apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Where are the results of the small apartment contest?

Here, Clap:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/scc2007.php

Have fun.

This weekend! We bought! A coffee table! Made from wood! 2nd hand! And we found 2 Bertoia side chairs; but I think they are fake (each came from a different shop; very low price; and they look slightly different :) ).
But! we have seating now! that's not puke green! Oooh the joy.

And who knew that Toronto had such a wonderful Antique section AND Bertoia chairs!

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with open shelving in their kitchen. I am considering taking down my upper cabinets (there is only 5-3 large and 2 small) and replacing them with shelves. How icky do the items on those shelves get- dust, grease etc... and how about support- any advice out there?

This is pre planning for my one room cure for the Sept. cure. Thanks in advance....

Anyone have a suggestion for interior paint that is low/no-VOC AND not tested on animals??

Benjamin Moore's new Aura paints fit that description, I believe.

And try searching AT for the topic... it's been covered before.

Yes, and if you click on my profile thing, you'll see what will probably be an almost embarassing number posts that I've told all about them; you'd almost think BM was paying me. It's just that I really have been using them lately.

Olya - Any chance you can share where the store(s) are in Toronto where you scored the Bertoia? I'll be up there next weekend.

Anyone know why my microwave is making a loud, cracking noise? It's not anything particular to what's in the microwave. The noise originally was only once in a while--I originally thought it might have been due to some particular type of microwave container I was using--but now it happens a lot more often. I'm planning to get a new one, but is it dangerous to keep using it till I get another one, which may not be till weekend after next, since I won't be in town this weekend?

Pixie -- no I don't know what is causing your microwave to make those loud noises, but I think for your safety -- just throw it out. I wouldn't use it one minute more, particularly if you have alternate methods of cooking or reheating food. Sorry it's so hot, if you have to crank up your oven, but better safe than sorry.

lorijo - I have always had open shelves in my kitchen and the dirt depends on your cooker - electricity is cleaner - gas leaves a sticky residue over time

I use my shelves for crockery and bowls etc and find that as long as I use things regularly I don't notice any build-up of dust/dirt on them

I wonder how/if open storage effects resale value in kitchens?

I could never live with it.

I need the storage, but I hate the look of upper cabinets. To me they seem so imposing-especially in my tiny kitchen.

Actually, I think dirt and grime levels in the kitchen depend on *what* you cook, more than *on what* you cook... if you fry with any regularity, or pan-prepare meats, you will have airborn grease.

Loriojo--

Perhaps a compromise... some open, some closed, and/or frosted glass fronts?

Also consider going less deep (if possible) with uppers, to diminish their monolithic look. And match them to wall color as much as possible (in tone or value or both) and they may start to look less imposing.

I'd only do open shelving in a kitchen if you're willing to wash all the shelving down once a month and wash your dishes before you use them as well as after. Even if you don't do much spattery cooking there will still be grease, steam and dust, and I think it will build up faster in a small kitchen than a large one... as someone who's been there, I can tell you it gets disgusting fast.

If what you want is to lighten up the look of your shelving, what about glass-paned cabinet doors? You could even do slatted bottoms for the inside shelves.