apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Maxwell, Sara Kate, & NT,

How was Paris?

Was the smallest/coolest vacation everything you expected?

i have a dishwasher under the sink that i never use. i'm thinking of replacing it with a cabinet, which would be a convenient place to put my garbage can out of sight. is it a bad idea? my only hesitation is that i would have to find someone who could build a custom cabinet that fits in with the overhead cabinets in the kitchen, and the last time someone did cabinet work for me, he didn't do a job i liked very much. any suggestions?

You may have a hard time matching cabinetry. I'd keep the dishwasher if only for resale value... or dinner parties.
On another note... I feel like I'm stalking this smallest coolest contest! I check in multiple times a day hoping for new entries.

After returning from my trip, I see that my plants look rather sad. Has anyone used those automatic watering devices? Click on my name for the link...

Should I get one?

HEY... nice coverage on Maxwell in the April Domino.. greta pic, shot of the book, and a great shout-out for him and the site!

Whoo-hoo, Maxwell!!!

Rasil, plans to match just one infill cabinet inevitably lead to ripping out the whole kitchen. Awkward space... finishes that don't quite match... edges against the floor that don't quite line up with the existing flooring... you get the idea.

Nothing says you can't store dishes in the dishwasher permanently.

thanks for the comments! wende, it wouldn't be "infill" exactly, there's a top row above head, and then the bottom row is appliances and the area i want to redo.

in a wierd coincidence, what hannah of the small apt content shows in her kitchen is similar to my setup, except that i changed the handles on my cabinets and i have a shelf with an under-the-counter fridge. the shelf is what i was referring to above as badly built.

what's really been on my mind is that i'm tired of seeing my garbage, recycling (bottles) and recycling (paper) open to view. my apt would be so much tidier if i could use the under the sink space.

but the points y'all raise are important, which is why i haven't done anything about it yet.

If your kitchen is that small and you own the unit, I'd look at the budget for a complete rehab that really meets your storage needs. Just because you price it out, that doesn't mean you have to go ahead and do it!

Replacing that one cabinet is so likely to affect your counters and floors that you may as well have full knowledge of what different options would cost.

rasil -

Would it be possible to just remove the dishwasher racks and put a trash can and/or recycling can in the dishwasher? If you're feeling real handy and could put some track rollers on a piece of plywood cut to the width of the racks. But even if you didn't feel that handy you could just stash the cans in there.
It's certainly not a smooth or sleek fix but it would look good from the outside and you won't have to permanently lose the dishwasher.

Okay this weekend the boyfriend and I cleaned, organized and purged, purged, purged.

My living room is looking a little more presentable, but I have a request for suggestions. Here's where the photo is:

http://www.myaimistrue.com/archives/2006/03/spring_sprang_sprung.html

The question: see the blank wall under the window in the first photo? What should I do with that wall (the fact that I immediately need curtains is obvious now hah).

I was thinking maybe low bookshelves, individual shelves to display artsy junk, actually I'm open for ideas. It's a pretty tight space. Any suggestions?

off topic, but did all you NY'ers know that the Hold Everything in Chelsea is having a crazy sale? I stopped in last night only to find the store in disarray and everything 60% off.
pretty picked over, but I availed myself of some pillow forms (which one of my friends today pointed out doesn't "hold" anything at all--perhaps this is why the store is closing? false advertising...).
happy shopping!

Amber-

Do you need anything under the window? It would help to see a couple more views of the room, and also understand the flow of the room. But from what I see, I wouldn't place anything under the window.

amber, i actually don't think you need curtains or under-the-windowness, the window and the coffee table make a nice pair/conversation, just as the blank space behind the tv and the blank space under the window make a nice matchup. i am also very keen on your new acquisition and your lovely wooden chair. my only question mark was the pink chair, which is somewhat emphatic, given the rest. overall, very nice, and nice to see dark woods.

phillymeg, the thought of putting garbage in the dishwasher makes me feel wierd. wende, yes, i want to, trepidatious about cost, but anyone have any suggestions for rehabbers/contractors?

Amber,
Maybe when you get your drapes, get some floor-sweeping ones? I don't know, would they look funny with such a tiny, high window?

I think it would be nice to have something there- the outlet is staring me in the eye. What if you moved your wooden chair over there? Then you could curl up in a sunbeam...

I second Anna's suggestion -- seating by the window is great, especially if you have a nice view.

OK, I must vent about a design-related letdown, knowing that I can count on my fellow AT readers for sympathy ;) So, I've been on a quest for a few months to try and find an antique art deco rug for my living room in (vaguely) the right colors and a price I can afford. Because I want a large size, my only real chance is ebay. Thus, I have been obsessively checking and bidding. I finally found THE ONE a few days ago:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7400677381&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEDW%3AIT&rd=1

Alas, I am not frances509. I put up a good fight, but it just got out of my price range. The really sad thing is, Ms. Frances is still getting a good deal. That rug is worth upwards of $2000.

I love ebay, but I must say, it wreaks havoc with one's emotions much more than shopping at a normal store (where at least the item will be around for awhile and you can possibly come back for an item later).

Anyone else feeling bad ebay karma lately? Happen to have the same rug for sale? I will gladly listen/read attentively.

Amber -
I think you really don't need anything under that window.

But I could kind of imagine that table that your TV is on under there, and the TV on something else in the same area that it's in now. Not exactly sure what, though.

Thanks everyone. I think the solution is going to come to me after I get curtains going. Thing is, on the other side of that space is the couch, it's a tight squeeze. So maybe nothing should go there. We'll see.

Amber
I definitely don't think you need anything under the window and I don't even think curtains are a necessity. But I do think a rug would be nice.

Amber, I don't think you need fabric curtains. I would look into something flat and neat, such as roman shades or natural woven blinds (maybe even in a funky cool color!). For ideas:

http://www.smithandnoble.com/sn/bundle_detail.jsp?bundle_id=901491&view=zoom&catID=-14150&gallery=all&index=0

http://www.smithandnoble.com/sn/bundle_detail.jsp?bundle_id=901435&view=zoom&catID=-14150&gallery=all&index=0

http://www.smithandnoble.com/sn/bundle_detail.jsp?bundle_id=6017&view=zoom&catID=-14150&gallery=all&index=1

http://www.smithandnoble.com/sn/bundle_detail.jsp?bundle_id=901679&view=zoom&catID=-14150&gallery=all&index=3

http://www.smithandnoble.com/sn/bundle_detail.jsp?bundle_id=901368&view=zoom&catID=-14150&gallery=all&index=6