apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

OK, this is a little late for cleaning month, and it may have been discussed elsewhere. But I want to know something rather mundane - how do you all clean your kitchen floors?

It seems like mine are always dirty - I cook often and rather, um, energetically, apparently - and they are white ceramic tile. Also, it's the rainy season and it's hard to keep the mud out.

It seems like mops just push the dirt around, even after I've swept thoroughly. Swiffer makes the floor shiny, but isn't great for actual dirt, and something in me rises up in rebellion against buying into their whole system. Lately I've been resorting to the hands-knees-spray cleaner-sponge method.

Any tips?

I know this has been asked a thousand times, but as I'm trying to re-do my 7x7 kitchen, I need a contractor. It's really all about laying a new floor and de/installing cabinets...no construction & no plumbing. Where does anyone find a reliable one in Manhattan that isn't going to ask for my first born as payment. I too have gone thru the Home Depot hell and need to look elsewhere.

Thanks

Faith, I use a swiffer, sorry...

Joe, Maybe check out that Juan guy from the West 22nd street place? Search in the archives under services for his eval. I had a good contractor but he only does big jobs.

P(too) a while ago you asked how I found my designers. My mother used them for her home. She found them by sheer luck through the builder who sold them their house 30 years ago.

And btw, for regular readers, my apartment is nearly done. The expensive rug looks awesome but not as awesome as the two other Tibetan rugs that we picked up 80 percent off at Odegaard's biannual sale. The full-price one is nice but the discounted ones I *love!* And that is not a coincidence!

And here's a question of my own. Why is tabletop either ridiculously impractical (leather place mats) or disgustingly chintzy (wicker everywhere at crate & barrel). anyone have a suggestion for modern table mats? i'd prefer something that wipes off.

Someone posted not long ago about an interesting movie about houses, called "Home Movie." Just wanted to give a heads-up that it's on the current IFC (Independent Film Channel) schedule. (Haven't seen it yet; I think I'm TIVOing it today.)

Faith - Joan Crawford would absolutely brain me, but I swear -- after I had my non-glazed-tile floor installed OVER a year ago, I was told that I should put a grout seal over not just the grout but the whole floor, and I didn't and still haven't!

So, I've swept from time to time, and I cook SO little, that I haven't really dropped anything on it, so I haven't HAD mop, but now I'm kind of afraid to mop it, because I'm afraid that the dirt will turn to mud, and seep into the grout and remain permanently! So, I'm kind of wondering what I should clean mine with before I actually finally try to put that stuff on it.

However, to answer your question ... in my own place, I did tend to just use spray cleaner. But my old place was so small (and again, I practically never cook), I didn't even NEED a sponge; a handful of paper towels was sufficient.

I just REALLY couldn't (and still can't quite) justify the space to hang a mop -- plus a hanging mop is just gross, I'll probably eventually give into some version of that west Swiffer thing; I like the dry version for the other floors. I like the way you can totally disassemble them for storage.

faith - in my (limited) experience, i haven't really found anything that works better than the mopping-on-hands-and-knees method, b/c as you pointed out the other methods seem to just push the dirt around. my guess is that traditional long-handled mopping works best when done really frequently, maybe even daily, so that dirt doesn't have a chance to build up too much? so it would boil down to a choice between frequent light cleaning (standing) or infrequent heavy-duty cleaning (hands-knees). if there's a better third alternative, i'd also love to know.

cristy - yes, i have the exact same complaint about placemats and have been searching in vain for wipe-off mats. they seem to fall into 2 style categories--"kute kiddie kartoons" or "summer patio dining in fun popsicle colors". ikea had some that were okay (depending on your decor) but they weren't quite wide enough to be practical for me. here's the link--
www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=12&productId=43747&langId=-1&parentCats=10118*13770

the picture makes it look like it has black stripes, but the stripes are actually shiny steel on a matte steel background (if i recall correctly). ikea has other wipe-off type mats too, but they're pretty much all of the fun! bright! popsicle! variety.

i posted this yesterday at the end of the last open thread, so i hope people don't mind if i post it again here. (btw, thanks patrick(too) & orangered for the feedback!) here's my original post--

some furniture-savvy person please, PLEASE help me out! i saw a couple armchairs on craigslist that i thought looked promising--i don't like the mustard-yellow fabric, but i do like the overall lines of the chairs. can anyone i.d. this style for me? and would it be prohibitively expensive to recover (reupholster?) them? any advice/opinions would be MUCH appreciated, thanks!

www.craigslist.org/pen/fur/77284373.html

cristy--
congrats on your house progress!

If you can get past the word "plynyl", Chilewich has some placemats that might do the trick..
www.chilewich.com/

Re placemats - I have this idea but I haven't tested it so I don't know if it will work. Why not take some fabric or wrapping paper or something like that & get it laminated? Kinco's or some place like that should be able to do it. So you could get custom placemats as sophisticated as you want. Would this work?

sooj, why was p(too)'s approval not enough for you. I thought it would be so I didn't post. Yes! buy buy buy! they're awesome and you love them! I like P(too)'s idea of a boucle fabric, in any case something light and fresh. I'm seeing a flowery abstract beige and light brown pattern...

will check out placemat suggestions. laminating wrapping paper might cause trouble at the edge. I wouldn't want that ugly edge... but it's a good though and worth exploring. Might be cool to put in an interesting fabric actually. hmmmm...

oh i see you suggested fabric Janice. sorry, am running out and not reading (or writing) very well.

sooj - yeah, the swiffer thing seems to be the same - great if you use it every day, but not so great for weekly or monthly mopping. My old roommate swore by them, and they are admittedly fun to use, but I resist!! ;-)

The mop version of the Roomba, though, which is supposed to come out soon, I would certainly forgo my anti-marketing wariness for that!

I totally agree about placemats. There's some interesting black bamboo ones at Uncommon Goods (www.uncommongoods.com/item/item.jsp?itemId=11971) Also, these are kind of in the bright zone, but - v005u40net.maximumasp.com/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=194

That last place, Living Quarters, is local to Orlando and has lots of placemats that are modern (and wipe-able), but they don't seem to be listed on their site. If you like linen at all, maybe for special occasions, jansdotter.com and inleafdesign.com both have beautiful, contemporary designs.

I'm having the same problem with tablecloths. My table needs a cloth - it's ugly - and, as everyone knows by now, my kitchen has a vintage thing going on. But tablecloths are so expensive, and get dirty so fast! I really want one of Lotta Jansdotter's. But hard to find lower-priced stuff that doesn't look stuffy.

me the first - that was me who recommended that movie! enjoy - i LOVED it! keep and eye out for "future guy" and his strange little friend - i actually think i saw her in a hidden valley ranch commercial the other day! let me know what you think!

(horror-stricken gasp) i in no way meant to imply that p(too)'s approval wasn't "enough"! my apologies. actually, i was also hoping someone could give me a rough idea of how much i should be prepared to spend for a reupholstering job on these, so that i won't be making the decision blind. i literally have NO experience in this area...

idea for placemats- i haven't done this, but thought of it while reading the posts. what about just buying a yard (or however much you need) of oil cloth? the fabric backing will make it stay in place on your table, the front is easily wiped/cleaned, you can cut the edges flat or use pinking shears or something, and the edges don't fray... it would be easy, cheap, and some oil cloths are beautilicious!

faith--
I think your vintage hankerings and desire for a wipeable surface points to oilcloth... I think it is still available, and had made a mild resurgance somewhere back a bit...

(ah, ali, you beat me to the oilcloth punch!)

hey, sooj--
Yeah, jeez, wasn't my endorsement enough?!?!? KIDDING.

Regarding price, I think you may expect to pay anywhere from $185-300 per chair, plus the cost of fabric, maybe even lower. Check your trusty Yellow Pages for local upholsterers if you are not NYC-based. If you are, there's reupholstery info archived here on AT. But snap those puppies up... PAIRS of chairs, especially ones that you love, are RARE.

Faith - thanks for the link to Uncommon Goods. What a nifty store! I've bookmarked it for future purchases.

check out these swatches http(colon)//oilcloth.com/swatches.php

i remember seeing a martha stewart article about making lunch bags out of oilcloth, maybe someday i'll feel super crafty and make one.

I hate swiffers. The dry ones don't work, and the wet ones reek of chemicals (and don't even work that well). I have to second sooj...standing mopping works if done frequently, but the only real way to clean is to get down on your knees and scrub.

OK. You've all made me feel better about my desperate little routine of 409 spray on my knees, with a wasteful wad of paper towels in my hand. Nothing like a good clean kitchen.

I will look at oilcloth - good idea - even if a lot of it is way too bright for me. Some crafty girls at buyolympia.com make great little lunch bags out of it too. (www.buyolympia.com/q/sid=944539636/Item=dos_lorraine)

Yeah - that's a fun store, Anne. I bought stuff from there for work last summer, and found their markup on certain things not nearly as high as, say, Chiasso. Have you seen elsewares.com? They have some great stuff too.

I use the Hoover FloorMate floor cleaner and I love it. It's got its quirks (but then what doesn't?) but overall I've been very happy with it. However, it takes up the space of a regular upright vaccuum cleaner so I can see why no one has brought it up yet.

RE Cleaning. Does anyone use those steamer cleaners? They were getting a lot of attention a year or so ago and I wonder if they're any good.

I have a 36" round table, and I liked the idea of round placemats for it, so I bought those ones from Crate and Barrel, and they're kind of nice, but you're right! They're some basket-y woven-ish thing and if anything besides crumbs gets on them, they'll have to go to Fresh-Kills-du-jour.

But mainly they're not great for me because on that small of a table they have to overlap! Not crazy about that. Will probably just forget it, since the glass table-top kind of makes them not that necessary anyway.

Re making wipe-able fabric placemats, I think the fabric stores still sell that iron-on clear vinyl which would be cheaper that taking stuff to a Kinko's, etc. to laminate - plus, you can add other flat items, etc. to form a collage of sorts if you'd like.

As for table clothes, I haunt church rummage sales to get those vintage graphic ones (nowhere near as pricey as what some "vintage" shops are charging for the same thing - and usually better condition). I also like to get unusual bed sheets to cut up for table linens - lots of yardage at little cost.

Libby (tightwad today - can you tell my tiny tax refund has run dry?)

oilcloth.com/swatches.php

...ooooh! I like the idea of using the chalk cloth for something cool...

on a completely unrelated matter...

i have a wall in my apartment that is painted brown (benjamin moore "sauted mushroom"). i love it, think it looks great, and so do most people who see it. im lucky because i have a great apartment to work with. i seem to have inspired a friend to do the same and she is seeking my help/advice. she's thinking about some kind of taupe-y color, and i really want to help her pick it out, but i dont want to steer her in the wrong direction. i read the 'color 101' piece which was helpful, but i'd love any input from you all, as well.

specs are - studio apartment, two windows, in front (southern exposure), futon with dark gray mattress, some eclectic, original art on the wall (which is the wall i suggested she paint)...

basically, there isnt much in the way of "design" going on here.

so my two questions are - 1. how do you all feel about a brown accent wall, and, 2. is there a way to encourage someone to improve their surroundings without being obnoxious about it? or should i just keep my mouth shut?

thanks all!

squixan - i find it almost impossible to judge paint questions in general w/o seeing it in person, and even then it's bewildering b/c the effect can change so dramatically depending on the time of day, plus type of lighting, etc. A taupe-y accent wall sounds nice to me, but a furniture store owner once told me that taupe is really "difficult"--i think he meant in terms of coordinating w/ other colors. Anyone know if there's any truth to this?

re your second question, you say your friend has explicitly asked for your advice, so it seems like she admires your taste & welcomes your input. i don't think you need to worry about seeming obnoxious as long as you stick to "constructive criticism", but i have to admit this isn't actually as easy as it sounds. i know that in my own experience, i tend to focus on what i think needs attention--namely, what's "wrong"--and then forget to mention the positives, b/c if it ain't broke why fix it? which means i can end up sounding a lot more negative than i intended.

sooj - i know exactly what you mean. i dont want to offend her by pointing out something that i think doesnt work, if she thinks it does. but i will do my best to focus on the positive stuff. im just one of those people who need/crave a nice home environment. i totally get that that isnt as important to a lot of people, it will just be hard to reign myself in and not go crazy with the suggestions!

the taupe - thats what i heard too, that it can be a little tricky. what looks good on a 3x3 inch swatch might look awful on a wall, even in the right space (light furniture, etc.)

thanks for your advice, if anyonce else has any comments, please fire away!

sooj - i know exactly what you mean. i dont want to offend her by pointing out something that i think doesnt work, if she thinks it does. but i will do my best to focus on the positive stuff. im just one of those people who need/crave a nice home environment. i totally get that that isnt as important to a lot of people, it will just be hard to reign myself in and not go crazy with the suggestions!

the taupe - thats what i heard too, that it can be a little tricky. what looks good on a 3x3 inch swatch might look awful on a wall, even in the right space (light, furniture, etc.)

thanks for your advice, if anyonce else has any comments, please fire away!

oops.

squixan--
I am, as many know by now, a huge fan of the brown accent wall.

Not sure why taupe is getting a bad wrap, either, but that word is way-overused for an incredible range of rich delicious colors, ranging from mushroom to an almost-purple-grey. Maybe it is "difficult" because it is typically made up of many many colors, so it constantly changes as the light does. But I think that's a good quality in a "neutral." When I think of the ideal taupe, I think of the gorgeous rich grey of a Weimaraner, or maybe a little "warmer".

re-- your friend
If your friend gets offended by your (solicited) advice (pro or con), then guide her to AT, and we'll be happy to tear her ideas apart. ;)

but in total agreement with sooj-- picking paint for a person we don't know, for a room filled with stuff we've not seen, is like answering the question "What tie should I wear?" when we can't see the suit, the shirt, the wear-er, or have any clue about what event the outfit is for... Funeral? First date? Job interview? The Oscars? Wedding? Gay weding? (You get the point.)

What color does she look good in/wear a lot of? Is it a "daytime room" or a "nightime room"? What are the floors? Does she work with color all day and want a respite from it at home? Any ancestral roots she'd like to honor withher color choice? What word would she use to describe the final room? Does she want the art to be the only "color" in the room, or have the whole room relate to the art?

Those are the questions I'd start with getting her to answer. Then, tell her whatever you thought in the first place. But this way, she'll be so impressed by your extensive "methodology" she'll think it is more scientific than just "pick a color you love." ;)

Taupe should be an easy color to co-ordinate, since it's a neutral and most neutrals work well together. Anything in the cafe con leche category works well with both warms and cools. If you get lost, try finding a neutral that's already in or complements her existing art. Try out those little pots of paint while you're at it. That way you can both look at it and decide together rather than imposing a color choice that she may not llike.

I need a nice comfy couch, one that I can get up a smallish staircase. Anyone know of couches that require assembly? Please help, we are reduced to sitting on an godawful aero-mattress!

patrick (t.o.o.), great suggestions, great questions. you are awesome. marry me. our apartment would be amazing ;)

seriously, thanks everybody for all your suggestions and support. i love this site, you guys are the best.

i'll keep you posted on the wall.

oilcloth.com--what a great site. Also, for those who like to DIY, the ReadyMade Magazine site store sells lengths of billboard vinyl, which might make great graphic placemats. although I think what you get is totally random.

Question re TAUPE color--

I like the idea of this but may I ask, is this a color that will hide NYC dirt? I currently have Benjamin Moore Super White and it gets quite dingy fairly quickly. I was thiking of a grey but the idea depresses me. Any comments please?

paulconrad--
Check the archives here for small sofa recommendations. Also, a recent post highlighted a furniture company that ships unassembled furniture (but seemed to be getting mixed reviews for style/quality).

If I were you, I'd also consider a modular sofa.

ps-- squixan-- for more color inspiration--

I think Starbuck's (any of the many) does an AMAZING job of working with multiple warm, rich wall colors... so maybe a coffee-fueled tour of as many as you can visit with your friend could give you both something to look at, react to, and be inspired by. While there, don't forget to "look up"... Starbuck's is one of the few institutions that actually considers how it handles its ceilings.

what a coincidence. just recently i was in a starbucks, & the guy behind me was observing to his companion what a great job they'd done w/ their paint colors, pointing out specific walls & admiring the color combinations, etc. It was something like terra cotta & foresty green, which to be honest i wasn't all that crazy about. still, starbucks must be doing something right, w/ all these people taking notice. i will say that their use of color does do a great job of creating a warm atmosphere--i think it's just that i wouldn't like it so much for my own place.

A late post on the placemats - I was just at TableArt in Los Angeles a few weeks ago, and they had specially-ordered some great microfiber placemats from Europe. Everything comes off of them, and they were reversible for two color combinations. Looked great - wanted some for myself!

RE: placemats- saw these online at CB2... might be cool- the first is by chilewhich www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=238&f=2024

and the second they describe as follows:
"Retro meets high-tech. From the mod design in polyethylene canvas to the cool retrosuede reverse. Heat-laminated together for integration at the molecular level.
•Front: printed polyethylene canvas
•Back: Retrosuede (polyester/spandex blend)
•Wipe clean with water and mild detergent
•Made in US"
www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=238&f=1732

anyone seen them in person?