apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Hi~ Does anyone know the diameter a round table has to be to seat 8 chairs? thank you!

My place is very small. management is going to put my flat screen on the wall as you come in the front door.
Is it okay to have a landing strip BEHIND your door?? That way i could come in, close my door and use the wall on the other side.

Our landing strip is behind the door, and it works great. Walk in - drop keys in their bin with one hand while closing the door with the other - voila!

Any tips on a smaller-scale console table with some hidden storage (doors are preferred - as most of the ones with drawers don't seem to offer enough storage). It needs to be about 48" wide x 30" high x 15-18" deep. I'm looking for something with some interest to it (maybe some cool hardware or something with an asian feel) as it will be the first piece of furniture when entering the house.

Sol, you're probably going to have to get a 60" round to seat 8 people comfortably. That or get a table with an extension.

Robyn, have you considered a Tansu?

I am absolutely trembling in my boots--

I have found some fabric that is "to the trade only." The only Canadian retailer is about 3000 km away from me, and it's a wall paper store.

Here's a link:
http://www.thibautdesign.com/Collection/patternDetailFab.aspx?pid=824&prdId=4663

I'd like to know how much this fabric costs per yard. Are we talking under or over $100.00 for a start? I'll need 3 yards plus 1 foot.

It is probably out of my price range. But if anyone can help me, I'd apreciate it very much.

Please leave me an e-mail via flickr where my name is scraplolly.
http://www.flickr.com/
Thanks.

Alana in Canada, that is so pretty. I hope the price is within your reach.

OK, I had to look up what a Tansu was. I got a variety of different types -- but I do like that Asian, painted, antique looking style as a contrast to my modern furniture. Any ideas on sourcing this type of furniture in the NYC/Metro area?

I'm rewiring a few lamps and I was wondering if anyone knew of good lamp part supply stores in Manhattan or Queens. I've shopped before at a place on Broadway a few blocks north of Houston, but can't remember the name or exact address. I've also heard about Grand Brass lamp parts but their website gives no indication of an actual Manhattan location (it says they've moved, but not where to--and I couldn't reach anyone there on the phone...) Anyone know addresses for these places or can recommend another place?

Thanks!

deoxy, i think the place on broadway is Lighting Plus, right? i walked by it the other day. i remember them being not-so-helpful when we were trying to hardwire a plugin light.

Grand Brass is catalog only now, as they've moved up to CT somewhere.

the place next to Lighting by Gregory was helpful...can't remember if that was Chinatown Electric or wha?

good luck!

robyn, there are asian furniture stores all over Manhattan. I just purchased some pieces at a great little place I just happened upon down in the Village on Greenwich Ave. just west of 6th Ave. There's another place at 45 W 25th St. and another at 10 W 18th St.

Robyn, I would try >a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/dumbo/jay-east-chinese-imports-032706">Jay East.

oops.
Jay East

My parents are giving me an old church pew that they've had for many years. My mother suggested that I put some "Nurishing wood stain or oil" on it when I get it. Does anyone know much about wood care and what would be good for the wood? It's been kicked around a bit but I'd like to give it a new life.

Deoxy- Grand Brass is your place. Or try Rejuvenation. I don't think you can go to Grand Brass anymore though. Maybe they are in CT, I thought they were in Brooklyn. In addition to Lighting Plus there are a bunch of lighting supply stores on Canal St near Wooster/Broadway. Good luck!

I second Jay East, as aaron said. They have great price points, lovely pieces and very fun accessories. Even if you don't find the console you're looking for, I pretty much guarantee that you'll find something worth picking up in an Asian style.

Deoxy - I deal with Wendy (on the phone) at Lighthouse @162 Bowery. She's absolutely super so I can jut imagine that the rest of the staff is the same. You can get your lamps rewired there.

Eliza, I cleaned my (75 year old) moldings and stairs with plain old dish soap and water. Per an article in Martha Stewart magazine (probably searchable on her website), I made a bucket of mild dish soap & water and cleaned with a sponge, making sure not to soak the wood -- and this did a great job of getting off the dirt, then I let it dry a day and used Method's "Good for Wood" spray which has a beautiful almond-y scent and left a decent shine on the wood. Keep in mind, my stuff still had a bit of stain on it, so I'm not sure it would work as well if you have unfinished wood. Also, I polished up a small table with butcher's wax -- I don't recommend this unless (A) you have incredible upper arm strength or (B) have some sort of mechical buffer.

Thanks for the tip on Jay East -- I am going on Sunday to the Greenpoint location!

two questions: I just moved into a new apt- when my movers (my friends) were moving my fridge out so that we could plug it in, it caused several white scratches on the gray (linoleum?) floor. what can I do to get these up?

#2- I'm looking for a good couch - my price is up to $1k. I checked out all the sofa listings on this site, but I wanted specific recs, if anyone has new ones. An upholstered couch, no microfiber suede that comes in light coloring and can possibly be a sleeper sofa? I've already checked Jennifer, Room and Board, West Elm, Bombay, Raymour Flanigan, Ikea, Levitz, Target, Macys, DWR, Downtown Furniture, C&B, CB2, Pier 1, Ethan Allen, et al. Am I just stuck?

Alana in Canada,

If you are truly obsessed, then try saving a search for Thibaut on ebay. That's where I buy my designer fabric, and if you only want 3 yards, then that's definitely the kind of yardage they sell on ebay. There are lots of sellers.

Robinallison, the only one you didnt mention are Divon sofas. Check it out in Tips 15 http://tinyurl.com/33837y and http://tinyurl.com/37w843. You can see one of the largest selections at Downtown Furniture in Chinatown. Also a few of the furniture places in Astoria have these on display.

I am still very happy with my sofa. I only wish I had got the sofa with the deeper seat. It all depends on whether it is better to sit up or lay down while watching TV. And I still go back and forth about whether I should have gotten a sleeper version. Check them out. And no I dont work for these people. Just glad that I could get a couch (and not a futon) up my narrow staircase.

Sol - I think you'd want a 6' diameter table to fit 8. Perhaps you should look into something that seats 4-6 normally and becomes an oval with a leaf insert to seat 8. A 6 ft table is like chinese restaurant style! It's just too big in the middle.