apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Does anyone know where I can get plates similare to these:
http://www.rosannainc.com/categories.php?cPath=73_149
at a similar price? I love them but they are out of stock until June!

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/12/garden/12clothesline.html

New York Times article about clotheslines and the benefit it has on our earth footprint. It is a good follow up to the yesterday's discussion about the indoor canteleaver clothesline.

I have a question, shouldn't we all try to dry our clothes outside more often, especially in the summer? That brings us to the question of where do we get a wide assortment of different drying systems. I know ikea has a few, the container store has a few, but nothing for what I need. I was hoping to find a system that hangs on my back balcony over the railing. Something that I would not have to drill holes for.... Anyone?

For Anusha: here is a link to a drying rack that's designed to hang over a door. Perhaps it could hang from a balcony rail. (Click on the link for a larger image to get a better view.)

http://www.stacksandstacks.com/html/4772_hanging-garment-drying-rack.htm

More on drying racks: if the rail is narrow enough for the above rack to fit, any other over-the-door garment hanger might work.

If there is space on the balcony to set it up, this folding aluminum garment rack might do the job

http://www.stacksandstacks.com/html/114621_fol-d-rak-portable-garment-rack.htm

or perhaps a conventional freestanding drying rack would suffice.

I remember seeing this in one of the discussions about clocks. If anyone is interested this wood block clock is on sale.

http://www.thewirelesscatalog.com/wireless/Item_Wood-LED-Clock_HD2835_ps_srm.html

I need help finding a "landing strip." I'm looking for some kind of tallish table or console where I can put a lamp and mail, and also ideally a drawer or a shelf for storage. The problem is that it has to be only about 20-24" wide and maybe 14" deep, because it needs to fit on a smallish wall between the front door and a radiator. I've looked at a bunch of side tables, but they seem too short--they're generally only about 2 feet high, so it seems like you'd have to bend down to put your mail, etc. on them. There are also various things called "telephone stands," but they are teensy on top, like 12" square, because they're really only meant to hold a phone. I've thought of just sticking a short shelf on the wall, but then there wouldn't be any storage, and I'd worry that a lamp would look weird on a shelf because the cord would be very visible.

Anybody have suggestions for types of furniture I should be searching for (are "side table" and "telephone stand" the wrong things) or places I might look?

Thanks!

Jenny--try looking for sophisticated plant stands, and CB@: http://www.cb2.com/accent-tables/furniture/v

The formosa table looks like it almost perfectly fits those dimensions, and the smart pedestal or smart side table might work too?

I feel for you because it took me forever to find my perfect "landing strip" table--finally got it recently, at the Alameda flea market.

west elm has a couple cute ones too:

http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODf483&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1FRNTBL&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1FRNTBL

http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODf026&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1FRNTBL&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1FRNTBL

http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODf303&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1FRNTBL&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1FRNTBL

Thanks very much for the suggestions; that formosa tray table is especially cute. Am I possibly being crazy by thinking that a "landing strip" should be more like 3 feet tall rather than 2 feet? How high are other peoples'?

Jenny in DC,

I'm almost positive my landing strip is less than 3 feet. It's probably about the height of the table in the first west elm link.
I don't notice that it feels too short. I don't know how my 6 foot bf feels, but I'm 5'7", and it works for me.

Mine actually isn't a table; it's the big side of a removable hutch from an old Ikea desk. I use the matching little side as a bedside table.

Anushka73 --
For a clothesline on a balcony check out this site someone else posted yesterday (I think) in the clothes drying post....
http://www.laundrylift.com/ -- I have my eye on the breeze drying rack for my own balcony - it looks like I can dry clothes without pissing off my neighbors!
It's a Canadian site but they do seem able to ship to the US.
Hope this helps.

Mine is probably about 2 and a hlaf feet tall. I definitely wanted something taller, rather than the height of about a bed side table.

Any word on when the Boston AT will be activated...? I recall it getting voted the next 'AT city'...or am I mistaken?

Alex, thank you so much. I actually checked the site after I entered and indeed as you say it is excatly what I mean. It is perfect. I want to get two, but it won't be cheap to buy two, but hey, beats the dryer use.

OK in MA, thank you as well for your input. The breeze drying rack that Alex suggested is the right thing as it holds a few items, flat and square things with clothes pins.

Jenny in DC, what about a podium? I have one that I love. It's turned with the speaker's side facing out into the room. It has three shelves, and on the tilted top I keep a nice illustrated book open to changing pages. Mine's old and solid wood, not the kind you see in meeting rooms. I bought it at a "garage sale" for a swanky bank that was going out of business, but they probably sell something like it at Levenger.