apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

ooh am I first! yay!

OK, I need advice on how to re-vamp an not-so-old (35 years) antique chest of drawers I bought. It is painted a light creamish-whitish color with bronze detailing. The paint finish is a bit dingy and yellowed from age. I'd prefer the finish to be a true, brighter white.

Any recommendation on cleaning up the finish without repainting? And if I must repaint any advice on how/whether it is possible to do so inside my 650 s.f. apartment without making a royal mess?

New Yorkers, please check in! Apparently the explosion was caused by a gas leak.

If the chest is 35 years old, yellowish-white may be the brightest the paint ever was. With bronze detailing, that was a popular French Provincial color circa 1970.

(Yes, I'm regretting having dumped cheap FP sconces we found in a closet back East, having seen similar painted bright white in Urban Outfitters' window yesterday.)

Danae - Just try traditional cleaning methods first. There's a product called Soilax you can get at the hardware store that's good for painted surfaces. Use a toothbrush for crevices. Remove hardware.
If it does come to repainting, just own the mess and ventilate.

Soilax is a great product, but it smells like a litter box overdue for a cleaning. Don't use too much, and open the windows!

Anybody have experience with Crate and Barrell beds? I'm thinking about the Collette.I want to make sure construction is very good quality and am willing to spend more if I need to. Just think the Collette is purty.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a mirrored folding screen? I saw two different ones at Z Gallerie the other day. One is too expensive (and a bit ornate), the other is ok, but not great.

I am also open to suggestions for other kinds of screens. I generally don't like screens, but I decided it would be practical to have one in my bedroom to make better use of my space.

The expensive, ornate one is linked to my name. Z Gallerie didn't have the one I like better on the website (more simple).

Welcome back, P2! We missed you!

Yeah Wende, FP in bright white is exactly what I am going for. Of course when I started thinking about this theme I felt like I was being unique, but alas! some 6 months later I find I was really just pre-empting what Urban outfitters had already had in the works.

But yes I know that the chest was not originally a bright white, but even for a cream or off-white it is a bit dingy. I have tried washing/wiping with a dishwashing liquid solution but the dinginess remains. I will try with the recommended 'soilax' product (Thanks Sharon).

Anyone know of a way to 'bleach' or lighten the existing color? I was tempted to just try rubbing Clorox on it, but I was afraid I would damage the finish terribly.

(Danae, just think of it as the zeitgeist going your way. Your instincts are in line with the spirit of the times.)

Sharon, I don't have experience with C&B beds, but I bought a bed from cb2 a month ago. Since it's the same company, I think the quality might be comparable. I've got the City Block bed and absolutely love it. It's very sturdy, looks great and was easy to assemble by myself. Delivery wasn't expensive ($60) and they came right on time. Hope this helps.

I woke up this morning just feeling very discouraged. I looked at the pen holder on our desk at home and it was overflowing with pens and it just sent me over the edge! I hate clutter and I feel like I'm constantly throwing things out, but I still feel like there is never enough space and things keep building up. I'm just looking for some encouragement.

Matilda - Start with the pen holder. Take them all out and throw away the ones you don't like. If there are still too many for the holder, put a rubberband around the extras and put them away somewhere. Move to other things near the pen holder until the desktop is in order. That'll give you some quick satisfaction. If you've still got time, go on to the desk drawers. Good luck!

What kills me about decluttering is that the EXACT shoes I wore in 1980 are now all over the stores, with designer names and designer price tags. If I'd actually kept everything I ever owned, I'd have a fabulous wardrobe and be trendier than the celebs. Bleh.

That's not what Matilda wanted to hear. Clean out your pen cup, and you'll feel better. I should do a whole bunch of those little tasks today.

Hey Wende, that's not fair. You can't make a post like that and not post a link to the shoe.

I know you said shoes but the epitome of 80's footwear for me was the pixie boot (at least in England):
http://tinyurl.com/q4pzg

Of course, how could I forget white leather court shoes - which is again what we called them in England.
http://tinyurl.com/l6zeu

jamie pup, please tell us you didn't wear those shoes! ;-)

Sorry, to be on topic for a moment.
I was browsing mocoloco and saw a link to simplehuman (from which I have bought the butterfly trash can which was great until the damping cog broke) whereupon I found this handy dandy grocery bag/trash can holder/dispenser:
http://www.simplehuman.com/products/recycling-solutions/cabinet-mount-trash-system.html

For ppl that use grocery bags for their trash by hanging them on a kitchen door pull (my MIL) this would seem to be ideal.

However, don't those bags have holes in them to stop ppl from suffocating if they sitck their heads inside them? I must admit I don't recall seeing ooze dripping from the MIL's bags but she does take them to the trash chute frequently.

Um, can we please be glad that we aren't in the 80's anymore?

Wende, please be happy you don't own 80's shoes anymore.

'cmon jimkk, it was the 80's. I tried every look going!

regarding decluttering -- sometimes you have to grab a garbage bag and just start throwing things away. pick out 2 or 3 black pens, a couple in other colors, a few pencils, etc. and toss the rest. put anything that isn't a pen or pencil somewhere else.

i feel the same way, by the way. it just multiplies. the weird thing is that i go between feeling like i've thrown out way too much, and then a week later feeling like there's just too goddamn much clutter. totally schizo.

regarding 80's shoes -- just remember that when they bring something back, they do change it a little bit in ways that are sort of imperceptible through the fog of time. you'd end up tossing your old neon-yellow converse high tops in favor of the newer safety-orange version, and then feeling like an idiot for keeping them so long. for instance right now i'm noticing that even though clothes with an 80's cut are in, the color palate is much more 60's/70's oriented.

Help! We're trying to install a custom-length closet pole and can't seem to find a place where to go to get one cut to an exact length (39" in this case). There are adjustable poles for sale at Lowes and Home Depot, but they require a hideous bracket to be placed in the center of the pole for stability. Can anyone recommend a source for closet poles that can be cut to an exact length? (We are in NYC.) Thanks!

I would think any local lumber store would have it, or cut it for you if you buy one at HD or Lowes that is too large. Just look for a hardware store that says "we cut wood to size" (or ,sweetly, in a Fifth Avenue/Brooklyn window - "we cut wood to THE size")

Deborah, I got all my custom closet poles at a hardware store in Chinatown, on Walker, either between Broadway and Church or Broadway and Lafayette - on the north side. I think they are called Chinatown building supplies.

They have two thicknesses of chrome tubing that look like 1" and 1.75" and also carry the end pieces for securing them to the closet walls.

Lengths are something like 4', 6' and 8' but they won't cut the pieces for you. However, you can do it easily yourself with a hacksaw as long as you can clamp the tube to something like a saw horse or maybe even a table with a G clamp.

ClosetMaid trash bag hangers are less than $5 and use those plastic grocery bags. Just install under the kitchen sink to hide those hideous plastic bags :)

If aesthetics aren't an issue, go to Home Depot or Lowes and have them cut galvanized pipe to the length you need. It's incredibly strong.

Sharon,
I have the Crate & Barrel Colette bed and I love it! It's very sturdy and I was surprised how quickly the delivery guys put it together.

I would make a blanket statement about the (good) quality of ALL C&B furniture, from the Furniture collection. All made by really reputable suppliers like Mitchell Gold and Baronet.

But be aware that C&B also has furniture sold through the "non-furniture" part of the store, and this stuff takes a little bit of a step towards West Elm/Ikea quality (some is Assembly Required). BUt I think that bed is part of their "real" furniture section, so I say buy happily with confidence.

But I am a C&B apostle!!

Danae, a solution of half bleach/water painted on with a brush (spray will create mottling, spotting) will bleach your piece to a whiter color. The brush should not be dripping wet so before using it, run it against a hard edge to prevent dripping. If you have runs, those areas will be lighter. Let the solution dry. I had success bleaching a painted surface using this method; however, I would think it varies, depending on the type of paint original to the piece, but it's an easy fix, worth trying.

Earlier chris (nyc) wrote:

----------
>
> FYI-
> I'm selling a few things on Craig's List right now. I was hoping
> there would be a Scavenger post today I could get them listed
> on (HINT, HINT):
>
> There's a great modern liquor cart (could also just be a table
> on wheels), and some fabulous modern plant pots that are
> priced at a steal. Some other stuff. Check it out:
>
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/fur/179644942.html
>
> (you can also get a little sneak-peak at our new bamboo
> floors, and granite kitchen floor. :-)
>
----------

Geraldine grabbed the mini-stereo (Anne was too late).

Everything else is still here.

Sorry for the shameless (and re-posted) self promotion.

Patrick,

How do you know what is from the "non furniture" part of the store when you have to order from online because we do not have a Crate and Barrel?

Just curious?

You do recommend their furniture though?

Patrick and anyone else,

What do you think of the CB2 furniture quality?

And the mini-stereo sounds great! Sorry Anne.

Hi! I have a question about sofa wear. My husband and I purchased Room & Board's Eugene sofa several months ago. After three (!) different Eugenes coming in and out of our apartment for one reason or another (upholstery staples sticking out all over, exposed seams, and the last one, upholstered in two different fabrics!) we were finally shipped one that was not 'defective'. (For the record, our customer service exerience was impeccable!)

We've had the sofa for about three months now and it looks like it's been through the mill! The cushions look like we've spent the last 90 days jumping on them, when really the only traffic they've seen is 2 to 3 hours of nighttime tv-watching. I thought the floor model would serve as a fairly good barometer for wear, they see far more traffic than my living room, and *those* cushions still seemed...plump. I know it's one of their less expensive sofas (@ $1099) am I just experiencing the crappy manufacturing? Anyone else have this sofa? Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Following up on Sharon's question, does anyone have any experience with the Crate & Barrel ready to assemble beds. How hard are they to assemble? I think their Furniture Colection (the Collette is part of that line) is beautiful but outside my budget. I'm looking for something like the Ellis Bed or the bisect bed from CB2. Any suggestions for manufacturers of beds in the $400-600 range? Would I be better off waiting a little longer and investing more? How much does an extra couple hundred dollars make in a bed frame (this is my first "real" bed I'm purchasing -- I'm giving up the futon, finally)?
Thanks.

Chris, no shame -- I got an awesome cocktail table by visiting AT daily -- it was on ebay, a pix was showcased on AT/Chicago (I believe)! I think it's a great venue for great finds!!

I live in a rented apartment and would like to refurbish my kitchen countertops with some new laminates (not very elegant, but I'm looking for a low-cost alternative to the 70s-era gold-flecked atrocity currently on display). Does anyone know of a good source for buying laminates? It would seem like it'd be the easiest material to find, but I haven't had any luck in person or on-line. At the Home Depot in Manhattan, they seem to carry only 4 patterns, and don't have anything in stock. Online, I checked HD as well as Lowe's, to no avail. Any ideas? Thanks!

Jamiepup that's a great find! I wish my local Target carried more simplehuman products. Looks like I will have to order this one.

Lori 2,

Re mirrored floor screen. Take a look at
Finalist #8 of the Coolest Apt Contest, "Hakarl and Jili's Bold Bright Moves." In the comments of their entry/slideshow, they tell how they made the wonderful mirrored screens they use to hide their clothing, a closet of sorts. The screen is very clean-lined, simple, may be the look you're after.

Sandra,
That sounds awful! I've had my sofa now about 7 or 8 months or so (not from room and board), and my cushions--though "settled"--still look plump. have you talked to the Room and Board people about it?

Grrrr Geraldine - I was so hopeful until I heard you got the stereo. Hope you're enjoying it!

louise wrote:
> Chris, no shame -- I got an awesome cocktail table
> by visiting AT daily -- it was on ebay, a pix was
> showcased on AT/Chicago (I believe)! I think it's a
> great venue for great finds!!

Good, then I will feel no shame in posting another listing for all you D.I.Y.ers out there.

THREE TOOL BOXES PRICED TO SELL:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/tls/180597543.html

Cheers,
Chris

CC--
On the C&B website, the furniture is identified as either "Furniture Collection" or "Ready to Assemble."

I love Crate & Barrel, and love their furniture.
The Ready to Assemble line is indeed a bit of a step down from the Collection, but priced accordingly.

I vote yes on all things C&B. And when at the Short Hills Mall location, ask for Troy.

Hey hey Short Hills Mall, what's up Jersey!

Does anyone have any experience with Benjamin Moore's Ambiance? I'm thinking about painting my low (80") ceilings with it; the rest of the walls in the apartment are light shades of greens and blues.
Thanks!

Thanks for all the CB bed comments. I feel much more confident now.
Sarah - save your money for a better bed later. Put what you've got into the best mattress you can afford, a cheap box spring (replacable later if you buy a bed that isn't a platform) and a plain metal frame. Dress with great linens.
And where's the guy who was asking about sofabeds because he thought he couldn't build in a murphy? There's a portable one on scavenger for $1!! Where is he??

Good morning!

My husband and are in need of a hand. We have a wonderful roof deck up in Harlem, but the wall that is partly attached to the next building is a bit low (4 ft). The neighborhood boys have jumped over one too many times for comfort. We would like to build the wall up a bit (actually, build some pillars and use copper plumbing tubes to create a fence that isn't too fence-y). Any suggestions for masons? Everyone I call doesn't call back or says the job is too small.

Thanks for the help!

Glad you like it dc.
I have looked at the others that are available such as the closetmaid one linked above but the thing that simplehuman seems to do with a lot of their stuff is take an existing product and make it work better. Apple is an example of a company that does this well.

The closet maid version does not have storage for the bags and does not seem to open very wide. If someone's budget allows only for $5 then I guess the closet maid version will do but I would spring for the simplehuman version because it looks so much more usfeul and easier to use.

KS--don't have mason advice, but could you do some lattice-esque treatment to the existing wall, and build it up that way? A DIY fix?

Looking for some help on studio design! My boyfriend and I recently moved into a brand new studio (525 square feet) with one side being a row of floor to ceiling windows. My boyfriend would like to put up a wall to separate the bedroom from the living room. It is a small place so we have to be creative about this. What he is suggesting is a wall with doors on each side (sliding panel doors). This way, if both doors are open, there is 1) access to the bathroom and 2) the visual of whole row of windows remains in tact. He is considering having the panel doors be of clear glass. I am not at all crazy about the clear door concept, it seems odd to me. I am more in favor of white doors that blend in with the wall, and when closed it appears like a full wall. My bf believes the clear doors are more stylish. Thoughts?? Thank you!

Sarah, like I said before, I bought a CB2 city block bed and had to assemble it myself. It was very easy to do: screw the frame together and put the wooden slats in. Took me about an hour. While some people might argue that one is better off waiting until one is able to afford an expensive bed, I was sick of the boxspring-mattress-on-metal-frame look. I knew I wanted a bed for the next two years, and CB2 fit the bill. So I guess it all depends on what your long-term plans are. :)

Hi, I have friends that live in a studio about that size with a whole wall of windows too (not floor to ceiling, but whatever). Anyway they put the bed at an angle by the back wall and made a visual separation by usink two of those Ikea shelving units (I forget what they are called, but they are a bunch of squares and cost $99 and have baskets that fit in each square if you want that. It works really, really well. Just something to consider.

Oh Jamie pup, forgot to mention that I hardly ever get grocery bags that have holes in them. I've seen the ones you mentioned with the holes but those were far and few in between.

Sharon, I have had nothing but good experiences with Crate and Barrel's cheaper subsidiary CB2. The bed I bought from them (the bisect) http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=400&f=1935 is very sturdy, and the quality looks top notch. Had an AMAZING delivery experience. I asked for them to deliver at 7 or 7:30am, they came right on time and was really quick (I ordered all my bedroom furniture from them). They were very respectful and careful of my condo walls and floors. Best delivery experience ever.

Hey Louise-

Thanks for the response about my question on a mirrored folding screen! Their apt is actually my favorite from the contest. Glad you reminded me about it!

Coincidentally, I just did a huge DIY project to frame a large pastel of a flower for my bedroom (86 x 40) - which is similar to theirs (sort of).

What they did for the closet is a great idea and using doors might be perfect for me. Now I have to decide if I am up for another big DIY undertaking. My mom was in town last week and showed me how to build the frame. She is the ultimate DIYer and I have to decide if it would be better to just shell out the bucks for something in a store rather than dealing with multiple trips to home depot, calling a van, spending a couple of weekends getting it done, etc...

Thanks for the bleaching tips Louise, did you do anything to reseal the surface after application of the solution? It is a chest of drawers so it won't see heavy action but I was wondering if application of furniture wax or polish would help/hurt the paint post cleanup.

Christine (the one in DC)-

thanks for the DYI lattice thought. we looked into that idea (and any other DYI we could think of - more suggestions are welcome!)and decided against it. the wall has an an awful looking plaster molding on top that needs to be removed in order for anything to lie flat against it. plus, it gets pretty windy up here - the lattice would have to be bolted down securely. that's another reason for a wall build-up: less wind.

Sharon,
I was the one in search for a good murphy bed or sofa bed solution. Unfortunately, I'm still apartment hunting so won't be able to buy anything for about a month!
(aslo, i'm a SHE).
Cheers,
Darlyn

Franny -
I think it sounds KIND of like you want some thing that's like sliding patio doors in the middle of your apartment, right?

What about a compromise between white and clear -- like maybe some version of frosted or somewhat bubbled? Would let light through, but not have to commit to white forever?

Jamie Pup-

I'm way too late on this thread but I can assure you my mates back in England swear those white court shoes (worn by Essex girls in my day) were back in fashion a few years ago. That and those batwing sweaters!

Darlyn -
By the way, if you have a van or a friend with one, it looks like in the "Scavenger" section, there's a Craig's List for a Murphy bed that someone is trying to get rid of just for you carting it off! If you have somewhere you can store it until you get your apartment, you're golden. And if you don't love the one in the picture, what have to lose by getting it, seeing how you like it and then eventually getting rid of it and/or getting one you like better?

Anyway... I just gotta say that I love mine, and seriously it uses a regular mattress, although no box springs. You just have to keep in mind that you can't use those new high pillow-top kind.

Reef, batwing sweaters appeared at J.Crew two or three years ago. I bought a couple when they got remaindered for $3, an experience that has convinced me to bury that fashion on the ash-heap of history.

Pixie boots, though, I could go for. I'm a huge fan of kitten heels.