Stop the 70s!

This town is kind of like a ghost town

2012-01-13T21:00:00.000-08:00

Hey readers, I know it's been a while since I've been on here. Suffice to say life happened. Things will be pretty light here because my new gig requires 12-hour days, but it's only until the end of the month.

So here's the good news:
I've got a mission. I want to get the apartment ready to compete in the Apartment Therapy small, cool contest. Seeing as I've got only 272 square feet, I'm comfortably under their smallest category (Teeny Tiny)'s threshold of 400 sqft. And I've done pretty good work with the space. But there's more to be done.

Bathroom:
Hang some sort of art print. The room needs one more pop of color.
Consider getting matching towels.

This one should be super easy. I'll tackle this first so I can keep the momentum going into...

The Main room:
Hang art. I've got some old posters that I can hang up, and I can't wait to show you.
Refinish dining chairs. Sell other set of chairs. Maybe get new ones?
Consider painting the folding chair some sort of fun color.
Consider making a cover for the heater that I refuse to use. This is Southern California, it's always too warm for a heater.

This one also has some really easy parts, but a couple more intensive projects. But when all is said and done, those chairs will be nice if I do good work. That hopefully will be the push I need to tackle..

The Kitchen:
Add some accessories to the bar.
Something else pretty big.

Yeah, the kitchen is awful. I'm not sure whether it's the industrial beige cabinets, the faux granite counters, or both of those things together, but I need something to bring it to life. Temporary wallpaper? Cover the cabinets with something lighter? I'm leaning that route, but I'm flummoxed. I'll consider any project that doesn't involve a sledgehammer.

So, now that I've publicly said these plans, I'm going to feel really silly if I don't come through on them. But let the games begin!

Quick update

2011-10-30T18:04:00.000-07:00

Much as I enjoy making fun of design trends and motifs I think are a little bit weird, I actually have an apartment and career to consider.

Exciting news #1 I purchased a vintage poster for the apartment. Should arrive soon. My pop art was kind of lonely all by itself.

Exciting news #2 I found some leftover initiative in the back of the fridge and I looked into a design-based masters program. Their head of admissions liked what I had to say. It's in interior architecture, which is like actual architecture divided by knowing how to build a building. So, I can make a building, but only the inside parts. On the other hand, I'm told one of the million dollar designers only hires from this program. Nothing's set in stone.

If looks could kill

2011-10-28T17:57:00.000-07:00

Anytime they suspected their dinner guests would overstay their welcome, they prepared in advance by wheeling out the minotaurette statue. By the time the dessert course came out, even the most stout-hearted guest would check their watch and anxiously eye the door. No-one was immune to the steely gaze of the minotaurette.

Image lovingly stolen from Desire to Inspire

Being green is not hard. Really.

2011-10-27T04:10:00.000-07:00

Apartment Therapy recently trumpeted green as a great way for people in the northern hemisphere to keep that sense of spring and summer alive into the colder months. Some of the suggestions were less successful than the others. Without further ado, I present a little version of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The Good:
The character and aged patina of the cabinet plays well against the white walls, while the more abstracted floral motif in the wall hanging is echoed in the plants on top of the cabinet.

The Bad:
The green carpet and very light and clean feeling office furniture keeps this feeling very 60s. But not in the cool retro kind of 60s, more like the 'isn't it about time they renovated?' 60s. Not a fan of the green carpets.

The Ugly:

If the green carpets were the early, business-like, Mad Men 60s, these walls are the 1967 Summer of Love long hair kind of 60s. And it's a bad trip, baby.

And now a beautiful moot point

2011-10-26T07:07:00.000-07:00

One upside about living alone in a very small apartment in a temperate climate zone is that my energy bills tend to be pretty low. My only guilty pleasure is that I enjoy long, hot showers. I'm sorry planet. I'll make it up to you somehow.

If, however I didn't have all those advantages, I'd want to have a way to keep the bills low, the planet from becoming all hellish and apocalyptic, and most of all, I want it to look pretty. This is where Nest comes in.

Nest is like that beige box that's connected to the heating and cooling in your space, except they made it look pretty. One dial, a screen and some graphics. It's straight out of the Dieter Rams school of design. Mainly because it's been designed partially by the man behind the iPod.

Here it is in action, if you like the youtube.

The best part is it's a learning robot. It has either an advanced computer algorithm, or straight up magic that learns when you do and do not use the heating/cooling system and it turns the dial for you. It's like Skynet, but instead of being evil, it keeps you warm when it's cold out, and cool when its hot out. I'm totally installing one of these in my future hypothetical house, once I get things like money.

Image lovingly stolen from Nest.

Windows, vista

2011-10-20T06:50:00.000-07:00

A bit of backstory:When I toured the building, I had the option of two apartments: one in the middle of the building with one window in the main room, and one at the back of the building with two. Not wanting to lose out on the building with the shortest commute, I decided to put a claim down on the one I thought was less desirable that nobody else with better credit would beat me to.I miss windows. The one window doesn't provide all that much ambient light. In that vein, let's look at this inspirational image, lovingly stolen from Design Milk

In which I accept that I am a bad housekeeper

2011-10-19T05:35:00.000-07:00

Ideas? loads of them. First steps towards those inroads? Usually pretty good.

Follow-through? Not so much.For a case study on my procrastination, consider my Case Study cabinet.

As seen on Apartment Therapy!

I purchased this because I decided what my apartment really needed was a little more of a work surface in the kitchen. Plus I did some measurements and it was going to fit well in the kitchen. It's where my recipe books and (eventually) big ol' Kitchenaid mixer will go.

The problem? One bolt was missing.

The lovely folks at Modernica said they would provide a replacement part. Keep in mind that I'm not the original owner, and they still offered me the missing part. That's customer service.

The point of this story is that I had this email in my inbox telling me to come pick up the replacement screw for probably 2 months. I picked the screw up today.Has anyone else ever let a small task like this go undone for a long time? Or are y'all the sort of get it done now types?

It's reasons like these I made my blog

2011-10-18T03:19:00.000-07:00

I hate to be a cynic or a curmudgeon. I try my best to see the most positive attributes in things. But New York Social Diary you make it so so difficult.If you read The article you learn the residents have a substantial and wide-ranging collection of art and artefacts, including a harpsichord. The apartment, though small is filled with accoutrements that are interesting (and probably pretty pricy, given how much name-dropping NYSD is doing). The fixtures are all very high quality. Even the cord above the chandeleir is silk-wrapped. But they painted the walls this color.

This is one of those times when I'm kind of okay with the ridiculously crowded gallery wall because it means there's less of that color showing through.

Dreamspaces

2011-10-13T06:41:00.000-07:00

When I dream, spaces take on lives of their own and come together in ways that are non-traditional, but make sense in that dream. This house reminds me of the kinds of architectures I construct in my dreams. This house was built in Japan for a family of four, with a very specific goal: divisions where each family member could have their own individual space, but which kept the feel of a single space, rather than a collection of rooms.

I think they've accomplished that. One space, but with clear divisions. Here's a reverse angle:

Stairs wind up to each bedroom. Not the most efficient, but it offers a unique way to preserve the sense of space, and offer each bedroom access to the shared space.If any of this is hard to visualize, here's a floorplan for the upper level of the house:

Could you live in a house like this? When you dream, what do your dream houses look like?images lovingly stolen from ArchDaily

Wishlisted

2011-10-09T21:57:00.000-07:00

Concert posters are one of those well-designed and unique ways to introduce some art into your space. Now a company called BetterWall looks like they're doing gig posters for the public radio crowd. BetterWall sells outdoor banners used to advertize art exhibitions at museums in major cities (LA, NY, Denver... sadly no Minneapolis).

I'm a huge fan of the Ruscha banner, but then again he's probably my favorite living artist.

The stuff nightmares are made of

2011-09-21T23:07:00.000-07:00

I've been sleeping well. The ikea mattress/futon is pretty comfy, and even though the slipcover is about as gentle and soothing on the skin as a cardboard loofah, I'm able to fall asleep and wake up right when I'm supposed to.This restfulness will all change because I've just seen this: a bowl with feet by Dylan Kendall

Terror. Inducing.
Just because you can put feet on something does not mean you should.

The new thing I'm drooling over

2011-09-20T20:38:00.000-07:00

I'd written previously about how much I really wanted a Dyson magic fan. (not its actual name, but I think we all know what I'm talking about here). Well, between getting my mini fan and not actually having a place to put the magic fan, I'm going to have to cut it from my list of awesome things to get. Womp womp.Instead, I'm going to get one of these!

House Industries has made some pretty cool things, but in a collaboration with Herman Miller of Japan, they're producing a series of tables inspired by some of House's more iconic fonts. The downside? There's only going to be 80 of them. And they're all in Japan. And you thought the Missoni for Target lines were cutthroat. However, the wire-base tables appear on my local craigslist from time to time. If I was crafty, I could probably DIY something kind of like this. But I'd feel a little guilty about modifying a vintage table, especially if it turned out badly. Anyone else ever feel furniture modification guilt? Who's booking a plane ticket to Japan to pick up one of these?

Enter the handles

2011-09-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

They've finally arrived. turns out, 4-6 weeks is kind of a long time when you're waiting for something. So the winning handle was *drumroll please*

Handle 3! While they were the most expensive, they were also the ones I enjoyed holding the most, and I felt like they fit the scale of the drawers a lot better. These things are heavy too. I feel like I could have used them as weapons.Which leads to the bathroom. I wanted something a little more fun in there, so I went for these. They're a matte finish that was a really close match with the shower curtain.

Here's a slightly wider angle. I think it adds that something extra that's been missing. Well, one of the something extras.

All in all, I think these were worth the almost 2 month wait. Do any of you ever replace the little things like handles, or do you focus more on the larger projects?

Wishlisted

2011-09-02T00:17:00.000-07:00

Here's what I'm drooling over this week.I just wish that I had more gift exchanges and housewarming parties that I could use this as my offering. It's cool without being super-practical. Yes, that's a good thing as far as I'm concerned. Besides, what better way to get toddlers to appreciate Albers and Aicher?Knoll Textiles

If my coffee table didn't already have a book, I'd consider getting this one. It's encyclopedic and it covers a topic I'm interested in. I only wish I had $75 to spend on a coffee table book. For the record, that's like 4 times what the actual coffee table itself cost.What are you wishlisting? And do you also do the coffee table book thing, or do you put other things (such as coffee) there?

Not digging it.

2011-08-28T02:17:00.000-07:00

Restoration Hardware has a new catalog out for their fall lineup. They heavily tout a couple chandeliers, and I've got to admit... I'm not really a fan.

I think I can pinpoint exactly why I'm not digging them. Were it a single bulb in a birdcage (which is totally a thing) I'd be cool with it. That's a fixture where the birdcage takes up space in an interesting way.

For the restoration hardware piece, I can see how they'd go for an interesting juxtaposition of the sparse birdcage with an ornate and lush chandelier. But for me, something's lost in the fusion of the two into a unified element. The other way to create that tension is to actually juxtapose sparse, aged and somewhat mechanical elements with lush and decadent ones. Of course, that's an interior design solution, not a furniture making solution.

Also, that placement is WAY too low. When you stand up to get into or out of the sofa, you're IN the chandelier. Bad designer/catalog creative director! Bad!

Image lovingly stolen from Restoration Hardware. Original inspiration via MadeByGirl

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

2011-08-24T00:32:00.000-07:00

Two of the long-standing problems with my apartment have been fixed. I now have both a working outlet by the comfy chair, and a working vent above the stove. How happy am I?

That happy. Thanks Etsy

But now, some other switching things around happened at the apartment.

The 99 cent art? fixed.

The homemade pop art? Hung.

The Aesthetic Apparatus poster? Moved to the kitchen.

The housewarming went well. 11 people fit in my apartment. And they all had places to sit.
Handles? Coming this weekend, allegedly. Refinishing the 4 cheap chairs? Slow but steady progress. Very slow progress.
Anyone have any tips for sanding complex curves in furniture? There are some very tight nooks and crannies I need to get all sanded.

Cheers!

2011-08-19T20:45:00.000-07:00

Part of a long-term side side side project I'm looking into. So what are the things I'm studying most right now?

This is a concept for whiskey aficionados called the Johnny Walker House. Built in Shanghai, the three-story construction is designed to be a sort of feast for the senses; a sort of experiential building.

The tasting alcove idea is hardly original, but it looks good. Solidly masculine, the overhead lighting fills the overhead space so it feels intimate, yet also leaves enough breathing room.

I'm a sucker for rich aubergine colored walls.

Not all of the rooms are hits, this one strikes me as bizarre, reminiscent of a bad 70s lounge.

Really? We're using top hats as lighting fixtures now? It falls more along the lines of kitschy than classy.
If you read the press release (which is basically ArchDaily's coverage of the space) you can kind of understand what they're getting at.

images lovingly stolen from ArchDaily.
In an entirely unrelated note, my sources tell me that the Missoni for Target collaboration will be available online (and possibly in some stores) as early as the 12th, not the 13th. If you want that bike, better get there early.

Is this how to live in 125 square feet?

2011-08-11T18:22:00.000-07:00

One of the recent Apartment Therapy posts on small kitchens featured images from a small studio apartment. How small? 125 square feet. Let's look at what you can fit into a space that small.

I don't like it.

I think it does a great job of illustrating a particular design point of view. I think that if Kristen was in one of those HGTV Design Star white box challenges, she'd get major points for showing her aesthetic in a way that's unmistakeable and visually arresting.

But how are you supposed to live in this space? If you make any sort of accommodation that means you can have guests over and entertain, you lose the visual effect. It feels like a design exercise more than a liveable apartment.

Repotting a succulent for dummies

2011-08-10T21:15:00.000-07:00

I decided to visit the local hardware and garden supply store today, to tackle a couple smaller projects, and get the materials for a larger project.

And now, you get to meet Prince.

Of my four plants, Prince was the one doing the best. So well he'd outgrown his pot. So I got him a bigger and better one. It's one those things where the ceramic pot looks nicer than the plastic pot he came in, and the potting soil is of a higher quality. There's also that weird moment where I said to myself You live in an apartment, you don't even have your own outside to plant things in, and you're buying dirt. You're serious about this, aren't you?

Ta-Daaaa!

The one thing I've learned about Echeveria, it's that you have to remove the outermost leaves from time to time, because they'll get mealy bugs in them if you don't. Also, water the soil, not the plant. Water will get trapped in the rosettes and cause the plant to rot. This happened to Kermit, my other Echeveria (who's green, not purple). Poor thing's still recovering.

The stoves have eyes

2011-08-07T12:03:00.000-07:00

Good news on the landlord front. After a month and a half, my non-working outlet has been fixed. This just leaves the oven (fire hazard) and stove vent (non-existent, would be nice to have).

The landlord and I have a teensy communication issue. We use different words for things. So when the maintenance man came 'round to check out the stove, the landlord told me the issue was maybe with the stove's "eyes". Knobs? Burners? Turns out that he thought the issue was with the burners, when the issue was with a stain above the broiler. I drew him a map to the stain, so we'll see if it gets resolved.

Inspired by this progress, I decided to see what else *I* needed to do in the apartment.

Bedroom:
~~Hang photo above bed/sofa~~

Living room:
Hang small Chinese art (Fixed it! Now all I need is a nail)
Sell chairs
Install curtains (I really hate the vertical blinds, and the landlord gave me the ok)
Put Prince in a larger pot (It'll make sense when you see the photos)
"Restore" fake Eames lounger
Re-finish folding chair. (Paint?)
Figure out how to get a TV in here.

Kitchen:
Replace handles (en route)
Mount poster on fridge (just need some magnets)
Project to add some color to the space (planned, probably happening in a couple months)
Organize drawers

Dining room:
Get some flowers for the table
Hang up homemade pop art poster (again, it's the little things you don't realize you need until you don't have them. Like nails)
Hang up other planned poster (it's a secret!)(sort of)
Re-finish chairs

Bathroom:
Install handles (en route)
Art for back wall?

Closet:
More organization (tie rack, tidy things up a bit)

It's a pretty good-sized list for a small space. It's not like a lot of these are things that *need* to be done, it's just me wanting to take it to the next level.

Hope y'all are having a productive weekend too!

Shaking things up

2011-08-06T15:03:00.001-07:00

Shaking things up at this little corner of the web. Trying out a new layout, something a little cleaner and a little classier. That's the good news.
The bad news is that the formatting of all my older posts is going to be a bit off. Also, I'm taking care of some other changes to keep things so fresh and so clean clean. Re-working the logo, trying to add in some features and headers. We'll see how it works out.

Of course if you get the RSS Feed you don't need to worry about any of this. And if you don't get the RSS feed, why not? It's free! And that's cheap at half the price.

Getting back to my roots

2011-08-02T21:11:00.000-07:00

When I started this blog, I was not an apartment-owner. I was not covering the slow transformation of a space. I was covering ridiculous product shots.

I'm baaaaaaack
Today's questionable product shot comes courtesy of Design Milk
This is one of a series of lamps made by Enrique Romero de la Llana. Made from recycled newspaper, the lamps are delicate, lightweight and very green.

Apparently, they're also bloodthirsty.

This is another one of those uncanny valley images. However, this is what popped into my mind:

Image lovingly stolen fromDesign Milk

My new biggest fan

2011-07-31T15:55:00.000-07:00

And by biggest, I mean the exact opposite of biggest.

Here's the whole backstory. The air conditioner in my apartment isn't working because the outlet it would plug in to isn't working. (I mean, it's only been 2 months since I reported the problem, so it's not like the management isn't doing their job or anything)
So to avoid heatstroke, my girl friend lent me her fan. The only place where there was room for it? The kitchen counter.

A ridiculous setup, but an effective one.

Today I was at target, when I came across a fan that's a lot more suited to my living arrangement. Small enough to fit in my room divider/bookshelf. I hope it's also powerful enough, because August can get painfully warm in LA.

How are y'all beating the heat? (and for my readers in the Southern Hemisphere, are y'all looking forward to the summer months?)

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you

2011-07-25T19:20:00.000-07:00

Hi readers!
This is one of those things that I've always wondered about. When you're not blogging, what do you do? I'll go first:

Hi, I'm Nick. When I'm not blogging, my real job is working for a PR firm. I also go to a handful of open mics from time to time.

What about you?

The vandals took the handles

2011-07-24T21:44:00.000-07:00

I'd selected a winner for the kitchen handles, only to discover that the hardware store would have to re-order the ones I wanted. So in 'a few weeks', y'all will find out which one won. I know, the suspense is killing me too.

But I did take one major breakthrough.

It opens all the way! Kudos to Amber Von Felts for giving me the idea. And all I had to do was turn the fridge sideways. This actually opened up a little more space in the kitchen, which I put to good use.

A little more kitchen storage space. It's from Modernica and it's in quite good condition. Right now it's slated for cookbook storage, with maybe a wine rack on top. Because all the 2 buck chuck I drink deserves a wine rack.

But there it is. I'm... done buying furniture. It's all where it needs to be. It's nice to know I can actually focus on enjoying my apartment now.

Suddenly a dining room appears.

2011-07-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

Far off into the mists, a hazy figure slowly takes shape. It is.... my dining "room". I needed three elements to create the dining space:
1. an arc lamp
2. a table, and
3. some chairs.

Boy was I prolific. Three days. Bam Bam and Bam. Checkmarks on all three. I was originally going to parcel these out as separate posts, but that's lame. Y'all are busy and have lots to do. Instead, you get one mega post.

Here's the whole space.

The arc lamp is apparently a pretty nice model. Purchased because the store In Mode has a horrible returns policy and the original buyer was willing to take a loss to get the lamp out of her loft. This initial buyer had a copy of Hotel Lachapelle so I'm assuming she has very good taste.

The table is the ikea imitation Saarinen table. It looks good, but you can tell it's plastic. It flexes when I lean into it.

The chairs I bought today. They looked really old and were being sold at a ridiculously low price. I did some research after buying them: Ethan Allen from 1980/1981. So nowhere near as old as I'd expected, but still a solid buy. Just need a little oil and some elbow grease.

Here's the rub. The ikea table came with four other chairs.

That makes a total of 10 chairs in a studio apartment. It's not an addiction, I swear. I have plans to sell the ikea chairs as soon as I have a little downtime. I also have no real loyalty to the Ethan Allen chairs either. They're pieces I'm sitting on until I can find something I like better. (pun very much intended)

But there it is: a mostly finished dining room. Next step? Kitchen!

Getting a handle on things

2011-07-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

I once wrote that I hated the handles in my kitchen and bathroom. Well, yesterday I decided to do something about it. Unusually close to where I live is an antique hardware store, full of goodies from all over the last century, plus some new stuff too. Ugly old handle in hand, I walked over there and walked back with three sample handles that I might use to replace the existing hardware. (Don't worry, I'm keeping the old ones around so come moving-out day I won't have a lot of explaining to do to the landlord)

Handle 1: Aluminium. Basic. Cheap, too.

Handle 2: A little more of a retro feel. Only downside is they might be one handle short of the number I need.

Handle 3: The largest of the bunch. Very modern, very substantial to hold. Also kind of expensive.

Here's all 3 in comparison.

I sort of already know my favorite of the three, but I'd really like to know what your thoughts are.

Surprise!

2011-07-16T17:52:00.000-07:00

Or, I actually did a DIY project that turned out alright.
Some of you might have wondered what this image meant:

Well, it was part of an art project I'd been hoping to produce.

I came across a seller offering 4 identical Sealtest Ice Cream signs on ebay. Ebay's probably the best place to look for multiples like these, and they were reasonably priced, with an opening bid of about 10 bucks plus shipping. Not a shameless plug, but the seller I bought from was CJBeez, so probably a good seller to check out.

I got my canvas and spray glue from Blick. The canvas is their Studio line, lightweight and suitable for mounting light things like paper.

This is the spray glue I used. Re-positionable, so it's not a huge deal if you don't quite place the image right on the first try.

Here's how it looked as I was laying out the image. Really, the final art project looks basically exactly like it.
One thing I had to do was measure equidistant from each side so it was centered. And it was going to be a really messy number like not quite 1 3/16ths inches. Then I saw that it was also 3cm. Winner: metric system.

Here's the final piece

Cost breakdown:
4 old advertising signs: 17.23
Canvas and spray glue: 31.40
---------------
Total: 48.63

Which is a decent price to pay for a 24x36 piece of art. Plus, I now have a mostly-full can of spray glue I can use for other things.

Hey, where did the desk go?

2011-07-13T17:17:00.000-07:00

The part of my apartment that isn't the living room was home to my desk. But here's what it looks like now:

So where did the desk go? I've been toying with the layout of the apartment a bit, trying to find a way to fit in both a workspace and an eating space. After more measuring than anything else I've ever done in my life (and this includes a treehouse I helped build) I came up with this:

Instinctively it makes sense to have the workspace near the bookshelf that I keep some work-spacy things in. The entrance isn't nearly as grand as it was before, but all things considered it's not bad at all. Here's the current layout:

Look at all that space for a dining table and chairs. It's massive! I get a whole 31.2ish square feet!

Kudos to floorplanner.com, because I can make a single floor plan for free.

Bring it on, Cranberry Juice

2011-07-11T20:50:00.000-07:00

Living room: completed enough for now. I needed a rug, and boy did I luck out.

I came across an ad on craigslist for 20 Flor tiles, at way below retail. I wasn't 100% sure how large a rug I needed, so this seemed like a good way to compromise. I also got way more than I needed. Which means I can spill things on the rug and still be in good shape.

One downside of Flor tiles is that because they're in sections, it's harder to reposition them if you're not quite happy with the placement. How many times did I have to reposition them? Four. If I were a more clever man, I'd have measured and marked out where the rug was supposed to go. I go by instinct and my gut instead, and my gut really resented having to move each tile as I tried to find a suitable arrangement.

Shot from the opposite angle partially because I wanted to show off the other side of the room, partially because I didn't feel like making the bed.

Here's another shot of the trunk. It's all covered in Fedex labels. Kind of makes you wonder what used to be in it.

Hello Coffee Table

2011-07-10T17:09:00.000-07:00

Earlier photos of the living room showed off the lumpy green suitcase that I'd been using to store bed linens or the sofa slipcover. Well, the suitcase is no more. I've upgraded to something a little more legitimate, with a little more character and a lot more flat surface area.

Thanks to the magic of craigslist, I got this "table" for pretty darn cheap. It's a teensy bit too small if I want to fit everything inside it, but it's scaled to the space. This is the living area in 'bedroom' mode. When it comes time to shift it to 'living room' mode, the transformation only takes about 5 minutes.

Some plants mixed in with my fake Krenit bowls. We'll see if my apartment gets enough light to actually sustain life, or if I've got to invest in plants of the plastic variety.

Not bad for a busy weekend. Next on the agenda is a rug and some supplies for the super secret DIY project.

Getting the details down

2011-07-10T00:23:00.000-07:00

Slowly slowly, bit by bit. Today was a really intense day, but I'm really pleased with how the apartment is coming along. Tomorrow is when I get the trunk for my excess linens, and some plants for a little something living and green.
In the meantime, I'm hammering out some minor details for smaller things to tackle.

On the left, the cup on my desk that used to hold all my pencils and pens. On the right, the new cup, snagged on clearance at target. I think the new one's a teensy bit more professional looking.

Art thingy I picked up from the goodwill near my house for a dollar. It needs a little super glue surgery to be perfect again. If I can successfully operate, it'll be a funky little thing to go on the walls. If I can't fix it, then I have a nifty frame I can use instead. I can't lose.

I think both of these projects combined cost me about 2 dollars. They don't make a massive difference in terms of the overall appeal, but they're there to add in that last extra bit. There's a couple other things I spruced up, but those are for another time.

Kitchen of drabness

2011-07-08T18:48:00.000-07:00

In addition to being rather small, the decor of my kitchen is a bit on the dull side.

(picture 1: dullness)
I also have a microwave in this kitchen. Due to the fact that I have maybe five square feet of countertop, a microwave was going to take up a lot of that space. But I have an under-the-sink outlet, so...

Here it is, hiding.

There isn't too much I can do about it, but task #1 is changing out those handles for something a little nicer and more modern. They're kind of a weird size, (I think 3 and 3/4" between centers) but hopefully the shop near me can point me in the right direction.

Anyone else ever have to put appliances in weird places?

The incredible shrinking apartment

2011-06-28T22:35:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the lovely site Floorplanner, I'm able to show what the apartment looks like.

It's not an ideal layout, what with the useless little dry area behind the bathtub and the kitchen doorway I wish I could widen. The little voice in my head says it's better to forfeit your security deposit than to ask permission, but that is asking for a galaxy of trouble.

In the process, I learned something. The apartment is smaller than I had initially said. It's not 400 square feet. It's not even 306. Two hundred and seventy two, according to the calculations of the floor planner website. If I keep measuring it, I think it might disappear entirely.

The living and sleeping area is coming together, but I have a large rectangle that I'm going to have to make into a dining area AND a work area. I live alone, so it's not necessary but it's the principle of the thing.

Houston, we have a living area.

2011-06-25T18:52:00.000-07:00

Operation go to Ikea and buy furniture was a success. Three really big boxes and a few blisters on my fingers from those darn hex-head bolts later, I had a living area. It's a good feeling, knowing that people can come over and actually sit down on real furniture.

It's a futon, and not the sort of sleeper sofa I truly wanted. I took stock of my bank account, my desire for something approaching a queen size mattress, and my back that really really should not be doing heavy lifting. The only conclusion was that this would be a good compromise because I cannot drop 3 grand on the perfect sleeper sofa.

I'm doing the ol' 'use an expedit bookcase as a room divider' trick. I'm also using the less-popular 'use an awkwardly-shaped suitcase as storage for bedding' trick. I'm going to be upgrading to an actual trunk soon enough when that suitcase goes back to live at my parents' house.

the living room is still a little dark, and I do need a rug, so I know what's next on the list at Casa Nicholas. Also on the to do list is this little teaser for future coming attractions:

Whatever could it be?

If my fridge is going to be replaced...

2011-06-21T00:09:00.000-07:00

... can't I get one of these instead?

Pretty please?

Some improvements, some need for improvements

2011-06-16T20:57:00.000-07:00

Let's get down to business:

The good news. My shower curtain arrived, so the bathroom isn't so so so very very white. Curtain plus bathmat from Ikea equals a step in the right direction.

The other good news is they fixed the light in the kitchen. Instead of a fluorescent tube thing that didn't light up, there's a cheap looking round fixture that does light up.

The bad news is the fridge. Behold, the leaking something.

You will note that the green thing that's burst open should not be burst open. Also, when up against the wall, this water leak was directly above the electrical outlet. The tag on the plug has substantial water damage to it. Bad fridge! Bad!

The comically small kitchen, illustrated.

Slowly but surely I'll get everything in order.

Floor tiles that look pretty cool (for now)

2011-06-16T01:27:00.000-07:00

I love a good wood floor. But I also have strong opinions about other floors, if they're cool enough. These vinyl tiles from Modularity Tiles are eye-catching in a way that makes me wish I didn't have generic tile in the kitchenette of my apartment. It'd be an excellent way to introduce a little color and help break up the beige.

Modularity TilesFun and funky. Oh, that my kitchen looked like this.

Modularity TilesReversing the white and colored parts changes the entire feel.

Modularity Tiles
Very retro, very op art.

Modularity Tiles
Some looks are less successful.

I like it, but I have the very strong feeling that this look is going to age quickly. I hesitate to throw my weight behind this because while furniture is easy to remove once it becomes offensively out of date, tile is more of a headache.

Discovered via Design Milk

Monday monday....

2011-06-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

Let's get in the mood for what kind of Monday this is going to be:

Over the weekend, I went to Ikea. It took 2 hours, as does every other trip to Ikea. That place is like a casino, I swear: no windows, the clocks don't work. You lose track of time. I bought things and scoped out the furniture situation. Once the big check comes, it's furniture-buying time! I did buy some actual things that I'll show later this week.

Because I went to Ikea, I stole a handful of paper yardsticks. I measured my space and 400 square feet my rear end. 306. Three hundred six square feet. Its... cozy. I've got plans to make it all work though, don't worry. Those too will come later in the week.

Lastly, I discovered a dripping sound coming from behind the fridge. In the morning, a small puddle formed at the back of the fridge. I'm thinking broken condenser, or coils thereabouts. I'm thinking new fridge. I'm thinking it's a little ridiculous that both the fridge and stove don't fully work. That's 100% of the major appliances in the kitchen. As well as the ceiling lights and uninstalled vent hood.

Maybe that Boomtown Rats song would have been more appropriate.

Where I'm at: Let's just say there's a lot of potential

2011-06-11T19:29:00.001-07:00

I don't know if I ever made a promise to show how far along the improvement process is. Well, I'm a man of words that someone else put in my mouth.
Also, if you're coming here from the Making it Lovely Social Space Makeover Contest, a big welcome to you! I try and follow as many blogs as I can, so come in check out the site and I'll do the same for you.
Here's where I'm at:

Yes, that is an air mattress. That eventually will be a sleeper sofa and half of the living/entertaining part. I'm also going to get a nice lamp to put with the fake Eames lounger. I swear, I sit in that chair and

That's the desk. Yes, I am using the padded laptop case as a cushion. Eventually, I'm going to make that part the dining area and sell the desk. But lighting will be a challenge, because there isn't an overhead light. That light switch controls nothing.

Color-wise, I need more pop, more wow and less brown/tan/creamy yellow. (pop and wow are colors, right?) The color balance in the second photo is a bit off, the creamy yellow is really what it looks like. I know right now the apartment doesn't look like much, but I've only been here a week. And for an unmarried guy's apartment, it's pretty darn clean.

I need glasses...

2011-06-11T00:17:00.000-07:00

... and I've found just the right sort I'm looking for.
It's (maybe a week) old news at this point, but Fishs Eddy has a lovely Todd Oldham and Charley Harper collection they've just announced. And I am all about the glasses.

(Source:Fishs Eddy)

(Source: Fishs Eddy)

What I'm also excited for is that the Alice in wonderland series is on sale. Or at least what's left of the series.

Feeling moody

2011-06-09T23:13:00.000-07:00

I'm all moved in to the new place, and I'm slowly getting my bearings on how I want to do things. This is MY SPACE gosh darn it, so I'm figuring out how to make it look good.

Which brings me to this: Now that I have photoshop, I can finally make mood boards like the fancy pros do. So without further ado: here's what I'd love for the living/sleeping part of my space to look like. Sort of. I'm not 100% sold on the rug. And I like the idea of the trunk, but maybe in a different color. And I need art. And lamps. Very much a baby mood board. I'll get good at these with practice.

The space itself is a bit of a challenge. The problems are that there isn't any overhead lighting in the apartment. It's bizarre. Getting adequate light means either daytime events, or loads of lamps. Or both. Also, getting a full or queen size bed into the mix is a challenge (because darn it, I'm out of college and I am NOT sleeping on a twin mattress ever again.) A sleeper sofa will probably enter the mix, or heaven forbid.. a futon.

Making it MINE

2011-06-03T00:46:00.000-07:00

Now that I have the apartment (move-in day's Saturday, so THAT should be fun) I'm getting all kinds of crazy ideas for how to make the space my own. Picking out things like the shower curtains and ways to deal with the ugly heater that's right in the way of where I want to put my bed.

Which leads to this crazy idea: I want a new fridge.
The current fridge is probably from the 80s. It's a bit too large for the space, and it almost certainly is an energy hog. I took one look at it and knew that I'd better check to see who pays for electricity for this apartment. The fridge isn't mine per se, but I'd like to see what joys a newer, slightly thinner fridge would bring to the space. I mean, they showed me an apartment that didn't even have a fridge.

I'm probably drunk with power over "owning" my new space, but it can't hurt to ask, right?

I went to the Brick House (and others) Garage sale and I got...

2011-05-29T23:19:00.000-07:00

This sweet vase!

It was cheap, and you've got to love the colors and soft undulating pattern. I'm sorry, you have no choice but to love it. As much as you'd love a puppy.

Right now, I've got a bit of the plant that was growing in the backyard in it. When I move into the new place, I'm thinking it might get some actual flowers in it.

Yay! I have an apartment

2011-05-27T23:24:00.000-07:00

My almost week-long journey of fear and anxiety is over. I got the apartment. Here's what I'm getting:

So yes. I'll now live at 7SomethingSomething North MumbleMumble, Los Angeles. There's enough space that my queen-sized bed (which is cleverly disguised as an air mattress at present moment) won't totally fill the room. There's also a comically tiny kitchen. The gap between the stove and fridge is just small enough for the oven door to open all the way.

As they say, it's got a lot of potential. Allegedly 400 square feet, hardwood(?) floors and air conditioning. And a security deposit the size of Jupiter.
Yay.... Now to sketch up some shelves.

Fingers crossed guys!

2011-05-25T00:57:00.000-07:00

After touring the apartment and falling a little bit in love with it, I put in the necessary applications and prayed to every deity I could name.

It looks like it's gonna be mine which is at once amazing and also scary. I like the idea of having a place of my own, but I'll have to buy so much stuff to live there. I mean, I only own about two major pieces of furniture, and neither of them are a bed. I also drive a jetta, which is actually useless for hauling anything larger than an end table.

So, readers... what was the one thing you wished you'd had before moving into your first apartment?

The joys of apartment hunting

2011-05-19T18:07:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm employed and graduated, I'm on that next great step: finding my own apartment. I'm taking y'all, my very very supportive readership along for the ride.

My needs are simple:
-Air conditioning
-Full kitchen
-Close to work
-Within my budget (not much)

I've found a handful of opportunities.
The two cheapest ones are a 20 minute commute to and from, and aren't in the greatest of neighborhoods. But they're full kitchens in historic buildings and are about 450 square feet each. Not a bad deal.

The middle option is a wild card. Not that much more per month, but it's only a 10 minute commute to and from, and its got a pool on the premises. The downside is that its a building from the early 60s, and again isn't in the best neighborhood. I also have no clue if its got hardwood floors. Not that those are essential, but they're a nice touch.

Option 4 is the one I'm touring Saturday. The most expensive, but its a mere ONE BLOCK from work. I don't mind commuting, but I'll take a five minute walk over a 10 minute drive any day. It's also in the nicest neighborhood, but I know there's going to be competition for it. The difference between these options is about 75 dollars from cheapest to most expensive, which isn't huge but every dollar helps. I'll have pictures up and ready to go soon, y'all.

An update to all my readers

2011-05-08T16:48:00.000-07:00

One reason why I haven't felt like posting much is because I don't actually have a house or apartment of my own. I have a room that I'm subletting. So there's not a lot of fun that can be had when I'm limited to four walls and some stuff in the kitchen. It looks like I'll be spending the next year-ish amount of time in a room as well. I'm slowly growing into this adulthood thing, but I'll try and at least buy interesting things to furnish my space.

...It's Aliiiive!

2011-04-26T00:41:00.000-07:00

Greetings, fair readers. It's been ages since I last posted here, but we're in the midst of a big shake-up. The following is going to have to happen in the next month or so.

-Graduating college. That's right, no more resting on my laurels in a safe and sheltered bubble. (until law school, a second degree or some other craziness, that is) This means I'll have to...
-Get a job. I've sent in a couple resumés, and I have an interview Wednesday. It's not the same as having the job in hand, but I've got my confident boots on. This will let me...
-Get an apartment of my own. So I'll be able to have a whole apartment to decorate? You mean I won't be stuck with just stuff in a room? Yep. This 'adulthood' thing seems pretty sweet. Incidentally, anyone with a line on a 1-2 bedroom place in LA (as close to $700 per bedroom as possible) should give me a tip.

The big looming issue is getting furniture from one place to another. I drive a jetta, which means I can't exactly schlep around sofas in my spare time. Or anything larger than an end table, it turns out.

Hostel situation

2010-07-15T02:22:00.000-07:00

Why haven't you been posting
I'm in a hostel. I was trying to find accommodations while I'm over here.
That's been keeping you from posting?
Yes. Yes it has. But I'm probably moving in to the new place tomorrow
So you'll start posting then
Well, I'm not sure what the internet situation is going to be
So... you know nothing and there's no real timeframe for starting up again
Basically
So what DO you know?

Hows about some original new fresh content?

Someone was throwing away this perfectly good chair frame. So into the house it went.

The shape of things to come.

There. That's quite the improvement.

Check out that sweet sweet shape.

Even the back is pretty cool.

I'm considering this a work in progress still. The arms and legs are a bit worn, so restaining the whole thing is in the works... eventually. And is this a DIY? well no. I owe a huge debt of thanks to my aunt Rita, who sewed the cushions, and did a hundred other things to make it this improved.

In which I go shopping

2010-06-29T21:58:00.000-07:00

Did I seriously get 5 Krenit bowls?

No. They're plastic bowls from husqvarna, and Krenit-ish. You can totally see the influence. Here's a closer look at the outer texture.

I'm pretty excited to get a chance to use them. They're almost too pretty to eat from.

Things were better when they were worse

2010-06-27T00:33:00.000-07:00

Is it possible to have a crush on a piece of furniture?
Is it possible to have that weird celebrity crush on a weird piece of furniture?
For someone who claims to hate the 70s as much as I do, I have a serious furniture crush on lawn chairs. But not just any lawn chairs.
(Boston Bill)
The webbed-strap aluminium lawn chairs. The kind where the webbing disintegrated in the sun, so after about a decade their structural integrity was pretty questionable. The metal-armed ones would burn your hands if left out in the sun long enough, and the plastic always cracked on the plastic-armed ones.
I just... like them. I can't explain it. Maybe the photos can.

(Dreamijo)

(ixxidust)

(pixietart)

(Chocolate-Milk)
Alright readers, do you have any weird furniture crushes?

moo

2010-06-24T18:57:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry for what I am about to show you.

Really, design student? You made a table shaped like a cow's udder? Why?
(A portion of the creators stated intent, respectfully stolen from Design milk, my go-to site for weird design stuff) "Udder Table depicts society’s dependency on milk while also celebrating the cow and her teats."
No it doesn't.

I consider it more a sculpture I would give to someone I did not like very much. I just not open minded enough to like milk-related things. I guess I'm lactose intolerant.

And now for something completely different: Another installment of 'People using chairs the wrong way'

Images stolen fromDesign Milk, and um Design Milk again

It's just not.

2010-06-21T22:26:00.001-07:00

Vitra wants us to believe this is a chair.

It's not. I'm sorry. It's just.. not a chair. Where's all the chair-y bits?
Here's what gets me. Some eccentric guy probably carried one of these for decades. He'd pull his crazy belt-chair-seat-thing out in public, make himself comfortable, and people would think he looked like a complete fool.
Vitra has commercialized sitting on the ground.

Stolen from Design Milk

Why does the future have to be creepy?

2010-06-19T23:14:00.000-07:00

Happy new laptop to me. It's fully working, I think. I have just enough computer knowledge to be a danger to myself and my files.

The future. Ray Bradbury had the visions of rooms where lights would automatically go on and off as people walked through their houses. The rooms with people would get the electricity, the empty ones get nothing. What an efficient, slick idea. This has not yet become reality for most people, but technology looks like it will fill the void. Yanko Design has released a motion detector for your electronics. Plug in your electronic devices into this, and set the timer. Enough time without movement and it shuts everything off.
The problem? just look at it.

Ohgodputitaway.
The future is going to be creepy. Actually, the room in that Bradbury story murders its occupants, so maybe this is easing us into that reality.

Image stolen from Cribcandy.

So refreshing

2010-06-09T19:24:00.000-07:00

Sadly, the super awesome magical Dyson fan fund was exhausted by a rather expensive car repair. More pennies will be saved, however and I'll get one of my own eventually.
Right now, I'm in the process of a belated spring cleaning. My favorite part is the moment when I gather up all the things I no longer use, and recycle them/give them away/sell them. There's something liberating about not being tied down by things you don't need anymore.
How often do y'all go through this process? Are you constantly in the declutter mode or do you do it in one big event?

The road ahead

2010-06-04T12:57:00.000-07:00

At least this time, I have an excuse for not posting recently. This blogger is now in Minnesota for the summer, having driven 2000 miles in 48 hours to get here.
A couple of things to look forward to:
Laptop version 1.0 is on its way out. Once I get the new one, I'm uploading a backlog of photos. Cool stuff abounds.
In just over a month, this blog will be going international. I'm studying abroad for a semester. Where? It's a secret... I'll let y'all know when I get there.

Okay, let's get to some actual content.
I sometimes I look at houses for sale because like to pretend I actually have money. This leads to unpleasant surprises.

Now that is an imposing entrance. This house could work, I said, throwing my imaginary pile of hundred dollar bills in the air.

Ooh, it's well landscaped. Not strictly my style but it works well for the neighborhood.

The rest of the house is motivated seller beige, but hardwood floors throughout. I'm liking this more and more.

I just choked on my imaginary beluga caviar.
What. The. Crap. Does the homeowner really like the renaissance fest?

I'm drowning in knockoff old world furniture. The last vanity had the ostentatious dial turned up to 11, this one might be a solid 6, but that still doesn't excuse touching the ostentatious dial. Only Gucci is allowed to touch that dial, and even they don't turn it up that far anymore.

I'm so glad I saved my imaginary 1.1 million.

Confession time

2010-05-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

Hello fair readers, I have a secret to share.

I've started watching Glee.
I was inspired by Kurt Hummel's Dior gray bedroom in the most recent episode. I think I can make that color work in my own room.

Enough about me, let's go to some photos of the rooms that make me want to get some paint.

The joy of posters

2010-05-19T17:41:00.000-07:00

I'm going to own real art someday. But as long as I live in substandard college housing where I can't nail anything into the wall, posters will have to do.
I'm currently in the 'cheap posters from that booth on move-in day' stage:

Chat Noir poster, with life imitating art. Yes, my wall is striped, but the colors are more saturated.
But I want to move on to bigger and better things.

Hail Minnesota from Aesthetic Apparatus. In Minnesota Twins Red and White, so I can further pretend to care about sports. 25 dolla.
Aesthetic Apparatus also has some pretty sweet test prints, if grungy overspray mish-mash is your thing.

Eventual goal is to get an original Shag. Of course the one I really wanted to get sold out. It would have been $150. Curses.

The good and the weird

2010-05-17T17:07:00.000-07:00

The good:
Pantone may be the standard when it comes to defining shades and hues, (and creating those little fan books) but there's a new player to the field: Colourlovers. Less definitive, but cheaper - free to join. And if there's one thing I like, it's not spending money.

Because I would rather not spend my money on an automated solar-powered lawn-mowing robot. I'm content using an old-school reel mower powered by my lunch and my father's reminders.
Not only is the robot mower expensive, it is also evil.

I don't know if a robot can feel jealousy, but this one can. It's just out of peripheral vision, waiting. Lurking. And you can't unplug it because it's powered BY THE SUN. It's as though we don't learn from every bad horror movie.

Image stolen with love from Design Milk

Haute design weirdness

2010-05-13T17:56:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to remember the last time I saw a milkman, let alone a milkman who looks like the dutch boy paint mascot's creepy older brother.
This is a coatrack, inspired by seeds and those frustrating jigsaw puzzles where every freaking piece is EXACTLY THE SAME. Some mysteries remain. Does the coatrack hold milk? Does the photographer really like lactose? Where can I get those cool shoes?

Trash it

2010-05-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

There is nothing more useless than a too-small trash can. When in doubt, go bigger.

Thank goodness its not 'Keep calm and carry on'

2010-05-05T21:08:00.000-07:00

Retro To Go recently featured this vintage French poster. I'm unnerved.

I feel like if you're gonna put this poster up in your house, you're gonna have to choose between dogs or kids.

Mommy! Why can't I feed chocolate to the dog?
it's poison
But Little Red Riding Hood is!

And how are you supposed to respond to that? Children are far too young to understand the concept of 'justifiable homicide'.

The Mask

2010-04-27T22:00:00.000-07:00

Photoshot Director (thinking out loud): Alright, our chair is smack dab in the middle of the uncanny valley. How can we make this thing more unsettling?
Assistant: Masked model.
Director: I like that. Let's develop it some more
Assistant: Nude masked model.
Director: I like your style, kid.

Image stolen from: TrendHunter
Chair design stolen from: Tool album cover.

If this keeps up, I'm going to have to start a series on these

2010-04-21T00:20:00.001-07:00

Ridiculous product shots. That thin line between avant garde and "seriously WTF?" perhaps better known as "the Lady Gaga zone"

With this shot of the Play chair from DEDON and Stark, I feel like I'm watching a kids TV show, and The Silly Man thinks he's a chair.

Silly Man, you're not a chair. You may be stackable, and you may be partially orange, but you're not a chair.
Oh, what a silly, silly man you are. We can tell you're silly because they won't let you have shoelaces.

Today's image stolen from Design Milk.

2010-04-19T21:44:00.000-07:00

The website Texts From Last Night lets me live vicariously through others' wanton debauchery. One text featured on the site read "I had a dream last night that I had sex with Abe Lincoln. I must stop watching the History Channel before I go to bed."

And then we get to this room, featured on Apartment Therapy.

This is what happened when Tim Burton had a show on the History Channel.

Macintosh blues

2010-04-17T10:21:00.000-07:00

Much as I love macs, my baby had a little hiccup last night. Except when my baby hiccups, it's not cute and adorable and instead makes me want to run screaming in sheer unadulterated panic. Yes, I am bad at backing up my data.

The good news: I was able to get all the key data backed up after this little hiccup. So in that sense, I have learned nothing.
The bad news: I lost all my bookmarks in firefox. So my extensive list of design blogs I visit? gone.

I remember the big ones, but I'm going to use this as an opportunity, readers. That's right, when I got a huge lemon, I'm making some hip, designer lemonade. What are your favorite design blogs? With y'alls help, this list will be bigger, better and time-wastinger!

Stools: like standing for lazy people

2010-04-14T23:05:00.000-07:00

This MEC stool comes courtesy of Design Milk. No word as to whether the possibly dead woman comes with the stool.
The abstract states "The brief? To provide support based on various frequently adopted natural postures and objectify the concept as a mechanical extension of the human body."
If 'passed out under furniture, naked' is a frequently adopted posture for you, rehab might be a better option. Unless this furniture is designed with Amy Winehouse in mind.
Also, for those who don't speak postmodern, "objectify the concept as a mechanical extension of the human body" means "you can sit on this."

So so cool.

2010-04-10T22:24:00.000-07:00

I was going to start this post with the words "I'm a fan..." but after realizing how truly horrible that pun would be, I decided against it. But I like fans, especially the old metal ones that'll chop your finger off if you try and tempt fate. Seeing as I currently have 3 cats in my room, I'm going to pass on that option.
and then there's this:

Yes that is a Dyson fan. The kind that may in fact use actual magic to work. At Target. For $299.
Half of me scoffs at the idea of a three hundred dollar fan. The half of me that is still five thinks its one of the coolest things ever. The five year old me is now saving up its allowance.

Dyson fan, you will be mine.

Photo stolen with love from Rob Cockerham's Twitter

Safety first!

2010-03-28T15:27:00.001-07:00

The joy of living in los angeles is that one has to have metal security screens on the windows. Are they ugly? You betcha. It's bad wrought-iron-styled stuff, where they decided to add in little heart shapes and curlicues so it wouldn't look so depressing - an act which somehow makes the screen more depressing. Mine looks like this:

Le sigh...
But they don't have to be that ugly.

Thanks to ApartmentTherapy for the images, and to Italy, for really getting it.

Yes.

2010-03-25T16:44:00.000-07:00

Thanks Eric!

The un-kitcheny kitchen

2010-03-18T15:38:00.000-07:00

I regard these un-kitcheny kitchens the same way I think of Martha Stewart: with a mix of admiration and loathing hatred. The feeling of jealousy when something is so perfect that anything you do will never be as good. It's the sort of suspicion that it's too perfect, and you hope like crazy that there's some sort of deep secret. Like that this is their fake kitchen, and their real kitchen is hidden in some dark, disgusting corner of the house.
Image (and resulting feelings of inadequacy) courtesy of Apartment Therapy

ooh, artsy

2010-03-16T21:27:00.000-07:00

I have a nasty habit of culling the material for this blog from a couple sources: Apartment Therapy and Desire To Inspire are two that provide most of the material here. Until I get a photo of the changes I've made to my room, here is something completely off the wall.
Erwin Olaf is a photographer based out of Amsterdam, whose photos struck me. I have fallen in love with the interiors he creates and styles for his shoots. Though his work often has a photo-shoot-ish feel, there's a lot here that grabbed me, especially the way that these first two photos have a strong narrative quality to them - like I've stumbled into the room and have interrupted something.

The furniture is what I want soooooo badly.

Erwin Olaf(it's art, so there's the occasional nude project. Not sure if your workplace is cool with the naked human body if it's in an artsy context.)

We have in fact entered the future

2010-03-10T20:57:00.000-08:00

Popular Mechanics and Popular Science have placed loads of their back issues on Google Books. I loved those magazines for their outlandish depictions of what the future was going to look like. We still don't have a flying car, or kitchens that cook for you

but we do have this projector from David Riesenberg:

Holy mother of cheese it is equal parts beautiful and mildly terrifying. It's a projector. It looks like it came from the prisoner or some other 1960s version of the future. It looks like it knows all your secrets. It looks like it could hover. Finally, we have achieved the future that the past wanted us to have.

The problem is, I don't need to own a TV. And this is something I've been thinking about a lot. I do everything on my laptop. Will I be weird if my first house doesn't have a TV in it at all? I feel like if you have a TV you have to have a space organized around that one thing. That's kind of a waste of space, which could be organized to highlight architectural features or to facilitate conversation.
Think you could live without a TV? What would you do differently in your home?

Thanks, Design Milk!

sofa, so (not) good.

2010-03-07T00:32:00.000-08:00

Moving away from modern, some are bringing back 70s style because despite all its flaws, it has a homey feeling. We were never perfect people, so why aim for a perfect home? We did the best with what we could, we made things ourselves, and life was still good.

Patterned sofas may be making a comeback. As with any trend, there is a way to do it badly. Yes, different patterns in the same color scheme work together. These patterns are working towards something a bit more sinister. Granted, I have seen worse, but this is (to steal a phrase that YoungHouseLove turned me on to)wayyy to 'matchy-matchy'.

Suddenly, you don't have just a blue and white room. You have the blue and white room. Friends will speak of it in the same tone reserved for exes that we wish we did not have to see again. You don't want that.

bold, daring and wrong, kitchen edition

2010-03-03T00:19:00.000-08:00

This kitchen, coming to us courtesy of Apartment Therapy is tonight's Bold, daring and wrong case study. Now is it just me, or does the photo/wallpaper make the room look like its only 6 feet tall? I should probably thank the designer for keeping the cabinet face a light color because anything else would have been sensory overload.
The bench has to go. Small space, awkward layout... yeah, cramming a bench in there is not making cooking any easier. The bench makes me feel like I'm making dinner in an envelope.
A mirrored frame can create visual interest and add a focal point to a room. But only if the frame is reflecting something interesting. Here, it looks to be... more of that print. You might as well have an empty frame.

Getting things done

2010-03-02T23:16:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder how I get things done? But Nick,you might respond, you're the least productive person I know. Why should I listen to how you get things done?
Because it looks pretty, that's why.
TeuxDeux is a free, web-based productivity tool. Type what you have to do, and when you have to do it. When you've done it, cross it off. Simple. This is where everything, and I mean everything I have to do goes.

That's my secret. So, fair readers I turn to you: What little trick has helped you be more productive?

Affordable AND stylish LA living?

2010-02-25T20:25:00.000-08:00

Can such a thing be true?
Gramercy Row looks like it might deliver. Units are 600-700k, which might be reasonable, given all the style and eco-friendly points it hits. I'll just ignore the fact that I'm dirt poor and try to secure a lease.
I love the design, but I'm hesitant about living in LA because public transportation is better in most third world countries, car traffic is insane once you are at the 110 through downtown or get close to k-town, and everyone's secret murderous impulses are triggered when people ride their bikes in traffic.
Enough of that, lets drool over some pictures.

Images stolen with love from the Gramercy Row website.

Is that a new layout?

2010-02-25T20:14:00.000-08:00

Yes, yes it is. While I keep the same structure, these new colors are less... ugly.
Besides, I like tile. I might get around to tweaking this template a bit, so if your computer starts freaking out, I'm sorry.
In the meantime, just let your eyes relax, and enjoy the new and only aesthetically improved blog.

finally, something good which hipsters have done for society

2010-02-22T23:19:00.000-08:00

Good thing: this blanket from Urban Outfitters.
Great thing: it's ten dolla. Ten! That's like, the cost of a disappointing dinner at Denny's.
And let's not kid ourselves. Though hipsters have tarnished plaid, that tarnish is temporary, and this will still keep you warm for possibly years to come. Possibly less. It is acrylic, after all.
No picture because it's buffalo plaid.

Sunday Showdown!

2010-02-21T15:52:00.000-08:00

And now, a summary of all kinds of stuff that I should have blogged about earlier.
Let's start with this dresser from West Elm.

I like it.
The new color of Vipp waste cans.

I like it.

The Parlour sofa from CB2.
I like it, even though it has a superfluous 'u'.

Lastly, the arbor desk from outofstock.
I like it. You probably figured out the theme of this post by now.
I could go into the reasons why I like all of these, but I have more fun pointing out all the things I don't like about design. It's easier to get impassioned.

Do not pass go.

2010-02-07T19:48:00.000-08:00

I'm good at Monopoly because I'm ruthless and completely without mercy when it comes to money. Which is why I'm opposed to the 'Monopoly revolutions' game. Yeah, not having to count the money out every single time is a plus, but if you're going to play a game that rewards you for being a sociopathic capitalist, you might as well have that last formality. It also means I can't cheat and hide 500 bucks in my coat pocket.
The board looks cool, I'll give them that. If hasbro released a game that looked like this that didn't have the storied history of monopoly, I'd be first in line to buy it. (okay, I'd saunter in at 3pm maybe but I would be there.) I'm just not a fan of the technology. There are few games which have gotten better with technology.

Image lovingly stolen from Casasugar

instant fancy

2010-02-04T22:30:00.000-08:00

I like things simple. That means no multitasking (which I still try), easy organization (which I still ignore) and less things.
Checking off something from my list of 'things I really should blog about' we have these plates from Pottery Barn.

They're simple white plates. Nothing special, but that's what makes them great. They go with anything - a perfect backdrop for your food. Which is why it's a shame that if I get these, they'll pretty much be used exclusively for microwaveable meals. But then again, I like my meals simple too.

Good ol' google reader

2010-02-03T23:06:00.001-08:00

In attempts to stay on top of all the blogs I read instead of doing homework, I've turned to google reader. It's pretty nifty, but because I fear I might lose my starred items after a while, I'm going to try and stay on top of the posting game.

From Desire to inspire, my favorite source for concepts which are rich in artistic merit while also amazingly impractical and aesthetically challenged.

ow. I love art. This idea makes me hate art. Like, want-to-punch-a-picasso levels of hate. The tight, asymmetrical groupings of art that this time period will be known for are starting to grow on me. But the thing is those take into account the scale of the room. Please, give your art some breathing space.

Coco + Kelly ask if this is the future of the living room. No sofas, no lumbar support, just pillows.

If your house hosts nightly slumber parties, this might be a good idea. (if you do host nightly slumber parties, you have my sympathy) And this would make for some truly epic pillow forts, but as long as there are superbowl parties, this will not catch on. Even watching football on a daybed feels wrong.

Lastly, Casasugar points out a trend that was worrying me.

Just when you thought avocado green was dead *insert twilight zone theme* its baaaaaack..... Avocado green 2: this time its slightly more saturated. And you wonder why they never make horror movies about colors. Avocado green#2, yellow and that orange color that so many 1970s small cars were painted which bears unfortunate comparisons to dirty diapers.

This doesn't have to be the future. Pantone says the color of 2010 is an aqua blue. (And I'm predicting aubergine for 2011).

Ah, rain

2010-01-20T22:51:00.000-08:00

Greetings again, occasional readers of this blog. Things have been quiet on my end, due mostly to a little thing called college. The problem with being a student is that you can't really show off pictures of what's been keeping you busy. Baby pictures? yes please. Puppy pictures? adorable. Pictures of 20 page papers on criminal law? er... not so exciting.

So where am I? In exchange for sunny skies and easy access to beaches, I'm living in a very large single room in a shared house (1 girl, 4 guys a cat and NONE of them wash their dishes), paying more to rent a single room than my parents pay for a mortgage. I have a desk chair held together with mailing tape and a desk, which is too short to be comfortable. I do have one luxury: a queen-size bed with 400 count sheets. And when I say 'bed' I mean 'air mattress resting on the floor'.

Nothing like college to keep things interesting. Look forward to seeing more posts soon.

The perils of Soviet posters

2009-10-20T19:09:00.000-07:00

The Soviet Union may have lost the Cold War, but their posters won the Aesthetic war. However, there are definitely places where a poster like this does not belong: for example, Alabama. Over the bed is another place. It's hard to create an intimate space with Fearless Leader watching over you.
Also, what is that coming from the bathroom? A melted Dalmatian?
[Via]

what time is it?

2009-10-18T12:49:00.000-07:00

I like this clock from Fitzsubut am I right in thinking it looks a bit Flava Flav-ish?
[via]

shelves I think are cool

2009-10-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

Shame you can't get these in America, but this bookshelf from the Japanese furniture companyNissen is pretty amazing. It saves space, and keeps things looking clean. I'm a fan of open bookshelves because they say 'look at me, I'm cultured' but with these, you don't have to alphabetize or color-code your books. This is more functional for small spaces, has a clean, almost Ikea-esque aesthetic but doesn't really work for oversized books.

Marimekko. Why?

2009-09-14T11:56:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, you may have to ask yourself, 'is this too much?'

This is too much. From a distance, it's clumps of hair, possibly bunches of spiders. Up close, it's mis-shapen wagon wheels: like if a 5 year old with a crayon was asked to draw it. I'm all for organic lines, but this sends me into conniption fits.
Image lovingly stolen from Design Sponge

Danish modern style, without Danish modern prices

2009-09-06T18:58:00.000-07:00

For the Record, the Melrose Trading post is a lot of fun, even when you've been up since 4AM, the morning after a colossal migraine.

Anyways, urban outfitters has its own hipster cache and that can be a minefield, but they do have a few solid pieces of furniture. I'm most impressed with this daybed. Great color, great lines and it has that iconic look: when you think 'mid-century daybed' you think of this piece. The price is nice too, which is rare for Urban Outfitters. I tend to think that much of their accessories have that sort of 'fifty cents at a garage sale' look to them, without that all-important fifty cent price.

What a difference paint makes.

2009-07-03T17:11:00.000-07:00

I've been busy, and the blog has not been very active because of that, but here's one of the things that I was working on in the interim: a repaint of the front porch. This was one of those tasks which wasn't immediately necessary, but because I offered to do much of the work, I was allowed to do it.

My mom sometimes uses the porch to do work, and it's not exactly the most inviting place to do that. Mostly, it had become a place for furniture that didn't really belong in other rooms. Something had to be done to make this into a space that someone would actually want to spend time in.

After ripping up the carpet, we discovered another layer of carpet. Though this layer was in decent shape, the carpet pad below had disintegrated. The plan was to paint the floors anyways, so this discovery wasn't a huge setback.

The first part of the project was to paint over the beadboard ceilings. The white immediately made the space feel more airy.

The trim was re-painted, and the walls were painted this light green color. At this stage, I remember wishing that the paint was a little bit darker, because I'd felt like the room looked a bit washed-out.

Lastly, the floor was repainted in a light grey. Again, the paint was a bit light, but we're going to get a rug to give the room a little more texture and dimension.

There are a couple other to-dos: Curtains for the east-facing wall, a new light fixture for the ceiling and adding another chair (more on that project later) For right now, the space is much better, more inviting and something I'm glad I worked on. One job that you can't really see in any of the photos, but was necessary, was replacing the broken sash cords in the south-facing windows. But now, the porch is not only fully-functional, but also looks better!

things I love: movie edition

2009-06-27T19:31:00.000-07:00

Hello readers,
One thing that's lightly off topic, but still worth a gander: I love mid-century modern design, and I love comedies. So when I finally got around to seeing the French spy farce OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies, it was worth the wait. The film parodies the James Bond Eurospy movies of the 60s. Think of it as the movie Get Smart was supposed to be.
The title cards alone (done by Laurent Brett, who is clearly a master) are spot-on midcentury wonders, suitable for framing.

What I've been up to recently

2009-06-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

Hello readers
I apologize for the lack up updates recently. One project I've been working on, while not at work, is the front porch my mom uses as an office sometimes. The major work is done, but there are a few issues (lighting and so on) that are on the list of 'things to do eventually'. Don't worry, I'll have pictures up soon.

an incredible chair from an unlikely source

2009-05-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

When you think of sources for mid-century modern styled furniture, you think of a few sellers, maybe you think of a few antiques or thrift stores, but I doubt you think of the word 'typography'.
House Industries is changing that with their Neutra Boomerang chair. Available in maple or walnut, you can be assured that you're the only one on your block to own a copy of this chair. They're taking deposits for the second edition, so be sure to get on that ASAP! I'm also a huge fan of the Ampersand pillows and the Andrew Girard objects also for sale on the website.

Kudos to Boingboing for the image.

two lamps I like

2009-05-05T16:29:00.000-07:00

Retro To Go highlighted this wonderful lamp from Pokono. I'm a fan of the way it melds textures and materials into something unique. I'm not a fan of the 200 dollar price tag, but you can't win them all.

Lamp number two comes to us courtesy of Cribcandy and it is a stunner. Dynamic lines combine to make a piece that looks like it could take off from the desk at any moment.

Green and white kitchen, take three

2009-05-02T02:48:00.000-07:00

I think I'm starting a collection of these. I fully recognize that this is a look that is entirely 'of-the-moment' and will look dated in a decade's time. I also don't care.
Apartment Therapy featured this kitchen, which comes all the way from Australia.

This room uses balance so well. We've got high-impact, and almost clinical white countertops set off against organic, warm wood floors. High-contrast (almost) black and white gets mixed up with a splash of green. It's modern, it's classic, it's perfect. I may have to rescind my claim about this being a look that will age poorly. Call me in 5 years' time.

topical drink glasses

2009-05-02T02:32:00.000-07:00

Hello again faithful readers. I have been busy with work and writing a paper which renders me the expert in a field which nobody will ever take seriously.

Cribcandy points out this strikingly topical drinking glass set. Depending on your social circle, this will be in very bad taste, or an amazing thing to own.

Happy birthday earth

2009-04-22T18:07:00.000-07:00

Well, our little planet is having its day today. In that spirit, I want to bring up a very well-known triumvirate of words:
Reduce, reuse and recycle.

There's a reason that recycle is number three. It's the one you should do as a last resort. If you reduce the amount of things you buy, you save a lot of needless energy from being expended in manufacturing. When you re-use, you increase the useful life of what you already have. Recycling, if you're not reducing your consumption or reusing what you own, can actually be counter-productive, if you factor in the costs of processing. Here in Los Angeles, recycling is akin to picking up the trash twice a week.

My favorite way to go green? Dumpster diving. Everyone's a winner that way. I've retrieved a cane chair from the trash of a local cafe, and it now sits in my mom's garden, and it looks good. Pictures are forthcoming.
To see just how cool the results can be, check out http://finedivingchicago.com/

So, readers: do you have any good tales of found furnishings given a second chance?

Cow rugs

2009-04-15T20:47:00.000-07:00

Something I've never fully understood the appeal of is animal rugs that still bear a resemblance to the animal whence they came. Bear skin rugs are the exception, as they have a certain rugged charm to them, especially when embellished with a tale about how said bear threatened your life, so you had no choice but to kill it with your own hands.
Cows lack that critical element of danger. Mostly, cows gaze vacantly into space. Plus, when tipped sideways, they are unable to right themselves. This is a serious design flaw.
Putting a cowhide rug in a living room is a bit unusual, but putting one in a kitchen seems just cruel. You're telling the poor rug that one of its relatives is in the broiler not more than 15 feet away, slowly becoming what's for dinner.
To which the cow's spirit says 'moo', then continues to stare off into space.

Urano Bed

2009-04-15T18:30:00.000-07:00

I wish I had enough bedroom space to have one of these in my room. I think it makes a stunning design statement placed in the middle of the room. This is the Urano Bed, designed by Leonardo Dainelli.
Available from Falegnameria (I wish I could get a link to the specific product, but the website is flash)
Image taken from Cribcandy