apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I spent several hours this weekend scanning paperwork which were bursting my filing cabinet's seams. About 752 pages of statements and records and such! Yippee! Paper clutter be gone!

I highly encourage getting a printer/scanner. You can get good-quality ones for cheap! Mine's a Canon. Paid less than $90 on it. So worth it!

Cutting down on paper clutter CAN be done!

I have a question for anyone out there- I am considering buying ikea's Bekvam kitchen cart and wanted to know if anyone had it and liked it. Thx

Lorijo - I don't own that cart, but rather used it a lot at a friend's apartment. It was used heavily and not cleaned and kept dry as well as it should have been, but for all that it stayed in pretty great condition; no cracks, no warping or serious staining.

One thing, though, the wheels aren't great if you have sloping or otherwise really uneven floors. My friend ended up removing them.

I think this has already bben asked before, but..just in case:
Is there a way to to fix the Book Blog like during the last Cures in order to easily find ( and comment ) the last blogpost ?! Thank you !!!

I am desperately searching for a dependable handyperson. I have had TWO of them who were highly recommended simply not show up on the date we'd set up for the work--no phone calls, no returned calls, no nothing. Disappeared off the face of the earth.

The things I need done are not even that challenging, I would think. for someone who knows what he/she is doing (hardwiring a chandelier, bolting some bookcases to the wall).

Is it normal for people to do this? Or am I cursed? And does anyone know anyone who really can be depended on?

My apartment has these light fixtures (at least, that's what I've been told they are!) on the walls:
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg239/jeskjams/light.jpg
Anyone know where I can buy the proper bulbs for them?
Thanks!

Dear NYC, I love this chair I saw at ABC home and carpet - when I went back it was gone! Any ideas who the designer is and where I can purchase it?
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/wan/601037971.html
THANKS!

i'm with jany. can we please had a button link for the cure posts?

I would like to make my own lamp shades. Does anyone have any advice or has anyone done this as a DIY project before? Thanks in advance.

kdkaboom, can you get in touch with me? I need to get your brother's info again. I lost it.

anne.addg1 at gmail dot com

Thanks!

jeskjams -

There's a place called Just Bulbs which is exactly that. If your fixtures are removeable and you can take them in, I bet they can help you. They used to be in the Flatiron District somewhere, and I think they moved, but not too far.

thanks Moira! Glad to hear about the cart.

I second or third the request for a cure link fpr cure posts. I get tired of searching.

Hi, I need advice on painting white cabinets in a small galley-ish kitchen (with a window). Right now it's white cabs, white counter, white floor. I'm planning to replace the floor and countertops, but want to keep the cabinets and the appliances (which are also white).

I'm not good with matching colors -- can anyone suggest possible cabinet/countertop/floor/backsplash combos? I want something a little colorful but not screaming red or orange. I'm interested in marmoleum flooring, which comes in nice colors, but would also be OK with tile or hardwood, although both are more expensive. Any ideas to get me started are appreciated!

Vee,I purchased a lampshade from Just Shades. I think that they do custom shades. I reccomend them to everyone with a shade problem. The customer service is unbelievable! (phone and in person.) Most of all the shades are afforable. All that said, DIY shades look like DIY shades. :(

Susmita: Look around your apartment and find something that you really love and look at the colors. It could be a pillow, a book cover, a piece of fruit, a photograph, a piece of clothing... bring it into your kitchen and think about using the colors that appear in your item. (and look hard! pears aren't just green! A sweater is usually knit with several colors together!)

I did this with some infrared photographs my boyfriend took. They jumped out when I held them up to my gray bedroom walls, so I took them as inspiration and created a palette of intense orange, magenta, olive green (yes!) and brown. I would have never thought to put those colors together, but if they work in nature, they will work in your space. Remember that you don't have to use intense colors, but they are fantastic to use as little "pops" against a neutral palette or to tie two colors together.

Hi, Susmita - I think maybe in your case you should let us know when you've decided on the exact countertop you're going to get (include a link to the color or the exact item) so the folks with good color-combining skills can give better suggestions.

The color wheel on the bottom of this page may help for now:
http://www.nipponpaint.com/paint_elibrary/worldofcolour.html

It's a nice tool to see what colors go with what.

And then there's this.. but I don't know if it's good, haven't used it:
http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/

Anyone have any advice on mounting pictures or shelves into a brick wall? I want to install some shelves to display pictures, knick knacks, etc. - nothing too heavy, but my brick wall is a little crumbly. Any detailed tips for the non-handy would be much appreciated. Thanks!

cure threads button: I too have been asking and asking about this (threads, survey, email), but someone seems to be asleep at the wheel!

Vee & luvdecor - I have to report that I had the opposite experience with Just Shades. Awful service, rude staff. Fantastic shades, I admit, but I won't shop there again, alas.

hey, anne, i emailed ya!

HELP. I am in love with the EQ3 Boomerang end table but no one locally seems to have it. I like the Room an Board Edit table but I need it to be adjustable.

Any ideas?

Mdeathstar,

I know that "Straight from the Crate" has an EQ3 catalogue, and you can order certain products through them, but it takes 10-12 weeks for delivery. (I went to the "Straight from the Crate" in Union Square to inquire about ordering an EQ3 bed)...

Thanks - I tried them but they don't have the table. Plus I don't think I could wait that long :)

Turtleesq -- Handing pictures in brick is simple. If you go to any hardware store you will find picture hangers just for this purpose. There are many types. Some clip over the face of the brick, leaving no holes (will not work well with painted or very crumbly brick). Others have small masonary nails that hammer right into the brick or mortar. (Hint: hammering into the mortar may be more difficult, but it will be easier to hide the holes later with a dab of mortar if you should move the hanger).

Hanging shelves is a more substantial task. There are basically two options: Brick/masonary anchors or masonary screws (often referred to by a brand name Tapcons). This requires pre-drilling holes with a masonary bit and leaves permanent holes (and, in the case of the anchors, quite large holes). I would hesitate to do this if a rental.

There used to be an EQ3 on 96th and Columbus, right by me, but it's gone now. It morphed itself into just a plain old Straight From the Crate for a while first.

Cassis, I think it must be the nature of trying to hire people. I feel like crying about the time it is taking to renovate a house because no one does anything in the time they say or often don't even bother to show up again. Heck, and these are people I thought were pretty good friends in some cases.
Now so much time has gone by the insurance for "unoccupied" is through the roof. When I see the beautiful renovations in pictures, they seem like supernatural accomplishments to me now... eventually even my house will be finished, but starting from scratch would have been faster.

Another topic. A plea really.

Anyone have a review of a good (or bad one to stay away from) apartment complex in central Connecticut near Middletown/Glastonbury? We're moving out there for less than a year and I'm struggling a little knowing we need a place by the beginning of May.

-2bdrm
-around $1000

Thanks anyone!

heatherleaf, I started to do the same thing with my paper. Well, I didn't achieve the epic proportions you did, but I started to scan things in--some papers I'd had for more than 10 years! It was sooooo gratifying to throw it out. I know I'm going to become so addicted to scanning stuff in that I'll have a digital clutter problem!

Does anyone have marmoleum (real linoleum, not vinyl) in their house? The sheets, not the click tiles -- looking for positive/negative experiences.

My interest on Shay Alkalay's Pivot table has been piqued since first seeing it on Apartmenttherapy a little while back. I just got a heads up that it will be featured in the NY Times tomorrow - it's going to production shortly and will be distributed in the U.S. by various distributors. Starting price for oak/lacquer versions will be about $2400 and $2600 for walnut.

No affiliation with any distributor (hence I didn't identify any), but just wanted to give a heads-up to anyone who was intrigued as I was!

As part of the Spring Cure, we are working on some lighting issues. I'm wondering if there is an effective way to 'fix' pitted chrome without re-chroming per se. Here is the fixture:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98704941@N00/2324963381/in/set-72157601955717111
All suggestions are welcome!

To lorijo:

The BEKVÄM is a decent kitchen cart for the money. It's a bit tedious to assemble but once done it's very solid. If you don't plan on moving it around much the plastic wheels are just fine. You'll definitely need to apply some kind of moisture-proof vanish or stain. I never bothered with mine and while it's in good shape the top could use a sanding to remove a few stains.

Since I'm moving I'm more than happy to give mine to you (if you're up for a trip to Queens).

ditto to what bellzabean said about the BEKVAM cart. It's very sturdy and I also never stained it but should have. It was next to the stove in my old apartment and absorbed oil that splattered from cooking.

I'm still looking for an inexpensive, eco-friendly, low VOC flooring for my finished basement. Flor is too expensive. Laminate is not good for a basement. I cannot find inexpensive linoleum. Should I just go for cheap carpeting?

Does anyone have successful noise abatement solutions for a rental? Someone recommended once in a thread this expensive white noise machine
http://www.speechprivacysystems.com/pages/Sonet_Home

But, because that's all they ever posted on AT, it seemed a little suspect to me. I also have read the AT posts about more permanent things like adding drywall to the ceiling (not my issue) or new floating floors--which is beyond what I can do.

I really don't want to move, but since my new neighbor moved in below, his TV, stereo, and bedroom noise is driving me bonkers (and, yes, I've talked to him...he doesn't seem to understand). Last night, I got home late, was cranky and tired, and went ballistic. I turned on my vacuum, which really had the nice effect of drowning out his TV AND being a nice childish way of retaliating, but I knew it was going to annoy other tenants. I have a new rug on my list for the living room (current one is a thin woven one), but I was holding out wondering if I should install something wall to wall with some noise dampening layers or something. I'm THAT desperate that I'm willing to go wall to wall--that should tell you something!

Hi, all -

I'm finally ready (and have saved the money) to reupholster my couch. Huzzah!

So, can anyone recommend a good shop in the New York metro area. I've looked into the Furniture Joint and found their prices prohibitive. Any others?

Thanks!

I need recommendations or advice about mounting two of Ikea's Varde Glass Cabinets to plaster walls. I have no cabinets in my kitchen, and these are a great solution. But they come with no mounting hardware, and I'm not sure this is a project that I could do myself. I am looking for someone who can do this at a price that won't cost twice as much as the cabinets themselves (less than $500), or step-by-step fool proof instructions on how to do it myself so that they and my dished don't come crashing down in a disastrous mess.

Moira, there is an upholstery shop in DUMBO, on the corner of Front and Pearl Streets. I forget the name of it and I don't know how good their prices are, but they have some work displayed in their windows and it looks beautiful. Maybe look it up on Google?

anyone have any idea where i can find a double curtain rod (adjustable from 60" to 100") like this one at the shade store, but half the price, or less???

http://www.theshadestore.com/product/tier

i've checked the bargain stores in my 'hood, they're all crap and no double rods like this one. westelm has something, but it's also kinda pricey!

Christine,

This works well: http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-White-Machine-Screen-Conditioner/dp/B000BQYP1S/ref=pd_bbs_6?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1205431484&sr=8-6

Sounds like you should call 311 or complain to the landlord, and send the message to your neighbor that you are serious.

Oops you're in DC...never mind about 311.

Susmita, I love my linoleum rug that a friend found in a old store that had been closed up for decades. It looks nice and has held up well in a high traffic area. Unfortunately, if you have to buy one from a vintage store, they are expensive and I think the marmoleum is not cheap either. But is is natural (unlike vinyl) and easy to clean. I like it, if budget allows.

I'd try the landlord first. There are laws about noise transference in DC. I'd be surprised if your leases didn't specify that you have to carpet a certain % of the floor.

The best solution would be sound absorbers in your *neighbor's* apartment to stop the echo and reverb. Anything soft or upholstered would work. Curtains, quilts on the walls, carpets, sofas, etc.

As for blocking the noise from coming to you, you'll need to block the direction it's coming from. Since he's underneath you, that means carpets. A thick rug pad under a new or even your current carpet would help, too.

Good luck.

Thanks M and ZuleikaD! I'm going to probably try the tenant once more...then landord...we'll see!

kdkaboom--check out the index one from ikea. not exactly the same, but it has a double rod, a simple, modern finial end, and it comes in silver although I plan on buying on my my next trip and painting it with a high-gloss cheery color or black....haven't decided yet...

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/range/10374/10704/

this finial is nice, too :)

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70072244

Beelzabean and vertigo- thank you for the info on the Ikea cart. That has been very helpful. Ikea is quite a drive for me so I like to get all the info I can. I'm no where near queens, Beelzabean, but thanks for the offer!

Has anyone tried these on a wall? Could I hang art on them?

http://www.designpublic.com/index.php?mod=pp&p_id=7899

mdeathstar,
From the description, they are paper, so I doubt there would be any issue getting a nail through them.

Christine,
I have a simple sound machine I bought from Bed, Bath, and Beyond for $20. and it works great. I even take it on vacation. Also, if you have a cd player that can keep repeating a cd, you might try a cd that plays sounds like surf, rain, or river to cover up the noise. Good luck.

I was worried about smooshing the paper but I could always just carve a space out. I love the look although my cat may wreck them.

you...goooonie! thanks :)

Heather Leaf;
What did you then do w/the scanned info? Leave it on your computer, put it on an ext. hd? cd? I'm planning on doing the same thing, but I'm worried how much space it would take. Thanks.

Hello, all!

First time posting...and hoping some kind soul out there will be able to help me out.

I just got a new apartment and have been trying in vain to find place in NY that sells a Japanese all-black lacquered coffee table similar to the one on this site...

http://www.greenteadesign.com/reproductions/coffee_tables/bamboo-inlay-coffee-table.html

If anyone would be willing enough to offer any insights, I'll greatly appreciate it!

Hello...

I have an antique bergerer chair that needs to be reupholstered. I am trying to find a moderate priced upholsterer in the New York City area. Does anyone have any suggestions? Have you had anything reupholstered by them? How much do you think it would cost for just the labor of reupholstering?

Thank you

Amazing Custom Furniture Free Design service.
http://www.c10design.com

twosavoie - so sorry, i only just saw your question. if you're still around to read this, i have saved my scanned documents onto my computer and will transport them to a CD-RW and upload them onto an online briefcase such as the one that i can access through my gmail account. there were lots of documents but they only took up less than a gig of space. came very close to one gig. but what you can do is scan a set at a time and remove them from your hard drive as you complete each set if you're worried about space on your own computer

Hey everyone, I've got a mix and match question for everyone.

I own the 55" Zurich Media Console and would liek to find a coffee table to match it. (i happen to own the one without the top doors b/c the remotes don't work through it -- and i watch a lot of TV and would hate to keep opening and closing it -- eh maybe i should've gone with the one with the top doors who knows)

http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product.do?method=get&id=995356&coll=378102&cat=55

Any suggestions? Any glass top coffee table is out of the question as they are just too inconvenient to use.

Also what do people think when it comes to using either the same type of wood? or a different type of wood. I was thinking a coffee table with stainless legs and in maple... something like the R&B Basis or Copenhagen.

I'm open to anything thanks guys!