I'd had some really comfortable experiences with chaise lounges recently (when staying in ski cabins and holiday homes and so on), and I'm wondering if anyone out there has thoughts on their day-to-day practicality?

It seems like I could lie on a sofa, and still have a sofa to sit on, but with a chaise lounge I'll always be missing the ability to fill it up with sitting people.

Just curious as to what others think...

I suppose it would depend on the lounge.

My boyfriend and I inherited a 100 year old day bed (similar in form to some chaises). Not as practical as a couch, but it's really beautiful and we've just placed it against a wall with some great pillows for comfort.

You may not be able to fill it with 4 people to watch a movie, but a 2-3 people could sit if you were entertaining (again, this would depend on the size and style and of the lounge).

Long story short, I love them - as accent pieces or otherwise. But it depends on your taste, lifestlye, room/space, etc.

someone please help me! i am trying to find a good solid bookcase and a good solid dresser. i can't spend too much on them, but i would like stuff i would still have for a while (ie, no ikea). think west elm prices with a clean sensibility but outside the west elm box? anywhere local? i've been to stumasa but would like more variety.

I'm a big fan of Scandinavian Designs. I've bought beds, desks and bookcases from them through the years. Solid quality for the price.

What about Room and Board? I have a bookcase from there and it's pretty solid. You can often find R&B furniture on craigslist at a hefty discount....

Ever browse through Craiglist/Furniture and notice all the companies/stores advertising in there some furniture with nice looking clean lines (like Advanced Interior Design or Sphere Furniture)? I think there are some nice pieces with great value there that are outside the West Elm/CB/Room & Board stuff, although very much similar veins.

On another note, I'm dabbling with the idea of mixing blonde colored furniture with my preference, dark wenge/chocolate colored furniture in my place and wondering what color combinations on the walls would go well with these particular mix. Will it come off as total mismash or hodge podge of unrelated pieces and colors??? Thanks!

-*Shaking in my boots* DinSF

Thanks Kari :o)

bookcases and bookshelves on 15th and sanchez I think...

Shannon,

I believe Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware both have a wide range of durable and gorgeous furniture to choose from.

Examples...

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p6404/index.cfm?pkey=cfurbeddrs&cm%5Fsrc=campaign

http://www.restorationhardware.com/rh/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1153140&navCount=8

Too pricey? Try Craigslist etc for "preloved" pieces... (reputable and long-lasting, like Ethan Allen).

Or, I hate to say it, but Costco has some really beautifl furniture in right now (well, at least here in Vancouver). Name brand pieces at tres affordable prices... worth a look! (:

Good luck!

DinSF -- What you need to do is make one wood the neutral and the other wood, the star. In your case, it sounds as if you want the wenge to be the star, so I'd color everything "neutral" in your room in a tan, yellow, pumpkin, or even silver that blends with the blond wood. That includes more than walls -- anything that you want people not to focus on needs to be your neutral color, so that all the neutral pieces kind of blend into one big background for the pieces you want to emphasize.

I need kitchen canisters but I hate all the Container Store stuff, and usually the Crate and Barrel stuff too....anyone have ideas? I remember seeing some once that I loved -- tall, white ceramic or porcelain jars with thick, rough cork lids. Those would be ideal, since I want something opaque, but I have no idea where I saw them.

Has anyone seen my canisters? Or does anyone have any great ideas?

IKEA has some great kitchen canisters right now (white enameled metal, I think) and like everything at IKEA, the price is right. They have a fair selection of this type of stuff, so its worth a trip to check out what they have.

DinSF-

I wouldn't worry about mixing woods, and I would say the more colors of wood the better (if you have 5 pieces of furniture in one color and one in a very differnt color, it might stand out too much.) From where I'm sitting on my living room couch I can see 6 different color of wood furniture, from really light blonde to mahogany, and every shade in between, but what unifies them is they're all wood. Go for it.

dinsf, i agree that mixing wood species can work if you have balance. like elizabeth stated, one piece might stand out, but an overall mix is interesting and adds layers. i would try to achieve some balance by evenly dispersing if possible and not grouping similar color pieces together. also, you might try painting some wood furniture pieces to coordinate or complement others.

as for the color of your walls, i think anything can work. what is you style like? you can incorporate other elements (accessories and fabrics) along with the wall color to help make things more cohesive. i always have trouble with this because i want rooms to look great instantly, but it tends to evolve over time.

i am glad they start regular posting on monday... i mean, it's nice to reminisce, but for a whole week?

john: I've always liked this canister set from EQ3. http://eq3.com/cat-eq3/3110-600-0.html

Thanks for the canister help, but I think I just found the ones I'd been remembering (or at least something similar)! Hooray! But of course, now I'm thinking they're more like jars than canisters, and might not be right after all.....we'll see.

http://www.tivolihome.com/show_product.asp?id=166&cat=15

Hi all,
Hope you all had a good holiday season! :)

I have a question about flooring. I live in a rental but I hate carpet because it accrues so much dust and pet hair. I had seen an episode of some show on HGTV (can't remember the name) where they had shown these removable tiles that you just lay on the floor - No need to fix them;they lock together and when you leave you take them with you :)

Does anyone know of tiles like these?

Your help will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
MN

Wende & Elizabeth: Thanks for the suggestions. I like an understated style but I do love burgundy for some reason. Reds always excite my senses. I'll try to post pics later. Maybe open up a flikr account finally. :D

John: I absolutely LOVE those canisters! They would look super good in any kitchen.

Anyone have luau/tiki lounge kind of party photos you are proud of and would like to show off?

I'm trying to help someone throw their daughter a luau b-day party...but I have no pix...

you know...

ukelele's, tropical punch tiki drinks, grass hula skirts, bongo drums, surfboards, hawaiian shirts, bobble head dashboard hula girl figurines, carved bamboo tiki signs, surf shack, shish-ka-bobs of fruit, "monkey on a stick" shish-ka-bobs of teriake chicken, girls could put a big flower behind their ear, fake astroturf, sandbox, plastic pool and lounge chairs, limbo contest, big souvenir tiki mugs...

http://mables.com/img/articles/tiki-decor.jpg

http://www.tikimaster.com/category/09/

http://static.zoovy.com/img/tikimaster/-/atiki2_8_06_063

MN--Are you talking about Flor tiles? Google Flor, maybe that's it...

MN, I wonder if you're thinking of the MIYO tiles -- click on my name for the link to the post on AT:Chicago.

Thanks Shannon and leslie for the great suggestions. I looked at both Flor and Miyo and both can't be laid over carpet. I Googled but did not find anything that can be installed on carpet.