apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

For DC-area folks: there's going to be a new Marimekko store in downtown Silver Spring. Click on my name for a link to the website.

Wow, Silver Spring is such a cool place now. Thanks for posting that.

Great news! Wish it would open sooner; I need it for my the Spring Cure.

Those of you here in NYC probably saw the news today about a very tragic fire in the Bronx this morning -- believe it made national news. too. It got me thinking that perhaps AT should do an "Apartment Safety month" sometime down the line -- lots of topics to cover including fire safety, security, child safety ("the Nursery" tie-in here), go-bags in case of disaster, home first-aid kits -- in short, lots of things we take for granted but would be so glad to have prepared in case we needed. Quality products and sources would be good to know about.

One example: I would love to replace the safety gate for my window w/fire escape, and would like to find a nice design without the typical yutzy curly-cue metal work. Another - reminder to change batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms (-- usually suggested at the change of daylight savings time -- which is this weekend folks! So change your batteries!!!)

Anyone else think this is a good idea? Or any other thoughts to share on the topic?

I think that's a grand idea, Mid-C Frank, and I've de-lurked to say so!

Great thoughts....I just thought of one jumping off point from yours. Since this is bathroom month, there is a ton of safety issues to discuss/deal with in the bathroom, for all ages, maybe that could be a start. Don't now if there's a spot for the information or how one would mesh the decorative point of view of the site with safety issues.

Mid-C Frank--what a great idea. I've been meaning to get an emergency plan/kit together, as per something I saw on Suze Orman (she's got a plan on her website, but I never got around to it.) I had an emergency kit together when I lived in earthquake country, but relaxed when I moved out of that zone. I think having a safety month or week or something is a great idea. It's very motivating to do this sort of thing when everyone else is too (a la The Cure.)

I'm with ya, Mid-C Frank.

If the topic needs a little more content (and I'm not sure it does), you can always add information on routine home-maintenance issues. Many of the Los Angelenos seem to live in little houses, where you cannot rely on the super to see that all systems are go. (I speak as one who needs to change her AC filter pronto.)

Mid-C Frank -
I think that you really have a point, because I think THIS is the site where the idea of safety, aesthetics and green-ness could be tossed around and possibly even arrived at.

Thats a great idea! Also remind people renters insurance is not that expensive, and they should get it (I'm procrastinating)

Wonder what people are the most worried about in NY? Floods are my biggest worry - my upstairs neighbour has let her tub run over a few times.....

clairepetrol -

Yes, and like everything else, there is a Friends episode about that. Ross bonds with Rachel's father about their mutual disbelief that she hasn't bought any renter's insurance.

And yes, those kinds of floods are very different from the Mother Nature kind, because these always happen to one person at a time, instead of a whole bunch of people, and yet we have each had our turn to have it happen to us. It happened like 2 or 3 times to me in my old building, and it has happened once to the Buyer of my old apartment. The nonagenerian above that apartment is just a menace.

Yup, we've been lucky so far, bathroom leaked town to bathroom, and there was nothing in the bathroom that cant get wet once in a while!

Ok, its on the weekend to do list. Get renters!!

Renter's insurance is something I DEFINITELY need to look into! Good point.

Happy to see AT back to it's wonderful old self!

NYC area - I just purchased my first apartment, but need to do some simple home improvements. Does anyone know of basic HI classes available in New York, preferrably Brooklyn? I guess I should've paid more attention in shop class.

Thanks

My problem seems unimportant, but it's driving me crazy.
I'm going to reupholster 2 Danish side chairs with a striped fabric and can't decide to put the stripes horizontally or vertically.
Decorating books from the period show stripes going vertically but horizontally looks better to me.
Any suggestions?

Does anyone have any opinions about buying Noguchi reproductions? I don’t want to pay the price DWR is asking, but I wouldn’t mind buying a cheaper remake. Any advice? For instance is there a better reproduction company to go with? Do the reproductions scratch easier?

Oh. . . I was refering to the Noguchi Tribeca Table. Thanks

Pierre: Noguchi Tribeca table. Check ebay, its there for less than $400. Personally, I wouldn't pay the price of the real one unless I was apt to have people scouting for the signature.

Mid-C Frank: Fantastic suggestion. I hate coming late to the party but I love your suggestion and would include, perhaps, some info now and then for handicapped people in apartments. AT has an extensive community, surely there are some of us with family members who have special needs. I think this would fit nicely under safety, perhaps in special products. And family fire drills.

My goodness, you've started an entirely new "colum" that Maxwell will have to put on the AT heading. Seriously fabulous idea.

As Curtis said "....I think THIS is the site where the idea of safety, aesthetics and green-ness could be tossed around and possibly even arrived at."

Now maybe we can get spell check.....:)

Mid-C Frank: I think that sounds like a great idea. I am, admittedly, mildly paranoid about safety, etc., so I would definitely love to learn more tips about keeping myself and my home free from dangers (or at least able to handle them). In fact, I have to go talk to my landlord today, as I'm pretty sure my new apartment doesn't have a carbon monoxide dectector in it.

I think a list of things to remember to do in the apartment that people might forget to do would maybe be good (for instance, about 75% of my friends leave papers + fabrics + plastic bags sitting on the stove. It seems so ill-advised to me, and I'm always moving them off.)

Pierre

Try White Furniture, click my name for the link. Though I didn't see the Noguchi on their site, I know I saw their knock off version at their Essex St location just a few weeks ago. Give them a call.

As far as quality, though I don't know about their Noguchi table in particular, I can say that I was looking at their saarinen marble top tables but opted to save up for the real thing. It just didn't look as nice. At least at the shop you can see it in person if you are in the NYC area.

Good luck!

Olivia

If your apartment does not have a combustion source like a furnace or heater with a flame or if you aren't close to where auto exhaust could get in your landlord may not be required to furnish one. Having said that, they aren't very expensive (around 20 to 50 bucks) you could just get one yourself to make sure your neighbors don't kill you when they heat their apartment with charcoal briquettes.

Is anyone else having issues when trying to post on the Cure thread?

Anthea,
Yes, I just tried it and I get a blank screen.

Anthea, yeah, I get a message that it "couldn't load data" from that location.

Jackie (too)

The Google toolbar has a spell check that works on all fill-in web forms. Of course, you need to download and install the Google toolbar on your system--which some people might not want to do. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a grammar check.

Hello all - jumping in a little late (I'm in CA and just got home from work) on the home safety week/month idea - great! And thanks to Mid-C Frank for suggesting it.

Cute story to relate: My son was 10 when he and I moved from Arizona (where he was born) to California (where I was born). I'd brought home a pamphlet on earthquake preparedness and a few days later I got home and started to make dinner and couldn't find my can opener. Couldn't find several other items. Searched high and low. Son came in from playing at the neighbors' and when I asked him about them, he led me to the bathroom off the hall (only room with no outside walls) and opened the cupboard - there were my kitchen items, gallon bottles of water, a nice selection of canned/dry groceries (hadn't noticed them missing!), bandages, medicines... he'd set us up nicely in case of emergency, explaining that there were blankets under the sink and he could sleep in the tub and me on the floor... we've fortunately not experienced a bad quake since we've been back, but he had us ready!

The fire did make national news. I agree with Mid-C Frank. Adding a safety component to AT is a good idea.

Renter's insurance is not that much per month, guys. I pay about $22 a month and have fairly good coverage.

And to Julie: thanks for the DC news!

Diana--

I think with "horizontally looks better to me", you answered your own question.

But the only reason I could think to argue is that horizontal stripes might "settle" with use, whereas vertical stripes might show the effects of time a little less. Does that make sense?

If tight upholstery (as opposed to filled cushions) it might not matter.

oceandreamer56

That is so cute!

Thanks, Diane. Kids. Ya gotta love 'em!

This whole discussion has really made me think. I live in a small apartment community with some really great neighbors, but knowing them (and loving them dearly) also makes me realize how ineffectual most of us would be in almost any kind of emergency/disaster. I'm now thinking I should get together with our manager/landlord and find out where the water shutoffs are, if there's a common gas shutoff - I think Jackie (too) is right. An entire column might be the way to go.

that is really cute story!

Maybe it could be incorporated as like a once a week post - this week - check the batterys in your smoke and carbon dioxide. Next week, build the emergency kit. Next week, plan your evacuation root...

For renter's insurance I pay $46 a month plus a one time yearly fee of $200 for earthquake coverage. Earthquake coverage isn't included in the basic policy. (I live in LA.)

Is it worth it? I don't know. I just hope I never have to make a claim because I like my "stuff."

Tony G.

Hey Tony G - glad you pointed that out about the earthquake insurance. I'm looking into renters insurance and would never have thought to specifically ask.