apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

My kitchen remodel is going great. I just got in my Vestfrost 24" fridge on Friday, if anyone wants any tips on it. I love it but being a shorty, I do have to stretch to reach the wine rack (where I have bottled water stored.) It's a beauty.

Also in the interest of space, I'm skipping a range altogether and keeping a cooktop and adding only a GE over the range micro/convection oven. I'll use drawers under the cooktop.

lisa2 in austin, congratulations on finding a GREEN refrigerator.

Okay, I need some advice. Having just moved into an old railroad style building in Astoria, I'm in the middle of a host of adventures in working with a rental.

I have some shelves that I'd like to mount in my living room. Knowing next to nothing about the world of DIY, I have researched and learned that I probably have plaster walls, with concrete (cinderblocks?) behind them. So if I want to mount a shelf, I have to use a masonry bit to drill the holes, which I'm told makes a bit of a mess and is pretty permanant.

Obviously I would clear this with my landlord before proceeding, but do people think this is even worth the time and effort? Though I'd like to stay for at least several years, it is a rental, and I'm a little nervous about messing up and having a huge hole in the wall. On the other hand, I'd love the way it would look, and I'd really like to try my hand at DIY.

So should I go for it? Are there easier alternatives? Help!

The best way is to drill and use plastic inserts. You may want to get a handyman to do it for you. It's not permanent because it's so easy to patch. You're fortunate if your walls are cinderblock because they will support a lot of weight.

However, if you live in an "old railroad style building in Astoria", it is unlikely to actually be masonry, more likely plaster over lathe. You should confirm what kind of walls you have before proceeding. Your landlord or neighbors could advise you on the nature of the wall.

What do you about a neighbor - unidentified - who leaves their trash in the chute closet. They don't use the chute or take it to the basement. It pops every few weeks, tall kitchen bags and literally sits there as the stench increases. Once, one of the neighbors hauled it out to curb herself after two weeks.

It's wrong, it draws roaches up from the trash room in the basement (which is no-good for those who use the chute).

There must be a legal sitch here.

Oh, and there are clearly posted signs about not leaving trash in the closet or jamming the chute. It's not the super's job to haul trash to the basement.

hello NYCers and Philly-folk - thank you to everybody who gave me advice for my trip to the big apple and the city of brotherly love... we ended up taking the greyhound from the Port Authority out to Philly - it seemed simplest, quickest and maybe even cheapest? I just couldn't do SEPTA all by myself!
i loved loved loved NYC and i will HAVE to return! Philly was also wonderful and the folks from Lineage gallery were terrific.
thanks!

Lady J, tell the doorman, porter, super, landlord, whatever, if you are unwilling to confront your neighbor yourself. Or put a note up in the chute closet. Or call the fire department, it's a fire hazard. They'll come out, write it up, fine the building, and then the problem will be taken care of. Or hire a hitman.

I need some advice regarding light if anyone has ideas. I live in a ground-floor apartment and the only room that doesn't get enough sunlight is the living room, which is the one room I wish had lots and lots of it. The reason for the dimness is the balcony of the apartment above which casts its shadow below.

Any suggestions for increasing the light? I can't make any major changes to the external structure without having to deal with the condo association and strict building codes (the apartment is a heritage building), but I'm open to any suggestion.

If I knew who it was, I would confront them, note their apartment and send a letter to the management company.

lisa 2 in austin---

i am deciding between the ventfrost and the LG (which is 24" wide also) --the ventfrost is nicer and a bit more money--but I am not sure I want to deal with defrosting myself? Anyone have any experience with this fridge?
here are the links ventfrost:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100472303

LG:

http://ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/LRBP1031.html?brand_store=1

Lady J, you must don gloves and open the garbage and look at it in order to figure out who is doing it. Or put up a sign. Or report it and let the super figure it out.

taracakes, you do not want to deal with defrosting. MrGreen speaks from experience.

Tarcakes,
my previous fridge is manual defrost and it is no big deal (a 1950's baby.) the vestfrost is even better because the freezer spaces aren't open to the air when you open the door, so even less frost is created. on the plus side, it takes tons less energy and also your frozen foods are less likely to be freezer burnt (as the auto defrost cycle really contributes to that.) i hate freezer burn. so vestfrost is projecting defrosting once a year, and they give you a really cool little pull out straw to let the water drain away. another plus is i cannot hear this thing at all. it's so quiet! and it looks like the nuclear bombs that were worshipped in "beneath the planet of the apes" in a stylized, non-scary way.

i think it's a lifestyle decision. i don't mind the manual defrost (this will be a step up for me.)

oh, also check the cubic footage. the vestfrost may be too small for you.

so if you are a woosie, like mr green, about defrosting, go with the luxuries and skip the vestfrost. it's the american way! ;-)

LadyJ,

I would put up a sign and hope that the culprit stops, but if not, I agree with MrGreen that you may want to put on some long (very long!) rubber gloves (and a mask!) and open the bag to see if there is any mail or anything to identify the guilty party, unless you are lucky enough to catch them in the act. Once you figure out who the person is, I would not confront them, as they may not be the nicest of people, but would slip an anonymous note under their door asking them to stop. If that doesn't work, then send a letter to the manager and encourage the others who have been offended by it to do so, as well.

taracakes--though no experience with LG refrigerators, three other LG products I have had broke within months of purchase.

Hi everyone,

Just reading another design blog and I saw something that looked familiar. This kitchen was posted here recently (as a Good Question) looking for advice on how to decorate - thought you might like to see what they advised!!

http://tinyurl.com/3xh5hg

Wow, I feel like that kitchen owner cheated on us!! ;)

Lady J - if I knew who it was I'd just haul it out of the closet and place it right up against their front door - when they next open the door it will be right there in front of them - clearly giving the sign that they are not doing something right...