apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I have two schools of thought (BAD pun intended... sorry) when it comes to the fish-as-display sink concept...

one-- While I love aquariums, that sink crosses some weird line into "animals as decoration" that just doesn't sit right with me (perhaps ever since our company "decorated" tables at an event with a single gold fish in a round bowl on every table, then made no "adoption arrangements for the freaked out fish...). Plus, the inevitable knocks on the glass sink has to freak these sink-dwellers even more.

two-- This is the perfect upgrade for Fish-Tank Frank's swinging bachelor pad. I can just hear him now... "FISH IN A SINK. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN SOMETHING AS COOL AS THAT?!" Frank, if you're listening, I say that with LOVE.

ps-- I have a hard time with the name "Trendir".

Since we're on the subject of bathrooms, can I get a bit of help from all of you guys? I am having a serious debate with a friend of mine about a gift that was purchased for me. As a new housewarming gift, I was given a gorgeous wall-mountable magazine rack...for the bathroom! I love when people are so thoughtful but at the same time, I have reservations about reading materials being handled in such a room. I'm a serious germ freak and the idea is really creeping me out. Are there any rules about what is best regarding periodicals in the loo?
In case you're wondering, my bathroom is one of those ultra large three-way bathrooms where the actual toilet is separated from the shower, is separated from the sink basin...kinda like 3 rooms in one. Any advice?

Er, um, not sure why reading material in the bathroom is of germ-ridden suspicion, assuming you... (to put this as delicately as possible)
Enter bathroom
Prepare to "use" bathroom
Read
Replace reading materials
Cleanse self
Cleanse hands
Exit bathroom

I'd be more careful, germ-wise, of what you're reading on the subway.

p(too) - yes, exactly. i'm glad you pointed out the issues w/ the sink-as-aquarium idea. also, i'm pretty sure fish need a lot more space than that to be reasonably happy.

it definitely looks cool, though. i've also seen coffee tables like this (in that SkyMall catalogue, of all places). but i think this is one of those cool concepts that are best left on the drawing board.

The aquarium sink seems kind of creepy to me--for the same reasons patrick(too) points out. Plus with all the banging around most of us do getting ready in the morning, I'd be afraid of traumatizing the poor fish. But, uh, it does seem camera-ready for an over-the-top music video... or a PETA intervention training film.

Saw one of the shows on new trends on HGTV last night and one guy had a toilet tank/fish aquarium! Not just on top of the tank but a see thru tank with the aquarium built around it. Yikes!

Oh my goodness Dee! You are missing out on one of the greatest joys in life. I'm talking, of course, about surfing the web while on the john.

Other than that, what ptoo said. The only issue I can think of is one of splashback and unless you are a (excuse me for this - but it has to be said) a hoverer in your own home then that should be a none issue. Just make sure you always put down the toilet lid when you flush.

WRT subways, perhaps, ptoo, Dee is one of those ppl profiled in the NYT a few months ago who had perfected the art of subway surfing (in the car) so that only the soles of their shoes had to touch anything dirty. You supposedly could eat your dinner off the seat of their pants or skirts.

to continue the dee question thread (sorry, the subject fascinates me)... you also generally enter and leave the bathroom in most/all of the clothes you were wearing when you went in, right? Why does that not freak you out?

Here I was looking forward to an interesting thread and then it goes and dies on us. I wonder why.