apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I checked out TROY (I know p2 will have some funny comment on this!) from the Good Question post this morning and found the Pullman Sleeper Sofa which is almost perfect for our office/tv room/guest bedroom.

I found it on another site and think it is probably way too expensive so I am thinking about possible ways to build it myself. My main question would be how to attach the legs that have to swivel to the main sofa portion. Also, anyone know a good resource on how to build your own sofa, specifically on how create the padding and upholstery for the seating and back? I am in Chicago so any Chicago business that would do this would be fine as well, but NY won't work for us.

Another option would be if anyone has seen something similar to this elsewhere. I need something which is less than 53" when folded out and less than 77" wide.

Missing options...

slackers (the unemployed/ unemployable)
and the retired...

I'm somewhere in there...

While neither of these is quite the same vibe...

Pottery Barn Teen's Convertible Lounger...
http://ww2.pbteen.com/cat/pip.cfm?snav=1&pkey=cfursea&gids=p843&ctid=fursea&area=shp

or CB2's flip flop convertible sofa:
http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=102&f=147

There were also some other convertible sofas/beds on here not too far back...

Does home with a kid count as work--in my book it does

Shoshana--
It abso-@$@^*&!-LUTELY counts!!! :)

Need ideas for easy entertaining food - having friends and family over for drinks & apps before going out to dinner Friday evening (first time entertaining in my new apt- jitters!). Don't want to deal with lots of prep and mess, but would still like to try something beyond cheese & crackers/chips & dips. Does anyone have any fallback ideas when you've got a full house, full glass, and empty belly?

Also, any music reccomendations to go along with afore-mentioned tasties? Thanks!

Wren--
I just picked up a copy of a publication from the Martha Stewart folks, but the title escapes me. It was all about easy entertaining, and had everything from signature cocktails to tabletop projects. It is the same size as the Everyday Food magazine they also publish. A couple of spiced nut recipes that could be great for this.

I think great breads and cheeses are no cop-out, but if you want to go more exotic but even easier, I've often considered ordering various hors d'oeuvres/appetizers from the Indian/Afghan restaurants in my neighborhood...

We also got a kick-a$$ recipe for watermelon salsa not too long ago (also from Everyday Food) that would be the talk of your party. An earlier issue also had a Watermelon Margarita recipe...

And I've never been anywhere where shrimp (cooked, peeled and iced) was served when it was not the first tray to empty.

If more in a Summer produce mode, I saw a classic "recipe" for cherry tomatoes... dip them in vodka (Absolute Pepar would be awesome) then while still wet, dip them in coarse sea salt. Done. I saw them served on a bed of even more sea salt. A lot of chi-chi for the minimal effort.

SKGR... we need more ideas!!!

Speaking of entertaining.... (and I'm sorry I don't have any suggestions for nibblies) this has been on my mind alot. It seems that in every home-oriented show or magazine, whether it's about decorating, renovating, or relocating, the homeowners are ALWAYS said to "enjoy entertaining a lot." Everyone is entertaining! This thing has me both fascinated and irritated. My hubby & I just about never entertain. There are several reasons: 1. our apartment is tiny and cluttered (but we're working on the clutter); 2. most of the people we know from work and school, etc., don't live in Manhattan (where we are); and 3. we just can't afford it. We live so hand-to-mouth that our finances get thrown off-kilter whenever any unbudgeted expense comes up. My hubby grew up in a partying family but I grew up in a household where we never had parties -- so I am just mystified about this whole entertaining thang. For those of you who "entertain often," how do you do it? How often do you do it? Who comes over - work friends, school friends, neighbors? Do you always foot the bill or do people bring stuff? I feel like I am missing some crucial element of being an adult if I'm not "entertaining often." Please share your thoughts on this - thanks!!

P(too) those are great suggestions! I am definitely going to try the tomato dish (I just swiped an awesome sushi tray from a work lunch that would be perfect for serving!). I'll search for the watermelon salsa- I'd love to highlight summer as the main dish while I still can. When I entertain like this, I am not a fan of the full bar - too expensive, too complicated, and most people don't take advantage. But a pitcher of fresh watermelon puree and some ice cold booze - who could resist?

Diane, some of the best times I've had have been around a cool group of people and a lot of cheap wine. Entertaining doesn't have to be magazine-worthy. Don't lose sight of the motivations behind it - to welcome people whose company you enjoy into your home. Everything else is secondary (as long as you don't run out of toilet paper).

Diane--

If inclined to open your doors to friends, you can foot the bill or make it BYOB, with you providing mixers and the simplest of nibbly bits. Or it could be inviting one other couple over for a great meal, simple or extravagant. When food is gracioulsy offered, friends will make the trek.

I echo Wren's sentiments... doesn't have to be a Colin-Cowie-for-Oprah extravaganza. People come for the social aspect, not to judge your hostessing skill. People are grateful to be invited, and very often are as mystified by the prospect of entertaining as you are.

But Diane, we think absolutely no less of you if you choose *not* to use entertain as a verb in your home, or anywhere. There are other ways to socialize, other ways to let your friends know you love 'em. I think some of it is as you imply... shelter/lifestyle magazine/TV hype... like "the perfect holiday".

I read an article once in Esquire about "Things Adults Get Pressured Into for Absolutely No Good Reason" or something like that, and "having a party in your house" was on that list. :)

Wren--

Evry article I've read lately about hosting a party, intimate or grand, talks about having a "signature cocktail" for the event... something fun, different, not necessarily oozing with alcohol (but can!), served in pretty glasses perhaps chosen specifically for the event/drink, garnished like a pro, and served automatically to guests upon entry.

Too ambitious? The party planners always follow up that tip with "nobody says no when handed a sparkling glass of decent champagne upon arrival."

With regards to the survey question:

What about people who work, but read this website at night, at home, because when they are at work, they are, well... working?

Wren. The last time I entertained pre-dinner/pre-show for 8 people, I picked up a selection of pre-made Empanadas (cut in half) from an Argentine take-out counter, and prepared 1 pitcher of red wine sangria (made with Trader Joe's "2 Buck Chuck" Cabernet) and 1 pitcher of sparkling white wine sangria (substituting inexpensive Italian Prosecco for champagne--from a recipe I found online). The only prep-work involved was preparing the 2 pitchers of sangrias. The total cost came in at around $40. (I had a 6-pack of Mexican beer just in case, but no one went near it.) Final touch, I made an iTunes playlist specifically for the gathering comprised of vintage Bossa Nova, contemporary Brazilian electro-pop, recent Mexican "Nortec" electro-dance, and selections from the "Verve Remixed" 1-3 compilations. (The music helped to set the mood.)

Diane. Entertaining is a priority for me because I'm out of town 5-9 days per month and would never see my friends unless I made the effort. I try to entertain on a smaller scale 2-3 times per month. Sometimes it's pre-event cocktails. Sometimes it's a movie or Sunday HBO night (mostly because I'm the only one in my circle of friends with a plasma screen TV). I let my other friends attempt the more ambitious multi-course dinner parties or larger holiday parties. PS, when I'm invited over to close friends' places, I try to help out with the food-prep, bartending or dishwashing--to ensure I get invited back!

diane - The Oprah magazine people would have a field day with your comment that your home is too tiny or cluttered to be guest-worthy. if it's not good enough for friends to see how is it good enough for you to live there?
entertaining can be cheap. in fact, you can gain stuff out of it! friends can usually bring wine, bread, cheese or dessert, easily or side dishes if it's potluck.
But you know, I think entertaining is different depending on your culture/temperament. the mediterraneans? they invite you into your home and don't want you to leave. anglo-saxons meet and chill at the pub/restaurant and then go home. Maybe you're just an Englishwoman, not an Italian...

Diane....
I entertain at home alot to have relaxed unstructured time with my friends. It's in my DNA for sure, but I think you could pick it up...start with one drink (or red and white wine) and take-out just to get the idea in place that people could come into your apt and you could actually enjoy it!

I don't invite people I don't REALLY want to get to know better into my home, and so I don't do generic work or neighbor parties. Although I did grow up as child labor for giant annual xmas parties that served the work crowd and entire neighborhood -- those take ALOT of prep.

Whatever you do, don't make it so ambitious that you can't enjoy yourself and spend most of your time with your guests. I had a great cocktail party with mojitos (one pitcher drinks are great, and you don't need to layout a whole bar) and cut up bahn-mi, the $3 Vietnamese sandwiches available in any city with a Vietnamese population.

A green salad, ravioli with sage butter, good bread and red wine (something guests can bring) was my quick fallback dinner for years -- relatively cheap, easy, delicious, and frankly people are thrilled that you want to feed them!

If you like to cook, that opens up another world of possibilities. But for god's sake, don't do it unless you enjoy it!

The other thing that was helpful for me was to give up the idea that some sort of cleaning frenzy had to take place before friends could come over. If it's good enough for me...etc. It's bad to set any unpleasant precondition to a relaxed gathering.

I think people are either "hosts" or they're not.
And I don't think there's anything at all wrong with those who aren't.