apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

That animated Kodak Gallery ad really bugs me.

The flashing ads to the right of the page don't intrude on my viewing as much because they're sort of like background and they are off to one side of the page. The Kodak one gets in the way more.

Does anyone have experience with design/build firms? If so, any recommendations? I'm wondering what the pros and cons are compared to working with an architect who then hands off the plans to a different contractor. Thanks.

Whats a good way to decorate concrete walls? I live in a pre-war building in the UWS and want to put pictures, etc... on them. Problem is I don't want to really drill holes into the walls. I know those double-sided stickers might work, but if you have any better suggestions, I'm all ears. Thanks.

Look at these awesome cutting boards from JK Adams in Vermont:

https://www.thekitchenstoreonline.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16600&cat=290&page=1

I hope that link works. My links rarely come out properly...am I doing something wrong?

Anyway, they're beautiful boards (like all of JK Adams' stuff) and they can hang on the wall!

i know this has come up before...but could anyone recommend a place to get hairpin legs besides ian mcclean at hairpinlegs.com?
i love the product just i have some questions and he has yet to return my phone calls nor emails. is he out of business?

What are some good short term solutions and paint colors for making this kitchen and oak cabinets less ghastly? Just recently re-painted this condo I just bought and laid light maple floors. The rooms look great, but makes this old-school oak stick out like a sore thumb. How can I neutralize this space, especially the loud and warm cabinets? This kitchen opens up to a living/dining combo painted in Benjamin Moore Monroe Bisque. Just need an interim design solution until I do a full kitchen remodel.

Kitchen
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emilyyamamoto/1048400952/in/set-72157601300436107/

View of kitchen from livingroom - the Monroe Bisque in reality is more neutral and taupe than what this color suggests:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emilyyamamoto/1431096046/in/set-72157601300436107/

Does anyone use those home fragrance things that are a bottle with sticks sticking out of them? I love, love the scent of the new Marc Jacobs one, but I have always hesistated to buy one of those things because I think it will just get gross looking if it gets dusty (they supposedly last for a month or longer and those sticks wick up the scented oil, or whatever is in there, so you can't clean them).

Has anyone used these before?

I have a pet question...I just got a pair of kittens and was thinking of wrapping my hot water pipe with rope to create a big scratching post...I got this idea from an old apartmenttherapy post....
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/pet-decor-2006-entries/my-designs-dreamy-patricias-climbing-pole-010835

Any thoughts on a) whether this would be a fire hazard or b) whether it would just be much too hot..?

Thanks!

AmyE,

I did the exact same thing on my bathroom pipe and it has held up fine; i've had it for close to a year now. My cats use it daily.

psycht,

Are you sure your walls aren't plaster?

Thanks Geraldine! What kind of rope did you use? And did you just wind it up the pipe or is there another way to adhere it?
Appreciate the help!

emilyy

i have the same delimmea, not wanting to spend a lot before
a gut remodel a couple of years down the line. Check out
the book "Debbie Travis Kitchens and Baths." Wasn't a fan of hers for awhile, bored with the faux finishes (although she got skills) but she has a lot of great stop-gap solutions, painting tiles and cabinets.
http://www.paintedhouse.com/

robyn,
i haven't had good luck with the scented reeds... they only seem to smell when you're right next to them.

i have a painting question. i am making the move from an apartment to a townhouse (more space scares me to death)--there is chair-rail moulding in the living/dining room.

has anyone painted under the chair-rail, if so was it a light color or dark color and also, did you end up painting on top of the chair-rail as well? a contrast color or complimentary color?

I don't want to leave my walls white, would like some color to off-set the chair-rail detail.

twotwo,

I've had good luck finding hairpin legs -- both vintage and new -- on ebay.

Ian Mclean of hairpinlegs.com still has a website, but he doesn't return emails or phone calls.

Has anyone here had luck with him lately, since there is an email from 2007 about the same problem?