apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Can anyone recommend a good vaccuum cleaner in the $200 and under range?

Thanks!

A somewhat related question... I *finally* bought a rug for my new living room, and of course, on the first day, I stained it! It's a wool-jute blend rug (http://www.potterybarn.com/products--p5393--index.shtml)

Any recommendations on how to clean it?

I am drawing a blank. Where can I find the upholstered bench-like coffee table with the bentwood sliding part that can be used as a table?

Sasha -

I love my MetroVac. I have a compact canister vacuum from them that's been a workhorse for years.

Company site: http://www.metrovacworld.com/Shopping/product.asp?catalog_name=metrovac&product_id=professionals

Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-8212861-6421460?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=metrovac&x=0&y=0

hey sasha, i always toot the horn of my vac. it's awesome and it's still going strong after 4 years because it's a commercial canister vac. it's a totally workable/storable/usable size, and really it just sucks well - AND, it was around 150 smackeroos, which is amazing compared to, ugh...The Dyson (cue balloons and confetti).

http://www.sanitairevac.com/commercial/products/specialty/sc3683.jsp

here it is on amazon, too:

http://www.amazon.com/Electrolux-Eureka-Sanitaire-Commercial-Canister/dp/B0006HUYTE/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_a

I also own the MetroVac...It is powerful, but small, and groovy looking, and I especially love that it is made in the USA. When I needed a part for it recently (due to a rambunctious child, not the quality of the vacuum) I phoned and talked to a real guy right in the factory....it was so cool!

i noticed puffs of dust sticking out around the edges and plugs of my bathroom outlet today. that's a fire hazard, right? i'm gonna take the plate off and air/vacuum.

never heard of this before.

oy. I lose so many older AT posts that I want to find and am not able to. Can anyone direct me to the fairly recent beautiful paint job that someone did over their bed as a faux headboard? It had blue colors and birds in the design... many thanks!

Any tips for staging a residence for an open house? I did a search but couldn't come up with anything... help!

@Lady J

Sounds like the insulation is coming through. Maybe there's a small creature making a nest in your wall? I'm no expert - I'm sure there are other reasons why this could be happening. No matter WHY, though, I feel safe saying that it's not a good thing. Good luck!

canadian -
Run a search on the HGTV website using the term "staging."

http://web.hgtv.com/hgtv/web/searchResults/1,8213,,FF.html?searchString=staging&searchType=Aggregate

Maybe there will be something helpful amongst all of the hits.

Sasha -

Methinx there was a pretty recent post about all kinds of vaccuums on here somewhere, but I have to say that although it was LESS than $100 I kind of like my Shark, which is a fairly skinny stick vaccuum cleaner which is bagless. I have only two rugs -- one that's about 6' x 6' hexagonal and another which is about 8' x 11' or so.

In all fairness, I must also admit that I have no pets or kids, so mine is really not put through its paces as much as many are.

Thanks for the responses so far!

We mostly have hardwood floors, but our main reason for looking for a new vaccuum is our constantly shedding shag rug. Our apartment is like living in the Wild West. My husband's going to chuck the thing out the window if we can't find a way to cut down on the fur balls.

No kids, no pets, just the rug.

I have 2 areas I'm looking for feedback:

1) As long as the subject of vaccuum cleaners is up, I'm looking for a small but powerful handvac style that I can use just to clean up little messes on low pile carpeting. I bought the Dirt Devil KURV (designed by Karim Rashid) that can be left out because it looks so designer... but took it back because it only had 9 volts and didn't pick up anything. Plus, it had a tiny little nose end to suck up the dirt, not nearly large enough to do any good. Any suggestions for a more powerful one for the home (extra points if it looks nice enough to leave out so its handier)???

2) I'm looking at buying some chalkboard wall decals for my office area, thinking these would be super handy. Supposedly they don't make a chalky mess like regular chalkboard stuff, but wanted to know opinions on them. These are the ones I'm looking at so far, but open to suggestions: http://www.brightandbold.com/chwade.html

Can anyone who has seen the west elm parsons coffee table in person please tell me how sharp the corners are?

We're eying it for our living room, but we have a little one roaming around, and so I want to make sure it's small child safe.

Birdy - I was at the Paramus NJ West Elm last night! They have the Parsons coffee table in white and the desk in (gorgeous) orange out on the floor. I have to say, it is pretty pointy. The enamel paint is almost a hard plastic over the wood (just looking at it, it's difficult to tell it's wood at all, really). IMO, it wouldn't be a good idea if it's in an area where there is daily baby-traffic coming through.

Callie- I worked somewhere that sold the "wallcandy" chalk board squares. We used them throughout the store (and reused them many times) They work great, but don't have the exact same effect as a chalk board- some scratchy marks left behind from heavy handed writers.

Thanks J- that is just what I'm looking for!

Thanks, Robyn! That's what I was afraid of.

I'm also looking at the Scando table, but it's just so low . . . I'm not sure it will look right next to our sofa.

Callie,

Looks like the same product, much better price?

http://wallies.com/item/W16000.htm?tab=chalkboard&page=1

Can anyone help me? Sometime within the last year AT posted a media cabinet where a flat screen TV could be raised out of it on an arm that also swiveled around. It was beautiful and now it is just what I need. I've searched the archive and the only thing similar i could find was from Lee Sinclair, but it was not the one I'm thinking of. Does that ring a bell to anyone? Or, if anyone has an ideas for low key media cabinets that HIDE the TV, please post!
Thanks

louisa,
are you thinking of this?
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/look/look-urban-outfitters-elegant-headboard-wall-decal-on-sale-043652

thanks!! maybe... I could swear I saw a similar (or identical) pattern on a dark blue wall but maybe in my dreams... this is helpful in any case... thanks much!