apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I want to do a shout-out to the partly rebuilt Westlake Shopping Center down in Daly City. Architecturally, it's meh (is it postmodern? Tuscan? 50s modern revival? suburban megalithic?). But I really, really like the U-shaped layout, internal street, and that some stores have entrances on two sides (the combo of feeling enclosed but having a cross breeze works for me!).

And the store mix is promising: Cost Plus, Trader Joe's, Beverly Fabric, a party store, a bunch of little local things, some big stuff on the back (Safeway and Home Depot?). Soon to arrive: Linens and Things. If it only had a Long's instead of a Walgreen's, I'd be pricing apartments down there. (Okay, I did. We can't get something as nice for what we're paying here, though we'd probably have fewer drug-related shoot-outs in our street.)

As chain-focused developments go, this one works for me better than most.

Hey Wende, on a related note... I just got a note from Robert Keil that his book about the Westlake modern houses has just come out:

http://www.littleboxesbook.com/

The parking lot at that Trader Joe's isn't very well laid out. After the second or third time I almost got backed over, I wondered why parking lots don't have pedestrian walkways inbetween rows... wouldn't that be a lot easier than backing into people and carts?

Yes, I got that note, too. I obligingly ordered the book.

I'll admit, the parking lot made me crazy. But all parking lots do, so I wasn't sure if it was just me. I'm thinking seriously of taking BART next time, since I don't really buy groceries at TJ.

having grown up in daly city, i'm glad to hear that the revitalization of westlake is coming along. when i was a kid, we used to spend a lot of time there (especially at the baskin-robbins!). it was depressing to see it become virtually a ghost town in later years -- with hardly any businesses worth visiting.

i just wish the bowling alley (that became a burlington coat factory) was still around!

Just wanted to link the Chronicle's home and garden editor's response to the Eichler article feedback. Apparently, she thinks we at AT:SF are not very polite :-)

Thanks for the link etslee. All I can say is "Boo-hoo".

Hello all,
In the current Dwell issue ("Eco-Friendly"), there is a Rug Company ad in the early pages (I believe a few pages after the table of contents). In the ad, there is a very cool end/side table that looks quite similar to the Rolly table currently being sold at DWR and Umbra but the legs are set more on an angle. Can anyone source this table? (Sorry, I don't have a link to the print ad!)

Matt

Is $1750 a good price for one of those vintage stainless steel medical cabinets? I am very tempted!

$1750 is probably a pretty decent price for the stainless steel cabinet.

Here's a retail comparison...
http://www.sonrisafurniture.com/workroom/stainless/stainless_details/glass_cabinets/double_door.htm

I'm in love with this chair... the walnut back, black metal legs and red seat... looks vintage, but does anyone know who made this and where to find one?

http://www.interfaceflor.com/service/flor/shop.html?id=wDerIyQN&mv_arg=R033000008%2d98073&mv_pc=57