apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Last night there was a fire in my building, and while there is no smoke damage, the smell has permeated part of my unit. Does anyone have any recommendations on smokey-smell removal?

Hey guys!
After 2 years spent living abroad, my partner and I are moving back to NYC from Germany (YAY YAY!)

Anyone have any tips for international moves? i.e good movers?

It's amazing to move back to a city that you already know. I think it will be a lot different then when I moved here the first time....totally blind.
If you were could back to NYC after having been away, what would u do differently? Which neighborhood would u pick? What would u bring? What would u sell/buy new?

do differently?

Well, expand my range of acceptable neighborhoods to live in. When I last moved it was the Village or bust. Now, I would find any neighborhood near a good subway stop as acceptable. I also would go for larger spaces, even if it were a financial stretch.

neighborhood?

hell's kitchen; rose hill; financial district; "yuppie" harlem. Rose Hill -- one of several non-names for the area south of murray hill and north of the east village -- is just about Manhattan's forgotten neighborhood. But it's nice and quiet. hell's Kitchen is happening but still affordable. And still Hell's kitchen.

bring?

for an international move, as little as possible. I might even be tempted to use this as an excuse to "start over". For me, I'd ship back about half my books (and sell or give away the rest) and carry a few key momentos of someone I was in love with who up and died on me. My buddha and my clothes. That's more or less it.

I have an antique night table and a cheap (but pretty!) target lamp. The problem is, my bed and the night stand is right in front of my large bedroom window, which I always keep open (I'm on the top floor and it gets really hot). Whenever there is any wind, the lamp gets blown right off the table. Is there any way I can affix the lamp to the antique table without damaging the table? I don't care if I damage the lamp. Also, the lamp base is clear, so preferably the solution would not be visible. I was thinking a small strip of strong velcro, but I'm worried the adhesive might damage the table. The antique is not terribly valuable, but I'd still rather not ruin it. Thank you!

Samantha - how about buying a slab of cheap marble or something else heavy, and then attaching the lamp to that? Then you can rest it on the table without harming the table at all? I am sure someone else will have a better idea, but that was the first thing that came to mind.

There are also clip-lamps like this that might work for you instead: http://www.lampsplus.com/htmls/best/view.aspx?cat=CliplightsOther

Sounds like you aren't attached to the lamp. I'd ditch it and get another lamp that's heavier and has a lower center of gravity.

Hi,
I am updating all my large appliances. I would love to sell them to get some cash, since I will be in sore need of whatever dollar I can get, but I realize this is unrealistic. Does anyone have any experience with donating such items for the tax writeoff? Can one do such a thing, and if so, do the organizations then come and pick up the items?

thanks.

Samantha, what about museum gel to hold the lamp?
http://www.improvementscatalog.com/home/improvements/89869-clear-museum-gel-putty.html

Clear, safe for valuables, earthquake proof!

Cat, that suggestion about the marble is really fantastic. It's so simple, but it would definitely work!
Rachel, I had never heard of museum gel! Wow, that would also work perfectly!
Two cheap, easy, practical, perfect solutions in one post, within an hour of asking my question... I love site. Now I feel amost justified in how often I check for updates. Thanks everyone!

i am about to take the leap and buy an eames lounge & ottoman from DWR. they are having a sale in june or july on the eames lounge & ottoman.

i have a tiny armless loveseat in a houndstooth (with cat claw snags) and a wassily chair. i also have a ottoman in glossy black leather. i worry if they will all get along.

but namely, my concern is whether to get the white/oak or the black/oak or just go for the palisander in either white or black.

i fear that eames lounge chairs are overplayed but the SO has one where he works at and he insists that we must get it.

advice anyone?

Samantha, that museum stuff is at the Contianer store too. I like the marble idea, and cut glass would be even cheaper.

the big d:

if i were buying the eames lounge, i would do some basic price searches...it is common enough. for example: circa 50 has it for the same price but has more upholstery options and FREE SHIPPING. Same with Highbrowfurniture.com. Both of these should feature the herman miller sale prices at the same time as DWR.

Hi,
First time posting. I am about to paint an old dresser Benjamin Moore black. I would appreciate any advice on paint finish. Should I go with a water based or an oil based? I want a a high shine gloss finish not a flat black.

Advice?

I’m looking for ideas! I just moved from a shoebox to something a little roomier and I’m trying to get my old stuff to work.

First problem: http://www.mostlysunny.org/living-dining/seats.jpg
What color couch and what color rug would help to bring this yellow chair and red chair-and-a-half together? Are browns my only options? I like brown, but I’m afraid it’ll be boring. I have been thinking of this couch: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=931&f=11037&q=praddo&fromLocation=Search&DIMID=400001&SearchPage=1 but have no ideas for the rug. And what I really want is any shade of blue anywhere, somehow, but I am afraid of being color greedy. I’d also be willing to move one of those chairs into another room.

Second problem:
http://www.mostlysunny.org/living-dining/livingdining.jpg
How to lay out the two seating areas? As you can see… ugh. (I’m letting go of the little black ikea sofa & the ikea table there in the corner).

Thanks so much for your help!

i'mbored, oil based will wear better and have a better gloss, i think.

I'mbored, you should do oil-based paint. It stinks horribly, and isn't at all environmentally friendly, but the drawers won't stick. You should probably go out of your way to dispose of the oil-based paint through a safe disposal place in your city.

Supposedly, though, there are now water-based paints that can sub for oil, so it might be worth asking at a knowledgeable paint store.

Pear -- Beautiful apartment!

Your sofa choice is a nice, safe color that will get along well with everything else. So... your rug needs to combine that brown (it's also the brown in the yellow chair, right?) and the red from the loveseat -- and if you want to start adding blue, the rug pattern is the place to start. I'm seeing a modern rug for you, not an oriental -- something with some big circles.