apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I need to find a cover for the entire top of my gas stove/oven. It's a freestanding unit with four burners. I want a metal one, plain white would be fine, that would simply fit down over the entire top and provide me with space to keep things if I want to (I seldom use the range.) All I can seem to find is stuff for RVs that I have to special order, and single-burner covers. Anyone have any advice? I'm in the midwest.

Can any one in NYC reccommend a one-time cleaning service? I'm moving into a new place on Monday and would like to have it cleaned so I can get started decorating and painting. We're looking to spend between $150-200 for a 3 bedroom.

Thanks.

try going to a sheet metal fab shop with the dimensions of your oven top. measure the height with the burners in place. Some places will talk to you, and some don't want to be bothered. you might also talk to someome who installs big hvac units. They might be able to help you ,too.If you want a tigh fit, they may charge you extra for bending the metal. Just a thought. (small shops may be more willing to do the work for you..)

Need to know more about what kind of stove you have. Jennair, Viking and other "high end" stoves often have covers that are made for the griddle/grill that work just as well over the burners, and are black metal. They may also work just as well for yours.

I jettisoned my steel cover for these

http://stores.channeladvisor.com/thinkbamboo/Cutting%20Boards/Burner%20Covers/

Sarah,

I've been very happy with a cleaning service called White Glove Elite. Dependable, very thorough and in your price range. (I think). Sorry I don't have the # handy but I know I hav googled them in the past.
Good Luck in your new place.

After seeing capiz hangings in my local trendy Thai restaurant and in the apartment post today (my name is Elaine too! But sadly, my apartment isn't quite as nice yet...), I'm seriously thinking using them to fill up the wall above my bed. I've seen them at West Elm, but I think it's 3 strands for $20 - is there any other place I could get something similar? Or are there any other ways I could fill up that space quickly?

I need help with colour!

I have a sofa (http://www.gusdesigngroup.com/products1/sofas/carter-sofa/image01.jpg) in a dark grey (http://www.gusdesigngroup.com/Materials/Swatches/Fabric/Essentials/Flannelsuede_Graphite.jpg)

and these chairs that I got on sale that I couldn't pass up:
(http://www.gusdesigngroup.com/products1/dining/oliver-chair/image02.jpg) The colour for the chairs is: (http://www.gusdesigngroup.com/Materials/Swatches/Fabric/Essentials/MiniHerringbone_Mink.jpg)

I am planning on putting them together in the living room... but is there some way I can get these colours to match? They look somewhat off side by side, but I was wondering if I could somehow use pillows or throws to tie them in together?

I really like both the sofa and the chairs, so if there is a way to make them work together that would be great! Thanks

(Sorry, reposting since the links didn't come out)

I need help with colour!

I have a sofa ("Carter Sofa") in a dark grey (swatch)

and these chairs that I got on sale that I couldn't pass up:
(Oliver Chairs) The colour for the chairs is: ("Herringbone Mink")

I am planning on putting them together in the living room... but is there some way I can get these colours to match? They look somewhat off side by side, but I was wondering if I could somehow use pillows or throws to tie them in together?

I really like both the sofa and the chairs, so if there is a way to make them work together that would be great!
Thanks

Anyone know how to get candlewax off of candleholders?

ten_eighteen -- Any two colors will stop clashing when you add a print that integrates both of them.

I need help with quite a few things in decorating my living room! I recently bought an awesome new sofa, a tv stand, and some really cool art prints. I have a start, but I don't know where to go from here. I need help with frame choices, matte choices, art placement on my walls, and any other genius decoration ideas I know the users on this site are capable of.

Here are images of the room as is:
Living Room 1
Living Room 2
Living Room 3
Living Room 4

Here are some images of the prints I recently purchased from Gallery Nucleus that I would love to use for this area:
Ninjas 12x42
Man Walking 8.5x11
Woman Walking 8.5x11
Imaginary Friend 6x19

Right now everything I have gotten so far seems to be a muted green or tan. I do have those two prints that have a more vibrant green, and I am definitely interested in adding more color to the room than just those muted tones.

All of the prints that I have been collecting have been things that remind me of wild imaginations or books, or even something whimsical. I want to keep with that theme. I have more prints that are not matted or framed here. If you think I could use any of these, feel free to give input:
Other prints labeled with size

I had a few questions about mattes and frames. Is it better to give everything matching mattes and frames? Matching frames but different matte colors? Matching matte colors but different frames?


Limitations:
-I am unable to paint the walls. I move too often, and I want whatever style I choose to be easily transferable.
-I want to avoid buying a big coffee table for the center of the room. I've got a big 80 lb. dog and don't want to take up too much space that he could use to lay about.

Thank you!

One more thing to add. The knicknacks contained in the book case are just place holders so that it isn't empty. I have no attachments whatsoever and would very much like to have something different in them.

Hi all!

I'm thinking of painting my kitchen backsplash a super-high-gloss deep red!

Firstly, is this a crazy idea?
Secondly, has anyone here done this, and is it a ton of work?

-cat

Pixie - will the candle holders fit in the freezer? If so, put them there for - say - 15 to 20 minutes and then take out. The wax will have harden and can then be plucked/scraped, etc. away. If 15 -20 minutes is not enough for the wax to harden, put back in freezer a little longer. Also, if they are not decorative you can use a plastic scraper. But -- be gentle.