apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

just in case it got lost in the shuffle, i want to ask again about plant aid -- i.e. what does one do about a large, unhappy plant? is there any service which will look at the plant in context and figure out what it wants? plant therapist?

Did anyone else receive the new Shades of Light catalogue this week? I normally would have thrown this right into the trash but something caught my eye...could it be that catalogues are finally catching on?

Whoa! I just read an answer to my question in Thread 142 (thanks for the response, Jean) where microfiber is referred to as "cat-claw-resistant." I did not know this! I feel like one of those people in the Outback commercials that just got hit in the head with a boomerang!

We need to replace our sofa and assumed that we needed to buy leather again. But please - anyone, everyone - tell me about this property of microfiber! I had no idea! Are there certain kinds that resist better than others? Is it self healing or what! What about the seams, where most cats like to dig in? Details, I need details! My cat would never tolerate my putting those softpaws claw covers on him, so I need to know the scoop on microfiber. This is such exciting news... Thanks in advance!

Diane

I never heard that mf was "cat claw resistant" - just that cats aren't attracted to it and don't like to claw it. I ended up getting a leather couch that I love, but I have consistently heard that mf is a great way to go for those scratchy kitties.

dIANE,

i don't have a cat, so take this with that in mind. my terrier has a thing about scratching at the couch or chair before he takes a nap. it's a complicated ritual of pawing at it a number of times (i can hear it from the other room) then doing a 360 and going to sleep. on my microfiber chair (which he does not use that much anymore) it's showing some wear, but no tears. on my leather one (which is black, does not show scuffs) there's no problem.

mf is pretty thick and soft, i think it would hold great. if your cat is a chronic scratcher i'd be leary of placing an expensive couch with it! but that's part of the price we pay for living with pets!

just had to post this
Overheard in New York: Apartment Therapy edition

a man and a woman are standing on e 9th street looking at an abandoned chair on the curb

homeless guy: yo! YO! i'll sell you that chair for $10

man: is it your chair?

homeless guy: no, it ain't my chair, but i am the *racial epithet deleted* sittin' here watchin' it, so i'll sell you that chair for $10

man: if it's not your chair, then why should i pay you for it?

homeless guy: comeon bro, i'm just a homeles *racial epithet deleted* tryin' to make ends meet... hey listen, if you won't gimme $10, how bout just a smoke?

man: you got a deal!

hands over cigarette, picks up chair, walks away holding hands with his lady

i nearly spit my coffee out my nose while observing, it was too awesome!

Has anyone ever purchased from All World Furniture in the bay area? I want to buy this sideboard, but I don't want to make a $500 mistake.

http://www.allworldfurniture.com/product_details.php?itemid=393

Thanks.

ok, so i thought this was bedroom month?

Target has just marked down their entire Global Home line by 30% at their retail lcoations. Must be the end of the retail arc for this line. Hope your reading this, Kristian... the chocolate Mohair throw (from Africa) is marked down to $35. (Not sure if the markdown is reflected on the online pricing...)

a little late for art month, but a shot in the dark.

I really like the work of annette davidek, and i'm courious about how much her work runs. anyone idea how i can find this out, short of calling the gallery that represents her?

Part of me is ready to be deflated, but thought i should ask around!

link to her stuff.
http://www.littlejohncontemporary.com/Davidek/index.html

YCH, I've been thinking of checking out All World Furniture in person to see what their quality looks like. I'll probably run down there in the next few days. Will that help you at all?

rasil

cut off a leaf (or two) and take it to your local nusrery. they can tell you what it needs. or maybe even a picture?

Well, I didn't *literally* mean "resistant"!

You just need as flat and tight a weave as possible. For anything other than faux suede mail/Web-ordered stuff there's just no way to tell. Microfiber faux suede is NOT impervious to the claws, it just doesn't have much to grab on.

I have some Waverley cotton curtains I used on the old couch, and they truly are imperveous. They're not polished cotton, but very, very smooth.

Rasil, if you are in DC, you could take it to The Third Day, at the corner of 20th and P, NW.

Me (the first one) -- that would be awesome! Thanks!

minh--
If not into calling the gallery, email them. This leaves you slightly anonymous (assuming your email address is not your full name!) if they send back prices that stagger and you choose to walk away.

I'd pick a few pieces (of various size) and inquire specifically about the price on those few pieces. Should give you an overall indication. And to the gallery, it will sound more like you are specifically interested in the pieces, rather than fishing for prices, which they may be less apt to respond to.

How quickly— and how— they respond to your email is also (I've found) a great indicator of how they will be to work with in general.

I know there is a pricing database at artnet.com, but I think you have to subscribe to it.

I am dying to know if anyone has any "update" on the horizontal bookcases. I was thinking about getting the CB2 array, but not if it's junk. I don't have the space for a coffee table but would love to have a few "coffee table books" on display near my sofa. The archives have some comments, but not specifically about array.

minh,

I happen to know the folks over at Littlejohn. They're friendly and have always taken the time to give me answers about works I'm interested in.

I did shoot Anna (the Assistant Director of the Gallery) an email to check out this thread...but you can always give a call and ask for her by name. Tell her J sent you!

-J

thanks guys, i've seen a few of her pieces for sale second hand, and while they are not cheap, they were in the range that i'd consider. of course the prices would make it the 3rd most expensive thing i've ever purchased (behind condo and car)! but at some point you have to graduate from posters and prints :)

Think I'll shoot an email over to the gallery. dejection is much easier by email.

sarajane,

someone chimed in about the DWR version and raved about them. The ones at CB2 are attributed to the same designer as the DWR originals. I'd just call CB2 and ask them bluntly what the differences are, and why their version is $50 less then the DWR ones. One thing which was not clear is the weight per shelf, the DWR states one explicitly and the CB2 ones did not and no-one could get a good answer.

Also keep shipping into account, if you can pick up one at a local DWR you can save some, and if you purchase 2 it's almost the same if you factor in shipping from CB2.

If you're in DC i'd go in on a pair with you :)

sj,

i just checked and Cb2 says theirs only holds 9lbs per shelf (which is kinda light i think) whereas DWR says theirs will hold 20lbs.

Since the designs are so similiar this would makes me wonder if the CB2 version is not as stoutly built.

Hey, does anyone remember that lovely bathroom with the pale robin's egg blue walls and the Stark ghost chair..? I thought it was in the I've Got Color contest, but I can't find it. My friend is just moving into a new place and needs to repaint the bathroom (they painted the claw-foot tub yellow?? and the walls blue??) and I think that pale pale aquabluish color would be so pretty with white trim. Does anyone remember this?

Hey aquarabbit - I found it by typing this in google

starck ghost site:apartmenttherapy.com

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/061705/competitions/my-bathroom-rocks-3-hhs-lofty-lightfilled-lowbudget-lavatory--003042

enrique-
great memory thanx!
i will actually be back in the usa on business for a couple fo weeks and will be SURE to hit target!

I will actually be in LA for 2 weeks starting the 21st and plan on checking out all of those places you recomended.

Thanks jamiepup! I forgot about the bathroom contest! There isn't a link to it on the archive/contests page for some reason. I'm glad that color is still as lovely as I remembered..!

Oh! And it doesn't seem to list the brand/color of the paint! Is HH still on this site..?

My friends just rented a lovely victorian in Bernal Heights (SF) full of lots of little quirks and charm. The bathroom really needs some work, but I think with some small amount of effort it could look quite a bit like this. I'm hoping I can get her to post some photos.

Thanks minh! I am in NYC, actually. I will definitely check out DWR. The CB2 website said each shelf can bear 9 pounds.

Wende (and anyone else who might know):

I wanted to try to get reservations at French Laundry in March, but it's not happening. Is there anyplace else that's really special (and maybe less than 420 without wine for two people?)

My experience in Cali is that almost ALL of the food there is AMAZING. Thanks. I know I have a lot of questions today.

sarajane, i compared the specs on the array and the dwr and hold everything bookcases, and posted in an open thread sometime before christmas. the weight limit of the shelves is actually why i ended up with the dwr version, which i love.

oops, and do keep in mind the shipping costs. you can't ever pick up dwr merchandise at the stores, unless they're floor models. frustrating for those of us who like instantaneous gratification.

Thanks, me. I did search, but all I got was the piece where they show the different options. Also good to know about the DWR.

sarajane. Call French Laundry the day you are in town in case there's a last-minute cancellation. Mustard's Grill in Napa is another wine country favorite. Also, SF Mayor Gavin Newsom's claim to fame before his career in politics is the Plumpjack group of wineries, restaurants and resorts. Plumpjack's Carneros Inn in Napa has a restaurant called the Hilltop Dinig Room.

http://www.mustardsgrill.com/

http://www.thecarnerosinn.com/pj_dining.html

But my first choice in Napa Valley is always French Laundry...

Napa dining? My choice is Tra Vigne in St. Helena. I love that place!

diane, i believe the material you might be looking for is called ultrasuede. http://www.ultrasuede.com/