apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Totally random, but has anyone else picked up on how adorable one of the designer/commentators on Small Space Big Style is? I can never remember to write down his name to share. Sadly, he never has anything interesting to add, but oh well. Does anyone know who I'm referring to?

Last night's episode was pretty good. The South Beach apt was great, but the Uppwer West Side clean room was too sterile for me.

Seems i'm the first today !, Just wanted to wish everyboday a wonderful weekend.
As i moved into my appartment just a few weeks ago, i'll continue to undo boxes, but fortunately i have only a few left...

hey anne

(at least I think it was you)

I just noticed someone selling a Conserv fridge on Craigslist for $500 obo. I don't know how I'd feel about a used fridge, but you might be able to get a pretty good deal . . .

Sorry to be a thread hog, but did anyone watch Divine Design last night? Candice did a bathroom reno that included an in-wall ipod dock and a vanity mirror with a tv in it. Over the top?

sorry to repost this, but I think I posted it too late last night and it got lost in the shuffle.

hey.. so its bedroom month, which is great because I am planning on buying a new bed right now.. but Im not rich, you know? Im going to stretch beyond my means to avoid Ikea or one of those futon shops that you CAN NOT escape on craigs list. In the under-700 category.. theres not too many GOOD options.

I found the West Elm of course, but the basic wood one got REAMED (no pun intended) when it came to quality. The DWR Alum bed is OK but I went and saw it and its just not that nice looking (and no headboard). I even went as far as to trek up to 96th street today to see the EQ3 beds, which honestly looked sub-ikea in quality. The leader by a LONG SHOT right now is the HOT ROD bed from Blu Dot, which is 550 on 2modern and no tax and free shipping.

This sounds great but I have never SEEN or touched this bed, and its hard for me to part with 550 blindly. has ANYONE seen this bed or know where there is one in the city for sale or on display or ANYTHING? Or have any suggestions? I see the CB2 stuff, and its ok, but the blu dot LOOKS better anyway and is cheaper.

So thats it. 5? 600? not large horrible wood thing. something that exists in the city to see. whatever. help. thank you people.

Hi there, just wanted to send a thank you to DC Dave, but I'm not sure if I have that screen name right. I just searched and searched for the post (I think it may have been in an OT) but could not find it. Every time I look at my new Tolomeo floor lamp I love it and wanted to thank this AT member for posting the photos of his living room. That post inspired us to buy that lamp for our apartment and we love it!!

Matt,

We are in the same boat as you are, and are kind of limited to platform beds (which can be great, but are often not) because my husband hates footboards.

Bo Concept seems to have some interesting stuff that isn't too expensive. I haven't checked it out in person, though. If you find something great, please post it here! I like the Hot Rod bed, but am not sure that I want a white bed in this bedroom.

I see Hot Rod does come in other colors--but no king size! Argh.

I too am looking for a simple platform bed that's not $2000. I saw the Leggero bed at DWR and really really liked it, but let's face it, that's $150 worth of plywood. The edges aren't even finished. I am considering hiring a furniture maker to make a simple, basic wood platform bed with a 2-3" reveal on the edges. I don't care if it has to have a center support, and I don't need slats because I have a Tempurpedic mattress (which just needs a flat board as a foundation). Anyone have any suggestions?

Christina,

I've been eyeing the lamp also, since DC Dave's post(who seems to have disappeared). Which one did you get the "Tolomeo Mega Floor Lamp"?
Would love to see some pictures of how you've placed it.

thanks,

Christina and PeaceLamp,
I'm thinking of getting a Tolomeo Mega too! Because of his apartment! I was having a problem with lighting both my dining area and my living area...and that is such a great look and great solution. Dave, you've started a trend!

PeaceLamp and Christine,

Dave has started a trend! My husband has our camera with him today but I will certainly take a photo and post it for you. Yes, it's the Tolomeo Mega Floor Lamp and I just love it! Although one challenge I am having is finding the right light bulb for it. It take 150 watts and is built with a built-in dimmer. (which is great) I have a full spectrum bulb in there now but have found that with the parchment shade it gives off too white of a light. I think I will visit a lighting store this weekend in search of just the right bulb. If you see this Dave, can you tell me what you have in yours? (so that I can totally copy you and have mine look just as nice as yours!)

At first it was very new and present in the room--it's long and lean and very giraffe-like. I was joking with my husband that I was intimidated by its coolness at first but it has now become an integrated part of our living room. I bought it from the Artemide website directly and they were having a sale--buy one get the second lamp 1/2 off so I bought the Mega Floor lamp and the mini desk lamp which is great too. I will post photos tomorrow so that you can see what it looks like.

What about the wonderful platform bed someone's mum made from two doors and some other wood? And then painted her room with matte and shiny stripes. They posted pictures of it in a thread somewhere...hmmm...can't remember. But if you're into platforms, it looked very good....and economical!

regards,
trillium

guido,

Yes, that was me. I looked it up on CL and man oh man what a beautiful frig. I wish I had $500 on me because I would hire a truck and go get it. This frig is going to have to be part of my dream list for a while longer though. The link on the posting points to AT so I wonder if the seller is a part of this group.

brandon - Are you thinking about Eric Villency? He's the president of his family's furniture company, Maurice Villency. Apparently, he also used to be a model (http://tinyurl.com/9x3te).

matt - If you like the West Elm wood bed frame, my advice would be to take another look. I know that people on this site had terrible experiences with it, but I think the support system has since been redesigned. I bought mine in November last year, and the metal center beam and supports look to be very sturdy. I haven't had any problems with it, having owned it for three months. The only complaint I do have about it is that, like other West Elm furniture, the stain isn't very deep, so the lighter colored wood beneath shows easily if it gets scratched.

One of my friends went out with Eric Villency. Said he was nice enough, but not very interesting. He is pretty, though. He picked her up while she was out to dinner with her mother.

Oops. I'm a "regular poster posting anonymously"

to the bed hunters:

I'm looking at the "midnight" bed at CB2, which is nice and well-priced. We like iron frames but I fear the iron bar headboard. which is usually righ where your shoulders would be if you're sitting up in bed. The only problem I see with Midnight is the mattress doesn't seem to cover the slats (in the photos).

As far as Bo Concept, Ive been to their place in Chelsea and it looked a bit too IKEA-y up close. Now, I adore IKEA, so I'm not knocking her, but the prices are much different.

Matt, if you like the hot rod, I would go for it. It's a little too stark for me. The price is great, though.

Jimmy - Yup, that's his name. He's definitely a dreamboat. I'll try not to use the info for stalking purposes.

I am always mesmerized by E Villency's teeth. Every time I see him on SSBS I think about how he used to date Olivia Chantecaille and how they used to constantly be photographed on the socialite party circuit. So I can't take anything he says seriously. I always wonder if he has style of his own or if it's just pr for Maurice Villency. I've never been in, but my bus goes by that store every day and I see some things in the window that just look awful. (The wall of round mirrors comes to mind.) Then again, I'm not a huge fan of modern, so...

This post has no point other than to express my gratitude that EV is a weird commentator.

I also just want to say that Libby drives me nuts, but I can't put my finger on why.

this is a shot in the dark. Does anyone remember an AT post from about 6 months ago that featured a picture of an ornate upright carved wood armchair painted white with a bright purple upholstered seat?
any leads on the store that chair would be available at?

How about this bed from The Door Store- it's on sale for $500 in the queen size:

http://www.doorstorefurniture.com/onsale.html

My sister has a door store couch and it's pretty comfortable and looks good. I think it's on a quality scale similar to Pottery Barn but with better pricing. But my experience with their furniture is limited, so maybe others could comment on its durability and quality.

SF ATers:

Craigslist alert - cool chairs

http://www.craigslist.org/sby/fur/132929126.html

Why do I keep finding things that won't fit in my tiny apartment?

hey thanks everybody. I did go look recently at the BO Concept place since theyre having a BED SALE. Seemed like a great idea until I realized that they dont even MAKE any beds in full.. which is sadly what I have. Also, they dont mention up front that the prices on the sale stuff dont include MANDATORY delivery and set up and that even if you DO like something, there is a minimum 4 week wait on all warehoused items. ANYWAY... The Door Store bed is a great deal too, but far too parental of a bed for me. you know?

Looks like were still left with the usual suspects when it comes to reasonably priced, decently modern things here. A choice few from CB2, the Hot Rod, or the bottom of the line from DWR and friends.

Im gonna try as hard as I can this weekend to see if I can get my eyes on a blu dot bed, and if not I might just order it up anyway. The thought of any large wooden boat of a bed in this tiny place is frightening, and my full-size limitations arent helping. Ill tell you if I see anything super great in the meantime. Oh, and the DWR in Brooklyn Heights has an Alum bed in the box that someone didnt pick up or something for $468 if anyone cares.. thats a really good deal but its a queen. Or else I would have grabbed it!! ok have fun

Sarajane: Libby drives me nuts too!!!

Oh, no, Sarajane and Jennifer, I love Libby! Why does she drive you nuts?

I can't stand Libby either. She's moves around alot and says stuff that's really obvious. "Isn't this great" and "isn't that great." Down with Libby.

By any chance, does anyone know a good plumber in Brooklyn? My tub always get clogged and I'm sooo sick of it. I thought there might be someone out in ATLand who might have a plumber they like? I'm in the Prospect Hts/Park Slope area.

I think the problem with Libby is that she's got a slightly hysterical party-girl-gone-awry vibe that's a little hard to take. I'm always interested why the producers of these shows pick the commentators they do -- aren't there better ones, like, all over? for example, on this site? (and not just maxwell!)

Matt,

The Room & Board Parsons bed is in your price range...

http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/coll.do?coll=RB1228&dept=RB121

The have a showroom in SoHo.

I couldn't agree with you more. Libby drives me nuts too. Perhaps it's my inbuilt stereotype that design professionals should look less "party girl" with those big hoop hearings and frosted makeup (am I remembering that correctly?), and more cool? Is it the hair, the over-excited accent? I don't know, but I just can't take her seriously. Poor Libby, no doubt she's a wonderful, less excited person in reality.

Poor Libby. Yes, she irritates me too. Like a sorority girl gone to decorate the house. She's probably a lovely person...I can imagine a director saying "Darling, once more but with more pep!" but I think part of the problem is the "talking head" thing in general is kind of funny. So surface...

Eric Villency dreamy? On what planet? Eee-ee-wwww!

hey, I was cleaning out under my bed to prepare for my new bed and mattress today, and stumbled upon the instructions for my elephant lamp I was asking about a while back. It was made in Italy, and designed by a renowned paper folder(?) Ramin Razani. Armed with this new info, I managed to find a link to Yahoo Shopping in Japan (click for link) that has some of his little animals lamps. No elephant, but that hedgehog is sooo cute!

Hey Peacelamp and Christina,

I am still here. Gives me a warm fuzzy feeling to know that I have such influence. So glad that you love your lamp. It really packs a punch for the price. I think lighting is SOOO important for a successful interior.

Have been looking at the Bourgie lamp at DWR for a bedside table.
http://www.dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=6996
Have loved it since I saw it in a window at Kartell in Italy a few years back.
Can't decide if It is too trendy and will get tired of it by next year. Thoughts?

I was wondering what kind of cameras are used to take photos for these contests. My digital just doesn't seem to do the trick. Without the flash it's too dark and with the flash the mood lighting gets obliterated. I think the best entries in these contests are the ones that are photographed just right. I've tried several times to do justice to my apt. with my camera and have given up. The photos just don't look like the real thing.

Any suggestions?

Anne,
I have had the best luck with taking pictures with the flash off and on a bright sunny day. I try to get as much natural light and still have all the interior lights on. Otherwise if I have the flash on I end up, as you said, with washed out pictures. I am lucky to have a bright sunny place that faces south, so I get plenty of natural light.
The quality of pictures do have a huge influence.

Awhile ago there was a post on here somewhere about the furniture designer who mostly made tables. She was on the cover of the Dec '05 Domino with a snakeskin/croc table. Her tables are beautiful and I wanted to look at one for inspriation, but can't find the link or the conversation about her. Can anyone tell me her name?

So I checked out the sale at Baxter & Leibchen, as listed here. Let me tell you, not a sale! I had been a month before and seen two tables that were a bit out of my price range. I ran back today to see if they were on sale, and they had been marked up and then "discounted" back to their original pre-sale price! Sounds like more of a stunt than a real sale.

Somewhat unrelated to the thread, but definitely related to Bedroom Month -- I'm considering putting a large steel canopy bed (Architecture by Room and Board) into a relatively small bedroom. The ceilings are standard height, and the bed would be the only piece of furniture in the room (plus a bedside table). The odd part is that in my convertible apartment, it would be placed "sideways" to fit.... so you'd see it from the living room in profile.

What do you think? Are canopy beds a bad idea in a small room?

hey, Im with Max in this fake sale deal. I went to Macys today for the "sale" on housewares etc. Same deal there.. some of the stuff I wanted last month was marked UP and then ON SALE to the same price!! All of the stuff they had can be found for the same price or cheaper on any number of websites. Total waste of time. And still no bed..

Cara-
The furniture designer on the cover of the Dec. Domino is Laura Yaggy.

Anne, what kind of camera do you have? You may have to adjust the white balance or fiddle around with other settings. The flashes on those things are usually pretty powerful and will wash out colors. I'm not really into digital, I prefer working with classic film cameras (my 30-year old Minoltas never fail me). But I do sell stuff on eBay from time to time and had to get a digital for that. Bought a real cheapie and found that if I cover the flash unit with a piece of white tissue paper (or even white copy paper), it acts as a diffuser and you will get the light without the harshness. Just tape it on over the flash. Try it and see what happens.

Someone told me once that marking up purposely for a sale is illegal...not sure how true that is. But no matter what, it's a real scammy thing to do. I feel like department stores have "sales" every week.

David in DC (aka tolomeo mega prophet) Not so sure about that DWR lamp. Of course, I haven't seen it in person. I say, if you love it , go for it! Maybe if I see it in pictures of your place, I'll get one too! ;)

i love that Kartell lamp. It's amazing how different the prices on Kartell are in the states! Here in europe the lamp is between 160 and180 bucks. Anyone know why Kartell doesn't have there own stores in NYC? it seems like a no brainer.

I second the tissue paper over the flash. Works everytime.
And I second taking another look at the west elm beds. We recently got one for our guest room and they do have a middle metal cross bar with leg that should prevent the problems of the past. No real testing done on it so far though with only our nanny and mother in law having used it so far (not something I want to think about!)

Re: Alu-Bed Headboard

There are headboards for the Alu-bed available. In fact some of them are on sale right now;

http://www.dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=7433

-will

I'm going to give the tissue paper a try. It seems my apt. looks best in the evening with candlelight. Will I get the desired outcome if I use the tissue paper over the flash?
Dave - I too, get a lot of sunlight since I face west and get amazing sunsets. Of course, the best sunsets are in the summer and that's too late for the contest. But when I think of all the things that need to be done to this place before I feel confident enough to post pictures of it I may not bother with the contest til next year.

I'm feeling the same way, Anne... there is so much to do to this place before I'd feel willing to enter the contest! With really only one month to go, that's not enough paychecks to save up for all the stuff I've had my eye on. Maybe if I manage to sell *all* of my paintings at the March 3rd show... or maybe we could be judged on our *potential* to have the smallest coolest, if only we had some cash to kick down at dwr...! :)

Brandon: Besides Maxwell, I'm sure you meant to say. There's the guy from Maurice Villency, I bet he's the grandson.

Anne and Aquarabbit, I am in the same boat! Still need some things, and, especially, the logistics of painting a 350 sq. ft. efficiency with enough stuff for a (spare) one-bedroom with den, many cords, a *lot* of books, and two cats (and their hair) is verrry daunting.

Ah, maybe I could just clean the walls...

PeaceLamp, Christine, David in DC: I just posted a few photos of our Tolomeo Mega in our living room area. (sorry that they are so dark) For now it is over the couch because that is where I do most of my reading but we may move it to the empty corner to the right when we find a chair for that nook.

We LOVE this lamp, thanks for the tip David!

Everything that needs to be done hinges on getting the ceiling painted first. The building will do it whenever I want but I hate the idea of moving and covering everything.

Then the walls need paint and the windows need new treatments and the closet doors should be removed with drapes to replace them. Although, I really like the idea of using the door tracks already there and putting in sliding frosted glass doors.

Of course, money in the checking acct. would also help out big time. When I have the time I don't have the money and vice versa.

Christina, great apartment! Hope you're entering the contest so we can see more.

me (the first one), thank you so much for the compliment. we just moved in about two months ago and it's just starting to come together. it has its challenges but we are so happy in our new space. i wish we could enter the smallest/coolest contest...those prizes are SO enticing but we do not qualify. i never thought i would be able to say this while living in nyc but at 750sf, our apartment is too big! i'll try to post some photos in a month or so when we finish a few more projects. have a great night. : )

Christina,
Thanks for posting those pictures. Everything looks great! Where did you get that mirror?

Christine, it's from Expo Design @ Home Depot. My husband bought it on clearance (such a great deal, only $171!!!) and brought it home one day as a surprise.

Christina,
Your place looks GREAT - Could be an add for the Tolomeo. Fits perfectly in your space. Awesome!

Ahh, thanks David! I love the way the parchment shade looks with the dark coloring of the beams, when I saw yours I knew it was the lamp for the space. So, THANK YOU for providing the inspiration. : )

Sweet dreams everyone...

I'll be dreaming about how the Tolomeo would look in MY space...someday soon. If I get it, I'll share snapshots, in the manner of a mother with her "brag book." :)

Anyone have suggestions where to find a side table with clean simple lines-can be mid-century modern, glass or whatever I just don't want to spend more than $200...

West Elm's woods are either too dark or too light. Tried Bo Concepts, Crate and Barrel one and two and haven't found anything.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I'm a sucker for a good lamp. Great job.

answer for platform bed. to joey

I had a carpenter build one of his solid oak rectangle tables. made it the same size as the
mattress. Had legs adjusted for height. after one gets a 2000 platform, it will serve as a very large coffee table or whatever. Stain whatever color.
one could add wheels.

craigslist. my first item.

1940's bronze standing lamp.