apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I'm looking for a nice framed round convex mirror. Anyone have suggestions? Maybe something with a wooden frame. Nothing to fancy. I've found this one:
http://4blackbird.com/wood_frame.html
Any other suggestions? Thanks

Hey everybody, My husband just bought a slat bench and it has a few superficial scratches on it. Does anyone know how to remove it? Should we sand it? Any help would be appreciated.

sorry...eta...this is what it looks like:) http://www.retroathome.com/gallery/album55/2007_0215Image0017

I'm about to move to a new co-op in DC and would like to fix it up since I plan on being there a long time. I would like to put in a new kitchen floor and counter. I like Corian Savannah, but it is pricey. Does anyone have cost-conscious recommendations for a good floor and counter? Should I do all work at once, or do one thing at a time as I can afford it?

me-n-dj
I heard something crazy this weekend and wonder if anyone else knows if this works. I heard that almonds can help hardwood floors and wood furniture. What do I do? Just rub the scratches with a raw almond? I assume with the shell off.

katedet,
i would do all at once, but not save on quality. Once you're installed and are comfortable in your apartment, it's hard to get "big" ( read: dusty ) work started again.

I have a rather large soft chenille sofa in my small family room. The seat height is 21". Is it okay to place 2 smaller armchairs across from it? The chairs have a seat height of only 17". They are from Wisterisia (http://www.wisteria.com/prodinfo.asp?number=W1819).

jlg

almonds...hmmm, maybe the natural oils from the nut has something to do with it. Maybe just almond oil will work. I guess I could try a little on the underside...its worth a shot. Thanks

Hello!

Does anybody know what happened to the post about some very expensive sofas (posters had suggestions for less expensive repros):

modern
no legs
sit on the floor
look very comfy
no arms
tufted

hard to explain, but if anyone has any idea what i'm talking about, any info would be greatly appreciated!!!

Wow, it's fun seeing myself welcomed after posting here for several years, but I'll take it!

jlg,I've heard that about almonds, too, but have never tried it. You might be better off just getting some oil, since that's what is probably helping the wood anyway.

Jeffnyc — are you referring to a Ligne Roset design? Maybe Togo? or is it the tufted floor cushions of Roche Bobois's Maj Jong sofa?

TOGO... that was it!!!!!! Thank you! Thank you!!!

I'll do a search for it on AT right now!!!!!!!

Many thanks!!!

Hmmmm... looking at the TOGO now, although nice, I think it looks a bit like a futon from an inexpensive furniture store. Really doesn't reflect the exorbitant price it is sold at.

Togos are insanely comfortable and sturdy (though they don't always look it).

Any suggestions for something that sits on the ground, but has a cleaner, more upscale look?

My husband and I were planning on getting the West Elm overlapping squares mirrors (two of them to put side by side above the 6 drawer dresser) in silver for above our dresser, but they're no longer carrying the silver it seems. Our furniture is a dark chocolate and I think getting the mirrors in that color would be overkill and I'd like something lighter as more of an accent color. Anyone see anything similar anywhere?

Hi Everyone

My brother and I are having the great debate. He wants beanbags in the livingroom, I say "oh NO!!!" Besides ottomans, what would be a good compromise?

AT posted about Garde Robe recently, and mentioned that they also have an online consignment store: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/shelving-storage/garde-robe-closet-valet-service-044958 On a whim I took a look, and ended up buying a funky but surprisingly work friendly Jean Paul Gaultier top - which arrived today in exquisite condition - for less money than I would have spent on almost anything at, say, Banana Republic. As with any second-hand store you've gotta dig a little, and their inventory is somewhat modest (in quantity, at least), but I recommend it. Thanks, AT!

swtvi65

A pouf would be a good compromise--something like this

http://www.overstock.com/Worldstock/Handcrafted-Leather-Ottoman-with-Lacing-Peru/2325702/product.html

or tailored looking floor cushions...

http://www.nextag.com/floor-cushion/search-html

After watching a Nate Berkus re-run on Oprah last week, I am obsessed with the idea of replacing my kitchen countertops with zinc. Does anyone have experience with zinc countertops? Is cleaning/maintenance a concern?
Thanks!

southernwayfarer:
I once worked in a paper mill, and convex mirrors were used as a safety measure at blind corners. I think they're pretty common in industrial usage, so you might find a wide selection at an industrial supply place, or maybe even a cast-off at a salvage yard. You'd need to custom frame it, of course.

swtvi65--

Moving out and not living with your brother comes to mind as a fitting compromise. ;)

southernwayfarer--

Try Ballard Designs, Shades of Light, Lamps Plus, and Home Decorators Collection. But farmhousemoderne's idea is quite brilliant.

Also maybe ZGallerie.

Has anyone ever hired a professional organizer? I have some serious storage issues in my house (rental). Basically, I need help with kitchen and clothing storage. What is the process like?

swtvi65 - I'm trying to imagine a situation that includes living with one's brother. I'm not trying to be mean, I'm just trying to figure that one out before answering your question.

A stack of nice, square mattress styled floor pillows would do the trick.

"swtvi65 - I'm trying to imagine a situation that includes living with one's brother."
I live with my brother. Actually two brothers, a sister and a pair of parents. I'm 16, bros are 14 and 8, sister 11. Happy Anne? There's a situation for ya.

Adult brother and sister living together has always left one saying, "HMMMMM"!

I have a male friend that has done it for years. He has a girlfriend but it is weird. He treats the girlfriend and the sister the same.

Philly ATers,
I am visiting some relatives outside of Philadelphia for the Easter weekend. Does anyone know of any second hand mid-century modern furniture stores in the area? I am looking for a long low credenza for my bedroom. I have scoured DC with no luck. Any ideas? Thanks.

Hey, I live with my brother, too! We live together because we own this apartment , renovated it, and are totally able to live in the boroughs without having to pay some whacked amount of money. I mean, we still pay a high maintenence for the neighborhood, but it's NOTHING like rent and roommates.

Plus, we get along really well and help each other out with all sorts of stuff. AND, when I moved back to Brooklyn (from being away for years and years) I couldn't possibly have afforded anything, let alone the actual relocation. Sheesh.

There's nothing with m/f siblings living together. It makes more sense in their 20s and in the later years. And ideally the bedrooms are at opposite ends of the place. But I don't see the problem. Why should they miss out on the $$ saving/building opportunity that same-sex siblings use?

I doubt anyone treats his girlfriend the same as his sister. You must be missing something. My brother has always referred to me as "not a real girl." He literally solicits advice with "pretend you're a real girl..."

My 81-year-old mother has an apartment therapy dilemma.

Her clothes washer no longer works and can't be fixed. When she went off to buy a new one she was told that the narrowest clothes washer made is 29 inches. The door to the basement (where her laundry room is) is 28 inches.

Obviously, even at 18 (let alone 81) trips to the laundromat get old fast. Does anyone know of a manufacturer who makes a reputable clothes washer that's 28 inches wide or less?

JonathanB,

We have a Bosch front-loader which I'm almost certain is only 26" wide. It ain't cheap, to be sure, but it works really well. Good luck!

Hi Everyone,

Wow! Look at all these responses! Well, I decided to share the apt because I am in grad school and this was a great saving opportunity for me. I lived alone for about 11 years after college and of course had all of the thought expressed by everyone, that this was a giant step backwards. I did not even have roommates in college! How could I have a roommate now.

Well we have a HUGE 3 bedroom apartment with 1.5 baths. Our rooms are in opposite sides of the house and quite frankly, my brother and I are like ships in the night with our schedules. We literally may see and spend about 4 hours togehther over the weekend.

Sometimes, you make compromise for the short term for the long term goal, which is my education and buying a house!

Wanda

jig, I've heard this as well - I think the nut meat fills in the scratch, and the oils darken over time, hopefully matching the floor. You might want to google, there's probably info online somewhere about what kind of nut would match what kind of floor. I've heard of people doing this w/walnuts. And yes, definitely without the shell. :)

swtvi65, my first thought was Fatboy cushions. Similar to beanbags, but not dated (at least, not yet). Otherwise I would also recommend the flat, square floor cushions. If you want to DIY, you can use sofa/chair cushions, and recover if you don't like the fabric. I did that w/a sofa we threw out, and now we have two thick, comfortable floor cushions (I recovered).

I would live w/one of my brothers, if the circumstance arose.

JonathanB - The washer spaces in the units in my building are all narrow and I only found two models to fit (at least domestically) at Sears (maybe anywhere, I can't recall). I'm not at home, or I would measure the one I got. The narrower ones are called "apartment size" or "compact." I just googled for these terms plus washer and got some hits. Also, you might find something on Consumer Reports, which you can subscribe to by the month online.

I'm completely frustrated that there's no place to just click on the Cure, as was true in past years. It's really hard to find the latest thread. It should be up top and shouldn't need to be searched. I've got the latest one bookmarked at home, but not at work and I don't want to spend the time hunting it down each time.

I see the book prominently in the upper right. Why not put a link to all Cure threads next to that, as in past years?

I'm also frustrated that I've made these comments over and over in threads as well as sending emails to AT. I'm feeling like no one is paying attention and I'm getting disillusioned.

Lady J-
You made me laugh so hard.

Pixie-
Sorry about your frustration, I hear you. I have a question though, when you said you hadn't bookmarked the Cure on your work computer...are you not using a bookmarking website? I could have sworn you were the one that introduced me to Del.icio.us and that whole concept (which has made me sooo happy!)!

pixie and abb-brooklyn--

thanks for the help. I've passed the info on to my mother.

Lori 2 - my reply might be too late, but, yes, I'm a rabid user of delicious. However, for stuff I click on multiple times a day, I find it's too slow to go to delicious. For AT and my other favorite websites, I use a links bar across the top of the browser, for instant, work-disturbing access. And for my Cure link, I replace the address in that one as new threads are posted.

I have 1768 items saved in my delicious account! How did we function before bookmarking sites and post-its?