apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I'm wondering what the coolest sheets are. I live in a warm climate and would like sheets that are soft but lightweight. We currently have 2 sets of sheets - a set of Modal sheets that are soft but don't breathe (I usually only use these in the Winter) and an Egyptian cotton set.
I wish I could sleep without a top sheet on at all but I like having something cover me. Are linen sheets cooler than cotton? Any suggestions appreciated!

I just bought a condo and need help deciding how furniture will be arranged in my irregularly-shaped living room. The room is narrow and long, with a picture window on the south wall and entrances to the kitchen and hallway, respectively, on the long north wall. There's just a sliver of wall (just under 4 feet) on that north wall between the two entrances. (Click my name for a rough floor plan.) The current owners have their furniture arranged thusly:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31892704@N00/414575288/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31892704@N00/414575290/

But I'd love to have a really nice conversation area as well as probably a landing strip on the west wall, just to the right as you walk in. Is there another way?

I am looking for a less expensive option of grasscloth wallpaper. Any suggestions on where to find it?

Hello...
I absolutely adore my apartment (rental), it's perfect in so many ways - HOWEVER - it has absolutely hideous drop ceilings. The tiles are not in the greatest condition, but the ceilings are pretty high - about 12 feet. After inspecting I realized that the landlord put the drop ceiling up because there are lots of exposed pipes above (it used to be a retail establishment many years ago w/ living quarters above).

Anyway, the pipes/actual ceiling are not in the greatest condition, lots of chipping paint, rust, etc - so exposing the ceiling & pipes is out of the question. It would be way too much money to invest in a property that's not even mine.

Does anyone have any creative, safe ideas on how to spruce up this ceiling? Thank you!

OK sorry to harp on about the one-click thing, but it's back to 2 again :(

Anne (Chicago)--

Nice place!
Do you have the furniture already, or are you buying new? If buying new, think love seats versus sofa, or love seat and chairs...

It looks like you have enough room for-- and the floorplan may warrant-- floating the furniture away from the walls.

A tall, slim open or closed shelving unit or a very small scale "secretary" for the sliver of wall?

Christina--
You looking for cheaper sources for the actual paper, or something that simulates the look for cheaper?

There are paint techniques that simulate it, if not looking for the actual paper.

Cat, I have no idea what that is, but I'll mention it to Mark and see what he says. Does it happen on any other sites?

We recently bought a pre-war condo in Brooklyn and have been renovating it. There is a long (15'-20') hallway that several rooms branch off of. It is also tall- with 9' ceilings. We're planning to hang family photos here, but are stumped about the lighting.

Right now there is a flush mounted ceiling lamp there, which is ugly but also lights unevenly. My husband would like to put in halogen track lighting, but I'm concerned about the heat that would generate.

Do any of you have suggestions for hallway lights? I'm wondering if a pendant light or two or three might be nice, maybe schoolhouse style?

I've been told that sheets with bamboo in them are helpful with warm weather issues ... have not tried them yet. I know West Elm has some bamboo blend sheets.

leanne,
a couple of years ago on some design show they redid a basement with a drop ceiling and put in thin wooden panels (not sure exactly what it was, maybe a veneer). it looked great and we have been meaning to do this to our basement, but keep getting sidetracked with other projects.

a less expensive options would be to cover the existing drop ceiling panels with fabric. a fun pattern would look neat.

leanne--I agree with brand-eye about the fabric. You could staple or nail the ends with enough slack in the middle so that they drape downwards like the inside of a pavillion tent...You could also attach Christmas lights to the ceiling as well, if that's not too college-dorm for you.

I'm on two clicks too - on a PC. Not happening on other sites.

and just to make things merrier: sometimes it's one click and sometimes it's two clicks...

Mags,
I have often wondered if the higher thread count sheets breathe as well as the old muslin sheets of my childhood (not the scratchy poly-blends but the all cotton untreated sheets my mom bought in the early 60s). I don't see how they can breathe as well. After a couple experiments with very expensive high count sheets, which I hated, I have focused on looking for something more like the old muslin. Currently I am using the very inexpensive Ikea cotton sheets -I can't remember the name but they are all cotton 180 - 200 count and are very soft (almost flannel like) and very breathable. I love them and they served me well last summer (I live in washington dc). These might be an option worth checking out ... and for the price they aren't a very expensive trial.

In regards to linen sheets - my personal favorite - the ultimate luxury perfect for summer and winter. If you are interested in linen, I would recommend buying a set of pillow cases - the prices are more affordable than for a flat or fitted sheet - to try out the fabric. This is what I did (and of course I then had to buy the whole set). I would love to sleep in linen year round but am currently using my one set as the special sheets rather than every day. They are a bit impractical in my apartment (see care below) and the price is outrageous.

Linen is very expensive - and I would not recommend hunting for the cheapest set out there as the quality of the weave affects the wear. Ideally you want something with the Masters of Linen Seal of Quality although there are some organic hemp and flax sheets on the market that might be worth checking out (try raworganic.com).

Linen is very strong and durable but it does need care that is not 'standard' today for sheets. Linen should not be put in the dryer as the dry heat makes the fiber brittle and break - so you need somewhere to hang it. And, it does wrinkle like crazy. I generally iron all my sheets (yes, I'm crazy) but find the linen ones to be a particular chore (oh, for a mangle!). I think most people would not want to iron sheets, but you may find it worth it for the comfort you get sleeping in them. There are services that will wash and iron sheets in NYC that may be an option if you have the money.

if anyone is watching hgtv right now (350pm friday), the black haired woman from top design is on. or at least i think it's her....

JonathanB--I think I've got two clicks sometimes and one click sometimes!

How can the site affect the clicks?!?

Maxwell -
Yep, it's only on this site, and I think it only started yesterday or the day before for me. Was all better last night, then it came back this morning.
-Cat

The site could affect clicks if there's a sloppy bit of scripting of some sort. That would also likely result in a problem that affects some browsers but not all.

re: the conversation on sheets: I know I read somewhere to be wary of very high thread count sheets--because they may be high thread count, but then it's something like the quality of the weave that matters (but I can't remember). So for instance, you could get 1,000 thread count sheets that didn't feel as great as your high quality 300 counts. Does anyone know this? And for whatever the difference is, how can you tell if it's good quality?

Leanne,

Could you spraypaint or cover the tiles? Or perhaps buy a whole bunch of foam-core and paint that, maybe with a multi color scheme. Or use contact paper...but I'd be wary of fire hazards.

Shannon,
I believe you are correct. I think the current trend in higher thread counts is a bit of a scam. Very fine threads are roped together to make thicker threads - I believe this is called plied yarn. Instead of counting each plied yarn as one - manufacturers are counting it as two (or in some cases three). The same thing is happening with cashmere - claiming double ply when it a plied yarn. You get a cashmere sweater for less - but it's not as high of a quality as a true double-ply.
Like most things, what you want to look for is quality of materials and construction. As I understand it Egyptian cotton is considered superior. However, I don't know if this is the only superior cotton nor do I know if it is regulated in any manner anywhere. Anyone else?

alex in dc - thanks so much for your response. I hadn't really checked around on prices for linen sheets but the special care that is required sounds like they probably are not a practical option for me. I need everyday sheets I can just throw in the washer and dryer. Pillow cases may be worth it though - it sounds like they feel great!
I know what you are talking about with the older sheets. When I was little I loved all the sheets my mom put on my bed. I'm sure they were cheap but they were so soft and never felt too hot.
Like you, I think the whole high thread count thing is kind of a sham. I have seen sheets with a thread count of only 180 that felt soft and ones with a thread count of 600 that felt awful and cheap. I think materials and construction are definitely more important than thread count. I don't want to buy sheets online because it is important for me to feel them with my own hands before purchasing.
As for Egyptian cotton, one of my sets is Egyptian cotton and the thread count is 300 or 400. They are extremely soft and have held up well with absolutely no pilling - I've had them about 5 years. But I think I want a slightly thinner sheet. Maybe I want Egyptian cotton but with a lower thread count?
I hadn't even thought about looking at the sheets at IKEA. I didn't have a specific price in mind but if they have soft cotton sheets that just so happen to be a good price it's definitely worth a look!
Thanks again!

Back to the clicks (although I found the sheet discussion very helpful - thanks for getting into the specifics) I'm also back to 2 clicks on all the AT sites.

1 click, 2 clicks, 400 thread count....I can't keep up...;-)

I am no techie and not getting this problem on my two computers with firefox, but we'll check it out.

As for the thread count issue, I'm fascinated. I feel like there is a certain high thread count that I find comfortable and when it goes higher it feels to "sateen" and uncomfortable, but I don't know what that is yet. It's just a gut feeling.

But then I want to know, how high can it go?

BTW, did anyone click on "sophmoric Friday"?

I have loose patterend hanging fabric over my dropped ceilings and it looks pretty bad...VERY college dorm, and IMHOP I think X mas lights make everything look like a dorm...Fabric over dropped ceilings may look better if it is pulled taut and in a neuitral fabric, like lightwegith cnavas... or getting nicer tiles to put in the drops may also be an option,

Maxwell - I did, but as my computer runs really slow (see my post on thread 392) I didn't hang around there.

Okay, I just did. Funny and gross. (I had considered clicking on it before, but didn't think I had time for a video. And I'm glad I didn't watch it at work.)

What are your thoughts on painted fireplaces? I own my place and have a red brick fireplace that I'm not sure about. It's not ugly brick, and there's not much of it (the surround, just around the inside of the mantel), but I don't think it makes for a very modern look. I thought about painting it darkbrown/black, but don't want to regret it later. I've heard people say it reduces the value of your home, but I don't know how true that is... Am I insane to even consider this?

trudy--
I am a huge fan of Candice Olsen of Divine Design, and she paints fireplaces all the time... to always-great effect.

BTW, her reasons are either because the brick is an odd or outdated color, or to moedrnize the look of it in general.

I got a BIG laugh out of sophmoric friday, just for the record, Maxwell. At first I thought they were fake, then I saw them move...

Mags-

I think you should look for low thread count sheets that you like. There should be less fabric in lower count sheets, thus less insulation. I like the suggestion of the IKEA sheets.

Also, silk might be an option.

I've had good luck with the Martha Stewart sheets from KMart. 100% cotton, 200 thread count, I think. I bought my first set almost 7 years ago and they're extremely soft and breathable. I used them for three years in college and they've held up extremely well.

I live in NC and during the summer they've been excellent.

Muji store opening in NYC Fall 2007!!!

I think I just wet my pants.

I've taken to some sheet brands that TJ Maxx /Marshall's /Home Goods carries: Hillcrest. They are usually 310 threadcount sateen and they are both very pretty designs of all sorts and quite soft and comfy. About $30 for full size. People sell them on eBay a lot too.

The other one that really, really impresses for comfort is Raymond Waites. You can get them in dept stores, but they are also available at TJ Maxx etc. I didn't want to change them they felt so good! Also about 300. Some 200 threadcounts can be okay, but mostly I find them to be quite rough. For instance brands by Walmart and Target. Pretty, but rough as hell. I open the package and stick a couple of fingers in. Try to fell around a bit and get a real sense of the fabric for a few minutes.

(Another good brand is Maggie & Zoe.)

Trudy -- The deal with painting fireplaces is that you'll paint it... the next few owners will paint it different colors... and finally a subsequent owner will complain about previous owners while stripping the paint. This is the Great Cycle of Home Decorating, and there's no point in fighting it.

You cannot break this cycle by not painting the fireplace; in fact, by not painting it a neutral color yourself when you want to, you merely assure that the next owner will paint it purple.

Sometimes exposed brick is "in" and sometimes it's "out," so the whole resale value issue is a crap shoot. Look at how often those designed-to-sell shows paint the fireplace.

I completely agree that many of the extremely high thread count sheets are not what they appear to be. I've found 300-600 count sateen weave sheet wear out quickly. I only use 100% cotton, no blends for this heat wave body. First the bottom sheet gets thread bare and finally just totally rips out where my hips slide as I roll back and forth during sleep. Then the top sheet wears through in the foot area. I have worn through probably 6 sets of sheets in the last 10-12 years which I think is ridiculous. I long for those super soft cotton sheets my mom had as I was a child. I KNOW they were not designer sheets and probably came from Penneys or Sears with 180-200 thread counts but felt wonderful.

I've been afraid to make the investment in linen but the suggestion to start with pillow cases is a good one. :)

Mags
I love Dwell sheets for summer. They are brushed cotton (at least the ones I have are...hmmmm) so they are a little slide-y, and thin but strong.
And available at their occasional Soho sample/warehouse sales.

If heat is the issue with the sheets, what about cotton jersey sheets, the material that T-shirts are made out of? Would that be better or worse?

Available year-round at Garnet Hill nad (I think) Company Store, plus places like Target.

If jersey behaves on a bed the way it does on a body, it will not be cooler than normal woven cotton. Once the temperature heads past 100 here, cotton jersey is sticky and I bring out the camp shirts in a woven fabric. (And it's a dry heat.)

I hope I'm not too late to this thread for people to respond. I just bought a couch on Craigslist. It's a cute shape, I love the color, and the price was ridiculously low. The catch: there's an olive oil stain on the back-rest part. It's very visibile, and it's not on a pillow that can be turned over, so we've covered it with a throw blanket for now.

What's the best way to remove an oil stain from a couch? I've heard good things about Folex, but I'm also considering calling a professional and getting the whole couch cleaned, especially since the original owner had cats, and I'm allergic. Any ideas?

Sophie,

Call the pro. Be sure to tell him about the cats and your allergies. If you can turn the couch on it's back and the bottom doesn't have fabric covering it (possibly could be carefully removed and tacked back up) clean there, too. Animal dander is insidious. I know, I have two cats :-).

Well hello WENDE, its so nice to have you back where you belong!

Kate(NC)! Every time I think of North Carolina, I think of the photos of your dining room.

Perhaps someday you will dine in it.

Be careful -- I'll eventually take you up on that!

Come on back to Duke, Did you see that Durham is on the greenest cities list?

re: the cotton jersey sheets
I find them to be rather warm and I actually sleep on them in the winter as a flannel alternative. They are not super hot in the summer, but I don't think that they're the answer that Mags is looking for.

Delayed response...

I'm an expert on fabric - and linen is the most breathable fabric, and best for humid climates.

Check out:

http://www.belgianhuis.com/IBS/SimpleCat/Shelf/ASP/Hierarchy/0000.html

Nad if you're rich, the ultimate luxury: Hermes sheets at bluefly!!

http://www.bluefly.com/pages/products/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=2043130595&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2354139&N=937&Ne=500000&Nu=Product+ID&Ntk=all&Ntt=linen&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial

I found the perfect couch for my apartment. Sadly, it's in an Armstrong flooring print ad (inside front cover, march 07, metropolitan home). Does anyone recognaize the couch. It's similar to many others, but this one seems just right - the legs aren't too stark, it looks like it might be vintage. Vintage isn't an advantage to me, I don't like shopping/searching. I'm hoping I can find it online.

Is it this one, Marcia?
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/good-questions/good-questions-name-that-chaise-014093

Or any of these? http://www.armstrong.com/resam/na/home/en/us/article18286.html

Yes! That's it! It was a vintage piece, just as I feared. Oh well, I'll just have to keep my eyes open.

Thank you for the great response.

You know, sometimes I forget just how much information is already on this site. If I had just searched...armstrong + sofa, I'd have had my answer. It's amazing what's here. But of course if you forget to think and just ask, somebody will guide you.

Linen is really the best option for keeping cool - its feels amazing when you get into a bed freshly-made with linen bedding - it does take a bit of extra care but the wonderful smooth feeling against your skin is totally worth it - I don't have a dryer so all my washing is hung to dry anyway and I can't imagine how anyone can lie on sheets that haven't been ironed - I iron all my bedding - how else do you get all the creases out? - the secret with linen is to iron it whilst it is still slightly damp