apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

^ Spam. Mildly tolerable if it's from an actual AT reader, but c10 has no commenting history so I'm guessing that's not the case.

When is AT going to be posting the February projects for readers to see and vote on? I didn't notice that mentioned anywhere.

The New York Times has an article today about Domino folding. There's an AT mention: "A Girl World Closes, and Fans Mourn"

So... have you smelled the maple syrup smell?

No, I haven't smelled the maple syrup smell and I'm mildly disappointed. Sort of like missing a lunar eclipse.

So in my studio there is an alcove within an alcove - I tried to move my dresser back into the smallest space, but alas, it was too big. Now I'm planning on making the area a dressing area, with my dresser back against one wall, and a bench in the alcove. I've found this bench http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=14659900&RN=2027 but I'm conflicted - should I repaint the bench a cool color and use it to pile books and things on or should I make a skirt/cushion for it?

I'm indecisive so any suggestions would be great.

Dear ATers:

I am desperate. Truly desperate. The carpenter who began building built-in bookshelves/drawers in my bedroom on site has taken a powder, leaving me with a half-finished project, biblical amounts of mess and a living room piled high with the contents of the bedroom. I am living in rubble. Does anyone know of a good carpenter who would be willing to finish someone else's work on site? The wood is here, and the hard part--the guts and mechanisms of the drawers, the basic frames of the above bookshelves--is mostly done. Please help me. Thanks, Ruckus

you might try Michael Crear. His email is: Handymichael@aol.com.

Best of luck!

Thank you so much, AlixF. I am at my wit's end.

i recently bought the dwell studio "hedgerow" duvet cover in saffron, but the background isnt actually white as it appears online. its some sort of blue-ish off-white. this wasnt quite what i was looking for but i love the design so i am still hoping to make it work in my room, which is painted mid-grey with white glossy trim.

issue is that i need to find a bedskirt to match the duvet. anyone have any ideas? i'd ideally like to get on in the saffron color to match but would be cool with the off-white. does dwell sell bedskirts to match anywhere? i can't find any.

much thanks!

I'm looking for some drapes that will probably have to be custom because the search of the usual suspects -- Ikea, PB, C&B, JC Penney, Restoration Hardware -- has turned up nothing so far. Any recs of where to go in the city with a good selection of fabrics and will also measure and install? Hoping for a very saturated, sunny yellow in semi-sheer linen and we have pretty tall windows.

Thanks in advance!

I've got a question for an upcoming DIY project. The trim in our foyer is beautiful old oak (not that hideous, light 1980's oak). However the last time the room was painted, they were apparently too lazy to tape off the trim so now all of the trim has a 1/4" of white paint around the edges. Is there any way to remove the coat or two of paint without removing the finish of the wood below? I am not willing to refinish the trim at this time since most of it looks just fine. I just want to paint the walls and not have a white border around all of the trim. thanks!

ginsburg,
Not sure if this will work but what about this:
http://www.target.com/Home-Bedskirt-Molten-Lead/dp/B001D6OO02/ref=in_de_display%20_children?ie=UTF8&pf_rd_r=0G3WN763KV7VM44AZ586&pf_rd_p=465352811&pf_rd_i=B001D6OOG6&pf_rd_s=bottom-8&altString=Home%20Bedskirt%20%26%2345%3B%20Molten%20Lead&pf_rd_m=A1VC38T7YXB528&pf_rd_t=5201

The color is called Molten Lead, which might go with your grey walls, and compliment the cool/bluish-white of the background of the duvet. You could then pull the grey color into the top bedding with an accent pillow. Just a thought since saffron or the exact off-white color of the background of the duvet may be hard to find in a bedskirt.

elissa,
How about a brown paint that matches the oak as close as possible. I did this in a sloppily painted rental and it looked good. Since it's such a small strip of white on the wood, it's not much to cover and you can alternate a couple different $1 craft paints to get a good match with the wood's gradations. If you get a close enough color match, you won't be able to notice what's paint and what's oak unless you're really examining it.

I need help finding bedside tables. My major issue is that the table cannot be more than 14.5" wide and I would like to have some storage capacity - at least a drawer or little cabinet door. 15" seems to be the smallest anyone makes. Anyone have any tips on where to look?

robyn, consider tiered plant stands. shelves instead of hidden storage. maybe whatever you need to conceal could fit in a letter sized box?

@robyn - ikea has a bedside table that you might want to paint or something to fit your own decor, but would fit your dimensions. I would suspect other retailers like Target or Bed Bath & Beyond would have some small items too - perhaps even in the desk/office area.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60091511

Ok so big apologies ahead of time for the many links in this post.

I am closing on a one-bedroom apartment in two weeks in Jackson Heights (I’m a first time homebuyer at 25!) and am doing purchases for the living room – it’s an approximately 12’ x 17’ room that receives a lot of great light from four windows. I’m planning on outfitting the space with some great colors – for three walls, the Benjamin Moore Dior Gray, and one accent wall using Red Oxide. I’ve already purchased the Crate and Barrel Petrie Sofa in Mineral Red and a beautiful area rug from Macy’s that pulls from all the colors before. I’ll also have a chrome framed coffee table with bamboo-like chrome legs and a smoked-glass top.

I really want to get an armchair to accompany the Petrie Sofa, but don’t want to go too “matchy matchy” with the color (red family OR solids) or the lines (not so rectangular like the Petrie). The Astoria Chair from Room and Board in the Mirror Mink fabric is an idea I have that plays 1) with pattern, 2) not in the red family, and 3) has a totally different shape that’s “playful” with the shape of the sofa. I’d like readers’ opinions – or perhaps other options for the armchair that may be able to work in the space with the couch and color scheme.

-Jim

And now the links:
Petrie Sofa in Mineral Red: http://images.crateandbarrel.com/is/image/Crate/PetrieSofaS05_SM_MineralRed?$coloroptions$

Astoria Chair in Mirror Mink: http://s7d4.scene7.com/is/image/roomandboard/006529?$subcat$

Summer Breeze Montage Collection Rug by Kenneth Mink, Macy's: http://www.kennethmink.com/images/collections/kmh/montage/montage-sumbre.jpg

I want to put Ikea laminate flooring down in my kitchen. Wondering if anyone has experience with doing this themselves? Is it difficult? I have a circular saw, will that work for cutting it?

kitty... I am currently in the process of installing engineered maple flooring throughout the first floor of my house using the floating installation method- you simply glue the tongues and grooves together over a thin overlayment. So far, it has turned out much easier than expected and with a minimal learning curve. I was considering the "snap-loc" kind of system that doesn't require glue; however, I got the sense that such a system would be quite unforgiving in anything less than ideal conditions. Anyway, at the very least you should have the following tools:

-Hammer (or mallet)
-Table saw
-Mitre saw
-Knee pads
-Sponge or absorbant rags
-Pen or pencil

I am not sure why you would consider laminate for the kitchen when prefinished engineered flooring is quite stable and resistant to liquids and scuffs, especially with a particularly hard wood species like cherry or ipe. And the pricing is comparable.

Hi all,
Wanted to let you know about a great alcove studio apartment available for rent. Nice landlord in a luxury condo building steps from Bloomingdale's. Open House tonight, Thursday the 19th from 5:30pm - 8 pm. See ad:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/abo/1040193092.html

There are awesome smoke mirrors and builtins in the apartment- which could look great with the right furnishings!
Thanks!

robyn, look for the IKEA Hemnes Bedside Table with a shallow drawer and shelf below. It is 13 inches wide.

"Bohemian Sprawl Hits the Limit in Los Angeles"
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/26/fashion/26eaglerock.html

I wouldn't be surprised if this was the case in most urban areas.

a little birdy told me john robshaw is opening a licensed boutique inside ABC Carpet & Home.

very soon!

CarolineK, ABC home has lots of beautiful fabric on the basement level