apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Yay! I've been desperate for an open thread.

I want hardwood floors in my kitchen. Is pergo more forgiving of uneven floors instead of hardwood? Should I do a dark walnut (similar to the beams) or will it look like a wood cave against my wood cabinets and low ceiling? Pics: www.iloveupstate.com

Ignore the ugly as heck countertop, that will be changed once I figure out the flooring trauma.

Thanks all!!!

Well, I put in el-cheapo hardwood (plastic really) floors in my spare room area and my floors are the most unforgiving of all. They're trailer floors (yes I know, but really a trailer has rooms as small as the tiniest apartment) I'm guessing if the cheap stuff is so forgiving, better quality stuff won't even blink. It is better of course to replace or put in an underlining, but yes, it can work.

okay - here's a simple question but oddly I've never figured it out.

when you have tables in the middle of the room (end tables next to a sofa), how do you hide the cords to a lamp on the table? i know there must be a way so I'm not tripping over it all the time?

ILoveUpstate -- If you match the floor to the beams, viewers' eyes will connect the two, and your ceiling will look lower. The way it is now, with the floor continuing the cabinet color, works pretty well, though that makes everything but the beams "neutral," so the beams are still right what the eye goes to.

If your goal is to make the beams loom less and you don't want to refinish them lighter, then you need a lot of visual interest in the bottom 58" of the room, probably centered on the counter: color, pattern, and/or shiny surfaces.

mellisaw -

It's been a while, but at SOME point, a year or more ago, here on AT they showed some kind of extension/rubber-mat kind of thing, I think, which could be covered by a rug or something to obscure it, but which would not be as hazardous or disconcerting as just putting wire under a rug or something.

Maxwell? Do you remember that thing? Or did I dream it? Can you or someone sniff it out in the archives and show us a link to it?

upstate, why not restain your cabinets? i'm a big fan of walnut, so i say do walnut beams, cabinets, and floor - then brighten the entire space with lots of lighting, lightened counters, maybe a bright shiny backsplash. i heart deep rich wood tones, so it wouldn't be a cave to me :)

Hi, all.

Yesterday this posting ( http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/flickr-finds/flickr-finds-webrefdesks-table-setting-020370 ) solved a mystery for me. I picked up an identical chair on the sidewalk a couple years ago and always wondered what it was. Turns out it's a JL Moller model 71. Huzzah.

But ... I don't want it. It's beautiful, and beautifully-made, but doesn't work in my home.

So, I ask your advice about one thing: where to have the seat re-woven? I'd like to repair it before I sell it.

Thanks much!

Wende: Hey......thought I'd take this time to say - pillows will arrive later next week! Will email you when to expect them....

Thanks for all the suggestions! I really appreciate it. I don't want to undertake the task of restaining the cabinets, so I will consider painting the beams white so that they will melt into the ceiling color. I think I've just had to make sooooo many decisions (the house was a wreck when I bought it) that I'm getting to the point where I'm a bit paralyzed to make more decisions. I'm tapped out. LOL

I asked this on the last open thread, but it was kind of late in the game and no one really answered it. I'm sorry for reposting.
I live on the 6th floor and want to put a flower box outside my window. I highly, highly doubt the landlord will have any problem with it (apparently, my building has 170 violations. If they won't even tackle legal issues, why would they care about a flower box?). How can I attach this box from inside without worry about it being knocked off in the wind? Budget is an issue, but this doesn't seem like an expensive problem.
Thanks so much, and sorry again for the double post.

Regarding painting a bathroom: I have decided to pull the wallpaper in my main bathroom and paint it. I want to have fun with it but also not be too wild since it is right off the kitchen.
My question is regarding colors: since it is generally known that the color of your bathroom reflects onto your skintone in the mirror, what colors would work the best?? I figured to stay away from greens and blues. What about orange? Does that look nasty or does it warm you the way peach or coral would? What about bright pinks?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Samantha, do not play with this - you could kill someone.
Seriously -- some time ago I had the twine I had used to secure a windowbox break late in the season and POW. No deaths, but I realized what an idiot I was, even one floor up.

Thanks for reminding me of that, Guido. You're completely right. Thing is, I see window boxes high up all the time; surely there is some solution to this. But yeah, better safe than sorry.

Samantha -- how about putting glass shelves across your kitchen window and having your plants inside? You'll be able to look at greenery (actually, more of it than if you had a window box), and you won't have to worry about the window box coming loose and killing a passerby.

Samantha, I have seen the following solution. I don't vouch for it, but it worked for a friend in an old tenement apartment with wood window frames. (This is assuming you don't have child safety guards on your windows, and assuming the box will be sitting on a cornice or sill outside and won't need to be supported, just anchored.)

Put two long nails on the inside of your window sill - one on either end of the sill, angled towards the inside of the room. Leave the nail protruding about an inch and half. Wrap wire around the nail - a lot of wire - then loop this wire through holes you've cut in the front and back of your wood or plastic window box, the wrap the remainder back on the nail. You're anchoring them to the nail, in effect.

A long nail, or, thinking about it now, a screw would be best. I think my friend used picture hanging wire, but hers was a sheltered window, and you could use wire of heavier guage.

Hope this helps.

ILoveUpstate - I'm going to do my floors with Ikea laminate and recently attended their flooring demo. They say you must have no more than 1/8" of... slant? is that the word? Anyway, unlevelness. My mom did her upstairs in Pergo a few years ago and spent *days* sanding her floors down to be level enough. So, I know nothing of hardwoods, but I don't think the laminates are all that forgiving.

Samantha - Last summer I got some window boxes at Ikea that I have hanging on my balcony railing. They are very lightweight aluminum, you can put plastic planters in them or peat moss (which is what I did). I think these *might* work for you - possibly you could hang them over your window (maybe you could bend the aluminum to fit if the sill is too deep) and drill them to the wall inside?

ILoveUpstate - One more thing. I decided not to do the laminate in my kitchen. Even though the manufacturers swear it's fine for kitchens, I just don't believe it. My mom spilled a little bit of water on her Pergo living room floor and didn't clean it up right away, and it totally bubbled and warped. So that might be a reason to consider real hardwood.

Samantha, I just googled "window box brackets" and got a ton of solutions.
This is a good site: http://www.hooksandlattice.com/planhanandbr.html

JacksonMarie -- Thank you! I'm doing intensive living room cleaning in honor of the pillows. Once I see the colors in person, I'm going to repaint my purple end table to go better with the current look -- I'd done it with a teal metallic and copper metallic pattern that has faded to baby blue and baby pink, alas. It has to be redone, and I've been stuck on how.

HI,

I posted this late a week ago, but never got a response... so sorry for reposting but still need help.

Any ideas of sites of cool china besides the usual suspects of
bloomies, macy's C and B, etc. I'm registering and looking for good sites for modern fine china. Also, I have already looked at micheal c. fina. Trying to find off the beaten path that I know at readers will clue me into!

Thanks,

stacey

Stacey,

There are tons of options for good china - many great options are ON THIS SITE if you do a minimal amount of research.
Have you bothered to look at the AT guide - for both Products (under tabletop) and Stores (under item: dinner and servingware)? Your post didn't seem to indicate you have looked beyond the basic bridal registry lists. Check these resources out as they are very helpful.
If you still want advice it would be helpful to the AT horde if you give us an idea of your tastes beyond 'modern' which is too general of a definition - for example, I would recommend links to china you like and some idea of why it may or may not be the final choice.

A question for the upcoming summer months.... does anyone have any recommendations for *energy saver* air conditioners that are shallow enough to fit in a first floor window with permanent bars on it? I think the clearance between window and bars is around 7" or so.

Thanks a million for any ideas.

Moira,

If you are looking for someone to redo your chair, I'd look into Veteran's Chair Caning & Repair on 10th Ave. I've bought caning from them in the past. It's an old workshop, looks like it's been there for a years and years and years.

Anyway, if they can't do it they might at least know who can.

Samantha, I don't know what your landlord does or does not care about. But I was charmed into renting this place while there were window boxes on mine and all the other first floor windows. When I moved in a notice came from the tenants responsible saying the landlord had vetoed the boxes based on the potential insurance problem of them falling.

I'm thinking if they fell and hurt someone or their pet, you and the landlord would both be liable.

I Love Upstate,
I would definitely paint the beams white to match the ceiling, like you suggest. Also like Wende's idea of adding lots of visual interest lower down - that will make sure that even the white beams won't distract. (Can you tell that I find beams distracting, no matter what? - Even in lovely prewar apartments.

By the way, did I miss a new Cure post on AT? I'm feeling stalled, and somehow it's seeming very symbolic that our Cure posts are stalled as well!

(Did week 5 begin yet? I haven't started that.... don't know what week I'm in, actually!)

Does anyone have any experience with these swing rods from West Elm? Are they difficult to install? Any other comments? Thanks!
http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODr386&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1RUGHDW&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1RUGHDW

Hi all,

First poster here--I'm avidly reading this thread (and earlier ones), and learning a lot. Thanks to all.

I just finished doing up a teeny tiny BR as a dressing room (ooh la la, it's a jewel) and am encouraged to finally tackle our BR.

Does anyone have ideas, comments, or resource leads for headboards? I've drooled over lovely expensive ones (some I saw here), both wood and padded... French-influenced would be my taste, while dh wants comfort & utility first.

Budget is an issue; we won't be making an investment purchase this year. The solution needs to come in not much higher than $500. Thanks!

audreywannabe--

I'd start at West Elm.

Hey everyone, I have been looking at modular shelving systems for a while now, and i was wondering whether I'd missed anything. for now, I think I'll be going with the 'Play' by Movisi - but am i missing out on any other affordable modular solutions?

audreywannabe, you also might try Urban Outfitters. Also Brocade has some gorgeous ones.

Audrey:

Me too! I tend to like upholstered square ones so that I can zip up new covers and change the look of the room easily. I just upgraded from a Queen to a King so I'm searching as well. I am "toying" with making my own since the elements will cost less than $60. I just need to get over my ridiculous fear of saws (or pile on the lipstick and flirt at Lowes...). There's a picture of the Queen size one I have (and will be selling) on my blog (click on my name below) to give you an idea about the puffy/square look. I got that one at Speigel for $250 but they nolonger sell it. A company out of NJ makes them and they shipped directly to me when I placed the order with Speigel. I believe they now sell thru Target's website - but Target's shipping is a bit nuts.

I'm rambling, must get a cup of tea!

Audrey,

A couple of sources for headboards to look at:
Pottery Barn - the Lewis headboard is very popular on this site and runs about $350. What is great about this headboard is that Pottery Barn makes new slipcovers every year for this style so you can easily update the look.
Ballard Designs (www.ballarddesigns.com)- they have a range of padded headboards and you will have a range of materials to select from. I believe a Queen size will cost about $430 or so (not including shipping)
Target has a rather large number of headboards. I believe most of these are available only on-line. An upholstered Queen headboard will sell for $180 to over $400.
Hope this helps.

Andreas, you could try Legare but I am not sure it's what you're looking for.

Hey Alex,

I did check the site and didn't find a lot of china resources that weren't basic white available online. I put a link of what I like, quirky and I'm already getting casual rosenthal white, so I wanted to get a fine china that was modern but timeless. Just looking for any sources I may have missed or that are not listed on AT

http://bloomingdales.weddingchannel.com/registry/catalog/Etoile Dinnerware by Bernardau/ID/194/PID/27544

Thanks,

stacey

Thank you Patrick (t.o.o.) , elevenhounds, I Love Upstate, & Alex in DC! Great ideas and reminders. I'm going to go investigate. Best thing to do on a rainy grey day.

Audrey,

I bought this headboard (for about $150 with delivery) from walmart...unlikely source I know, but I was quite pleased: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4429580

Stacey,
Great pattern. You should check out what Bernardaud makes that isn't carried by the major department stores - check their website and if you like a pattern call them for a supplier.
The pattern makes me think of Kelly Wearstler's taste in a way - she likes Haviland and Christofle - - so they might be sources for you. Check any of the good European manufacturers - Royal Copenhagen, Wedgewood, Medard de noblat - find out what they make - pick the pattern and then find the store. This is the difficult way to get a china pattern as it may not be readily available in your area but it will be more unique.

Check these two sites: www.royalavenue.com and www.artedona.com.

Hope this helps

Ok, the headboard evidence is in, for anyone else out there who is looking: West Elm had the best option for me. In fact, several, including a cool headboard that turns the corner to give you a sense of being held protectively by the bed. Both were reasonably priced too. And available in a few neutral shades.

PB's Lewis was, at 55," too tall for my hardwired swing-arm lamps (BTW, if anyone already has a Lewis, extra slipcovers are on a killer sale, $50/queen down from $200).

I tested how far up the wall my head comes when sitting up on the bed & decided that 50" high is ideal. 55" is wasted on a shortie like me, but 42" (West Elm) feels a bit too short. I'm the Goldilocks of the padded headboard set.

Brocade's was only available in queen in one non-happy fabric (although I fell--hard--for the ribbon bed spread in white), Ballard's was on the thin/ cheap side, and Urban Outfitters had only lime green & deep blue velvet. Target has a big selection, for sure, but the customer reviews indicate poor quality control /consistency. Scared me off.

More than you needed to know, I bet. Thanks to you guys for the help.

Hey Alex,

Lost internet yesterday, thanks time warner! You are so on the money with kelly w! I do like her style a lot. I will check those sites and ideas.
Glad you liked the pattern I may just do that one, I just wanted to have a thorough check before I made that committment, plus the price just jumped 15% two weeks ago.

Thanks so much!

stacey

dmoney,

Thank you so much! That Wal-Mart headboard looks pretty darn cool, I must say, and what a great price! BTW, Wal-Mart's site had far more product info than any Target item online. I would never have thought of Wal-Mart--you are a genius.