apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Hey Tat-

I saw your comment about prices for DotShop. Sorry, I don't have any information. I just went in, looked around, smiled, drooled some, and left.

Just when I am about to comment in an OT a new one opens up.

So anyway, the opoponax, I find myself agreeing with you more the more you post. What you said about someone coming from another part of the country with enough of an income to comfortably afford $2000 per month (BTW, decor8, you are interested in what ppl do to make that kind of money - which is fine by me - so what field of work is your friend in?) should really try to live in nyc to fully experience it. If they want to move later, then fine, but at least try it for a year or two.

Fiona, ss for Summit fridges, I actually got a real counter depth (23.5") summit under counter freezer from Krups on 18th st. They were very busy so I did get bounced around on the phone when placing the order and also arranging the delivery date but otherwise they were fine. It is expensive for its size (about a grand) but there are not many freezers that are that size. I did consider the sub zero freezer drawers but this thing is hidden in an alcove behind sliding doors (to supplement the meagre capacity of the sub zero 650 - be aware of this if you are in the market for it and go for the 736 instead) so there was really no point.

Please don't fix the

"Welcome to , , and !"!

It's beautifully postmodern, with a slight Borges twist.

All right New Yorkers, let's get some comments going on this place:

http://chicago.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/house-tours/house-tour-zokas-east-village-open-house-010095

I'll get the obvious ones out of the way:
- Looks a bit like a catalog, but it still works.
- You get so much more space in Chicago.
- Weird how both NYC and Chi-town have E.Vill's.

In photo 7, the prints look crooked. Or did I not have my V8 this morning?

The kitchen and bath alone would make me a happy person -- just lovely!

Does anyone have any comments or opinions on Flor carpet tiles?

Or for that matter, a cool area rug I could put in my office that'd be flat enough for my computer chair to roll on without too much difficulty?

Thanks!

The apartment is lovely. It's a bit spare for my taste in some parts, and not crazy about the color of the wood. I also feel like the art is way too small for the walls. But I love almost all of the furniture.

The child's room is great--still has the same vibe, but has a lot of color and life.

I love reading the insightful comments on this website and I thought people could help me out.

How much does/should a middle of the road bathroom remodel cost in Manhattan? How much for parts? How much for labor? My bathroom is the very typical 5'x8' and I'm looking to redo the whole thing (new tub, toilet, etc), but with reasonably priced furnishings.

Any guidance would be fantastic. Because of my Co-op's rules, I must use a licensed and insured contractor. I've met with two contractors and I'm not sure if the quotes they have given me are inflated.

Hey Mat,

I have flor tiles in my living room and I can't say enough good things about them. If they get dirty you can wash them in the sink, and your options are pretty limitless.

I'm going to be buying more for my bedroom.

Hey Lux, our bathroom remodel cost about $30K with about half for materials and half for labor over a 2 month period I think. Size was about 9X7 with all new 18X18 limestone tiles to the ceiling, new double sinks, vanity and toilet but the tub was not replaced. I keep promising to put up the progress pics which I will do this weekend.

Lux,

We're in the process of getting our bathroom renovated as well. I have received varying quotes for labor from $6,500 to $23,000!!! However, I think approximately $9,000 for labor should get you a decent contractor. I ended up finding someone through servicemagic.com Also many contractors are used to Manhattan and Brooklyn co-ops so they will have the necessary papers. If their current insurance policy is below the co-ops requirements, they can increase it for your project and they will usually pass on the additional cost to you. If you really like one contractor, it might be worth it.

As far as tiles, hardware, tub etc...I did look at eBay a lot. You can find a lot of the same hardware you find in the regular stores on eBay for a muuuuch lower price. Just look at Home Depot or Restoration Hardware etc and if you identify a specific model you like, I would check it out on eBay before buying in the store. I had the same experience with tiles. I liked a certain model at Home Depot, looked on eBay and found a guy selling the same stuff at almost half the price in NJ (15 minutes from Manhattan). The tile store is Dolce Tile, it's on Route 17 in Hackensack, NJ. I can pass on the exact details if you like. Good Luck!

On a really mundane note, does anyone have suggestions for a handled mop that actually works? My now-dead Swiffer never got the Black Urban Dust off the floor... the new Mr. Clean Magic Sponge mop doesn't fit under the counter edges and disintegrates before the tiny room is half done...

While it takes 8 minutes to scrub the floor by the hands-and-knees-with-sponge method, my back is giving me trouble again, so I can't do it that way. And I'd really like a clean kitchen floor!

Mat wrote:
> Does anyone have any comments or opinions
> on Flor carpet tiles?
>
> Or for that matter, a cool area rug I could put in my office
> that'd be flat enough for my computer chair to roll on without
> too much difficulty?
>
> Thanks!

I'd like to know the answer to this, too. I've been looking at Flor carpet tiles, or considering a very low pile area rug that desk-chair wheels can role over.

Question?
Does anyone konw the technique and products to use to make my mirrors at home like the store stationary ones in Antropologie.
*they look old and antique bronze covered
Thanks

Mat & chris (nyc),

I too love my Flor tiles. I used them in my master bedroom when I needed to replace the carpet and was very pleased. Of course, it wasn't as cushion-y as high pile carpet with a thick pad, but I was impressed at how soft it was. It was also easy as pie to install and really didn't take more than 30 minutes, even with a lot of cutting to fit snugly against the walls.

Plus, I love that I can just pick one up and clean it if one of the cats makes a mess. If I can't get the tile clean, it is a lot easier to replace just one than to put down a whole new carpet.

wende - how about these mops http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/products/clean

I've been using a microfiber mop for years now and love it. I tried out the Mr. Clean mop thing for a bit and hated it. It couldn't get behind my toilet, and was always flipping around when I tried to use it to scrub the bath. The newest gadget I have and absolutely LOOOOVE is this battery-powered scrubber, which I think was meant for dishes but it's my bathroom's magic wand: http://www.blackanddecker.com/ProductGuide/Product-Details.aspx?ProductID=10764
oooh, and now that I went on the website, I saw an even spiffier model with an onboard cleaning reservoir, ha!

Jamie Pup,

Who did you use as a contractor? Were you happy with him/her? Also, two months is longer than I thought it would take to redo the bathroom (quoted 3-4 weeks). Did your project take longer for some reason, or was the 2 months pretty standard?

Melis,

Which contractors have you spoken with? Have you decided yet who to use? Also, thanks for the heads up on Ebay. I have to check them out.

Wende,
I have a libman "wonder mop" http://www.mamalibman.com/index.aspx?src=PDI&ct=2&pid=114

I got it at target and it's a reasonably priced mop.

I wouldn't exactly say it's a "wonder," and you need a bucket of water to go along with it, but it works adequately. I like that the handle makes it really easy to wring out, and it doesn't appear to disintegrate in a long time. The head's machine washable too. I'm thinking of starting to go with the scrub brush method myself, though, because I find that grime gets in the grout and drives me crazy.

I just got a Scotch Brite microfiber dust mop. It doesn't impress me and won't fit where I store my mop and broom which drives me nuts. I guess it picks up dust off my wood floors, but like the swiffer, it just seems to kind of push the dust around, too. Ugh.

I have a question on lamp rewiring. I got some very cute lamps at a used furniture store, and realized once they were delivered that the cord is rotted out in some places. So, smartly, I decided not to use them! Has anyone done their own lamp rewiring out there? How hard is it? If I get a professional to do it (who--an electrician? a lamp store?) about how much will it run? I'm slightly annoyed I paid as much as I did--woe to the impulse purchase!

We were very happy with our contractor but he no longer does this type of work. He started some other business and I have not heard from him for a while. Sorry - I just wanted to give you some idea of costs and time.

Actually he did take a long time because he mitred the edges of a lot of tiles with a hand held angle grinder to get the best looking corner joins possible. He was a perfectionist and I would love to use him again for a future remodel project.

He was also not bonded so would not be able to work in a coop.

I came across pics of a house tailored to entertain the owners' cats. I'm not a cat person, but I know there are several here so I thought some of you would be interested. Those who like highly colored environments might like this, too. Beware: it will offend the sensibilities of strict modernists:
http://www.catshouse.com/html/cathouse/house/01%20column/ch__col_01.htm

has anyone seen the new "fusion" dining set from ikea in person? i don't know if it's even in the store yet. it looks very cool but possible very uncomfortable---wasn't there a post recently about a dining set along the same lines (possibly during the icff?).

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15564&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=75724&langId=-1&news=1&categoryId=15564&chosenPartNumber=70092553

Wow! It does look very cool. Good find.

Christine

I have rewired a few lamps and a chandelier. It is not that complicated or difficult to do. Measure how long you want the cord to be and then include in the measurement the length of the body of the lamp. You can buy electrical cord cut to your specified length at Home Depot. You can also choose your color of the cord - I think I remember white, black, brown, and gold. Ask the salespeople at Home Depot for a rewiring kit, and read the instructions. Quite simple.

One Point - check and see how difficult it will be to pull the wiring out of the lamp. If it is going to be difficult to pull out the wiring or slide a new wire into the body of the lamp, you might want a professional.

Thanks for the help Joey & Erica!



btw, that cat house would be my living hell :)

Lux,

I ended up using Gothic Builders (found on servicemagic.com), so far they are doing a good job but we're still about 10 days away from the finish line, so I'd feel more comfortable recommending them once I see the finished product. I also had Perfect Marble and Granite, as well as Dream Design stop by for quotes.

If you're not in a hurry, definitely have as many contractors as possible come in and give you quotes, as well as discuss their schedule and ideas.

By the way, our project is taking about 3-4 weeks as well (despite the many coop hurdles :)

I'm not sure if it's possible to identify the craziest thing about that cat house, but this comes close: "We thought it would be fun to make a climbing column out of plush stuffed cats. Unfortunately, our kitties would have nothing to do with it. In fact, they hated it!" (shocking!)

http://www.catshouse.com/html/cathouse/house/05%20triangle/ch_tria_03.htm

Thank you so much, Christine and Angelune! I'm thinking of a run to Target, as that scrubber looks like it would solve some problems too. Having Cured the apartment, I'm finding myself with an organized, non-cluttered space that's still a pain to keep clean -- thanks to the outside dirt coming in through the windows -- so the current project is doing some strategic buying of equipment that really works for me.

The bright colors of the cat house are scaring me a little, but I love the cat run concept.

i went in the new kate's at home store (right near kate's paperie soho) on my lunch hour and it is quite nice and reasonable for the neighbourhood if not alway reasonable. the company c rugs are there, a few pieces of furniture, pillows and bedding, a few dishes and lamps of a modern design, and some wonderful paper kitchenware from Ideal Home Range. the designs on the paper kitchenware were shockingly nice, i am deeply disappointed that they aren't available in textiles.

Christine,
I've rewired my vintage lamps, and it was easy. You can use an extension cord (the kind that is 6 to 9 feet long and looks like a regular appliance cord - not those big orange things), cut the end off that you would plug things into (the female end), peel back the rubber coating slightly, thread through the lamp, and wrap the wires around the appropriate places (you'll be able to see where these are when you take the old cord out. I've not had any problems doing this, and total cost is somewhere around 6 dollars. Good luck.

Thanks Lux! I might take a stab at it. My dad knows electric stuff, too, so I might end up taking it on a road trip with me. I'm just so anxious to actually USE the lamps I overpaid for!

Flor tiles:

I would get samples first to see if you like them. They're cheap and I think you get reimbursed what you paid for them if you actually go ahead and buy the real thing.
I got the samples and decided that they weren't soft enough for me. That might not be an issue for you. But FYI they aren't soft at all.

Jessica, some of the FLOR tiles are nice and soft. Others are not.

Another reason to go for the samples is that you might get a free shipping coupon when you do. That saved me about $70 when I placed my order.

Another Libman Wonder Mop user here. They're practical and simple, and dry out quickly so they don't reek. (Even clean damp mops have a pong.) I think Swiffers are awkward and the shape is weird, as if it's trying to emulate a vacuum attachment.

on Mops -
I forgot to mention this important fact - that all the realsimple tools have machine washable microfiber mop & duster heads, and I also bought a generic version of the duster at Bed, Bath & Beyond when I was in Buffalo.
on a personal note, I HATE swiffers and the like, and concept that everything should be disposable.
And - in case anyone has caught the contradiction, I was too mezmerized by the idea of not having to bend over to scrub the tub that I didn't notice that the Mr. Clean mop also has a disposable head cover thing - shame on me!

Jessica - Softness isn't an issue since I'm looking for something my computer chair can roll over, I think the stiffer options will work.

Max - Thanks for the tip, free shipping is nice!

Valerie,

I've successfully avoided "mop pong" by lightly bleaching my mop after use. After a few rinses in clean water I'll pour a dollop of bleach into the last rinse and soak the mop for a few minutes. Rinse one more time and you're good to go.

Christine (the one in DC),

I re-wired a (very old) lamp recently with no trouble. I got the wire and lamp kit at District Hardware near Dupont Circle. The guys who own the place are very nice and helpful and were happy to talk through my project with me.

Christine, Nick at Frager's can talk you through it, and probably find an outside source to do it if you choose.

You pretty much just buy the kit and do it.

Enrique!

I guess I am out of the loop since I was in Africa for a bit - I just stumbled upon POPLIFE magazine, opened it up, and then saw the whole spread on your place! Wonderful.

Congratulations!!

I have an old chest of drawers that I plan to use for a base for a bathroom sink. Do any of you have any neat ideas for something orignal to use as the sink-something not meant to be a sink but is adaptable (able to cut hole for a drain). The chest is low so the sink could sit up on the top with just a hole drilled in the top for the drain. Has to be inexpensive also...I've thought about industrial type lamps, galvanized buckets or large stainless steel bowls. Been looking at flea martkets and thrift stores. Any more thoughts?

Anybody have any firsthand experience with Ikea Kvadrant window panels? (Click my name for a link in case you're not sure what I'm referring to). On paper they seem great, and you can't beat the price, but I'm wondering if they're all that.
Thanks!

Mat:

FLOR tiles. There are additional styles/colors ONLY available at Lowe's:
http://www.lowes.com/flor

Flor tiles are potential wall art too. I haven't seen anyone use them like that yet, but it makes sense after seeing some other "rugs" used as wall art. On walls, they could deaden sounds a bit.

The guy I talked to at FLOR said he preferred some of the designs at Lowe's more than their regular line. Whether or not you do, I don't know, but you'll have even MORE choices now! :)

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OCGirl:

There are a couple books out on The Cat's House, full of remarkable pictures and brilliant colors. I've found the house pictures absolutely fascinating. But with those overhead ramps??? It may bring a literal sense to "raining cats and dogs".

I know the colors are too bright for many people here, but recolor and accessorize mentally, and you'll see that it could be sculptural and contemporary. Such as doing the zig-zag staircase in a stark black against a medium beige/tan/khaki wall, with black and white line drawings framed in black.

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Megan:

IKEA Fusion. Yes, there was one in white that was round in the ICFF pictures (somewhere) that had chairs that virtually disappeared under/into the table.

In the IKEA picture, it shows the chair pulled out from the corner. And it looks as if you'd be sitting at the corner to dine from that picture. If that is so, it might actually be more comfortable than "regular" seating.

Ergonomically, it makes sense to have the food/eating surface jut out with free range for our arms. And there's no problems with getting people to keep their elbows off the table (is that still a crime?), because there isn't a place to rest elbows.

I generally sit more splay-legged, and that might be more comfy.

However, you could also think of the curve-back chairs as being like "corner chairs". You don't sit splay-legged in a corner chair. You have TWO choices on which direction to face. You have your legs dangling and your body facing off of one edge OR off the other edge.

The table's a square. This means everyone gets their own side of the table (instead of a corner), and their chair has ONE arm to rest upon, and one side to get out of. Rather than pulling the chair out from the corner, you pull it out from a SIDE.

But keep it towards one corner, so that each person has area. Not facing directly across from each other. I don't know if this is making sense, but if you need me to, I could draw a picture.

Thanks, Lori 2! Hope you had a great trip! BTW, I'm sure I'm not the only one anxiously awaiting pics of your place. You've made progress since our last email exchange, yes?

Note to BP re: "How to Uncrypt my bathroom?" I stayed at the Clift Hotel in SF this weekend and had a guestroom with the bathroom I described on your Good Questions thread. I took 4 snapshots and posted them on the AT:LA Flickr site for your reference. http://la.apartmenttherapy.com/

Did anyone come up with the link to the IKEA similar fusion table picture? I do not like the sark color if the ikea one and love the style...only preference for blonde or white

I bought a set of Ikea Kvadrant (sliding) curtain rods. They'd be great for light to medium weight curtains, but they were a no-go for thick/heavy velvet curtains. I bought 8 of the rods, 13 of the wall-mount (L-shaped) brackets and hundreds of the little sliders that attach to the curtains. If anyone wants a great deal on the lot, please contact me!