The waiting game. It's getting a bit trying over on Mott Street this week, as Amy says that she has entered "that delightful 'no one shows up when they say they will' stage of renovation." The kitchen is halfway in and the adjustable shelving is nearly up.
Slideshow: Week #3
House Tour: Week #2
House Tour: Week #1
House Tour: Before
Also, there is a bit of crisis. Amy is having trouble finding a couch that will fit through her doorway: The hall leading to the apartment is very narrow, so I can't fit most sofas through it. I'm looking for one 65-72" long, and no more than 22" tall (with the legs off) x 33" deep. I can't find one where the legs come off. Also, I need one with arms and relatively pet-proof fabric. Any thoughts?
If you can help, add a comment below. Here are more tips from the front lines. (Thanks, Amy - and Jill for awesome photos!) MGR
Amy's "Don't shop at Gregory" Tips
- Sink and toilet: www.faucet.com. Significantly cheaper than the stores I looked at in NYC. Easy to deal with, good customer service.
The amazing ceiling fan, "Cirque" by Minka Aire, comes from Lighting by Gregory, but I will never shop there again. Almost everything they have is in another store on the Bowery, so there is no need to. Plus at other places you can bargain. Other stores that carry the fan (or could order it for you) are: Lighting Showroom at 137 Bowery
Creative Lighting 223 Court St. in Brooklyn
A full list of local dealers is at www.minkagroup.net.
The saga: Gregory's delivered the wrong bathroom sconces, then when I tried to exchange them for the right ones was told that the sales person undercharged me and that they will charge me the difference to exchange them for what I originally ordered ($100+ total, I would not have bought them at that price).
My bad for not opening the box when they arrived and not checking when the electrician was going to install them -- Gregory's will not give me a refund as they were already installed. Still, I am paying for the pricing and ordering screw-ups on their end. Lessons for everyone:
1) open all boxes even when you are living in a construction site
2) make sure you know when things are going to be installed
3) shop at places where customers don't pay for store errors.
I really like that bathroom mirror--where is it from? (Or has this been discussed before and I missed it?)
I am very interested in the pet-proof couch suggestions. I know my old velour couch took 2 years to show cat-claw wear. My new one is not so lucky.
Hi!
We had the same couch size problem...
Our solution was getting a sectional (in our case - Via, from Crate & Barrel). That way you bring it in the apt in pieces, and put it back togther... if you wish.
good luck!
Shuli
I'm not sure what she's looking for, but many sofa stores in NYC are able to take apart the sofa at delivery, and then put the sofa back together when its in your apartment. Jennifer Convertibles does this, for instance. Its not high-concept design, but their sofas are sturdy, and I've seen them do it, and it doesn't compromise the look of the sofa or its durability at all.
fanshack.com is good for ordering ceiling fans. No tax to NYC, since they're based in Florida and Nevada, and their price on a way high end fan I bought a couple years back killed everyone on Bowery.
Try Room & Board (roomandboard.com and now in Soho). Many of its couches are avaialbe in smaller sizes.
Check out DWR's Twilight sleep sofa. It's a little longer than what you're looking for, but since it comes in three pieces, (bottom cusion w/ frame, top cushion, and bolster) it might fit. It's surprisingly comfortable both as sofa and bed and the extra long twin _or_ king sleep options have been great for guests. Added pros - relatively affordable for DWR, the slipcover's removable and washable, and so far the cats haven't used it as a scratching post. The kitten has snagged it in a few places, but that's more oru fault because we've encouraged him to jump back and forth over it at playtime. Biggest con - DWR's 'white glove' delivery service - mandatory, expensive and there's no real reason why you couldn't assemble it yourself. Good luck!
eames sofa compact...72''long and the back folds down flat...also it is light enough to carry/maneuver up a stairwell. i have one and it is a BREEZE to move.
Just curious cause its a small apt. But the bathroom vanity doesn't have under the counter storage, is there a closet close by that they can hide their toiletries?
no suggestions re the couch -- I'm still looking for something comfortable, low & not too expensive myself.
Can I ask what closet/shelving system you're installing? It looks really cool. Is it the ISS design shelving advertised on this site?
thanks.
I had the same problem with our sofa from Maurice Villency - it wouldn't fit through our apt. door, which is off to the side at the end of a narrow hallway. I don't recall how long it is, but I think it's like 80". Stupidly, I never gave the stairs/entrance a thought when I picked it out. Maurice Vilency was great, though - they took the sofa back and scheduled a truck and crew to return and cut it in half before bringing it in, and then reassemble it. Their mobile workshop is in the truck, and they do the work right outside the building, after measuring our entranceway. They lift up the leather covering to cut the furniture's frame, then bring it all in, bolt the pieces together, and pt the leather back in place - all in our living room. That added an extra $400 to the price, though.
There is a place on the lower east side that takes apart sofas and re-assembles them after getting them in the apartment. I had a friend who had to do it. I believe it was about $300.
There's always West Elm.
I've used Garry Furniture service twice (for same sofa) and they've done a nice job. Charged me $250, but I think that's a discount since I purchased the sofa from Macy's. If they have to move the sofa there's an additional charge. They're based in Brooklyn. 718-813-0086. good luck.
Yep, I warned everyone here about Lighting by Gregory the first time AT mentioned them. Truly one of the worst places to shop ever.
As for the apt - it's looking great. I love the details such as the trimless flush doors I mentioned before (no one else into this kind of detail or know what a big deal something like that really is as opposed to the any old rough opening because the trim will hide it way of doing things?) and the door under the breakfast bar to get to that normally inaccessable base cabinet in the corner. Great idea! I trust you will leave it without a handle and use a magnetic push-push latch like you get on the glass doors of TV cabiniets.
Apparently, there are a number of places that will disassemble/reassemble a sofa so that it can be moved. A woman wrote that she paid $225 to have it done by Unique Furniture Service, 718-353-4183 ; see www.mrbellersneighborhood.com/story.php?storyid=138
In the 2003 Best of NY issue, New York Mag lists Z Bros. as the best sofa disassembler; see www.newyorkmetro.com/urban/guides/bestofny/services/03/sofadisassembler.htm
Finally, I'm thinking of buying a 90" sofa, and I'm concerned about it fitting in my doorways and elevators, so I contacted www.servicefurniture.com . A guy there quoted me $220, but no moving; only disassembly/reassembly.
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