apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

help! i live in hawaii and the stores here are limited to say the least. im looking for a pair of large, armless chairs to be the only seating my small livingroom. other specifications- white (fabric or leather), sleek/tailored look, dark wood base. the closest match i could find was at horchow, but the fabric was all wrong. at this point i dont care about the price and id be willing to reupholster or change the legs. basically, im desperate and would apprieciate any help. ive looked all over the internet searching armless, occasional, accent, and slipper chairs. are there key words im missing?

No comments! Yikes!

I know Kitchen month has come and gone...however over the course of the last 2 days a few things came up in my own kitchen I wanted to share.

1st I have just discovered John Boos "mystery oil"
My board just soaks up oil like no one's business and it took roughly 3/4 or the bottle. However the results were amazing. My board has never looked so good.

2nd Not all teflon is created equal.
I head somewhere that when it came to non-stick that you were better off buy a everyday pan and disposing of it when it got out of shape.

This morning I made my first omelet on an all clad 8" fry pan and...wow. The results were pristine. I almost didn't want to eat it. I never knew non-stick could be so great.

I am now going to give away my old (yet aesthetically pleasing and keeping with color palette) Faberware set.

Paint color question -
My new kitchen-to-be has terracota tiles (alternating orangey and yellow-mustard) on the floor, what I would call forest green laminate counter tops, and very light maple cabinets. The appliances are white. I'm a little stumped as to what color to paint the walls. The current color is very dark green, almost black, trying to match the counters I guess. But I would like something lighter. Also, this is a galley type kitchen if that matters. Help! Thanks ;)

Sorry, no answers but another question.
Any chance of seeing pictures of the completed apt on W22nd St? Or any updated pics of W40th?

michele -- Hot pink! Seriously, I have no idea. We can all guess, but we can't see it and don't know you or your style. You should try out those little pots of tester paint that you can buy now. Benjamin Moore first made them, but other paint manufacturers like Ralph Lauren do now. Go out, choose a dozen and test them out. If you're still completely stuck, look through through magazines for interiors that have those colors and see what works for you. If you're looking for something more edgy, try flipping through fashion magazines or stock photography or painting for interesting color combinations.

Michele - purple? The colors sound somewhat like a "coffee house" aesthetic, and purple is the only one missing from the list.

Kitchen week was enormously inspiring! We are redoing our kitchen (on a budget) and looking for a designer with a clean, modern aesthetic. Thanks for any suggestions...

First of all, an update on Rabbit Movers. THEY ROCK! My move on Friday was super-smooth. The movers were pleasant and nice. One guy even showed up early to check out how much stuff I had. I would recommend them any time. They need to carry receipts, though. They didn't have one for me, and they only take cash right now. All drivers should carry receipt books.

Second of all... questions.

1) Where can I get a couple of cute stools for a breakfast nook/counter? I don't think I want plain wood. Something a little more modern, maybe...

2) What's the deal with my cheap LL who installed some sort of horrible laminate on my cabinets? They look okay for a rental, a nice bright white, but the under-sink cabinet doors are peeling. In that when I open the cabinet, pretty much the entire plastic white shell comes off the wooden door, exposing the bare wood underneath. How to repair/replace? I'm contemplating trashing the laminate and removing the doors and painting them, but that might look weird...

3) Who knows anything about taking apart doorknobs? I bought a gorgeous doorknob at Anthropologie yesterday, went home, took my bedroom doorknob apart, and discovered that the new doorknob isn't the same. Now I have a bunch of doorknob parts, but no doorknob.

4) Some previous tenants drilled holes in the tiles of my bathroom (which turns out to be floor-to-ceiling tiles), I think to put in a TP holder. Someone else filled in the holes with yellow filler, even though the tiles are white. Is there anything like spackle for tile? Is there any way to cover these hideous chips and holes?

Thanks. Moving in is fun-- all this possibility. I ran around all weekend in circles because I wanted to unpack everything all at once.

For Michele,

Of course, Mary is right and you need to look deep in your own heart for the answer to your color conundrum...that said, if you are completely O.C. when it comes to paint colors and you have the technology, Adobe photoshop and a digital camera, you can preview the effects that completely different colors will have on your kitchen gestault.

I have whiled away more time than I'm willing to admit doing this. Once you get it set up, it takes 2 secs. and zero effort to see what any color you can dream up will look like, so you won't be shy about trying out the improbable. Maybe hot pink is the answer you seek. Maybe, a retro, pale, minty green (like at Magnolia bakery) that is carefully chosen to work with the dark green counters?

karenw -- liquid nails will hold together almost everything. If you can get a little tube of it, try that on your cabinets.

I also had trouble with a knob I bought at Anthropolgie. It didn't have a nut, and the screw had a weird thread that didn't take any of our domestic nuts. They were beautiful, but beware... You might try going to Olde Good Things for a vintage doorknob that's more like your current doorknob. There's a review of it in the archives.

There is paint for tiles, although I've never done it. Go ask at the paint store...

karenw--
Congrats on the move!
Any chance of asking your LL to repair or replace the laminate/cabinet fronts? Was there any kind of pre-move walk-through... or given the state of things here in the NYC rental market, are these just totally naive questions?!

CRAP!! I was afraid that might happen when I bought the doorknob. Thanks, Mary.

lesismore--
I think kitchen contast entrant Aida is an architect...

Thanks, P(too)! My LL will not replace a thing, I am sure. (Same LL, new bldg.) It's all "as is." No walk-through, esp. since previous tenants vacated on the same day I moved in. I will try liquid nails on the laminate.

michele--
Since you describe it as a a galley kitchen, how much actual wall "real estate" are we talking, or is it predominately backsplash?

karenw--
What kind of vibe are you looking for with the kichen stools? Do the romantic/bohemian Anthropolgie doorknobs give any clue to the overall look you're shooting for?

mary--
Your use of lines like "domestic nuts" will no doubt keep me in the doghouse with Ruth... ;)

karenw--
If you can, make sure to photographically document anything broken in the apartment when you arrived, so that you'll have a record when it comes to security-depoit retrieval time. Sorry, I know this is a little like talking to a new bride about divorce proceedings...

SG, thanks for the photoshop suggestion. I hadn't thought of that! I think that will be a big help. And also thanks to mary for the tip. Patrick, you are right, it is primarily backsplash area under the cabinets, except for the wall the sink faces. It is from ceiling to counter level, but there is a window. So we're not talking that much space actually. I just thougt a lighter color would open up the space more. Any other suggestion are welcome. Thanks!

michele--
What are your favorite elements from among those you describe? The maple? The tiles? Something else you've brough into the kitchen? What's the overall effect now, modern or rustic or something else? Sorry if it seems like a lot of questions for a color suggestion... (assuming you are renting?)

I find that the smaller my apartment becomes (I have moved 4 times), the more dropped calls I have on my cell phone. Anyone feel the pain on this one? Any suggestions for the optimal NYC cell-provider?

From all surveys and my own experience you cannot beat Verizon for cell phone coverage. I have to use a t-Mobile crackberry for work and my personal Verizon cell phone had much better reception. It may be the crackberry but, as I said, numerous surveys also recommend Verizon as the best in NYC.

Thanks for the help

other patrick -- ["domestic nuts"] Glad to be of help...

Does anyone know the website for a company that makes acrylic furniture, I seem to remember they are called something like Plexiform...turns out that is a disease so I must be misremembering.

I am completely taken with the idea of acrylic bookshelves that light up, as seen in NYT Style mag yesterday. Any suggestions? I'm pretty handy with electrical wiring and tools so I could maybe do it myself...is that insane? Has anyone worked with acrylic before?

sg - maybe you're thinking of 3-form? they have really cool resins (recyclable and recycled!) and lots of options for color, thickness, and design. the material is easy to work with as well, so i don't think it's totally crazy for you to do it yourself, but don't quote me on that! www.3-form.com.

Michele,
Just saw a kitchen with colors similar to yours in the latest Met Home (or maybe House & Garden, dunno, was at the library killing time). Light maple cabinets, green (corian) counter and terracotta style floor. Walls were light beige (slightly lighter than the cabinets) and looked very nice! that's the way i would go. sorry i have no page number.

sg--
Plexi-craft.com

Patrick (the other one), yes, that's the one, thankyou, thankyou, thankyou...Seema, 3-form is very cool, now my head is just teeming with new ideas.

Wait, no comments on the idea? Am I making a hideous mistake or is it just that some people are actually doing their jobs? I feel suddenly so unsure...

SG,
What page in the NYT style mag "T"? I haven't gotten through the whole thing but I have a real inclination to love anything lucite-esque.

I just found it. I think that looks GORGEOUS. I love the grid and how when you look past it to the shelves, they just disappear. If you can make that, you should. I kinda dig the daybed that's lit from below but is that just veering to much toward the guys who drive around Brooklyn with neon lights on the undercarriage of their cars?

Cristy- thanks for the suggestion on the magazines. I will try to find it. Sounds promising.

Patrick - I may be putting the cart before the horse. We are in the process of buying, so it's not quite mine yet. I'd say my favorite aspect is the tile. I don't know if I would have thought to pick it out, but I think that's the reason I like the kitchen so much. I also like the cabinets. Not that big a fan of the counters.

I just had a brilliant idea. Why don't I show you the kitchen? See http'colon'//photos7.flickr.com/8551834_8d541ccb23_o.jpg

Here are some more pics of the kitchen if anyone is still interested-

http'colon'//photos5.flickr.com/8551836_d023c224be_o.jpg

http'colon'//photos8.flickr.com/8551835_140fb37767_o.jpg

Sorry, should have put this all in one post. I wanted to point out that this is the current owner's stuff. I will have no goldfish or roosters in my kitchen ;)

michele-
Nice kitchen! But you're right, that dark wall color is pretty deadly. Hmmmmm...

amber--

Try Room & Board--
www.roomandboard.com/rnb/dept.do?dept=RB238

or Mitchell Gold--
mitchellgold.com/chaircol.asp

michele--
While not much lighter, I think either a deep terracotta (darker than the floor tiles, though) or a brick red could work really nicely, if you want to keep with the idea of some sort of "statement" color. And even though not necessarily a lot lighter, I think the warmth and vibrancy of the colors would "de-dullify" the room. I also think undercabinet lighting would do wonders in energizing the space (even with the current colors in place.)

Advice on coffee tables, anyone? I've been looking for a year now and it's making me crazy. I like warm contemporary or even traditional looks with tailored lines but lots of color and visual interest.

I have tried Room and Board, Crate and Barrel, Ebay, Swaim, Furniture Land South, 1stdibs, Williams-Sonoma, antique stores and the Martha Stewart line from Bernhardt. Probably the closest I have come to finding my Platonic ideal is the Rill table by Baker, but that's outside my budget.

Speaking of which, it has to be under $2,000. Also, I have three cats with their claws who scratch up our wood furniture by jumping off and on it. Thus, I am hoping to find something with a non-wood top--maybe stone, metal or glass. (No advice needed on keeping cats off furniture. The fur babies really do rule the roost, I'm afraid.)

Any ideas?

Patrick, thanks for the suggestions. I had thought of sticking with the terracotta, but was thinking lighter. Darker hadn't occurred to me, so I'll have to check that out. Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. It has given me some great ideas. I also wanted to say what a great resource this site is to be able to get so many viewpoints. Now I have to get some samples and just go to town!

thank you patrick (t.o.o.),ive been to those sites before and still nothing. i guess my problem is that i have an opinion about how each stitch, curve, angle, ect... should be. any other clues? maybe a place that makes custom furniture will be the next step. any recomendations in that direction? also, are there any sites that would detail/map whats available via the web? at the moment i just google. thank you again!

Need small apartment hallway help.

I have a little used long and narrow entry hallway that needs a function.

Searched online and found "hallway trees" but many are too wide and generally in the country/mission style. Would like something more modern. Found this site in Germany www.moebel-dam.de/kleinmoebel/butler.htm , but I would think shipping costs are prohibitive.

Looking for similar source in NYC? Googling has turned up nothing.

PS Is this the right place to post inquires?

I am posting this only because I cannot find any way to contact APARTMENT THERAPY. I was wondering why you seldom print the floor plans of apartments you are featuring? It would really be helpful and allow the viewer to get a handle on how the decorator handled the space. Thanks for some great features.

What do minimalists do with dirty laundry while they wait for a time to wash it? Any suggestions?

amber--
My favorite chair source in the world is Donghia, but that requires working with a designer. Also, I like Hamilton Furniture, and anything Holly Hunt... also requiring designer access.

Kimberly--
While CERTAINLY no minimalist, I had California Closets install two wire baskets into my closet project (a stock upgrade of theirs). I use them to sort and store my awaiting-washing laundry...

amber--
Another source to consider... GeorgeSmith.com

michele -

In case it's not too late to talk about your kitchen color... I know you said that it's the current owners stuff, not yours.

I had a look at the pictures, and it's a very nice, spacious, new, clean-looking pretty kitchen, although it's kind of mysterious why the upper cabinets are white and lower ones are wood.

So, here's a couple of things -- if you wanted to keep that skirt thing below the counter (and maybe even if you didn't) you might take that sage green that's in the lighter leaves in that pattern, and have that be the color of the walls, because the medium-light color value would relate to the cabinets, whereas the color would tie in the counters.

It's hard to tell whether there is any crown molding in there, but if there isn't, I would probably put some up after you've painted, and since your cabinets are that light wood, see if you can find some of that fake wood kind that doesn't need to be stained. It's not expensive, and from below it won't really be that obvious, and it probably comes in a shade that will work with what you have. It will at least separate the wall from the ceiling, and make those traditional-looking cabinet anchored into the room architecturally, because if you did white crown molding, it would just blend with the ceiling, making the walls just look shorter.

However, if there already IS crown molding in there, then it must already be that dark green, in which case I think that letting just the molding stay that color, while painting the walls the sage color would provide enough separation and architecture.

But I also like the terra cotta suggestion.

I have a question about CB2'a Flip Flop sleeper. Has anyone sat/slept on it? It looks pretty good but I'm not going to Chicago (only store location) any time soon, and I can't just buy major furniture online based on a web site picture. My top choice would be a Ligne Roset Nomade Express but the $$$ is a factor here, so if the Flip Flop is even comparable, it may well be worth it. Any input is appreciated.
Thanks,
M.

Does anyone own a Calligaris Motion table--or at least has anyone ever seen one up close? There's a new one with an espresso glass top that looked sleek and beautiful in a picture I saw, but I'm afraid it might look like something out of a drug dealer's penthouse in reality.

I'd like to plug a TV show that will perhaps enhance your life or eye.
It will significantly showcase the work of designer (genius i think) Cy Winship.

On HGTV, Sat. April 23, 8.5 pm
"100 ideas for your space for under $100".

Attention d.i.yer-selfers!
Decorating Cents is a fab show, hosted by the affable Joan Steffend, in which guest designers transform a space for under five hundred dollars, and it nearly always features a fun, instructional "re-arrange" segment as well.
The designers do some very clever things.

But the show really takes off when Cy appears.
In short, he is a wizard, and creates dazzling rooms, more remarkable when you compare them to other shows with budgets twice to five times as much.
(He's described some of his influence as 60's mod and contemporary European design.)
Seriously crafty, he fashions nearly everything in his rooms himself.
A woven jute bench with fantastic brown toned patterned pillows in a gold and tan loft makeover;
an oversized bulbous white paper mache vase spouting Icelandic daisies in a fuschia fantasia of a toddler's room--
to see his work in detail, search his name on the HGTV website, for b4, after, and how to shots.

Steffend clearly relishes his brilliance and what it means to have such a talent on his show.
The handsome and adorable Winship has an upholstery business called Swank in Minneapolis.
Thank you (i do not work for the network, i am just a fan in San Franscisco) enjoy the show!

ps
Decorating Cents
This new special episode, "100 Ideas Under $100," offers a variety of inexpensive home-decorating tips, from window and floor treatments to furniture and lighting. It addresses a variety of styles as well, from traditional to modern. Cy Winship, Sara Trosen and Barbara Sculati are the featured designers.

ok, since i brought it up, a few of the show's top ideas, if u please--since probably no body saw this alert or the show--likely to be of interest to readers of this site (none of the ones likely to make them wince).

1. laminate flooring,
horizontal, as wall cover;
one good sized wall, $99.

2. platform bed,
single; a hollow core door, on a
rectangular stand of "bi-fold doors, stained and
bolted together", pillows and bolsters atop.
storage space underneath!
where'd he find the doors
for a buck each, salvage yard?
canvas fitted sheet covers.

3. remnant rug w/ inserts
the ever popular diy decor show fave;
simple squares, or in Cy's case, raspberry fun fur or
flokati remnant in a grey rug;
leave shapes, or trails, in a kids room.

other nifty honorable mentions
tree stump stools, discarded--debarked, polyur'd.
flourescent ceiling lite plastic sheet panels as
raisable privacy screens--use string, eyelets.
plexi-glass scraps chandelier.

ok, thanks y'all, and AT...now that i've used up my share of bandwith for a while.

ps
anyone who wants to form a private "buzz" alert with me on cool crafty ideas/stories
such as Metropolis Magazine's May cover story "Young architects craft stunning rooms from humble materials", hi-liting the work of Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis for the eateries Xing, Tides and Fluff (especially), please email me!!
i'm in san francisco, love news from everywhere.
thanks again.

I'm an international student who just moved to NYC & have very little money to furnish my bed/livingroom. need basically everything, including sofa, bed, storage, desk. is there any place other then Ikea I can look? do you have any suggestions?
Thanks!

Greetings.

Does anyone have experience with the Index Four bookcase sold by Design Within Reach? My concern is about its workmanship, sturdiness and durability.

It sells for $2000 and at this size (H 77" W 93" D 14.5") you get considerable shelving that looks nice. Is there a catch?

Ultimately, I am deciding between this and something like an ISS setup of approx. the same dimensions for a large open wall. But honestly, I am not very handy and would probably make a mess of ISS installation.

Any info much appreciated. Thanks

NOISE NOISE NOISE

Hi, just moved into a very nice spacious co-op in Brooklyn with my wife and young daughter. The space is perfect but we inherited some noise problems that i want to reduce or eliminate if possible. Any suggestions on how to address them would be appreciated.

Windows/Walls
We are near and elevated train and get a lot of street noise since we are just a bit above street level. The windows are very large and covered only with blinds now. The building (outer wall) is brick. But it sometimes sounds/feels as if we are living in the middle of the street.

Plumbing
Loud flushing, squeaky faucets.

Flooring
natural wood floor in good condition but it sqeaks at almost every step. Can it be resecured without ripping it up?

thanks, Peter

cg-
Those "hallway trees" look pretty simple- have you thought of just having someone build them for you?

Does anyone have any ideas about making a simple hollow core door daybed for my living room? I need to know what I can put under the door to make it sturdy. I have the door but no mattress. Could I make a mattress using sleeping bags?

We want to paint outer walls of our apartments with multicolor shades. We want to look for the available best combinations and choose from one. Is there any site on internet for this purpose.

****ANTHROPOLOGIE DOORKNOB HELP ****

After searching the web for help on installing my new doorknob I bought at Anthropologie and finding nothing I called their 800 number. The girl on the phone didn't know what I needed to install the doorknob that didn't seem to work with the hardware inside my door. I called the store I bought it from hoping to have SOMEONE explain what piece I needed to get this installed and a very nice worker said "Oh we get these calls all the time!"...

She said the doorknobs are vintage doorknobs and the hardware that is required is called a "MORTISE LATCH" that can be picked up for about $8 bucks at any hardware store. So off to Home Depot I went and got one for $10 bucks. Installed it very easily!

I wanted to write this to help anyone else who needs help with installing the doorknob... maybe save a few headaches! :)

~jon