apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Has anyone else been watching the new Matt James' (the English "City Gardner") show "Urban Outsiders" on HGTV? This new series has him doing gardens in the U.S. I have generally loved his designs in the past and was hoping for more of the same inspiration. So I was rather disappointed by comparison with the new condo terrace in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn on last week's episode. There have been a few critiques of the episode over on Brownstoner.com as well.

Less than one week until I move to NY! I'm determined to get new bedding for my new apartment. I've already decided on a duvet from Dwell ('Silhouette'). But, I don't know if I should get the matching sheets (210 TC Egyptian Cotton), or instead use the money to get higher thread count sheets on Overstock.com. Anyone have experience with Dwell bedding? Or bought sheets from Overstock? (If so, which ones?) And are you happy with them? (Softness, Appearance)?
Thanks!

Darlyn-
I gave my parents high thread count sheets from Overstock one Christmas. The sheets were very soft in the package, and my parents haven't complained. From what I can tell, the sheets on Overstock are one of the better values that website offers.

jimkk,

I too have previously loved his designs but have found the last couple of episodes in his new show aren't as exciting. There's too much repetition of overscale plant pots and identical plants. I love modern mass plantings but there is just not enough variety of plantings or design for it to be interesting. Perhaps the homeowners are asking for low maintenance design? That being said, I'd swap one of his designs for my overgrown wooded backyard in a heartbeat!

Does anyone have any ideas as to the the most efficient way to sell a house full of furniture? Doe you hire an esatate broker to sell things off?

Thanks again everyone,

Susan

Reef, I think you may have hit the nail on the head. I recall most of the U.S. homeowners asking for low maintenance and not truly being gardners in the tradition of many English. The first several episodes were also all in California and often under water restrictions. Unfortunately its all fantasy for me as I have no terrace or garden at all.

I need your opinion, AT people! Are letters in... or out? The classic (pottery barn motif) letters that spell things out... usually cheesey things like "dream" or "coffee."

What do you think? In? Out? Doesn't matter if you like it?

Anyone know the proper way to dispose of latex paint in NYC? I have about 5 cans, each a different color and 1/4 - 1/2 full.
Thanks.

Can someone let me know where in NYC or Brooklyn I can find interior doors that are frosted glass suitable for bedrooms. I would like a frosted glass interior door as opposed to the traditional wood door because I think it would allow light to filter throughout the apartment while still maintaining privacy. Please let me know if anyone has any info on this.

Thanks!

Matt, not sure if this helps but we had two recent threads about letters where ppl were quite forthright in their opinions:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/good-questions/good-questions-one-letter-or-many-011104

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/good-questions/good-questions-how-to-make-modern-and-clean-es-011715

For getting rid of paint take a look at the NYC Dept. of Sanitation instructions at:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dsny/html/faq/dispose_n-s.shtml

I had to do this a few weeks ago. Just mixed it with kitty litter and threw that out with the normal trash.

Does anyone have some advice on creating good shower configuration? We are trying to get our products online from different sources -- hoping for a lefroy/brooks thermostatic contral (zu), and are trying to decide whether to go with:
1) a regular sort of wall-mounted showerhead only;
2) a rain shower head (lefroy? boffi?), combined with a hand-held shower. If the latter, do we need a diverter for the hand shower? Who does a good hand shower (don't want a small wand-style!)?

Any recommendations??

jimkk,

I guess I'm one English girl who doesn't enjoy gardening, or perhaps it's the fact that my buggy, overgrown wooded backyard is so intimidating and it takes all my energy just to keep the weeds under control!

Reef, just like learning to gauge temp in F instead of C or calling a tap a faucet or valve (depending on application) did you find that referring to your garden as a yard was a little bit disconcerting at first?

BTW, I cannot tell the temp in C now and left England before you bought petrol in Litres so I only know gallons also. I see distances on road signs are still in miles though.

Jamie Pup,

You're absolutely right. A yard to me meant one full of poured concrete. While we were house hunting our realtor would look troubled everytime I asked her what the garden looked like. I think she thought I was searching for something you would find at the back of a mansion!

The oddest thing I had to get used to in Manhattan was people greeting me with the phrase, "what's up?" For the longest time I couldn't get my head around that and thought they were asking me whether I was ill or sad.

Ha! Nice to see I was not alone in that.

I'm not aware with all these stuffs. It's my dear husband who deals with it.I'm more on the supervisory role..=)
But when it comes to our car, I'm the boss,from its exterior to interior design and parts,with the kind of Audi Q7 CV Joint to buy,etc.
Seems to be ironic,but that's our case...