apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Wow! So much bickering lately... Ah well, the good news is that so many people are very passionate about their choices for the finalists.

Maxwell: you had a brilliant idea with the smallest, coolest contest. It's obvious we are enjoying it immensely.

BTW: Not having the imagination or wherewithall to do something very architectural, I keep looking at Shauna's apartment and another LA bungalow and trying to figure out how to achieve as much style in my own place.

morning, everyone.

I thought I'd repost this, since yesterday's thread is yesterday's news.

I put a fine scratch in my new dining table. (I think it was a staple in some papers I had put there.)

I tried disguising it with a brown crayon. When I tried to polish this, I was left with a shiny streak around the scratch.

It's the shiny streak that bothers me most.

The table is dark brown, slightly matte, solid wood. I don't know the wood - it was made in Viet Nam. Sue me for buying carbohydrate furniture, but protein furniture and dinners with resident toddler would have sent my blood pressure soaring.

So do I just polish the table to make the shine uniform? I have good furniture polish (Conservator's wax from Lee Valley). Wood site on the web recommend #0000 steel wool and polish. Got both of those, but I'd like to hear from some of you more experienced types before I make things any worse.

Thanks!

I'd try washing the table with a slightly damp rag with an infinitessimal squirt of mild dish soap, then dry thoroughly.

Another question up to suggestions:

I am terrible at lighting and my apartment is getting me down, being so terribly lit.

Currently I have overhead lights and then some low-wattage sconces in most rooms. What can I do, inexpensively, to better light my rooms?

I've heard that light has to come from various places; I've heard the theory that light should shine both upwards and downwards. I'm confused.

The best lit places I've ever seen are usually designed by architects. Anyway, any feedback would be much appreciated.

original blues - i think your scratch is like a scab that you are supposed to leave alone...methinks the shiny streak is from the crayon wax - which will dull over time.

BUT, if you MUST pick the at scab, test the steel wool on an INVISIBLE portion of the table first to see what it will look like. I don't think it's going to be the answer, though. I'm only experienced in picking at scabs, though - not refinishing furniture.

Hey Original Blue: I am going to go out on a limb here and suggest you ignore the idiotic comment to rub your table top with godamned steel wool.

What you can do, however, is buy a table top repair kit OR match the table with shoe polish. The use of crayons or felt tipped pens is also used (I prefer the latter over the former). The expensive repair kits use the same substance that is in shoe polish. Blend in any of the above with a cotton cloth.

Hello all. I'm new around here and mostly a lurker, but if the conversation is about lighting I'd like to toss out my question. Are there some guidelines about how high/low chandeliers or pendants should hang over a dining room table? The chandelier in my apartment looks strangely wrong, but I don't have a sense of what would be right. Thanks!

Lunar

Hey blues:

You probably won't like this suggestion, but I'm still going to post it.

Why not learn to live with the scratch? It may, in the future, remind you of the time in your life when you put the scratch in. Lots of my furniture had dents, scratches and so on; I like that I can pass a piece in my home and be reminded of this or that event.

BTW: To my utter horror, I once put a scratch in my friend's brand-new ultra-expensive coffee table. She said two things: 1) It's just a thing, 2) When I see it, it reminds me of you (she meant in a good way).

Lunar:

Candince Olson measures 36 inches above the table. I'd go by eye: let it hang where it looks good to you.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the standard height for an over-the-table chandelier is 30 inches off the table.

But the size of the chandelier could also be a factor--too big or too small in relation to the table and the surrounding space.

If glare is the problem, experiment with different bulbs.

Lunar:

30 to 36 inches above the dining room table is standard. Traditionalists believe that should be on the high end of that range if you have extra-high ceilings.

Pendants can be on the LOW end of that range (or even lower, if you are going for a slick/"club" look) because the fixtures themselves are smaller, hence less run a lower risk of blocking the view of the person's face across from you. In your case, however, that might be preferrable.

The scab analogy is an excellent one, JenPDX. Although I have been fussing at the table for the last hour (early morning here), I am now going to let well enough alone. (Lisa - I tried your suggestion when I first got the scratch.)

Jonathan - pretty funny, though I have used steel wool (the superfine #0000) in finishing flea market furniture, so I did have some experience in this. It works well enough (very light touch) that I'm wondering how it works on shoes.

And Terry - you're right. But it's always the first scratch that's the hardest. Oh, well. At least I'm not stewing in silent resentment of whatever irresponsible family member put the scratch in the table.

Thanks, all, for the advice. Certainly a good polish on the table has mitigated the shiny streak, which was what bothered me more than the scratch.

guido, is the table scratch wabi sabi?

Hi Tat,
You posted a question on Montreal on last open thread. here's my answer: There's Always stuff going on. It depends what you're into. May/June, among others, there's a beer festival-Mondial de la biere, 31 May to 4 June, FrancoFolies de Montreal, 8 June to 17 June, Main Madness (they close Blvd. St. Laurent to traffic & make it a pedestrian hang out,15 June-18 June. Grand Prix weekend is 22 June-25 June, Fete nationale du Quebec is 24 June. The Int'l Jazz Festival starts 29 June until 9 July (recommend this), Just for Laughs Festival starts 1 July. The Int'l Fireworks Competition usually starts in June, every Wed. & Sat.
Any other info you want,let me know.
Also check out: tourisme-montreal.org

Nothing good to say apart from the fact that I just got back from visiting the in-laws in Montreal. Love the city, the in-laws are okay too!

Thanks for the help.

Lunar

Leeds, I'd love some montreal info too! :)

There's a possibility I will be driving through the last weekend in July, by myself, with a car full of stuff. So....if there's some recommendations on what a girl, alone, with just a little bit of money, can do in Montreal by herself for 24 hours, and a good hotel rec...that would be awesome. :)

Stupid question perhaps, but how did entry #8 Alison's Design to the Max not make it? I thought that was one of the finest for sure. I guess I have peculiar taste?

Morning,I wake up early so I posted this today but I think I was in yesterday's thread. Sorry, I am just starting to get the hang of all this.
The following question is not seeking movie trivia but help in designing a new apt :)
Jennifer Anniston (bear with me) was in a movie that showed her apartment with Haywood Wakefield furniture (desk, etc.) a (great) purple rug in the living room, a mosaicy coffee table. It was a qood and fun combination of some clean lined, warm toned vintage furniture mixed with some florals and other fun stuff. Any help much appreciated.

Posted by JW at 04/18/06 9:12 AM

JW, since you brought up Jennifer Aniston: can we somehow make the aesthetic analogy between design and beauty and, if so, can we not simply acknowledge that Brad Pitt made the ultimate trade? There is not a man alive who wouldn't drop Aniston in a heartbeat for Angelina.

Sorry. Can't help myself where Ms. Jolie is concerned.

Since Anmgelina only pursues other women's men, she'll be dropping Brad Pitt as soon as the next ready-to-go-blond married man comes along, and then Brad will realize what a total fool he was.

Reef,
I might be a case of over exposure. Was definately one of my favorites as well, but it was a winner in Metropolitan Home magazine recently. I guess there can be too much of a good thing.

JW, was the movie you're thinking of 'Picture Perfect' with Jay Mohr?

I remember loving Goldie Hawn's house in the movie 'Foul Play' (eons ago) because it was the first time I saw a place done monochromatically - every room was in a different shade of green.

JW - I can't think of which movie it was, but if you click my name, there's a list of Aniston's acting credits - maybe the list of movies will trigger your memory?

Good luck!

Pixie
probably not
; )
it needs a bunch more scratches, so give the toddler a rock and let her have at it.

use a scratch kit, or do ALOT of googling on the use of shoe polish employed this way so you don't mess it up.
No crayons!
I think crayons are made of different wax these days, so that particular Hint From Heloise might be outdated.

Terry
I aspire to be that friend of yours

Rachel -you're in luck as you can make your$ stretch here. 24 hours only? Alone is not a problem, but a car full of stuff is...
I live in Mtl. so don't know hotels, will have to get back &/or you can check with tourist info office downtown, they're great. We're also great at excellent value on meals out.

rachel (in denver): I stayed at an over-the-top-Victorian-but-cute B&B last May when I visited Montreal called Gizella's. It's a bit of a splurge but clean and quiet with good breakfast.

http://www.crismi.ca/gizella/rates.htm

It was centrally located with on-street parking (the only so-called problem we had - eventually found a spot but took a little driving around). You can walk to good shopping and eating.

I can also recommend a great Polish restaurant called 'Stash' in the old city. It was fantastic!

thanks leeds and Deepa!

The car full of stuff can be mitigated slightly, if you think that it wouldn't be quite secure...

and polish food? peirogies? I'm so there. I used to live and work in Detroit, and would often go to Hamtramck for peirogies with coworkers for lunch. Yummm....that's one thing denver is sorely lacking: good eastern european and middle eastern cooking.

guido,
So, that's the problem with new things- single flaws? As soon as something has a flaw in it, it's ruined (like my brand-new, dropped camera--I still haven't looked at the manuals enough to see if I wrecked it, but it seems to be taking pics anyway.) But, multiple flaws, wabi sabi? Because it shows life as it happened, the natural aging of something? (I don't drink, but reminds me of the aging of wine. I love in the movie Sideways, how the character Virginia Madsen plays talks about why she like wines. How she thinks about the grapes growing in the field, what was happening in the world that year, etc.)

But actually, scratching with a scratch kit/child wouldn't be the real thing either-- ;D.

leeds: Thank you

We were off internet for the whole morning, sorry for the late response.

I remember jazz festival of 2 years ago...Cesaria Evora...yeeeaaahhh.
I'll see what could be done with my vacation.

dIANE - A great beginning, Thanks. I'm off to the video place to find Picture Perfect. Or maybe The Good Gir.
rachel (in denver) - a very helpful link, many thanks. Who knew Anniston did so many movies?

I love decor in film. I still remember loving a bedroom I saw in The Story of Adele H. At the time I was so into the flounce of Victoriana. My husband probably still remembers Isabelle Adjani.

please indulge a mini-rant along the same thought P(too) brought up in the last small/cool entry about pro vs non pro and big budget vs little budget.

a well designed space is difficult to achieve.

there's enough fodder for debate over the actual design of space without layering the value judgements/moral highground of budget or professional qualifications.

comments related to "spaces on a budget" talk about things they would like to do "if they had more money." but no one jumps on them for their aspirations. but the opposite doesn't seem to be true.

time for some coffee

RE: constest

My guess is "Alison's Design to the Max" was the entry that had to be disqualified b/c she works at DWR. Maxwell aluded to it, but didn't say who.

Anyone have any thoughts on attractive surge protectors? They are so ugly.

JenPDX,
I dislike seeing pros enter this contest, but not because of budget. While it is inspiring and fun to see how someone stretches a buck, I really don't care how much $$ is spent. I personally find those complaints that some have made (against entries where it seems someone had tons of money at their disposal) a bit annoying. I just don't like the idea of those who have been trained in design or architecture competing with non-pros who wing it using common sense and inspiration from wherever - although I acknowledge that training doesn't automatically translate into pleasing results. It just seems out of balance to allow it. Just my opinion, no big deal.

Tat, yes, rather the Jazz Festival than the Grand Prix, that's certain. Cesaria Evora was a paid concert for sure, & there's the usual good lineup to paid cocert artists again this year, but don't forget there are free outdoor concerts going on simultaneously at different stages, starting at noon every day! Some are new artists, world beat, etc.etc...
Rachel(iD), it Would Not be secure. As far as food, pierogies is only scratching the surface.
Both: let me know what food preferences/price limits if any& I'll try to list some spots for you. There are new ones. On MY want-to-try list: Pintxos (on Roy), Cube, Otto, Soy. oh yea, then there's one called 'Confusion de Tapas'(?) that sounds good to me! These are new ones as far as I know--I cook a lot & have my standard tried-&-true places so I have to catch up!

Good to know, Leeds. I can ship a large quantity of stuff back before I leave, it's just a matter of if I do that and go to Montreal, or just drive home.

Food: I love. I'll try anything. I'm on a small budget, adn I don't want to feel weird sitting alone and eating, but I like a good meal.

Thanks for any suggestions!! THat's very kind of you!

jw, pretty sure it wouldn't have been "The Good Girl", since Aniston played a walmart employee whose pothead husband sat on the nubby plaid couch all day. =o) I think that's the only movie I've seen her in.

Pixie, what about a squid? It's at least kind of funny. It has a lighted master switch with circuit-breaker protection. Not sure that=surge protection. Google Power Squid Outlet Multiplier.

I like seeing almost anything entered, I don't mind the "pros" entering because I think I can learn something cool from a cool entry. I guess I thought that was the point of inspiring people to show what they've got so the rest of us can learn.

I do think I enjoyed the contests more when the prize wasn't so substantial. The fact that there are substantial prizes seems to have brought out the nasties in some people.

regards,
trillium

Did anyone read the article in the times on the Modernism Exhibit at the Victoria and ALbert museum?

It's linked in my name.

Pixie,

I totally agree. I had been searching as well. I have found an attractive power strip (not surge protector) at Bed Bath and Beyond. It comes in black and metallic grey.

I can't find the item on their website, but they are in the extension cords section of the store. You can't miss them.

yeah, Pixie, surge protection is uniformly ugly

a scratch kit is to *repair* scratches
(opposite of a toddler with a rock)
sometimes they work quite well

Pix, as you continue to wrestle with the wabi sabi idea
I think it would help to be less literal
It's not one scratch or a thousand scratches
but a broader aesthetic sensibility
a flaw can be just a flaw, or it can be a thing of beauty
depends on the flaw

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi
and
users.exis.net/~jnc/nontech/wabisabi.html

leeds,
now that you've wetted my apetite (and for Jazz, too)- I looked at the site of the place I wanted to visit, @ Eastman, and their promotion ends on June 23! oh no.
have to think of a plan B...

o Leeds and Tat
Cesaria Evora concerts - yes.
preferably with Waldemar Bastos opening...

brilliant upcoming in NYC
Tinariwen at Joe's Pub, May 1

Rachel(iD), In Mtl. nothing would be perceived as weird (like sitting alone), well, maybe if you wore a rubber chicken on your head...maybe even then it prob. wouldn't be strange enough! :) Ah, La Joie de Vivre!! I'll try to write some more budget recs.for you tomorrow. Off the cuff, there are small neighbourhood places w/comfortable setting (no need to 'change for dinner'!) & good deals, such as Tataki (Ama-zing sushi) on Duluth,corner St.Laurent($9 lunch,incl soup+tea, $20 evening). There are bring-your-own wine places such as Le Jardin de Panos further along on Duluth, you can eat in the garden in the back (then walk off some calories at Lafontaine Park 2 blocks further east along same street). Avoid going at night, too busy, better prices & more relaxed at lunch, even a late lunch (& even on weekends). Then there are secret hideaway places, I have one I call 'the hole in the wall' in Chinatown--grrreat food, place looks ordinary or worse though, trade off: 3 of us pigged out a couple of days ago for $30! Corner LaGauchetiere& Clark, basement. Been going there for 15 yrs...Ask for the Cantonese chow mein, with fried tofu on top-it's extra ($1) & worth it! They also make the best 'dry beef chow fun' in Chinatown (confirmed by Chinese co-workers!) (don't worry, the beef is not dried) Each dish is approx $6, comes with tea. Can't beat the taste or price! If you come to Mtl. during a weekday, even better, there are loads of lunch specials everywhere. I like Chez Doval on Marianne, Portuguese rest.,lunch special incl.soup,main dish,dessert+espresso=8.50 (3 diff. choices ea day), plus the house wine is actually v. good! Their lunch special is also offered on Saturday (bonus!)
That's one for you too Tat, to remind you of being in Portugal!
There are so many places!!
..then don't get me started on hanging out at terrasses on St. Denis, etc.! You can sip coffee, read &/or people watch for hours. There are bars that have great terrasses-the St. Sulpice, the St. Elizabeth...not even mentioning the obvious places (such as the ones on Crescent).

If I had to stay somewhere in Montreal I would like the Chateau Versailles I think...will ask around too.

RE: "THE PROS"

Who are the pros? Why stop at just architects and interior designers?

Anyone whose job involves making the world more aesthetically pleasing has a leg up.

Fashion/graphic/stage/... designers, makeup artists, artists in general, carpenters, upholsterers, animal skinners (Hakarl's sheepskin looks great on the couch, but my powerpoint slides just do nothing for a room).

sorry for the super-long post..
Tat, Eastman, as in the spa? There are other places, no?
Last fall I went to Charlevoix for the first time. It is SO stunning I can't describe it in words. Overlooking the St. Lawrence seaway...Wow.
It's closer to Quebec City than to Montreal, but..so gorgeous (+you can go whale watching). You guys have to come up for longer periods, that's it! :)
guido-yay to Cesaria Evora! good for you NY guys!
Listening to Luny Tunes&BabyRanks:Mas Flow 2--good!

terry, about lighting in rooms, i only use the overhead (ceiling) when i'm cleaning. i have a table lamps in every room connected to dimmers. for example the living room has two table lamps with shades casting light up and down, one archimoon lamp casting light down, and a tolomeo floor lamp next to a sofa for reading casting light down. anyway what i'm trying to say is that lots of lamps cast pools of light that can create a soft warm glow in your rooms.

regarding surge-protectors and wire management...

one thing i just *never* understood is why (say after the 1940s) *all* case-goods don't have some wire-management designed into the piece. A discrete hole here or there.

you buy a piece of furniture - and the next step is to get a lamp to set on top or some kind of electrical device for the inside.

with a couple of holes, you could run the wire through inside the piece of furniture instead of hanging out there for puppies to chew on or people to trip over.

New question - I need to get a 30" diameter table top that will be supported at 4 points on the 28" mark (i.e., 2" in) by a solid metal frame. I don't want to spend a lot, but would like something that could hold a significant amount of weight - like around 200lbs, as I'd like to put a medium sized marble statue on it.

The options I have are:

1. Glass - think i need about 0.5" thick and the best price is at Pier One (about $100)

2. Wood - plywood would run about $40-50 @ Wood-a-Rama, or could buy a second hand table on e-bay(?)

3. Acrylic - way too expensive

4. Sheet metal - maybe 10 gauge galvinized @ Gentleman's in Brooklyn - around $125-$150

My questions are:
- does anyone know if there are cheaper sources than what i've listed (and, if you do know, please tell me!)
- does anyone think that i'm off in my requirements (i.e., is 0.5" thick glass insufficient)

Thanks,

A

RMB--
There are people here on AT (jamie pup for one) who are not professional "aesthetes" and who can design circles around some working professionals...

Meanwhile, you couldn't pay me enough to live in some of the rooms designed by "professionals" on some makeover TV shows...

And, I've said it before "designing for yourself" is a tough, tough task. Especially when faced with the outrageous myriad of choices pros are exposed to...

And finally, don't interior designers and architects (or even "civilians" who can afford a major remodel") who still choose to live in small spaces get any props? Small space *living* (not just its design) ain't easy.

Thanks Patrick. Are you still consulting? If so, write tgraves12@yahoo.com. Am ready to do something—at least about the lighting.

My boss purchased one of the "on-deck circles" from the 2005 World Series. He wants to display this thing in our office. As it happens, we are being relocated to a new floor which will be built out to our specs.

Originally, we were going to have this encased in something (glass, plexi) and sunk into a wood floor in our reception area. However, I just got back from the construction meeting and, for a number of reasons, this can't be done.

So, I'm thinking that we could maybe encase it and then mount it on or even inside the wall? Does anyone have experience with displaying collectibles like this?

The on-deck circle is hard plastic, 52" in diameter and it probably weighs about 30-40lbs.
Any help would be appreciated.

About wire management, I was SOOOO happy to see that my new Mr. Coffee has this thing in the back of it that holds all the wire that you're NOT using to plug it in. So it doesn't clutter up the counter. Also, $29.95 for something that looks and acts twice as expensive and turns itself off after 2 hours AND can be programmed to turn itself ON is very, very nice.

Kathryn,

Why not display it like a plasma TV with a stand - i.e., get a stand made that will hold it vertically and then put the whole thing on top of a cabinet - eliminates need for a wall mount

You could construct the stand with plywood, i think - like an empty box with grooves in the sides that match the thickness of the circle

just a thought,

am

Thanks Jayla. That explains it.

Surge Protection:

I saw a decent looking Micheal Graves designed protector at Target at lunch. It's not on their website, but it was a grey half disc with the sockets in black around the exterior curve. It provided 8 sockets, surge protection, and while it looked like an obvious Michael Graves design, it was nicer that the nasty white clunky strip you often see.

to bring us back to movies/design... the movie that has inspired me more than anything to get my apt together is Amelie
everything in her apartment (and in the other spaces in the movie) are SO chic, SO what i aspire to!
now, if i can just bring my boyfriend around to this worldview, i might have a chance ;-)

Trillium: I second your point.

Kathryn:

I vote for a custom made circular plexi box, either then wall-mounted, or sitting horizontally on a equally circular (drywall/wood) pedestal.

Thanks for the comments, everyone. At least I have a starting poing for the conversation with the GC. The on-deck circle is just the beginning -- our whole office is going to be a shrine to the White Sox. Oh joy! (sarcasm intended). I'll post pics when it's completed in July.

ann: amelie is so good in so many ways. I will think/compare that with the purple rug room I am still looking for ... Picture Perfect was checked out of the local video store. Could it have been Along came Polly?

JW, I don't think it was along came Polly - in that, she was kind of a disty indie hipster - the walls were really brilliantly coloured and there were draperies all over - the bed featured prominently (she lived in a studio with a ferret) -

Would anyone like to post their top preferences for the contest?

1. Shauna
2. Jane and Darko
3. Hakari and Jili
4. Rob

And I'm sure everyone is just DYING to hear my 25,000 reasons why I like those specific ones.

They all have combinations of old and new, store-bought and hand-made, coming up with creative solutions to problems I didn't even know I had (like dreary closet doors and the wilderness approach used by Jane and Darko).

They seemed to build up their homes over time, adding JUST THE RIGHT PIECES to reflect their OWN style. Doing this over time requires dedication and careful craftsmanship. Not just ANY sofa...or chair...or art...or lighting fixture...

But the ONE true item that fits their style. And that's hard to do. I sure as heck can't do it.

I didn't post all 25,000 reasons. Aren't you glad?

JW if you haven't found your 'jennifer aniston' room yet perhaps it was 'the object of my affection' 1998. oo such a good movie (and book) and if i'm not mistaken a really warm and cozy apartment. if you haven't seen it, rent it anyway! obi.

Andree - I agree with your list, except I'd add Greg and Em.

I really wish that Entry #49 (Katarina and Stephen's Whimsy & Sophistication) would've made it as a finalist. It is so cool and wonderfully done. I especially love the fact that it's not modern.

I'm surprised Bri and Chad's Fab on a Budget isn't a finalist, and I hoped for an honorable mention for David and Katy's Port Authority Pad.

I wasn't in either of the Smallest, Coolest contests, but I was in a couple of the other ones, and I really appreciate these folks allowing us into their homes.

But to address something someone said about P2's space (actually they said it on a finalist thread) -- all I've seen of it is the pictures, but I've seen apartments with similar layouts and that whole kind of space is nice enough, but what (to me) comes off as looking effortless in his entry from last year, was really, truly one of the most well-thought-out designs in an apartment which made the interior of the space seem to be fully realized as a living space as well as a visually pleasing feast for the eyes.

It seemed (to me) to look like something that the architect who designed the building would have hoped and dreamed that someone living there might eventually come up with.

Sorry... my whole point was... that's what I'm hoping to see in the winner of this contest, too.