apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Morning ATers, Does anyone have experience cutting Metro units to size? I have a 6ft tall bookcase unit and would like to change it to 2 x 3ft tall bookcases. I've heard you can cut the poles to size, but I dont know if its something I can do myself, or need to have done at a hardware store. If I cant chop them I will buy new shorter poles, but since I have these, i figure I should try and reuse them....
Thanks!

This is the type of unit I have.... http://www.metro.com/consumer/page.cfm?content=system_accessories

I'm on the hunt for the perfect coatrack.

Any suggestions?

I painted my living room in veil cream, the metallic paint that was featured in the December Domino magazine. Well, the paint was very expensive. The first time we bought it, the paint was mixed wrong, and it went on like dirty water. We went back, got a refund (they forgot to use a metallic paint base) and went to another store where it was mixed correctly. Our painter painted the room, and the color effect is lovely. Except, you can see the lines where the roller went, no matter what you do. Its not all over, but there a few places where it is pretty apparent. My husband wants to just find a matching, non metallic paint and repaint the whole room. I like the effect, but want to just try and go over the weird areas, and then hang pictures and hope for the best. Thoughts? Did anyone have this experience with a metallic paint? I would attach photos but the issue is not really showing up that well in a photo. I guess it is called "ragging" effect. We used a large roller.

i bought a can of the benj. moore metallic paint last year, then read how to apply it on their web site...the can is sitting in my basement, unopened.

Clairepetrol,

At the risk of getting booed by purists....I'll tell you that I've bought and used metro style shelving from Costco. Their version can be separated into two three highs (check the box illustration to be sure) http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=34972&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=&s=1. Comes with wheels and works great. $70 bucks.

Cheers, Scott

No suggestions, sorry.

But Ana, I just wanted to let you know that your Pet Silhouettes web link doesn't work.

Maxwell-- any more word on the Oprah appearance? Did you get invited to the taping? When would it air?

Thank you Sasha

I'm looking to organize a closet in the Container Store Elfa sort of way, but without the price. I know its on sale now, but still mucho dinero. Anyone out there know of similar pieces that I can buy and install? Thanks

My name has a link to the kind of organizer I'm talking about.

Michelle, I've had friends have similar problems with expensive specialty paint, there is some sort of special roller technique you're supposed to use or some crap like that. I think they just sucked it up and bought more of the expensive paint and tried to cover up the roller marks because by the time I saw it you didn't even notice. My point is (sorry), I think it is worth trying to cover up with more of the metallic paint (and pictures) and if it keeps looking worse go try for another refund. But after all the work you put in I wouldn't give up on having your cool walls.

Thanks scott, I might go check out the one in queens...I'm still hoping to figure out a way to chop my existing poles in half...

Ana, in my opinion, this is the perfect coat rack:

Link in name:

You will probably need to be more specific in your idea of 'perfect'.

Michelle -
Metallic paints NEVER go on completely smoothly, unless you spray them on with a professional sprayer, according to the instructions that I've read on them, and so I can't even vouch that THAT works, since I've never sprayed one on.

But what I do know is that when I've paint them on, my experience is that you need to imagine them as what they would look like if they were real metals.

If you want them to look like sheets of sheet metal you need to do VERY long, continuous strokes so that it looks like that.

If you want it to look like something that's hammered, then use a regular paint brush and sort of stipple it on as consistently as you can.

If you want it to look sort of galvanized, then use a LOT of patience and a very tiny brush and make very tiny, random little straight stokes.

If you want it to look like some kind of leafing, then you should probably paint some kind of earthy red first and then paint the metallic color over it, but that will be tricky making it look just right.

elevenhounds,

I suppose I should.

Not too scroll-y or big.

Something small and clean.

I can't use hooks we've got plaster over brick.

I love this one

http://www.dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=1870

and this is another nice one

http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=598&f=3538&q=sprout&fromLocation=Search&DIMID=400001&SearchPage=1

Michelle,

I painted my tiny dining room with BM's Veil Cream, and the BF and I had similar problems. It was a very frustrating experience, and I have been meaning to post about it for some time now.

We had the same issue with the brush marks being quite obvious, but multiple coats and touchups helped a lot, as did keeping a lot of paint on the roller and being very careful as we painted. A high quality roller was also beneficial. I think that the reason for the visible roller marks is because the pearlescent paint doesn't stay "loose" for as long as regular paint. I really think that you should try the touchups, though.

We found that the coverage was not as good as the specs on the paint can stated, so we ended up needing to make multiple trips to the paint store. As a result, we ended up buying 3 quarts ($90), when we could have just bought a gallon ($80).

The pearlescence also made every nick and pit in the poorly plastered walls in our rental stick out like a sore thumb. It bothered me a lot at first, but I'm over it now. I think that the finished effect is just lovely, despite the fact that it was such a frustrating experience. We had friends over for dinner after we finished the job, and it is so beautiful to watch the way that candlelight plays off the finish of this paint.

If anyone else is thinking of using BM's pearlescent or metallic paint, know that the effect is worth it, but it is going to cost a lot more than regular paint, you have to work fast and keep a lot of paint on your (high quality) roller, and be aware that it will highlight imperfections in the surface of the walls.

Thanks everyone for your metallic paint war stories. Very helpful!

Oh, yes... another thing... they tell you on the some of the ones that I used (methinx 'twas Ralph Lauren) that you really MUST use at least 2 coats to expect it to cover, just anyway.

Good addition Curtis! It was definitely a 2-3 coater for us. It was also recommended that the Benjamin Moore coloured pearlescent studio line paints only be used over like colours. I painted our dining room walls in one of the BM off-white colours - either Opaline or Albescent before I hit it with the Veil Cream.

Can you imagine actually painting a room with kind of a slightly sagey grey and then delicately sponging some pink paint mixed in a solution of mostly glaze over it and then rolling on some pearlescent white paint and then carefully wiping most of it off? THAT would be very interesting; like the inside of an oyster.

It would be gorgeous. Or frightening.

does anyone know if the west elm parsons desk is pretty sturdy? i really like it, but the legs looks a little flimsy. thanks!

http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODf099&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1FRNOFF&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1FRNOFF

clairepetrol,
Did you try a pipe cutter? I have no knowledge of these Metro shelves, but from the picture it looks like the poles are basically pipes. Pipe cutters are very easy to use and available at the hardware store.

clairepetrol -
Oh, I mean the kind you fit on the pipe and then spin around, not the kind that look like a giant wrench.

Jared -

I have a LOT of Elfa shelving/drawer units in my bedroom; they were expensive but they hold up really well (I've had mine for over 10 years and they still look great and are totally intact). Home Depot was selling Closet Maid's version of the stuff, but I can't say it looked all that sturdy to me. I don't know of another knockoff to steer you to, but if you are thinking of getting actual Elfa, the 30% Container Store sales are about the best bargains to be had. Just plan well and shop carefully. Good luck!

Hello,

I'm new to commenting here, but a devoted lurker. I've been working on my huge, rambling Brooklyn place for months now.

I am about to paint my teensy home office in Veil Cream with white moldings! I'll keep what everyone said in mind.

Meanwhile, please help! My have a looong (over 40 ft.) hallway running the length of my place.

It is in desperate need of paint. I have high ceilings with moldings. I'd love any suggestions: interesting color choices? And lighting suggestions, please...

There are new rugs which are patterned in mainly cream and deep red.

Thanks!

As a lurker here of many years, I just want to say that Curtis is brilliant. There. I've been wanting to say that for a long time.

Okay, well I don't know how many years it could be. Two? Three? How long has this been going on? Anyway, only Curtis would know that you have to envision the kind of metal you're going for.

I saw that paint in Domino and thought it was just great. My challenge is applying a coating that does not show the multiple imperfections in the drywall/mudding (nasty housing boom construction). My thought was to use a coating that would harmonize with the imperfections instead of bringing it out. I ended up using a base coat of a yellowish cream with a gold metallic glaze on it. It’s not the Domino effect but it looks really warm and changed the whole room - I use it as an office/studio – and it’s a pleasure to go in there and work.

A friend of mine in the coatings industry, who works as solutions engineer, has told me that the end result of any coating is based on fooling the brain via the human eye. For example, I did not actually put a “gold” metal finish on my wall – it was an latex compound with color additives to give it that appearance. Another great example of this is wax vs. polish. Wax hides imperfections by reducing the visibility of the imperfections. All the bad stuff is still there. Polish will smooth/blend the imperfections with the cost of removing some of the finish.

Anyways – this is the glaze I used. I applied it with an 18” wallpaper brush and ended up getting it all over my cat. She actually looked pretty good.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=99192-4-99192-EA&lpage=none

Thanks Szig - Thats a great idea! I think I will try that with the pipe cutter thing...do you mean something like the link in my name?

Curtis - Have you seen the mannequins in saks windows lately. Like the reverse of your idea, they painted white mannequins Grey, then black, then it sanded it off so you can see all three layers in a patchy way. Maybe they were going for some united colors of benetton statement, Its kinda creepy!

Bonnie - There was a good question a few months ago about another long hallway (as I recall someone suggested painting red stripes along and making it look like a bowling alley!!)
I always think hallways look really cool with the cieling painted the same as the walls....

clairepetrol -
That reminds me of an idea that absolutely must do someday, although I will be beaten soundly about the eyes and ears for even uttering it:

I want to take a VERY old wall that has had numerous coats of paints over the years, and I want to paint it a medium grey that's just the slightest bit lighter than completely mid-tone.

And then I want to take a circular sander and make little rounded gouges, some gentler, some less so, to reveal the various colors underneath in various amounts.

Why would that be bad and make me slappable? Because by the time you go through that many layers of old paint you WOULD get to some lead paint dust blowing around, and it would not be so safe.

But it would be purty, and heck... I don't smoke, so I can afford to be KIND of a devil.

Anyway... once it's done, I would coat it with a satin finished polyeruthane, of course, to contain it all.