apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I'm planning on making a wall-hanging tonight w/ some Merimekko upholstry fabric i just got.

I have the stretcher bars (44" x 48") and the staple gun. Anyone have any suggestions for me to make sure i don't totally screw it up?

-kellen

Kellen.

Yes.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/guest-posts/guest-post-how-to-stretch-a-canvas-006019

Does anyone have any recommendations for a reasonably priced, but licensed and insured electrician (co-op rules) who tackles mini-jobs in Brooklyn Heights? We need some track lighting installed (replacing existing recessed lights), a few switches replaced with dimmers and one or two switches relocated to adjacent walls. I've gotten good estimates from a few craigslist guys but most of them are licensed, but not insured for "side work" and I just can't risk the wrath of the board or a potential problem down the line since we really have no idea what condition the wiring is in inside the ceiling - we assume it's fine since we've had no problems, but you never know! Looking to keep everything in the $500 range - am I dreaming? Anyone have a recommendation?

GREAT condition couch, I found this on CL and I know I wouldn't want it (too girly) but wow, for this price too?

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/fur/197284852.html

In Boston.

While I'm here, here's another issue that I've yet to find a cheap solution to. We have a very old and very ugly intercom box. It's the co-op's standard issue from many many years ago and it's in all of the apartments. In our apartment, however, it was installed in the most inconvenient and awkward spot imaginable, seemingly for no good reason. It's a protruding beige box with a phone handset and a small video screen. It works (usually), but we really want to replace it with something less obtrusive, more modern and move it to someplace more convenient. Suggestions on how to even begin and where to look/who to call would be greatly appreciated!

Hello everyone... so i read this space as much as everyone else and find that many of us are residing in the Clinton Hill Co-ops. Just wondering if anyone has done any major renovations and what challenges have occured. I would LOVE to gut that bathroom and get rid of all the awful metal door frames that don't have doors on them. oh and the kitchens... why! why do they leave us with the off-the-shelf Home Depots?!

anyways... just thought i'd shout out to the rest - g from 193

laurie,

check this out for ideas:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/house-tours/microinside-out-roberts-labor-of-love-continues-011753

I really did not know where to go with my complaint so.....

I purchased a medicine cabinet from LEESAM on 7th Ave., NYC. The cabinet did not fit($300) and the owner wanted me to tell him what to do with the too large cabinet: he was moving that weekend and said he no longer sold bathroom supplies. I felt he could have returned it to the manufacturer, I was willing to split the COST of the cabinet. He said he would try to
sell it, I left the cabinet at the store and have heard nothing. My credit card company can not resolve it

I should have double checked the measurements before I left the store but I did not. The owner is not at all pleasant to deal with under the best of circumstances.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Susan, we had the exact same experience with Leesam and a cabinet that wouldn't fit our bathroom. Yes, yes, I should have checked measurements, but the guy was all, "you can mount this anywhere." When we went back to try to return it (we couldn't find the original receipt at that point), he claimed they did not have a return policy and tried to get us to leave it with him to try to sell it--even though the store was moving in 3 days. We held on to it, figuring we'd either find a way to make it work or sell it on Craigslist. Ended up cutting a hole in the bottom to accommodate a pipe--it's not at all noticeable unless you open the cabinet, but I'd rather have had it perfect. Anyway, we ended up finding the receipt a few days later, and lo and behold, it stated clearly that merchandise could be returned for store credit. At that point, we were just glad we wouldn't ever have to talk to that guy again.

I don't really have any advice (the Better Business Bureau? That weird guy on the local news who goes after bad businesses?), but wanted to let you know you're not the only one who has been screwed over by the highly unpleasant people at Leesam.

kellen -

If you tilt the staple gun 45 degress or so when stapling, the staples will be easy to pull out, for your first attempts. I made my first attempt at stretching a marimekko wall hanging a while ago. While the back certainly reveals that the job was not done by a professional, all the parts that actually show when it's hanging on the wall look good. Good luck!

Thanks Anita, I am e-mailing the lovely David all that I put on the internet and will contact the BBB.


Susan

Wall Street Journal favors smaller spaces (sort of).

Today's Getting Going column does a back-of-the-envelope calculation that as far as saving for retirement, buying the most house you can afford and selling at retirement to release the equity YIELDS LESS MONEY than buying the least house you can stand and putting your money in treasury bonds or something. (Can't link to it because the site uses paid memberships.)

NYC residents will think the sample numbers are ridiculously low; Midwesterners will think they're ridiculously high; and I think the market's going to plummet, so I'm not buyin' anything. But it's an interesting analysis as far as it goes.

Hi again Anita,

I just received an email from David, I sent him the stuff I put on the internet; this may work He said a lot of stuff but seemed willing to discuss the situation, God Bless the internet.


Thanks again,

Susan

Good luck, Susan--glad to know the internet threat may give you some leverage. Wish I'd thought of that before.

2 things:

1. Susan: i like to go in stores and scream at the manager, frightening other customers away until I get what I want. I am 100% serious

2. The rest of you: i think i am depressed and hate myself

i have a small rug (2'x3') that i bought in india a few years ago. i'd like to get it cleaned and restored back to its original vibrant colors. anyone have any nyc suggestions about where to bring it? can it just be dry cleaned? i'm afraid to ruin it. thanks!

Jonathan,
Shrinks--heard of them?
Look into it.