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I got a new Sisal rug about 2 weeks ago, and no matter how hard I try I can't seem to get the "folds" out from when the rug was rolled up. The rug looks messy and wrinkled on the floor-- it doesn't lay flat. I've tried rolling the rug in the opposite direction, but it hasn't helped so far. Any ideas?

i'm head over heels for the Rondo table blogged on AT here:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/tables-dining-occasional/rondo-table-012748

however the price is waaay out of my budget. any ideas for something similar (and less expensive)? ideal diameter would be 42". i love the walnut finish and the exposed end grain on the legs but would prefer four legs as opposed to three.

or if someone has recommendation for a craftsman who could build such a lovely piece, that'd be great too.

Have you tried wetting the creases? I had the same problem with a sisal runner from Ikea and I soaked the creases good and once it all dried it was flat. The runner is in my galley kitchen on the vinyl floor so it was easy to deal with in there, but if your rug is on a wood floor I would put some old towels under the wet area.

Best of luck!

if you do wet the rug, i'd recommend wetting not just the creases but the whole thing - in my experience, sisal can develop water spots

i want your opinions on this chair I saw on Saturday (it's listed on my local craigslist for only $25): http://tinyurl.com/398paf The owner doesn't really have any info on it other than her husband has owned it for years and that it's very comfy and cool looking. The upholstery is rather dusty but in otherwise great condition. The fabric is a nubby green with flecks of blue and brown and it feels like a wool blend. The wood arms are painted black but a good deal of it has worn off. You can't really see in the pic, but the back reclines a bit and is held in position by a metal rod that rests in grooves at the back of the wood arms. The whole thing is very solid and heavy, but I don't know the maker or anything. Oh, there's also some really nice nailhead detail on the upholstery around the legs.

Does anyone have any opinions on it? ideally I would like to strip the black paint off the wood arms/legs and if the underlying wood is nice I would just stain it.

Thanks for your input!

i'm moving into my first apartment and i am desperately in need of a bed. i plan on getting a full sized and, mostly due to budget, have been looking at ikea. does anyone have any advice about ikea beds and mattresses? preferred models? alternatives?

thanks!

jhawley,

Are you limited to a double based on space? If you have room I highly recommend you get a Queen because it's bigger and much more comfortable for 2 people and they're not much more than a double.

I have never owned an Ikea mattress but over the years I have read some very positive reviews on them. Sorry I can't be of more help, but I'm sure someone else will jump in. You should also so a seach on AT for Ikea mattresses and see what you get.

jhawley,

My husband and I have had 2 beds from Ikea - the first was the Malm and the one we currently have is the Aneboda. Design-wise, I prefer the Malm, but for some reason we had a lot of problems with the wooden slats under the mattress falling through. We haven't had any problems with the Aneboda thus far, but it's only been a year. It does seem to be holding up pretty well though.

As for their mattresses, well, I wouldn't recommend the one we bought about a year ago (forget the name though, sorry). We both wake up achy all the time. When it comes to a mattress, I'd spend the extra money for better quality.

jhawley

I live in an L-shaped studio and when i got there i was limited on funds and of course space. so i got a high riser frame ( for 120 bucks) and i bought a matteress ( queen size for 300) and it works great. i have room under the bed for 6 plastic rubbermaid bins ( extra storage that is well needed)

and i used to own a malm bed in my old place. what i did was buy two pieces of plywood to keep the slats from moving around. it worked great.

DC-ers:

I just saw that a vintage store on 14th St has opened: "The Hunted House." Maybe I'm a little slow to the game here. Has anyone checked it out? Any reports?

I asked about it this last week. Does anyone know where I can get this bookcase http://tinyurl.com/2wokdb for less and in a lighter stain? It has to be made out of solid wood and not the engineered kind (no MDF, laminate, or plywood please). I am looking for something around $300 or less. Also if anyone has some amateur woodworkers or more professional carpenters to suggest who could build these- that would be great too.

Monica, I think the chair is great. It has nice lines and is probably comfortable with the right cushions. But what are you planning to do with the cushions? Are you planning on reupholstering or slip covering? Just factor in that cost when you think about buying it.

jhawley - search this site, IKEA beds have been discussed in the past.

LadyJ how did your stoop sale go?

DON'T wet a colored sisal rug, in place. Chances are VERY GOOD the color will bleed. If you are tempted to do it, wet it LIGHTLY with a spray bottle, the way you wet a shirt when ironing.

Is your rug on a rug liner (the latex kind)? That will help. Otherwise, patience. The creases will eventually settle out, but flipping the rug every week or so will definitely help. Also, vacuum it a few times a week, especially down the length of the creases, especially on the high points of the folds.

Trumystique--
Um, "solid wood and not the engineered kind (no MDF, laminate, or plywood please)" handmade to your specs for $300 or under? I think you need to readjust your reality meter *just* a touch!

For a look like that (very "slabby") you're already looking at some serious wood costs. And as far as construction "simple" ain't always "easy." And if you are in NYC, carpentry ain't cheap. (ditto to chickpea about having that table recreated, custom).

Monica--
Seems like a lot of work for a basic MCM chair. Have you factored in reupholstery costs to the $25 "bargain" price?

jhawley--
Just worry about a good quality (best you can afford) mattress and box spring if money is an issue. You can always create a "real bed" look with a tailored bed skirt and headboard (purchased, simulated, or DIY). The mattress is the investment portion of your purchase, and you should treat it as such.

And Monica, I fit two people (sometimes more) on my double bed and it works out just fine! ;)

Plus, the sheets are (usually) cheaper.

Sofa/Sectional question!

I am *IN LOVE* with this sectional from Z. Gallerie, which is gorgeous soft white leather on a wooden frame, and costs $2500 (ouch!)

Then I see this fabric version from West Elm, the Walton Sectional. It's a little smaller, and looks like it might be a little higher....

It's also $300 cheaper.

Has anyone out there sat on the Walton? How is West Elm for things like couches and such? I've sat on the Z Gallerie piece (several times) and the floor model is still in great shape.

I've also had excellent service from Z Gallerie, having purchased a bed from them in the past.

Is there any reason I should get the walton instead? Other than the $300 savings?

Rachel--

I have a wood section couch from West Elm and have been very happy with it. The cushions are super comfortable and have held up very well as has the frame.

Tru - no sale this weekend. Got it in my head to finally rearrange the furniture. All weekend. Ouch.

rachel--

Don't let the $300 difference make you think there is any difference in quality. As a matter of fact, it would make me be more suspsicious of the Z Gallerie quality, because leather should account for more of a difference if all other things are equal.

Okay P(too) how much should I readjust the meter? Actualy saw some store in Cali had something made out of reclaimed teak for $680. But it seems to me that there should be somewhere where I can find this in solid wood for less than $600. I would be willing to find something unfinished and do the staining myself. I realize I dont know how many hours it would take to make this custom but was hoping someone could enlighten me. The problem with the Lucas besides it being dark is that only the top slab is solid oakwood. The rest of it is some composite that is veneered.

jhawley -
We were in a similar situation last year, after sleeping on an old mattress on the floor for 6 months, we decided we needed a real bed, but were stuck with a student budget. For some reason Ikea didn't seem like an option at the time, but this was one of the options we looked at and almost bought - http://www.tiny.cc/gXsVV
It's a simple platform bed available though Amazon, made in the US of real wood (pine), unfinished full size is $139. It has great reviews and I would have bought it, but it seemed like a really simple design, so we decided to try to make one ourselves.
I found this plan online for a lofted dorm bed, and simply altered the dimensions to make it a lower full sized bed. By lowering it enough, we eliminated the need for the lower rails. We also added cross slats to the top, to make it a platform bed. We used 2x4s for the frame and 1x6s for the top slats, and finished it with linseed oil. It's a little industrial looking (the bolt heads show on the sides) but it's very very solid, and didn't cost us anything (the wood was free from my father, and we used my parents workshop). We also built it tall enough to allow for a lot of storage space underneath. This is the plan -
http://www.creativespotlite.com/woodworking/bunk-beds.htm
Obviously this is only something you would do if you have the time/resources/(few)skills (no idea how much the wood would have cost to buy from a lumber yard), but this plan was so easy to alter to make exactly what we wanted, took just a few hours to make, and it's so sturdy it will last a long long time. It also comes apart very easily for when we move (bolts and screws).
Anyway, two options we looked at in a similar situation, hope it helps!

rachel, you might check out Macys in person or online. They are having a home sale. I checked out some of the fabric couches and sectionals made by Jonathan Louis ( many of the sale sofas). A few of the sofas were unstable- when I picked them up the frame wiggled. But some of the Macy's furniture are a mixed bag. Some are quite good and some are meh to bad. Also just went to Z Gallerie and based on a quick inspection of one sofa it seemed to me the quality was better than WestElm. I think the best way to approach getting a sofa is have a checklist (check the decking, frame stability, padding cushions etc etc)

patrick (the other one),

You certainly can't tell from the poor photo, but the chair really doesn't need to be reupholstered. It's very dusty but otherwise there is no fading, tears or worn areas. I have a feeling it was reupholstered sometime in the last 20 years and lucky for me the green is a great color for my family room. For $25 I think I'm going to go ahead and get it, vacuum the heck out of it and clean up the wood. If I decide I don't want it after all, it will already be cleaned up and I can sell it on Craigslist myself after taking some much better photos!

I have just been waffling on it because I wanted to get a few extra opinions on the overall look/lines of it.

Re: your double bed...You crack me up! Good for you that you're comfortable in such a small bed with multiple people! You must be one of the people who can sleep anywhere through all sorts of noise. I'm one of those light sleepers and if my partner flops around or bumps into me I will wake up.

patrick,

What is your honest opinion of the chair? I'm fairly new to the world of MCM and I think I have a good eye, but it doesn't hurt to get some sage advice from other folks who know more about the period.

Oh crap...I keep having thoughts after I hit the Submit button! Re: the sisal rug wetting...mine is just a natural color so the wetting didn't hurt it at all. Plus being it the kitchen it gets stuff spilled on it all the time and it has held up very well. I have been looking at some other colored ones for the same areas so it's very good to know that the colored ones can run. I guess I'll stick to natural-colored one for the sink area.

Another question --

I'm reupholstering a vintage sofa. Should I cut the maker's tag out of the old one before I send it off? It seems to be glued underneath the cushions.

Thanks!

Stacee,
I would keep the original tag so you have some nice provenance on the piece if you decide to sell it in the future.

Dwell readers..

Does anyone know who makes this small,shiny,orange table as seen in the recent July/august issue of Dwell?
Here's a link to the story: http://www.dwell.com/homes/new/7984862.html

The table is seen in the 2nd photo.Thanks!

The small spaces issue of Canadian House & Home hits the newsstands tomorrow.

liz S.--

That table is from CB2. Or, rather, was.

It is called the Smart table, and they used to have it in both orange and taupe. The tops were back-painted glass, and had a great look.

Now they only carrry it in chrome/clear.

Monica--

I am generally skeeved by vintage upholstered pieces (and that was even beofre the whole bedbug thing!). The only way I'd buy one is if I knew I were in fact reupholstering. Plus, some pieces from this period are really scratchy Olefin or some weird poly-fiber, from the early days of synthetics.

So I'm not the best guy to ask! :)

Trumystique--
Well, you've started the homework, so you are seeing that the prices are not going to get to $300 anytime soon, at least not super fast.

Why are you so adamant about no veneering?

My suggestion would be to post an ad on Craigs for a woodworker.

Rosie/JHawley -- I think I have the bed you posted to in Amazon. It was passed onto me, so I can't be sure, and I didn't put it together, but if not it's awfully similar, and I find it quite comfortable.

Trumystique -- you might try asking around at hardware stores. Some of them are willing to do some basic carpentry if you can provide them with plans (ah, there's the rub...)

Okay turns out I found someone to do the bookcases for me in oak. Keep your fingers crossed.

P(too) I am not against all veneer just many of them. Many veneers arent well done and scratch mighty easily. And there isnt really a way for an amateur to fix or refinish veneer pieces easily. I would more likely buy a veneer from an antique piece than a veneer item from Crate & Barrel or Pottery Barn.The fact is that the shop in Cali used reclaimed teak wood from Asia so that $680 seems to factor that in. I am pretty sure there is somewhere local that I could find something similar in solid wood- but at this point I want my bookcases NOW so I will suck up the cost of customwork.

betsbillabong, I think I might also ask at local hardware stores for the future as well.

By the way, Knossos Cabinetry give me a pretty good quote that I might have taken if not for having spent on some big ticket items like a sofa, 2 club chairs and a rug recently.

What do you folks think of this sofa from Urban Outfitters? I've been eyeing it for a while, and the price is right. The corona love seat is another contender.

Have any of you tried it out? Is it comfy?

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=29968&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=336&iSubCat=713&iProductID=29968

I saw that sofa at Urban Outfitters and I really didn't like it in person. It looks cheap and looked like the cushion was already sagging from wear. The back is metal too so it isn't attractive from that side. I don't think it's worth it.

Trumystique, try this:
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/fur/390883747.html
Talk them down.

Jhawley-

I agree with P2 to invest in your mattress, getting the best that you can afford. As for the bed, I have always liked IKEA's Malm. Or, if you are into DIY, you can make a platform bed pretty easily out of two doors and some plywood. My mom's plans for how to do this are posted on the LA AT site. Here is the link:

http://tinyurl.com/33afay

liz S.

I think that table might be from Jonathan Adler. If not, it's very similar and still available in orange.

http://www.jonathanadler.com/shop/product.php?productid=16928&cat=369&page=1#

Yeah, buy the best bed you can afford. Although I recently purchased a inexpensive queen bed and topped it off with a good quality foam topper. If I could, I would have purchased a quality memory foam mattress, I love the topper that much. I used to have a king bed but it was always too big for the room and left little room around the bed to walk around. I had also spend the summer of '99 on bed rest in a uncomfortable full size bed. Go for comfort then for size.

Aneboda is my nemesis. My roommate's bed (I've posted about it before, thought it was Malm but turns out it was Aneboda) had to be dismantled for move #1. We decided if we don't dismantle it, the weight on the joints from turning it sideways to get it thru the door will break it. Hard to explain, but trust me. Putting it back together was pure hell. Such hell in fact, that for move #2, we dismantled it only partially. Put it back together, it broke a week later. While my roommate's friend was .... can you believe the audacity? .... sitting on it. Really, get the best bed you can afford, and if Aneboda is the best you can afford, leave your mattress on the floor for now.

VickyA,

"Go for comfort then for size" is excellent advice...I may quote you on that in the future if you don't mind! I love my King memory foam mattress but I have a feeling I would be just as happy on a Queen size of the same mattress.

GZgoingMod aka Geraldine,

I have the Urban Outfitters sofa but in the wheat colour. It's the same sofa featured in yesterday's AT ' Inside Out: Alysia and David Get Sponsored by Dwell'.

So far, smashing. It's very firm and I jazzed it up with pricier cushions & am happy with the end result.

Anne, I tried to talk down those Craigslist folks and they werent having it. Also got my sister and friend to do it so they could see their price point was high. They wouldnt budge, alas.

that's two very different viewpoints on that sofa. I'm going to check out that slide show again, and will have to visit their shop in person before I make a final decision.

one thing though, their delivery charge is steep...

Thank you Laura & Carol123

One more thing -- A California King measures 72" x 84", King 76" x 80", Queen 60" x 80", Full (double) is 53" x 75" and a twin is 38" x 75." My memory foam topper was orginally a king size, and only the king were on sale, so I bought it, laid it on the queen mattress and cut off the excess with a pair of really sharp scissors.

d in dc, the Hunted House has been open since mid-June I believe. It's definitely an alternative to IKEA but I wouldn't go to fill all functional furniture needs. I do love their tikki bar/mini bars and really cool dressers, though. Their prices are lower than other mid-century vintage shops in the area, though some items are randomly overpriced. I like the place because the layout encourages you to think about how the furniture would look in your own home and it's not so cluttered that you have to stand back to think about how a piece would fit in your home.