Maxwell.
"Your" Cure thread? Um, okay.
I read just about every thread and posts, but (and I know this will be extremely difficult for some to believe) I don't always comment.
But I'd hardly call myself a lurker!
I actually love "O at Home" EVERY month, even when sans-Nate (but that is actually rare... he seems to be the house designer for Ms. O.)
I just find it funny that Martha gets such frequent grief for setting an impossible domestic standard, while things like Oprah's 1000 rose centerpieces get nary a critique. Oh well, I digress.
Back to "your" Cure!
Okay...checked the other thread and I think I can breathe now.
Thanks amy in richmond: you wrote:
I'm kind of a makeup whore, so allow me to field this one. You're right to give things the sniff test. I'd buy new mascara (drugstore) and liquid foundation or tinted moisturizer. Lipstick smells if it's rancid, so that's easy enough to tell. All powder (loose or pressed) is fine to keep. Powder shadows can last 10 years or more.
I use powder foundation...and I will get new mascara when the time comes....and I do use my lipstick whenever I leave the house....
Now that it is winter, I probably should start using up the moisterizer again....
Part of my problem with make-up is that the upstairs bathroom is so scuzzy and tiny I hate spending any longer than I have to in there.
It needs a new glass for the mirror, a cover for the window (to keep out the cold), a new toilet, a paint job, new floor tiles. We replaced the sink just a few years ago but the drain has never worked right, so it is a pain to clean (and wash my face in.)(And it is just a powder room! There isn't anything in it but the medicine cabinet, toilet, sink and a few shelves.)
I did take pics.
Oh and speaking of window treatments, I just took the curtains for the downstairs bath out of the washer and they've shredded along the top seam. I love those curtains. I made them with IKEA fabric over 15 years ago, now, probably.
Now what?
Oh no, Patrick, I'm sorry. Love to have your company. Please, comment whenever you want--I know I'm a bit too chatty on this thing--always have something to say about something.
I guess I was just surprised, that's all. And I only meant "ours" in the sense of "those of us doing the cure."
Again, I'm sorry. I think I'll go sew some curtains or something....
Just in case you missed it, Anne, can you post a floorplan of your living room and dining area? I have some ideas I want to play with!
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/category.jhtml?categoryid=/templatedata/bhg/category/data/arrangearoomtest.xml&ordersrc=rdbhg0035
Sorry alana, didn't mean that to come across so harshly.
Good luck to you and all the current Curees.
Unfortunately, my place has taken a bit of a backslide of late, since having to absorb some (lots!) old office stuff, a slower-than-desired ebay/Craigs List off-loading process, working on a Thanksgiving centerpiece project for my Mom, and from working from home of late on some paper-intensive projects. And this being the height of catalog season doesn't help much!
So while I'm not currently "curing" I can TOTALLY sympathize.
I just got back from out of town (work) to discover that the holes in the walls will not be repaired until AFTER Thanksgiving. Which is depressing. But I am still struggling with color for the main room ... and this will give me time to make some real sample panels. Currently, my living room looks like a Mondrian painting (if he had been interested in neutrals).
The front hall, dressing room and bathroom areas are coming along well and they feel better as the work progresses.
I am taking Monday and Tuesday off from work so I will have two long weekends this month to wrap everything up. Last weekend, I decided to postpone painting the bathroom until this weekend - the cat has to stay in the bathroom/closet during the day because of the work and I didn't want to force him to inhale fumes all week. As I will be home Mon & Tues - I can paint Saturday.
Last weekend, I hung the curtains in the closet and they look much better than I hoped. (I will definately buy them for the living room windows.)
I have been going through all my clothes to decide what fits, what doesn't - what goes in storage and what is tossed. It is a lot of work - with too many memories and hopes.
One more trip to Good Will and another trip to IKEA left. I still need to find a good salvage piece for the landing strip - and will hit some shops this weekend.
Yup, Alana - if your powder fdtn doesn't seem 'fresh' just buff off the surface with a cotton ball. Sometimes oil from your face gets into the powder if you store it with the pouf used to apply it.
Since my place is so small, there's really only room for a few couples to come over for cocktails. We don't even have a dinner table, so a dinner party is out of the question as such. I do, however, look forward to breaking out the ice bucket and tongs and mixing up a pitcher of something good.
I was starting to feel majorly bummed when I realized how much I couldn't do (like paint, or replace the BF's boring blue rug with something snazzier) when I realized that even without it being perfect, I've made some MAJOR progress just in rearranging the few things I've done so far. I still want some kind of storage bench for the foot of my bed (any with shoe storage about?) and the LACK bookcase (but today, I'd settle for a BILLY), but I feel okay about my cure progress, and hey, there's always next spring. I've found the energy to start job-hunting (my office is moving crosstown and I refuse to commute that far) and working with some of my 'body clutter' issues. Yay!
.. to answer Maxwell's question ... clearly I am NOT having a party when this is over as the main room is ... well, full of holes. (or maybe this is an opportunity for a theme .... hmmmmmm ...... a swiss cheese party).
No -- really, sound transfers between apartment too much for a party until the holes are filled.
But around week 3-4, I did get a bit more realistic about what was achievable - i.e. NOT the entire apartment -- and within my control. An organized and beautified front hall, dressing room and bathroom will hopefully provide great photos on-line. And in January - repainted living room or not - my annual cocktail party WILL benefit from all the work.
hey! that's my flickr!
on the agenda tonight:
sewing covers for my throw pillows. i LOVE the fabric i bought from reprodepot
most recent question/dilemma:
is my apartment too dark? I have an overhead light (which is pretty, but which I don't like to use), a desk lamp & two floor lamps on either side of my sofa (one has an attached reading light under its shade). all of these things happen to be on the righthand side of my living room when you walk in.
to my left, taking up basically the whole wall are 2 wardrobes, a bookcase, and a dresser (with my tv on it). maybe i need more light over here? but where would it go? see my flickr set (link in name) fo a better explanation of the arrangement.
how many lamps do YOU all have in your living rooms?
Amy - Nice job on recognizing the progress you have made, and congrats on what you've been able to accomplish!
Holly- I have 1 fan light, 1 spot light, 1 table lamp and 1 floor lamp. I'm going to add some uplights, one behind the armoire and one between the sofa and the wall. My vocabulary has grown quite a bit during this cure.
Anne (in Reno) and everyone else: I made up 1 rearrange option for Anne and three possible wall colors, and posted them on my flickr.
Please go and take a look, read my reasoning, post your thoughts, and vote for your favorite color!
(Obviously, I wasn't very focused at work today...but this was way fun! I should be doing this for a living instead, I think...)
You won't hear a whole lot from me for the next couple of days because our big fundraiser is tomorrow, and we have a regular meeting tonight, so between the two, plus catching up from today's not being focused, I'll only be on a bit tomorrow. But I can't wait to see what people think!
Cathy - if you're single and between 25-28ish, come to Nye's tomorrow night for a singles event that is going to be WAAY fun. Check out www.tcrotaract.org for the details.
Cathy, oops, I meant 38ish! Would love to meet you!
Holly,
I never feel that I have enough lighting.
In my living area, I have four table lamps (armchairs, desk and dresser - in lieu of a fireplace) and I just found a swing arm lamp for each side of the sofa. What I really need are lamp shades that match to tie them all together. I don't have any overhead lighting in this area.
I'd like to add some accent lighting - particularly a couple can lights to stick on the floor in the corners to wash up the walls that I can control with a dimmer switch. And I'd like a picture light over my main painting.
Where is the painting tutorial?
Just finished painting my kitchen two delicious shades of limey green, and as soon as I finish icing my foot and putting all the stuff back in there, I'll take and post some pics. It looks beautiful! There's just something magical about lime green.
holly:
i know what you mean about the apt feeling too dark. i've got two table lamps, one floor lamp and one double sconce lamp right over the landing strip that's part of the built ins in the apt and the lighting still feels inadequate. i'm considering dimmmers on the lamps so i have more options. another thought is uplighting but locating simple, small uplights is a lot more difficult than i thought.
Thanks for all the feedback, guys. I'm still sifting through all the suggestions.
However, on the makeup topic, I do have to say one thing. Toss old eye makeup. It's not that expensive to replace and Free Gifts inevitably come with mascara and eyeshadow. It's not worth the eye infection. Everything else I say the sniff test is fine for, but I am pretty hard-line about old eye makeup. Those are sensitive membranes. Be kind to them.
What Anne said about eye makeup. Be kind to your eyes. If you have a Missha in your town, they're a great place to go for dirt-cheap makeup basics. Target also sells a bunch of very good lines that cost very little and can be easily replaced.
Amy in Richmond, I like that! It should work for storing the LPs, and some shoes too, and it'll look really nice while it's doing it. (I like the price, too!)
So you won't be able to paint until Monday, Alana? Oh well, better to do it right and thoroughly. We'll all celebrate with you when you're done!
How's the painting going, Alex?
What is everybody else up to?
If anyone has a spare moment, and has any comments of any kind to make on the reconnaissance shopping trip links I put somewhere up there earlier in the thread, I'd be glad for input.
Thank you for being so gracious, Patrick (the other one).
I've been wondering whether I've become far too attached to (and thus iappropriately proprietorial of) this whole cure thread and the folks here.....so I may try to take a step back a bit. Notice, I said "may" and "try."
I think the curtains shrunk. Either I've never washed them before (unlikely) or just never washed them in hot water before (probable).
I did manage to wash out the powder room medicine chest--and tossed two entire bottles past their expiry dates--both unopened--of children's cough syrup and liquid Tylenol. Guess I have healthy kids!
I have to say though that dealing with either bathroom is extremely depressing for me. There is so much that needs to be done in both.
Has anyone else been "curing" an area that makes you heartsick?
I'll be gone for a while as I have to take my daughter to her piano lessons....
Does anyone know where the paint tutorial is - am I missing something obvious?
Here are two AT links I think are useful this week:
for the bathroom: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/how-to/how-to-clean-out-your-medicine-cabinet-001035
I am struggling with making the tiny bath feel lux. I would love to feel comfortable taking a bath in this room - like I did in my last apartment - but there is nothing that feels right yet. Hopefully when I repaint .....
and (because I am still struggling with color)
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/how-to/how-to-choose-a-wall-color-not-screw-it-up-004466
So can somebody remind me how to get my floor plan off the bhg website onto flickr?
Alana,
Don't you dare abandon us! You can take a break after the eighth week - I think all of us are attached to this site as we struggle with our homes. I know the encouragement and the stories really help me.
Obviously, my bath is in the same depressing state as yours - so yes, I do know what you mean. I don't want to hang out there - just shower and move on - but I WISH it was a lovely place. It needs to be gutted - and until I have the cash for that (after the kitchen which will be in a couple of years) I really want to create the best place I can. I want a bathroom where I am happy to get ready in the morning, where I enjoy relaxing in a tub of bubbles with a glass of red wine, chocolate and some lovely music.
Ladies, fear not the bathroom! It is the smallest room and thus the easiest to paint! New towels and shower curtains will do wonders! Floor mats and plants and nice soaps always help! I tend to get some of that stuff at bargain-ish prices from Cost Plus or World Market or whatever they call themselves, they have adorable towels and a variety of shower curtains and lots of yummy smelling soaps. So don't give up! I have painted a lot of gross bathrooms in my time, yeah you may have to scrub down the walls a bit but then pick your very favorite color and go nuts! Keep at it, things are getting better all the time!
Thus ends this afternoon's motivational speech. And the floor plan question still stands.
For grabbing that layout - if there is a "print" choice, click that - the one I used opened up another window with the layout in it. Go to that window. On your keyboard, hit "print screen." Nothing will happen - this is fine. Go into your choice of imaging program, open a new file, and paste in the image - either by "right-click/paste" or by using a menu option.
That was the short version. If a longer one is needed I will go find it; I believe it was last thread or the one before...
My friend went to Ikea today & picked up the bench I want for my landing strip. I'll get it Sunday night, so next batch of pictures for me will be after that so I can include it. I did link to it in Flickr, at the pic of the current crash-landing strip.
Gotta go cook dinner, will be checking back. We can *all* take breaks from this after the 8 weeks, I check the site constantly while I'm working too.
yes! ditto anne's comment!
i think the bathroom is the easiest room in the house to bring from ick to totally fab. i was SHOCKED at what a difference changing out the hardware in my bathroom made. i replaced the plastic shower curtain rod and hooks with classically styled metal, exchanged the ugly vanity pulls with cool wrought iron, switched out the rug and toothbrush holder, and put chrome dipped bulbs in the sconces. HUGE change, even had i not painted. i probably spent under $50 on the whole room (not counting the art, which i already had).
now that said, a really grody fixture like a nasty tub or really ugly tiles is a major obstacle. but believe me, you can do a lot with a new set of towels and some drawer pulls...
Grr. I get no popup window when I click print, just my printer's preferences. I can't select the frame since it's in Flash. Any other tips? I didn't find it on the other thread, maybe I missed it. I'll check again.
Anne in Reno - Give me a link to the site you're using, and I'll figure it out & let you know. The computer is right next to the kitchen :)
I tried to link directly to my room in my name. If not it should at least link to the program. It's the one on bhg.com. Thanks so much Tara, I feel like I can't explain my issues and I'm getting so much feedback!
The link worked fine- thanks!
What I had to do was this:
On your keyboard, hit "print screen." Nothing will happen - this is fine. Go into your choice of imaging program, open a new file, and paste in the image by using a menu option. (right-click didn't work for me). That pasted in a copy of everything on the screen, so just crop the picture down to what you want to keep & save the image.
I don't mind helping at all. Floor plans can save you a lot of work!
First of all, painting tutorial is short, and starts on page 202.
Alana, don't you dare pull back from us!
I was going to say "I think we tend to think", but I won't pretend to know what other people are thinking...I tend to start to feel as if those of us who are doing the Cure are in our own little insular bubble somehow, and I forget that there are likely a whole bunch of other people out there reading this stuff (and probably thinking I'm a loon...) To fully participate in the Cure, I need to forget about possible spectators, and just do what I have to do, and say what I have to say, and enjoy the process. And part of the process I enjoy, and that I'm learning a lot from, is your input, Alana, so please stay with us! (And the input from all everybody else. This group is great!)
Now I gotta go shred something. I'll be back.
Woot! Floorplan is up! Tara is awesome!
Also, dimensions are not exact AT ALL. More like random guesses.
Anne - I played with your layout and made marks all over it - which should make more sense when you go look at it! The link is in my name.
Wow, Anne, you'd have a lot of space "if"... if you could have a dedicated music room (as well as the living room...) if... ... ... The sleek lines on the furniture in your new style tray are very appealing to me. And the dark wood is beautiful -- not what I would have, but perfect for you. Add a bit at a time, of what you really love, and you'll have a beautiful space.
On the survey at the top of the thread, I answered "informally have a few friends over for drinks" -- well, technically it wouldn't be for drinks, because I no longer drink, but I hope to have a few friends over for something, to show off my "Cured" apartment. I've said before, though, that a couple of times I've had to cancel a planned party because someone or other in the family got sick, so I'm leery of planning something too definite. On the other hand, I *really* want to celebrate with all of you, and share our final "after" pics, but I figured I could only vote once.
On the subject of lighting, if you click on my name, you'll see the updated (not yet final) pics of my living room, and, well, I don't have enough light. I have an overhead light fixture (chandelier type thing), a lamp over by the loveseat, and two small lamps on one of the jelly cupboard bookcases. I know Maxwell frowns on using overhead lighting, but the others just don't give enough light. And I found the other night that the little lamps on the bookcase shine into my eyes if I'm on the computer. Without the overhead chandelier on, the little lamps don't give quite enough light for reading. I'm wondering about a floor lamp by the other chair, and therefore making it my reading chair. (I like having a purpose for both chairs, though, so they both get use -- I discovered when I finally started using it, that the one by the desk needs to be sat in a bit more, to "break in" the cushion.) I need to read up on what is considered good lighting for computer use. (I know it's not what I have at work, with a floor to ceiling window shining on my computer screen, and a too bright fluorescent above my desk. But I have no choice,there.) but... lighting isn't in the budget just now, so I'll just have to content myself with doing research about what I need, and what I like.
And on the topic of bathrooms, I have looked up at my bathroom ceiling three times so far this evening, just to admire how clean the ventilation duct thingy is. I vacuumed it, and the embarrassingly dusty top of the medicine cabinet, and the top of the door, and the door frame. Looking good... and I decided to get new shower curtain hooks. Classier ones. It's true, little things can make a big difference in the bathroom.
Yay! Good for you Beth! And Tara I left an overly detailed response to all your good ideas on your floorplan for me. Thanks so much for all the ideas! I almost wish I could stay and figure more stuff out for it but it's date night and I'm off to the movies with the mister! So everybody have great nights and keep sending me brilliant ideas! ;)
Anne, I think it's a sign from God that I need to go home and sleep because I was going to play with your floorplan and the program freaked out at me and wouldn't function properly. Hope the date was good!
I added a 4th color option for your walls to my flickr, a green per suggestion by the peanut gallery. Will be curious to see what you think and if you like any of them (or the arrangement).
Night everyone!
That is one beautiful room, no?
P2: I think you and Nate would make a great couple; both of you are so very talented. Plus, you're so witty and Nate seems to love to laugh.
Perhaps Nate's ready to start dating again. Go, P2!!
Anne, I read your comments - not overly detailed at all. Some of my errors were from trying to guess what the programs symbols meant. I uploaded one more, same floor plan but with the change in the flow.
In my name, I linked to our living room. I want to paint that room in color, but don't have any ideas what color to use.
Thanks!
Well, I can't stay away. It's nice to hear I'm wanted. :)
OK Tara and anybody else: a little more on colour. Tara wants to maximize what "little daylight" she has.
At their "normal" values--that is the colour we tend to associate with each of these "names" like a lemon for yellow, a lime for yellow-green, and orange for orange an apple for red, etc....
the colours when placed next to a grey scale come out this way in terms of their "brightness"
(this is straight from a textbook on Interior design)
yellow: 8, reflective rating: high, light.
yellow-orange: 7, reflective rating: light.
orange, green: 6, reflective rating: low, light
red-orange, blue green: 5, reflective rating: middle
red, blue: 4, reflective rating: high dark
red-violet, blue-violet: 3, reflective rating: dark
violet: 2, reflective rating, low, dark.
Obviously, a pale blue will have a higher rating than blue at "normal" value and navy will be darker.
I don't know if that helps anyone, but there you go.
Anne (in Reno) does the mister work at home in this room? Do you two need to do a run-through of just what exactly he does and what he needs it to do for him? Given his profession as a sound engineer, he's going to want the space to work for him: and that obviously has to be the first priority. But perhaps he doesn't need both rooms? Can it be allocated to one side of the living room space--and the rest used for "living?"
What's the lovely green room in your photo set? What is it's relationship to these rooms?
Hope you had fun on your date.
And Alex, if you can find a teenager who doesn't mind kids who stay up to 11pm and a place with no TV--and charges less than $5 an hour, let me know, kay?
But perhaps I can find one among the homeschoolers here. Thanks for the encouragement.
Oh, Anne: I saw this in the group collection tonight. Perhaps you can put that fireplace wall to use! Link is in my name--but scroll to the "before" pic as well to ap[preciate what they did here.
Lady J = Belledame73 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63122153@N00/sets/72157594303900690/)!
I know you because you were inquisitive and kind enough to leave your questions and comments on my horrid Before pictures! I left some comments on your pictures previously, but now my taste must have improved because I like the hot pink and orange combination now and all of the hot pink things you've got going on. As I think I said before, pink is my favorite color but I've leaned toward the paler (pastel) pink. I didn't see your pictures on the main page because it's all I can do to keep up with the Cure thread. :)
I like all those options, amy! (I'll look at them all more closely tonight.) Also, good for you for starting to deal with your "body clutter". Not meaning to sound like a walking ad for Flylady, but Marla Cilley, aka Flylady, has a book entitled "Body Clutter" that will be available in bookstores in January (available on her website now). Just thought I'd throw that in.
Cathy in MN, thanks for your offer of bandwidth. I think I'm okay for this month after all (started decreasing the dpi of the pics, per Alana's suggestion, and that has really helped.)
How do y'all get such nice pages for your Flickrs, with one main pic and a nice lineup of thumbnails next to it? Mine are largish pics just plopped down one after the other. Doesn't look all organized like other people's.
thanks, SCB. I'm on the flylady's mailing list, and I often get turned off because it's so dang church-y, but the basic ideas are solid, I guess. I may check out the book eventually, but I'm going to go it on my own for now!
I'm a big fan of the saying "way leads to way", in other words, if you do what you can now, even if it's tiny and insignificant, sooner or later you'll be doing great things, things you couldn't do before and never imagined you could accomplish. Like how the shiny sink or the outbox eventually leads to a clean house, or the glasses of water helps reduce the 'body clutter'. And how staying up late at night working on piddly homework assignments will eventually lead to me getting out of grad school.
If you go to your flickr homepage, there should be an 'organize' tool. You can select the pics you want, put them all in a 'set' and then add a little info about the set. You can also pick what the picture you want for the 'main pic' is in that menu. Then just link to the set, and, well, you're set! :P
One more for Anne (in Reno): click my name.
Glad to have you back, Alex. Such a bummer about your walls.
And Marilyn: how is it going?
Leela--how is your foot? And I'm looking forward to those pics of your green kitchen! All in good time.
G'night fellow curees and honourable observers.
Alana, the green room is the entryway. When you come in, the step down to the living room is on your left, the kitchen is straight ahead (brick monolith is on your left going in, it is in both living room and kitchen), and the hall to the rest of the house is around the corner to your right.
And I love the storage on the fireplace, we just had a fireplace guy come in and quote us $6K to convert our fireplace to gas so I don't think that is happening anytime soon. I have been thinking about some sort of bookshelf for that side of the fireplace that wouldn't block the hearth area since it's so big.
finally, my new pics are up!
ooh, and I have a question - about foot-of-bed storage. I'm thinking of changing this setup that I have currently:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93214115@N00/267434992/in/set-72157594324363398/
(don't worry, I have a bedskirt now!!! and the record crates are soon to find new homes)
to store my shoes, which are currently here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93214115@N00/267434880/in/set-72157594324363398/
in something like these:
http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15561&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=11317&langId=-1&chosenPartNumber=00045560
http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODf075&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1FRNSTO&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1FRNSTO
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_1/602-6034164-8927018?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B00085FN9K
Get where I'm coming from? Then getting rid of the green stripey thing, and putting a bookshelf or something there. Or heck, maybe I could store my shoes IN the bookshelf at the foot of my bed. I'm no good at figuring these things out.
Wow, Alana, that gave me a great idea! What if Anne and Mister Anne use the fireplace as a "stage" for their musical instruments? They can consolidate all of their musical stuff in that area of the room.
Thanks for asking how I'm doing. I must admit I've been reading the thread and looking at pictures, but not doing much work on my apartment the last few days. Maybe tonight.
I'm determined to get the link to Lady J's (Belledame73) pictures right. Here it is -- she wants comments, folks!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/39185427@N00/pool/63122153@N00/
Ha, funny to think that we could consolidate all our musical stuff in one place, it's right now consolidated in about four places. There is more than there looks to be. Honestly, the living/dining area was really the place I was going to skip and cure on it's own later. I just wanted the lighting to be better.
smallcitybeth,
I found two links on lighting for computers for you - one from Microsoft and one from Apple (opposite sides of the aisle so to speak)
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/lightinglessons.mspx
http://www.apple.com/about/ergonomics/vision.html
Both cover the general concept.
It sounds as if what you need in your living room is a lot of task lighting. Of course, as noted in the links, locating you seating and work spaces by windows is a good idea. But, while natural light is great - but many of us spend much of our time at home after dark.
I like a lamp on each side of the sofa / loveseat and one for each armchair. I prefer to set my lamps to the left of my armchairs because I am right handed (my hand won't shadow the page when turning) - my mom and dad are lefties so their lamps are on the 'wrong' side IMHO.
Most stores sell task lamps and they are generally with halogen bulbs. I have one adjustable arm lamp from IKEA that works fine but I generally prefer table lamps with incandescent bulbs. I like the color of light I can get from a table light, the bulbs are easier to find and don't require a special trip, and I prefer the look of a table lamp in my living space. Also, living in the heat of DC - I am not fond of the heat generated by halogens. Finally, you can get table lamps in a huge range of styles and price points - from $10 and up.
I actually think the quality, shape and color of the shade is the most important. (despite current trends for linen or silk, I prefer good paper shades)
In addition to table lamps, I like wall mounted swing arm lamps - they work great for sofas and bed since you don't often move these large pieces and the lamps aren't taking up critical table space. I plan to buy at least two of these for my apartment in the next couple of weeks. these are great minimal lamps that can blend into the room but really add to the functionality. Click on my name - I've added an image of a living room with this lamp and a closeup of the lamp I like (I really would like it in the same color as the wall to blend in)
In terms of lighting, I only have a ceiling fixture in my living room. I don't really have a good place to put another lamp. I use a coffee table instead of end tables, and a light clamped to the side of the bookcase just doesn't seem like a pleasing solution.
wrtrmaus, what about a floor lamp next to the sofa or something? clamps are not necessary.
amy (in richmond) how wide is the bed? For something at the foot of it, you won't want anything longer than the bed. The Lack unit is quite long 74" or so. If you bed is a double (54") or a queen (60") it will stick out on either side. As well, you need to know the height from the floor to the top of the mattress. Any of those peices will be great--if they fit!
Are you still thinking of putting the albums in the unit?
What about putting a few of those shoes in the closet? How about the whole unit? I checked out the floor plan and that closet is a bit awkward. Would it work?
Marilyn: what does belledame want us to comment on? I left a bunch when I first saw the pics...am I missing something?
Anne (in Reno) I left you a comment on your fireplace photo. I forgot to add that with the cd's moved (if that's possible) you'll be able to use the space they take up now for either 1) endtables or 2) storage or 3) something completely different. I still think you and dh need to figure out a floor plan together for this space. Something that will work for both of you. Once you have the set-up in mind, you'll know what to do!
re: Lighting
In my living room I have a floor lamp, a small table lamp on the piano and a larger one by the "reading" chair. I put a small one by the TV--the bookcases at the end of the room really need more light: that's why I was thinking of the uplights in behind, but the switch problem has me stumped. (Nooo--not sure remotes are a good idea. At $20 for the remote and $20 for the uplights themselves (or so) the budget is a bit strained).
I have an overhead on a dimmer in the dining room/office (with two 100 watt halogens in it)and I need a small table lamp for the computer. (Like alex, I prefer table lamps to "desk" lamps)
The bedroom has an overhead, two bedside lamps and a small lamp opposite the bed on the dresser (just like Maxwell recommends, proud of that!)
Under cabinet lights in the kitchen would be awesome...but the upper cabinets start only 14" from the counter top (standard is 18") I have a hard time finding a coffee maker that even fits as it is.
sharing the medicine cabinet trick i just learned from a friend: take everything out of your medicine chest (okay, did that). after cleaning it out, only put back the stuff you use every day and here is the key, put it back in the order you use it, top to bottom, left to right. i just did this and it's totally reformed my half asleep morning! the stuff i use once a week or less went into the bathroom closet (organized into a morning box, night box, sunday nite box) but i'll stop now as i'm starting to sound crazy -- and i need coffee.
So much to catch up on! It was such a beautiful night in the Cities that I ended up hanging around outside with some friends. But I did get the medicine cabinet cleaned (much ickier in there than I realized) and organized. The to do list goes: clean rest of bathroom, print out art for walls, hem shower curtain, and maybe replace towels.
Does anyone have natural deodorizer suggestions for the litter box? Something that will just make the smell go away, not cover it with a scent? I try to scoop daily (hurray for flushable kitty litter), but I don't have a sense of smell, so the litter box is always a source of anxiety. I know there's a post about the Fresh2 bulb on the AT:NY site, but I'm not crazy about using something with a rather harsh light and an output equal to 100 watts in my very wee bathroom.
Lighting: The bedroom needs much better light. Right now, I have a ceiling fan light and a bare bulb in a lamp base by the bed. Not cozy at all, but I'm having trouble finding a good bedside lamp. The living room is my other lighting problem area, and it's actually getting better. I used to always use the ceiling fan light in there, but now I have a table lamp by the couch and the mini-floor lamp by the reading nook. I need one more lamp (or brighter bulbs with dimmers), but I'm really impressed with how much better the room looks already. Behold, the power of light! :-p
Kate, Thanks for the offer, but I'm both taken and not yet 25.
CathyinMN - for the catbox, I have 2 cats & clean it daily. The only odor problem is if they forget to bury it (this is with no other measures taken). The best odor killer I have found is to put an Oust fan on top of it. This takes care of everything except rare problems, which I fix by immediately cleaning it. Also, just sprinkle Arm&Hammer (generic is fine, & their litter deodorizer is great) in it after you clean it. That is natural, easy, & inexpensive.
Alana in Canada - my plans for the kitchen involves tucking rope lighting, or maybe white Christmas lights (they will be very easy & cheap the next few months) inside the lip on the bottom of the cabinets. I'll get the light & won't be able to see the actual strand. Perhaps this could work for you as well?
For the medicine cabinet - at the beginning of the Cure, I saw a flickr picture (no idea whose) where they had just repainted theirs. I got Rustoleum gloss white spray paint, and repainted ours. What a difference! I didn't realize how nasty it looked with the rust. With the fresh paint it looks great, and when I refilled it I only added the daily-use items. I also didn't realize how much of a mess indoor spray-painting can cause, but oh well...
Tara, that's certainly an idea. The cofee maker currently sits with less than an inch to spare, but I'll see what I can find. One good thing about it is there isn't much area to cover!
Wende (in Phoenix) you've gotr to see this!
Click my name.
Warning: long one.
I have a holiday tomorrow (yay!) and I am planning to do intensive Cure. I have also recently been reading "Organizing from the Inside Out," by Julie Morgenstern (I've got the 1st edition, but looks like a 2nd one's out)--really useful. The premise is that the key to being organized is figuring your needs and how to work with how you are rather than trying to lay an arbitrary system over your stuff--if you do that, it won't work, according to her philosophy. Sounds like a big "duh," but it's hitting the spot. Some of the exercises are really working for me right now. Like answering the question, why do you want to be organized? I have a list of answers (One of my answers is, so I don't have to think about getting organized anymore. I am pretty well organized now, but things need tweaking around the edges; in our current culture of obsession with decluttering, I can fall into that obsession too, even though I am quite well organized at this point, by most standards.) Also, to ask in each space in your home what's working and what's not. I had a breakthrough lightbulb moment that one of the things that I haven't realized is that I keep unfinished projects (like organization, repair, routine paperwork that I don't feel like doing) out and visible so that it's a reminder that it needs doing. Then what ends up happening is I don't do it, other similar things pile up around it, and then it gets cluttery and irritating and is totally visible, because I made it that way. Then, when I'm having someone over, I move it all somewhere else to hide it, like under the bed, then put it out of mind, thus defeating the whole purpose of where I put it to begin with. So, on my list of what i have to solve is establishing a home for unfinished projects and then incorporating reminders into my system so that I will take care of them.
Oh Pixie, this is too funny. I have been re-reading my copy for the last couple of nights too!
Hope you can figure something out. I'm very visual too, so reminders MUST be out or there's no way it's getting done! But it can quickly get overwhelming.
It is very sensible. I highly recommend it.
Alana, really!? I picked it up at a used bookstore a bit ago and it resurfaced during my Cure as a good time to get into it. Are you getting anything new for yourself out of it?
Pixie,
I loved your description of keeping things out to remind yourself to do them and then hiding them under the bed or in the closet before company comes over. It made me laugh because, I am just like that!!
I have three carrier bags with paperwork -- paper that was once sitting neatly to be filed for over a month. Each bag is stored in a different place - one hidden in the closet, one in the dressing room and one sitting next to the sofa (as if putting them in a bag makes it neat) - so finding things on that rare occasion is really interesting. (ooo ... just realized where I put my passport --- good!)
I'm at the point where I realize that I have places to put things until they are filed or thrown away ... it's just taking the time to go through it all. Once or twice a year is, frankly, all the time I would prefer to spend on my paperwork. But it apparently needs to be dealt with more often.
As far as I can figure, I really need to set aside time every week to do it - and make it such a part of my routine, I can't imagine NOT doing it. Saturday morning is laundry and clean the house time - I can get it all done in about 1.5 hours and have clean jeans and sweaters for the weekend. Sunday mornings I always go to the grocery store - primarily because the lines are shorter (and I can indulge in eggs and bacon). Does anyone have a fixed day to deal with paperwork?
OK, badly-taken pics of my freshly painted kitchen:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46963079@N00/?saved=1
It all looks and feels so much better in real life! I'm not a good photographer! Now I need to:
- Replace all doorknobs in house
- Get new closet and kitchen cabinet/drawer pulls
- Paint 2 large walls in the living room
- Paint one wall of my studio
- Hang more organizers in my studio and finally declutter it!
- Make plant cuttings and discard dying parts of plant
- Paint large wall in bedroom
- Complete lamp surprise
- More cleaning
And...I'm insane. I decided to do Thanksgiving at our house, with my family and the mishpocheh, and a bunch of our friends and their small children. Should be verrrrry interesting. Not making traditional food - it's going to be a random collection of Turkish mezes, fall-y dishes, and whatever else people make.
Does anyone have any solutions for hard water deposits?
I don't know why, but I have a real problem with them at the base of my taps in the bathroom sink. It gets on the chrome AND the porcelin. I've tried my soft scrub equivalent and a toothbrush but it just doesn't do a thorough job.
I try to do paperwork on Thursdays or Fridays. That's bills. Kids' artwork is an on-going battle. I have containers and containers of the stuff...and that's what's in most of my piles.
Did something I haven't done in a long time: I cleaned out my jewellry box. AND I put on earrings. (Boring life, eh?) My ears aren't peirced (due to a piercing accident as a teen they can't be, no, no details) so I've had to search out screw back and clip-ons. Fortunately I like "vintage" stuff--mostly drops which is murder when you have little ones. Well, it's taking me a while to realise my little ones aren't quite so little....so I'm swishing about my head about as I clean the bathroom feeling the little beads on my jawbone.
I mean, there's no point having my house express my "personality" if I continue to dress as if I have none.
Alana- if you want to stay green, vinegar or lemon juice will dissolve the lime in the water deposits. A not green product that works well is Limeaway
Ok, can I just say that I love all the feedback and comments on my flickr photos, I feel bad because I feel like I'm shooting down a lot of good suggestions. So I'm going to say right here, I really do appreciate and take into account all suggestions, and if I lived alone would have the whole house rearranged in a heartbeat. But everything in that living room requires negotiation.
I have to go consolidate some amps into a corner now, they spread out if you let them...
Gotta watch those amps, Anne! Go get 'em.
Vinegar is pretty effective on lime buildup, the trick is getting it to stay put on the faucet while it does its thing. maybe a paste of vinegar & flour? cream of tartar (tartaric acid) is often reccomended as an alternative to vinegar for cleaning out coffee pots and it should be easy to make a paste of it and water.
oops, I think I tossed my cream of tartar in the big kitchen clean-up--nope, just checked, I've got it. I'll try that for the faucet.
Actually, the vinegar is sitting on the tap thingys right now. I can always soak a paper towel, too.
Thanks. I'll let you know how it works.
bartender's friend (don't know if it's green or not or whether it's avail in canada) works better than anything i've ever used on rust, lime, etc.
amy in richmond -- didn't want it to seem as if I was pushing Flylady at you, just wanted to mention the book, since you'd mentioned dealing with body clutter. anyway, I looked at your bench options for the foot of the bed -- my personal fave is the second one, the West Elm one. Mainly, I suppose, because it has casters, and I find casters such a handy thing. I noticed that the Target one is only available online, not in stores. Don't know if that's a problem or not. I agree with the person who said watch the length of the LACK -- you don't want to be banging your toe, or falling over the thing in the night, or anything like that. (We have enough Cure-related foot injuries in our group now!!) Anyway, just a couple of thoughts.
Alex -- thanks for all the help with lighting! I haven't had a chance yet to read the links from microsoft and apple, but that's what I'm going to do as soon as I click on Post. I was thinking longingly today of the floor lamp we had when I was growing up -- wonder if I can find a retro style like it? If I find anything online, I'll post a link to what I'm thinking of later. Thanks again.
Didn't get much Curing done today, did a quick shopping trip and picked up a couple of things for the bathroom and bedroom (just little accessory things) -- but, I have the next four days off, so I'm going to Cure, Cure, Cure! (Yay! Who'd have thought it would be so much fun!)
Alex, I'm back. Those articles are very good, thanks for searching them out for me. And I really like that wall-mounted lamp. If I owned instead of renting, that would be a good option for the bedroom. I like the way you can move it to the position you want, then put it back out of the way. And it would free up so much space on the nightstand!
On last weekend's post, Maxwell said that we're rounding the bend... well, I'm definitely driving myself round the bend trying to find links to the two clear-glass base table lamps that I coveted in the summer. Unfortunately, I didn't add the links to my favorites, and I can't seem to find the thread where they were discussed. i know it was between late April and early September of this year, and there was a link to a beautiful clear glass lamp with a red shade, way out of my price range, and I commented as such, and someone gave me a link to other slightly more affordable clear glass lamps, which it turned out I liked even better, and I didn't bookmark the links, thinking, "Oh, I'll always be able to find them again on the site, or with a google search." Wrong. Anyway, until I track them down again, the link in my name is sorta like what I mean, except the ones I coveted had more of a rounded, or vase like base. I'll probably never find such lamps in smallcity anyway, so what difference will it make? (I now have a table lamp style tray folder in my favorites, and a floor lamp style tray folder in my favorites, so I won't lose links again!) Sigh.
"I'll think about that in the morning," she said in her best Scarlett O'Hara voice...
After careful, detailed examinations of my bathroom walls, I have concluded that whoever last painted my bathroom was not, in fact, using a wisk broom because they couldn't find a paint brush, but was attempting a faux finish.
Aesthetically, the rough texture of the paint is not too objectionable. Unfortunately, oh how unfortunately, aesthetics are not the end of the story.
The bathroom is small and has no fan. When someone showers, steam condenses on the walls. Large drops form and run down the walls, eventually puddling on the chair rail. Along the way they pick up pigment from the paint and turn dark yellow. They also mix with ambient dust and turn viscous and gooey. Like boogers.
There's a character called Phil, the demon of heck, in the dilbert cartoons. I think he has cursed my bathroom. A proper demon would have made the walls run with blood. With Phil, they just weep snot.
Moral: Listen to Maxwell and don't use a faux finish in the bathroom.
Thanks, SCB. I didn't think you were being pushy at all, I just wanted to explain where I'm coming from. It's been a hard week here, non-cure wise, I mean. If I can make it through Sunday, I'll feel like I've topped the mountain and can coast downhill for the next few weeks.
I like the West Elm one too, and I think there's actually a store somewhere out in those suburbs that I cringe to visit...
Alana, do they have CLR in canada? It gets rust off of everything around here (and things do get rusty!)
And yeah, I realized after I posted it that it would be a bit long. I'm not too clumsy, but we don't need hazards just waiting to trip us. So I'll either keep looking @ IKEA or just bite the bullet @ west elm.
Eureka! (which I learned in Greek class, long, long ago, actually means "I have found it!") Last night, and this morning, I made myself bug-eyed going through the hits that came up when I searched "lamp" on AT NY. Nothing. (well, lots of things, but not the particular thing I was looking for.) So then I went to google, and googled vase lamp "apartment therapy" and lo and behold, the second hit said "smallcitybeth, if you're up for a DIY..." I thought, "That's IT!" So, here are the links to the lamps I was trying to describe. I'm thinking of them for my bedroom (and no, I decided I was not up for a DIY -- not if I wanted something safe! I fall asleep with the light on. A lot.) Alas, the red shade is no longer in the illustration of the Ochre one, but it would only have looked right in the kitchen, where there's not really room for it. Oh well...
Here's the original post and thread. You'll see that I pretty much dominated the thread (no surprise there... Would you believe that most people who know me consider me to be very quiet? That's because I'm better at communicating when I'm writing than when I'm actually speaking.)
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/soho/ochre-012659
The link to the original lamp that caught my fancy is
http://ochre.net/l04.asp
and the link to the lamp I think I'd like best is here (ironic thing is, it's at the same site as the Woodbury lamp I linked last night, I just didn't explore the Woodbury far enough!)
http://www.simonpearce.com/prdSell.aspx?DeptName=DeptGlass&SubDeptName=SubLamps&Name=SellFairleeTulipLampKit
Hope these links work.
Anyway, as I said last night, I'll likely never find anything like that in this smallcity, but it's something to dream about anyway. It might not even look good in my bedroom in real life, probably needs a paint color behind it to make it look right, but anyway... ... ...
smallcitybeth,
oh, i love love love simon pierce!! gorgeous stuff and even better in person. Friends of mine when to the factory in Vermont last summer and said it was amazing - better than the store in NYC.
I don't think you should have a difficult time finding a glass lamp these days as they are super hot.
here are some ideas:
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=4640&f=10270
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p6674/index.cfm?pkey=clgttaftbl&cm%5Fsrc=campaign
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p7960/index.cfm?pkey=clgttaftbl&cm%5Fsrc=campaign
http://www.pier1.com/catalog/productdetail.aspx?oid=115809&returnURL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pier1.com%2fcatalog%2fcollections.aspx%3ffh_view_size%3d8%26fh_view%3dlister%26fh_refpath%3dfacet_59433428%26fh_location%3d%2f%2fpier1direct%2fen_US%2fcategories%3c%7b110299%7d%2fcategories%3c%7b110347%7d%26fh_eds%3d%c3%9f%26fh_start_index%3d8&fh_view_size=8&fh_view=lister&fh_refpath=facet_59433428&fh_location=//pier1direct/en_US/categories%3C{110299}/categories%3C{110347}&fh_eds=%C3%9F&fh_start_index=8
http://www.pier1.com/catalog/productdetail.aspx?oid=112614&returnURL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pier1.com%2fcatalog%2fcollections.aspx%3ffh_view_size%3d8%26fh_eds%3d%c3%9f%26fh_view%3dlister%26fh_refpath%3dfacet_59433428%26fh_location%3d%2f%2fpier1direct%2fen_US%2fcategories%3c%7b110299%7d%2fcategories%3c%7b110347%7d%26fh_start_index%3d24&fh_view_size=8&fh_eds=%C3%9F&fh_view=lister&fh_refpath=facet_59433428&fh_location=//pier1direct/en_US/categories%3C{110299}/categories%3C{110347}&fh_start_index=24
That was a quick search ... I'm sure there are lots more out there. I'd also check out some of the home sections of department stores - they often have similar lines.
I am in love with this one:
http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=12453&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=502&iMainCat=376
but I wish it was about $600 less. Boo
On the swing arm lamps - you should know that they are typically available in a plug-in version (as well as hardwire) and they provide a metal cover for the wire. The lamp I am planning to buy is available as both and I am planning on getting the plug-in, even though I do own my place. The point being I don't think renting should stop you from considering that style if you like it.
Anna in SC - - You crack me up!! Love the description of your snot covered chair rail, so sorry though that you have to deal with it!
SCBeth - That second PB one that Alex suggested I think would go really well with the style of your living room...if that's where it's going to go. =)
Alex -- thanks so much for the links! I really love the Pottery Barn "Bacchus" one -- I could put polished river rocks in it! (as I'm doing with a couple of glass cylinder vases in my bedroom)...too bad we don't have Pottery Barn in Canada. We do have Pier 1, so I'll look there. i've also thought of a couple of "cool" stores that might have "hot" lamps. Thing about things that are hot -- takes a while for them to make their way from bigcity to smallcity, by which time they're usually lukewarm. ;) With all your help, I'm bound to find something that's just right. (There I go on the Goldilocks references again...)
In other news, the elephant has left the building. That is, the guy came and took away the old TV this morning. Living room looks much different without a TV in the middle of the floor. I think I like it better this way.
While I waited for the TV-carrying-away-guy to come, I worked in the bedroom. I'm not finished with the bathroom yet, but forgot to buy more cleaning supplies last night, so couldn't finish cleaning. Instead, I re-organized the bookcases in the bedroom. Now I won't have to do that next week.
Amy in Richmond -- I've been wondering why last night and today I've been singing a song I learned way back when I was in an all-the-high-schools-in-the-city choir when I was in twelfth grade (about a million years ago). It's an arrangement of Robert Frost's "Two Roads Diverged in a Yellow Wood" (oh, yeah, title is "The Road not Taken"). I seem to have a little DJ in my head who picks up on phrases I read or hear, and searches for a song that will go with it, then I hear that song in my head for the rest of the day. Sometimes the DJ can't find one to fit the phrase, and plugs in one that "might do" -- when I figure out the path I took to get to that song, it's often rather odd. Anyway, it was a pretty straightforward path my brain took to "The Road Not Taken" last night. You mentioned the phrase "way leads to way", and there's a line in the poem/song "knowing how way leads on to way" -- so that was a really long way of thanking you for giving me a nice song to hum along to, and for bringing back some really good memories!
Anna, I'll be re-painting my bathroom too this weekend -- the last paint job was successful but I need to get cover lavendar with something more 'me'.
My bath has no ventilation either - after a shower, moisture drips from the ceiling. I've found the paint specifically for kitchens and baths is the way to go - I like being able to scrub the walls clean.
I think you can do a special finish IF you a willing to put a matte varnish over - however I have never tried this myself.
I have always liked some special finishes but ... I too am struggling with a 'special' finish by a former tenant in something akin to a Jackson Pollack - lots of think paint and drips - the texture is not nice. This is why I decided to do four skim coats prior to painting.
smallcitybeth - obviously, I am avoiding work today - here are a couple more lamps ...
http://www.lightinguniverse.com/products/view.aspx?family=135961
http://www.lightinguniverse.com/products/view.aspx?family=201520
I hope some of this helps!
Good News - I got home last night to discover all the holes in the main room have been filled in!!! It is so lovely to have walls (and ceilings) again. Yay! I left for work today with two nice men spackling -- which means I can start skim coating the 'bedroom' wall over this long weekend. I am excited and horrified at the same time.
RE color -- I have decided to paint the entire main room white . The idea is to go back to basics - put everything back in the room and see how I feel about a color direction. Right now there is just too much mess and too many paint tests on the walls to have any idea what to do.
Yay alex. So glad there were spacklers in your apartment this morning!
What is a skim coat?
So, I just called my favourite Benjamin Moore store, here's what I have to do with the ceiling:
Wash with 50% solution of bleach and water to kill mold and mildew on contact. Mix it with a bit of TSP for extra cleaning power.
Sand , starting with 120 grit sandpaper and scrape the ceiling.
Prime with an oil based primer.
Paint with oil based paint.
I asked about using the "kitchen and bath" paint (latex) and the fellow said it would be OK if my fan were excellent: no drips on the walls, etc.
I haven't a clue. Somehow I doubt it. So it looks as if nasty oil-based paint will be the way to go.
Anna in Santa Cruz--a remarkable piece of descriptive writing! Yech.
About CLR--I'm sure it exists somewhere...but I'm sort of leery to add harsh chemicals to my inventory of cleaners. The vinegar worked a bit: I think I just have to find a way to keep it there, as someone suggested. Think I'll try cream of tartar today.
Smallcitybeth,
I really like this lamp:
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1220&f=10262
I think they ship to Canada...
A skim coat can refer to two things - most accurately it is a thin coat of plaster applies to gyp board to get the plaster finish without the coast. Most commonly however, it refers to a thin coat of drywall compound (or mud) applied with a wide trowel over the drywall to smooth over a wall it is the same stuff the spacklers are using I think. After drying, you sand the finish smooth - this is messy and dusty and horrible.
Mud is similar to plaster - although I am not certain what the actual composition of it is.
alls in this manner. I have found the finished wall to be very different in feel to a standard gyp wall - more solid and warmer to touch.
SCB: Here's one from Pier 1: from the sale section:
http://www.pier1.com/catalog/productdetail.aspx?oid=115809&returnURL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pier1.com%2fcatalog%2fcollections.aspx%3ffh_view_size%3d8%26fh_view%3dlister%26fh_refpath%3dfacet_59232842%26fh_location%3d%2f%2fpier1direct%2fen_US%2fspecial%3eon_sale%2fcategories%3c%7b110299%7d%26fh_eds%3d%c3%9f%26fh_start_index%3d40&fh_view_size=8&fh_view=lister&fh_refpath=facet_59232842&fh_location=//pier1direct/en_US/special>on_sale/categories
I checked through the Sears catalogue on-line, but there was nothing even remotely similiar. That doesn't mean Sears itself won't have something....
Haven't been to the Bay in ages, that might be a possibility.
I'm afaraid your tatse is too refined for "smallcity" Beth!
I'm doing my "office" today. Just finished weeding out my files, reorganizing them, upgrading folders, and putting in a new visual scheme with tabs in different colors by category for the hanging files and a few different colors of hanging files. This all took way longer than I expected - about 3 hours. And I'm not done with shredding, which I'll mostly take to the shredder at work.
I still have to do a small area of office supply storage, but first, I'm going out to a movie!
Good for you, Pixie. Three hours isn't that long at all.
I'm dragging my behind on getting the prep done in the bathroom.
I just don't want to do it--not now, not later, not ever. My "inner child" is throwing something of a hissy fit.
One some of those glass lamps I do not see a cord. How do they work?
Francesca,
They all have cords. Some run thru the center of the lamp. Some the cord comes out at the top - where the glass and lamp meet. If you don't see a cord, assume they have tucked it away for the photo.
SCBeth! Was linked to design*sponge through another posting and found on the left side, d*s mini trend, which was glass lamps! Check it out...
http://designspongeserver.blogspot.com/
Just curious, do you have a target in small city?
ugh. Scraping a ceiling is no fun. None. Not one ounce.
And while I'm in a complaining mood: There are
No Targets
No Pottery Barns (except in Toronto and they won't ship, ditto Williams Sonoma)
No West Elm
No K-Marts
No Crate and Barrel
No Container Store (and they won't ship)
No Bed, Bath and Beyond.
It's a design wasteland.
We have two National Shelter magazines: mostly they seem to feature items one can buy in maybe three cities in Canada--Vancouver, Toronto and (perhaps) Montreal.
But I'm just grumpy because I've had plaster falling on me for the last 15 minutes. When I'm lucky. Unlucky bits will have to be sanded off.
WHY OH WHY did I get rid of all my shower caps?
Alana,
goggles and a mask would be a very good idea.
Alana,
I'd complain too.
Thanks!
dh's goggles are 1) yellow and 2) don't fit over my glasses. Poot.
I learned something today, though: don't put stripper in a clear plastic "liner" container. In the time it took to take down the shower curtain, the stripper ate right through the plastic. Oh and in spite of what the guy said at Home despot, don't use a foam brush.
It ate that too.
We have a plastic tub and shower surround.
You can see a bit of it in the bath photo (click my name).
It eats that too.
Alana,
Oh no!! You are having such a bad day .... nI hope tomorrow is much better.
Alana, WHAT are you using in there? Sounds like you need a full chemical warfare-style suit on!
Roflol!
Good news: dh came home and found bigger goggles for me, yellow, but better.
On my own initiative, I decided to strip the cieling right back to the plaster.
I'm using what we had in the "chemicals" cabinet.
Click my name to a link:
Friday night.
I sure hope all you single and/or child-free folks are out having a LOT MORE FUN than I am tonight.
Heck, if you are sitting at home with your feet up you are having more fun....no, if you're cleaning out grout, you're having more fun. Honest.
We'll see, sounds like it's another movie night! Shocking! Definitely not normal in this household but waaay better than last night which was a CraigsList wild goose chase with terrible directions 1/2 hour past the town they were supposedly in and a hideous desk that must have been very cleverly photographed to make it look worth $100 on CL whereas I would have given her maybe $20 after seeing it just based on the cfrappy condition it was in. Not to mention the condition of the mister's temper after having to turn around twice since our directions were so bad.
So, upshot, saved $100 and wasted about $20 in gas. I might give up on CL for a while, they have not been helpful recently like they were in days of yore. And this weekend is proper bathroom cleaning, I bought nice soap and emptied the medicine cabinets and that was very satisfying so far.
Alana: I promise that I will stop bitching about my wasteland. We do have a Target, a PB, and and a BBB.
Alana, the instructions say to put the object to be stripped on a plastic sheet. That implies it would not harm plastic. Maybe back in 1850 they had better plastic. :)
They must have, Marilyn, they must have! :)
I've finished the initial stripping. Now I have to do the "scrub with steel wool" part.
Too bad about your escapade, Anne (in Reno). No one lists anything on craigslist here but late 80's monstrosities. It just hasn't caught on.
Francesca, I didn't hear you complaining. Not at all.
SCB--where are you tonight?
Soaking in a nice hot bath in that lovely bathroom of yours, I hope.
Glad some of you posted. I really don't enjoy a one person pity party!
Alana, when you're finished with that bathroom ceiling, you will deserve a medal! (Or at least that little ladder-and-paint-bucket ornament I saw at Hallmark -- DH, do you hear me? Buy Alana that Hallmark ornament for an award. I said so!)
I went on retail therapy reconnaissance this afternoon. Can't afford to buy the things I want just now, lamps, loveseat, dining chairs, but I can see what's out there, and figure out what's possible and what's not. I found some possibilities. Checked a couple of the "cool" stores, and found nothing. Checked a couple of the regular furniture stores, and found a couple of possibilities. Checked a couple of other stores, and found a couple of possibilities, including a lamp that might do, at Linen 'N' Things. Might do. Might.
I only saw a couple of clear glass lamps, and they were not nearly as nice as the ones on the websites people have been alerting me to today (thanks for all your help, folks! Especially Alex, who went above and beyond the call of duty, and I appreciate it so much!) I looked at Pier 1, and they only had the etched glass one on display, and it just wasn't the look I'm going for. They did, however, have some very nice vases, if I should ever get brave (or desperate) enough to try the DIY route. I submit them for your inspection...
http://www.pier1.com/catalog/productdetail.aspx?oid=112611&returnURL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pier1.com%2fcatalog%2fcollections.aspx%3ffh_view_size%3d8%26fh_eds%3d%c3%9f%26fh_view%3dlister%26fh_refpath%3dfacet_59433428%26fh_location%3d%2f%2fpier1direct%2fen_US%2fcategories%3c%7b110299%7d%2fcategories%3c%7b110346%7d%26fh_start_index%3d24&fh_view_size=8&fh_eds=ß&fh_view=lister&fh_refpath=facet_59433428&fh_location=//pier1direct/en_US/categories<{110299}/categories<{110346}&fh_start_index=24
(sorry the url's so long, I don't know how to do the "tiny url" that people do in the greater AT area...)
The lamp(s) I found at Linen 'N' Things are a clear version and a smoked glass version of a Nate Berkus design (seems appropriate, given the picture at the top of this thread.)
http://canada.lnt.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2201257&cp=1331609.1331972.1334510&page=2&doVSearch=no&doVSearch=no&pageBucket=0&parentPage=family
and the smoked glass one,
http://canada.lnt.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2029499
I haven't exhausted all the possible stores yet, so I may find something better. If not, I'll go with one of these. It certainly wouldn't be the first time I've decided I wanted something, searched high and low for it, not found it, then several months later found it everywhere!
I looked at other things, too. Found a couple of candidates for throw pillows in the living room, one that's maybe a bit too light a pink (and Pier 1 calls it "apricot", much to my confusion...sure looks pink to me!) and one that was fuchsia (at Home Outfitters, whose website doesn't have anything but a store locator on it). Also found one at LNT that is kinda beige with a pink wild-rose-like flower on it. Of course, the illustration I found shows every color of flower but the one I'm talking about. Here are the current candidates for throw pillows.
http://www.pier1.com/catalog/productdetail.aspx?oid=115811&returnURL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pier1.com%2fcatalog%2fcollections.aspx%3ffh_location%3d%2f%2fpier1direct%2fen_US%2fcategories%3c%7b110299%7d%2fcategories%3c%7b110348%7d%26fh_refpath%3dfacet_59433428%26fh_start_index%3d0%26fh_view_size%3d8%26fh_view%3dlister&fh_location=//pier1direct/en_US/categories<{110299}/categories<{110348}&fh_refpath=facet_59433428&fh_start_index=0&fh_view_size=8&fh_view=lister
http://canada.lnt.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2072245&cp=1331609.1331966.1901015&page=2&doVSearch=no&pageBucket=0&parentPage=family
Found a possible candidate for loveseat. I quite liked it -- it wasn't love at first sight, but there's a definite attraction there. :) Most of the loveseats I tried on for size told me (some quite snarkily) "I'm sorry, but I'm built for someone taller." The one I found fit me nicely. If I could get it in a dark green. It was a light green in the showroom, which might match the chairs, and which might be just enough off to be jarring to the eye. It also had dark wood legs and trim, which was beautiful, but wouldn't go with what I have. (You'd love the wood, Anne in Reno!) But it's a contender. Unfortunately, the store's website didn't have an illustration of that particular loveseat. Bah.
And finally (do I hear a chorus of "Whew! Finally!"??) I saw a dinette set I really liked. We aren't totally bereft of style in smallcity, after all! I saw this in two stores! The chairs seem to be sold separately, and can be upholstered in red, I think. I love the table, but it's too big for my kitchen.
http://www.reflectionsfurniture.net/images/W466Blg.jpg
So, did I buy anything, you ask? Well, I picked up the stuff I'd ordered for my bedroom (drapes, bedskirt, pillow sham, stuff like that), but nothing that hadn't been planned beforehand. All this lovely stuff will have to wait its turn in the budget. But the looking was certainly fun! (And tiring. I'm not gonna be curing anything tonight. Even though shopping in a million stores (or so) isn't nearly as tiring as scraping a bathroom ceiling, and stripping the paint with something that sounds as if it should be left in the can and handled by the hazmat guys...Sheesh.)
I talk too much.
Happy Cures to you!
Alana in Canada,
That doesn't sound good. Kids acting up?
ScB you do NOT talk to much.
We tried the steel wool thing and it wasn't doing anything, so dh and I decided I need to keep striping. (Too bad I'm talking about the ceiling, eh?)
No, no, the kids are fine. My problem is my own: I haven't properly looked for a babysitter for the kids, so dh and I haven't been "out" in, probably, years. (I do remember us going to see the last film of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy--how long ago was that?)
And by the by--dh isn't doing this because he's worked something like 16-18 hour days since Monday--he's watching vidoes with the kids right now.
This "waiting" 10 minutes for the stripper totake effect gives me a lot of time on the computer. Feel free to write another novel, scb. I'll comment on your choices next break.
Here's the link for tiny urls:
http://tinyurl.com/
Thanks, Pixie!
My arms are ready to fall off. If they don't burn off first!
Never use this stuff. OK? Promise me. I think I'll get through the whole can and then there won't be any more to "use up first." Yay.
Second, as this has gone on (and on) (and on) (and on) I've been getting more and more (and more) (and more) (and more) tired and less (and less) careful.
So, dh and I are talking about TILE! Tile! oh blessed 4x4 (or 6x6) white ceramic tile. I love tile, I read books about tile before bed (well, OK, one book in particular)and the BEST thing about it is that even the most inexpensive tile with just the right bit of accent can make the bath SO classy.
OK: everyone, you have my permission to go find me pictures of tiled bathrooms!
The trick will be taking out the dratted (and now pitted and gouged) plastic thing we have now.
Who do you call to "uninstall" things?
I have been sent on a mission for Alana. I'm equal to the task. I won't let you down, Ma'am.
Bathroom tiles, you say? Here you go! (This was fun! and I now have a "favourite" on my computer called Tiles for Alana Style Tray.)
Here's some urls, haven't tried the link Pixie gave me yet.
I found this one before I switched to googling only pages from Canada. The image keeps changing, it's the blue tiles in a random pattern that I really like...
http://www.glasstileusa.com/
Helpful article for DIY tiling...
http://ezinearticles.com/?Planning-your-Bathroom-Tile-Design,-Pattern-and-Installation&id=123721
Who would have imagined there would be a site called bathrooms dot ca? Has links to contractors and suppliers and things in various cities.
http://www.bathrooms.ca/
If you want to go really creative...
http://www.desertdragonpottery.com/tileprojects/shower.html
This is pretty...
http://www.homebase.ca/articles/mb_little_bathroom.asp
If you want just plain white, rona or home depot have lots. If you want more adventurous colors, like the ones in the examples I've linked, rona and home depot don't quite cut it. says she who gave up the hunt for red subway tiles. (did notice a place today that has ceramic tiles, nearly went in there, but told myself that I'd had a scathingly brilliant idea for my white tiles, and I was going to stick to it, by golly!)
Alana, I sure hope your bathroom is well ventilated! Take care of yourself.
Oh scBeth, you are a sweetie.
Still at it, believe it or not!
I went a-googling myself and added a few images of what I had in mind to my flickr account. Have a look.
Thanks for those links. The bathroom contractors looks VERY interesting...and I appreciate the DIY article.
Cross your fingers the walls behind the plastic surround are OK. I'm scared to think the previous owners put it in because it was crumbling or something. (Remember we have late 1940's plaster and lathe walls.)
Hey, everybody -- if anyone's around at this hour besides Alana and me (the other westerners must be out having fun!)... I just noticed that on the last post thread, last weekend's one, Mary whose office before pic was featured at the top of the post has given us a link to her "after" pic. It's lovely. And it has a cat on the desk (which increases its worth by quite a bit, if you ask me). Thought you might want to pop back to that thread, and take a look. She's comment number 189.
Alana, I left a couple of comments on your Flickrs. If you're going with white tiles, I definitely agree you need some sort of border, or design in the middle or something. Mine are just plain white, and well, they're just plain white. I love that blue color in the picture with the diamond shaped tiles! Good luck!
G'night.
Thanks for keeping me company and the info about Mary. I'll take a look next break!
G'night.
Old can all gone!
Just opened the new can of stripper...and my goodness, does it smell strong!
Could the old stripper have simply lost its potency?
scBeth--did you try Home Outfitters? Homesense and, oh yeah, Winners?
Oh--and
No Room and Board (and they won't ship)
No Design Within Reach
No Pierre Deux
What else?
Tried Home Outfitters. They only had a lamp with spots (like polka dots, only not as many) etched into the clear glass. Not my style. Haven't been to Winners/HomeSense yet. Canadian Tire has a clear glass lamp that you can fill with stuff, it looks better on the website than in person. I have noticed this before about myself -- I'm very fussy!
Further to my comment about the dinette set (link on my comment up there somewhere), although I note that it can be upholstered in red, I've decided that if I buy the chairs, I'll buy them in black. Goes with more, and if I change color schemes in the kitchen, I won't have red chairs sitting there looking red. Besides, they're so classy looking in black. I tested them and they're comfortable to sit on (a major point in their favor!). I'm going to measure my space and see if the glass table would fit. At all. Somehow. (I like it!) (and it would be such a step up from the current natural-finish pine, which was a big step up from what I had before.)
Hope you don't have a headache this morning, Alana, from all the fumes. I'd be non-functional.
How's everyone else this morning? Raring to go on another Cure Weekend? This morning, I'm going to spend some quality time with my grout brush. (And I will have the TV on, media fast or no media fast, to hear/see the Remembrance Day service from the Cenotaph in Ottawa.)
Alana -- what do we need all those great stores for, we have Canadian Tire! (humor. I assure you. humor.)
Beth, You're a westerner? I can't point a finger, though, because I'm up and obsessing about this stuff too. I have an all-day outing today and dinner out tonight, so I won't be cooking dinner until tomorrow. If it looks good enough, I'll post a picture.
We will be off to the centotaph downtown at city hall today with the family.
Let's all take a moment today and honour our soldiers everywhere. Whatever our feelings about war itself, or particular wars, today is the day to salute the who put their lives on the line to uphold the values we hold dear.
Speech over.
Hooray for Canadian Tire.
One caution though: I bought a Debbie Travis candle there and though it's a pretty colour and has a lovely scent, the wick drops off into the wax and leave big black bits in the candle well. Not very attractive. Just a heads up to fellow Cdns out there!
And yes, I do have a headache. Though I expect my son's may be worse. His bedroom is right next to the bathroom.
Actually, Alana, yesterday was the day. :) What's the centotaph?
Good morning, all --
I suppose that technically I'm a "mid-westerner". Due north of the east side of Montana. Prairies. (In Canada, anything west of the Manitoba/Ontario border, is considered "West".) Right now, since Daylight Saving Time ended (our time doesn't change where I am, we're on DST all year round, although some wouldn't agree) we're only one hour different from the Eastern time that our comments are stamped with. So when I commented at 8:10 a.m., it was 7:10 a.m. here. I'm an early riser.
I have finished cleaning the tile in the bathroom. Is it perfect? No (I noticed a spot I missed in the rinse and shine step), but I'm trying to divest myself of the expectation of "perfect" anyway. Is it better? Oooooooh, yeah. Much better. I may do another pass at it before the Grand Unveiling, but not today. My not-quite-recovered-from-carpal-tunnel-syndrome wrists have declared that what I have done is quite sufficient for today. Sure is shiny. (she smiles.)
I've been printing out pictures and reframing them this morning, also. I think it was skywaykate who suggested getting frames the same color as the wood in my living room, for my wildflower pictures. Hmm, I thought, the frames in the kitchen are about that color. I brought the frames out of the kitchen, stuck them up on the wall just to test, and they looked great! So now I'm printing out the pictures in the correct sizes, doing different pictures in a couple of instances, and framing them. (She smiles again.) The kitchen pictures will get different frames eventually. And when I decide what to put up on either side of the bed, the bedroom picture frames will be dark brown. I've finally realized that the clip frames, while easy, just fade into the beige walls.
Marilyn, I'm looking forward to at least seeing that teriyaki chicken!
And Alana, try to take it easy today, okay?
Marilyn, allow me to answer for Alana.
November 11 (the anniversary of the Armistice of the First World War -- the Armistice was signed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918) is commemorated in Canada as Remembrance Day. All over the country, people will be gathering to remember those who have made "the supreme sacrifice", who have lost their lives fighting in various wars, to ensure our freedom. In cities, and small towns, people will gather at the memorial to the war dead, the "cenotaph", for these services. It's not a glorification of war, but a remembrance that a lot of people went through more than anyone should have to, so that our countries can be free.
Didn't mean to get on a soapbox or anything, just trying to answer Marilyn's question.
Good answer, small cityBeth.
And good for you stopping short of "perfection."
Afetr the ceremony today, I'll be heading to Benjamin Moore to get my "colour" top coat for this process as they won't be open on Sunday when I'll need it.
A bit more scraping today--corners mostly.
Sand.
Skim over hairline cracks.
Sand.
Prime.
(Oil) Primer takes 16 or more hours to dry, so I figue I need to be finished with the coat of primer by 4pm in order to paint tomorrow at noon and have the bathroom ready for bathing again by Monday.
Then?
I don't know. I have curtains to sew, (but I still need to caculate yeardage and purchase my trim) and a shelf to stain (though I'm not entirely sure what we're going to use to hold it to the wall) and a tile tub surround to design. (And that's probably not going to happen 'til Spring but I want to be ready!)
I hope you all are productive today!
I have a question--today as dear children were wrestling with dear dogs, I noticed the amount of dander just "poofing" off the beasts! (the dogs, not the kids!) I vacuum nearly every day (invested in the Roomba several months ago which REALLY helps) but the dust and ick...I've never been a big believer in bathing dogs unless they smell but I'm beginning to wonder if it might be a good idea. Any thoughts?
You all motivate me! I finally finished the outside-the-house job yesterday. (Not ready to give up the Mom Job! ;-)) And now am looking at all the stuff that is on my inside job list. Overwhelming. There is so much to do I don't even know where to start! I did clean bathroom and go through all the drawers and cabinets this morning. Carpet cleaners coming tomorrow. Maybe will continue by having breakfast and shower.
Alana, congratulations on conquering the shower-scraping! Hope you are feeling better now.
It sounds like everyone is doing great. The links that have been posted have been interesting, & in several cases I've bookmarked them to keep.
Today, I need to do maintenance on the computer, scan in pictures, do regular chores, finish fixing the floors, and work on the outbox. One major challenge I am having is that I have one piece too many of furniture - currently the plant stand looks like it is extra, but I refuse to get rid of it (I like it too much!) so I have to figure out where to put that as well as where to put the catbox (which has been banned from the hallway). Currently I am out of ideas. I may go see what they sell - buying a new one may give new possibilities for what to do with it.
I know I will not be finishing the cure "on time." It's going to take me longer than that to get all the pieces together. I am focusing on having a plan for the master bedroom, and doing as much as I can on the main living area, which is closest to done. But I must admit - with out the Cure the house wouldn't be getting all of this attention & it really needs it.
Ok, off to start chores & computer maintenance. I'll check back in a bit.
dh is sanding the ceiling--finally! whew.
Good news: I bought a pine shelf to mount above my corner "LESVIK" TV stand. Dh has made a bullnose to the edge--and through some trial and error I finally re-created the stain! I'm so thrilled. A little of cappuchino water based stain by Samarin, a little burnt umber, a little burnt sienna, a dab of yellow ochre and my, it looks nice!
dh has "something" in the basement he says he can use to "even out the surface" of the ceiling so I won't get to priming until tomorrow morning.
This ceiling project cannot be over too soon for me!
So, tell me, what HAVE all of you been up to??
I got it! Finally, foot-of bed storage that isn't too wide or too deep, and for a decent price, too!
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_1/601-7724224-6725727?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B000BDCEFK
Happy dance! My scathingly brilliant idea for changing white subway tiles into red subway tiles worked! It wouldn't do in a shower, or anywhere it would be likely to get wet a lot, but as an accent in my kitchen, it'll work just fine. Do they look exactly like actual red subway tiles would have? No. Am I happy with them? Definitely. Not only will they provide the red accent I wanted in my kitchen, but there's the satisfaction of having used my imagination and ingenuity to figure out how to make it work. And I now know that it is possible to print a solid block of color, or a scanned photograph, on to a clear Avery label (I used the full sheet size) at the size of a subway tile, 3" by 6", three will fit on a page, cut them out carefully, and stick them on to the tile. I'll do mostly solid red ones, and a few accent ones of a scanned picture of a bowl of apples (a photo I took especially for the purpose). I am happy.
And, is anyone else out there???
smallcitybeth, I can't find the links you were asking for input on, but tell me which post they are & I will look.
Congratulations on the tiles! I know you are happy about it, and I'm sure it looks great - when can we see?
I just got back in. I brought the 1950 sewing machine/table back to Mom, dropped part of the outbox at the thrift store, and stopped at the local dollar store. I picked up a vase, a red felt piece with 'gold' kanji block-printed on it, and a couple items for better storage. That place has made a huge difference in the storage here - affordable, and standard sizes. It doesn't have to be pretty to fit in the closet, after all. The vase I bought is prettier than a few that I have already and is the same size, so I will outbox the other 3 vases and keep this one. I'm finishing putting up Halloween items & just general working on the house tonight, so I'll be around.
Thanks, Tara. It's about 25 comments up from here, in this thread. The one that takes up practically the whole screen in width, because I didn't do tiny urls. Tonight I've been online trying to find if I could get a smaller table with the black chairs I mention in that large comment above. The company makes small tables, but they come with other chairs. I'm hoping that it'll be possible (sometime in the spring!) to special order a small glass top table, and two of the black chairs.
Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone had any input on toss pillow colors that I've linked, or whatever.
Ok, found the post!
Love the table, BTW.
For the pillows - I like the flower ones you posted. They seem to suit you, and they will tie into the wildflower pictures you have on the wall. Also they will add a slightly playful feeling to the room. If you get one of the red ones, it will also pull a bit of your kitchen into the living room, which would be good since they open onto each other.
Any of the pillows you linked will look good, though.
I'll be around a couple more hours...making progress, hopefully!
Thanks for the input, Tara. I like your idea about getting one of the red flower pillows as well, thanks.
As for when you'll get to see my red tiles in the kitchen, it'll be a couple of days. Since I don't have a digital camera, I have to fill a film first -- but I'm using 12-exposure rolls of film these days, and I should have enough done to fill one of those by tomorrow afternoon, take it to the developer, and get it back Tuesday. or Wednesday.
Maybe since Maxwell's not doing the 12 mile walk today, he'll put up our Week 6 weekend post? (hint, hint...)
smallcitybeth, you're not the only one still using film, so no problem.
I will be getting my bench tonight, and will be going to Big Lots today. They're having a sale on curtain panels so I'm going to see if they have something that will work in the MBR. If they do, I can avoid having the panels custom-sewn for me (if I try to do it myself it takes forever - the sempstress is faster & does a better job). Also the sempstress is going to make the 'slipcover' I want for the bookshelf next to the desk & I should have that back by Thursday. So, more getting done this week than I thought originally.
Smallcitybeth,,,,,,,yes, indeed... working on it right now and you'll know why i am late again with this and am *sort of* glad that it's going to rain today and we're not doing the walk.
OK, Beth.
The Nate Berkus lamp. Oddly, it looks clunky and graceless to me. I'm afraid that it will look merely like a disembodied shade. In fact, I say no to the clear one for this reason--the shade dominates too much.
Where did you want to put this?
I do think you need tall skinnyish lamps on your jelly cupboards: but something tall like the green lamp you have now. As well, the clear base just won't have the prescence you need in that spot. If it is for your bedroom, then it might work. Don't know.
The smoked glass version is nicer, in a way. Finally saw the dimensions--25" That helps me visualize it better. I don't know: for some reason I just can't warm up to either of them, though they are nice.
From my computer screen, the legato pink looks too girly for the living room. The green might be nice: but it is too square. You need to soften all those hard edges in your living room...and though a pillow certainly qualifies, it's a question of whether you want to stay unified with a square pillow such as this, or introduce more variety with something more rounded. Your place is pretty unified as it is: too much more and it is boring. So I say go for something rounder.
Hands down love the flower pillows. Wish they had the pink to see, but if you saw it in person and it works with your print, then you've scored big time!
I think I might get the orange/yellow one for my living room!
The table and chairs.
First off, I don't like the chairs. Much too heavy for the table.
The table itself is nice: but you have a problem. It is very "hard" looking. Didn't we just do a bunch of brainstorming to see what could add softness to the kitchen? Of course, you can soften this with a cover of some sort: but would you want too after scrimping and saving to get it?
The base reminds me of a corset as well! And personally, I'm just not a fan of see-through dining tables. I don't really want to see my companions lap while I'm eating.
So, that's my opinion: biased, subjective and completely based on my own tatses and preferences--which is probably a long long way form yours, so I doubt it's helpful to you. Really, if YOU love something, then it is for YOU.
LIGHTING: Under-counter/ kitchen puck lights from IKEA worked very well for my low clearance cabinets. attach a dimmer of course. The lights come on a corded set of 2 and are cheap. In the living space, I searched forever years ago and ended up finding tiny floor/ ceiling mount white halogen spots from Lowes in Washington state. Again: dimmers. Experiment with locating them. Putting them BEHIND furniture may cast unpleasant dark shadows; better to uplight art or nice furniture. Ceiling fixtures usually cast bad, unflattering light. use them rarely!