apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Hey kids, it's FRIDAY!

Quick question. I have some of those INGO tables (all untreated pine wood) and I want to paint them this weekend.

What kind of paint should I use? For the table, I'd like something not too glossy and that's easy to wipe clean, since they will be going into an art studio/craft place. Any suggestions? Do I need to sand it down a little bit? Thanks in advance.

how about latex paint with satin finish.. you can probably avoid sanding with IKEA stuff..but priming may be good.

priming would be good and if you want a more durable finish used oil based paint or add an acrylic clear coat on top of latex.

Personally, I left the table I use for art-ing unfinished. I like the way the remains of various works build up on the surface leaving a personal history of sorts. Guess it depends on what sort of art you create and the materials you use. In the past, I had an unfinished wood surface that collected bits of paint and ink and the various deep musings of writer-friends who decided to scribble here and there.

To continue with the Ikea thread (sort of)...I wanted to follow up on Traemand, the company that does Ikea measuring/assembly/installation (I know they got at least one good review here a while back.) I had them assemble Ikea kitchen cabinets and the experience was frustrating to say the least! The guy who came to do the job was basically pretty lazy. He asked if I wanted him to do things that were so obvious (like assemble the drawers) that I can only imagine he asked on the off chance he might get out of some work. He also didn't know he was responsible for removing the Ikea packaging from the site (it was clearly stated in our agreement) and when he left the job wasn't even done. He came back a few days later, but was six hours late, and then ended up having to come back a third time. I called the office wanting to expain what happened but never head back (ditto the email I sent). Apparently they just don't care that much. Bottom line: if you are going to use Traemand, be prepared for a struggle and assume they will try to do as little as possible!!

Thanks for the painting tips! Libby, the table will be in my kitchen for a while (til I get a better dining table, then I'm moving it to the art room), so I'm gonna go ahead and paint it.

But I know what you're talking about! My drawing table is exactly like that. Lots of paint and ink and drawings from artist friends that have come over and doodled haha.

Amber - I'm doing the same with my table (small apartment - I took apart my regular dining table which is just a rectangle of birch and set it behind my bed as a headboard until the day comes when I space for an art area AND a dining area - dream, dream....).

I sketched out my art table and my dear old dad rummaged through scrap wood in his garage to create it. Basically, it's 4x4" legs with a roughly 3.5x2' top. In addition, he made another identical version but with 4x4" "legs" that are only 6" tall and set bracket things on the bottom of the legs. This "short table" slides onto the regular one which (a) gives me a space between surfaces to dry pieces without the cat attacking them and, (b) can cover a mess so I can toss on a vintage table cloth and have friends over for dinner. It's worked out great.

Amber, I don't have any advice on kinds of paint, but I would sand it first. I stained some unfinished pieces from IKEA and sanded and primed them before staining...turned out much better than the table I painted without sanding and priming.

I eighth the sanding/priming recommendations, or at least the priming. Light sanding is probably a good idea. Remember to use a tack cloth or something to remove all the dust from the sanding before you paint on the primer.

Polyurethane topcoat probably isn't a bad idea either. I'm pretty sure you can get a matte version.

lh, good to know your experience with Traemand. We were considering exploring that option, but now I will be very hesitant.

Fiona -

I finally got those window seats up on my flickr thing, so you can click on my name now and see them; their in the set with the Brooklyn Brownstone somewhere toward the middle.

Christine & Miranda - thanks for the sanding tips. I'll be sure to do that.

Libby, that sounds like a great idea! I like the double-surface thing. Do those brackets lock to anything or do you just set it on top of the other table?

Curtis--thanks so much! They look great. I will definitely check out the place you recommended, though I may not do it until after the New Year.

That was really helpful, and I appreciate it!

Not to railroad the current discussion, but it seems plenty of answers were provided to Amber, so maybe it's not so bad but...

Has anyone purchased dwell bedding? From what very little I could find in terms of reviews, I'm not reading anything that's very flattering. Anybody have recommendations for other modern style bedding that's pretty cool if this stuff kinda sucks?

I have a set of Dwell sheets that I totally love. I am VERY picky about sheets, and really wish I had a very rich granny that handed me down her high-quality linens that have worn to beautiful softness over the years. But I don't.

Anyway, the Dwells. Very light weight and perfect for summer, polished cotton. I got them at one of those fab warehouse sort of sales they occasionally have on W.B'way, two years ago.

How about CB2 bedding? I'm thinking about the brown/blue set they have right now. I've had Marimekko bedding and liked it, but I think this is a different company...

For some reason I like really thick feeling 100 percent cotton sheets, the kind my grandmother embroidered flowers on and that have held up for decades. I never knew what kind of cotton they were, but guess what? It's percale and West Elm has 'em. I slept on a set at a friend's house and am hooked. But these are not for you silk-loving types.

Bedding? Thanks to ATs listing, I was one of the hordes of people at the Gracious Home warehouse sale two weeks or so ago. I also heeded the advice to get there early! Oh, the amazing bedding that I am now surrounded by at this very moment. It's crazy. $210 sheets for $30. $385 duvet covers for $100, $240 duvet cover for $50. I stocked up as much as I could, and the feel of this bedding is just CRAZY. I was told they will have one in the spring. I hope they do. Wait to buy your bedding if you can until then. If you want to experience luxury bedding, that's the way to do it (unless you want to spend $1000 on one set of sheets!) Did I mention the pillow shams that were $70, for $5?

I got the "Brick" quilt and shams from Area bedding, in "amber" color. Ordered from Design Public so shipping was free. I totally love them. They drape so nicely, make very clean lines. And the neutral colors go with everything so even if you change your room decor you're set. They're also a really soft linen/cotton blend.

www.designpublic.com

Email Antoi on their contact/staff page. She can give you plenty ideas and is really helpful with making suggestions.

egads Suziq. That sounds almost trip-worthy! *sigh* where's that stuff in Chicago, is what I want to know. ...We do have the Mart's sample sale here, though. That's truly a fabulous fun-ride.

Talking about the T-place again, we were there tonight. Re-re-rescoped the O'Brien Vintage Modern stuff; are now at the point where we are only considering the endtables (with the big round knobs on the drawer) and the glass swirl lamp. We liked the coffee table with ottomans, but the finish on the tabletop is very bad (I have a dog! a 35-lb dog! a cute mini-Lassie! and *I* could scratch the finish from the edge of the table with my nail, so forget putting it up against *her*). Ikea has almost the same design minus ottomans, so it's not like it's anything special.

Much more impressed with the Fieldcrest Luxury bedding, which is why I'm bringing it up here. 400-thread sheets in two-color jacquard; silk quilts; etc. Not cheap, not Frette either. I think a Queen set of sheets runs around $100-110, but it's all a la carte, and they have swatches in the aisle. If the seams on the sheets are good and the quality is consistent, they look like winners.

i am a HUGE fan of Laytner's Linen's own line of 600 thread-count sheets...if you really want great sheets for $80 an entire SET... i went up the the upper west side and stumbled upon them:
broadway and 82nd

http://www.laytners.com/viewItem.asp?ItemID=t600&UnitCde=1&Desc=600%20THREAD%20COUNT%20SATEEN%20HEMSTITCH%20SHEET%20SET&Search=N

On the topic of sheets - does anyone know where I could get decent quality sheets in Toronto at a decent price? Or somewhere in Canada I can web/mail order from?

Also on the topic of sheets -- a couple of weeks ago, I bought some perfectly attractive black sheets with kind of a beige stripe which worked looks-wise just fine with my Croscill comforter, etc.

But the little sign at the booth said that they were factory seconds or something like that, and they were only $10! I thought that was fantastic. And I'm using them, and they're kind of OK, but not fantastic. Because I think the "flaw" in them is that they're intentionally mislabeled. I don't think any little cottons died to make those, and I don't think they're anywhere near the 200-or-so thread-count they claimed, either.

So you're an unintentional murderer of baby Polyesters, huh?

(I realize this comment adds nothing to the discussion. :) I just thought Curtis's comment about "little cottons" was the cutest thing ever!)