apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Carry over from the last thread. Anyone have any experience with All Modern Furniture? The sofa I wish to buy is significantly cheaper there (as the shipping is free).

Another question. Has anyone purchased this or any similar knock-offs? Should I save my pennies for the real thing?

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Rupert-Chrome-Steel-Chair-with-Leatherette-Seat-Pad/2682968/product.html

mdeathstar -- I like the chair, but then, I have no problem with knock-offs. Hmmm, maybe I should get one for my office . . . let me know if you like it.

Thanks Birdy. Since posting that I spied these on eBay. The shipping is high but it may be more original?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Harry-Bertoia-Wire-Diamond-Chair-with-Two-Cushions_W0QQitemZ120161043317QQihZ002QQcategoryZ115757QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

Here's a question --

In my living room, I have a tan leather sofa and a plycraft lounge chair that I had upholstered in cream leather.

I just bought a cool 70's era coffee table at Goodwill that needs to be painted (no choice, the wood is very, very ugly). My instinct is to paint it bright, lacquered white (in fact, I found a auto body shop to do it for me). Will that make the cream leather lounge chair look dingy?

mdeathstar -- That price is too good to be true . . . I'm guessing that's probably a knock-off, too. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!)

I think white and cream can co-exist happily together. I have a bright white mag table next to my off white/cream leather sofa and my cream wool rug and I'm okay with it. That said it might be better to go with a glossy pop of color - maybe orange or red?

Okay... as I climb up on my soapbox... Is it just me, or has there been a lot of negativity on AT lately?? Don't get me wrong, I like a good snarky comment. But there is a heck of a lot of b*tching going on, especially in posts that people don't seem to like (ie, sex chair post from today, a lot of the small/cool entries). Feeling a little like the green slime from Ghostbusters is about to ooze out of my laptop. Relax - it's a blog, it's FREE, you don't have to read...

My husband thought orange . . . we actually bought some spray paint and did a few test boards. It didn't work in the room. The problem is that although our furniture is neutral (browns, tan, the cream), our area rug is not. It's striped, with reds, rusts, blues and greens. So the orange fought it, and the red we tried got lost in it.

Got ya. What about a glossy chocolate color?

eebnyc - I've noticed the same thing. As a newbie here I just thought it was the way of the forum but I really dislike pointless bitchy comments.

I don't like the negativity, either, but it has been way worse in the past. There seems to be a cycle.

Put in another vote for me against the negativity. Especially in the small/cool entries: homes are very personal things, and people obviously feel proud of their spaces to enter them into the competition; if you don't like an entry, there are nicer ways to offer suggestions and to ask questions. Some comments are downright cruel, I think.

I like the look of mixed shades of white/ivory/cream -- it has to be more than just two pieces, though...I'd tie it together with a white flokati rug or other white and cream accents?

I agree about the negativity. I just registered for this blog last week and have been really discouraged about the negative comments. As a young person just getting into apartment living, I would be really hesitant to post anything about my apartment on this blog which is unfortunate since it would be nice to get some encouragement/ideas.

very, very sad. it used to be very rarely that you would a negative comment. even if someone did disagree, they would do it in a polite manner.

i don't know what has happened.

I have painted wood 1930s cabinets in my kitchen that are ready for a fresh coat of paint. I seem to recall that there is some sort of additive that I can put in the paint so that it dries slowly, but without paintbrush or roller marks. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Does anyone have suggestions for painting cabinets? Thanks!

any chance of a midsize cool contest? say up to 1500 sf? How about a home therapy site?

The small/cool comments have been on my mind all weekend. I've been pottering around my little apartment all weekend, doing odd jobs, thinking about how much I love my home, how much I'd love to share some of its nicer quirks with the friendlies on AT, and how I don't want to because it'd hurt if (the less friendly) people sneered.

"Sticks and stones", I know, but unkind words can and do hurt. I feel really bad for the people who got bashed in this year's small/cool.

Laurita - if you ever want to share your home do the cure and post pictures! I like to think we are pretty darn nice :) I post my place regularly during the cure and always get really sweet comments from fellow cure-ers. I like to think we're some of the best AT'ers out there...

- I should say House therapy site (cuz apts are homes too!) Also, I agree that some comments are really negative. When I got picked for a 'good question' i got raked over the coals! It was mean, but you know what? They had some good suggestions and I did a lot of them! And now I love my place even more! So I guess what I am saying is, don't be afraid to post and get ideas. People come in all shapes and sizes, what matters is how we react.

I seem to recall that there was a discussion about negativity during last year's Small Cool. And wasn't there a voting "scandal" regarding Chicago entries a couple of years ago? For those new to this site, stick around. It's great that you joined; it will get back to normal once Small Cool is over.

Question: How in the heck do you handle furniture placement in an office with two windows, two great views, WITHOUT putting your back to the door? I can see the value in the Feng Shui principle, but for the life of me, unless my back is to the windows, I can't come up with a solution!

Hey, thanks suziegoombs. Half of my place is in the throes of major renovations at the moment, but maybe by the time the next cure rolls round. :)

Marisa - I can't really visualize your space but can you put the desk in the middle of the room so your back is to a wall and you face out towards the windows/doors?