Apartment Therapy Archive: Aug 2010

Name: Angela McCallum (of San Telmo Loft), John Brister and Indie the catLocation: San Telmo, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaSize: 900 square feet with a terrace of 300 square feetYears lived in: one and half years — rented My husband and I spent two weeks in Buenos Aires earlier in the month. We rented a fabulous apartment and the owner was on vacation while we were supposed to check in. Serendipitously, Angela ended up getting us settled into our home away from home.

Name: Rebecca Orlov Location: West Hollywood, California Size: Dining Room/Home Office – 120 square feet Years lived in: 6 weeks Rebecca Orlov is one busy woman. After a stint in San Francisco, she decided to return to Los Angeles, and in just 6 weeks created a home office that would make just about anyone envious. From this glamorous home office for one, Rebecca juggles an assortment of projects: her own design site, loving. living. small.

When we started looking into a butcher block countertop for our kitchen, we knew maple was the typical species for this purpose. But we’ve always loved the strong appearance of walnut and wondered if it would work in this application:Maple is the predominant species used for butcher blocks because it is the proper hardness: it is more durable than softer woods yet isn’t as hard as some woods that would blunt the edges of knives.

We’ve been sleeping on a bed that’s less than satisfactory — it’s not cheap, but it’s nevertheless giving us both back pain. Perhaps sleeping sensitivity comes with age (I remember being fine sleeping on the floor), but I’m coming to believe that the bed really DOES make a difference.

Whether you want to impress your guests or take it with you, tap water’s presentation vessels have gotten a lot sexier these days. Perhaps it’s the refreshing knowledge of drinking local water. Or maybe we are all just getting in touch with the style-mavens inside. • Read the full post at Re-Nest

Name: Alison and JoeLocation: Plainfield, IllinoisSize: 1,800 square feetYears lived in: 3 months Alison and Joe have only lived in their house for about three months but you wouldn’t know by looking at it. The way their suburban home is so completely and tastefully decorated it looks like they’ve lived in their house for three years.

Name: CarolynLocation: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Before getting married last spring, my husband and I lived in separate spaces. I owned a west-coast modern/ranch hybrid of 4,600 square feet, and he lived in a 1,200 square foot condo. After having talked about moving in together for many months, it came as a surprise to both of us that we chose to sell both and start fresh. The idea of amalgamating and downsizing was daunting but exciting as well.

Q: Should I protect a brand new Saarinen marble top tulip dining table with tempered glass? I have craved this table for years and almost had a heart attack when my husband sat down and started eating pasta at the table without a place mat.I live in fear of staining or chipping the marble but we do intend to use it as a dining table. A table cloth would cover it completely, which is a waste and it wouldn’t prevent chipping.

“Posh Plans For Exciting Urban Living”! In a spread from the May 1962 issue of Playboy Magazine we catch a glimpse of a “modishly swinging manor for the modern man” — a three level dream-pad decked out in teak, where everything is controlled by remote. Step inside this impeccable (and surprisingly voguish) space to experience the fine art of leisurely living.Though drafted in 1962 by architect-designer R.

Whether it’s your bathroom in your first “grown-up” apartment or you’ve recently moved and just want to start off on the right foot, there’s a certain number of items that are just bathroom essentials. We’ve rounded up our version of what we think is needed in your bathroom at home, and we of course chose items that are good-looking!

Repairs are expensive. New microwaves are cheap. But you don’t have to spend a dime on either. If your microwave turntable stopped spinning, here’s an easy way to try and fix it.And all you need is some warm, soapy water and your own two hands.

Name: Mary & Eric Martineau (and Bogart the dog) Location: Harrison West — Columbus, OhioSize: 1,620 square feetYears lived in: 2 owned for 3½ Creative reuse is nothing new to Mary Martineau. As owner of Short North gallery Transformations, she used decoupage and paint to rework ordinary pieces of used furniture into functional works of art.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Mallomars. The name alone is almost enough to trigger a blissful sugar coma. This confection of graham cracker and marshmallow, dipped in chocolate, is a seasonal item from Nabisco and only available in the colder chocolate-friendly winter months. Which means that those of us who need a mid-year fix are forced

Unless you have a separate room in your house designated as the office, the kitchen can be a good place for one. We’re increasingly bringing our computers and iPads into the kitchen anyway. And several of these work stations could easily convert to extra counter space if you’re having a party or need to roll out some sugar cookies.We love the look of a built-in office with plenty of storage and overhead cabinets.

When the food in your fridge goes bad, you know it. The pungent smell (or fuzzy texture!) is a telltale sign. But most items don’t come with an expiration date. We keep using them and using them when we might be better off giving them the old heave-ho. These six household items are at the top of the list: The pillows on your bed: The place where you lay your head every night sees a lot of action (we’re just talking about sleeping, not to mention other activities).

“When you see an object you make so many assumptions about that object, in seconds. What is does. How well it’s going to do it. How heavy it is. How much you think it should cost. Every object, intentional or not, speaks to who put it there.” And so begins the documentary film Objectified by Gary Hustwit.

A mattress is a big investment and rightly so: the quality of your sleep has a profound effect on the quality of your life and how well you function. Since we spend about a third of our lives sleeping, it’s worth it to take a few moments to keep it functioning at its best. Try out these tips every few months to keep your mattress in tip-top shape!Strip your mattress down: Inspect the mattress for surface soil and stains.

What felt like the find of a lifetime, I came across an ad for a vintage apartment-sized O’Keefe and Merritt stove. It was in amazingly great shape for its age and all the knobs were intact and not stripped of their original black text markings. That is…until the stove was moved during renovations and I

Name: Kevin Sharkey, decorating editorial director of Martha Stewart LivingLocation: Far West Village — New York, New YorkSize: 2,500 square feetYears lived in: 2 After 18 months of renovations, Kevin Sharkey was so pleased to have his apartment complete for the September issue of Martha Stewart Living that he invited Apartment Therapy editors for a private tour! The contemporary space is high over the Hudson in one of the Richard Meier towers on the West Side Highway.

This subject has been on my mind lately as I wrap up a renovation in the second apartment of the home I bought last year. I am preparing to put the apartment on the rental market within the next few weeks and have been thinking about the best way to price it.What not to do is take your actual monthly mortgage plus expenses such as yard maintenance, and charge half of that cost to a future tenant (assuming the space is comparable.

Found in products like cutting boards and children’s clothing, triclosan pretends to be an innocent antibacterial agent, a friend of humankind keeping you safe from germs. The reality is that triclosan is very shady, is heavily scrutinized, and being investigated by both the FDA and the EU. Lucky for us, triclosan is easy to unfriend.

When it works, wall-mounted shelving can be the key to organizing a small space. The problem is that it’s often poorly made, it sags and warps over time, or it’s just not effectively designed. These products are ones we’ve been tracking for a long time, and some of them have been around since the 60s. They run the gamut from high to low, but they’re all useful in different ways.

Q: As someone who lives with a bona fide geek boyfriend (computer programmer) who also happens to be as geeky gifted in the kitchen and cooks for us daily, I was wondering if you’d offer me any cooking/kitchen related gifts that might bridge the two worlds for the sake of his birthday present. • Read

Sadly our AC and heating units are not at all like the sleek and sexy ones we write about for Unplggd. Don’t get us wrong, we love our air conditioner and our radiator, they come in handy during the hot and humid New York summers and cold cold winters…we just wish they were less of an eyesore. With an eye on aesthetics and budget, we decided to take a look at ways to hide these units. Check out these 10 DIY solutions.

Repairs are expensive. New microwaves are cheap. But you don’t have to spend a dime on either. If your microwave turntable stopped spinning, here’s an easy way to try and fix it. And all you need is some warm, soapy water and your own two hands.You don’t have to be an appliance expert to troubleshoot a seemingly broken microwave turntable. You might find that all your little Zappy needs is a checkup and a good, thorough cleaning.

They often call getting married and moving in together as “taking the plunge,” but if you ask us, moving in with someone you know and love is a lot less scary than moving in with a stranger. Don’t go into the roommate interview unprepared; we’ve got the questions to consider before you both sign the lease.

They live in my kitchen, fill my shed, line my drawers, overwhelm my closets, and get stashed in my guest room. Tools are the necessary baggage of my DIY lifestyle, yet a hindrance when entertaining, cleaning or trying to please the wife. Here are some ideas on where they should live instead. Sure, if I had a garage, storage would be as simple as getting a workbench.

Name: Kate Bingaman-Burt & Clifton BurtLocation: Portland, OregonSize: 600 square feetYears lived in: 2 Kate and Clifton have done an amazing job showing off the items they’ve collected while maintaining a great live/work space in their small lofted apartment. You may be familiar with Kate’s art-project-turned-book, Obsessive Consumption: What Did You Buy Today?, a collection of ink drawings cataloging many of her daily purchases.

When I posted about Eight Products You Think You Need—But Don’t, an overwhelming number of readers responded that they just couldn’t go without lip balm. Well, if you can’t give it up, at least consider making it at home, which also allows you to reuse tubes!There are a few ingredients out there that will protect your lips from wind and temperature. While petroleum jelly will work, natural products like beeswax are a better choice for the obvious environmental reasons.

The Torment of Saint Anthony, MichelangeloUnveiled last year at the Met — a painting ascribed to Michelangelo and one of only four known to be of his hand. According to The New York Times announcement, one of the telltale characteristics distinguishing his authorship was the palette, which suddenly made me appreciate the Sistine Chapel more, but now I’m running before my horse to market…Michelangelo painted The Torment of St.

There are two type of people in this world: Those who use toasters, and those who use toaster ovens. Sure, both have the same basic function. But the toaster and toaster oven have considerable differences—things that some consumers might not think about before they head out to buy. Check out our list of things to think about when choosing your toasting tech, and weigh in on which works best for you.

Children generally enjoy having a space to “work” like mom and dad, whether they use their desk for drawing, reading, or playing with toys. Here’s a quick guide to some of the best pint-sized desks, most of them designed for children ages 2 and up, with a couple that can even make the transition into grown-up furniture.

One of the easiest ways to live a green lifestyle is to simply buy only what you need. This is especially true when it comes to painting your spaces. Sure, it’s nice to have a small amount for touch-ups down the road, but that doesn’t mean you want rogue half gallons (or even whole!) sitting in your garage taking up space! Eliminate the waste and buy the correct amount to begin with. Here’s how:MaterialsToolsMeasuring TapeCalculator 1.

While we personally like to keep our geeky tendencies hidden within the home, we appreciate the ingenuity it takes to create a nerdified piece of furniture. The coffee table tends to be the easiest way to show off your allegiance, whether its for gaming, computer processors, or LEDs. Below, we take a look at the most impressive executions.

I’ll let you in on an embarrassing little secret…a few weeks ago my husband and I had a little problem with mice in our apartment. Our maintenance guy came to check for holes in the wall and set traps yet they kept coming back. When a friend recommended sprinkling borax near our walls, I was curious what other things I could do with borax.Borax, or sodium borate, is a naturally occurring substance that is also eco-friendly.

It’s hot. Really hot down here in the south. But as we’re still recovering from the blow of last month’s power bill, we know better than to turn that AC down even just a notch. Instead, we’re keeping cool by using our oven more efficiently when we cook, saving money and bringing down the temp in our home at the same time. Check out what you can do to cut costs and keep cool.

As a follow-up to last week’s post on How to Shop for a Sofa, we thought we’d round up a few more stores to check when you’re buying a new couch. We’ve divided them into three categories based on price: 1) high-end furniture in the low thousands and up, 2) mid-range sofas from $1,000 to $3,000, and 3) budget sofas under $1,000.

Name: Tyke O’Brien and Jon LeaverLocation: Topanga Canyon, CaliforniaSize: 1,700 square feet — 2 bedrooms Years lived in: 3 — ownedWho else lives here? Our son, Monty (almost 2 year old) and our cat, Tiny. And there’s a coyote named Jeff who sometimes mills around outside. When we last saw Jon and Tyke in their Topanga Canyon Casa it was cozy and warm, filled with wood and deep rich colors and patterns.

From Gmail to Microsoft Word, here are our favorite computer software. We use these programs daily and have generally try to keep them updated as much as possible. While it can get costly for some of them, they are definitely worth keeping.1. Microsoft OfficeNo matter what people say, I’ve gotten to used to using MS Office, especially MS Word. Even though some people dislike it, I find that it works well, no matter what I plan on writing.

I’ll admit it: I’m not the greatest cook in the world. I’ve been known to burn my breakfast toast and, much to my boyfriend’s amusement, set off our apartment’s smoke detector more than once trying to bake in the oven. It got me thinking that the little ceiling device is an enigma for me. I don’t know exactly what sets it off. Nor can I figure out if it’s evening beeping is proof that it’s working right or that it can taste my cooking.

Grilling can be a year-round activity, but summer is an especially popular time to get cooking al fresco. Not only is the warm weather and longer, lighter days good reason to get outside, but that same nice weather can also make cooking inside (and preheating your oven) seem unbearable. Simply prepared meats and vegetables can feel downright special with minimal effort. So with all that extra grill use in the summer months, it can be important to show your grill some attention for its hard work.

Many peoples nightmare kitchen situation with roommates! Don’t let your finances become a haphazard part of your relationship!Living with other people can either be a pain or the best time of your life. Many suggestions for living with roommates deal with cleaning or other pet peeves. One that is rarely addressed is the issue of money: how to aggregate and pay for things with transparency.One suggestion we have is to open a joint bank account between you and your roommates.

As I shared yesterday, last week I got on a plane and flew to Minneapolis to tour the Mrs. Meyer’s headquarters and meet the fabulous 79-year-old Mrs. Meyer in person.

Living in the city has it’s advantages—none of which are awesome McMansions with pre-fab home theater spaces. But if you’re a movie buff, you can still fake that luxe home theater look. All you need to do is take on a few quick fixes in your living room.Get the theater vibe by painting your room with dark colors, like burgundy or navy blue. As a bonus, the images on your screen will look better because the light won’t reflect off your new dark walls.

In our experience, we’ve found that most kitchens will set themselves apart with one or two luxury appliances, whether they’re espresso machines or swanky range hoods. A hood is a good luxury appliance to get, as it is quite prominent in most kitchens, and will set the tone for the rest of the appliances and

Name: Amna & Paul WerdelLocation: Adams Morgan — Washington DCSize: 750 square feetYears lived in: 2 — rented Take a good look, because these are some of the last pictures snapped of Amna and Paul’s Adams Morgan gem before it goes under the knife…or the sledge hammer as it were. Their turn of the century building is being turned into condos, and part of the process is a major renovation of all the units.

It seems like a responsible thing to do: when you’ve outgrown a piece of furniture, or when it’s looking a little broken-down, it’s pretty common to take it to a secondhand store and assume they’ll take care of it. But the problem is that if there’s anything wrong with it—stains, broken pieces, sometimes even scratches—most thrift stores won’t be able to use it.