apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

My husband and I are soon going to start looking to buy our first apartment. I've been searching through real estate brokers' websites and it seems Murray Hill has a lot of apartments in our price range. I was just wondering if any of you live in the neighborhood and had any opinions or could share the pros and cons.

Thanks!

Good luck Sasha- unfortunately I have nothing to offer except that there are a good number of restaurants and bars and a slightly post-college vibe.

I'm actually wondering if anyone knows where to buy an attractive ceiliing fan (preferably with light fixture)... any ideas?

Sasha -
I work in that area, and it's basically thought to not be all that exciting, residentially. There's not really that much of a "scene", but that may seem just fine for you. I think some of the cross-streets are very pretty and residential, and I think you could do much worse.

I think the thing I keep hearing is that it's not really all that much of a "neighborhood" since so many of the people who live are here are basically renting while they're going to Medical School.

And since Bellevue Hospital is is on 1st Avenue in the East 20's and right near it is a homeless shelter, some people aren't really all that crazy about that little piece of the neighborhood because of that little pair.

But there's a multi-plex cinema and Borders and no shortage of gourmet delis and stuff, so you really could do worse. And it's really near what I call the "Middle East Side" where there are numerous Indian restaurants and stuff.

The slight drawback is that the Lexington Avenue 6 train is actually located on Park Avenue when you get this far down, so that gives you another whole westward cross-town block to walk, if you end up getting too far East.

Thanks Curtis!

We're renting on the UES now, so we can manage without the "scene". And we're already dealing with the headache of the 6 train, but that's a good point about it being at Park... I hadn't taken that into consideration.

Sorry Sarah, but I have nothing to offer in terms of ceiling fans. Maybe Gracious Home?

I seem to recall seeing a posting about a chandelier with an industrial vibe a while back...it was assembled from black Luxo task lights into a spider-like shape. Does this ring any bells for anyone?

My best friend has live on 36 between Park and Lex for more than 25 years. Great central location, decent grocery stores and the Grand Central Market is a quick walk. She has a young daughter who attend PS 116, one of the best run elementary schools in the city.

i lived on 37th between lex and 3rd for years and liked the central location, but hated the noise. sirens all night long. all night long.

sarah, look at modernfan.com for some nice fans.

Hi,
I need help. I bought this lamp from williams sonoma home and need to find a black shade to put on it. I want one the size and shape of the second link the tristan lamp.

My nightstands are black, and the bed is large white leather with black trim. So the black shades will help tie it all together. If you have any ideas where to get black square or rectangular shades please let me know. I tried bellachor and lamps plus, and cb2.
It's taken months to find the right lamps and nightstands now I just need the shades to be done....
thanks

Lamps I bought
http://www.wshome.com/products/p1031/index.cfm?pkey=clgtlmp&cm%5Fsrc=



Shade I need in black
http://www.wshome.com/products/p2111/index.cfm?pkey=clgtlmp&cm%5Fsrc=campaign

Hi Stacey,

If you're in New York, I would try Just Shades. The name says it all - Just Shades, and lots of them. They're on 21 Sprint, at Mott. Good luck!

Er, Spring. Whoops!

Sarah,
For ceiling fans, check out restoration hardware. Also http://www.g2art.com/sub/Ceilingfans. I ordered the artemis fan in the liquid nickel finish, but this won't be available until April or May, so now I'm reconsidering; it's also pricey.

There simply are not very many attractive ceiling fans with a light, that in my case, also are flush mount.

Good luck.

Hi all. I am looking for some dinnerware and I like the look of these 2 stoneware sets from Crate & Barrel but I'm not in love. Does anyone know of a good source or store that has more "natural" looking dishes? I like the bohemian vibe of earthenware/stoneware. thanks!

stef

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=40&f=6503

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=40&f=9554

Stef, check out Simon Pearce--they have some really beautiful, organic looking designs. See?
http://www.simonpearce.com/navDepartment.aspx?Name=DeptPottery

It's pretty spendy, though...

also, the celadon dinnerware set at viva terra:

http://www.vivaterra.com/pls/enetrixp/!stmenu_template.main?complex_id_in=482007.1062176.907954.1211277.page

You might also try checking out local artisans fairs...

Has anyone here dyed their own slipcover? I've got a couch I'd reeeeaaally like to be charcoal/black as opposed to light olive and I would think it'd be possible since it's cotton, but not quite sure.

:)

Sarah,
This is an AT ceiling fan thread:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/lighting/the-propeller-light-ceiling-fan-012774

Hi Mat,
I've dyed a slipcover before. I dyed it a light warm grey. A great source for dyes and information about dyes is dharma trading company.

Here is a link to the info page about dyeing : http://dharmatrading.com/html/eng/2352816-AA.shtml

and if the slipcover is the only thing you want to dye and you don't want to invest in the other chemicals and salt you'd need for the procion dyes, they have this, which they say is easy, cheap and hassle free.
http://dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1765-AA.shtml?lnav=dyes.html

hope this helps.

It probably depends what part of 5th Avenue you want to go to, but I'd say that Woodside Queens is probably a good choice, because the 7 train gets you to Grand Central (which is on 42nd Street between Lexington and Vanderbilt) so fast it will make your head spin, and Grand Central is like one short block from 5th Avenue.

So, that's where I would start. I know someone who's probably still paying less than $1,000 for a one-bedroom in that area, although it's a walk-up. And there was an article in the Times recently about how amazingly reasonably priced and ethnically diverse the restaurant choices are in that area.

This is off any of the subjects being discussed, but I am having some difficulty, and thought you all could help.
I am relocating to NYC from Boston, and am doing some preliminary research on the neighborhoods that would be safe/affordable for me. I am not looking to live in Manhattan, since all of the looking I have been doing finds a one BR at around $2500/mo. I am looking to pay around $1200/mo, be near a subway/bus stop, in a safe area no more than 30 minutes commute 5th Ave. Is this possible? Any suggestions?

Hi,

thanks bird and beef for the suggestion, I looked there and they have the exact one, they are pricy at 90 each. So if anyone has any other ideas that might be less I would welcome them!

thanks so much

Meredith,

Those links help a lot! I'm pretty confident I can do this... might even try this weekend!

Thanks!

(and nice art btw)